Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The sound of metal swinging made me jolt in surprise. I could almost hear my heart racing so fast. My sight bore at Sage who was pushing the cell door open. On his grip was a tray of food, the smell of egg and bacon filled my nostrils.

He fed me again and made me drink water. It turns out that the violet fluid is some kind of a drug to weaken my abilities. It also makes my body low in energy. Sage has told me that they had to drug me to keep my powers controlled but I knew better not to believe them; they were only feeding me lies.

After Sage fed me up, he locked my cell again. A few seconds later, I heard his footsteps approaching the stairs into the castle.

“How is she?” I heard a baritone voice echoing from the stairs.

Sage responded, “She has finished eating her dinner.”

“Good,” Ambrose stated.

Then I heard heavy footsteps going closer to my cell. It was dark but I could recognize his gray eyes staring at me blankly. He then looked over his shoulder and glanced at Saskia’s cell.

“Poor girl, she died painfully.” He commented, I couldn’t read a single remorse in his words. He doesn’t sound right, he doesn’t sound like the Ambrose I knew.

Then he turned his head towards me, eyeing me sternly.

“How are you? Any hallucinations lately? I’m sorry that you had to drink all those pills.” He asked, smiling like a psychopath.

My eyes widened, my lips parted. “You,”

I couldn’t make out a word as I felt speechless. I thought those pills were for my headaches. He lied to me. Of course he did! I’m an idiot for falling into his trap so easily.

“Yes, yes. I’ve been deceiving you from the start.” I saw him, nodding playfully.

“You were my friend,” I glared at him, biting the inside of my cheeks.

Ambrose roared in laughter, amusement written on his face. “Darling, I don’t have friends. They’re nothing but weak spots. Emotions make you weak, I don’t do that.” He cringed, his hands flying in the air as he spoke.

“What do you want?” I seethed as my teeth grinded in anger.

He was the reason behind all of this. If only he would stop giving out ridiculous orders! They’re people, they have their own mind. Not some puppets he can control whenever he wants. Ambrose is a manipulative bastard.

Ambrose entered my cell and took a step closer to my chained body. He raised his hand and grazed my cheek with the back of his palm. I couldn’t move my face away because my neck hurts from the tight shackles.

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed

The Ambrose I knew was simple, kind and caring, but seeing his sly smirk right now made me think that he’s nothing like the Ambrose I first met. This one in front of me looked like a demon from hell, heartless and incapable of remorse.

“You wish to know what I want, alright.” He stretched a smile. I saw his fangs peeking over his lower lip.

A wail escaped my lips when he aggressively gripped my jaw for me to look at him straight in his dead, gray eyes.

“I want power,” He clenched his jaw as he stated that.

Ambrose trailed his finger on my lips, “In order to get that, I will need your blood.” He let go of my jaw hastily.

Every movement of his was nothing gentle but angry and truculent. He kept talking but my mind couldn't comprehend his next words. My head started to feel numb again. I felt my eyelids becoming heavier as his words echoed in my head. I was out of breath again.

“You are my possession, little angel.” His baritone voice echoed inside the basement.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I kept blinking trying to fight the drowsiness I feel right at this very moment.

“No,” I whispered

The smell of a particular herb invaded my lungs. I slowly closed my eyes but I could still hear him talking. His deep voice filled my ears, it’s like every word coming out from his mouth was like a faint echo made by my dizziness.

“You are my secret weapon to ascend to the throne. You will help me get that power,” He claimed with authority in his tone.

I felt the exhaustion rush through me like a running river and slowly, I am drowning in a sea of darkness. I fell into a slumber and the last thing I heard was my chains moving.

I woke up early in the morning with the birds chirping near the small window of the basement. My throat ran parched. I strained my neck to see if Sage is coming to bring me breakfast but no sign of him. Perhaps, he will arrive after a few hours. I badly want water in my dry tongue right now.

My gaze landed on my arm and saw that the tube was sucking all of my blood. My lips parted for oxygen at the sight of the half-filled bag of blood.

A shaky breath escaped my lips, “Ambrose,” I muttered with clenched teeth.

He wanted my blood.

So this was his plan all along. Make me hallucinate until I can't recognize dreams from reality; then lock me up when I have finally lost my sanity?

I should have known, “Bastard,”

I bit my lower lip until it bled. My lips quivering in anger as I glare at the metal bars of my cell. How could they do this to me? I treated them like friends. They betrayed me; I was nothing to them all along.

Seconds later, a drop of blood fell from my lips to the water on the ground. The next thing I knew, my cheeks were wet and tears were running down shamelessly from my face. Endless sobs escaped my dry lips; they turned into soft echoes as they bounced across the stone, cracked walls of the basement.

The temperature in this cell has started rising. Bullets of sweat are now dripping from my forehead, damping small strands of my hair on my neck and above my forehead. I am losing a lot more blood than I expected. The bag of blood is now almost full.

I pulled the shackles with all the strength left in me but they just won’t break. I would most likely break my wrists at this point. I will never get out of here with my weak state.

I let out a frustrated groan before leaning my head against the stone wall behind me. Where is that redhead lady when I need her?

The realization hit me like a struck of lightning. This is what she’s been telling me all along. When she meant me to leave, she wanted me to leave and save myself from Ambrose. That’s why she needed me to leave the castle.

“Help me now, please.” I begged, looking around in daze hoping to find her shadow but nothing. She is gone for good and I am left here alone to die. Anyday now, this cursed life of mine will end. Will I really die without knowing my past?