Once Tonya dissapeared from my line of vision, me and Robbie ran to the back gates of the castle. We followed the old brick walls and hid ourselves behind trees and bushes eventually reaching a clearing.

"See those trucks? They transport fruits in and out of the castle. Some fruits are sent to the marketplace for sale."

"You want me to get in? I could do that but how do I get out?"

"Easy. I know one of the the drivers. He owes me his life. So he won't tell anyone when you reach the market place and run off to wherever you plan on going. We don't have time. Let's go."

"Robbie you are saying it like I asked you to get me an apple. What if someone finds out and you get in trouble? They'll kill you."

"Did you not hear me? This guy owes me. Big time India. He'll make sure no one finds out. Besides, I always wanted to save humans from evil vampires." He grinned.

"Robbie...."

"Sshhh. Quietly follow me."

I needed his help but at the same time I feared for his safety.

Once we got close to this 'driver' Robbie signaled for me to stay a few steps back. The guy looked to be around his forties and had a beard covering the lower part of his face.

Robbie only whispered in the guy's ear. I couldn't hear anything from where I stood but I felt relieved when I saw the guy nod his head. Robbie then turned to me.

"Okay off you go. I also asked for a horse. He said he'll try his best to get one. If he does he'll show you where to find it."

"You must have done something pretty amazing for these kind of favors," I said before thanking the driver. He started to load the fruits onto the truck not minding me and Robbie.

"You could say that," he scratched the back of his head. "India, where are you going to go?"

"I want to go all the way to Golden Haven and drag the Prince back so that my friends can be saved." I said angrily. Before today, I could never imagine myself wanting the Dark Prince to return.

"You damn well know that's insane. It's more than four days journey on a horse. They might not have much time."

I wasn't crazy, I just wanted to say what I felt.

"Yeah. I wish I could do that, you know but I guess I can't so it would mean..."

"Silver Heights." He answered for me.

"Yes."

"What makes you think the Royal Pure Blood's would listen to you. Especially you. The ones taken are all mere castle servants. You're also a castle servant. You're going to speak against the Lady Esther of Silver Heights herself. A woman who is rumored to be the Dark Prince's bride and a noble. Not to mention her family will be there and you could easily get killed and-"

"Please stop," I couldn't listen anymore. I knew I had no proper argument, or anything for that matter but I had to try. "You're right. I shouldn't take this lightly but I know what to say and I won't make myself look stupid. Kyle will be there and if even if they don't care about my friends they'll have to care about Ms.Odelle and Mr.Percival. The Royals will at least take action for their sake. Plus, both Prince Timothy and Kyle are aware that Eve is supposed to remain in the Dark Prince's chambers during his absence. That would help right? The youngest Prince can confirm it." I looked hopefully at Robbie. I needed a confidant. I needed to know I will succeed in helping my friends.

"Yeah. That will help India. Those reasons will definitely help. You're a strong woman, don't let anything stand in your way. Go now. We don't know what's happening to your group."

With that being said, I hugged Robbie and left the castle in a fruit truck.

It was a short ride to the market place. I was sitting behind one of the barrels of fruit, making myself as small as possible. Five minutes into the ride, the driver threw me some clothes. I inspected them closely and saw that they were pants and a long sleeved cotton shirt. They were guys clothes. I gave him a confused look.

"Um, sir?" He looked at me through the review mirror.

"Wear them kid. Looks like you're traveling somewhere. I don't know where or what time you'd reach the place but it's safer to be a boy than a girl if you're going alone. Tie your hair up. I have a cap."

I did as he was told with no question. What he said made a lot of sense too. I pushed one of the barrels behind me and another in front of me to make sure I was hidden before I changed into my new clothes. I had to fold up the pants and the sleeves several times before it looked better. I tucked the shirt in my pants as well.

The noises of people told me that we had already arrived. The driver stopped his truck and walked around it. "Wait here. I need to talk to someone." He walked off leaving me there. I was scared to say the least.

What if they find out? What if they get me before I even leave?

As was thinking, the driver's head popped up again. He looked proud while I just looked blur.

"Got you that horse. Take these as well," he threw me a bag. I looked into it and found, a map, a bottle of water, some food and fruits.

"Thank you sir. Thank you so much," I said softly.

"Ehh," he shrugged and waved a hand. "Try to save the fruits for the horse. You'd probably come across a stream. For water. Reach in front of the truck kid, there's a cap. You need to come out looking like a boy." He whispered.

After I tied up my hair and wore the cap I climbed down the truck and he took me to where the horse was.

Minutes later, I came face to face with the most beautiful horse I have ever seen. It was a black, strong, fierce looking stallion. It looked magnificent. "W...who's horse it this? It doesn't look ordinary sir."

"Oh, Rexamus here is one of the strongest and he's also one of my niece's least favorite but I like him. He'll keep you safe kid. You have nothing to worry about."

