Persephone

16. Fear

Alistair stormed down the hallway, all the servants knowing due well not to even occupy the same wing as him when he was in a rage.

He stopped at a set of Windows spanning two stories in height and dropped Persephone at his feet. Grabbing her chin roughly, he forced her to look out the window into the bright light of morning at the palace grounds that lay before them. If she had not been so full of fear, Persephone would have marveled at the sight. Sprawling before her was a landscape so wide and beautiful that it could have taken anyone's breath away. From this view, one could see that the palace sat on a mountain overlooking the valley below.

"This is my kingdom, I own all of this!" Alastair's harsh words caused Persephone to flinch. He forced her chin to look back at it him, "I even own you, you small fragile thing! And now you will see what happens when I grow angry with anything I own!"

With that, he scooped Persephone up and slung her over his shoulder, using his speed to carry them down several levels into his dungeon.

With each floor they went beneath Peresephone's heart rate sped up more. By the time he had reached the forsaken place she was nearly gasping for air, fear gripping her tightly.

It was cold and dank down there, a wretched smell permeated the air and wails of pain and horror echoed off the walls. Alistair dropped her in the middle of the main room. Although currently unoccupied by his prisoners, it still reeked of fear and vomit.

"This is where you will end up if you disobey me again! This is where you will find your miserable self! I will not hold back on your punishment! You. Will. Learn. To. Obey." His words were spoken through gritted teeth, anger rolling off him in waves as he towered over Persephone's small figure curled into a ball. There was a great intensity in him, though he did not shout, it was far more horrifying than if he had.

"Get up." He turned from her, heading toward the entrance of the cavern. He had made it to the opening by the time he turned around. She had not moved. "GET UP!" His words echoed off the walls and Persephone flinched, but still did not move to rise.

He stomped back towards her and whimpered letting out a shrill, "No!" He knelt and scooped her into his arms. Although he was angry at her, he did not want to hurt her. A small part of him even shuddered at the thought of her in terror of him.

Cradling her to his chest and ascended the many floors back to the surface of the ground and back to his room. Gently, he placed her in the bed, pulling the covers tight around her before the leaving the room to attend to his own matters. Even though he had left her behind in his room, he could still hear her cries. He could still feel her terror. And he still felt a twinge of pain from her suffering.