Riya soon led me down into the dungeons, where I finally visited my friends. She made sure to keep her cover so the Darkling didn't know I was unsupervised. They were all kept in separate dungeons, distanced from one another. To keep them from plotting against the Darkling.

I went down the dungeon stairs alone. Some how there was a seperate dungeon, that was at the bottom of a nearby staircase. I wrapped myself in a dark, blood red cloak and held a candle. I made sure I didn't use a single spark of my powers, so the Darkling wouldn't be able to sense through the bond, that I was down here.

I talked to Zoya and Genya for a while, their physical appearance was terrible. Its like they haven't been fed in days. Both were terribly parched. I need to remember to bring food and water for them the next time I come down here.

"I promise I will get you guys out of here."

"How will you do that?" Brave Zoya asked. Her eyes sparking with fire. I could tell she wanted revenge. Some comfort in the Darkling's pain. I wanted that too. I want him to suffer.

"I don't know yet, but I swear to you. He won't be the one in charge for very long." I took a pause after my words. Observing her reaction. She wanted to believe my words, but I get that she didn't. I decided to change the topic.

"Do you know where Nikolai is?" I whispered. My heart giddy on the inside, mentioning his name. Zoya glanced her eyes down then back up to meet me. I saw her gulp. Was it because of the dehydration or was it because of what she had to say?

"He's in the lower dungeons."

"Thank you." I stood up, ready to walk away until Zoya's voice reached my ears. "Uh, Alina."

I turned back, my cloak following my action. "yes Zoya?"

"Nikolai is not himself Alina. He's not human."

Her words confused me. A sense of worry came rushing towards me. "W-what do you mean he's not human?" My voice was on the verge of trembling.

"The merzost the Darkling injected him with, had a slow–changing effect." Zoya said.

"Changing effect? What do you mean?"

"You'll see. Just don't be afraid." Zoya finished.

I soon visited Nikolai's dungeon. Instead of seeing my golden haired Prince, I saw a winged beast. His bare chest was shown, volcra like teeth and big black wings on either side of him.

"Oh Nikolai, what have they done to you?" I whispered horrified at the scene before me. I stood outside the bars, leaning in to see him. A slight growl could be heard from Nikolai's mouth. His eyes looked up to meet mine from his curled positon. Both of our eyes locked onto each other, I saw his filled with fear. Fear, of me fearing him. Mine. Concern. Surprise. Anger. Towards the Darkling.

"Nikolai?" I whispered his name. He curled back, pushing himself back into his cell. It was such a small cell, there wasn't much space for him to move away or spread out his wings.

"I was coming back for you, Nikolai." I tried to open the dungeon doors. It was locked. Kneeling down at the bars, I decided to sit beside the cell. Giving Nikolai some company. He didn't reply at all. He couldn't talk at all. I wished he could.

He looked ashamed, embarrassed for me to see him. I needed to comfort him. Like Zoya said, to not be afraid. And I wasn't. He was still the pure, beautiful hearted person I knew behind the transformation. "Your not a monster to me, the Darkling's the real monster."

That seemed to get his attention. I saw him come up to me behind the bars. He stared deep into my eyes, observing my reaction. I saw his hand, which was a claw now, come up to rest on my cheek. The claw was cold as it rested on my face. I touched his hand, holding it tight on my cheek. I leaned into his touch. Closing my eyes, trying to get comfort out of it. When I opened them, I saw his face relaxed and his eyes smiled with happiness. His hand made to move down to my lips, he stroked it gently opening my mouth.

"My Prince. I swear I'll change you back."

He hummed slightly, observing my lips. My mind went back to when he kissed me outside of the palace, on the night the Darkling enslaved all of us. He kissed me at sunset. A beautiful moment which I wish to have more off. But was it disgraceful of me to kiss another when Mal just died a couple days ago?

My eyes went up to meet Nikolai's. I pulled away from his grasp. "Nikolai, I should go before the Darkling gets suspicious. I promise I will be back." I gave him a kiss on the cheek. It was slightly difficult to kiss him through the bars but I did.

***
Going back up into the palace, I had to be discreet on my position. Making sure nobody would see me or alert the Darkling.

