Chapter 3. Dungeon

Talitha’s POV

What was he doing? Is he getting me ready to have my head chopped at the judgment board?

It was dark judging by the light torches at the apex of the room and the executions were mostly in the mornings and afternoons.

Alpha Hades would do whatever he wishes to do. Witches aren’t given a fair trial in the Kingdom of Arni. One look at us and we’re hunted down with our heads chopped off.

We are the outcasts of society, we are shunned from the stalls to buy bread, insulted in public gatherings, and our lives are of no value as our women are abused and easily targeted by sexual predators.

The past Alpha king made sure of it. Witches are forbidden here and not allowed to co-exist with others.

We were beginning to live peacefully so we thought before a greater disaster happened.

The huge golden doors were pushed open by four guards walking into the courtroom and their knees fell to the floor in a thud with their heads bowed slightly.

“Yes, Alpha.”

He tore his grip from my throat and took a rise with his gaze still fixated on me as I coughed loudly with tears blinding my vision while I rubbed the sting his hold caused.

“Take her to the dungeon.” He ordered.

‘Dungeon?’ No, I dreaded being in that place. He should kill me and end it all by not taking me to the dungeon. It will cripple my mind and kill me slowly. I’ve suffered enough there was no need to keep me alive to take the little sanity left.

“Please no! Kill me instead but not the dungeon. Please Alpha.”

“One more word from you I would have the guards stitch your lips. You would like that won’t you?” He gritted out and a cold shiver ran down my spine. He wasn’t the type to issue mere threats.

The guards pulled me up and with tears streaming down my cheek they led me out before they shut the door. The Alpha let out a burst of hysterical laughter.

***

The guards tightened their grip on my wrist as they led me to the dungeon. My skin must have birthed bruises and blisters from the numerous shoving and grips I’ve been subjected to.

With each passing of a long corridor, going farther and farther into the most eerie part of the castle and deep into captivity my freedom bid goodbye.

The tears kept falling at will and despite how much I groomed my heart and strength all these years but they came crashing down like quicksand.

Was it my fault to be born a witch? I’ve not done anything wrong, haven’t taken the life of an innocent soul and yet we get hunted down like animals any chance they get.

My hate for these people, the Alpha, and his kind rose to a peak. I hate the wolves.

I would never forgive them for the humiliation and unjust killings for the years my kind suffered and still suffering, the witch hunts and the death of my best friend Diana.

The thought of her made bitter bile rise in my throat. I can’t believe he was so close to me and I didn’t seize the opportunity before I was collared to end his life. But on second thought it wasn’t the red Moon night yet. My powers would have been limited and how would I escape from the multitude of his loyalists who were ready to cut me into tiny bits on just his command?

“Stop!”

One of the guards pushed me roughly to the floor and grazed my knee to the hard floor. A painful grimace spread across my face and when I looked up to see we had gotten to the mouth of the dungeon.

How did I not notice? I was moving but not looking at where I was headed as thoughts boggled in my head.

The lock of the dungeon was fastened with a metal key as it got unlocked and creaked open with a cranky noise.

“Get up and get in!”

Why was everyone here hostile, stern, and lacking empathy in their hearts? I tried to stand on my feet but a sharp pain shot through my ankle.

“Ahh!” I whimpered.

“We have no time to waste.” One dragged me by my hair and the next minute I was thrown into the dungeon as my face hit the floor. They burst into laughter and slammed the doors shut and heard the clinking of the keys which meant it was getting locked.

There was a faint light coming from the window. The rest was dark in here and the floors were hard, my hands tapped the floor searching for nothing in particular but ended up holding a skull.

“Oh, gods!” I exclaimed in fear.

Someone must have died here. The evils of the past Alpha didn’t just end with him, it went with the son of his loins. Bloody beasts!

“Let me out!” I screamed hitting the dungeon doors repeatedly.

“Please let me out!” My voice bounced in the dungeon with the echoes of my voice as a complete reminder that I was all alone followed by the silence of the environment.

My hand lazily left the door plummeting to the floor as I plopped my head downwards and sobbed loudly.

“Diana I’ll avenge your death if that’s the last thing I do,” I swore.