Prey

Chapter Twenty: No Games.

The Atlantic Ocean.
September 29th, 2023.
4:06 am.

It was pure hell to see the pain in his eyes, or it seemed to be. My body stopped for a moment while Kanto captured Tarquin. My claws retracted as my eyes focused on the translucent blue ones sucking my soul in. My body became rigid and tense, almost as if I couldn't move. I only look at Cyraen's chest as it continues to leak the horrible liquid of red. My chest heaved while I tried to calm my nerves.

When he moved closer to me, I could only back away. I didn't want to hurt him. His tail chained me in place, not allowing me to move. His arms wrapped around my torso, caging me in his embrace. I tried desperately to move away but he wouldn't let me go. He only hushed me.

"You did nothing wrong. You didn't hurt me, the traitor has." His smooth voice calms my electrified nerves. I fall into his embrace once those words process through my head.

I sigh a breath of relief, gasping for a breath of fresh air—

I mean water.

Suddenly a voice laughs in my head, causing me to feel self-conscious. I tense at the words coming from inside of my mind, Not long until fate is tested with desire. Can you stay sober?

The echoing of her laugh bounces around in my skull. The feeling of being completely alone with this voice is disturbing and manipulative. If only I could completely understand what was truly happening to me, maybe I would find some peace...

Cyraen's embrace only fuels my guilt, for whether the menacing mers or for my own deadly secrets. I knew I needed to organize my thoughts and I needed that book for the resources. Hopefully, when I finally discover what this voice is inside me, the darkness will leave. The tug on my heart only amplifies as Cyraen draws me away from the crowd and back towards the palace.

The white walls glow with the moon's light, igniting the place with a haunted mood. I shivered as we passed under the moonlight and into the grand palace. There's only silence between us as Cyraen leads me upwards. It was like each level was a shelf in a grand fortress. Each shelf had its own nick-knacks scattered about, along with empty rooms and shadowy corridors.

We swam until the top level was reached, and he drags me towards an opening within the rock. He slams me into the wall, glaring at me. "What was that, you noreeth?!" Cyraen demands harshly as he thrusts his hand against my throat.

I can hardly breathe as the brute forcibly pins me to the rock. I claw at his hands with my humanish nails and try to flick my tail at his stomach, but he only dodges. His tail encircles mine and it can no longer move. My lungs begin to contract rapidly since I could barely get any water supply.

His dark icy eyes flow into mine. "Who are you," he wonders out loud. His webbed fingers released my neck from their vice grip. I fall to the stone floor, unable to recover from the suffocation of his huge hand. I grab at my throat and rub my chest, feeling the need to cry.

A hand wraps around my hair before yanking my head up. My eyes widened when they met Cyraen's. I can't help but flinch as he tenderly runs his hand down my exposed throat to my bare chest, igniting sparks underneath my skin. "You have control over me like no other." He admits softly, releasing his hand on my hair.

I hesitantly swallow and blink, unsure of how to react. My body was terrified beyond belief and I didn't want to upset him any further. He only stares into my eyes as I blink seductively at him. Before I know what I'm doing, I've already bitten into Cyraen's wrist, right near his thumb, and pinned his ass against the wall.