The Prince's Gift

Chapter 77.

We made the long walk deep into the belly of the castle, coming at last to the dark cellars below. This musty black room was dimly lit by a few torches lining the hallways, reeking of dampness in the air and soiled, dirty flesh. Quiet groans and whimpers of pain and sorrow answered as we walked past each cell and my heart ached for the poor souls locked inside. There was no telling what atrocities they'd done, but I knew what it was like in this horrible place. Even though my stay down here was short lived, it was enough to haunt my thoughts for the rest of my life.

The memory of Maddox locking me away in the cellars of my own home after the cruelty he'd enacted on me just hours before was seared into my mind. I felt fresh anger and resolve bubbling up from within me as I focused my mind on what was ahead.

"Are you ok?" I heard Zane's voice gently push into my mind.

I nodded once silently. It was taking my full concentration to keep myself together in here. I felt Zane's hand gently squeeze mine as we came to the door at the very end of the hall. It was a large heavy wooden door with an iron circle handle and a straight-bolt lock. Nothing like the barred cells down throughout the hallway. The cell was guarded by two men with muscles on every part of their bodies pushing out of their already very tight shirts, towering over me and looking down at even Zane as we came closer.

This was for maximum security. A fortress.

"You can do this." Zane's words sounded in my mind.

"I know I can. It's just, being down here again..." I thought as I suddenly struggled to gather my thoughts. 

Zane turned to face me as his hands reached up to cup around my face, his own coming down closer to mine. "If for any reason you need a minute, or want to leave, just say the word. I only want you to be here if you want to Ana. Would you rather meet us all up at the execution instead?" His words were quiet, spoken just between us, and they instantly eased my anxiety.

I could do this. I would overcome what he'd done to me. This place held horrible memories for me, but it was no different than anything that had come before. I'd overcome all the rest. This was just the last thing.

"No, I'm ready." I said quietly.

Zane nodded and let go of my hand, pushing the door open and stepping inside as the guards nodded to him as we passed. Once the door shut, I took in a short breath at the sight before me. The council was already gathered and waiting just behind Maddox in the back of the room. Just to the side of each of the guards waiting to help remove him stood Fallon, my parents, and Ehren.

My father's face was pulled down into a scowl as he glared down at Maddox, his arms crossed across his broad chest as my mother stood frozen beside him. Fallon gave us a quick nod of acknowledgement as he stepped closer to Zane.

"Everything's ready." He whispered before stepping aside to let us walk further into the room.

My gaze fell on Ehren who was staring straight ahead, behind me even. I could feel the anxiousness running through him, but that quickly changed to anger and then nervousness as his stare finally locked on mine.

I gave him a small smile as I felt his mind begin to open to me and heard his thoughts being sent out.

"Are you ok?" It was his one and only thought as he looked back me.

"I'm ok." I said as I nodded slowly.

My eyes finally broke from his, moving down the long metal chain that was looped through a mount in the ceiling until it fell on the bloodied mess disguising what used to be Maddox. He hung forward, supported by his weight being pulled up as his arms were stretched out to the sides and above his head as his head hung low.

My stomach twisted tightly as that anxious energy swirled within me. I could feel the slow burn of anger bubbling up from deep within me as the raw memories sat fresh at the front of my mind.

I stepped closer and saw that Maddox was stripped bare with fresh gouges in his flesh. They must have beaten him with silver lined tools to leave these lasting marks on his flesh. His head slowly rose as he glared up at me, his eyes swirling darker with anger.

"See something you've been missing? It should be familiar. So much of our time was spent this way...in the reverse." His words held such venom and I could feel that although his strength was weakened somewhat, he still had ample energy to spew his hatred.

I clenched my jaw as I straightened, looking straight down my nose at him as I spoke. "You may think you're strong Maddox, but soon enough, you'll reap what you've sewn."

He chuckled darkly before Zane walked up to stand beside me. His fury was pouring out of him, flashes of memories coursing through his own mind from my time with Maddox. Without warning, his hand rose and came crashing down, his punch colliding hard against Maddox's face.

"Enjoy it while you can you bastard. It won't be long now." Zane sneered.

Maddox spit on the ground at Zane's feet, looking back up and holding his gaze until Zane looked behind him towards the council.

"Everything is ready upstairs Your Majesty." Casimir said evenly.

Zane nodded once before smirking down at Maddox. "Wait until you see what we've prepared for you. I think you'll appreciate the spectacle. It's suiting for a man of your...unique tastes."

A shiver ran down my spine, remember the horrible things that Maddox had done. Even though every cell in my body was urging me to stop the continued cruelty, my mind and my heart couldn't let that happen. It was time for him to receive what he'd given. He'd earn led his own sentence and this was his punishment. It was time to put an end to the barbaric King that he was.

The guards gathered around Maddox, loosening his chains as he slumped down to the ground, resting on his forearms as he took a ragged breath, chuckling darkly as he stretched his limbs. Without a word, everyone began to move forward, slowly crowding around Maddox as he was yanked up to his feet and shoved forward. Casimir and the council lead us all up to the room where executions took place. It was off of the throne wing, tucked quietly behind it in a winding hallway. As the two large bulky wooden doors opened, my jaw dropped at what was awaiting us. The entire kingdom had come. I expected many would want to see the person who caused a war in their home to be punished, but not this many.

An aisle formed for us as we slowly walked through the parting crowd, the room falling completely silent. Only the clanking of Maddox's chains could be heard as we walked up to stop just in front of the large platform that rose slightly above the crowd. The guards drug Maddox up the steps, linking his chains to the mounts on either side of the platform and pulling them tight until he was standing with his arms pulled tight in a wide V shape above his head.

Zane and the rest of our party made our way up to the platform as Casimir stepped forward, waiting for the nod from Zane before beginning.

"Are you ready?" His words popped into my mind and I paused for a moment to gather myself before answering.

"I am."