"She's okay with me taking him?"

"Yeah, let's just say she loves me enough to do this."

I crushed the guy in a hug. "Thank you! Thank you so much sir...?"

"Ed. Call me Ed."

After making sure I was getting along with Rexamus, I was ready to go. It came as a surprise to Ed that I already knew how to ride a horse. In fact me and my father went horse racing occasionally. He'd win most of the time but not always.

"I guess you're good to go. Hope you fulfill whatever it is that you're about to do kid." I nodded and left with Rexamus.

~~~~~~~~~

Back in the dungeons, Eve was woken up with ice cold water thrown over her.

She opened her eyes, looking startled, utterly confused and disoriented. The pain from last night's beating came crashing back. She whimpered aloud as her body began to feel the stinging ache. Breathing hard, she looked at the figure standing before her.

"Good morning slave. Had a good sleep? I guess not." The Lady playfully spoke. "I saw your back, it looks better today! I guess we can go for round two tomorrow? Yes we can," when the Lady received no reply, she crouched down before the servant girl and gripped her chin.

"Aww, don't be so sad now. There's a lot of people here to keep you company," with that she stood up and moved to the right revealing the cell which was directly opposite to Eve's. There, tied up against the wall were both Mr and Mrs Salvador. The head butler had a long wooden stake going through his abdomen. Ms.Odelle had two stakes. One was penetrated in her right arm another was in her left leg. They looked pale and worn out.

Eve couldn't stop looking at them even with her bruised eye. They looked horrible.

"Oh!! If you're feeling this bad by looking at them what about your beloved family?" Eve's head shot up at the Lady.

"W...why? W....why are....y..you doing this?" she then started coughing profusely. The cold wasn't helping her situation at all.

"Do you want another slap on your face slave? No talking remember?! Or I'll make sure you don't ever speak again," the Lady warned. "As to answer your stupid question, I already told you. I don't like anyone standing in my way. I don't like it when whores like you interfere with what's mine and this is not just my opinion. You'll be surprised to find out who willingly helped me."

Eve didn't know that Alex, Beth and Tonya were chained up in the cell right beside hers. The Lady wanted to make sure they could hear her screams and Henri was too quick to agree.

"Well today, we're going to try something new. Let's see how long before you pass out". The Lady turned towards the entrance of the cell. "Are the irons hot enough now?"

"Most of them, yes my Lady," a guard answered. Eve's heart dropped. She knew she was going to go through a lot more before she would eventually die in this very cell.

"You! Release her and bring her to the middle."

"Yes, my Lady." A guard strode towards a beat up Eve and released her from the chains. Since she was unable to move properly, he basically dragged her body to the center of her cell.

Lady Esther walked out for a few minutes. When she returned, she did so with five guards behind her. Three guards however, did not walk in empty handed.

They were each holding metal rods. There were around six rods. The handle was made out of wood which was how they were able to hold it. The heads of the metal rods came in odd shapes. Two of which looked like words.

The bottom half of every one of the rods were glowing bright red. The attractive color looked so evil and vile to Eve's eyes.

She could smell the burnt iron from where she sat, paralyzed with fear. She began to drag her body back shaking her head continuously. Words couldn't come out. She knew what they were about to do and she knew what pain was. She looked at the Lady with pleading, tearful eyes but the Lady only smirked back and turned to the guards.

"You can start now. We don't want them to get cold now do we?"

Two guards came from behind the servant girl and held her in place. She struggled against them the best she could. Not caring about the pain from her beating last night. They held her tightly and stretched out her skinny arm.

The guard in front of her pressed the burning hot metal to her arm. It burned through her skin and flesh. Eve let out a tormented scream as she couldn't stand it. Her hands shook as the guard kept pressing it down her arm.

"Hold it down for about six seconds before the next one," the Lady commanded.

Once the guard pulled up the metal, the word 'slave' scarcely read out on the girl's arm. Eve cried harder, internally begging for them to stop. Her skin burned.

Before she knew it another metal was pressed against her forearm. Eve could see the smoke come out of her skin as the metal came in contact with it.

Another loud scream echoed through the dungeons. Every scream rang through the ears of Percival and Odelle. "S..stop it L...Lady Esther. Pl..please. J..just stop it." Odelle wheezed out.

"I'm sorry did I say you could talk old lady? You will regret saying anything!" She signalled something to a guard. He immediately went into their cell and punched Odelle right in the face causing her head hit the wall.

The guard clearly missed the deadly look in Percival's eyes.

"You will die for doing that. I promise you," Percival said lowly. The guard simply smiled and pushed the wooden stake deeper into Percival. He bit his lips not wanting to scream and satisfy his tormentors.

"Are..are you alright....love?" he looked worriedly at his wife. She nodded but before she could answer they were interrupted by another scream. One filled with agony.

