White Stag

Chapter 20~Saw

Charles gives me a shining smiles before taking my hand and giving it a hearty shake. I pause.

"I have a condition." His eyes narrow into slits. I gulp.

He releases my hand and sighs. His fatherly voice takes on a tone that I don't I don't particularly like. "I don't take conditions."

My voice hardens. "I refuse to leave if you don't listen to my condition."

Charles runs his rugged hand through his white hair. "Alright. Name it."

I shift my weight. "I want to take another prisoner with me."

His face turns a slight shade of red before turning purple. "No! It's too risky." His voice raises an octave.

Frustration boils in me. This man will listen to me. I step closer to his sitting figure and I bend down close to his face.

"If you want the Eye of Eden, you will let me take someone else."

Charles eyes widened. I shifted my gaze from his eyes and I stood up.

"So do we have a deal or not?" I examine my fingernails as I wait for Charles reply.

"Fine," He hissed. "Someone will be at your door late in the night."

I spun around in excitement. It's really happening. I am going to be free!

"Hopefully you chose your companion well." Charles grunts as he stands up. His bones creak.

He gave me a look and walked over to the far edge of the room. A closet sits in the far corner gathering dust. Charles walks over to it and examines it for a second before pressing his entire palm onto the wooden door.

His hand sinks into the door. A hidden compartment pops out of the closet. Charles shifts the items in the drawer around before pulling out a large saw.

The saw gleams in the light when he pulls it out.

"What's that for? My escape?" I raise an eyebrow jokingly, but I take a step back.

He shakes his head. "It's an antler saw. It's one of the White Stag's. It's used to cut your antlers."

Charles points to my head. "It looks like you need a trimming."

My hands raise up to my head. My antlers spiral up. Cuts are notched deep in the antler close to my head.

"There is no way I am doing that," I gesture to the notches on my antlers. "This nearly killed me."

Charles smiled. "This saw is binded with warlock magic," he explained. "It won't hurt your antlers at all."

I watch him wearily before holding out my hand to accept the saw. "Why do we have to cut them exactly?"

"They are too noticeable." I nod. He is right. But if anyone is going to cut them, it's going to be me.

I search the room before my eyes land on a mirror and I stride over to it. My eyes are hollow and my hair is flat.

I glance up at my antlers. I want to remember what happened here. I want to show the wolves what happened here.

I lift the saw and test it out on a small part. A clean cut is left and the small chunk of antler falls on the floor with a loud thud.

I let out a large breath after realizing that this is going to be okay. I take the saw and I cut confidently above the notches. I will always remember what the Leviathans did to me.

It was done. Pieces of antler littered around me. The Leviathans had their turn with me. Now it is mine.

I stride back to Charles. My head feels lighter then it has in days.

Charles meets my eyes. "Good luck tonight. All you need to do is be in your cell."

I nod. Charles opens the door and nods to two Leviathan guards. They shackle me before escorting me off to my cell.

Excitement and anxiety buzzes in my blood. Tonight is my last night in prison.