C H A P T E R 7

Valentina Dove Blackclaw

foul stench of the dungeon cell lingers in the air around her as she has a hard time breathing without gagging. Valentina keeps her ice blue eyes tightly closed as she hugs her own body where she was thrown, afraid to even move, refusing to even open up her eyes even when they won't be able to see anything in the blinding darkness that consumes her whole. The scent of rotting flesh amongst other disgusting things she would rather not think of hits her nose all at once.

The tears in her eyes battle with her of falling down but in the end the tears win and she allows them to fall down. The silence hangs over her like a shadow on a sunny day, yet this moment feels nothing sunny. Her body aches all over and the pain is in waves over her. Her head is most likely bleeding, she can feel it and the pounding headache doesn't help her either. It shuts down every thought she has, as it wants her to think only of the agony and pain.

The pain makes the tears only leak faster down until she has no more tears left to cry and the headache as gotten worse from her crying alone. Her fingers hold the book and she would rather end up dead than let that book go. The book is a sign that she will live and she will be free once more. That every life has its ups and down but in the end it will always find the right road and go towards happiness, and soon she shall be on that road but for now her life has not found it, yet.

However the girls mind keeps returning to the fact that her very own Mate is the main reason why she's in pain and she's locked away. His words alone haunt her mind and echo around in her brain, a tornado with his words and voice that swirls around and she can never forget it. The harsh words that were said physically hurt her and she can feel her heart shatter in thousands upon thousands pieces that she's left to pick up all on her own and put together to from the broken heart in her chest.

Fear kept her petrified and frozen on the spot as she did not dare moving for the fear of something being there, she can smell dead bodies. Where? She doesn't know and doesn't want to find out nor does she want to know how many. The temperature keeps dropping and a shiver rungs through her as the goosebumps rise from both fear and cold. Hugging herself even tighter she ignores the rumbling in her stomach as it begins to digest itself from lack of food and to keep the little warmth that she does have.

Her eyes feel heavy and Valentina struggles to keep up the fight with the tiredness that threatens to take over her whole body, and as much as sleep sounds good in her mind and wake up from this horrible nightmare. She knows it's not possible and the nightmare will still be happening when she does awake from her slumber and fearing that it will still continue even within her dreams. Fright of what might happen if she does fall asleep also creeps in and she forces her eyes to stay open and not fall down, no matter how hard that fight is.

She sniffs and with the back of her hands she wipes away the tears but only more keep coming down. The thought of her all alone down there shocks her to the bone and the fright chains her down like an animal. She is trapped in a another cage like a wild animal, only this one is bigger yet she would've preferred the small one for the smell and the disgusting things that are around her make her want to throw up. Forcing her to not throw up as it would only do more harm than good to her body as her stomach is already empty as it is.

Her ears start to pick up sounds in the background, sounds she had been ignoring before. Droplets of water falling down behind her every few seconds, echoing groans and moans in pain in the distance. Far away but so close to her. The wind from outside that travels down and by the time it reaches her, it is nothing but a faint breeze and cold one at that and when it kisses her skin she shivers. Loud crash noises from above come to her ears every so often yet she wonders not what they are and neither does she wish to know what horrors are happening.

Licking her lips to keep them moist she realizes that they're lumpy and dry from lack of hydration and the cold air around her that bites her dry lips. She had not known they were this dry and she begins to realize that they would stay dry for a long time. There is nothing around her, except for death, she's sure she would not get anything. As she is nothing as he had told her and all she can do is play the part in order to survive.

Valentina's stomach was in knots and it cramped a lot but she ignored it, refused to listen for the calls for food, any food would satisfy it, yet she did not listen. Already knowing that food was not coming and it would likely not come for days. Staying in the same spot she saves energy and at least she can have some peace before the real nightmare begins. She doesn't know but she does feel it that something bad will happen to her and in order to stay alive she must save the little energy that her small body does have.

Valentina doesn't know for how long she's been down there nor does she care. Time did not seem to pass by, the seconds felt like eternity. The darkness has swallowed her whole and the hunger eating her from the inside out. The silence is loud yet as silent as it can be. She lies on the side with the book as her pillow for her head. Her once golden hair is covered in dirt and is now filthy and disgusting. The scent is growing on her yet she's learned not to care any more about it.

The tears that she used to cry before have run out as her body is extremely hydrated and the hunger is making her go insane. Not once has she tried to get out as she can already feel the silver coated on the bars and the walls. She's trapped in a sliver cage and silver is lethal to her kind. And not once has she tried to find the source of the foul smell that taints her lungs for she can already guess what it is. Most of the time she spends on the ground in the same position, with her eyes snapped closed and trying to find a place in her mind where no pain nor agony finds her.

Living in misery and all alone with no interaction with anyone it harder than anything she's ever done before, even the suffering she went through when losing not only one but two parents. She would've settled with a Vampire but none came down there as far as her knowledge goes. To distract herself from the pain that havoc her stomach as the hunger is too much she allows the sleep to softly take her and she finds her sleeping a lot.

