Chapter 7
Rhea pov
He watched me closely for a few moments before a small smile stretched across his face, a smile that would give a mortal a heartache from fear, and whilst I was afraid, I remained mute and still, attempting to hide how I felt from the creature.
“Amazing.” It muttered, “You look at me as though I am the worse creature you would ever encounter and yet, I am not the one chained like an animal.”
I scowled at him, masking my every emotion even as I winced in pain, they could call me whatever they wished, treat me however they wished, I would not relent, I would not obey. I knew my stubbornness would not last forever, eventually I would give in to their commands either from exhaustion, hunger or simply just to relieve the pain. But for now, I would not give them what they wanted.
He laughed, it was an emotionless sound. “Gabriel was right, you are a stubborn little thing, but that will do you no good with the king, he does not take kindly to such things. You are to be his…. What do your people call it? Oh yes..” he said, pretending to be thoughtful whilst his eyes held nothing but anger. “Mate. That’s it isn’t it? The other half of your soul, blah blah blah.”
I growled at the hideous creature, I had never hated vampires but I had been raised to be cautious and untrusting of their kind, they could kill us before we could blink. But not me, the king needed me alive and I knew this. My father was a strong alpha male, I have his blood running through me, his power and dominance, I was expected to give the vampire many heirs. That’s why I was here, that’s why they hadn’t killed me after I had attacked him.
“Don’t growl at me mutt!” Snarled the vampire, his eyes flashing crimson before he quickly calmed himself, but I didn’t cower in fear like most of my kind would, Alora and I were strong. Unique. He wouldn’t scare me into submission.
If I wasn’t chained to this wall I would rip off his ugly head. A familiar voice growled within me, and I had never been more relieved in my entire life.
I kept my face neutral. Alora? Is that you? Please tell me it’s you!?
Rhea I am here. I am sorry for leaving you, the wolfsbane made me weak, I couldn’t contact you.
How are you here now? The chains are coated in it, how can I hear you.
We are unique. You saw us. This is not how we will live. This cannot be what the goddess wants for us.
Alora, I’m so happy you are here, I was going crazy all alone in here.
Don’t give us away with your tears Rhea, they can’t know that we have grown accustomed to the effects of wolfsbane. It will still burn us, but I will not leave you again.
I agreed with her silently, if they know that I could contact my wolf even when chained and injected with wolfsbane they would know we were different, that we were stronger than those before us. I turned back to the emerald eyed vampire who was watching me with his head tilted.
“Well. I thought I could strike conversation with you, maybe impress Gabriel with my charm.” He sighed, faking a disappointment pout, though as usual I remained mute.
Seeming to realise I was more stubborn than he had first anticipated, the creature shrugged absently. “If you’d like to know, I am Rayan. Head of warriors here and what you call a beta.” I watched him, ensuring my face remained free of all emotion, though I was unable to help flinching when he appeared inched away from my face. “Now, won’t you be a good mutt and eat your porridge? I’d hate to force it down your throat, but I will.”
I thought for a moment, Alora encouraging me to at least nod to him, allowing him to feed us, we would be no use dead, to ourselves or to the vampires. After a moment of internal arguing, I lost, her logic dictating that we would be unable to escape if we remained weak and starved.
Rhea, if you do not eat it I will take over and do it for you! Then our cover will be blown, is that what you want!?
Of course not! I snapped, but I knew she was right.
I lowered my head in defeat and nodded, wincing when the vampire grasped my chin and forced open my mouth, pain exploding through my jaw as he shoved the porridge to the back of my throat, causing me to gag and choke. Yet, he snapped my jaw shut again, making me chew and leaving me no choice but to swallow. I scowled at him, angered that he would treat me in such a way even after I had agreed to what he had said.
He smirked and shrugged, “Don’t give me that look, I was risking you spitting it on me and ruining my favourite shirt.” He laughed.
Rayan forced me to eat more than half the bowl before he released my chin, forcefully shoving my head back when he had decided it was enough to sustain my petite form. Tears were streaming down my cheeks and I was sure that I already had bruises across my chin. He tilted his head at me as he rose to his feet, a small smirk encompassing his features.
“Not so stubborn or strong now are you mutt.” He uttered as he turned on his heal, storming from the cell and slamming the heavy metal door behind him.
I finally let out the sob I had been trying to hide, my entire body shaking with each breath that I took, I didn’t know what I ever did to deserve a life like this or how I angered the moon goddess. I had been told stories that mating with a vampire was similar to mating with a wolf, only; the vampire would mark you and feel your deepest and most powerful emotions, while the wolf would feel nothing. A wolf could mark a vampire, yes, but the mark would be gone the next day, they healed all wounds, and we could not seal the mark. However, once he marked me, I would be forever his and his alone. He would know me inside and out.
I don’t want this Alora! We have to find some way out of this, we can’t be mated to that creature!