Ash

I can't believe that I was so stupid to believe that Keres was my second chance mate. Flame keeps blaming himself for what happened because he couldn't speak to me to tell me not to reject Noctis.

Keres is keeping me in this cell somewhere. I have no idea where I am, but all I know is that it is scorching hot down here. She hasn't come and tried to get anything from me, I am just left here with people coming in to give me food and water once a day. In this heat it isn't enough but I will survive...for now.

She probably hates us right now. We will stay here until we finally die, Flame tells me.

Don't speak like that Flame, we will get out of here, I encourage.

No, we won't. Have you not figured out where we are yet? Come on Ash, think.

Think about what? You know where we are? Tell me Flame.

It's best if you don't know... Flame tells me before retreating to the back of my mind.

I stand up from the floor, swaying on my feet a bit from the dehydration and heat. I stumble to the metal bars and shout out to anyone who will listen.

"Let me out of this hellhole! Keres! Let me out of here!" I rasp out with my dry throat.

I can hear some chuckles not far from the cell but they walk right by me. I slump back onto the ground and think. Keres...Keres. I know that name from somewhere. Where do I know that name from? I know she is a witch, but there is something more.

Footfalls coming closer to the cell break me out of my thoughts. My head snaps towards the noise and I instantly regret it as my head starts spinning. My vision comes back into focus after a few seconds and the person is standing in front of the cell.

"Here," the man says and tosses me a bottle of water.

I have learned to never take it quickly and I should always sniff it first. One time they added wolfsbane to see me in pain. I have never been able to see the faces of my captures and they don't usually talk much.

"Why are you here?" The man asks.

"What?"

"I asked why you are here," he repeats.

"I have no clue. Keres brought me here after she tricked me into giving up my mate."

"Who's your mate?" He wonders.

"Noc....why do you want to know?" I stop myself.

"Just wondering."

"Why are you speaking with me? No one else ever does," I wonder.

"I am curious. We only have two other prisoners down here."

"Who are they?" I question.

"Answer my question first," he retaliated.

I sigh, "My mate is...was Noctis Kilo."

"Really? The one who eradicated over two hundred rogues in thirty minutes?"

"The one and only," I let out a nervous chuckle. I knew she killed a lot of rogues, but more than two hundred in thirty minutes? That's crazy. That's impossible.

"The other two prisoners are a witch, Maria Morris and a wolf, Braden. I don't know his last name, the lady wouldn't let it slip."

"How long have they been here?" I wonder.

"About five months maybe."

"Why are they here?" I ask.

"I have no idea."

"Does she ever let prisoners leave?"

"No."

"Fuck me then," I groan. "Will she just let me die then because I really don't want to spend the rest of my life in this hell."

The man chuckles, "Sorry man but that's up to Keres. I can keep ya company for a bit though."

I sigh, "If you are going to keep me company, can I at least know your name."

He laughs, "How rude of me. My name is Caine."

He sticks out his hand and I shake it, "Ash."

"So, your a wolf. Are you part of a pack?" Caine asks.

"Yeah, I am from the Red Flame Pack in England. I miss my pack."

"Were you an alpha?"

"No, not at all. I am just a warrior. What about you? You obviously aren't a wolf so what are you?"

"Oh um, I don't think I should..."

I cut him off, "You sound just like Flame. Why are you all so secretive about this place?"

"I think we both just don't want to freak you out."

"I can handle it Caine, just tell me," I plead.

"Why don't we talk a bit more before I tell you."

I huff, "Fine. You have any family?"

"A little sister, you?"

"They are all dead."

"Shit man, sorry," Caine sympathetically says.

"It's fine. It happened a long time ago."

"Alright. Why don't you tell me about your mate."

"She is amazing. She is so strong and brave. She was in the army for over three years. She was rejected by her first mate in a terrible way and then when she finally went home, her grandfather, mother and brother rejected her. She is still going strong after all of that and I admire her strength."

"Sounds like a good lady. Sorry to hear about what happened. Why would you reject her in the first place for a second chance?"

"She told me her story and she seemed really closed off. Keres tricked me into thinking Flame was angry with Noctis and wanted me to reject her."

Caine shakes his head as he looks down, "Sorry that you had to go through that, but by the sounds of it, she did that to kill Noctis. I don't think she is alive anymore."

"What?" My voice comes out shaky.

"Keres would have killed her because you rejecting her would have been the last straw for Noctis' soul. That's what she does to her targets. She takes everything away from the target so they don't try to fight back when she goes in for the kill. Sorry man, but your mate is dead."

What? I still can't process what he is saying. Noctis is....dead? No. She can't be dead, I mean she is Noctis. Brave and strong Noctis. She can't be dead.

No, no, no. She died thinking no one loved her and it is all our fault. We deserve to die a painful death for what we have done to our mate, Flame whines.

You know, for once since we got here, I agree with you. We can't go on living if we are the reason our mate is dead. We don't deserve it.

I feel something wet hit my hand and I realize I am crying. I look up and see that Caine has stood up from his position on the ground and he starts chuckling before her leaves from my eyesight. What just happened?

Soon I hear more footsteps growing closer and I see the one and only Keres. I just sit there and wait for her to tell me what she wants.

"You are coming with me," she tells me.

I just stand up and she unlocks the cell before grabbing my arm, dragging me down the hall. We walk through a heavy iron door and I can smell a wolf and a witch. She must be bringing me closer to the other two prisoners.

"You stay with these guys before your death day comes," Keres tells me and then locks the iron door behind her as she leaves. There are three cells in the room but they are all open so I guess we can walk about in here.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Who are you?" A lady asks as she steps out of a cell.

"I'm Ash. I am guessing you are Maria?"

"How do you know that?"

"Caine told me. He came and visited me when I was in the cell before this one."

"Caine? Must have wanted something. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Maria Morris and this little guy here is Braden."

A little boy around the age of two peaks his head halfway out of the cell and then quickly pulls back.

"He is just a little shy. He hasn't met many good men in his short life. He will warm up to you eventually. So, Ash, what pack are you from?"

"The Red Flame pack. What pack was the little guy a part of before he was taken here?" I wonder.

"He was born a rogue to one of my friends. I don't think she realizes that he is still alive."

"That's terrible. I hope you guys can go find her one day. Maybe we can get out of here at some point," I tell her.

"Tough luck with that. I have tried everything to escape and I can't. We are in hell so there is limited ways to escape even after we get out of this room."

"What?" I say.

"What?" She asks.

"We are in...hell? You mean figuratively right?"

"No, I'm not joking. We are in hell, the underworld, whatever you want to call it."

Fuuuuuuuuck. You have got to be kidding me. I am in hell? But...what?

I think your brain is going to explode. This is why I didn't want to tell you, Flame rolls his eyes.

While I was freaking out, I didn't realize the little boy came and sat beside me. I turn to take a good look at him for once. He has black hair and green eyes with beautiful tanned skin. Only one word comes to mind as I look at him and I can't believe it.

"Kilo."