The guards did not stop burning the servant girl's skin with hot metal. She writhed from all the anguish. They burnt both her arms and her legs. Her other arm had the word 'whore' branded on the skin.

Tonya stopped crying not too long ago. She sat staring into space. Her eyes empty. My tears didn't stop flowing. Eve's screams were killing us. I couldn't shake it off. I tried covering my ears but it was no use. I didn't want to hear her suffering. I just couldn't. I felt useless. I couldn't imagine what they were doing to her.

Why her? What did she ever do to this monsters?

I didn't want to know how long they planned on keeping her alive. And keeping us alive.

Alex sat right beside me and I've never seen a more broken person in all my life.

Both his wrists were bleeding. He tried to free himself when he first heard Eve's screams. He tried and tried knowing he was shackled and chained up. He didn't stop until both me and Tonya yelled at him. We were afraid he'd cut his wrist and bleed to death.

Alex then banged his head against the wall over and over again. He couldn't accept his defeat.

He couldn't bear to listen to Eve's screams. He couldn't take that he was completely helpless. All three of us felt it but Alex was going insane. He screamed many times letting out whatever he felt. Seeing him made me cry more.

To divert my attention, I thought about our lives when we were captured. The first few days of our work.

Eve immediately became friends with me and India. We thought we could go through anything. We were unstoppable....in our own little world. The few happy memories calmed me down a little and when I came to, the screaming stopped. We heard the sounds of chains and then the gate closing.

They finally stopped torturing her.

"Is....is she....?" Tonya wouldn't say it. She fearfully looked at me.

"Of course not Tonya. She must have passed out," the words flowed out of my mouth even if I wasn't so sure myself. I refused to accept any loses now. I had faith in India.

"Alex, are y..."

My words were cut short when I saw a more sickening creature standing in front of our cell. One of the lady guards opened the gate for her and left us. She walked in with all her wretched self.

"YOU BITCH!!! I SWEAR I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!!!! I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!!!!" I blacked out in fury and lunged forward making Tonya gasp but I didn't give a damn. The chains however did not let me go far. I was pulled back instantly.

The wretch laughed at my state. "You've always disliked me didn't you? You, dear Bethany, had every right to do so," she said without a hint of regret.

She then came forward and slapped me across the face. Before I could react she pulled out a dagger.

"Don't move," she pressed it's blade on my neck.

"Henri stop it!! Stop it now!! We're your family. You love us!!" Tonya was desperate.

"Listen to Tonya, Henri! You don't wanna do this. Whatever Esther had done to turn you against us, it's all a lie!! Wake up!! She's compelled you. You need to fight it Henri!!" Alex yelled.

I smiled. Then I started to laugh my heart out. I didn't care about the blade anymore. I just laughed. Even Henri became confused and took a step back.

"Oh Alex, you're too good!!" my laughter slowly died down. "You actually think dear Henri here is being compelled?! What a joke?! Look at that face!" I pointed at her and laughed again. I had to let it out. Anger, sadness, fear and most of all disbelief.

"Just look, a human. Helping a vampire destroy one of her own. You really are one of a kind Henri."

"Just shut up!!!" she came forward and in one swift motion, she slashed my right arm with the dagger. I hissed in pain as the blood oozed out and bloomed under my torn sleeve. She didn't stop there. Henri began to tear out the sleeve as I struggled against her. Unfortunately, I wasn't strong enough. She ripped out my sleeve and stabbed my upper arm despite the protests from Tonya and Alex.

I screamed out as tears blurred my vision. My hand fell limp to my side.

"That should teach you a lesson or two. Next time you piss me off, I'll cut it off I swear." She warned me.

"India said the same thing and I didn't believe her. I convinced myself that she was wrong. I convinced myself that you were forced to do this," Tonya wept. "Henri why? Why do all this. We love you. Think about everyt-"

"Just. Shut. Up. Tonya! When are you going to realize that I don't care?!!

You know it was only supposed to be Alex and Beth but Esther wanted to wipe everyone out. Everyone connected to that whore." Alex pulled at his shackles at this but I signaled for him to stay put. Nobody else needed to get hurt.

"I disagreed at first. You see Tonya I have nothing against you. You were a good sister to me but then....you and that idiot India just had to snoop around. Like dogs. The second you came into Esther's room I knew damn well you guys were already suspecting something. So there you have it.

You are here because of you.

Tonya you should have just minded your own business and now you won't even live to regret it." Henri chuckled.

"No comments Bethany? That's what I thought."

"What the fuck do you have against Eve? What could anyone possibly have against someone like her. She loves you with all her hea-"

"Oh yes, yes. Eve. Innocent little Eve. Ever caring, ever loving ever giving Eve. She's just so good isn't she Alex? So pure. It just made you want to love her and only her. Eve this, Eve that. 'Hey Henri! You know what happened today?! Eve did this oh, and Eve did that. Eve, Eve! Eve!! EVE!!!!!" she screeched.