Eve's POV

I had no choice but to allow them to drag me away. It was a long walk. One filled with anxiety, fear, panic and grieve.

Being dragged away did not bother me as much as it should have because I still couldn't accept what Henri had done. My sister. Why would she do this to me? Whoever I saw wasn't my dear Henri. She wouldn't do this.

No!

She wouldn't!

At least not by choice!

I refuse to believe that it was Henri's doing. The lady must have compelled my sister to do whatever she wanted. Most vampires could do that. Maybe she even threatened Henri.

When we reached one of the main hallways in the south wing, the guards suddenly took a sharp turn to the left. There was a heavy wooden door. They forcefully pushed me through it then dragged me down a stairwell. It went down and down about three to four floors under. I couldn't be sure. The more I was dragged the more fear built up in me.

What had I done to anger the Lady so much?

What was going to happen down here?

It became darker and darker until two of the guards behind me lit up their torches. My breathing started to become heavy and my arms hurt so much from the force they were using to hold and drag me. Once we walked through another hallway, we stopped in front of a gigantic metal door.

"You sure it's this one? It's been abandoned for years now," one of the guards who stood behind me asked.

"Yes I'm sure," the guard on my right spoke strictly. The door opened with the help of two other guards and we walked through the doors. The entire place was dusty, old and very cold. Mist came out of my mouth as I let my breath out. There were only eight separate cells in this area. All were sealed with metal bar gates. Metal chains and ropes were hanging on the walls and in some cells, the chains were connected to the ceiling.

The two guards then dragged me to the third cell on the left side. They then forcefully pushed me in and attached the shackles around my wrists to the chain connected to the ceiling. One of the guards pushed a button on the wall, which caused the chains to pull. The action caused my arms to stretch up higher. It came to a point where my feet were lifted off the ground. Only then did the guard lower me a little. That way my feet just kissed the ground. The other guard came to shackle my ankles which were connected to the ground. I couldn't move in this position.

