The Beginning of The End
Chapter 66

I don't want to be here.

I'll say it again, I really do NOT want to be here.

Wherever here is.

Miya and I were hauled out of the wooden carriage around ten minutes ago, and now we are stood in something that looks oddly like a driveway. If a driveway was miles long and had fountains and statues as far as the eye could see.

All of them were built by hand, and all of them were dragon statues. They were beautiful. But they also looked deadly, and sharp, the stone claws looked very sharp.

I haven't seen Maddox or Ryker, and I'm not sure that I will. We are near the back, there must be a thousand soldiers between us, and I can almost guarantee that over half of them want me dead.

It's not a good feeling, and I bet news has spread of my cowardice.

They'd know that I promised Ryker vengeance just to wimp out at the last second like the child I am.

Here's the thing, I'm nineteen years old, more or less. I could be older, but with no way of telling what month or year it is, I'd never know.

So, my guess, it's been at least five years since the end.

Five cycles of seasons.

Five winters.

They expect too much, they expect me to be fiercely loyal and protective just because they are my mates, and whilst I do feel some of it. I won't kill for them.

I take Miya's hand in mine, watching as Suer gives orders to other guards, I don't know what he's saying, or what Maddox commanded of him.

I don't even know if we are going to live through the day, or night. The sun had set a while ago by the look of things.

If this realm had a sun at all.

It all looked so... ancient.

I doubted they even had electric. There were streetlights, no cars, no phones or laptops. None of anything from my world.

I guess if you want to destroy a people, you have to destroy the things they rely on as well, and people used to rely heavily on everything that technology could offer them.

We crumbled quickly without it. People didn't know how to survive without the comforts they were used to, some starved, disease got loads too, especially the ones who didn't know how to disinfect a wound.

Blood poisoning is deadly, and a lot learnt that the hard way. Disease spreads, and that's exactly what the virus did.

Those that survived the worst of it all were hunted by the very creatures I now stand close to, they were commanded to kill anyone they came across, human, fae or animal.

They destroyed everything.

They destroyed countless hopes and dreams.

But Maddox's words still haunt me, and I can't help but wonder if there was a reason behind it after all. Maybe it wasn't just senseless murder.

But I can't ask, not now, not when I can't even get close to my mates.

"What do you think is going to happen?" Miya asks, her eyes wide with fear.

I guess if I could see myself I'd look much the same as she does, I'm terrified.

Just hours ago, I was certain Maddox wouldn't hurt me, but he saw my reluctance to kill a betrayal to him and Ryker, and now, I'm not so sure they will spare me, mates or not.

"I don't know." I whisper, keeping my voice low. "No matter what, stay close to me, ok?"

She looks at me and nods, tears hiding just behind her eyes. She didn't want to die, and neither did i.

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I don't even know if I can protect us, there are so many of them, so, so many. Hellhounds as far as the eye could see.

We wouldn't make it a mile before we are ripped apart.

Suer gives the guard he's talking to one last nod before he turns to look at me, his

face void of any emotions as he walks towards us.

My spine trembles, but I keep it straight, my heart hammers with fear, but my breathing is steady.

Don't show them fear. They love fear.

"You've caused quite a stir among the ranks." He says with a dark smile, "Maddox ordered you be taken to the slave house, you must have really pissed him off." My heart sinks.

My worst fears were coming true. Maddox doesn't even want to see me.

"How is Ryker?" I ask, fighting back tears as Miya squeezes my hand.

"He's still unconscious." Suer shrugs, "Until he's awake, Maddox is in charge, and he says you are nothing more than a slave."

I don't understand why he's being so cruel, Suer was never cruel to me, he protected

me.

He held me when I was afraid.

What has changed?

"Ok." I whisper, my voice low and broken.

Someone has torn out my heart and made me swallow it, and now there is a lump in

my throat that I can't get rid off.

It's choking me. I can't breathe.

Suer grabs the chains attached to our ankles and snaps them, freeing us from the carriage.

Yet, we will never know true freedom again.

"No time to waste, you'll be up early with the other slaves to preform your duties." He grabs my arm and turns to Miya, pulling our hands apart. "Don't fall behind Miya, they'll kill you if they replace you out of alone." He turns to look down at me. "I'll still be close, in case you are hurt, but I'm not to interfere in your new duties."

He's been ordered to be cruel. It enters my mind like a slap across the face.

He's been ordered to treat me badly.

Maddox has ordered it. He wants me to suffer.

I don't blame him, not really, I just wish that I could see him, I wish that I could

apologise.

I was so wrong. I should've helped him get his vengeance.

I would kill for myself and Miya without hesitation, why couldn't I do the same for my

mate?

"Follow me." Suer says, pulling me along by my arm.

It isn't like I have much of a choice, not when he's holding my arm so tightly.

I look back at Miya who's almost running to keep up, I'm almost running, hellhounds

are much faster than us.

We never stood a chance out in the wild, and we don't stand a chance now. Not in their world.