Lost in her own pain she had not noticed how the wound on her head had gotten infected, she had been feeling too much pain and agony throughout her whole body whether it is from laying down in the same position and neither move nor flinch or from the starvation. The ice blue-eyed girl has nothing but pain and misery mixed with sadness and sorrow in her eyes that hangs over her like a dark cloud on a sunny day. Yet, this is neither sunny nor is it even a day. The middle of night has taken over but that is not known by her.

She has not tried to speak or even open her mouth. Each time she swallows pain waves around in her throat from the lack of hydration and sometimes she begins to wonder if the crimson liquid in her veins is leaking down her throat when she feels something else go down her throat along with her saliva. Her throat feels like it has been caught on fire without the actual fire itself, yet the burning feeling doesn't leave her alone, not for one second. Swallowing burns her and opening her mouth is even painfuller.

For ten long and horribly miserable days she has been down there all by herself in pure agony. The fear surprisingly did quiet down after the first three days when she came to that realization that no one was coming for her, yet another thing took over. Her mind wondered if this was the end, if she were just to be down there to starve to death and it will be over. In those dark times she would wander to the fact that she truly does not want to suffer any longer, that the sorrow and pain is too much for her and she begs for it all to end, yet she continues to move one.

Hope kept her alive in all those ten gruesome ten days and hope made her realize that all she has to do is not give it up in order to stay alive. She made a promise that she was going to fight and that is what she shall keep doing. She will fight or her life and fight for her freedom. Yet, she also wonders how she can fight when she can barely move. Her muscles and even bones are hurting too much that she has a hard time moving and that is the reason why she chooses to stay in one position.

The night came to morning yet the darkness inside the dungeon cell remained as it is. She has neither touched nor seen any light in those ten days and she at times she begins to wonder if she will ever see it again. Yet again the hope of seeing the light and feeling the warm sun rays kiss her skin and give her the feeling of happiness as she bathes in the light keeps her knowing that one day she will be in the light once again.

By dawn footsteps echo in her brain and she keeps thinking that this is the time that she has gotten insane and is slowly but surly losing her own mind. Yet the closer they get the more hope fills her body, not even knowing why she would be hoping for footsteps. Perhaps because she's been all alone in the darkness and in need of any kind of interaction, no matter with whom. Yet, she also believes it could be the one that will finally take her life away from her. The footsteps grow even louder and louder.

The bones in her neck crack when she begins to lift her head as she had begun to notice the footsteps were coming her way and the hope in her body was over the roof. Her body aches and it pains all over. She's begging to run a fever as she can barely keep her eyes open, from the infection in her head. A low and dark chuckle is the first sound she hears from a creature that is a Vampire. Through everything her body knows it is not her Mate as she can't feel the bond pull to him.

Her eyes slowly open yet she had forgotten that the darkness does not allow her to see anything. The sounds of keys jingling meets her ears and her mouth curls up into a small smile, barely visible but still there. Strong and rough arms wrap themselves around her waist and harsh fully pull her up. A faint screaming sound escapes her throat as the wave of pain hits her whole body. She has not moved in days and suddenly her body is forced too. The screaming is the first sound she has made in a long time and her own voice is strange in her ears.

Tingling runs all throughout her whole body as she can barely feel her own legs and arms, yet the pain remains there to torture her endlessly. Her eyes have a hard time staying open and the fever is making her so weak that she cannot even think straight about anything. "Stupid Mutt" The Vampire who had picked her up mutters into her ears. His voice is touch and hoarse and it sends shivers down her spine for all the wrong reasons. Black spots almost like stars dance violently on her vision as she feels the darkness want to overthrow her.

Using the little strength that she does have Valentina fights back the darkness and she fights it as hard as she can. Her hand managed to pick up the book and hold onto it, yet her fingers feel like slipping away and it takes everything in her to keep that book in her hands. The Vampire is dragging her somewhere, at the moment she doesn't care about it. Her stomach is pained and her whole body is aching with throbbing pain that never seems to want to go away and it follows her around everywhere.

The ice blue-eyed girl doesn't know where she is being taken and frankly she doesn't care, all she wants is to lie down and welcome the sleep to take her once more. The fever is making her too weak and even her bones are hurting and sleep is the only way to get rid of the pounding pain that has taken over her whole body. Biting her own inner cheek until the fresh crimson liquid begins to flow down her throat to make sure she doesn't let out a blood-curling scream from her already aching throat.

Her head hangs down as she has too little strength in her body to even lift up her own head. From the lack of food and water and the infection that is on her found but also the fever that only grows worse with each passing hour. The Vampire continues to insult her with harsh and cruel words yet her ears pick up none of them and whether she's not listing or doesn't want to she doesn't know anymore, her body is not her own anymore as she feels herself battling to even control her very own body.

