Chapter Eleven: The Nightmare Begins
Nora's POV
A cold touch on my leg jolted me awake.
I froze.
Every instinct screamed that something was wrong.
Blinking against the small lighting, I tried to focus. My head pounded, my body ached, and the air smelled of danger—like stone and dried blood.
And then I saw him.
Dorian.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed, smirking at me. At first I wanted to yell what he was doing here.
On my bed.
No.
Not my bed.
Panic surged through me as my gaze darted around the room. Solid stone walls. No windows. One door—thick, iron-reinforced. A single lantern flickered dimly, making eerie shadows across the walls.
And then—
The chains.
Thick silver cuffs bound my wrists and ankles, the metal bolted deep into the wall.
Burning. Suffocating.
I yanked at them instinctively—pain tore through me, through my whole body like an electric shock.
I sucked in a sharp breath, pulse roaring in my ears.
Dorian watched me.
Smirking. Enjoying this.
I glared at him. "Where am I?"
He tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming. "Somewhere safe."
I yanked at the chains again, my wrists rubbing raw. "Take these off."
Dorian chuckled. "Now, why would I do that?"
Rage coiled inside me, hot and vicious.
"Why the hell am I here?" I spat.
His smirk deepened. "I could've killed you. I could have ripped you open and sent you to that stupid alpha's."
I froze when I heard him say those words.
His voice was calm. Casual. Like he was finding it fun to speak in such manners.
"I should have," he continued. "It would've been easier. But…" He leaned in slightly, his gaze dropping to my lips. "I decided I'd rather keep you for myself."
Fear rolled through my body,as those words reached my ears.
I pulled back, as much as the chains allowed. "I am not yours." I scream at his face.
Dorian chuckled. "Not yet. But soon"
Disgust burned through me.
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "I'm not a toy you can play with."
His smirk vanished, and then replace with anger.
And then—
Slap.
Pain exploded across my cheek.
My head snapped to the side.
I felt the slap deep within my cheek.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my body going rigid.
Lara should have roared inside me. Should have surged forward.
But—
Nothing.
Silence.
I gasped, panic slamming into me.
Lara?!
No answer.
It was like screaming into a void.
I felt empty.
Something inside me cracked.
Dorian stood, towering over me. Unbothered.
"You'll learn to accept me, one way or another."
My breath was ragged. My chest heaved. As I stared into those eyes.
I wouldn't cry.
I wouldn't break.
Not in front of him.
Lifting my chin, I swallowed the pain. "Go to hell. No matter what you do, I don't give a fuck."
Dorian's eyes darkened.
But instead of striking me again, he exhaled slowly and turned toward the door.
"I'll be back soon," he said casually. "Let's see how long that fire lasts."
Then—
The door slammed shut.
The lock clicked.
Silence.
I let out a shaky breath, my entire body trembling.
This wasn't just a nightmare.
This was real.
And I had no idea how to escape.
---
The room was suffocating.
Stale air. Damp stone. The lingering stench of something rotten.
No windows. No clocks. No sense of time.
It felt as if I was being pressed down on something.
I sat curled in the corner of the bed, wrists aching from the cuffs.
The silver burned.
Draining me. Weakening me.
I couldn't shift.
I couldn't fight.
And worst of all—
I couldn't hear Lara.
I closed my eyes. Focused on breathing.
One breath in. One breath out.
Think.
Dorian wanted to break me. That much was clear.
He said he wanted me to himself, what does hebthink i am a toy to be taken whenever please?.
Over my dead body.
I flexed my fingers, testing the restraints. The chains rattled—but they didn't budge.
Too strong. Too deep.
My stomach twisted painfully.
I hadn't eaten since—since before the kidnapping. The wolfsbane was still lingering in my system.
But I couldn't afford to fall apart.
Not now.
I had to hold on.
I had to survive.
Because I knew—
Keal and Killian were coming for me.
I didn't know when.
But I knew they would.
They had to.
Even after I have been a bad ass towards them, they still have to come save me, right?
---
Time blurred.
The only sound was the occasional drip of water somewhere in the distance.
Then—
Footsteps.
My entire body tensed.
A slow, deliberate knock echoed through the thick wooden door.
Dorian. That bastard was here again.
The door creaked open.
He stepped inside, looking completely relaxed—like this was all some game to him.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"Enjoying your stay?" he asked, smirking.
I glared. Refusing to answer.
He sighed dramatically. "Still quiet? That's fine. You'll talk eventually."
I clenched my fists, ignoring the sting in my wrists.
He stepped closer. Too close, that almost made me move back a bit.
"You know," he murmured, tilting his head. "I could make this easy for you."
I stiffened.
His fingers brushed my jaw. Forced my head up.
I snapped my teeth at him, barely missing his hand.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Still fighting? I like that."
I spat at his feet. As I look up angrily at him. "Choke on it."
Dorian's smirk faded.
His hand wrapped around my throat.
Not choking me—just holding. Just reminding me who had control.
My pulse pounded beneath his fingers.
His green eyes gleamed. "We'll see how much fight you have left soon enough. After I take hold of you, I will make you beg for mercy."
Then—
Just like before—he let go.
Turned. Walked out.
The lock clicked.
Darkness swallowed me again.
And this time—
I wasn't sure how long I could last.
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