45

The smell of urine permeated my consciousness as I walked through puddles I wished I had avoided. But there was too little light in this vault. I could still see that the stairs went in three directions, all of which looked exactly the same.

Stone walls interrupted by bars every few meters. Rats, at home down here in the damp darkness. I turned to Camilla in disgust, who was staring down the aisles just as shocked as I was. I wanted to convince her that the guy here was suffering enough that there was no reason for us to stay here anymore, but before I could even say a word, she ran into the left aisle and gave me a finger that I should check the right side.

With an arm under my nose, I walked slowly past the first two bars, looking shocked into the eyes of a woman who was tied up on the floor and looked little older than me. Her feet were black and covered with wounds. Her body seemed emaciated, her face collapsed. With a racing pulse, I turned to the other side, where fortunately no one seemed trapped.

I could barely breathe down here, but I forced myself to keep going. The woman would be remembered forever, and I made a mental note to speak to Damien about what she had done to be treated like this. Death would have been a lesser punishment.

At the next bars I again saw no one and went closer. I tried to see something in the dark, but before I could see any movement, two hands grabbed me and jerked me violently to the bars. I wanted to scream, but my mouth was held shut. My ribs hurt. On the one hand from the impact of the bars, on the other hand from the shock that made my heart beat wildly.

Despite the darkness, I recognized his eyes. I would recognize her anywhere. The blue beamed at me and a violent electric shock went through my whole body. Aleks looked at me just as confused and immediately let go of me.

"Melody?" he asked, his voice shaking, but I just stood there, unable to find the words. It seemed impossible to see him in front of me. In my mind he hopped happily together with Emma across meadows, laughed and sang with her around the campfire, but the reality was different. He looked terrible. His face was covered in dirt, the clothes he was wearing were torn. The powerful charisma he once had was completely absorbed by this darkness. "Melody?" he repeated, reaching his hand through the bars to take mine.

"I...I..." I stuttered and took a deep breath to collect myself. "Where's Emma?" he interjected and I looked at him in shock. "I was told she was taken to your camp. How long have you been here?" My voice trembled, but I was glad to get a sentence at all. "Been a week," he replied, avoiding my gaze. I let go of his hand and held it to my heart. It had to take too much, it would surely stop beating, I was sure of that.

He hadn't seen Emma, not even before he came here. Aiden had lied to me, Nero had fooled me and Damien, how much did he know about all this. Saphir tried to defend him, protesting my doubts about him, but I choked them off and tried to figure out what else was being played out to me.

"Are you alright?" the brown-haired one asked me and tears immediately found their way into my eyes. He really cared about how I was doing even though he was the one behind bars. I boldly stood right in front of him again. "I'll get you out of here. I promise. I just can't tell you how long it will take." Now I was the one who took his hand while I stroked his cheek with the other. He cocked his head as if to comfort himself in my hand, and suddenly it was as if we had never been apart.

I could have stood here for hours, but a loud scream from the other direction made us both jump. "Don't get yourself in trouble for me," he breathed as I took a step back. "If not because of you, then because of who?" I replied and in return was given his beautiful smile that I had missed so much.

***

One last look into the blue eyes, then I made my way quickly through the dark corridors and was almost scared to death. Camilla sat trembling by the bars, behind her lay the guy with a knife in his throat. There was blood all around him and Camilla was covered in it too. I never thought that so much blood could be in one person.

I pulled myself out of the shock. We had to get out of here immediately, but when I spoke to her several times, she once again didn't react. I carefully knelt down next to her and took her trembling hand. "We have to get out of here immediately, Camilla." I whispered empathetically, but again there was no reaction. She just stared wide-eyed and wiggled her torso back and forth, over and over, driving me insane. "Camilla!" I shook her and she finally looked at me. "It was so good," she whispered, looking over at his lifeless body. I was completely speechless, knelt in piss and didn't know what to do anymore. Nero would kill us, or not. I couldn't think of a single logical thought. "Let's go.", she suddenly took my hand and stood up with me. My heart was racing as we walked up the stairs and past the two men. It wasn't until we arrived at the farm that I was able to breathe easy again.

She walked up the stairs with me and didn't say a word. I just watched in confusion as everyone who was still in the yard stared at us. Only when Nero suddenly stood in front of us did I realize again that Camilla was covered in blood. "What happened to you?" he asked, startled, and we made our way into the castle.

We sat down together at the dining table and Nero poured out hot tea. I didn't take a sip, didn't move, just sat in silence and looked at Camilla, who was sitting across from me. "So?" came Nero, who looked back and forth between the two of us. I didn't look at him, thinking I was giving us away and I didn't know how much Camilla wanted to tell him the truth. My thoughts were also more about Aleks than about the dead guy, who I didn't really care about.

