THE LORD AND HIS RAVEN

Change of heart

The next few days went by in a blur. I was stripped and given something else to wear. Then I was whipMotherped and bathed in icy water, then whipped again immediately after that. Everytime, only these questions were asked.

“Who are you? Who sent you? What is your mission here?”

Days went by with nothing to eat. And the water I drank were from the ones that got in my mouth during torture. I thought I would die that night when I ran from those men. But this was by far worse than death. I wanted to die. I could no longer bear the pain. The whips, the cold, the starvation.

I wish they had killed me faster. I should have signed that document.

“Dead already?” A voice suddenly pierced the silent cell. And I forcefully opened my eyes. The prince was there. Logan.

“Still got some spirit left, I see…” he smiled and went down on one knee.

“You keep repeating the same thing, Raven. You will die if you do not tell the truth…”

“I…” I tried to speak, but I could barely hear myself. And my throat was hurting so bad. My mouth was dry and patched and nothing felt good.

“I…told….the…truth.” I forced out.

“We investigated. There’s no town, gang, city like Los Angeles or Hollywood. We found no trace of people entering the woods where you were found, no pit. Nothing. And we do not know what a cell phone is.”

“The only thing we have on you, is your weird clothes and the bird Ren picked up. And that isn’t enough.” He entered and tears fell down the corner of my eyes. It was never going to end.

“Then….kill….me…”

“You’ve put up so much fight, and strength the past few days, I am surprised you are still alive.” He responded.

“You do not really have the will to die, Raven. The pain right now is the only thing that makes you feel like you want to die.”

“I really want to die.”

I have put up with fights all my life, thought I could bear anything. I thought I had the strength and will to always come out at the end. I had no other option than to win everytime. Just so, my parents could look at me, smile at me or try to hug me. And even when I got none, even when I hated them, I still always made sure I won. No matter the situation, no matter the condition. I bore it and came out victorious.

Not this time. There was no need going through this torture for a result that would not change.

“There’s…nothing…I will…say…that…will make…any…of…you..believe me. Just…end it…please.” I pleaded.

He stared at me for a while, his eyes searching. Then he got up on his feet and turned away.

Minutes later, Ren came walking in. And I knew it was about to begin again. But this time, he squatted down beside me, undid my chains and handed me a bottle.

“Hope…its…poison?” I took it. Something flashed in his eyes. Sadness.

“You are not dying yet.” He answered. I frowned and took a sip of the contents. Only to find out it was water. I gulped it down hungrily, ignoring the ones that drenched my clothes and I didn’t stop till the content was finished.

“Come on…” He helped me up. This time more gently than he had ever.

“What is going on?” I found myself asking, more afraid of the kindness.

“Prince Logan has other plans for you.” He answered and I frowned.

“What?”

“Something about a mating ritual.” He simply stated.

~

I don’t know what happened next, till I was laid on a soft mattress, it reminded me of the one I had at home. The one I cried into every night. But this was different. Rather than cry, I wanted to sleep for the first time in my life.

“It is actually true…” I heard someone whispering.

“Shhhh….”

“She is dizzy in pain. Can’t you see?”

“Well, I can’t blame them. It’s freaking me out as well.” Someone else said

“But I do feel sorry for her. Her crime might have been just carrying that face.”

“Or she might actually be a spy. I wonder why they are being so patient with her.”

“Look at her, she has clearly been tortured and brutalised beyond words. I can’t believe you will say that, have a conscience, Lilith.”

“Stop having one, Vivian. It might save you a lot more heartbreak than you can imagine.”

I was pulled off the bed immediately after that remark and instantly, my eyes snapped open. I felt bare. It was perfect. My clothes had been sticky with blood, water and dirt. And I wanted out of it. However, I still had no idea what was happening, till warm water ran through me.

I jumped, all parts of my body hurting as I did. My open wounds screamed at me.

“Easy there…easy there….” Someone cooed, pushing me back into what I thought to be a bathtub. Again, the warm water ran through me and every part of me screamed. But it was definitely better than the cold water. I sighed, tears pulling around my eyes as I thought about how different it was from the icy water that had been slammed against me over and over again.

When they were done, I was taking back to the room and made to lie on that bed. The moment my body hit on it, I wanted to sleep once more, but something cold touched my back. It felt like an ointment and when it touched my open bruise. I screamed.

~~

“I was being chased. I could feel the sand beneath my feet. I could hear the men behind me. I could feel the trees, branches, thorns digging into me the deeper I ran into the woods. I should stop, I should pause and look back, I should do things differently. But I couldn’t. I kept running, even when I knew where I would end up. I kept running through the familiar woods.

It started raining, the downpour mighty and terrible. It soaked my body seconds after and silenced the men behind me. But I didn’t stop running, I couldn’t.

“Stop…” Someone yelled behind me. A familiar voice. I could hear the rage and anger in his voice, and maybe, I should have stopped and made sure I was shot there and then, but I kept running and running and running. Till I fell into that pit, screaming.

~

I jumped. My body protested immediately as it seemed my entire being was on fire.

“Bad dream?” A voice came from behind me and I jumped, this time, out of the place I laid. Which had been a big mistake. I had nothing on, except for a towel that was used to cover my back. And it fell off the moment I shot up.

“Hmmm…” the voice came again. I snapped my gaze back to him, noting that it was the prince. His eyes roamed my body at a slow pace and I quickly picked the towel and covered up what was left of my dignity.

“The tattoos on your legs….” He began.

“Is that a phoenix tail?” He asked and I frowned.

“What was this? What was he up to? What did he want? Why was I in a room that looked so much like a majestic hotel rather than a cell?”

“Can’t you speak?” He started towards me. I felt a wave of panic engulf me. And if I knew anything, he was more dangerous than Ren or Phineas. I took a step back.

“Scared huh?” He grinned, revealing large teeth, teeth too large for his mouth. That gave me goosebumps. He looked like he was made from a book, from a fairytale, with a face such as his and such beautiful eyes. At the same time, with that grin, he looked like a beast. Everyone of them reminded of that wolf.

“Did I really see a wolf?”

“Take that off.” He ordered and stopped in front of me. Something else suddenly in his eyes.