Chapter 16

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     Chapter 16

                Rosalie woke up to distant voices softly murmuring. Her arms were tightly bound with rope that cut into her skin, burning sensation spreading all the way to her shoulder. The more conscious she became, more pain she was aware of. She tried to open her eyes, but the eyelids were too heavy, trembling with the effort. Cold hard ground was under her back, dirt seeping into her wounds, cuts and bruises. She clearly remembered how she was outnumbered, along with Darius.

                Where was he? Was he badly injured? She tried to move, but her bounds made her immobile. Her left side screamed in pain, the stabbing wound aching. She rapidly blinked and her eyes finally opened, even though there was nothing to see but a small door. The walls were dirty, traces of fire and soot all around her. She bent her head to look at how badly the wound was, hissing in pain. The red flesh smelled of infection, circled by dark stains of blood. The inside was bubbling, forcing the long narrow gash to close. If it didn’t get treated within a day, she knew her destiny.

                Her head hit the wall behind her, her hair sticky and full of leaves and blood. To her surprise, her clothes weren’t torn from her body, except for the parts slashed by sword. The captor wasn’t interested in her, but in what she knew. If something worse had happened to her, she wouldn’t cooperate or she’d be too weak to talk. Too bad she didn’t have ratting her friends out in plan. Stuck in between reality and imagination, the door she’d seen changed her. Not much, but it was enough to comprehend living is worth the pain, worth the trouble. She only hoped the baby was in Catherine’s arms again, saved by Darius and Waverly. Her heart jumped at his scream, but she couldn’t say everything will be all right. It would be a lie.

                Rosalie’s vision faltered, a lump settling in her stomach. She felt disoriented and dizzy, like she was fighting to keep her head above the water. Her throat tightened, seeking for water. She tried to call out, but her voice failed her. Still, someone must have heard her move and the door rattled. The knob fell lowered and her heart rate sped up in fear. Blinding light exploded in the room. Her eyes fought to adapt, opening when the door closed. She tried to back away from him, but she met with the wall blocking her from the outside. Her head tilted to get a better look.

                ‘’We meet again, Rose.’’

                She groaned at the familiar sparkling green eyes. He loomed above her, shifting his weight on the left foot and crossing his arms against his chest. His jaw clenched at my silence. Rosalie was too tired to play a game, he hadn’t even told me his name yet. The stranger’s story was suspicious, too suspicious to be true.

                ‘’Can’t say I’m pleased.’’ Her voice was scratchy, weak. He snickered, keeping his eyes on her. He smelled nice, just stepped out of a bath. She wished he’d let her have water, at least a sip if not to clean herself. Judging by his stance, he didn’t have any intention of doing that.

                ‘’Your friends are. I’ve just spoken to…Waverly, is it?’’ he raised an eyebrow, mocking, ‘’such a wonderful woman. Too bad Darius has his claws on her.’’

                Stay calm, Rosalie reminded herself. He couldn’t hurt them, any of them unless he didn’t travel alone like she thought. Despite his attitude, his body wasn’t made for a fighter. No bulky muscles, no weapons on his body. If she wasn’t hurt, Rosalie would take him with ease and find her way out. He was smarter, binding her most useful part of the body.

                ‘’Don’t bother, I know it’s not true. You are a man of word, not of action.’’ Her mischievous smirk got his attention. Challenging him suddenly turned to a great idea. Maybe then he’d realize he can’t make her speak, no matter what he does.

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