IN ANOTHER LIFE , josie saltzman ✔️

43. Dangerous Truths

I awoke with a deep gasp on hard ground and sat up straight. Gold light blinded me and I raised my hand to shield my eyes. "Someone put out the sun, please!" I shouted groggily. In the next moment, water was splashed into my face and I looked up as my hand fell to my side. The sun was put out and I looked around to find myself in a cellar, or a cave or something. "It's all right, Amaya. You're fine." A voice to my left side spoke and I looked to Ruby. She had her hand in the air with her elbow on her knee that she had pulled close to her body. I presumed that she conjured the light and splashed the water into my face. I looked down on my left arm and raised it slightly. "I'm literally in chains, Ruby!" I shouted at her and she chuckled, the grin widening on her lips. She rested her eyes on me and then closed them. "Yes, well, that's how they do it. Place you in chains, bled you of dark magic and then let you go through a waterfall that'll wash off all hexes on you and for the time being until you leave, they get a look on all your memories, dreams, past, present and future. So, all in all, you have to say nothing. They will get their answers anyway." Ruby told me and I shook my head and pulled at the shackle that was on my wrist. "No, I'm not opening my mind to them." I retaliated and Ruby let out a melodic laugh. "I've been through this and trust me, I've way more secrets than you. You feel pretty naked when you're standing infront of her, but, once you get to know her, you'll understand." She told me and I stopped pulling at the shackle. I groaned and put my face in my free hand.

Ruby put her hand in my restrained hand. "If you want, I can stand infront of her with you." She whispered and I looked up before my eyes rested on her. "Why?" I asked and saw that she wasn't restrained. "Well, love, I could've left you here alone, but I stayed with you. And two... I wanted someone to be there with me. Standing there infront of her, all my knowledge and secrets out in the open, it's scary." Her voice went gradually lower and in the end, she looked away. Her hand still rested in my own. "No one is here, Ruby. You can stop the act. You don't owe me anything, so, you don't have to sit here with me." I said and turned my head to the other side. I heard her breath hitch and she breathed out a quiet, maybe even a hurt, "okay." and I wondered if she was actually hurt by my words. It's just the way she was. She'd put up an act, follow the plan ruthlessly without a care in the world for anyone except for herself and sometimes I can see all goes to hell and burns down. I pulled at the shackle again and the rattling echoed throughout the room. "Mia de Covazar." An automatic voice said as a door in the wall slid open and revealed the redhead with the green eyes in her black robe. She lifted her hand and turned her palm upward in one swift motion and the shackle dissolved. I stood up quickly and slightly crouched down in case things would get ugly. "Follow me." She said monotone and turned around. Ruby got on her booted feet and walked toward the opening in the wall. She stood on a platform for a few seconds before the voice said her name. I cautiously stepped onto the same platform as Ruby walked ahead. Her and Mia waited for me a few feet ahead and suddenly I heard a buzzing sound as I felt tingly all over. "Amaya Rose-" The mechanical voice cut off and Mia snorted. "Serves you right, half-breed." She told me and I suddenly felt a stabbing pain in my neck. I yelped in surprise and raised a hand to my neck. Looking down at my fingertips, I saw blood. "Damn, why does she get marked?" Ruby asked surprised. "Because she's always fighting with herself. She's never a true Mikaelson or a Hale, and as such we have to take precautions."

We walked alongside a wide spaced, white hallway with electronic panels and board on it. Mia pushed a button on a panel and another door opened which revealed water trickling down from the ceiling. "Yeah, I'm not doing that." I said and stepped back. Mia turned around to me and raised an eyebrow. "You will. Either you go or I push you. Now, move it." She said, again her voice so monotone, I almost believed she didn't care for anything. "No!" I said defensive. "Amaya. It's not as bad as it sounds, okay? It stings a little and feels hot but it's okay." Ruby told me and took my hand, rubbing her thumb along my palm. "No!" I told them again. "I'm not doing that." Ruby tilted her head and her hand let go of mine, falling to her side. "I told you, Amaya," Mia said and raised her hand yet again. I just realized the weird contrast with her to the entire hallway. I shook the thoughts from my head. "Either you go or I push you. In the end, all will be revealed." She said and I felt a electric tingle again. My feet stopped touching the ground as my body lifted into the air and I was unable to move. "No. No! Don't you dare! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Please, no!" But it was too late. For a moment, everything was fine as I was still in the air, feeling the water on my skin.