"Reality will almost always exceed expectation…"
Eira held her breath when she limped into what looked like a torture room. The ceiling hung far above the window and was dark, too dark for her to make out anything above.
Hanging on the walls were sharp and edgy items, items that she estimated weighed almost more than her total body weight.
The smell of blood emanated from the table before her, which had an array of devices laid out, each one unique from the other, with its distinct shape, size and smell.
The door behind her slammed shut, forcing her shoulders into a jerk. She looked behind her, but saw no one, her eyes scanned the chamber, but she looked to be alone.
But Eira was not deceived.
'The Lycans possess the ability to somehow conceal their scents.' She thought, recalling her encounter with the woman from earlier, and with the two guards from outside.
She couldn't rely on her sense of smell.
She walked slowly across the spacious room, gliding her fingers across the age old walls, splattered with claw marks and dried blood. She swallowed at a dent in the wall, plugged up by a fang, and sharply turned her attention to the tall cabinet, stationed close to the only window in the room.
'Perhaps, there's something in here I can use to escape.' She thought, reaching for the cabinet, only for a strong scent to suddenly waft through the air.
Eira's eyes went wide in stun, she took a deep breath but quickly she covered her lower face, unable to breathe properly. Her eyes watered from the intensity of the scent, and her knees weakened, unable to support her.
'What is this awful stench?! I can't even breathe, it's like I'm holding my breath against my will!' she panicked, her knees lowering to the ground.
'The window!' she thought, and turned towards it for some fresh air. She stuck her head out and inhaled the cold night air from outside.
Taking deep breaths, Eira could tell that he was here all along, and he had finally decided to make himself known.
Heavy footsteps approached her, accompanied by a low, rumbling voice. "You're thin, and your blood reeks of malnourishment. Does Moonstone take me for a fool?"
His voice sounded irritated, confirming to Eira that these people had mistaken her for the Alpha's daughter. Which meant, that Adrianna had not made it to Lykonia.
He hissed, "Turn around, I'm sick of seeing your unappealing behind."
Eira's hands naturally fell to her behind, shielding it from his gaze. She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply, bracing herself to look at what might be the last face she ever saw.
All of Moonstone knew of the Lycan King, but the only ones who had ever laid eyes on him were buried deep in the soil.
With her hands on her behind, she turned around, slowly lifting her eyelids, taking in the sight before her.
The moment Eira laid eyes on the gruesome Lycan King, who had all of Moonstone quaking in terror, there was but one thought that weighed on her mind.
'So beautiful.'
His raven hair cascaded down his back, with subtle silver highlights that seemed to shimmer under the moonlight. The strands were pulled back into a low ponytail, revealing the sharp planes of his face and accentuating the broad expanse of his shoulders.
His eyes, well defined, the hazel orbs within them sparkled with a striking intensity.
His nose, tall and pointed, and his lips, surprisingly pink and invitingly soft – seemed almost inharmoniously delicate, a stark contrast to the rugged masculinity of his jawline.
Even now, as his gaze held nothing but contempt, Eira was convinced she was looking at the most beautiful being to have ever walked the surface.
"What are you looking at?" He snapped at her, his ears flushed with anger and embarrassment, as though he had an idea of what she was thinking.
He took a step forward, causing Eira to take two steps back, until she cornered herself against the open window, close to falling off.
Eira closed her eyes when he stretched his hand forward, and tightened the muscles around her face, bracing herself for the impact.
However, his hand fell to the small of her back and straightened it, "You won't survive that drop." He alerted her.
With his other hand he cupped her cheek and brought her face closer, examining it. Eira nervously flickered her eyelids, avoiding his intense gaze.
In a fastidious tone, he inquired, "Tell me, is all of your kind really this feeble and malnourished?"
Eira nodded, afraid he would hit her if she failed to.
He scoffed, and retracted his hands, "Such an inferior species." He turned away from her, and took large strides towards the table, sitting at the center of the room.
"Follow me, princess." He said the last bit with vivid indignation in his voice.
The near distant sound of a cackling fire and the smell of boiling mushrooms erupted a moan from Adrianna's mouth. Her throat parched from thirst, forced a frown from her lips.
"Water…" she moaned in a low tone, parting her lips.
Hurried footsteps rushed to her side, granting her request. Cold liquid fell upon her lips, some of it sliding down her throat, whilst the rest dripped out of the corners of her mouth, wetting the bed underneath.
Violent coughs erupted from her mouth, signalling her attendant to stop. Slowly, she raised her flickering eyelids, slowly adjusting to the light from the fire.
"You're awake!" A raspy voice chanted, it belonged to a male, an older male, perhaps.
Adrianna ascended into a sit up position, "Where am I- ouch!" She winced and reached for the side of her head, at the source of her sudden migraine.
"Don't try to move, you were in sleep paralysis for two days." The old man kneeling next to her informed her.
She gasped, "Eira." Then turned to the old man, "Where is Eira? She was with me when the…" she took a pause, suddenly recalling how Eira pushed her out of the carriage, just before it reached the cliff.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"I'm sorry, but when I found you by the river you were alone." He said.
Adrianna shook her head in disbelief, had Eira really died? And for her sake?
Tears fell from her eyes at the thought of something so miserable.
"Take heart dear, those Lycans won't be able to harm you here." The old man told her, rubbing her shoulder.
Lycans?
Adrianna sharply looked to him, wondering what he meant.
The old man reached under the bed and pulled out the coat she had on when he found her, the one made of Lycan fur, the one meant to protect her from the rebels.
He slid it back under the bed, and stood up to churn the brewing pot, "You can stay in this place for as long as you need to. It's safe here." He said over the cheerful cries from outside.
Adrianna raised a brow, wondering what the commotion could be all about.
Pulling the covers over her shoulders she asked, "What do you mean it's safe here?" As far as she was concerned, their carriage met it's awful fate close to Lycan kingdom.
And more so, with the rebels letting loose, almost no village in Moonstone was safe from their claw.
Before he could answer, his tent was pulled apart, and two small children rushed inside, holding arrows. "Elder Jael! They're back! The protectors are back!" They yelled, then dashed outside to greet them.
Adrianna sprung out of bed and followed, eager to see who these protectors were.
However, Adrianna was crippled with shock, when she laid eyes on men on horseback, carrying large bows on their backs, over flowing black capes.
She gasped and covered her mouth at the red banner, with an inked wolf's head illustration dancing in the cold breeze.
"The protectors have returned!"
"Look, they're back mommy!"
"Yes dear, and with lots of food too!"
The people rushed out in scores to greet the so called protectors.
"No…" Adrianna shook her head, taking a step back, "These aren't protectors…they're rebels!" She muttered under her breath.
Her frightened eyes danced around the area, only to see the rebel emblem inked on each and every tent around her.