As quick as a cheetah, I somehow ran into the forest. Not wanting to go into the palace at this very moment, I made sure to spend sometime in the forest. I doubt any assassins were nearby but I kept my guard up. In hopes Riya had everything under control back at the palace.

The more I went into the forest, the more rage started to build inside of me, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

I released a scream. The echos of it bouncing off the trees around me. Flashes of my friends came through rapidly in my head. Memories of Mal's death came in as well. I never did release all my frustration from what the Darkling did. Sure, I hit the Darkling in the chest and screamed and slapped him. Which I will not apologise for. But he always pined me down. At least here. In this clearing. I could scream.

To my heart's content. I poured out all the anger. And it felt good.

Feeling relaxed, I took a deep breath and relaxed my body. My red hood slipped off my head and rested aligned on my shoulders. I thought I finally got some peace. I jolted as I heard the frightening howls of animals nearby.

Howls. Wolves.

How? There were no wolves in these part of the forests. I heard them running. My scream. They must have heard me and now picked up my scent. My breath lost its usual pace and it quickly lost control. I gulped down my fear and lost control over my mind.

Not sure on what to do, I quickly hid behind a covert of trees. I saw the wolves starting to appear around me. The fur of one, was a beautiful silver colour. Some have dark black, or even gold like fur. They looked beautiful, yet equally as dangerous. Their eyes, all a dangerous shade of amber. I stared deeply into one of them. They looked as if they were looking deep into my soul. I tried my very best to not move an inch. But I accidentally moved my foot and snapped a branch under my foot.

I heard the eight of them growl. They were getting ready to pounce and rip me apart. I got ready to run. So I launched myself away from them and ran as far as my two legs would take me.

I heard them all run behind me. The hunt was on. It was ironic. I, in a red cloak getting chased by wolves. Could my life get anymore like a fairytale? I felt rain drops starting to drip on my hair but I ignored it.

My cloak hugged a branch, it pulled me back from my neck. As soon as I turned, my cloak ripped in half. I didn't think much of it whilst the teared fabric-clunged to the tree branch. The hood fell off my neck and landed into a puddle under my feet. Which I realised was forming from the rain which suddenly increased its intensity.

I ran up to a clearing, which must have been in the heart of the forest. I saw a giant stone in the middle. Looking behind me for a split second, i saw the wolves starting to circle. I climbed on a giant boulder, that had small stones lined up at the bottom. To gain some height against the wolves. I saw them trying to leap up at me. They missed, barely.

I stepped back, coming to realise I was on the edge of the boulder. Like on the edge of a cliff. I knew if I called for help, someone would not hear me in the rain, in a forest so dense. The cloudy skies, all a brim, grey colour. The colour of my fear, clearly whitewashed.

I could feel the rain drops, water my lids and cloud my vision a little. I heard a growl close to my face. I realised I needed to duck to avoid a wolf from striking me down.

Managing to kick it down, I knew the kick wasn't that strong. I lost my balance and fell on top of the boulder.

Beside me, I saw something grounded below the boulder. Wrapped in old clothing, it was shaped like a sword. Any weapon was needed at this point.

I reached over, worried that a wolf might bite of my hand, I grasped the handle and used all my strength to pull it out of the ground. The fabric dampened because of the rain so I tore of the fabric, to reveal a beautiful sword under it.

It was a broad sword I lifted in the air. My summoning started to build up and the light I produced, only lit up the swords intricate details. I felt my summoning take its form, outlining my being. A warm glow. A tingling sensation surging through my body. The likes of power I have never felt before. Stronger then the Darkling's amplification. Stronger then the antler collars powers.

A wolf jumped up to attack me, as a quick reflex. I used the sword and struck it down. Hearing it wail. Seeing its head decapitated and the pools of its blood staining me. Its lifeless corpse. Dropped to the ground. Red staining the sword.

As the other wolves started to pounce, I jumped of the boulder and struck down more of the wolves. I was grateful Nikolai taught me how to use a sword. Another way he saved me.

When all the wolves lay dead on the floor, their body in pieces. The blood. Stained the sword and my clothes.

I didn't know their were wolves in this section of the forest. But right now I needed to get back to the palace discreetly and wash this blood off me. I decided to take back the sword too. A wonder. Why was this sword out here? And who left it?

Published: 17:35pm 12/02/2022