Chapter 28
TALIA
T he odd, bitter scent woke me, my eyes flew open.
The brightness shining through a small window on the cracked stone walls blinding me for a moment.
The sounds of waves crashing against rock hit my ears.
I closed my eyes, rubbing the palm of my hands against my eyelids.
I slowly peeled them back open, taking in my surroundings.
Tall metal bars touched the ceiling, the stone walls surrounding me had cracks throughout them, claw marks dug into the darkened stone.
A cell.
I was in a cell.
My heart rate increased as my palms began to sweat.
My eyes flicked from one end of the cell to the next, it couldn’t be larger than eight feet by eight feet.
A small bucket was sitting in the corner, next to it sat a ragged old blanket, stained with blood.
I tried to stand up and cried out as my legs gave out beneath me, my body slamming into the wet cement floors.
The smell of urine and rotting corpses hit my nose.
Bile climbed up my throat. I covered my nose with my hand and took a slow breath through my mouth, the stale air I was breathing in making my stomach lurch. My body felt as if I had been thrown through a cement mixer. Why the hell wasn’t I healing?
Running my hands over my body, my fingertips became covered in a dark liquid.
I lifted them up and saw blood dripping down them.
Fuck.
I cast my eyes downwards towards my legs.
My stomach threatened to revolt again as I saw the jagged bone sticking out of my shin, fresh blood pouring from my open fracture.
I inhaled deeply, the pain of my injuring taking over.
My body shook as I felt like passing out.
I gritted my teeth while continuing to take in my injured body.
My left knee was swollen, throbbing and red.
Dried blood caked my hands, and my side was killing me.
Lifting my shirt, I clenched my teeth to help with the pain.
A new set of claw marks ran down the lower portion of my stomach, blood still slowly leaking from the wound.
What happened after I was pulled through the portal? Do you have any idea why we haven’t healed? I asked Sionn.
No response
I need to try and get out of here.
I looked around for any gaps in the bars large enough to sneak through, a crack in the wall I could maybe make larger...
I put my hands next to my sides and pushed myself up.
A strangled cry tore through me as a stabbing pain ran up my leg, the weight of my lower leg barley hanging on as I pushed myself up.
I swayed to the side, my vision blackening as the pain took over me.
I sucked in a breath, then another, and another until I felt like I could stay upright.
I turned my body towards the bars of my cell, reached out and, “God damn it!”
I tore my hand away, the palm of my hands burned, blisters beginning to form from the metal on the bars.
My body hit the stone wall behind me, I shrunk to the ground, as a sob escaped me.
No wonder I wasn’t healing, they had me in a silver cell.
I closed my eyes, and rested it against the cold stone, as I reached for my wolf again but felt nothing.
If I couldn’t reach my wolf, then I couldn’t reach my mate.
How would he find me? I screamed for what felt like forever, the inside of my throat was raw and throbbing as I choked on another sob, tears trailed down my face as I banged my head against the wall.
Why me.
What did I do to deserve this?
Declan? Can you hear me? I whispered through our link.
Please hear me.
Please. Please.
I got no answer… just like I expected but I still had hoped.
Hope was such a fickle bitch.
Was this what the fates had planned for me? To let me find my mate, claim him, tell me to stay with him, only to have me lose him? I felt as if my heart was being ripped out of my chest, the other half of my soul unreachable.
It hasn’t been long, our bond just accepted, but I had finally chosen something for myself.
I chose him.
He couldn’t possibly know where I was being held.
I didn’t even fucking know.
Placing my head between my hands, I closed my eyes trying to reduce my panic.
I was utterly alone in this cell.
I couldn’t even talk to my wolf.
My hands were shaking, my body was freezing, and my wounds ached as I trembled.
The cell was so cold I could see my breath in front of me.
The sounds of footsteps made my head whip up.
The door slammed open as a man I recognized walked through the door.
He was tall and skinny, his greasy brown hair met his shoulder, and his eyes were so dark they appeared to be black.
A wicked smile appeared on his face as he took in my bloody and broken body.
“Now isn’t this a wonderful sight, pet?”
His voice made me recoil as if I’d been slapped.
