Crowns Of Shadows

11: Raven

(Trigger warning, abuse- 1 hint of SA.)

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Hours later when I came to, Alihandro was sitting across from me with a book in hand. The room we were in was wooden, and I began to panic.

"Relax, mi amor. We're not on my ship." He didn't even glance at me as he spoke. I went to stand but noticed my hand chained to the wall, I knew where we were... We were in my mothers private dungeon.

"What have I done to you?" I spoke, my voice betraying my fear. He cocked an eyebrow, and set his book down.

"What have you done to me?" He muttered, mocking my question. He stood, I panicked some more, scooting into the wall that my back was already up against. Holy saints I wished I could climb into the wall, or out of my own skin.

He crouched next to me, his elbows resting on his knees. He looked into my eyes and smirked. "You've done so much to me, caused so much pain. You know, you're the first woman in all the seas who didn't want to marry me? How does that make me look?" I didn't dare say anything.

I knew if I did, I would be hit, another bruise for John to look at and pale. 

John. 

How was he doing?

Was he okay? 

I scraped my feet against the floor trying to sit up. Alihandro grabbed my leg.

"Don't fight." He shrugged sitting down in front of me. I tried pulling away, but he only gripped harder. He dragged me by my leg, my face inching closer to his.

No, no, no. I screamed internally.

"You know, I'll respect the whole, 'marriage' thing because I have full confidence you'll be mine." With every word, he pressed harder on my ankle. I winced in pain. After a moment of letting his words resonate with me.

My heart plummeted.

He was talking about sex. Even though he told me he'd wait, knowing I wont be able to escape during that... terrified me.

He ran his fingers through his blonde hair looking into my eyes. "Now, I'm going to undo that thing on your hand Amor, but I want you to know that if you ever, 'and I mean ever'," he mocked John's earlier words, setting a pit in my stomach, "decide that I don't hold the key to your chains... " He laughed. "Get ready for so. Much. Worse."

He cupped my neck with his hand, pulling my head closer. Breathing in his minty breath, I looked away, desperately looking towards the door. If the saints hear my prayers, please let someone I know enter those doors, I thought.

He forced my head back to his, and kissed me. I wanted to throw up.

Alihandro undid my wrist chain, and helped me up. Through all of his horrible, and twisted habits, he always managed to be polite, which sickened me.

He opened the door for me, and I didn't run. I've given up running. Especially after today.

We walked into the hallway, him pushing me along by my arm, doing his best to make it look like I was walking willingly. I looked down the hall and noticed we were in Lucianno's hallway. His room was four doors down, and there were no extending hallways before we reached it. Maybe I wasn't done running just yet.

When we reached Lucianno's room I broke from Alihandro trying the door then banging on it and as soon as I did, Alihandro had me back into his arms.

And the saints must have been watching me because Lucianno opened the door.

"Hello." He answered. With a tilt of his head he looked directly at me. Both of us froze.

"Hi there, Luci." Alihandro snapped back to his 'presentable' version of himself. Lucianno groaned at the response, though it was drawn out, sounding similar to an annoyed growl.

"I see Raven's here." Lucianno's eyes narrowed looking at Alihandro.

"Indeed she is." Alihandro smiled. Lucianno looked at me, I tried stuffing the fear down. Alihandro continued, "We were just-"

"No you weren't." He took hold of my arm. Alihandro seemingly refused to let go. Lucianno's face darkened. "I would gladly take my sister."

He insisted, though it was more of a demand. Alihandro let go.

Thank the saints.

"Don't wait outside." Lucianno smirked, as he pulled me inside. He closed the door behind me and looked at me. Before I could say anything he grabbed my wrists and looked at them closely. Then he reached up for my face, I flinched backward, but he didn't care. He grabbed my chin, turning it at different angles inspecting the old bruise, and some new ones.

"What are you doing?" I whispered. Stepping back I crossed my arms over my chest.

"When you left, there was a giant red mark over your chin and neck. I asked Alex and he filled me in the night you left."

he paused... "Changed my view of Alihandro." he avoided my eyes, "I'm sorry I pressured him with you."

"It's fine." I smiled, resting a hand on his arm.

"No it's not. I left my sister with the most abusive man I've seen." He sounded so ashamed. "I thought if he really was, someone would do something-" He then looked at me, "I'm surprised Alexander didn't kill him."

"I asked him not to." I shrugged. His eyes went wide.

"I know where your friends are, because John's screaming about how 'Alihandro will hurt you,' caught my attention. He yelled at me, and told me to find you."

He opened his door. "Let's go." Despite the situation, knowing John actually cares that much for me made my heart flutter. Lucianno looked outside, left and right, presumably looking for Alihandro.

When he deemed the coast clear, he left his room. I followed close behind. He dragged me along by the arm.

"What are you shaking for?" Until then, I hadn't noticed I was in fact shaking. And I was shaking hard.

"I don't know." I muttered, trying to steady my nerves.

"Is it John?" He whispered, pulling me further down the hall. "I know where he is. We'll find him." Why would I be shaking for John? Were my emotions connected? The fear in my chest doesn't feel like my own.

He pulls me even further rounding a corner I didn't know was there. "I know they're in different cells. I'll distract the other two when you find John."

"Why would I find John when I care just as equally for the other two?" I finally pull away, my gaze trying its best to be defiant.

"Because the way John begged me to help you, worried me to my core. He seemed so afraid for you. He needs to see you alive. He needs you." Lucianno answered.

Even though it wasn't what I had expected, I felt good about my brother's straightforward honesty. Heat rose from my neck, and hands, he begged for me? The situation was cruel, but this tiny fact made my heart do the tiniest skitter.

Fine, a gigantic leap.

"He doesn't need me." I mumble. Lucianno stops walking, and his head whips in my direction. He closed his eyes, sighed, shook his head, then looked at me.

"I'm done arguing about this."