The screams tore through the still air, jolting me awake from a restless slumber. They weren't unfamiliar,raw, desperate cries from souls clinging to the last strands of their pitiful existence. I sat up slowly, my body aching from the cold stone beneath me. The cage that had become my home felt smaller than usual, its metal bars pressing against the sparse rags draped over my thin frame.
Outside, I could see them,the runners. A line of men, trembling on their knees, their eyes hollow and skin pale against the backdrop of frost. They had tried to escape, killing their slaver in the process. Fools. They should have known that no one leaves this place alive. The executioner moved with brutal efficiency, his blunt axe rising and falling, each swing accompanied by the sickening thud of a head meeting the ground.
The metallic tang of blood mingled with the frigid air.
It was then that Darius stormed in, his heavy frame casting a long shadow across the dimly lit space. His face, flushed with anger, jiggled with every step. "Idiotic slaves," he muttered, his voice a low growl. "They got what was coming to them." His beady eyes darted toward me, and for a moment, he paused.
I met his gaze with my own, the reversed sclera and white irises reflecting the dim light. "Is that so?" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the distant echoes of darkness.
Darius sneered, his fleshy lips curling. "That is so," he spat. "And if you ever get it into your freakish little head to try something similar, your fate will be no different."
I offered a slow, deliberate nod, my expression unreadable. I wasn't planning an escape,well,not yet at least. But even if I were, these chains ensured that I wouldn't get far. My hands tugged at them experimentally, feeling the unbreakable weight of the iron. The links held firm, as they always did.
The sound of heavy boots interrupted my thoughts, and my eyes turned toward the entrance. The ruler of the village, Jason, had arrived. His presence filled the room, the sheer force of his will pressing down like an invisible weight in my back. Behind him followed his daughter, a girl whose appearance contrasted sharply with the man she called father.
Freya.
Her black hair framed a delicate face, and her green eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and defiance. Freckles dotted her skin, small constellations that softened her otherwise sharp features. Despite her youth, there was an intensity in her gaze, a quiet strength that set her apart from the other villagers.
Darius's demeanor shifted immediately. He straightened, forcing a sycophantic grin onto his face. "Ah, Lord Jason, Lady Freya!" he exclaimed, his voice dripping with false warmth. "What an honor it is to have you here. Please, come in, come in."
Jason said nothing, his cold eyes sweeping across the room. Freya, however, moved with purpose, her gaze scanning the row of caged slaves. One by one, her eyes passed over them until, at last, they settled on me.
I held her gaze, unflinching. Her emerald eyes studied me with an intensity I hadn't seen before, as if she were searching for something hidden beneath the surface. Then, without a word, she raised a hand and pointed directly at me.
"Him," she said,her blank expression scared me a little bit.
Darius's smile faltered. "Oh, Lady Freya," he chuckled nervously, "surely you jest. That one is defective,a freak. He's to be disposed of in tomorrow's hunt."
Freya's expression didn't change. "I want him," she repeated, her voice calm but resolute.
Jason finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "If my daughter wishes for him, then it shall be so."
Darius stammered, his eyes darting between father and daughter. "O-Of course, my lord. But only for the day, yes? He's untested and dangerous.Who knows what could happen?He might be a danger to your family.You do remember the slaves that killed their slaver today?" he said,showing a worried look.
"Be a danger?To Who?To me?You must have forgotten who i am and what i can do... or should i remind you?"
Darius's body trembled intensely at the thought of that,how could he forget who this man was."I apologize for my ignorance,my lord."
Jason dismissed him with a wave of his hand and then commanded him to open the dark cold cage I was currently trapped in.
Darius hurried to unlock my cage. The door creaked open, and I stepped out, my bare feet meeting the cold stone floor. The weight of the metallic leash around my neck was familiar, its glowing purple light was a reminder that no matter how hard I tried,attempts to break it were futile. This leash wasn't just a restraint; it was a tool of control, imbued with an unnatural energy that bent the will of those it bound.
As they led me away, I caught a glimpse of the moon through a crack in the tunnel ceiling. Its pale light bathed the village in a ghostly glow, indifferent to the suffering below.
I like that.How beautiful.If there was some sort of entity observing us,the only thing they would probably see is the beautiful structure of the world and not the cruel truth.Just like a book cover embed in beautiful colors but the inside more cruel and ugly than any torturer.
--
Jason's home was a fortress carved deep into the earth, its thick stone walls adorned with tapestries that depicted scenes of conquest and power. The air inside was warm, totally different than the cold temperatures of the tunnels,i guess thats how powerful these people are. Freya walked ahead, her steps light and purposeful, while Jason's heavy boots echoed with domineering authority. I followed in silence, the clink of my leash a steady rhythm in the background.
The grand hall was vast, its high ceiling lost in shadow. A long table stretched across the center, laden with food. The aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, making my stomach twist in hunger. I hadn't eaten in days, but I knew better than to expect charity.
Jason took his seat at the head of the table, his imposing figure framed by the flickering light of the fireplace. Freya sat beside him, her gaze briefly meeting mine before she gestured for me to kneel at her side. I obeyed without hesitation, the cold stone floor biting into my knees.
"Null," she said, testing the name as if tasting its weight on her tongue.
I remained silent, my eyes fixed on the floor.Trying to take the image of the tasty meat close to me off my mind or else I'd lash out.
Jason's voice broke the silence. "Freya, why this one? What do you see in him?"
She tilted her head, studying me as though I were a puzzle. "He's different," she said simply.
Jason grunted, unimpressed. "Different won't keep you safe in this world."
Freya ignored him, her attention returning to me. "Null," she said again. "Do you know why they fear you?"
I glanced up, meeting her gaze. "Because of my eyes," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.
She nodded. "Yes. But I don't fear you."
Jason chuckled darkly. "That's because you haven't seen what he's capable of. Let's hope you never have to."
The meal continued, though I was given nothing. I watched in silence as they ate, the warmth of the fire doing little to ease the cold knot in my stomach.
After what felt like an eternity, Freya rose from her seat and beckoned for me to follow. She led me to a smaller room off the main hall, its walls lined with shelves of books. The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and ink, a comforting contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the grand hall.
Books.The source of knowledge that I've only heard of.
Freya sank into a cushioned chair, her posture relaxed yet regal. She gestured for me to sit on the floor beside her.Like I was some sort of dog.Well technically I was one,kind of?Damn it.
For a moment, there was only silence, the crackling of the fireplace filling the space between us. Then, she spoke.
"Do you want to hear an interesting story, Null?"
I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. "I don't mind," I said.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She opened a book, her fingers brushing over the faded text. "This one's called The Fall of Icarus," she said softly.