"I killed my tormentor. He's lying down in his prison bleeding to death." It came so cold and loose over her lips that uncomfortable goosebumps spread over my body and I had to shake myself. Nero looked over at me as if demanding that I corroborate her statement, and I just nodded at him, stunned. If she had already admitted it herself, I no longer needed to deny it.

"You know what the penalty is for not following our rules?" he turned back to Camilla, who was looking at me without an expression in her eyes. "Yes, I know," she whispered, getting up to leave the room. I sat completely perplexed, too many questions running through my head and too many emotions being mixed up today. All I knew was I couldn't trust anyone here because Emma wasn't where she was supposed to be, and neither was Aleks.

"She's going to die." Nero suddenly told me dryly and took a sip of his tea. "What do you mean by that?" I asked confused. "No one is allowed to free or kill a prisoner. That carries the death penalty." My stomach clenched so tight I almost threw up. Startled by his statement, I stood up and held on to the table for support. "You can't mean that seriously.", I came out angrily, but he didn't even look at me.

"It is what it is, and I really feel sorry for her.", he got up, paused for a moment and then disappeared into the hallway with her. I slumped back in the chair, exhausted, thinking about what had happened in the last hour, and I couldn't think straight.

Determined not to let that happen, I ran after Nero and ran straight into Damien's chest. "So stormy? Someone must have missed me.", he smiled and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back, even though for a second I thought I was imagining it all. His scent pulled me out of reality for a moment, letting me rest gently against your strong chest until I came to my senses and looked into his eyes.

"Why are you here again?" I asked him curiously and his gaze softened. "There wasn't anything Aiden couldn't do on her own and I missed you." A few hours ago I would have been delighted to hear those words, but now they sounded bitter and, after what I had seen, no longer felt sincere. I took a few steps back and noticed exactly how surprised he was looking at me. I drew a deep breath into my lungs and finally wanted to get some clarity.

"Where's Emma?"

"What do you mean by that? She's with her own kind, you know that.", he took a step toward me in the large hallway, but I signaled him to stop with my hand. "Stop lying to me! I know it never got there, so finally tell the truth!" I spoke loudly, but the desperation in my voice was clearly audible.

He looked at me as if I was completely deranged and would only say confused things, but I still didn't let go, even if he made me feel insecure. "Nero wants Camilla executed, Emma never got to her camp and Aleks is in the dungeons downstairs!" I stuttered, and only after the words left my mouth did I realize what I was actually saying.

"My absence doesn't seem to have done you any good. You should rest Melody. I'll take you to our room." He took my hand and ignored everything I had said to him before. Angry, I jerked my hand free and tried to pass him, but he grabbed my hips and threw me over his shoulder. "Put me down Damien right now!" I yelled at him and slapped his back, but he didn't respond, just continued walking down the hallway until we got to our room.

My heart was racing as he slowly lowered me to our bed and as soon as I got to my feet I wanted to pass him again, but it was ridiculous of me to think I'd stand a chance against him. "You stay here okay. I'll take care of everything. Just tell me who this Aleks is supposed to be." He put his hands on my shoulders and looked curiously into my eyes. I didn't know what to answer him and felt tears slowly making their way into my eyes. "He's Emma's brother. Damien, if you care about me in the slightest, please clear this up and let me come with you," I begged and clung to him. I felt his rapid breath on my hair and shivered to myself. "It's going to be alright," he whispered in my ear, pulling away from me. "But you stay here." Before I could understand what had happened, I was standing alone in the room and the door was locked from the outside. "Damien!" I yelled, pounding on the door while weeping, but he was already gone, not leaving a shred of his comfort or scent to me. There was only the emptiness that completely took over my heart and the fear for everyone who meant something to me.

Desperately, I yanked on the door handle, flew backwards several times, but didn't think about stopping rebelling. The anger tore me apart, my mind was not working properly anymore. All of this couldn't be true. I used to think Calvin was my worst nightmare, but this castle and its occupants were worse than any nightmare could ever be.

As I kept banging on the door, images of Camilla's lifeless body flooded my mind. Pictures of Aleks vegetating miserably. Pictures of Emma who was somewhere in the middle of nowhere and far from happy.

The hope that I could still help the three of them somehow made me run excitedly to the window and open it. It wasn't that high, but there was no way to get hold of anything to get down. "Stop that!", Saphir asked me as I stood on the frame of the window and looked down. "It's not all worth it! Go back!" she yelled desperately, but I turned and grabbed the window frame, carefully stepping one foot out, then the other, and without thinking, I hung meters in the air and didn't have enough strength to pull me up again.

Behind me came confused birdsong from the forest, the sun was shining above me and below me either freedom would be waiting for me, or death. I could make my peace with both, because I would die for love and friendship. For hope and the fight against this unjust world.

I took a last deep breath and just let go. I felt the weightlessness that held me captive for a moment, gave me a brief moment of rest, until a hard bang made me scream.

