VALORIA WILDEROSE
I lose consciousness from blood loss before they take me, only waking up later in a dark, cold, and damp cell, void of light for me to see anything.
I cry for what feels like two hours, until my tear ducts run dry, before slowly coming into acceptance of everything and realizing it isn't so bad.
All of it I am used to.
The beatings, the torture—all of it simply feels like a continuation of life back home, so he'd need to do more to break my spirit for his enjoyment.
I realize what it is he wants from me: to feed his dull, boring life with entertainment through my suffering, like the sick bastard that he is.
It's the only reason I've been kept alive, even after doing everything that should get a typical person killed.
The fact alone that he refuses to kill me means, for the time being, while my suffering still brings him some sort of pleasure, he won't kill me.
Like a fucked-up power buff, I can rest assured that he won't try to end me while I fulfill my mission within the time limits. In many ways, it's good news.
Every bit of fear or hesitation I had in me melts away as the hours pass, solidifying my desire to win until it is as hard and unbreakable as a diamond.
Rest assured, Goddess: the Lycan King will fall by my hand.
After endless darkness, the doors finally pull open, seeping in searing light that burns my eyes.
I wince and hide my face until I'm suddenly engulfed in a hug.
"Lady Valoria," Yue's worried voice rings in my ears.
Her voice alone forces my tensed muscles to finally relax, sinking the hunger and exhaustion into my body.
Too tired and weak to respond, I only groan.
She wraps me in a coat to offer warmth, leaning me back against the wall.
"Drink water. You are dehydrated," she urges, before the sweet taste of water sips through my parched lips.
I take it slowly, careful not to give in to the desire to take it all at once and suffer what comes next, from past experiences.
"W-why are y-you here?" I ask once I've had enough.
"Your punishment is over… the king has released you from confinement."
I can hear the relief in her tone but feel nothing at all, knowing that I am much safer locked in confinement than out and about in this hellhole of a castle.
For that reason alone, I cannot feel pleased; rather, a fear I hide within myself erupts through my chest, knowing that I have to face it all again.
Yue helps me up on my feet, fighting through the pain of my injuries, guiding me through the dark hallways illuminated by dimly lit lamps. It's already nighttime.
"How long was I in there?" I ask, numb to the passing of time.
She hesitates before answering.
"You were sent there yesterday morning."
So, two whole days have passed—stolen from my already limited time by that cruel man.
I bite my already sore lips bitterly.
We walk for a while before stumbling into the final path that leads to my room up ahead.
Both of us look toward it hopefully, only to be met with the sight of someone waiting for us.
Yue's body stiffens faster than mine does the moment we realize who it is.
Azrael leans against the door, dressed in light fitted robes, bored and tired, waiting.
His blue eyes look up and meet mine once we're close enough, filling me with a wave of bitterness that chokes me.
I can't look into those eyes anymore without remembering everything he's done to me, without being reminded of the cruelty I faced with my family, or overwhelmed with a crushing need for revenge.
Yue pauses, bowing too fast once noticed, forcing me to rely on my own weight as she offers reverence.
"I greet the sun that never falls," she greets him traditionally.
"Leave us," his voice orders with disinterest.
She pauses, passing a side glance my way, hesitating—but I know as well as she does that she cannot refuse his order.
He will kill her, possibly offer her head to me again, and blame me for it. I give her a quiet nod, urging her to do it fast, and she obeys, walking off in the next second.
Leaving him and me together, alone.
His gaze remains fixed on me, plain, dull, unaffected by the things he's done, waiting for something—maybe a greeting or an apology, maybe for me to cower at his might.
I, on the other hand, am tired, weak, broken, numb to everything else, including the heat from his stare, filled with both resentment and hatred.
Too tired to give him what he wants.
Coldly, I look away, walking right past him into the room he stands in front of, remnants of my anger boiling over from last time.
As I walk in, I hear his feet shuffling after me, ignoring them until he speaks.
"It seems your punishment was not enough to acknowledge where you are and who stands before you," he sounds, annoyed and cold.
I feel the murderous intent blazing within me, urging my werewolf instincts to yield to him.
Still, I fight against it, knowing that the worst he would do right now is torture me.
I turn to him slowly.
"Yes, how c-could I forget? Y-you want ob-b-bedience from me, sire. That is why I was m-mocked and b-beaten to the brink of death, all to prove the c-consequence of both," I mock with a feigned innocent voice.
The final tipping force.
He grabs me by the throat suddenly, pressing down on my windpipe. Flashing blue eyes look at me, issuing another warning.
I can tell he's not furious, just annoyed that he's not getting what he wants from me, like a toy unable to give a child the dopamine hit he desires.
I'm not worthy enough to draw the full extent of his anger, but he is still annoyed with my lack of compliance and the fact that his precious game might end sooner than anticipated.
"I do not care if you are offended or not, nor am I here to hear another speech from you."
"T-Then w-w-why are you here?" I ask, already fed up with his games.
Slowly, his grip softens, loosening around my throat.
Then his fingers drift lower, tracing lightly. He pushes my hair to the side, away from my face, tucking it behind my ear with a gentleness that feels more threatening than any blow.
A small, sinister grin appears on his lips again. I deduce that he's here to torment me once more for his pleasure, because he's bored.
He set me free only to begin another torture game with me—how fittingly cruel for him.
"To show you just how merciful I am, by giving you the greatest honor of spending a night with your king."