Sure enough, the next day my dungeon door opened to reveal the King. His hair was slightly groomed, and his face looked as if he had tidied himself up.
“Hello, Abigail. I just wanted to stop by before the party and see whether or not you are ready to tell me what I want to know.”
I stayed on the floor, dejected. The tears that had dried on my face remained there. I didn’t have it in me to wipe them away. Watching Life die was what I imagine a mother feels at the loss of her child. I raised him. I bonded with him. He wasn’t supposed to die like that because a cruel man wanted answers that I couldn’t give him.
He gripped me by the chin and lifted my head to look into his cold, cruel eyes. “Anything?”
I remained quiet, my eyes barely even focusing on him. He let go of my chin and walked away. I noticed the way he was dressed in fine attire and remembered his mention of a party.
He stopped at the door, and turned back to give me a smile. “I’ll be back later with some new toys. I’ve been waiting to try them out, but no one has been quite so stubborn. I have to say, I admire your tenacity to keep those rogues protected. You would have made your clan proud if you had shown them the same loyalty.”
He slammed the door shut, and I hung my head in my hands. The King was going to a party, while I sat down here to rot. As time passed, I started to lose hope that I’d ever be free. The King was convinced that I had something to do with the rogue dragons’ appearance in the paddocks. I leaned my head against the wall and hoped for the best. I mean miracles could happen. Maybe not for me, but hope was all I had left.
It didn't take long for the King to return. My eyes grew wide at the sight of the whip in his hand.
He chuckled, noticing my dismay. I’m sure my trembling body, chattering teeth, and fear-stricken face gave him great pleasure. I could only imagine what my screams would do.
"Press yourself against the wall, with your back facing me," he ordered, his deadpan voice made me sob harder.
I obeyed, pressing my shaking hands onto the cold cement as I knelt there, waiting for the row of lashes that awaited me.
"Let's try this again, Abigail. Who are you working for?" he questioned.
"Your Majesty, I'm telling the trut—" I was cut short as the whip lashed out at me— a scream escaped me as I clenched my hands into tight fist. The agonizing pain radiates through my back. I took a few strained breaths as tears flowed down my cheeks.
"Who are you working for?" he repeated.
"Your Majesty. I'm not working for—" Another lash hit me, cutting me off yet again. I gritted my teeth as I held back my sobs, leaning against the wall for support.
"Who are those dragons?"
"I don't kn—AH!" I screamed as the lash sliced through my flesh.
"I have all night, Abigail. Who are you working for?"
"Please, your Majesty... I beg you, I'm innocent. I don't know the—" I let out another scream. Blood began to seep out of my wounds, trickling down my back and into my thin, battered top.
Again and again, lash after lash, I reaffirmed my innocence. Only to be rewarded with unbearable pain. I opened my eyes to the spinning dark room, struggling to stay upright as I swayed back and forth. The pain added to my sleep deprived, famished condition as I struggled to stay conscious.
I heard the door open as another lash struck my back—my open flesh exposed as blood began to pool to the floor around me. I could already picture the multiple gouges on my now drenched, destroyed shirt— the remaining material soaked with my blood, sweat, and tears.
"Your Highness. You'll kill her. She's nothing but a human. She won't heal like us," the guard disclosed; his voice sounded far away.
I heard the King curse under his breath. "Fine. Leave.”
The guard looked over at me with sympathetic eyes before he left. Once the door closed behind him, the King grinned and bent down in front of me. He placed his hand on my back, and pain blossomed. I was unable to hold back the scream as the pain increased.
When it was over, the King let go of me and smirked. “Something very few know about me, dear Abigail, is I have the ability to heal others. With that ability comes some other advantages.” He leaned forward and touched me again, and I felt the skin on my back split open further. I cried out as the King laughed at my pain. “I can heal you anytime I wish, and the moment I touch you again, I can rip open your wounds just as viciously. Something you should remember for when I come back.”
He stood and straightened his clothing before opening the door and calling the guard in, leaving me in pain and hunched against the wall. When the guard walked in, the King took slow steps toward me. “Let her think about how her actions have rewarded her before you call the healer to tend her wounds. Maybe a day in agony, and she'll confess." He disclosed no mention of his healing power.
I shrieked, my head being pulled back by my hair that was wrapped around the King's hand. I opened my weak eyes and locked onto his.
"Abigail, I'll return and ask you the same set of questions. If I don't receive the answers I'm looking for, I will repeat this session all over again. Do you understand?"
