I suck in a deep breath as we come to a stop in front of the door that leads down to the basement.
"You don't have to do this love." Anthony says, eyes pleading.
Asher places his hand on the small of my back. A little gesture, to let me know he's here, whatever i need.
"I have to, you said it yourself. He won't speak otherwise, and we need to get to the bottom of this." I say.
"Plus, i could use some practice in doing things i don't particularly want to."
"Before we go in, do you have any ideas about who would want to hurt you?" Asher asks.
Anthony's gaze hones in on me, he tilts his head curiously, waiting for my reply.
The only people that come to mind are my supposed "family."
Dune, Shelenda and Dana.
How would they know their plan to kill me failed though?
I'm torn on whether to tell them or not.
"It's kind of a long story..." I say nervously.
They both raise their brows.
"We don't have time to get into the gory details. But i think it might be my ex and my stepsister. "
I watch the rage cross both their faces. Anthony's lips pop open and i know he's about to launch into a tirade of questions.
"Look, he says he'll talk to me. And I'm here now, so let's go find out what he wants." I say, putting on a brave face.
The truth is, I'm terrified.
You'd think with the amount of times I'd nearly been killed i would be used to it by now.
"Let's do this." I push the door open and head down the stairs.
The first thing i notice is the stench. It's heavy, so heavy i can almost feel it coat my skin.
I shudder in disgust.
Asher wraps his arm around my waist as we walk and i lean into him.
I really don't want to be here. I'm all too familiar with dungeons.
We stop in front of a cell and Anthony kicks at the bars.
My attacker looks terrible. Pale skin bruised, pus oosing from his wounds.
He's bound in silver chains. Silver sears into the skin of a supernatural faster than acid. Steam rises from his skin and the cell smells of burning flesh.
I gag a little and look away.
This is horrible.
He seems to be sleeping, his head is down and he's breathing slowly.
Anthony shakes the bars again and the prisoner wakes up with a start.
He groans, laughing manically.
"Back for some more fun Alpha?" He grins.
Anthony growls and bursts into the cell punching his nose with a crunch.
Asher and i follow slowly behind.
The prisoners eyes narrow as they meet mine.
"Well, well well. You're a pretty hard lady to get an audience with you know?"
It's then that i see his face clearly. There's no other word to describe it perfectly other than...grotesque. An oozing red and purple mess coated with dried blood.
Anthony and Asher...this is what they're capable of?
I look away and press my palm to my lips, suppressing the urge to gag again.
"It's okay princess, i know i look bad. You don't have to pretend. "He smiles slyly.
Anthony's fingers elongate into claws, which he slashes across the prisoner's face. His eyes turn black and green veins run down his face.
"You do not speak to her!" He growls.
I should be scared, but I'm not. I know he'd never hurt me. I wonder what that says about me.
"I'm actually quite handsome, if you can believe it." My attacker laughs loudly. He spits out a wad of bloody gunk that lands on Anthony's shoe.
He growls, gearing up to hit him again but Asher stills him with a hand on his arm.
"Ant, careful."
"Well I'm here now. Tell me what Dune and Shelenda want from me." I ask as calmly as i can.
He laughs loudly then winces in pain.
"What's so funny, fucktard?" Asher says, kicking his stomach repeatedly.
His loud screams echo through the dungeon.
"Stop! Just stop it." I shout, i can't stand to watch.
"You," I say to the prisoner "Why exactly am i here? What do you want from me?"
He smirks lazily.
"I agreed to talk to you. Only you. Maybe lose the guard dogs and we can get right to it."
"There is no way we're leaving her in here with you. We know what your kind is capable of. Nice try." Asher says calmly.
His kind? I don't think I've ever met another type of supernatural before.
"His kind?" I ask Asher.
"He's a witch." Anthony says, lips curled in disgust.
"Uh uh, i actually prefer to be referred to as a warlock, thank you very much. Much cooler title." The prisoner says.
"Devon the warlock, i say. And the ladies come running. " He winks at me.
Devon. The name tugs at something in my mind.
I turn to my mates.
"How about you guys stand right across this cell, that way you can swoop in if anything goes wrong." I say softly.
"I don't like this, love." Anthony says pinching the bridge of his nose.
"He's right, ma bichè. You do not know what he's capable of. Even in this weakened state." Asher says, cupping my cheek.
I hold his hand tightly. Look at each of them in the eyes.
"I need you guys to trust me, okay?" I plead.
"Tick tock..." Devon calls, gleeful.
My mates glance at each other, seeming to reach similar conclusions.
"We'll be watching. " Anthony glares as he leeaves.
Asher follows behind looking worried.
Then it's just me and him left.
"Well?" I press.
"You look, good. Haven't changed a bit." He says, serious this time with zero hints of his teasing self.
Is he making a move on me? What the hell.
"Why are you standing all the way over there? I don't bite." He nods down to his chained body, laughing.
I shuffle forward slowly.
Suddenly his hand shoots out and grabs mine.
How did he-
I hear Asher's and Anthony's screams but they sound distant.
"You might not know me, but i know you, Aurore." Devon says.
My eyes roll back into my head.