THE CEO ALPHA KING
Chapter 24: Locked up
Writer’s POV
Serena slowly opened her eyes and looked around her surroundings to see that she was still in the cold, dark dungeon.
Her eyes went down to the floor, but she couldn’t find the insects that were crawling around anymore.
Where did they go?
She slowly stood up to her feet to find all the insects that were attacking her lying dead in a corner of the wall.
A frown crossed Serena’s face as she watched them in disbelief. She could still feel them running down her arms and legs because, last night, she remembered one had bitten her, and she hadn’t been able to sleep properly because of it.
A gush of cold air suddenly swept around her, forcing her to hug herself protectively. The place was getting colder, she straightened her back against the wall and took a deep breath.
She couldn’t hear a single sound; it seemed like there wasn’t anyone around.
Serena felt fear, cold, and hunger clawing at her throat but gulped them all down. She didn’t know what was going on out there, and it worried her. And worst of all, she hadn’t seen or heard from Isaac, either physically or through the mind-link.
Soon, it was evening. The sun had gone down, and everywhere started turning dark again. Another set of insects crawled out of their holes, and this time they were two times the number from last night. Some flew and landed on her arm; she swatted them away in disgust, while others neared her feet.
Pain shot up her arm when another insect bit her once more. She screamed in agony, desperately shifting away from them, but they moved closer. Surrounding her.
“Oh no, please,” she cried out.
Serena couldn’t help but think that the king might be the one doing all of this. He could even be listening to her screams of pain.
“I won’t do it again; I won’t try to run away. Please, I’m sorry.” She started to cry, desperately wanting to get out of there.
The insects kept attacking her, no matter what corner she ran to. She kept crying, trying to fight them all off while still pleading that the king help her.
Two insects stung her at the back of her neck, another at her back and stomach, and even her thigh started to itch as she swatted one away.
“I promise, please.” Just spare me; I won’t do it again.” Serena cried louder, stepping on some insects that were close to her feet.
And as if the king had heard her cries, the insects stopped moving as they suddenly lay motionless, dead on the cold floor, before eventually vanishing into thin air.
She went back to the corner she had been sitting on and slid to the floor. Hot tears kept running down her cheeks endlessly as she wondered what the king was going to do to her next.
***
The cell gate opened, attracting Isaac and Kendrick’s attention.
“The king has granted you the freedom to leave the cell.” A guard standing outside the cell announced.
Isaac and Kendrick exchanged surprised glances before slowly rising to their feet, wary of the guard.
“Really?” Ken asked, eyeing the guard suspiciously.
“How is that possible?” Isaac asked, also watching the guard closely.
“I think you should go ask the king yourself.” The guard groaned at him before opening the cell door.
“Let’s get out, man; the king has released us,” Ken urged, rushing out of the cell as he did. Isaac reluctantly followed him out. Once he was out, he paused at the door and looked at the guard.
“What?” The guard raised his brow in quick.
“My sister, where is she?” Isaac implored.
“In the dungeon, you can visit her if you want.” The guard replied before walking out, leaving the boys to find their way out.
“Ken, I think you should go. I need to see Serena and know that she is still alive and well,” Isaac said, quickly taking a turn that would lead him to the dungeon. Ken called out to him, but he didn’t respond.
He got to the gate and opened it before running in. He walked past two empty rooms before seeing her in the third room. She lay motionless on the floor, hugging herself so protectively that Isaac’s eyes watered at her state. It was heartbreaking.
“Serena.” He called, rushing to the gate to open, need it, but no matter how hard he pulled the gate, it didn’t budge.
“Issac,” Serena whispered, relief rushed through her as she heard him. She managed to pull herself up from the floor and move towards her brother on the other side of the gate.
Isaac tried opening the gate, hitting the bars with all his strength, but it wouldn’t bulge.
“You can’t unlock it, Isaac. You have to do it with the key, which may be with the king.” Serena said it sadly, wiping her eyes.
Isaac grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight. His heart leaped for joy that he was finally able to see his sister.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Look… I’m sorry about what happened. About what I did, I didn’t know I was going to be found out so early and brought back here. I’m sorry for ruining your plans.” Serena apologized, tears running down her face.
“Hey, it’s okay. You did ruin our plans, but we are still alive. Did the king do anything to you?” Isaac worried, his eyes scanning her, he noticed the insect bites on her pale skin.
“I… no, he didn’t; it’s just some insects here. They are the only problems I have.” Serena replied, looking down at herself.
“Bees have stung you, your body has reddened because of it. Serena, look at you,” Isaac gasped fearfully.
“Bees? How come, how are they bees?” Serena wondered, staring at herself in disbelief.
“Oh geez, if you don’t get treated, S. I’m afraid you won’t survive this,” Isaac mumbled sadly.
She sniffed and looked up at Isaac with teary eyes.
“It’s all my fault, Isaac. I’m sorry for putting you in this situation; you should go.” Serena pulled her hand away from her brother’s.
“Wait, Sere…”
“Go, Isaac; I don’t want you to see me like this. It will only hurt you more; it’s better if I’m alone.” Serena mumbled, sitting down in her usual position.
“Oh, Sis, I’m sorry, but I won’t let you die. I put the idea of leaving here in your head; it’s my fault all this happened. I’ll look for a way to fix all this, even if it means going to the king.” Isaac said, determination lacing his eyes.
Serena stared up at him.
“No, you can’t. He might kill you; he is genuinely angry with me for what I did, Isaac. You will only anger him more, and the king doesn’t need to be angered more; he needs to calm down. He needs his peace, so please don’t go to him.” Serena pleaded.
Her request surprised Isaac.
Why? Why was she talking this way? Isaac wondered.