Choosing to stay silent as he stepped closer to my cell, I internally cringed as he bent down grabbing the bars in front of me.
The silver doing nothing to affect him.
“Do you not remember me? We had so much fun last time we were together.”
He reached through, trying to touch my face.
I moved away so quickly I had to bite my teeth down to prevent myself from crying out in pain.
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of the pleasure I knew he’d find in my pain.
“Ah come now pet, let me refresh your memory, shall I?”
With excitement on his face, he stood up and placed a key in the door to my cell.
After a click and the groaning of the metal being pulled open, he stepped inside.
He leaned down and grabbed my upper arm , pulling me to my feet.
I tore my arm from his grasp.
My shoulder burning from the dagger wound still lingering.
“Get your hands off of me.”
I growled, before I spit directly in his face.
“I do so love a pet who fights me.”
He laughed, while his smile stretched all the way to his ears, his yellowing teeth showing, the rotting smell of his breathe making me gag.
My right leg gave out and wouldn’t hold my weight.
A wave of nausea spread throughout my body, I trembled as my legs couldn’t support me.
My body, weakened from the blood loss.
He reached out again, gripping my arms tighter this time.
He held my weight against the wall, keeping me standing.
I pulled back again, thrashing as much as my body would allow.
Being near him, physically repulsed me.
I’d rather be burned from the silver bars than have this filth of a man near me.
A sneer appeared on his face as he stepped closer to me, his free hand travelled to my shoulder and he dug his fingers into my wound.
A whimper left me as I held in the scream climbing up my throat.
Do not cry.
Do not cry , I chanted repeatedly.
“Move it pet, I have so much planned for you.”
He tugged me forward harshly causing me to fall.
I threw my arms out to catch myself, my eyes blurring from the pain, nausea crawled up my throat as a wave of dizziness as I cried out from the bones snapping in my wrist on impact.
Tears trailed down my face as I bit my lip harder to keep from crying out again, the taste of blood now going down my throat.
The cry slipping from my lips was going to cause me enough harm.
“I love the sound bones make when they snap don’t you? Such sweet pleasure to my ears.”
He was such a twisted fuck.
My memories from my attack had slowly started returning over the past few weeks since my glamour began to fade.
I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone because if I talked about what had occurred that night, I wasn’t sure I would be able to hold myself together.
The man who was at the forefront of my memories from that night was in this cell with me.
I didn’t remember his name, but I would never forget the satisfaction he had when he beat the shit out of me in that alley.
He may not have been the one who caused the scars of my side, but he broke my bones over and over until I was unable to move.
Breaking me down to nothing but a pile of flesh and broken bones on the dirty alley floor soaked in my own blood with no one around to save me.
Until my wolf broke free.
“Stand up pet.”
Gritting my teeth, I used my left arm to push myself into a sitting position.
My vision began to blur from the pain.
An arm reached down , grabbing underneath my shoulder and upper arm to pull me up to my feet again.
I swayed. “Walk.”
“My right leg is broken.”
I ground out.
He leaned over, breathing in my scent and growled, “I don’t give a fuck, move.”
He shoved me forward, forcing me to catch myself on my broken leg.
I cried out in pain.
Fuck.
If I kept crying out, this was only going to get worse.
Hardening myself and trying to lock my emotions away, I managed to step forward.
He shoved me every few feet until we made it through the cell doors.
As soon as we walked through the opening a metal collar was clamped on my throat.
I bit my tongue, to keep from screaming.
My skin began to burn underneath the heavy iron now adorning my neck.
He shoved me forward, my blood dripping on the cement, leaving a trail as we went through several doorways.
When we finally stopped at the end of the hallway, I felt like I was going to vomit and pass out, not sure which one was going to happen first.
Hopefully the vomiting so I didn’t choke and die.
That would be such an embarrassing way to go out.
Shoving two thick iron doors open, he led me to what looked like a torture chamber.
A metal slab with what looked like silver lined restraints was in the center of the room.
Needles, syringes, knives, gags, spiked batons, stun guns, and collars lined the walls to the right.
I blinked as he turned on bright lights.
The room smelled of iron and ammonia, making my stomach recoil.