I lay there with a lot of pain in my back, seeing only the sky above me. The small clouds that slowly passed and the warm sun that shone down on me and blinded me. Holding my aching back, I stood up carefully, not sure if anything was broken, but the adrenaline wasn't going to let my body relax anyway.

I ran quickly along the walls, past the lake and up the bridge, the gate of which was open thanks to the market. Arriving in the yard, I saw Damien and Nero who were at the top of the stairs and it looked like they were arguing with each other. I didn't see Camilla anywhere, so I decided to sneak back to Aleks.

I tossed my long hair over my shoulder to somewhat obscure my face and walked inconspicuously along the edge to the small alley. As soon as I got to her, I ran as fast as I could and was stopped in front of the door by the two giants. "You again? Hasn't your girlfriend done enough?!", one of them looked at me angrily, but before I could reply, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. "Let them in," Damien ordered them, putting his hand on my back to push me towards the door.

I was surprised that he let me in and also that he didn't say a word to me. He didn't even ask how I got out of the room, but I didn't really care about anything else either.

I carefully ran down the dark stairs again and into the corridor on the right. The smell stung my nostrils again and I started mouth breathing in disgust, which didn't really help either.

When we got to Alek's cell, it was open and there was no sign of the brown-haired man. Stunned, I stared at Damien, who avoided my gaze and entered the cell. "There is and was no Aleks Melody here. Maybe you didn't sleep enough. Maybe the marking confused you too.", he said without looking at me. I widened my eyes in disbelief and walked down the rest of the hallway. It was only now that I noticed that the woman from the first cell was no longer there either. Breathing heavily, I clutched my head, trying to put all the memories together, and I wasn't sure if he wasn't right. Maybe I was so desperate for love that I only imagined Aleks, even though he and Emma would be peacefully together.

Just before I collapsed, Damien took me protectively in his arms and gently carried me back up the stairs. I clung to his chest and tried to forget everything for a moment. It would do no good to continue thinking about everything with this anger and panic. A night's sleep on it would calm me down, and when I got to my room to change into my sleeping clothes, I suddenly saw the injury on my ribs, which looked like prison bars.

I had been standing in the bathroom, which I had locked, for a while, looking at myself in the mirror. The almost imperceptible stripes on my ribs gave me the certainty that it hadn't all been my imagination. I had actually seen Aleks and he confirmed to me that Emma had never arrived at his camp. It was clear to me that everyone had lied to me, including my companion who was waiting for me in bed next door.

"Forget all that." I wanted to yell at her, but I stood there lifeless, staring into my empty eyes. She was the one who went insane, not me. But without their support, I stood alone against everyone. Me alone against a king, a prince, and his beta. Who would win, and who would have to submit and accept. I knew it, but I didn't want to see it.

I turned on the water, crying. I didn't want Damien to hear me sob. He would nurture and control me even more, and I needed rest and freedom to uncover the mysteries that weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Without wasting any more time, I washed my face to look fresh and not teary-eyed in front of him. I had to find out the truth, not let on how much I knew and where I knew Aleks from. Otherwise Damien would kill him instantly, no matter what I did about it, it was in his nature to be possessive and jealous and not to accept a competitor.

A small knock made me turn on the faucet. "I'll be right there." I called through the door and heard his footsteps moving away again. I felt like a lamb about to be taken to the butcher. Strange idea to be a werewolf, but that's how I really felt.

I carefully opened the door and looked over at the bed, but he wasn't in it, was nowhere to be seen. Confused, I walked around the bed and perched on the edge, worried, wondering where he could have gone so quickly, until he gave me a violent start as he loudly pushed the door open.

"Oh sorry," he murmured with a magazine between his teeth. I looked at him skeptically and noticed a bottle of water in one hand and a packet of biscuits in his other hand. If I wasn't so confused and angry at everything, I'm sure that sight would have made me laugh, as cute as he looked.

He put everything on his bedside table and sat down opposite me. "I didn't know if you would be hungry or thirsty." He smiled softly and wanted to take my hand, but I took it away and got up frantically to walk to the window.

The moon was high, looking like it was watching over us, and made me take a deep breath. My thoughts revolved only around how I should behave towards him. I didn't know what he knew, whether he was involved, whether he lied to me or didn't know any better himself. Painfully, part of me longed for his closeness, for his lips and for his attention, while the other part thought of Aleks, wanting to help him, and somehow that part saw Damien as an enemy, as someone who was leading me by the nose.

Overwhelmed, I snorted loudly, arousing his interest, which wasn't actually my intention. "Is it still about Camilla and Emma?" he asked, standing close to my back while his arms wrapped protectively around my waist. "No...Yes...Oh I don't know. I'm so upset," I breathed, fighting hard not to burst into tears again. "Little one. I promise you, as long as I'm alive your friends are mine too and I won't let you get hurt. Camilla is okay and Emma is fine. What can I do to make you believe me?" He rolled me over in his arms and looked sympathetically into my eyes. I forgot briefly why I distrusted him, why I wanted to stay away from him and only saw the two of us standing here.

