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Chapter 3

The moment their journey came to a halt, Elena was convinced that they had already arrived at their destination and felt her heart almost leap out of her chest. She rested her palms on her abdomen and squinted her round eyes in pain.

Not once had these men stopped to check on her condition, nor did they offer food or water to sustain her. How she remained alive was nothing short of a miracle.

"Do you reckon she's still alive?" A familiar voice asked as he ripped off the covering over her almost flaccid body.

She flickered her eyelids in riposte to the harsh rays from the sun and let out a muffled groan.

"Loosen those knots and tie her up again." Ordered the familiar voice, "and give her some water to drink."

Elena kept her eyes shut tightly, as some hands set to work in a hurried manner, using stronger ropes to tie both her wrists behind her back. They were kind enough to loosen the ropes tied around her ankles, to enable her walk freely.

"Do not think of escaping, that is, if you don't want to be killed." The man said to her in a cold tone, as he took gentle strides away from her, and approached the gatekeepers stationed beside the enormous gates that shut off Reeves from the rest of the world.

Elena could tell the air was different and harder to breathe than the pure refined air at Valencia. Instead, it was denser and had the lingering scent of burning carcasses etched into it.

The men pushed a jar of water to her lips and said something in a language she couldn't decipher. Her lips moved on their own free will and parted, allowing her to swallow greedily.

Next, they tied a black cloak on her shoulders and made her walk on the same footing with them, barefooted, through the tall gates into the country of Reeves.

Palace

Elena quietly followed them through the empty streets of the country, without stopping to rest. Her feet gained blisters from the scorching hot sand she stepped on, and her eyes, almost blinded by dust carried by the cold breeze.

"When you are faced to face with his majesty, do not look him in the eye, and speak only when spoken to." Elena was warned, with the sharp tip of a saber, pointed at her pulsating neck.

Elena couldn't get a good look at the palace because, an enemy was stationed at each of her side, ensuring she didn't try to make a run for it. Both behind and in front of her, her enemies gave her no room to move, and had a tall black cloak drape over half of her face.

She only realized that they had reached the palace when she could no longer feel the hot sand underneath her toes. Her chest grew heavy with worry, as the men in her company suddenly came to a halt.

And in the blink of an eye, they ripped off the cloak from her back and kick forced her into a kneeling posture, her face pointed downwards.

She wondered if he would be anything like the kings and princes she read about in her books. If his voice would be as soothing as the sounds of waves against the shore, and if his eyes would be as deep as the blue sea. She wondered if he would be tall and have silky blonde hair, or if when he smiled dead plants would come back to life.

Elena could tell that someone's harsh stare was concentrated on her, something which made her self aware of the missing patches of cloth that exposed her skin.

"I want to see her face." A rich baritone voice suddenly declared, breaking the deafening silence.

In total obedience, the man who had brought her here roughly lifted up her chin, pulling her head back a bit too far, exposing her soothe covered neck. He used his fingers to pull her lips apart, going as far as to showcase her set of white teeth.

Though she found it hard to breathe properly, Elena did not fail to cast a proper glance at him and found herself utterly appalled by his appearance.

He had long jet black hair that rested at his elbows and crimson red unforgiving eyes that showed no sign of being impressed by the sight of her.

A sentiment they both shared.

"Is she the blue moon witch?" The man inquired in a detached tone, looking down on the green-eyed princess, whose hands were tied behind her back.

"Yes, sire." Answered one of the bandits who had abducted her some days ago.

The man had a bored expression on his face, as he positioned his elbow against the armrest of his throne, and relaxed his chin against his curled-up fist.

"Have her cleaned up and brought to my chambers, make sure to keep her tied up so she won't run away." He instructed in a lax tone and shooed them away with a hand gesture.

They heeded to his command and dragged Elena away, even though she wasn't putting up much of a fight. With what little strength she had, it would be impossible to go against them, talk less of escaping.

With that logic in mind, she decided to pretend to cooperate with her enemies and found herself tendered over to some sickly looking women, serving as maids in the fortress.

Elena inwardly shook her head, irked at how sickly in comparison to the maids at Valencia these women looked.

Or where they just overly thin?

"Untie her, we can't dress her when she resembles an animal." Said a brown haired maid in a rigorous accent, to her brutal kidnappers.

The men sneered at her and one of them pressed his saber into her palm, "don't order me around, bitch." Cursed the slim waisted, shoulder length black haired man, who had stolen Elena from her carriage and killed Harriet.

His dark brown eyes were the most unfriendly pair she had ever casted her gaze on. He reeked of blood even when he had none on his skin, and had a gruesome scar above his left eye. A scar that resembled a claw mark, as though he had been scratched by an animal.

He walked away with his men following closely behind, leaving Elena in the care of a woman no younger than her, with a sharp saber in her tight grip.

"Here, cut through the ropes and bring her to the bathhouse. It was his majesty's orders to have her cleaned and brought to his chambers." The woman took charge over the others, then took her leave, probably headed to the bath house.

The rest of the women obeyed her orders and cut through the tight ropes, freeing Elena. She thought of making a run for it, but one of the maids yanked her by the wrist, and gazed emotionlessly into her eyes, a sound warning to comply.


It took more than half a day to fully wipe off all the dirt that stuck to her skin and untangle all her locks of hair. The women dressed her up in a simple sleeveless white gown, and led her to a secluded part of the castle.

The highest tower.

But for some reason, the women all stopped at the door, and cued Elena to go inside.

She complied with their demand and reluctantly stepped into the chamber, only to have the door rudely close itself behind her!

"What is this place?" She voiced out loud, sure enough that it was safe to finally say something.

The maids were kind enough to feed her some bread and a glass of milk, though it wasn't like the regal dishes Harriet prepared for her. She was grateful that they did not leave her to starve.

All across the walls were strange markings and claw marks which hinted at a gruesome struggle. The sheets and curtains were not only roughly slashed but also stained with dried up blood.

Elena gasped at the shattered pieces of glass from the smashed window, she almost stepped on. "How can anyone live like this?" She retorted in clear disgust, shrugging her dainty shoulders.

"I'm faring perfectly fair." A voice from behind her asserted in a confident tone, causing the princess to jump in stun.

When had he come in? She thought, as she found herself standing across from a man who had proclaimed war against her kingdom and forced her into an unwanted marriage. And had now abducted her and brought her into this dreadful tower.

And for the first time ever, Elena had never been more pissed off than that very moment.

But, for fear of her life, she looked away from him and eyed the bed, sizing it up to be comfortable enough for two.

However, her rude host did not seem to fancy how she ignored his presence and reach out to cage her pretty little face with his large intimidation hands.

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