Creatures of The Dark

Chapter XIX

"You will join the king for dinner," a guard, Odesar, stated from where he stood at the door.

We all stood, exchanging glances. I was adjusting to the feeling of the collar and manacles, though it was still a horrible feeling. It felt as if my organs had sprung holes and leaked poison. Every muscle in my body ached and keeping my eyes open required an obscene amount of concentration. I was, however, better off than Tannon. There was no way Tannon would be able to stand. His brutalized state worried me for so many reasons. If we were to escape somehow, I did not know how he could bear the travel.

"Our friend is not well enough–"

"He will stay then. Come, now."

We followed the centurion to the door. When I made to walk through he held up a hand, halting me.

"What?" I hissed.

The guard smirked, his teeth slightly yellow. I recognized him from my first stay at the palace. I more so remembered the threats he made regarding my sister.

"The king requested you wear a special...arrangement."

I had sense enough to step back. Guards gripped my shoulder, pushing me forward so that I shared Odesar's breath. I gritted my teeth, breathing hard as the guards held me in place. Odesar reached behind him and pulled a long chain from his weapons belt. I jerked back and away from the ornament. A leash. Alexandra and Saron were shouting at the guards. I heard them fighting to keep them away from me, to no avail. Odesar stepped close. The tip of his boots scuffed my own.

"If you touch me," I seethed, "I'll rip your hands from your wrist." I wouldn't take this lying down. I wouldn't pick my battles here. I knew my chances of escape, of survival, were slim. If I was to go down, I would go down fighting alongside my family. The guard laughed, grabbing onto the thick collar.

"Roan said the same thing before we cut him open."

I jutted forward. The guards jerked back with the same ferocity, but not before I latched my jaw onto Odesar's hand. He screamed, yanking and pulling. His bones and tendons squelched beneath my teeth. Blood filled my mouth. The guards slammed the hilt of their weapons into my back. I grunted through the pain, biting harder. This time, when the guards wrenched me back, I did not struggle. I fell back into them and thick, hot blood ran down my throat.

I spat and coughed. I was surprised the guards had stopped beating me. I followed their gaze. They were staring at the grisly lump of flesh on the floor. Half his hand was gone. I was too angry to be sick at the sight. Odesar was crying, clutching the stump-like remains. The guards didn't dare touch me. When I stood, I spat Odesar's blood at their feet. My companions stared, their faces filled with defiance. If we wanted to, we could kill you all, their looks seemed to say.

More guards swarmed the room. They no longer held sneers and smirks. Stark fear shined across their faces. The guard who had held the chain was dragged out of the room, leaving a trail of blood. If I had bitten an inch further down, he could have died. I've learned from Varric, not to leave enemies alive. They ushered us out of the room and down the hall, but no one dared to touch us. They hovered like ghosts around us.

We were led to a large dining room. There were no lingering courtiers, only the king and his guards resided in the room. I hadn't actually thought they meant dinner and yet the table was set with food and wine. The guards sat us at our seats, ones the Dark Lord had arranged. He had seated me to his right and Alexandra to his left. I sat harshly on the plush chair and gave Adromere a crude smile with bloodied teeth.

His shock was nearly imperceptible, but it made my pained grin widen. He looked to the guards for answers. They shifted nervously under their king's gaze.