The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 52 : Survivng

A/N:
Wow. This is truly a moment I never saw happening with this series. Thank you all for 100k reads on The King's Prey. And to think I started this all just under 2 years ago. You guys are phenomenal. Love you all so so so much. <333

Also, I sincerely apologize for the extreme delay with writing and posting chapters this month. I move into my college dorm tomorrow so shit has been hella hectic for me. Thank you all for your patience, though, and I hope you guys enjoy this update. <3

Pegasus xxx

•———•

Filipendulous • [fill-i-pen-due-less]
Hanging by a thread.

🖤

~+~

~ Samuel ~

Surviving: it's what we do to keep from knocking on Death's door.

I've come close to getting myself killed several times due to my sheer idiocy as a child. But this is far different. This is a result of my vitality. My courage. This is what it's like to overcome and withstand the worst parts of life.

And I can say for certain, it hurts like a bitch.

I'm immobile against this grimy cavern floor. And that fact largely has something to do with the raw gashes burning against my flesh—my back, to be more precise. This is what makes me realize none of it was a dream. That I'm still under Maddox's relentless grip.

It's practically impossible to move any part of my body. I open my eyes and the room flashes with colors around me. Then I try squeezing them shut only to be consumed by more agonizing torture—my pounding headache.

My body shakes with panic and shock, trying to comprehend what was done to me.

But somewhere beyond the ringing in my ears, footsteps approach—this is how I know I'm still in the enormous throne room. That the rogues left me untouched after slashing my back to shreds.

The steps are light and even—much different than Maddox or Markus'. I have no idea as to how much time has passed since I was last conscious and whether or not both males are still present. But with the eerie silence and the lone footsteps, it seems as though they've left for the time being.

Whoever the steps belong to, they don't come near me. Instead, they cross the space at a slow speed, possibly taking in the sight of everything. Maybe even my bloody state.

I will myself to crack my eyes open—I need to open them to gain a piece of my senses back. When I do, the world continues to flare around me, but eventually, my sight settles into a bearable frequency, allowing me to see an outline of the figure standing thirty or so feet away.

Covered in shiny blackness, almost being mistaken for an additional shadow in this torch-lit room, the female-looking outline stands erectly by a fallen body. I force myself to focus on the body's details—who the woman is standing over.

My breathing is labored, and I soon remember who was once hanging on that wall before I found myself having the same fate as him.

An unnatural sound releases from my lungs, straining to raise my head. I groan, my back aching with the sad attempt.

"G-Get..." I begin, but the words are lost somewhere in the waves of agony pulsing through my bones. The figure turns to face me, her head tilting with interest. And I finally will myself to speak. "G-Get a-away from h-him."