I wrinkled my nose as my throat began to close, my lungs seizing in my chest.
“Where are we? Are we still in Scotland”? I asked him.
He scoffed and pulled me towards the table.
“No pet, and don’t think you can fool me into telling you, our location.
I see the mark of your mate on your skin.”
Not that I could use it to tell Declan where I was, thanks to the stupid silver collar on my throat.
I stumbled forwards as he shoved me from behind.
Maybe I could force my words down the bond.
I wound endure any pain if it would help me out of here.
Help get me back to my mate.
I tugged hard on that cord that connected us.
Pushing my thoughts his way, Declan! Can you hear me?! I squeezed my eyes shut, held my breath, and clenched my jaw as the skin around my neck began to burn.
My eyes shot open, as the pain was almost too much to bear.
They began to water, I almost gave up until… A wave of relief slammed into the bond.
"Talia! Where are you?! " I choked on a cry.
The sound of his voice barely a whisper at the back of my mind, but the feeling of hope overwhelmed me.
I spoke back, "They have had me in a silver cell.
I can’t even feel my wolf."
"Why can you talk to me now? Where are you? Can you tell me anything about your location?" He growled out.
Fear lacing his voice.
I could feel his panic through the muted bond.
My heart pounded in my chest.
Fear of losing this connection consuming me.
"I forced my words down the bond, hoping you’d hear me." I cried.
"The have me in a separate room, well he does.
I haven’t met anyone, and I don’t know where I am.
The cell is made of stone and has silver infused."
“Why are your eyes glowing?! Are you talking with your mate?”
Shit.
I didn’t realize that they would glow.
I should’ve known from seeing Declan’s when he talked with his pack members, but this was new for me.
“Get on this table pet. Now.”
he ordered.
Talia is everything okay? Talk to me little wolf.
He growled.
Shoving me onto the table roughly, the man laughed as my head hit the side.
I gritted my teeth as a small trail of blood slid down the side of my face, my head was pounding from the impact.
My body so weakened I was afraid I wouldn’t last much longer.
My legs began to shake, my wrist throbbing from the pain, blood still dripping from my injuries.
How much blood could I lose before I couldn’t heal myself.
"I’m not sure I'll survive this." I whispered back.
"I can feel your pain little wolf," he growled.
I could feel his panic through the bond.
"Tell me what is happening.
Sasha is trying to locate you since the bond in active right now.
Try and push your memories down the bond for me, okay?" I kept my eyes closed as I concentrated.
I couldn’t go much longer, my skin around my neck was beginning to blister.
I could feel my throat swelling from the strain of breaking through the hold the silver had over my magic.
I started to think of the cell, the sounds I heard around me, the smells, I even pictured the face of my torturer.
His eyes were so black I couldn’t see my reflection in them, his long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and the shape of his face was so narrow and his chin pointy it made me think of a snake.
A loud growl came down the bond.
I tried to block out what was happening right now as iron cuffs clamped around my wrists, slipping from the sweat coating my entire body.
The pain in my left wrist as the cuff pushed on the fracture made my body continued to shake.
It felt like someone was sticking a white-hot branding iron inside of me and burning me.
The panic began to settle in, as I could smell the arousal coming from the man strapping me down.
I tried to slow down my breathing and focus on Declan.
" Our connection is fading, I can barely feel you.
I need you to hang in there.
Sasha has almost pinpointed your location." His voice was fading.
Cuffs clamped around my ankles, a sharp, prickly pain covered my ankles, blisters already forming underneath the cuff.
I couldn’t move as I felt the walls closing in around me.
Pain shot up my leg as straps were tightened across my body.
There is too much silver.
I can’t keep pushing past it…
"Talia, I can feel the pain you are in.
I’ll be there soon.
Hold on." His voice faded from my mind as the silver infused collar was tightened around my neck, blocking the connection we had.
I was thankful that he wouldn’t be feeling the pain I was about to go through but having him there was a lifeline I needed to hold on to.
“What should we start with first pet? Should I break some more bones, or should we carve some of this pretty skin of yours? I’d love to leave my mark on this beautiful body.”
he asked me, excitement lacing his voice.
He turned to the weapons rack and grabbed a small, wickedly sharp knife before walking back over to me.