By then, my mind refused to think anymore. I couldn't function properly. Everything was hurting. My mind became a messy blur. Minutes after the guards left me in that dark cell, I passed out due to the exhaustion.

~~~

I woke up with a start, my wrists and ankles burned. My spine felt like it was going to snap. I knew from the pain that whatever happened wasn't a horrible nightmare. It was the horrible reality and it was only going to get worse.

I looked around. It was still dark but not completely pitch black like when they left me. From the dim orange light which glowed, I could tell there was a torch lit up. I wiggled my small shackled wrists to ease the pain. But it did the opposite. Instead it scratched my skin.

"She's awake!!" came a masculine voice all of a sudden. I gasped at the shockingly loud voice which broke the eerie silence.

Not long after I heard before I saw the gate open, and there she was, as elegant as ever. Lady Esther sauntered into the cell. She walked towards me and stopped only when she was centimeters away. She then brought her face close to mine. Lady Esther was at least a head taller than me.

She just kept staring at me for a long time. I stared at her too. Up close she was even more beautiful but I knew what she was capable of. The sinister look in her eyes spoke louder than words.

After taking a long look, she took a step back. "Hmmm, I don't see anything special in you."

"Please my Lady, whatever wrong I've done I'm so-"

I couldn't complete my sentence as the hard blow made my face turn swiftly to the left. I tasted my own blood. That was the hardest slap I've ever received. Her nails cut my skin.

"Did I ask you to speak?!!"

My vision blurred as I looked down not daring to look at her face again.

"I don't get it. You're just a pathetic excuse of a human. Like any other human. You're small, fragile and just simply sad. The thing is you're even less than an ordinary human being. You're a bloody slave!"

More tears burned at the back of my eyes. I couldn't even comprehend what was going on. Was she angry about her shoes? That was the only chore I did for her.

She looked around before continuing.

"I seriously don't know what you did to gain his attention but now I really do not care. It won't matter anymore. At least not after I'm done with you. You brought this upon yourself slave," she sneered. "You tried to mess with what's rightfully mine! To think I would allow something like this to happen, right under my nose? I will make you pay you insignificant trash. I will make you pay with your blood and screams," she said the last part quietly in my ear. Every word pierced my heart but my body was too stunned to do anything else but listen.

"Your screams will echo throughout this dungeon and it will be music to my ears. You know what else? No one can ever hear you." I couldn't help it anymore.

"No, plea-"

She backhanded me. My head turned to the right but before I recovered she slapped me again, hard on the other cheek.

"Do NOT speak until I ALLOW you to!!!" she yelled at the top of her voice.

The force of her blows almost twisted my neck. I was a trembling mess and there was silence after her blows. Tears streamed down my cheeks. The only noise was the sharp clinking made by the chains due to my trembling.

I knew my cheeks were already badly bruised up. I could also feel another cut on my left cheek and there was blood oozing out of the corner of my mouth. "Now, I will not waste anymore time. Prepare yourself slave. You're in my hell now and I'll show you what I'm made of and what happens when you even think of messing with me," the Lady said darkly. "Your little family will be captured as well. Including that Odelle and Percival except they're already taken," she mocked. I struggled with the chains at this.

How could she?!!

"Don't!!"

"How many times do I have to slap you before you shut that mouth?!! Do you want to watch them die today?!!!" my body shook as I silently cried, indicating that I didn't want them hurt in any way.

She then took a few more steps back and made a signal with her forefinger. Her malicious smile never left her face.

Three heavily built guards walked in. Their appearance wasn't at all what scared me the most. It was what they were all holding. They each carried a whip in their hands. Whips which had spikes at the tip of them.

My chest tightened at the sight before me. I didn't know if I could survive this. How could anyone prepare for something like this? My ragging heart pounded in my head as I stared wide eyed at the men. Sweat began to form on my forehead despite the chilling temperature.

"I smell your fear slave," my eyes shot up to the Lady. She enjoyed whatever I was going through. "You will never understand the pleasure that your fear gives me. How much more when I get to break you?"

Her eyes then drifted to the men who stood behind me now. "You may begin! Don't stop until I say so!" With that she walked over to a chair in the corner of the cell and took her seat.

Third Person's POV

The small servant girl was not prepared for the first blow. The guard in the middle raised his hand up high and brought down the whip harshly on the girl's back. The spikes tore off a piece her clothing and cut her skin open. She let out a bloodcurdling scream as the pain took over. Her body shook from the sharp sting and shock. Before she could look up again the guard on her left brought down the whip on her back again. Only this time a little harder. Eve screamed again but that didn't stop the guard on her right from continuing.

The men proceeded to whip her back relentlessly until the back of her night dress was completely thorn. Her back was so bloodied that blood dripped down to her legs.

Still they did not stop. One after the other they went on. Blow after blow. They even whipped the back of her legs. Each time the whip connected to her tender body, it would tear out her skin and flesh. She screamed and screamed until she felt like her throat would tear out. Soon after, her body could no longer take it. The Lady was right. No one could possibly hear the servant girl's cries.

Once her entire back and legs were covered in red metallic liquid and deep cuts, the guards began to slow down. This however only fueled Lady Esther's anger.

"DID I ASK YOU TO STOP?!!!"

"No my Lady," the one on the right answered.

"Did I ask you to SLOW DOWN?!!!"

"No my Lady," he answered again.

"So fucking continue until I tell you to stop!!!"

With that they continued. Eve's back arched as the whip was brought down again. Another blow made her pull at the chains which had her hands bound.

"Pl...pl..ease...s..st..stop," she tried so hard to get the words out. Blood came out of her mouth as she spoke.

After a few more blows, the Lady finally signaled for the men to stop. Eve was almost unconscious from the pain. Her back was now unrecognizable and her dress was torn to shreds and completely drenched in blood.

Eve's body was limp.

"Release her from the chains and tie her against the wall. Before that take the green t-shirt from the guard outside and make her wear it," Lady Esther commanded. The guard did as he was told.

He had trouble taking off Eve's night dress because it stuck to her bloodied wounds which was all over her body. He then tore it and took off her dress forcefully until she was left in nothing but her very short, thin drawers. She gasped and hissed but did nothing. The pain was unbearable.

Just before the guard dressed her the Lady stopped him again.

"Wait!! Pour this on her!" She had a big jar in her hand which she handed over to the guard. He then brought it over the girl's head and tilted. He poured wine all over Eve's small battered body in which she reacted with another agonizing scream. It burned her wounds.

The dress was then replaced with the big t-shirt which came to her mid thighs.

Once she was all chained up again, the Lady crouched down before her.

"Rest, this is just the beginning slave."

They left the cell leaving Eve to moan and cry in pain.

