Dark Aura (under editing)

Part 2 Wolf's Den: Rage

My eyes burst open, a cup of water and soup was brought out to me. I take a small sip of water, then empty the soup and fill the bowl with water. I tear off a piece of my dress and dip it in the water. I use the cloth to wipe off some of the blood on my back, once the cloth turns scarlet, I squeeze the cloth, letting the liquid drip over the bowl. By the time I'm done, the bowl of water is a dark red. One of the wolves that guards the entrance to the cavern comes in to take the bowl away, he nearly drops it when he sees the red. I glare at him; he looks at me, then the bowl.

"You used the soup!" He scowls. Great, another mutt to be dealt with!

"Well, what else am I supposed to use? You expect me to lie in my own filth?" I shot back.

"You've got a lot of nerve, mage! You need to show some respect before you get what's coming to you!" His fists are clenched. A wolf's temper is so easy to use. You'll see Alpha if I can't get your mutts to turn on you. Then I'll make you turn on them.

"Tsk, from you? You're nothing but another useless mutt to the Alpha." His eyes blaze.

He raises his fist over me. If the Alpha finds out, he beat me without his permission; then the Alpha will have to punish him. And he'll beat him senseless, then I can do the same to another and another. Then he will turn on his pack thinking they're all against him, when they'll slaughter each other, then I'll be free! If only it wasn't right after my beating with pierce... His fists pound against my bruised skin. I grit my teeth doing my best to bear through it. The pain I had is now multiplied, stabbing into my insides. I hold in my tears and screams. I just want this nightmare to end!

"Isaac!" He huffs, stepping back from me.

"I-I..." He hangs his head low. "Please don't tell the Alpha, it's not what it looks like!" He pled. The other wolf just gave him a sad expression. "Please!" He pled once more. I hug myself in trying my best to reassure myself. It's going to be better now, soon enough I'll get out of here!

"You know I can't do that..." His voice softens. "Come with me, Isaac." Isaac freezes. "I don't want to have to use force." Isaac slowly steps out. One down... they'll likely suspect him of treason. Since I'm in rough shape, they won't think that I would start it.

I fall into a heavy slumber. New marks and bruises appear on my body, adding with more of the pain. If I'm going to do this, I need to keep myself healthy as possible. That means I'm going to have to eat. Not too much or my magic will return, and they'll instantly try to use that to their advantage. The last thing I want to give to these mongrels is any of my power! I take a sip of the ghastly soup in front of me.

Surprisingly, it's delicious, I slurp up every ounce of broth and gulp down some water. Hopefully, there weren't any herbs that could harm my recovery. Each moment that passes, I remain still. Moving around isn't an option. Resting has become quite difficult. The hard ground beneath is starting to bother me. No matter how gently I press my body on the ground. It still becomes unbearable, every cut stings, every wound becomes sensitive, and every muscle in my body is on fire. My ankle now has a ghastly wound on the side of it. It doesn't do me any good that it was the same ankle that I sprained when they brought me here.

Time is endless and nonexistent, since there are no sources of light coming from the outside. So I make my own, morning is when I wake up, evening is when I'm more awake and night is when I go to bed. Three mornings have passed, I examine my body and see dark purple and blue blotches forming on each side of my ribs. My back has a huge scar of Pierce's claw marks. I trace the lines with my fingers, since there's no mirror. I can only feel the scar carved on my back. It's still unbearable to move and breathe, but I can't waste any more time. The wolf walks in, placing down my food and water like he always does. Wolves are very temperamental...

"I'm appalled that I wasn't given anything for my recovery." The wolf's head snaps up at me.

"We're giving you food and water! What more do you need!"

"Maybe some medical attention..." He scowls at me.

"MEDICAL ATTENTION, IF YOU HADN'T BEEN SO STUBBORN AND OBEYED THE ALPHA YOU WOULDN'T NEED ANY!"

"Neither, if they hadn't been so deaf..." I spat. His eyes blaze, I pretend to act shocked. "N-n-o, please." He clenches his fist as his knuckles turn white. Before I know it, a wolf stands in front of me.

This one was very temperamental, since the guards were here this time. They hold the wolf down until he returns to his human form. He lashes out at me in rage, they hold him back dragging him out of the cavern. I smile to myself, a few scrapes, but other than that, he didn't beat me as badly. I lay my head to the side of the cavern wall, to rest it strains my neck. But it's more bearable than sleeping on the ground. I awake and notice that my cavern guards have disappeared. How odd? Do they expect me to escape with them just waiting anxiously around the corner. The Alpha steps in, I lock my gaze on him. As his right-hand man, which I assume is Pierce, follows behind him. He chuckles.

"I underestimated you mage, I didn't think you would be that reckless to pull of such an act." He laughs again. "How wrong I was.." Pierce is grinning at me from behind, nausea and bile fill up my throat. I don't like this... "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" He squats down and makes direct eye contact with me. I stare back at him with fierce gaze in my eyes. "But don't worry, soon enough we'll break that spirit of yours." He sneers. "Now, get up." Before I can even react. He yanks me up by my hair.

"AHHHH!" I shriek in horror, meeting the eyes of a man in rage.

"You thought you could use me to slaughter my own pack!" I struggle under his hold and grasp. I use every bit of strength in me to kick him in the abdomen. My fear spikes as I see that none of my attempts come close to hurt him!

He drops me on the ground, I catch myself with the bit of strength I have left.

I pant, desperately trying to regain my strength. Suddenly my air is knocked out of me, I struggle to breathe and my chest is burning. Pain shoots through my ribs once more, adding to the pain of my old injuries. The pain spikes more and more. As I hold my side, gasping for air, my vision becomes blurry, I can hear screams and cries but I don't recognize them.

The shrieks are loud and tormenting, the woman crying almost sounds like she's on the edge pleading. But I can't make out what exactly, if she's pleading for mercy? Or death? When my breath has been restored to me, I turn to face the Alpha standing over my limp body. His cold gaze is burned in my mind, he raises his fist high. My head drops, and my world fades...