Until Darkness Ascends

CHAPTER THREE

Cordelia knew as soon as she heard the crescendo of steps down the hall that he was coming to punish her. She wanted desperately to be a strong woman and not shake from the impending events. But even though she tried to will herself not to, she felt her muscles spasm uncontrollably. She closed her eyes, praying that this would end. Willing that someone would hear her call for help.

The door crept open. "Cordelia."

She tried to pretend to sleep.

"I know you are awake, female."

Female. It made her stomach roll like the waves of the Dark Sea. He always called her female when he came to...punish her. She always thought it was to objectify her. He couldn't feel bad if he distanced himself from her.

Slowly, she sat up in her bed, the waters around her causing her deep purple hair to flow delicately behind her. Volutlorians were known for their abnormal features. She was told the other species didn't have a tail to swim or scales that covered their intimates. And the archangel who had come had a different hair color than she and the King. It wasn't as bright which made her wonder why.

Her mind was wandering. That was on purpose. It made it easier.

"I promise I didn't say anything. I agreed to the marriage."

He smiled, nodding. "I know."

"Then why-"

"Because you seemed shocked about our engagement. You looked as if you didn't want to be married to me."

She didn't.

He came closer. "Get up. You know where we are going."

She wanted to fight back and scream no. She wanted to swim far, far away. But he spent her entire life making sure she didn't know the layout of the Kingdom so that even if she could escape, she wouldn't know where to go or what to do. He made sure she was guarded 24/7, and those guards were loyal to him, not her. So loyal that they stood by her door, watching as the King took her from her bed and down into the cells of the palace.

Sometimes she saw pity on their faces like they were as trapped as she was. But she didn't understand. She didn't understand how anyone could simply watch as he hurt her.

In the lowest level of the palace, he pushed her through the door, locking it behind her. Her hands hit the window. "Please! I've been good!"

He watched her plead. The entire room was made of some type of material that allowed them to see each other but only she was affected by the mechanics inside. Her eyes stung as tears welled in her dark eyes.

"Please, my King, not again," she whimpered. "I've done as you wanted."

The whirling sound around her was a familiar yet froze her with paralyzing fear. The water began to filter out of the glass room. Her fists hit the window harder, and her screams grew louder. If she could focus, she would see that her fists were beginning to bleed from how hard she tried to escape.

But the air caught her.

The first thirty seconds were always the easiest. But after, her insides began burning from the lack of oxygen. She couldn't breathe. Her body was made to be underwater and without it, she couldn't survive. Her gills collapsed from lack of water around her.

She tried to gasp, her hands moving to her throat as the panic set in.

Between thirty seconds and two minutes was the worst.

That's when she fell to the floor, her body consumed with an agonizing sense of doom and sting. That's when she looked up and saw the smug face of her capturer. He didn't do this to punish her. She knew deep down she did nothing wrong. He did this because he enjoyed it. It was like some sick substitute for happiness.