Lienna.
With bated breath, I held Oberon’s gaze, my pounding heart thundering in my ears like a storm. His imposing figure loomed before me, casting a dark shadow that seemed to suffocate the air from my lungs. His eyes, two piercing orbs of hatred, narrowed as he glared at me.
His presence was just as terrifying as the shifter kings when I first met them, but there was something distinctly more sinister about Oberon. The darkness emanating from him was palpable, making my skin crawl.
My chains clinked as I curled tighter into myself, desperate to escape the intensity of his stare. But it was futile; his gaze pinned me, immobile.
“Is this the girl?” Oberon’s deep voice resonated through the tent, dripping with condescension.
Veronica’s lighter footsteps approached, her twisted smile illuminating the dim space.
“I see you two have met,” she said with a low chuckle, her eyes glinting with malice.
“Oberon, meet Lienna,” Veronica announced, her voice scalding. “She is the one I’ve been talking to you about the vessel of the moon goddess.”
Oberon’s brief glance at Veronica was followed by an intense focus on me. His brows furrowed, deepening the creases on his forehead.
As seconds ticked by, the tension wrapped around my neck like a noose, tightening relentlessly. I could barely breathe, my lungs straining for air.
Oberon’s gaze remained unwavering, his eyes burning with disdain. “So,” he began, his voice low and menacing, “you’re the one who was supposed to help those punks win this war?” He asked, his words dripping with disdain.
His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring me to respond. I bit my lips, trying to stop them from trembling and failing anyway.
Veronica’s smile grew, her eyes sparkling with malice, “Answer him, Lienna,” she urged, her voice laced with venom.
But I remained silent, paralyzed by fear.
Oberon’s eyes flashed with anger, his face darkening. He took a step closer, his massive frame looming over me.
My chains rattled in protest as I shrank away.
Whipping my head up by my hair, he bored into my eyes while I stifled a cry, tears springing into my eyes as my scalp burned.
“You can barely defend yourself from me,” he growled, while I struggled to pry his hands away from my hair, an act that only infuriated him as he tightened it more. I yelped, my head feeling like it was going to explode.
Veronica’s giggle rang through the room, and I felt even worse. Letting go of me with a fling, I unceremoniously landed on the floor with a thud, my head and scalp burning.
“Such a nuisance,” he murmured underneath his breath.
With a scoff, he turned and walked out of the space, leaving me there at the brink of tears.
Veronica sauntered up to me, still giggling, as she raised my head up to look at her.
“I’m going to have some fun with you here,” she muttered, her eyes glinting with a wicked promise.
I could barely keep the tears away from streaming down my cheeks now.
She let out her shadows, and I gasped as they wrapped around my neck, hands, and fists, lifting me off the ground and strangling me.
I tried to flail my body, but it was impossible, as they felt like dead weight on my body, preventing any movement.
Thrown like a rag doll, I crashed to the ground, pain exploding through my entire body. My lungs struggled for air, my vision beginning to fade. Losing consciousness, I barely heard her leave the room.
Tears blurred my vision as I struggled to force air into my lungs. out Giving up, I let the darkness claim me, and I passed out.
.
.
.
I regained consciousness hours later, trembling from the cold that had seeped into my skin during the time I was unconscious. My head felt like a thousand drums were banging on it at the same time.
When I tried to speak, my voice was barely audible, even to myself. Coughing, I cleaned off the dried tears on my cheeks. Gingerly, I got myself into a sitting position. Every inch of my body hurt and my stomach growled with hunger.
Left with nothing else to do but stare into the darkness, my thoughts ran wild. They immediately went straight to Hermes, Caspian, and Adonis. How are they doing? Are they alright? Were they looking for me?
Hermes had been attacked by Veronica just before we left. The memory haunted me. Was he okay? Not knowing was killing me. Tears welled up in my eyes. I stared at my hands, focusing on the markings the moon goddess had given me.
Taking a shuddering breath, I tried to summon her power. nBut it wasn’t happening. More tears streamed down my face Before I knew it, I was sobbing, my heart breaking all over again.
Why is this happening to me?! Why must I suffer like this? The darkness seemed to close in around me. I felt so alone, so helpless. My sobs echoed through the empty space, my body shocking with its intensity. How long will I stay here? Being at the mercy of Veronica and Oberon? I couldn’t fathom it.
Time passed, and I heard footsteps approaching, each step echoing through the tent. My heart began to pound and I stiffened as a figure walked in. But when I looked up, my heart sank. It was Veronica, her face alight with excitement, her eyes sparkling with malice.
Dread settled like a suffocating cloak all over me. This can’t be good. “Hello, Lienna?” she chimed, pacing around the tent with an unnerving energy. “How have you been?” Her voice was filled with false happiness, dripping with sarcasm.
I didn’t have the energy to reply, so I just stared at her, my eyes vacant. Veronica’s gaze lingered on me, feeding off my misery. “Oh… That reminds me,” she said, turning to face me. “Have you had anything to eat today?”
I glanced at her, resisting the urge to roll my eyes and hiss. She noticed the change in my demeanor, her eyes narrowing. “Hey! I’m talking to you,” she snapped, her voice cracking through the air. But I just let out a sigh, looking away from her, my gaze drifting into the darkness.
Veronica stalked up to me in an instant, her movements fluid and menacing. She grasped my hair, yanking my head back. I winced, biting the insides of my mouth to stifle a cry.
“In case you don’t know,” Veronica began, her teeth clenched. “This is the wrong place for you to act all high and mighty.” Her breath was hot against my face. “If I talk to you, you answer me,” she growled, her eyes blazing. “Do you understand?”nHer grip tightened, pulling my hair.
Only then did I allow my lips to stretch into a smile. “Even after all this time, you’re still pathetic, Veronica.” I muttered, leveling her gaze with mine, unfazed.
A loud sound exploded in my ears and my head whipped to the side, my cheeks burning with pain. I had been slapped.
“Still have the nerve to talk back, huh?” Veronica sneered, kissing her teeth.
Lowering her voice, she continued. “I promise you, before you die, I’m going to show you hell.” Her eyes blazed, her voice dripping with malice. Even the shifter kings won’t be able to recognize you. Mark. My. Words.”
She let me go and my head dropped forward, tears blurring my vision, my cheeks still stinging and slowly swelling.
With a hiss, Veronica turned around and sauntered out of the tent.
I waited till everywhere was completely silent. My lips began to tremble. Before I knew it, I was sobbing profusely, my body shaking, uncontrollably. I can’t take this anymore.
Someone get me out of here.