He slowly dragged the blade over my clothes.
“These clothes.
I think they need to go.
I need to see more of your skin to know where to start.”
My pants tore easily under his blade as he cut the fabric from around my wounds.
He was not gentle.
The blade nicked my skin, drawing blood with every cut he made.
I tried shifting my weight away from him, holding in my cries as he ripped and tore at my skin and the fabric of my clothes until I was lying on the table in nothing but my underwear.
“Now that…that is so much better.”
He looked my body up and down with an expression so concerning I closed my eyes to block it out.
A scream tore from my throat as the blade of his knife drag down the inside of my arm from shoulder to wrist.
The warmth of my blood pooled around me on the table.
The next cut was down the side of my face, then my stomach, my legs, my other arm.
He cut me so many times I lost track of the number of marks covering my body.
I withdrew into myself, clinging to the bond even though I knew Declan couldn’t hear me.
I hope you find me soon.
I might not be the same as when I left, but I will survive this.
The scars I am given will not define the woman I become…
I will survive this.
I will survive this.
I will survive this.
These scars will become my truth.
My skin was slick with blood.
His laugh floated across the room as he leaned in and whispered, “A masterpiece.
Your body will be my finest work yet.”
Bile rose in my throat as his fingers trailed down my abdomen towards my center. “No!”
I screamed.
My voice was so hoarse from screaming I wasn’t sure I could say much more.
“Please, no.”
A whimper left me as my body shook.
I had burns around my wrists, ankles, and neck from where the silver restraints burned into my skin.
My consciousness slipped as the temperature in the room dropped.
My throat felt as if I had swallowed metal shards.
“Now this… this right here is an absolute treasure.
I cannot wait to explore your insides.”
His voice was now coming in sharp pants, and I heard his heartbeat increasing.
“Has your mate even had the pleasure of touching you, tasting your sweet juices, and feeling you come as he thrusts inside you?”
Panic.
All I could feel was panic.
I was on the verge of passing out.
My body was beaten and broken and the amount of blood I had lost… I wouldn’t last much longer.
Looking up into the stone ceiling, the physical block between myself and the world.
If only I could see the clear blue skies above, to know the world still exists beyond these walls.
I swallowed the bile in my throat, tears streamed down my face as I squeezed them shut, I sent my pleas out to the moon goddess.
My ancestor.
Aurelia if you can hear me.
Please.
Anything.
I will give you anything to stop this from going further.
I can take the pain.
My body is broken but please don’t let him break my mind.
I waited.
Hoping she would intervene.
I was her descendant.
Her family.
No one came.
Fuck hope.
Once again, I was left to deal with the reality of my fate. Alone.
As he pushed my underwear to the side and clambered on top of me, his body weight settling on my broken body, I imagined I was anywhere but here.
I imagined I was running through the forest with my mate beside me.
Our friends were all safe and together.
I had been allowed to claim my rightful place on the throne.
Give my people a chance at freedom.
If I make it out of here, I promise I will take the throne.
I will fight for my people.
I squeezed my eyes tighter, cold sweat breaking out on my body as I swallowed back a whimper in my throat.
I heard the rustling of his clothes, the buckle of his belt being removed, the zipper on his pants sliding down.
My tears soaked my cheeks as he forced himself inside me.
I pulled against the restraints holding me down , biting my tongue and making it bleed as I tried to get away from him.
“Oh princess, you feel so good.”
He moaned.
Thrust.
“You will think of me when your mate is inside of you.”
Thrust.
“I have left my mark on your body and now inside of you.”
I was grateful when I finally blacked out.
When I came to, he was pulling out of me with a high-pitched moan.
My whole body was numb as he shoved himself back into his pants, then began to unclamp the silver cuffs on my body.
I had no energy.
I just stared at the ceiling as he lifted me up and carried me back to my cell.
The doors to my cell opened without him touching the lock.
He tossed my body onto the cold, hard floor and looked back with a smile on his face.
“Until next time pet.”
He left me with a silver collar around my throat, unable to connect to my mate or my wolf.
I felt no pain as I curled into a tight ball, my mind too fractured to feel anything at all.