SELIN'S POV.
I woke to cold stone beneath me and the sharp scent of iron. My eyes snapped open, and for a moment, I couldn't remember where I was. Chains rattled as I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shrink into nothing, trying to make the world leave me alone. My heart hammered like a drum in my chest, and the room felt impossibly large.
Two men stood in the shadows. My first instinct was to scream, but my throat had dried into sand. Then I recognized them. The men from the forest. The ones I had run to when the wolves were right behind me. The ones I had begged for help. And now, here they were, staring at me like predators.
I swallowed, voice shaking. "W-who…who are you? What…what do you want from me?"
The taller one didn't answer. He didn't even blink. My gaze flitted to the second man, who leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me carefully. I tried to stand, but the chains bit into my wrists. Panic clawed up my throat. "Please! I—I just want to go home! I—I didn't mean to—"
My voice caught. "I…I ran to you! You were supposed to help me!"
The taller one tilted his head slightly, his expression pale. "You should be dead."
The words hit me like a slap. My knees almost buckled, and I took a step back, hugging myself tighter. "W-what?" I whispered, barely able to breathe.
"You touched me," he said, voice low, controlled. "No one survives that."
I froze. My mind scrambled to understand. Touched him? My hand! In the forest! I hadn't meant…I didn't—
I pressed myself to the back of the cage, trembling so hard the chains clinked again. "I—I don't understand! I was just running! They were chasing me!" My voice broke into a small sob. "I didn't mean to touch anyone! I…I thought you were…please, I just needed help!"
The taller one's gaze didn't waver. "You don't need to know who I am."
I tried to speak again, but only an empty sound came out. The shorter man, the one leaning against the wall, stepped a little closer. "She doesn't seem to understand," he said quietly.
The taller didn't even look at him. "I know," he said, his eyes fixed on me.
I shivered, instinctively backing up. There was nowhere to go. My hands clutched the chains, trying to stop my own shaking. The memory of the forest. the wolves, the chase, the men…it all flooded back.
"You shouldn't be here," the taller man finally said, straightening. His voice was calm, but it carried weight, authority, something that made my pulse spike even higher. "No human crosses these lands and survives."
I blinked, confusion battling fear. "…Human?" I whispered, disbelief creeping into my tone. "Really? What are you? a god? Because, I mean…literal wolves just turned into men right before my eyes. At this point, I'm not ruling anything out."
What the hell is he even spewing? my mind screamed. Does he always talk like that?
I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering. Their clothes…ornate, heavy fabrics, perfectly tailored. Are they cosplaying? Or…are they actually royalty? My pulse quickened. Do they really live like this? In a castle? With iron chains and giant doors and…and torches like I'm in some storybook?
I hugged my knees tighter, pressing back against the cold bars. My thoughts were racing faster than I could even try to speak. Okay, breathe. Just breathe. Don't let them see how scared you are. But how the hell do I get out of here?
I swallowed hard and tried to steady my voice. "Let me go," I whispered, my tone trembling despite my attempt at control. "Please…I need to go home. I—I didn't mean any of this. I was just running."
The taller man's gaze never wavered. "Keep her locked," he said finally. His voice carried across the chamber like iron. "No one enters. No one touches her. Not until I decide."
"Yes, my king," the other man said, bowing slightly.
I sank to the floor as they left, chains clinking as I hugged my knees tighter. My voice came out in a trembling whisper. "Please…let me go. I didn't do anything. I just need to go home!"
Why am I being held hostage? What did I even do? Are they…slave buyers? Human traffickers? My mind spun faster than my heart. Why can't I ever catch a break? First the flood, then the wolves, and now this? Always one disaster sliding into the next.
The echo of their boots faded, leaving the room in heavy, oppressive silence. I dared to look up and around. The chamber was massive, cold stone walls rising high above me. Torches flickered, throwing shadows that danced like they were alive. This…this is a real castle? I had never even heard of a place like this. How could I have? I'm just a girl from a tiny village. Hemlock Hollow. That's it. I've never left its muddy roads, never crossed its meadows beyond the village gates, until yesterday.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves. Yesterday, I had left my flood-drenched house—if you could even call it that, to look for something better. And today…today, I had almost become dinner for wolves. And now I'm here. Safe? Or worse? I didn't know if I should feel grateful or terrified of the men who had dragged me to this place.
I pressed my palms to my face and tried to calm my racing mind. But there it was again, the memory of the forest, the wolves turning into men. I shivered violently. What in black magic sorcery is this? Who are these people? My father always warned me that ghosts and the paranormal existed, but I never believed him. Not once. Not like this.
I peeked around the room, trying to find a door, a window, anything. The walls were, carved with patterns I didn't understand. The torches flickered and cast long shadows that looked creepy. My stomach twisted, I was trapped. Completely trapped.
I leaned back against the cold bars, hugging my knees closer, and let out a shaky breath. I don't know what they want from me. I don't know if I should be scared or thankful. And I certainly don't know how I survive in this place alive.