53

GEORGIE

✿

The guards had me firmly under control before I could attack Reyna.

"No, you can't just decide that! Beau is my mate!'

Reyna sighed in exasperation and waved her hand in my direction. "Take her to the dungeon, I can't stand her anymore. And find the other two Semeers!”

"What? No! Reyna, you can't do that! Don't you dare!” I yelled around myself as the guards pulled me off and dragged me out of the arena. "Reeynaaa!"

Shortly thereafter I was thrown into the crypt of the palace.

"Aaaah!" My knees scraped on the rough stone floor and I hissed. Then the door slammed shut behind me and the lock engaged. My heart slides into my pants. "No!" I jumped to my feet and rattled the door latch. Of course she couldn't open it. "Let me out of here!" My fists pounded wildly on the wooden door and I yelled, "Let me out of here right now!"

But no one came to free me.

I paced excitedly, then darted back to the door and pounded on it again. "Help! I need help!” Blood was pounding in my ears and I was sweating from the raw fear that was building inside me. “I am wrongly locked up here! I haven't done anything!'

My skin ripped from the pounding on the door, but I didn't care about the blood, it didn't even reach me through the thick fog of panic.

My breathing became faster and hectic. Images from the past flooded my mind. As I sat in the small torture room. The sheer agony. The closed doors. The helplessness. My father dead. My mother's painful cry.

"Let me out!" My nails snapped and blood spurted as I clawed at the wood like a maniac. My voice cracked and the claustrophobia drove me to the brink of insanity. “I WANT OOOUUT!”

G E O R G I E

✿

Hours later, I was sitting on the floor staring motionless at the door when it suddenly squeaked open and three guards walked in. They handcuffed me and then dragged me out of the cell by the iron chain.

As we entered a saloon room, Malvera looked at me.

'Nice to see you again, Georgie. Did you miss me?” she gave me a sweet smile.

Did I hallucinate? "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice hoarse and rattled from hours of shouting.

Reyna joined us and the guards immediately grabbed my bonds. “You will be trained by Malvera and finally unleash your powers. Don't be silly or I'll have you stabbed in the back."

I spat at her feet. "You always put the dirty work off, don't you?"

“Guards, tie them to the chair. Get them both to go to work.” She looked me up and down and wrinkled her nose. 'And when they're done, give her a bath and new clothes. She stinks from top to bottom.” With that she left the room.

I panicked. "No wait! Where's Beau? Let me see him, please!'

But the guards closed the door, dragged me to the upholstered chair by the jingling chains, and tied me up.

"Give me your hands." Malvera commanded, and I felt catapulted back into her business. In front of us on the round table was also the violet ball, now all that was missing was her black cat and the smell of incense sticks in the air and it would be perfect.

"No." I refused.

"Give them to me!"

The guards violently pulled my hands up and placed them on the ball. I was already in the simulation.

I scrambled to my feet and gritted my teeth as I found myself back in the underworld cell. The musty smell filled my nostrils, the chill of the stone floor crawled up my limbs. Just a simulation, I calmed myself.

The corridor was lit by torchlight. I heard footsteps, then I saw the warriors from hell. They stared at me with their white, glowing eyes.

My breath hitched, my pulse racing as I watched Beau being dragged after them in silver shackles.

“Concentrate Georgie. It's just a simulation.' Malvera's voice echoed through the crypt.

"This is a shit simulation!" I yelled in frustration. "I don't know how this is supposed to help me unleash my powers."

“You are a black blood, the shadows must be the key.”

But I couldn't concentrate, nor did I have access to my powers.

Beau fell to his knees as the shadows surrounded him. They crouched over him, crouching and murmuring things to him.

"Listen, Georgie. Listen.” said Malvera.

And then I heard their voices.

Transform, transform.

Kill, you wanna kill them all.

We want your wolf! show us your wolf!

Show us your claws, your fangs and tear their throats.

They were the same words I'd heard the night before as I slept next to Beau. What did that mean?

"Use your powers, child!"cried Malvera.

I stared at my hands. “That's the curse, isn't it? It's his curse to become a rogue."

“Finally do it!”

I focused on the light, but I was too late and the Hellwarrior unsheathed his sword and beheaded Beau.

Deep down I knew it wasn't real, knew it was all just a dream. But it felt so real. I screamed as the bond broke and the excruciating pain and loneliness engulfed me. “NOOOOO!”

Then the scene changed and I found myself in the torture room. A dark red cloak came into view. Hades.

I gave a choked scream and hastily pushed myself back against the wall. "Do not touch me! Leave me alone!"

Laughter. Laughter was everywhere.

You're scaredssssst.

HA-HA-HA!

Hades came closer, but everything in me closed and denied the memory.

“Remember, Georgie! Go!” Malvera barked at me.

"No!" I couldn't breathe, couldn't see. "No, no, I don't want to!"

For a moment I felt the familiar torment, then it was all over. I opened my eyes.

Malvera let out an irritated sound. "You must look, stupid child! The key is in the memory. You mustn't block it."

“You are a good talker! You're not trapped in a dream that feels like hell made real.” I snorted furiously while making sure the bond with Beau was still there. Lucky.

She leaned over the table, her red curls framing her plump face. "What happened in this room?"

I would tell her if I knew. I pushed the uneasy feeling aside and instead asked her, "Why are you doing this? I thought I was a danger, and now you're going to help me find my powers?"

"Everyone has their price."

"And what's yours?"

A small sack of money landed on the table and her nimble hand stuffed it into her skirt pocket.

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Are you that unimaginative?”

"At least I'm not sitting here in shackles and lost my husband to the princess."

I was already jumping out of my chair and throwing myself at her, but the chains stopped me.

"Sit down!" the guards instructed me, and I grudgingly obeyed.

“Your mind is hiding something from you. Only when we know exactly what you're so closed off to can we find out what's lurking inside you.' Malvera put my hands on the sphere again. 'Well, again. And this time, show me everything."