~~~~~~~

India's POV

It was three forty in the morning and I still couldn't sleep. For some reason, my heartbeat was too fast. I didn't know what was going on with me all of a sudden. I was fine a few hours ago. What the hell?!

Go. To. Sleep. India!

"Hey what's wrong?" came Tonya's groggy voice. Great I woke her up too.

"I don't know. Something doesn't feel right," I said worried.

"You know what they say, if you're anxious during bedtime, your special other half is dreaming about you," she chuckled and continued to sleep.

"What the hell Tonya?!"

"Sshh."

I knew deep down I wasn't just anxious. If something like this happened, it means something bad is going to take place in the near future or it's already happening. I know deep in my guts that whatever I was feeling was a warning. The last time I felt like this was right before the Vampire guards barged into my home and took me away. Before that, when my younger brother almost got killed by a half blood vampire. Thank God my father was there to save my brother and no one got hurt. Except for that bloodsucker.

My great grandma told me it was a gift since birth but I never liked it one bit.

Once the Vampires took over my parents were forced to listen to my great grandma's advice and didn't allow me to practice or enhance my gifts. I was the only child in my family who possessed the gifts brought down from my mother's side.

This. Was. Bad.

I wish I had more than just a hunch. It sucks knowing something bad was going to happen but not knowing what exactly!

"Stop turning India," Tonya scolded. I looked towards Beth and saw that she was sleeping like a pig. "Look we're gonna have to wake up in slightly more than an hour so keep it down!" she whisper yelled.

I sat up straight after that. I knew damn well I couldn't sleep so I just waited until everyone else woke up. Maybe after I start with work, this feeling will go away.

I got ready as usual and ate my breakfast. I waited for Tonya while Beth left for the kitchen. Once she was done we headed towards the gardens. Somewhere on our way, I felt something like a stab in my chest. It was the same disturbing feeling I had a few hours ago but this was ten times worse. I hunched over and put my hand over my chest.

"Oh no! India?! What's happening?!"

"Something's horribly wrong. I...I have to find o..out what it is," I winced. Once I said the last sentence the pain instantly left.

I breathe in feeling relieved. I just sat on the floor in one corner to catch my breath. "India? You're scaring me. What is it?! How can I help? Do you need some water?"

"Calm down Tonya. Remember when I said I couldn't sleep? I had a bad feeling something was about to happen but I ignored it. Now that same feeling or whatever, it came back much stronger. It's like it's telling me to find out what's wrong. I have to do it or the pain, it would come back. Only much worse."

"You're not making any sense. It's like talking to a mental patient but I'll do whatever makes you....you again."

"I'm sorry Tonya but you just have to trust me. I'll explain if everything goes well today."

"O...okay?" I knew I was scaring her but I couldn't hide this forever and I don't think I could do this alone. "Where do we start India? What can I do?"

"Honestly, I don't know. This usually happens when a person I know is in danger or heading towards it."

