BONDED

VII

I shall ask you one more time Praun, do you want to bear children for Azarthis? She falls to the ground, her little body trembling, she already looked malnourished and now she's expected to carry babies? Before I could speak further, someone's palm wraps around my arm, the minute his palm connected with my skin, something awakens in me, the force launches them away from me, I don't know what it was but it sends the person flying a few feet away from me, I didn't know what that was or how it came from my body, I tried to maintain my calm, the girl before me had backed up away from me, clearly shook from what just happened, I stared down at her waiting for her answer, 'no your majesty, she finally speaks up, her voice breaking, no, I don't want to do that, she hung her head, I never want to do that', I finally turn to face Nord, I figured he tried to touch me, he was back on his feet, don't you know fish folks have life soulmates? How long have you been doing this to my people? I slowly approach where he was.

'Answer me Nord, how long have you been tormenting them? He starts to back away from me, the guards around were skeptical to intervene or not, 'years' he replies me, 'for years princess, it has been the practice and we won't change it now because of you, we don't have that authority and neither do you, 'I forbid you, I forbid everyone from ever using underage girls for breeding, do you get that? 'Again princess no one has that authority except the royal family, I cannot follow you' he retorts, 'What did you just call me Nord? 'Princess', a satisfying smile crosses my face as realisation dawns on his face, 'very well princess, as you wish', he bows curtly.  Satisfied with the outcome, I make my back to my place, seating myself beside Leo once again, oh and Nord, you don't need to touch anyone to know if they're fertile, its a method suitable for only those who are ignorant, 'understood princess'.

'Who gave you permission to pass orders princess', Leo mutters beside me, 'are you going to object? I muse, no need, it's not harming anyone, he replies me. The scouting was finally over, as much as I was unhappy my people were being treated like that, I know this is the highest I could do for them right now, to be honest I didn't expect them to listen to me in the first place. We finally got up to leave, 'now to the rune', Nord smirks, I hope you're prepared princess because you won't have a say in this one' he whispers, loud enough for just me to hear it, I ignore him, making my way to the hydra.

We stopped again, this time we were in a pretty deserted area, there was a large pit in the ground surrounded by some walls, Leo advised me to remain in the hydra but I refused, once again we were seated overlooking the pit, the men that the high guards chose began to swarm into the pit, what is this? I murmur, 'its the rune, I told you to stay in the hydra, believe me princess you won't like it, mermen are directly scouted for the army but your people have to go through the rune first, please go back, please', he explains. I pay him no heed as I watch on, a guard outside the pit blows a shell, it emits a loud sound, just as he did, the men in the pit charge at each other, the horror in front of me unfolds as I watch my people attack each other, some fighting bare handed, others using what they could around them, only then did I understand what was going on, the rune, my head starts to spin as I pick myself up, rushing out as fast as I could, I need to get away from here, I choke out, I should have stayed at the hydra, I would've been better off never knowing but I'm so stupid and I don't listen, I fling my tail around looking for an exit, I finally make it out of the pit, but I could still hear their roars, I swim further away, trying to get as far as I could from the noise.

Surprisingly no one followed me, I swam quite far from the pit, I found a cave and snuggled myself in, I don't know how long I've been here, the sound of bones breaking and flesh tearing was stuck in my head, the scream that erupted as one realised they were about to die, the howling of pleas for mercy, it resonated in my head continuously, I was crouched in this cave, my head resting against the wall as the whole of today replayed in my head, I don't know if they'll find me here but I'm sure at this point they're looking for me, I don't have the urge to go back nor the urge to run away, I just cooped myself, trying to recollect my thoughts, I could be in for a serious punishment if they think I tried to escape.

I look at my arm where Nord had touched me, I still didn't know what exactly happened, I just felt like I lost my self for a second and the next thing I knew I had sent him flying, no one said anything about it but I know it won't go unspoken, if I'm suspected to be a threat, I'll be tied up and this is the last time I'll leave the castle.

RUN REYNA, RUN, PLEASE, I stay glued to where I was, I look around trying to find the source of the voice but there was no one around, something chilly brushed past me, it seemed to be what was carrying the voice, I tried to run but I couldn't no matter how much I struggled, a figure appears ahead of me, it was rushing to me, screaming at me to move, it seemed to be looking behind me, I turn, my eyes widening, it was a creature I'd never seen, it had three heads attached to its neck, sharp claws nestled on its paw, its body looked like that of a sea lion but it was ten times bigger, the middle head had its mouth wide open and it was coming at me, the person was still screaming at me to move as they rush towards me, I try once again but I'm stuck in place, strangely I felt a sense of warmth towards them, I reach out hoping we could touch one last time, tears streamed down my face as the biggest smile appeared on my face trying to assure them that I'll be fine, just before the figure could reach me, the creature clamped its jaws on me.

My eyes flutter open, I could feel my heart racing, seems like I just had a nightmare, but it felt so real, I breathe slowly to try to calm myself, I've been having weird encounters these days, I think to myself, my mind suddenly clicks, oh no, I left the pit a long time ago, I fell asleep here, the guards, they must be looking for me, what will happen to me if I go back now, they'll never let me out of their sight again, I need to go back as fast as possible, I swim towards the entrance where I came from, I expected to be outside but it turns out to be a turn leading me further into the cave, that's weird, I didn't go far into the cave, the entrance was right in front of me, I turn to go back, no, I mutter, how can it be a dead end, I yell, I just came through here, I slam my fists against the wall but it doesn't move.

 What are you doing to me? Who is doing this to me? Leave me alone please, I slam my tail against the walls of the cave, some loose rocks falling around me, the water from the cave starts to disappear behind the wall, what is going on? I'm going to suffocate, the water level slowly decreases, I swim lower and lower trying to stay in the water, it finally disappears completely, I couldn't move anymore, and my gills felt locked like I was trying to swallow nothing, please help me, I cough scratching at my neck, I try to break the wall again where the water had disappeared but it didn't budge, I was getting weak, I couldn't even ball my fists, my mouth hangs open struggling to get anything in, my chest constricts more at each attempt to breath, this must be it for me, mother, father, I'm sorry, I wish I could've died at least in your arms, I close my eyes as the last bit of my consciousness fades away.

Author's note

Another chapter in, is this the end of Reyna's story or is there something more? What do you think happened in the cave, stick around to find out, bye readers!