Twisting Fate

5. The Rogue King

I woke up to pitch dark, the kind of dark where you can't see your hand waving a half inch from your face. My head and neck hurt like hell, and my feet were tied with some kind of chain. Upon closer inspection, the kind where my pant let moved up a little and the chain started burning my leg like fire, I found out it was made of pure silver. I pulled my pant leg down quickly, burning my fingers a little in the process.

I signed loudly, leaned against a rough rock wall behind me and wondered what the hell was going on. I remembered the beginning of my shift, and some kind of fight starting, my mom and dad trying to protect my sister and I. I jolted from my uncomfortable seat, frantically remembering my sister: unable to shift, no wolf that my family even knew of, and no one to protect her.

When I first woke up, I figured silence was my best friend, not know who or what might even be in the darkness with me. Now, I didn't care so much if it ment finding my family. Timidly, I whispered, "Mom?" I waited for a response, and then "Dad?" Nothing from either of them. I felt a tear roll down my eye, as I called out a third time. "Evelynn?"

A call back finally sounded, but it broke my hope immediately. It was a male voice, and most certainly not my father. "Not sure who your mommy and daddy are, but I'd like to get to know this Evelynn your calling for. Is it some plump big sister ya got, or a nice juicy younger one? If she's down here with us, I could help ya finder 'er." His voice was smooth and greasy, the kind that made me want to take a shower.

"It's too bad we're in these tiny single cells, or I could come visit ya, help you find that sister of yours. Comfort you down here in the dark." The stranger kept talking and it sounded like his voice was getting closer. I scooted as far back from his voice as I could, nearly plastering myself against the wall. I was scared of him, scared of what he could do if he somehow got ahold of me.

Just then, a door to our left opened up, and four men in shabby clothes went to two of the cells, one next to me and one in front of me, dragging out their individual residents. The disgusting oily voiced man had been in front of me, and with the light from the open door I got a good look at him. Greasy, lank black hair that was long enough to cover his face, a bloodied and likely broken nose, and mud brown eyes. The one to my left went quietly, head hung low, hands clasped in front of him, but Mr. Grease fought. He pulled away from the men collecting him, yelling profanities at them and hitting with his tied hands. One of the guards that was taking the meek man from his cell turned to help the two with him, and with his help, they beat the man into submission.

"And piss on you for the fight. If we get in trouble for being behind schedule because of you, I know who I'm going to petition to fight against in the ring." He jerked the wild man onto his feet from where he had fallen, and pushed him towards the door. "Follow the others out, ya' idiot." His voice raised slightly as he turned his head around, and called out "And the rest of you lot in here, fight me like this one, and you will get an even worse beating."

The quintet left the room, and closed the door behind them. We were once again left in pitch black. I waited a few minutes, making sure no one was coming back in, before I dared to voice, "who's out here?" The man had said 'you lot' so I couldn't be the only one here.

A shuffle to my right had my head turning in that direction, but I couldn't see anything. "Hello?" I called out, a little louder this time.

"I may be about as blind as a bat in this darkness, but I can still hear you. Names Jack Thistle, nineteen years old, rogue from Paw Print pack about three years ago. Any who are you?" Jack asked, voice smooth and almost upbeat.

"I'm Grace... umm... I'll turn seventeen in a few months and I've been a rogue all my life... I was born one, as was my mom and dad, and their mom and dad." I told him, not sure what else I should divulge to this stranger.