Chapter 10
The chambers were down deep below the castle Natalie resided in. It sounded as if people had been here before us, because there were a great many screams and moans coming from where we were going. I huddled closer to Spencer, who somewhat bravely put an arm around me. I very much appreciated that he was trying to comfort me, when it was obvious we might not make it out. Victor and an accomplice he referred to as Marcus led us down many flights of stairs. So far, I had mentally counted seventy-three steps and it didn't look as though we'd be much longer reaching ground zero. Derek was bound up with chain, everywhere, so that he couldn't escape. It surprised me that he was as calm as he was, but I strongly doubted that he was as silent inside. I ached to reach out and touch him, but that could result in the loss of my arm. Behind Spencer and me, Marcus carried Farren over his shoulder. Although unconscious, she was bound by shimmery silver ties, which had already burned circles into her wrists. So silver affected vampires, what a pleasant way to find out.
Once we finally reached the ground level, Victor began to smile. My insides churned, knowing fully he was looking forward to this. I wanted to kill his ass, but as a human, I doubted I'd even get in one good hit before I'd become wolf chow. I gripped Spencer's hand tightly, knowing I was probably causing blood loss in his fingertips, but I don't think he noticed. His eyes were glued to Farren's wrists, and they were glassy. He looked angry, but he was in the same position I was. Neither of us seemed to be able to accomplish anything to save our friends. If you've ever felt this helpless…I'm so sorry. This feeling was awful, but deep inside, I let my rage nurture, let it grow. Even as a human, rage and adrenaline had to count for something, even if it meant I'd die trying. "All right," Victor's voice boomed in the stone corridor, "Marc, go drop off Princess Brat in chamber three, I'll take care of Derek and the humans. Once she wakes, bring her in. We'll have a little fun with her." Spencer's grip on my hand was sudden and angry.
Wait a minute.
Princess?
What the hell were they talking about? Farren was a princess? Surely they were just inventing names. I didn't get the chance to wonder long, because Victor threw Derek aside, and grabbed a handful of my shirt, yanking me away from Spencer. He held me by my collar, and my feet dangled just above the ground. "So, we've got a little Luna on our hands, eh? She's very pretty, Derek." "Ugh," I grunted, "Why don't you go find yourself a Tic-Tac wolfy." Victor's eyes grew red. "I'll break you if it's the last thing I do, girl." He said, dropping me back onto the concrete floor. "Go fuck yourself," I said, wiping the blood away from my elbow, on which I had fully landed. Victor chuckled before shouting into the dank air, "Bring me the toys!" Before I could comprehend what or who he was talking to, suddenly, the darkness came alive. Lights lit up, revealing a room bigger than I'd thought. Several people rushed from different doors, rolling out shelves with dangerous and sharp objects, obviously meant for torture. To my horror, I watched as Victor reached over and lovingly picked up a whip. Of all the things I could stand, whipping was not one of them. The torture of it, even on someone else, instilled in me an anger like no other. "Hook him up, boys." The strangers, all dressed in dark garb as if to resemble Hell, rushed to do as they were told. I reeled back in stunned surprise upon my revelation: They were human. Maybe they'd had no choice, perhaps they had been promised a part in the supernatural world. Whatever the cause, this was far from the first time they'd helped torture someone, and they seemed eager to do so.
