Valkyrie Demons

Chapter 35

Footsteps echoing above me, the click - clack of chains. Dripping of water and the moans of someone in pain. I hear this as I'm starting to wake. My head is heavy and my wrists burn. I have no feeling in my arms though. I open my eyes but I can't see anything, it's pitch black.

I turn my head only to bump into my arm. I try wiggling it but a sharp pain shoots through my shoulder. Must be dislocated. Someone moans to my right, startling me. Another sharp pain shoots through my shoulder, making me gasp.

"Who's there?" I whisper.

"Valery?!" Someone breaths, clearly in pain. "It's David."

"David! What're you doing here? I thought you were with Ariel."

A sob escapes him. "They-they killed her... And my family, even Lisa. She couldn't fight back!"

"What happened?!" I ask frantically, imagining horrible stuff.

"The guild soldiers. After Ariel and I got back, they stormed the castle. No one was ready, they just appeared out of thin air. Silently took out the guards while everyone was sleeping. They murdered Aurora and Luka in their sleep." A sob is wrenched from him again and he stops to take a breath.

" They used Lissa, then killed her." he  whispers, probably not believing that they actually did it.

I have to hold back tears, needing to stay strong." I'm so sorry, " my voice is hoarse when I speak.

I liked Lissa, although she was clingy, she was still a sweet girl. Queen Aurora also became one of my dear friends. I'm going to kill my mother and whoever Dante is.

"Why are you still alive?" I ask suddenly.

"They took me, Ariel and Finn. I'm guessing it was to get info but I'm not sure. The first week they took Finn because he was the most difficult, then they took Ariel after three days. I haven't seen them since."

I wanted to ask more questions but something rattled across the room. David moaned again when a sliver of light penetrated the darkness. I could vaguely make out his shape and I had to wonder how long he's been here. He was curled up with his arms covering his head. He looked very pale and I can see his ribs poking through his shirt. Not that you could really call it that, it's so torn and bloody. Infected looking scars covered his back where the shirt was ripped. He also had faint blue-purple marks on his face and legs.

"Well look who's finally awake." A rough voice said that I recognized as my attacker, Shaun.

I growled at him, my pointy teeth digging into my lower lip. My mind tried to make sense of why my wrists were still burning, but I quickly forgot about it when he came towards me. I kicked out at him, but he avoided my legs and tsked.

"Such a strong will don't you think Gabe. It'll make breaking you so much more fun."

I squint through the light when another man steps through. I realize it's burly and struggle even more to get out of these chains so that I could rip his throat out. I blanch slightly at the violent thoughts. Burly, I mean Gabe, doesn't say anything, he just smiles wickedly.

David moans silently and I try to will them not to have heard it. But my luck has run out and Shaun glances to where he's curled up on the floor. Only now I see the puddle underneath him. I inhale deeply on instinct and realize it's blood. His blood! My vampire rises closer to the surface, I fight to keep hold of my control and she backs down a little. My gums ache, all I want to do is lap up all that blood. I force myself to look away and focus on the anger coursing through me.

"Why haven't you bled out yet? It didn't take this long for the others to die. Although, I must admit, we did go a little wild with them." Shaun says, looking content.

"Especially the girl, oh how I loved to hear her scream," Gabe speaks for the first time and all I want to do is slice of his tongue.

I lunge forward, trying to get their attention back on me. My shoulder screams in pain, but I ignore it.

"What do you want? Other than explain to us how sick you two are," I snarl.

"That's no way to talk to your future torturers. It might not work out so well for you," Gabe says, licking his lips.

I twist my arms, trying to break free as realization dawns on me.

"Smell that Gabe. Fear! How wonderful." Shaun moves forward, grabbing my legs as I kick at him.

"What are you?" I say through clenched teeth.

"Gabe grab her arms, let's have some fun."

He completely ignores my question, but I take another deep breath. Vampires. That's why my body didn't recognize the threat when I was with Martin. Martin!

"What did you do to Martin!?"

"All in due time my dear." Gabe unclasps the chains from the wall and I try to bite him.

I succeed when a chunk of his cheek rests between my teeth.

"Son of a -"

"Oh that wasn't very smart of you."

Shaun yanks my to the ground, my head hits the floor and I black out momentarily.
When I came to, Gabe was clipping the last of the chains around my mouth.

"You'll have to wear a muzzle for the time being my dear. Until we've finally broken you, you will be considered a threat."

The muzzle burns. I smell burning flesh, while pain shoots through my face. Over and over and over. The chains must be iron, same as my wrists. I look around me and find that I'm in a different room. I must've been out for more than a second.

" Put her on the table, it's time for me to teach her some manners."

Gabe drags me toward a long table, ropes dangling everywhere you looked. When he places me on the table, I scream and arch my back. Not metal! More men step out of the shadows, grabbing and tying my libs down. Shaun straps a belt across my chest to prevent my back from arching again.

"Grab the spikes. We'll brand her for a while, until the scars run to deeply for her skin to heal." He smiles at me wickedly, lifting a metal star with the words 'Bastard' ingraved into it.