No light has shone on her the whole way that the Vampire drags her on, it makes her wonder if it is day or night, as she doesn't know. It is still pitch black all around her and perhaps that is because of her limited vision or because of the fever that is tricking her brain. Valentina doesn't know if it is just her and her horrible memory or if the Vampire is dragging her another way than the one did before when she was taken to that awful and horrible dungeon cell, somehow she knows she's not going the same way.

Through the pain Valentina has figured out that she is indeed being taken somewhere else. Where? She doesn't know and there is something inside of her that screams to her that she wants to know. Normally she would not care, yet somehow she does care where she's being taken. Perhaps she can smell her Mate around the castle or maybe it is because he is near, she can't be sure. Then again the fever is making her a bit confused and unsure of everything that happens around her and especially when the feelings inside of her are going insane when smelling the sweet scent of her Mate.

Her heart is beating out of her chest as she begins to realize that the Vampire is taking her straight to her own Mate and she's instantly filled with happiness, a emotion she has not felt in so long and now it is trying to explode her form the inside out and all the pain is forgotten in that moment as she knows she draws nearer to her Mate. His scent fills her up and she's becoming addicted to him and his scent, not wanting to let go of that scent or him.

It's filling her up with feelings like never before. Being away from her Mate has proved to have done more harm than good yet perhaps it has brought the two closer than ever without having met each other after that one time. His scent grows stronger with each passing second it's making her go insane, wanting to be around him to heal faster, to feel better and to be complete. Not once has it crossed her mind that he is her enemy as at this moment she doesn't care about it. Being near him is all her heart, body and mind need.

Like nothing on this planet is more important than that and even the pain seems so distant to her and as if she does not feel it anymore. The healing of being close to her Mate had already begun the moment she found his heavily scent. The Vampire stops right in his tracks in front of a wooden door. Her body can automatically sense him in there with only wood between the two of them and it being the only thing in the way of her being with her Mate. The Vampire knocks on the door.

"Enter" His harsh voice fills her ears and not long after the Vampire holding her opens the door and then rudely and harshly throws her inside without him even stepping inside and closes the door. Her body falls roughly down to the ground and having no strength to even move she stays on the ground. Biting her inner cheek to keep herself from crying out in pure pain when her body has hit the ice-cold tiles of the floor. Her body shakes violently not only from fear but also from hunger and the cold temperature in the air.

She gulps as she can hear his loud breathing. She can feel her body begging her to be closer to him than she already is but her mind screams back that does not want to be near her. The fact that she is near him surprises and shocks her at the same time. Slowly she begins to lift her head up when he doesn't move or say anything. The darkness around her gives her a hard time to see yet her eyes catch a faint light coming from a window. The first light her eyes have seen in ten days brings such a relief to her.

The light only boosts up the small hope that was in her body up towards the roof, she doesn't know what she hopes for but the hope is there and for some reason she knows it won't go away. He clears his throat and her head snaps to her left to see the shadows of him sitting in a chair. Not much can she see as not only is her vision limited but the black dots are still fighting in a war to take over her eyes and bring nothing but darkness to her.

The fear lingers in the air and Valentina's sure he can smell the fright all over her. "You are to be my personal Blood Slave. Starting today now that you are no longer a threat" He says, his dark voice alone sends chills all over her. Her gaze returns to the floor. Reality hits her like a punch had been throws her way and the pain radiates all over her. His words break her heart even further when she was only gaining hope that falls now flat to the floor. She hears him stand up and walks over to her.

His hand wraps itself over her hair when he had bent down to be on her level and he harshly lifts her head up by her hair. Holding back a scream that wants to erupt from her throat she meets his face which she can't see but she can feel his scarlet red eyes stare down at her, with anger and hate. "We can't have you passing out on me. Food and medicine will be brought to you before the real...fun begins" He whispers into her ear, his voice so dark and twisted yet her body responds to it, longing to hear it.

Valentina can't believe her own mind when she hears him speak, he's really giving her food and medication? That shocks her to the core and then realizes that there has to be something else, something wicked that is coming her way. "Can't have my new toy dying, now can?" He asks making her whimper. He talked as if he had heard the thoughts in her head and answered her unasked question. He cruelly chuckles as he throws her head back to the ground, thankfully her head lands on her hand and not the cold hard floor.

Not wanting to get another wound as she already has one that has become infected and might be causing her some hallucinations, she can't be sure of anything anymore. She can't even be sure that what is happening now is truly happening or not. Yet her body is too pained to even worry about it or even think about such things. "Guards!" His harsh and loud voice calls out and she flinches from the loudness which only makes him wickedly chuckles at how afraid she is. Never would she have imagined that she fears her own Mate, but she also did not expect him to be a Vampire and a King at that.

Not only a few seconds later the door is thrown open. "Take this filth away, you know where" He orders, his voice always cruel and dark and evil. She's roughly picked up once again and dragged out of the room, away from her Mate. A soft and low whine escapes from her as he becomes nothing but a distance that only grows further and further away from her. She still is unable to see anything yet she's sure that she's going somewhere new, somewhere unknown to her and that does not have the scent that only fills her up with... love.