12: Darken: Resurrection

Chapter eight: Daria

Thespian returned after a few hours, blood pouring from his back. Despite the obvious pain, he showed no sign of weakness, his resolve unwavering. Seeing him like this broke my heart. I ran to him, and he pulled me into his arms, his embrace a mix of strength and tenderness.

"You don't have to do this," he whispered, his voice pained yet firm.

"I do," I replied, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill. "We can't let him break us."

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of love and determination.

Draus looked at me, a cold intensity in his eyes. "Come along, little demon."

Thespian tightened his grip on me, his eyes pleading.

"Please, I'll be back soon." i said giving him a small, reassuring smile as he reluctantly let me go. I followed Draus down the stone halls, the silence between us heavy and oppressive. My mind raced, trying to find a way to understand his words and our situation.

Breaking the silence, I asked, "What do you mean by demon?"

Draus's eyes glinted with dark amusement as he stopped and turned to face me. "You're a brave one to ask me questions like this when you are so clearly scared of me," he said, a hint of a sneer in his voice.

I took a deep breath, refusing to let my fear show. "You are the father of the man I love," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "You called me a demon back on the island too. What did you mean by that?"

Draus's smirk widened as he turned to keep walking, forcing me to follow. "My powers are more vast than a normal dragon's," he explained. "One of them includes being able to see what species a being is. There is demon in your blood. Your powers aren't that strong, but it allows you to be immune to poisons, heal faster, and avoid magic sickness. It also allows you to blend into the shadows better than a human could."

I mulled over his words, the truth of my nature sinking in. It all made sense now. "You don't put a collar on me because I am not a threat to you, right?"

"Exactly," Draus said, his voice dripping with cold certainty. "You possess unique abilities due to the demon blood within you, but you're not strong enough to pose a direct threat to me. That's why I don't need to use a collar on you."

I nodded, following Draus into the throne room, the weight of what was about to happen settling over me. I paused, the enormity of the situation hitting me. "We're doing it here?"

"Just as I did with Thespian," he replied, looking back at me with a cold gaze. "I need to show all what happens when you betray me."

My eyes darted around the room, taking in the scene. Astraea was curled into a ball at the bottom of her cage but sat up when she saw me. Alexander's face was etched with concern, while Odessa's glare was fixed firmly on Draus, defiance burning in her eyes.

With a deep breath, I cautiously followed Draus to the center of the room, feeling the eyes of my loved ones and fellow prisoners on me. The air was thick with tension, every moment stretching into an eternity as we braced for what was to come.

In the center of the room, the sight of the post with two shackles, stained with fresh blood, was a grim reminder of what Thespian had just endured. Draus's eyes bore into me, his cold smile unwavering as he motioned for me to place my hands in the shackles.

Taking a deep breath, I did as he commanded, feeling the cold metal close around my wrists. The room felt suffocating, the weight of Draus's gaze and the eyes of my loved ones adding to the tension.

Every heartbeat was a reminder of the pain to come, but also of the strength and resolve within me.

The sound of the whip cracking on the floor behind me sent a shiver down my spine.

then the first stike hit, taring into my shirt and skin, the pain burning into me, i did not let out a cry. then the next strike, then the next. each strike of the whip causing more and more pain. i fell to my knees, the shackles on the post only allowing me to hug the post with my arms as the next stike came and i let out a scream. i could feel my blood pouring from the lashes. 

soon i lost track, screaming louder as each last stuct a new spot on my back, my screams getting louder. when i expected the next lash, there was none... it was finally done. 

"Surprised you're still awake, little demon," Draus remarked, releasing me from the shackles. "A human would have passed out halfway through."

I looked up at him, my vision blurry. "Return to your room," he ordered. Nodding, I tried to stand but fell to the floor instead. The next thing I knew, I felt a strong grasp as Draus lifted me into his arms. He carried me back to the room and laid me down on the bed. "Let this be a reminder not to betray me again, to both of you," he said before leaving.

Thespian rushed to me, bandages and a wash basin in hand. His face was filled with worry, but his touch was gentle, he turned me to my stomach as he began to tend to my wounds.

As I lay there, the pain was almost unbearable, but still i managed. 

Thespian's hands worked with a steady, gentle precision, though his expression was clouded with worry. "Why would you send word to my brother, knowing that you might get caught?" he asked, the question hanging in the air.

I winced in pain as he tended to my wounds. "Because bringing him back was a mistake. I should never have helped you with that."

Thespian nodded, a look of reluctant agreement on his face. "I'm starting to see that," he said, his voice low. "But never let Father hear you say that. He is allowing you to live, remember that."

"I know," I replied, my voice steady despite the pain.

"I was surprised to see him carry you back like that," Thespian admitted, his eyes meeting mine. "Father is the type who does not care about anyone. He cares for me as his son, but you... I expected him to make you crawl back here."

"He also told me a bit about myself," I confessed. "Apparently I survived that poison because I am part demon."

Thespian paused, wringing out the cloth before continuing. "I knew he said something about that, but I did not know what he meant by it."

"We need to stop him," I told Thespian, urgency in my voice. "You said something about being the only one who could."

He didn't answer right away. I tried to lift myself to look at him, but the pain was too intense. "Thespian..." I pleaded, "tell me."

"You need some stitches," he said, avoiding my question. "Hold still and I can do it."

"Not until you tell me," I insisted, pushing his hand away. "If you truly love me, you will tell me."

Thespian sighed, a deep regret in his voice. "I bound my soul to his in order to bring him back," he finally admitted. "To kill him, you have to kill me..."

The weight of his confession settled heavily on us both. This was not just about defeating Draus, but about the deep sacrifices involved. Thespian's love and his own internal struggle became all too clear.