I took a deep breath to try and calm myself. Though it didn't work, I still felt the chill of fear sneak its way in. I was terrified. What would Damian do to me? How could I escape?

My hands began to sweat as I stood up and paced, overthinking about everything. I couldn't break down the door, I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't over power Damian because I had already tried that. I was trapped, and pacing wasn't helping, only adding to my nervousness. So I stopped and sat on the ground. I went over my other options, there weren't that many.

My heart beat filled the quiet room as I thought. My mind swimming for ideas and some sort of a plan. Though nothing came.

I must've been there for a few hours, because finally Damian returned and when I stood up I found that my legs had cramped. I cringed away from the sudden light that came from the doorway.

"Are you ready to talk?" He asked in a villainous tone.

"There's nothing to talk about. Your mother and I were just getting to know each other." I half lied. I did want to get to know Calia and she had told me about her past, but that's I knew that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"I can tell when you're lying." He countered and walked towards me. Though I had only known him for a week I could tell that he could tell. I was a terrible liar.

I felt myself shrink under his sickening gaze and I tried to move away from him. To move anywhere he wasn't

"I'm not lying." I said, though I didn't sound confident and confidence was key when talking with Damian.

"You know Aurora, I would appreciate it if you didn't lie to me. Especially since you are going to be my wife in a few short weeks." Damian said, I saw him walk over to a wall and grab the whip he had placed there a few hours ago.

"I will never be your wife." I s as he walked back over to me. His pace seemed egear and confident and I suddenly knew what he was going to do. Though it had been obvious only moments ago

"I really wish you hadn't said that." He said and grabbed me.

One of his arms twisted around me as I tried to escape his grip. Damian turned me towards him and struck me with his free hand. I tasted blood in my mouth as I was knocked back by the blow. My head spun and I felt as if it would fall off. I landed on my hands and knees on the floor. My already aching body pulsed from the new pain the Princes hit had caused me.

"You will learn your place and learn to respect me." He growled before ripping the clothes from my back.

The dress I was wearing fell from my body and my body became exposed. I tried to cover myself, but before I could the sharp whip came crashing down on my back. My scream rang out in the room, the intense pain flooded through me and it was all I could think about. It didn't help that I was already in immeasurable pain.

My breathing stopped as I felt the second lash come down against my bare back. I hadn't thought it was possible for the second whipping to hurt more, nor had I thought I could scream louder. I was sure the entire castle could hear me with this cry of pain. The only thought that I could muster was of death. If only he could kill me and free me from the pain his lashes caused.

"Is that enough, do I have to keep beating the truth out go you?" His sinister voice said as he pulled my hair to whisper the striking words into my ear.

"I am telling the truth." I muttered, unable to speak louder, my screams seemed to have taken my voice with them, escaping from this vile room.

"That's not good enough, love." He said, throwing me back against the concrete floor to resume his beating.

My screams filled the room and I felt myself losing consciousness. The pain was too much as my eyes fell closed and I was left in a lifeless state on the floor. The sound of Damian's whip against my back still echoing in the dark room.

~~~~~~~

"Aurora, are you okay?" Someone asked as my eyes began to open. My head spun as my eyes opened to reveal a dark cell. The air musty with the smell of death and the dim light of torches.

There I saw a young girl sitting in another cell beside mine. Her red hair sticking to her tanned skin, as if she hadn't had a bath in days. Her eyes looked bloodshot from crying and her voice was cracked, as if like me, she had been screaming for help. Though none had come.

"Who are you? How do you know my name? Where am I?" The questions left my mouth in a hurry and I felt myself backing into a concrete wall. I then realized that my chest was exposed, so I quickly tied my ruined dress around my upper body, it didn't entirely help, but at least I was covered.

Though that was a bad idea. Right when my back hit the cement, I was bombarded with pain and I remembered what had happened. My cry rang out in the room and I hurried away from the wall and tripped over my feet, falling down in the middle of the small cell. I cursed, feeling the pain flood through me from the fall.

"Aurora, it's alright." The young girl said in a calm voice. I didn't feel calm, my heart was racing and fear shook me to my very core.

"It's not alright, where am I?" I yelled.

"You're in the dungeons." Her calm voice said.

"In the dungeons!?" I screamed, worry and fear clouded my rationalization. How had I gotten here?

"Aurora." The girl groaned.

"How... How did I get here?" I asked.

"The prince brought you down here a few days ago. You've been unconscious ever since." The girl said and I felt myself begin to hyperventilate. I crawled into a sitting position, feeling my legs slide up and I hugged them. Being careful not the injure myself more

My breathing became short as I struggled to get air to my lungs. My heart was racing faster than Clove, back home could run. Now that I was in the dungeons there was no way I could get out, I would probably die down here, if someone didn't find me fast.

Tears began to slide down my cheeks as I thought of all the things I would miss after death. My mother, Cal, Daphne, even Calia. Though I had only been in this hell hole for two weeks, Calia had been there for me and had become a genuine friend. I stifled a sob and buried my face in my arms.

"Aurora, could you stop crying, I'm not good at the whole emotional thing. Makes me uncomfortable." The girl said. I felt her gaze on me.

"How... did.. you know... my name?" I asked, through sobs. I held my head up to look at her.

"I know a lot. It's more of a burden than a gift." She said, vaguely. Her gaze turned from mine, her eyes unfocused and drifting, as if she were reminiscing something.

"What's... your name?" My question hung in the air as I saw her debating whether she should answer.

"Elizabeth, my name is Elizabeth Arized." She spoke after a minute of silence. "But you can call me Lizzy. All of my other friends do."

"Well... Lizzy... are you a... a..." I couldn't get the word out. Though I kept thinking about her usage of friend. Could I be a friend to this girl?

"A witch? Yes I am." Lizzy answered, her voice sounded proud. I let out a nervous laugh and felt her judging gaze on me.

"If it's not rude to ask, how old are you?" I questioned, her eyes flashed with amusement, as if she were happy that I had asked her this.

"Fifteen. Though I am the strongest witch in our coven." She smiled, happy for the chance to brag about her gifts.

"Can you get us out?" I questioned, hoping that her powers could help.

"No..." She said, though I could see in her eyes that she was holding something back.

"What? What is it?" I asked, her eyes still filled with knowledge.

"It's nothing, well that's a bit of an understatement." She confessed.

"You just said you were the strongest in your coven. So spit it out Lizzy."

"When I entered the castle, you remember." She paused, giving me a chance to remember that day and of course I did.

Once she saw the look of remembrance in my eyes she continued. Her voice cracked and jagged.

"When I was forced into the castle, I felt a presence here. Us witches have a knack for sensing other witches. It's more annoying than useful. Once I sensed my mom and dad-"

"Lizzy, back on track." I interrupted her from going into detail about her parents.

"Right, sorry. So, I sensed a presence here."

"What does that mean?" I asked, feeling more worry and fear sink in.

"It means, there's another witch in this castle. And they're evil and much more powerful than me. I could only guess they are working for the king."