"I know what you can do," I began, walking to the middle of the room and stopping in front of the mirrored cabinet. "You can take me to the camp so I can make sure Emma is okay." I recognized in the mirror that he was looking at me thoughtfully, and after a short time he nodded in agreement and came close to me again.

"We're leaving tomorrow morning." He confirmed and gently kissed my neck, which made me close my eyes with relish.

***

As soon as we were in bed, he was snoring softly, which gave me the opportunity to put a little more distance between us. Sleep was out of the question for me. I lay awake, excited, staring at the window, waiting for the sun to finally rise, with which we would also set off on our journey to the truth.

As I briefly closed my eyes to imagine what would happen tomorrow, I felt him move next to me and a few seconds later he was suddenly snuggled close to me with his head on my chest. I opened my eyes, but could only see his black hair, which held his smell right in front of my nose, which pleasantly found its way into my consciousness and gave me the usual security.

There was nothing I could do about the fact that my left hand automatically found its way onto his back and gently began to stroke him. It felt good to have him so close to me and he seemed really sweet and vulnerable lying halfway on top of me and clinging to me. I looked out the window again, hoping so badly that he had nothing to do with all the conspiracies and lies, because even if it wasn't love, I had developed feelings for him that would break my heart if it would come out that he was one of the bad guys.

I put my other hand on his shoulder and relaxed, I closed my eyes again to at least get some sleep. His body against mine made it impossible for me to feel excitement or panic, which is why I dozed off quickly and safely.

That morning, for the first time, I was happy to hear the crazy-looking rooster croaking. A look down at me made it clear to me that he was still deeply asleep, cuddled up against me. It didn't feel right to wake him up, but I had more important things to do than just lying here, so I slowly pushed him off me and stood up quietly. I wanted to get ready in peace before I would wake him up, but I couldn't take a single step, so he pulled me back into bed by my hand and bent over me. "Good morning princess.", he breathed towards me and gently caressed my cheek. My body began to tremble beneath him as my eyes stared at him in shock. I would have loved to sunk into this deep brown, but I looked away and turned out from under him. "Good morning," I mumbled more to myself, getting back up. A look at him revealed his amused smile that made me roll my eyes.

He really was a real werewolf. His hunting instinct alone was so well developed that he obviously enjoyed wooing me. "I'll get ready, then we can go." I told him and grabbed some clothes from the closet. When I closed it, I saw him in the mirror lying there staring at me intensely. "Are you even listening to me?" I turned to him, embarrassed by his staring. "It's hard to listen to someone blinding you with their beauty," he grinned, and I let out a deep laugh. "You've already tagged me. Slow down cowboy."

While he was laughing, I shook my head and disappeared into the bathroom. I was sure that he couldn't have had anything to do with any of this, but I was also sure that my instincts were telling me so. My mind thought otherwise, mistaking him for an evil man, but my mind was powerless when Damien was near me. Then only my wolf genes went crazy and forgot everything important, a hopeless back and forth that drove me crazy.

Fully dressed and freshly made, I left the bathroom and stood there with wide eyes for a moment when he stood completely naked in front of the mirror and winked at me with a grin. As Saphir drooled and yelped, my jaw dropped and I felt the warmth in my cheeks. He ran a hand through his hair and turned to face the closet, but I couldn't move at all for a moment until I forced myself to look elsewhere. I quickly directed my gaze to my shoes, which were standing by the bed, and ran over to them to put them on without even noticing him again.

When he disappeared into the bathroom with his selection of clothes, my heart was still racing and could hardly be calmed. "Roar at him!", Sapphire cheered, bringing pink color to my cheeks again. "Shut up," I hissed, then tried to collect myself. I needed to keep my focus on Emma and her brother, not the werewolf who was driving me insane with his alluring demeanor.

"We can go." He came out of the bathroom and held out his hand to me. I took them in mine without looking at him and walked with him down the hallway to the stairs where Nero was waiting for us. "A wonderful good morning. Where are you going so early?", he asked us and straightened his suit. "Wait by the car," Damien ordered calmly, kissing my hand before letting go. I caught a friendly nod from Nero and then turned to descend the stairs. When I got to the bottom, I saw the convertible and stood next to it. My thoughts revolved around everything that was about to happen, while my eyes fell on the dark alley that was on the other side of the courtyard.

Damien snapped me out of my thoughts by unlocking the car and holding the door open for me with a smile. I was curious as to what he might have discussed with Nero, but I still didn't want to ask, so I sat in the passenger seat and waited impatiently for us to finally drive off.