CHAPTER 10: WHEN THE SAVIOUR IS THE PUNISHER AND THE VICTIM

23 3 0
                                    

I was led to the council room once again. This time it was arranged in a different way, everyone was sitting facing me. I sat in the middle with Grey standing beside me. There were two heavy bodied guards standing behind us. I could spot Addy among the other vampires, her eyes were dark and dangerously fixed on me. The council went silent abruptly, my adrenaline shot up and my eyes scanned the room frantically. Like an awaited guest, Steel strode into the room and sat on the best seat among them all.  His aura effortlessly intimidating and demeaning. He seemed to be too calm, as if he'd been waiting for this for a long time.
“sorry for being late, we can continue now” he rested his balled hands under his chin, he scanned the room for a second, then his eyes settled on me.
“Becky, I have got a few questions to ask you before I decide what to do with you” he said calmly.

So I am dying today?

“This is concerning the escape you attempted the previous day. What was your aim?” his voice echoed all over the room. I looked around fearfully, making sure my eyes didn’t meet with any of the vamps. Thanks goodness it wasn’t about my previous case.

“To leave this place and find my way back home” I said hiding my fear with fake calmness.
“What home are you talking about?”
“My father’s house, in the city” I answered.
“You admitted that your parents are dead then what house are you talking about? Or you lied to us?” he sounded impatient and accusing.
“My parents died the same day I ended up here, but the house is intact I could still stay there”
“Sadly you are not as innocent as you seem. You are the first to find Dermot’s secret passage, doesn’t that ring something in your mind?” he leaned forward his cold eyes holding mine.
“I was just too desperate, I wanted to find my way out, that’s how I found the passage. I had no other intentions” I was losing my little confidence.
“You could be spared on that but you’ll still be punished for trying to escape while your case is still on listening” he turned his gaze to Grey “you’re the master of this coven so you’ll be the one to administer the punishment” he paused “twenty golden canes, right here right now!”

That cane, again!? I wailed mentally.

My heart leapt on my throat, I turned my gaze to Grey who was silent and motionless. He stepped forward, the golden cane in his hands. A thin table was brought at the centre and the two guards behind us dragged me towards it and strapped me down. Tears burnt in my eyes, my throat went soar as Grey tightened his hold on the cane and matched towards me.

Don’t be easy on me and get yourself in trouble, just do what you would have done to any vamp hunter. I said to Grey mentally.
But I was freaking out, go easy on me! That was what I wanted to say but I could not.
There was a long silence then the canes came down like thunder and lightning. I counted silently my nerves getting numb. I struggled with the straps holding me down as the pain continued to torture me. But I only made it worse, the straps dug into my skin leaving behind bruises. A cry escaped my lips when the last one finally came. Tears blinded my sight, I shut my eyes, my mind blank. All I could feel was pain, endless pain.

“It goes for natural healing. No one should try having mercy on her for goodness sake. Let her suffer the consequences of defiling the law" There was a short silence “you are now dismissed”
That beast!
Murmurs and shuffling of feet filled the once silent room for a moment, then the court went dead silent. I opened my eyes as the guards unstrapped me from the stupid table. My back was hurting like crazy, the pain eating me up and making my body go numb. I was loosing my mind.
“I hope you won’t try anything you’ll regret Grey, just follow Steel’s orders for once” it was Adelyn speaking, she patted his shoulder and left not sparing me a glance.
Grey stood there, staring at me. I tried to sit up and ended up falling to the floor facedown. I groaned in pain. Grey rushed over and helped me stand my knees were wobbly I grabbed his shirts for support. His face was stoic and cold, eyes unfocussed.
“I am …sorry” he whispered
“Don’t be, this is not your fault, I deserve it” I wanted to cry, the pain was unbearable. I really wanted to weep, but of what use would it be?
“But …
“Don’t be too soft on me you know, I should have known the outcome of my actions. This is a lesson learnt” I said only to make him feel better but there was no way I was agreeing to what Steel did to me, he would pay for it someday, somehow. I swore silently. Stepping away from Grey I headed towards the door, staggering and trying to find support but there was none. I slouched at the door, my entire body aching ,as if I had been doing heavy lifting for days and now the accumulated pain was gnawing at me. Tears blinded my view, sad memories clouded my mind and I knew, I was going to break down any time. I didn’t want to, but now it was becoming a norm, crying about everything. Grey came to my side and lifted me off the ground in his arms, I covered my eyes hiding my tears from him. Of what use was this life I was living now? Tears, fear, punishment and anxiety. Hopeless!
Like a light breeze, he sped off towards his room, he lay me on his bed and strode towards the closet. He came back with a bottle which had ointment oil.
“This will relieve your pain a bit” he said kneeling beside me.
He unzipped my dress and checked on my back with his fingers “it is no much damage physically, it only tampers with my nerves till I felt  like my mind was going crazy”
I said nothing, I didn’t feel like saying anything. He began smearing the ointment on my back and rubbing the swells, it was very painful, but not as painful  I  had felt when Addy hit me. A knock sounded at the door and without warning someone walked in, I closed my eyes pretending to be asleep.
“I can’t believe this Grey, you seriously can’t treat a human under punishment like this. There were many of them who suffered worse than she did but you never bothered to do a thing. What makes her different ha?” it was Addy of course, and she sounded disgusted. She hated me, even my shadow made her burn with hatred.
Grey paused and looked at his sister.

END ROADS Where stories live. Discover now