Isaac slowly sat down on the floor, his hands holding the bars tightly.
“You are half werewolf; you might live if the venom is taken out of you.”
“Let me tell you a short story about our father’s lineage. Bees can kill us; just one bite from a bee killed our grandfather. That’s probably the reason why you were attacked by the bees. I can’t help but think that the king wants you to die this way, Serena. He looked into my memories. I don’t know how the hell that is possible, but he knows all my weaknesses and strengths.
He’s using it on you; he doesn’t want to kill you with his own hands, so he sent bees to do the job.” Isaac finished, watching the confusion on his sister’s face.
“He looked into your memories. “What does that mean?”
“It doesn’t matter, Sis; what matters, n…”
“It matters, Isaac. Tell me, Did the king read your mind in any way?” Serena asked, cutting him off.
“He did more than read my thoughts; he went into my memories from the past and saw everything about me. About Charles’ plan to avenge his sister’s death, about my plan to fool him…”
“What?” Serena shrieked in disbelief.
“Oh my gosh, Isaac. He did that.”
“Yeah, he did.” Isaac nodded.
“That means you are also in trouble. “That’s what I’ve been trying to prevent him from doing,” Serena spoke as she ran her hand through her hair.
“He must be mad right now.”
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t understand the king. But since he had bees sting you, the only thing that I can think of right now is that he wants to kill you, but slowly.” Isaac hissed.
Serena relaxed her back on the wall and closed her eyes.
“He will kill you, Isaac. He might, the king is dangerous; I’ve seen how dangerous he is.” Serena lamented.
“But I won’t let you die. I won’t let you get hurt because of me.” She finished, watching him intently.
“Hey, what are you talking about? I’m the one who should protect you; remember, stop acting like the big sibling here.” Isaac groaned.
Serena suddenly became quiet, she gazed at the wall and remained still. Appearing lost in her own thoughts.
“Serena! Serena!” Isaac yelled her name, but she didn’t respond.
He stood up and rattled the gate to draw her attention but paused when he heard a voice at the back of his mind.
“The king orders for you and your sister. Don’t waste a minute of his time.” The voice ordered telepathically.
After the voice in his head said, the gate immediately opened. Without wasting time, Isaac rushed in and pulled Serena closer.
“Serena, hey, you scared me,” Isaac exclaimed, he watched as her eyes returned to meet his once more. He then embraced her.
“I’m sorry.” She mumbled, hugging him back.
“He sent the kings for us,” Isaac announced.
“Let’s go then,” Serena said, pulling out from the hug and straightening her posture. She wobbled a bit, but Isaac held tightly onto her as they left the dungeons.
Their hearts raced as they stepped into the living room where the king waited for them. His aura spread like wildfire, instilling fear in their hearts.
“So, what is it going to be, little wolf?” King Zed questioned, turning to face the siblings, a smug look on his face.
“I will do anything you say, anything you want, for my brother’s freedom and also for Kendrick’s freedom,” Serena replied, briefly gazing at Isaac before bowing in submission to the king.
Isaac snapped his head to look at his sister, who avoided his gaze.
“What are you saying? What do you mean by that?” He frowned.
“I’ll do anything you want; wherever you want me to go, I’ll go. I will be a loyal slave to you; please spare my brother and his friend. They did what they did for me, and I ended up destroying it all.” Serena said it defiantly.
No, this is wrong, Serena. Isaac thought painfully, squeezing her palm to shut her up.
“Very well then, slave. I’ll grant you your wish of releasing your brother from his duties; he will no longer work for me.” When King Zed made his announcement, Isaac gasped in shock. What is going on? What are they implying?
“No, no, no. I will work for you; I will continue, please.” Isaac pleaded quickly.
“You are dismissed, Isaac.” King Zed groaned in finality as he pinned a glare at him.
“As you wish, Your Highness.” Isaac bowed submissively before walking out of the castle. His worried gaze met his sister’s, but he couldn’t utter a word.
***
Flashback to the time at the dungeons.
Unknown to Isaac, when Serena had been lost in her thoughts, she had actually been speaking to the King telepathically.
“Have you decided your brother’s fate? Should he be dismissed or should he continue serving me?” His sudden question caused her to flinch in fear.
“I wish for him to be dismissed, Master.”
“Good.” She heard him say it, a hint of amusement in his voice.
**
“You made a nice choice, little wolf. You will remain with me forever, you will never find freedom. All of your brother’s plans won’t work anymore. That is what you get for trying to escape from me.” The Alpha spoke, his gaze firmly fixed on Serena.
Serena slowly lowered herself to her knees in submission.
“I won’t ever try to run away from you. It was a stupid mistake.” Serena promised.
“Make me two cups of coffee, slave. After today, you’ll remain alone; you won’t ever set your eyes on your brother.” King Zed ordered.
Serena’s heart skipped a beat at his words, but she didn’t back down. “As you command, Master.” She said, before rising to her feet and leaving the room.
She found Isaac standing outside the room, waiting for her, but she ignored him. And when he drew closer, he was stopped by the guards.
They had all heard the king’s orders and the deal she had made with him, including Isaac. A deal never to see him again. It was worth it, as long as he remained alive. Then it was worth it.
Serena got to the kitchen and made two cups of coffee. She then returned to serve them to the king.
“Tell me, slave. What happened to you in the last three days that you escaped?” King Zed turned to her and posed the question.
“Nothing much, Master. I was just busy trying to hide from you, but my plans failed, it didn’t succeed.” Serena exhaled out.
“I’m pleased that you are here, little wolf. I missed your fearsome little self.”
What? Serena slowly lifted her eyes to meet the king’s cold ones.
What did he just say?