One of them hefted Derek up, and due to his binding, he was unable to get away from them or even try. Lightning fast, Victor flew out and punched Derek in the jaw, giving him just enough time to unwrap Derek's hands and refasten them in a rope hanging from a hook in the ceiling. Oh no, I thought, they're really going to do this to him! Victor smiled cruelly, and walked back. "Keep them-" Victor was interrupted when the door behind us opened. "You fucking assholes!" Farren's voice carried throughout the chamber. I turned to see them bringing her in, or shoving rather. "Don't worry little girl, you won't be left out." Marcus crooned. With that, he threw her onto the ground, planting a quick boot into her ribs. Her breath came out in a whoosh and she curled around the impacted site. Marcus reached down and grabbed her shirt, throwing her against the wall in front of us. In my preoccupation of watching after Farren, I had forgotten about Derek. With a loud crack, Victor lashed out the whip, which connected with the bare flesh of Derek's back. Immediately, blood poured from the gaping gash. Tears sprung to my eyes. Derek didn't make a sound, not one, but I could tell from his stiffened posture that he was in agony. Victor lashed out again, creating another wound just below the first. Suddenly, the rage I'd been letting grow infected every part of my body. When Victor laughed aloud, hitting Derek for the third time, it pushed me over the brink. To my side, Spencer was gasping, attempting to breathe for Farren. Marcus had been joined by two other wolves, all who I later realized had been wearing silver toed boots. Mercilessly, they kicked and punched her. Even as a vampire, her little body was beginning to cave to the blows.
I'd had enough of this shit.
I caught Spencer's hand angrily, and he looked to me, and I don't know what he saw, but it must have been scary, because he shrank away slightly. I let my eyes wander to the side, locating a large steel mace probably no more than ten feet away. That would be perfect. Letting go of Spencer's hand, I wandered over to it, willing myself to ignore the fourth crack of the whip. Spencer had gotten what I meant even without words, and followed me. Along the way, he picked up a machete from one of the shelves behind the guys who were beating Farren. I couldn't let myself be distracted or swayed, I had to let out this anger, and it was directed solely and firstly on Mr. Victor himself. "Hey!" I heard one of the humans say, and he rushed towards me with a knife. I remembered all of the training I'd been through, and more than ever, I wished it was Derek coming at me. Suddenly, the feel of his arms sounded like Heaven, but I couldn't let that take away my attention from this guy. He flew at me directly, and in my rage, I swiveled to his side, landing a blow just below the back of his knee to temporarily cripple him. It worked, stunning the calf muscle and he fell to the ground. I grabbed the mace from the shelf beside him and turned. Even in all the commotion, Victor had failed to notice that we'd gathered courage. In his desperate need to rid of his rival and take the Alpha from Derek, he'd seemed to have forgotten all about us.
Without hesitation, I rushed forward, letting my rage fuel my bloodlust. I gained speed in about three steps and, ignoring the weight of the weapon, lifted the mace high and leapt at Victor. I was not horrified, I was not stunned, I wasn't even happy. All I could think was how much I wanted his pain. Without holding back in the least, I swung the mace forward, and Victor tried to turn and defend but it was too late. I felt my anger release fully and power my blow as I buried the spikes into his skull. The look on his face was stunned as he slid down the wall, and I jerked the mace free from his body and turned to take out the rest of my rage on Marcus and his friends. Spencer had killed one of them, and stood defending himself from another. Quickly I turned and zeroed Marcus in as prey and swung the mace, connecting with his lower back and as he lay there, I swung again, the spikes slicing through his jugular and face. I left him there to bleed out and ran over to Spencer, quickly blocking the guy's next knife swing, which stunned him as he had not been expecting me, and Spencer buried the machete in his temple. We stood there, expecting the onslaught of the other humans, but they stood where they were, as if waiting for us to come at them. "To any of you forced to be here, leave, now." I said, "For the rest of you here willingly, let us leave in peace." All of them rushed in different directions, scattering to find freedom. I dropped the mace, only now realizing that I was covered in blood. I hoped most of it was Victor's. I walked carefully over to Derek, reaching out to touch his face. He wasn't out cold yet, but I could tell he wanted to be. He must have been in excruciating pain, but somehow, he still didn't make a sound. "Aaden, how…?" He mumbled. "Shh," I said, finding a knife and slicing the rope holding him up. He hissed when he landed and I turned him gently, both wanting and not wanting to survey the damage. "No time for that, come on," he said when he saw Farren. I wanted to argue, but he rushed forward and picked up Farren. "Follow me." He said, and his eyes went red. We followed him, running up the flights of stairs and out of a door to the outside.
Never had the forest smelled so good.
