FEARLESS (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 11

I was scared and alone in a dark dungeon cell, and I didn't have any idea where exactly I was. There was no one to call, no one to help me or pronounce me missing. I sat down on the hard stone floor, huddled in the corner, and cried silently.

But I was not really alone.

I heard some scuffling.

Who else was in here with me? I started to panic all over again, it was just a rat. I calmed my self.

I looked around, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. Moonlight streamed in through a small barred window, which was high up on one wall of the dungeon cell.

Locked in darkness that surrounded me like a coffin, I had nothing to distract me from my memories. Vivid recollections waited to ambush me whenever my mind wandered. Why was I here in the first place? What were they going to do to me. So many un answered questions went through my head.

Encompassed by the blackness, my hands had been tied to a post that dug sharply into my back.

My body jerked with intense fear.

No, not fear. Never fear. I heard my Mom's voice inside my head, of all those years she had said to me, never to be afraid.

The loud metallic clank of the lock startled me from my nightmarish memory. A wedge of pale yellow light sliced the darkness, then traveled along the stone wall as the heavy cell door opened. Caught in the lantern's glow, my eyes were seared by the brightness. I squeezed them shut as I cowered in the corner.

"Move it, or we'll get the whip!"

Two dungeon guards attached a chain to the metal collar on my neck and hauled me to my feet. I stumbled forward, pain blazing around my throat. As I stood on trembling legs, the guards efficiently chained my hands behind me and manacled my feet.

I averted my eyes from the flickering light as they led me down the main corridor of the dungeon. Thick rancid air puffed in my face. My bare feet shuffled through puddles of unidentifiable muck.

Ignoring the calls and moans of the other prisoners, the guards never missed a step, but my heart lurched with every word.

We stopped. Through squinted eyes I saw a staircase.

In an effort to get my foot onto the first step, I tripped over the chains and fell. The guards dragged me up. The rough edges of the stone steps dug into my skin, peeling away exposed flesh on my arms and legs. After being pulled through two sets of thick metal doors, I was dumped onto the floor. Sunlight stabbed between my eyes. I shut them tight as tears spilled down my cheeks. It was the first time that I had seen daylight in days.

Yanked to my feet again, I followed the guards blindly. My body itched from insect bites and from sleeping on dirty straw. Given only a small ration of water, I didn't waste it on baths.Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I looked around.

The walls were bare, without the fabled gold sconces and elaborate tapestries I had been told once decorated the castle's main hallways. The cold stone floor was worn smooth in the middle. We were probably traveling along the hidden corridors used solely by the servants and guards.

As we passed two open windows, I glanced out with a hunger that no food could satisfy.The bright emerald of the grass made my eyes ache. Trees wore cloaks of leaves. Flowers laced the footpaths and overflowed from barrels. The fresh breeze smelled like an expensive perfume, and I breathed deeply.

After the acidic smells of excrement and body odor, the taste of the air was like drinking a fine wine. Warmth caressed my skin.

The few servants they passed averted their eyes and scurried along.

The large doors to the main hallways open. This was it. I was finally going to meet this Lord Derek, who had told others to kidnap me.

The guards behind me pushed me down and whisperd "Bow to Lord Derek."

I bowed low. I supposed I should have gotten on my knees, but-I already smelled awful, and my face was likely still torn and bruised from my kidnap.

A large man sat on a throne. The embroidered chair had a sliver frame that was polished.

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here." There was nothing nice in that voice.

His hair was a shock of jet black and silver unruly curls, wiry and untamed and he had a air of mischief about him. But there was a hint of a darker side to his face, perhaps influenced by the deep scar on his right temple with a beard. I would not have wanted to meet him at night. This man was probably my dads age, or older than him.

"Milord, we have bought you what you wanted to see, for a long time." Said Perscilla who was standing beside Lord Derek.

There was Jeremy too, he was standing on the other side. They looked like loyal assistance of the Lord who had this air of authority that made it very clear that he was the boss and he was so selfassured.

As I rose, The Lord remained smiling faintly. He was like a spider with a fly in its web.

"I've been waiting for a long time for you."

The man-so much taller and wider than she up close-frowned at the sight of her.

"Daughter, You do look a good deal like your mother."

That's when everything went crumbling down. Daughter? That didn't make sense. My father is back at home. This man couldn't be my father.

***

A/N
Dun Dunnn duuuun!
Another cliffhanger. Yup, I know you hate me. But, I had to do it, since this chapter went over 1000 words. Which is pretty cool right? Haha, well, it is to me.

I'm so proud I finally got to update this. Please forgive me guys, I was soo busy with exams and finally I have one week holiday. So I finally had time to update:) Hope you still stay with me!

Thanks to flowerjas9 for being there for me and supporting me every step of the way.

Btw what do you guys think about the cover? Do you like it or should I change it?

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-Rahaz