Chapter 1
1514 Words
I lay on the cement floor of the dungeon chained up in rags with my eyes close. I hear footsteps echo down the hall. The gate to my cage creaks open.
" Tay." I don't say a word.
"Taylor." I still didn't reply.
" I'm going to say that she doesn't remember her name since she's been down here for almost a year."
" Or she's dead. "
" Go check. "
They get closer, one holds my frail body down while the other one checks my pulse on my neck.
" She's alive just not answering us."
" I got something for her." Footsteps retreated then come back a few seconds later.
" Get up sunshine." I open my eyes from the cold water being thrown on me. I stare at the low level men that work for Imani. "You're up. Let's go see mommy dearest."
They unchain me from the floor. I struggle getting off the floor for a few seconds before they pull me up dragging out the dungeon. I keep my eyes down away from the hurtful light.
" You think Imani is finally going to kill her?"
" I dont know." They stop moving " any final words." I look up to see that we are at the door to the great hall. I don't reply.
" Suite yourself." They push the door open pulling me further in.
" We have brought her to you." We stand in front of the woman that I despise the most. Imani, the best assassin known in the supernatural world.She smiles showing her pearly whites sitting in a chair like she's a queen with her floor length dress.
" Taylor my dear." She gets up from the chair walking closer to me.
" You look a mess. I hope spending the last twenty years in the dungeon has improved your attitude." She walks around the room.
" Let her be an example to you all. If you don't follow the rules you can also be locked up as a mere mortal." I grit my teeth at the mention of her making me mortal.
" Give her a bath before dinner."
" Yes ma'am." They drag me out of the room up the stairs to the living quarters. We stop in front of my old bedroom.
" Get washed up. We'll be waiting outside the door." I walk slowly into the room before closing the door. I look around the room seeing everything exactly where I left it. I go to the bathroom turning the shower water on the hottest it will go. I take off the rags I was wearing, throwing them on the floor before getting in the shower. I stand under the stinging water for a few minutes before I start washing my hair.
What's she up to? She didn't let me go to gloat. She needs me for an assignment. No one here can do it so she needs me.
I finish in the shower feeling better. I walk back to the bedroom, drying off. I blow dry my hair then put it on a ponytail. I grab some under clothes, a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater. I look in the mirror at myself staring at my small physique. My hair looks like a pound of wool is on my head. I look at my emotionless grey eyes staring back at me.
" It's time to go." One of the men knocks on the door. I grab a pair of boots sliding them on my feet before walking out of the room.
They both look me up and down before walking down the hall. We walk back to the great hall in silence. The doors open to everyone eating and laughing. Everyone stops and stares at us.
" Welcome back Taylor." Devin gets up from his seat raising his glass up. Others that know me did so as well. I nod my head at them. I walk to the main table, that's in front of Imani's chair.
Devin, Ron,Tyler, Kate, and Nichole sit alongside Imani.
" Your seat is over there." Nichole points to a table by the window.
" Nichole if Taylor wasn't gone for the past 20 years
. You won't be up here." Ron points his fork at her. She scoffs before eating her food.
" Here's another chair. Come eat skin and bones," Devin jokes. I walk around the table taking an empty seat between Devin and Kate.
"Eat up." Ron piles my plate up with everything known to man.
While I eat they fill me in on what I have missed out of during the last year.
" You should have seen Tyler hanging from his balls. His face was so red it looked like it was ready to explode." Devin makes us all laugh. Tyler mean mug Devin so hard you would think his face got stuck.
"What's wrong Ty?" Devin smiles innocently.
" Oh nothing. Let's tell Taylor about the time that you got tricked into sleeping with an old hag." I spit my water out. They stare off for a few seconds before laughing. I push my food away only being able to eat half of it.
" You need to eat more to get your strength up." Ron looks between me and the plate. I nod my head.
" Taylor come walk with me." Imani gets up from the table. I follow her out of the great room down the hall into the front of the castle. I look at the beautiful forest.
" I have a proposition for you." I look at her raising my eyebrows.
" I'll unlock your powers if you do this one hit my way."
" Who's the hit." I fold my arms across my chest.
" McKinnon." I raise my eyebrow.
" The royals? "
"Is that going to be a problem."
" No."
" Good. You'll have two months to get back in shape. Good night Taylor." She walks away leaving my outside.
What's going on here? Is she setting me up to get killed? I bite my bottom lip letting every possible out go through my mind.
" Tay." I jump at the sound of my name.
" You okay?" Ron stands next to me with a worried look on his face.
" Yeah just thinking. What has been happening to Imani since I have been gone." Ron takes a deep breath.
" She's been working with some sketchy supernaturals lately. We have been doing some huge hits lately." I nod my head understanding.
" Thanks." I walk back into the castle going straight to my room. I get to the door to see Kate standing there.
" It seems she would let the traitor out." I laugh at her.
" You must be talking about yourself since you set me up. I'll give you points for that but now that I'm out you better watch yourself." I walk past her bumping into her before going into my room. I change into a long shirt before laying in my bed. This is going to be a long two months.
As the sun breaks through the sky I hit the training grounds. I start with a run around the forest.
Shit. I only made it halfway when I started struggling. I lean my back on a tree taking a break. Footsteps steps come closer to my direction. I crouch down when another set approaches from the direction of the castle.
What's going on. Who would come into this forest.
" You're on time for once."
" I need to keep eyes on her. So I need this to hurry along."
" Is she taking it?"
" Yeah if she wants her powers back."
" Good. Make sure she kills the kids two. We wouldn't want any of them to be able to take the throne from us."
" I'll make sure of that." Both sets of footsteps retreat in the direction that they came. f**k. I wait for five minutes before finish my run back to the training ground.
" I knew we would find you out here." Devin and Ron stand in the middle of the training.
" Gotta get back to my original strength."
" That's what we are here for."
" Good don't take it easy on me."
" You think we will after all the times you beat our asses." For the next two hours Ron and Devin kicked my ass in hand hand combat.
" Let's take a break to eat." Devin walks over to us. I nod my head getting off the ground. We walk into the castle going to the great hall. We grab plates piling food on them.
" I see that you are walking hard Taylor." Imani stands in front of us.
" Yeah we've been kicking her ass for two hours straight out there." We all laugh.
" Ron can I see you for a few." Ron put his plate down before following Imani. He's too close to Imani can't trust him.
- Writer
