Lost Gem (PART 1)

Chapter 40 (Seek comfort)

Anastasia groggily wakes up feeling a dull ache in her neck. She frowns and tries to touch it but finds out that she is not able to move her hand. It feels like something is restraining her both hands
She slowly open her eyes in confusion and horror settles in her heart as she finds herself present in utter darkness.

It takes her a second to realize that her arms are bound up to the ceiling with a thick rope that is currently digging in her flesh painfully. Along with that, there is a horrible ache in her arms from being raised up for how much long- she really does not have any idea.

Gritting her teeth to ignore the pain, she pulls at the ropes but they are too thick to break. She struggles to get out of it for another minute and once her brain realizes that it is impossible to break out- she slumps down. Atleast her legs are not bound and she is able to move them at her own will.

Anastasia closes her eyes and starts the backward counting from 100 to cease the panic that is starting to build up in her chest. She ignores the flashes of Zeus memory, her family's memories at this brief moment but tears are already sliding down her cheeks through her closed eyes.

Somewhere between the counting she must have succumbed to darkness again because she wakes up startled when a loud bang occurs somewhere near her. She opens her eyes, the darkness and dull ache in her body allover greets her.

Suddenly the door is pushed open, using much force than needed, Anastasia can not control the yelp that leaves her lips as the light blinds her vision.

"Well well well what do we have here?" A not so familiar voice greets her. Her eyes opens in confusion.

"You are finally caught again, princess." Isabella grins seeing how Anastasia's eyes widens in realization.

Anastasia shifts uncomfortably seeing Arabella's mother in front of her. She now remembers how this woman had Paul take her away from her home.

"So again it's you?" Anastasia mumbles catching Isabella's attention who gives her a cocky smirk in return.

"Yes, my dear. It's me again." Saying this, she moves to the side of the room. Anastasia's eyes follows her and her heart falls down in the pit of her stomach as she sees whips and many other unrecognizable torture instruments that are lined up there.

Isabella hums a unfamiliar tone under her breath and picks up a long whip that has spikes covering all over its skin.

Anastasia pales.

"How much long I have waited for this moment. You can never understand, Anastasia." There is an evil glint which shines in her eyes as she approaches the young girl.

"Look at the irony! Your mother should have been here at this place but sadly she died long ago. If your mother was still alive, we would not even have to bring you here."

For the next hour, Anastasia once again learned to embrace pain.

The next moment she regains her consciousness, she found out that her wounds are miraculously patched up enough that she would be able to survive. She is cuffed up on a single bed and the room she is in, looks like a hospital room.

Her eyes stares blankly at the pale ceiling of the room. She had learnt a very hard way to ignore pain when she was just few years old. Paul's unstoppable torture taught her this and compared to him, Isabella was many levels behind him.

Few hours later, a young woman steps in the room. Anastasia's eyes widens as she recognized her.

"A-ana." She whimpers, instantly closing the distance between them. Anastasia is stunned for a moment as she pulls her into a hug. Nevertheless, she leans into her embrace, seeking comfort, even if every single move and touch on her body almost made her want to scream and flinch.

"Ah a family reunion. Just how much I love them." A voice breaks out. The woman flinches similarly like Anastasia who does not even take a second long to recognize this person.

It is Alexander. Nora's father.

He is grinning a crazy psychotic grin and this brightens at the sight of woman who is currently trying to block Anastasia a little from Alexander's sight. She is standing protectively in front of her even if her own heart is drumming loudly in her chest.

"My dear Luna, won't you check up on your pretty little neice? You must wish her to survive as much as I want, right?"

Luna frowns at his intuition. Yes, he was true but their reasons were different. Luna keeps quiet.

He takes a step forward easily closing the distance between them.

His hand wraps around her throat. Luna flinches at his touch as tears blur her vision.

"If you are done protecting her, you should realize that there is no one present to protect you, my little bride."

Slowly, he releases her as he noticed a look of pure defeat that washed over on her face. He watches as Luna tends to Anastasia by checking her wounds. Her eyes barely controlling the tears that continue to shed out.

Anastasia maybe naive to understand what exactly had happened to Luna but she realizes that it is very bad and the word bride has shaken her. Luna is trembling in horror and Alexander is enjoying every bit of it.

"Enjoy the last moments with your niece. Who knows how much long is she going to survive." Alexander comments and walks out of the room.

Luna slumps down beside Anastasia on the bed. Both of them silently seeking comfort from each other for next few moments.

"Do you trust your family, Anastasia?" Luna's sudden question throws her in a weird haze for a moment but she instantly nods. Ofcourse she has faith in her father and brothers. First time they saved her, this time it will happen again.

She just have to be strong and endure everything.

But for how long?

Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Apology for not updating sooner. My book 'Her seven deadly brothers' part 2 was behind in the storyline, thus the delay. If you read both of them, so you must be aware that both books (Hsdb and Lost gem) share the same setting.

The usual reminder that you can get access to the completed version exclusively on my Patreon account. The link is in my profile. 

✨Davina✨