I was thankful when the beast fell into my hands, sleeping.

His hair, dangerously covering a part of his forehead. Chiseled jaw and a smooth face, which had some beard around his chin. He reminded me of the way an Adonis was described, in one of the books I read back at home.

Home.

I missed home.

I found myself drifting back to reality, and giggling a bit at the way he snored while he slept.

For someone as powerful and good looking, he was a disaster in bed.

What are you doing, Ava?

You should be making your way out instead of admiring him...

"I need to go,"

I whispered, pushing him off my body with all my strength and rolling him over. The girls would soon wake up, and I wouldn't want any mixed feelings about this.

"Stay."

His hands suddenly tightened around my hands saying.

"W-what, I have to—"

"Please stay...don't leave."

He trailed out sleepily, with his eyes closed. There were beads of sweat on his forehead. And his lips were slightly parted, like in distress.

I wondered if he was having a bad dream.

"They all want power."

"They all want it,"

"But...I don't care."

"I want love. I want to recover. I want to improve... if you would give me a chance to."

Caspian shuddered as he said those words, trembling with tears going sideways as he slept.

"Please don't leave. Don't hate me, like the others. Don't be fake too?"

"I can't control my monster but I didn't mean harm. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I promise."

"Please stay..."

"Stay."

At his every word, I cringed my eyes in hurt. I sat on my spot, with tears coming down my eyes at how he presently looked.

It seemed he was traumatized from something that happened in the past.

From an incident, from someone. And I wanted to help him. I wished I could save him. If he had an explanation for all this dystopia, like he drunkenly said.

Then I wanted to be his redemption.

His mate.

"I will stay,"

I muttered, placing my other hand on his which covered his large palms.

"I won't leave, I promise."

My hands tightened around his hands, saying.

Didn't know if felt like I meant those words.

...

I didn't get to eat breakfast.

I had missed it, since the beast summoned me to his chambers. Thus, I wore my cloth, taking a hold of my sword and my sheath.

I walked to the training ground, only to meet them assembled.

Thankfully, they hadn't started yet.

Still quite shaken from what I had witnessed, I had a hard time focusing on reality. Thinking of the sight of Caspian at his most vulnerable moment, made me rethink everything else I had thought of him to be.

"Take position!"

Elder Zu shouted, in command.

I raised the sword just like others did. Like always, I was partnered with Emily.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

"You weren't at breakfast today. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

I answered, with a dismissive expression.

I wished I could shut everything out. That I didn't have to fight to survive. That it was all okay.

"Okay, let's get to work then" she said, eyeing me suspiciously before returning to focus on Elder Zu's words.

"Today, we are learning a breathing technique. Every warrior should master a few healing techniques, in case of casualty."

He said.

We immediately commenced practicing and doing as he said. Elder Zu added sword techniques too. He made us believe that everyone had a chakra— which was an energy.

That when discovered, your fighting energy is improved.

"To discover, get peace with your soul, mind and body."

I didn't even pay attention. My mind was drifted on the reveal from the beast of what was really going on in this castle.

"Ava, what are you doing? I feel like I'm fighting with an infant. Can you put more effort?!"

Emily yelled at me.

"I'm trying."

I stated.

"Really? Cause you seemed a little off today. You disappeared and literally came out of nowhere."

"When I asked what was wrong, you told me it was nothing."

She answered, stopping in her tracks.

"Cause nothing is wrong, can we continue now?"

"Are you sure? You can talk to me, you know. If someone abused or touched you, you can tell me..."

"What?" I cringed my nose saying.

My eyes roamed around her, to find signs that it was a joke. But when she didn't bulge, I knew she was serious.

"Yes, you can...you know."

She enclosed the space between us, saying, reaching for my arm. Her face had a supportive look, but it irritated me. I needed space.

My body had a withheld fury, that needed to be out.

"Get your hands off me! Not everyone is like you, Emily."

I sneered, without even thinking.

I realized what I said, widening my eyes with an apologetic expression.

"W-what?"

Tears immediately surrounded her eyes. Her entire body trembled, and the effect made her drop the sword.

"When I told you that... I never expected you to use it against me, Ava."

"I'm um—"

"I thought we were friends." she stated.

"Friends don't use past scars against each other..."

A look of betrayal was written all over on her face.

"I'm sorry."

I stated immediately. "I'm really sorry, Emily."

"Please..."

"I'm just really frustrated. I discovered nothing we see here, is really the truth."

"I found out--"

"It's okay."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you could tell me that later." she remarked.

"But this isn't the same girl that pulled me out of the sack and comforted me. This isn't the same girl that gave me her clothes, when I needed it the most."

Emily added, in a husky tone.

"I feel annoyed too. In fact, I'm frustrated and scared."

"But we only have each other, you know. Perhaps with Piper, but she's in the kitchen section."

She added, reminding me.

That was indeed true.

"We shouldn't fight. All this...we would soon be free someday."

"Either by winning, or by death."

...

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