"Alright then, let's check if all your friends are okay. Which is basically my family and a few others," she said with determination. Then she stopped herself. "And what if they're not okay? Who are we to stop anything? You're acting very strange India. This is getting creepy. Think about all the time Eve and once even Henri got hurt. Even some of our friends in the gardens get beat up badly. Why didn't you have this same feeling then?"

"Look, I..I don't know the answer to that. I don't know how else to explain this. Just think of it this way. This is just how I would like to confirm to myself that everything is going the way it should. We're just double checking that's all. If something is off, we'll complain to Ms.Odelle or Mr.Percival. End of story. Then we continue with our depressing lives."

"Okay. So who's first?"

"Since we're currently in this part of the castle, the closest to us would be Henri."

"Let's go quickly. Wait do you have an excuse for our absence in the gardens?"

"Nope. But Ms.Odelle is the one who makes sure everyone is there. I know how to come up with a good explanation." Tonya nodded and we crept up to the Lady Esther's room. The door was slightly opened. Tonya went to the other side of the door and peeked inside.

"I...I think she's alone," she said unsure. I went to where Tonya stood and saw for myself. I lightly closed my eyes and concentrated.

"You're right she's alone."

"You. Have. A. Lot. Of. Explaining. To. Do." I simply opened the door.

"H...Henri?" she yelped and turned around at once. She looked frightened to see us.

"W...what are you doing here? Leave before she comes back!"

"It's alright Henri. Just wanted to see if you're okay." I didn't want to tell her anything. Not yet. She doesn't need to know anything now.

"Of course I am. See?" She turned three hundred and sixty degrees. "You guys really need to be in the gardens okay."

"Just wanted to say hi. You didn't come back to the quarters." Tonya said.

"Oh Tonya I missed you too but you guys have to be in the gardens now." She kept looking at the time.

"We'll go don't worry we still have five minutes."

"Eerggh. You guys have to be there before work starts!"

"Wow chill Henri. Why do we have to be there before work starts?" Henri just looked even more annoyed after Tonya's question. "I'm worried about you guys okay," she finally said.

"We were worried about you, are you okay? Did you get hurt recently?" I asked.

"Oh God India, no! I'm fine and I'll be alright. Don't worry about me. Why are guys here all of a sudden? Go to the gardens now. Seriously, it's late."

"Alright, alright madam," Tonya chuckled. "Bye," Henri waved back and ushered us out. Well, threw us out actually.

"Now we know she's fine. One down, four more to go. Whoever is inside I mean."

"We have a problem. We can't go anywhere near the Dark Prince's room. Remember what Kyle said?"

"We can just knock and see from the outside."

"No, Kyle said he'll somehow find out and Eve would have to pay for it."

"Why is our lives so full of shit?!"

"Sshh. Quiet girls!" someone yelled. Tonya immediately hid behind me. Like that was going to help.

As I looked closer I recognized the boy at once.

"Robbie?"

"What?"

"Come over here. Quick," he looked around before jogging towards me.

"What?"

"Do you have ten minutes to spare?"

"I guess."

"You have to be sure Robbie."

"Yeah I am. Just served my master breakfast. He told me not to go back in until lunch time," he spoke. He looked much healthier now. Still scrawny but healthier.

"Your master is a member of the Royal Pure Blood family right?"

"Far relative but yeah....somehow," he obviously hated his master.

"I need you to do something dangerous but important."

"Depends. Getting whipped is not fun India."

"I know but listen first. Just hear me out," he nodded. We need you to knock on the doors of the Dark Prince's chambers. Do. Not. Go. In. There should be a red haired servant gi-"

"Eve Kheelan right?"

"Yes! How did you know?"

"We are both personal servants and don't work very far from each other. So yeah. We see each other but we don't talk."

"I need you to just make sure she's there and ask her how she's doing that's all." I hoped he would say yes.

"And why can't you do this? You do know that no one is allowed to go anywhere near those doors when the Dark Prince is out at war right? You're asking me to risk a lot," he looked skeptical.