"Yes...your Majesty," I answered, my voice nothing but a whisper.
He let go, exiting the dungeon with the guard.
I sighed, unable to stay upright and collapsed onto my side. The throbbing pain that coursed throughout my body with each second made it hard to even breathe, my shallow breaths contributing to my light-headedness.
I needed an escape; to be relieved of the agony that plagued me. My lungs hurt, my back hurt, everywhere hurt. How could the truth cause me so much pain? Was being kind and merciful in this world rewarded with agony and punishment? Couldn't anyone help me? Save me? Please, someone, help me. Mom...
My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I welcomed the darkness that embraced me.
~GOLD~
"Nothing."
"But all the villagers are working just as last time. She's the only one missing," I pointed out. I walked back and forth, pacing around our tents.
Purple eyed me carefully; his expression showed his boredom as he continued to observe my worried behavior.
"She could have been forced to stay home as punishment," Purple suggested.
"I doubt it," I countered, crossing my arms as I continued to pace.
Our reinforcements had arrived last night, giving us the go-ahead to search the area while they tended to Blue. He was still fighting a fever after three days, something that rarely happened and only added to my growing anxiety. Thankfully with the reinforcements came a healer. He'd be able to slowly heal Blue while we scouted. I just needed to make sure she was okay.
But when we'd snuck onto their lands once more, the field was empty. I didn't need someone to confirm my suspicions. My gut dropped when we reached the empty field, the cattle and sheep wandering aimlessly.
We'd waited as long as we could without risking ourselves, but as time passed and the sun began its slow descent, we had no choice but to depart, not wanting to get caught by the King's guards.
"You pacing around is not going to solve anything," Purple declared.
I sighed, stopping in my tracks. "I know," I whispered.
Purple grimaced and took a deep breath.
"Let me go ahead. Stay with the others and make sure Blue is okay. Once he's patched up, head back and scout the area one more time. If you still can't locate her, I'll head into the village as a traveler and try to gather some information. Will that stop you from acting like a fool?"
I slowly nodded, taking in his words and ignoring his unnecessary commentary. It sounded like a good plan and at least Blue would get a few more days of rest before the journey back to the village.
"You'll be okay alone?" I inquired, not wanting to put him in danger over my impatience. He smirked.
"Of course. I know these parts better than those silly Red clan lackeys. I'll be fine. I'm gonna go gather some food for you guys and I'll leave tonight," he stated confidently.
"I can hunt too, you know," I reminded him.
"I'm well aware, but your stubborn worried arse didn't sleep last night, now did you?" He grinned, raising an eyebrow at me.
"No," I grumbled, glancing away. I hated how perceptive he was.
"Exactly. Go sleep. I'll make sure to wake you up before I leave. Blue's stable thanks to the healer and the guards are on watch. Might as well take advantage," Purple explained.
I nodded in agreement, a yawn escaping me. "Okay," I replied, rubbing my eyes.
The pent-up anxiety, anger, and frustration were finally taking their toll on me. Not to mention my lack of sleep. A nap would do me some good.
"I'll see you tonight." Purple waved goodbye and walked into the forest.
I headed back to my tent which was right next to Blue's. I nodded to the guard on duty, informing him I'd be resting, but if anything happened with Blue, he should wake me up immediately. I walked into the tent, buckling up the entrance behind me to shut out the sun's rays that peaked through the thick trees.
I straightened out the sleeping bag we'd each hidden with our other supplies. It was too hot now, since it was early afternoon, but during the chilly nights it kept us warm.
We could easily regulate our temperature, but why waste precious energy that could be used elsewhere?
I lifted up my shirt, ruffling my gold locks and laid down to sleep. It took a while for sleep to claim me, the constant images of the woman from the fields flickered through my mind over and over again.
My eyelids finally became too heavy for me to keep open; I let them close as I relaxed.
I had a peaceful dream: a field of flowers lay below my feet as I raised my dragon head to stare up at the clear blue sky. I felt at peace here, unsure why the unfamiliar place brought me a sense of serenity, only that it did.
I felt a tingle in my ear; someone was calling for me. I turned my head in the direction where the voice came from, my eyes landing on a beautiful woman.
She smiled. Her turquoise eyes twinkled with adoration while her long brunette hair flowed with the warm breeze, flower petals of various colors passing between us.
I loved her.
Everything about her. She was strong, loyal, and kind. We were meant to be together and deep down...I knew she'd do great things.