The escape mission

     DIONY’S EMPIRE

 ATARIAH’S POV

I feel parched. It’s probably been hours since I have been locked in here, and no one has considered offering me a glass of water. These people are awful! It’s not like I would take any edible thing from anyone here. I was dragged away from the King beast, thinking I would join the other humans in the cell. Instead, I was tossed into a room. Something about the room they locked me in makes me cold. Even though the interior designer did their best to make it feel welcoming with the gray walls and cream-colored curtains. The dark clouds lingering in the air are enough to put me off. It just doesn’t feel humane. Then I remembered why. The only humans here are locked up for the beast's entertainment.

A lone tear rolled down my face. I wiped it off angrily. A tight knot settled in my chest, making it hard for me to breathe correctly. It’s appalling that I went from being a free person to getting locked up in a day. Sheila is probably having a panic attack right now. I never should have left the club. I should have kept my emotions in check and sat there. Ignoring everything that stupid man mocked me for. Waiting to get home, where I could scream my lungs out and get drunk afterward. When the next morning came, I would have passed out in the safety of my room. Not among blood-sucking monsters where everything smells like death and sorrow.

When I recalled the encounter with the King Beast and his piercing eyes, the hair on my back stood up. It felt like I was in the same room as the devil himself. There was so much hatred in his eyes. What scares me the most is his actions without moving a finger.

Fate is nothing but brutal to me. After everything I have endured, I am plagued with this. Maybe this is all my fault. Perhaps I wasn’t grateful enough. The tears formed heavily this time, and I did nothing to hold it back. My life will certainly end here. Burying my face in between my thighs, I sobbed helplessly.

“Did you hear of the new catch?” I hear someone say in a muffled tone by the window.

“Yes, she is an eye candy.” The other person there replied. “I hear the council of elders were very disappointed when the Alpha King called dibs on her and announced that she is his mate.”

I glanced at the window at his words, realizing it was wide open. Then, I leaned closer to the window to hear clearly what they were discussing. I saw their heads; both happened to be guards with their dresses. I wouldn’t have concerned myself with the discussion, but it sounded as if it was about me. I remember the beast king mumbling that to me before he began his assault.

The first one to speak cackled. “One thing I know for sure is that the Alpha King would never accept her. Every one of us knows just how much he detests humans. Many lives have been lost because they are associated with filth. It doesn’t matter if he has to end up alone. He won’t accept her as his mate.”

“But the moon celebration is going to happen soon. It’s less than a week away. It is a perfect time to consummate the marriage.”

“It doesn’t matter whatever day it might be. The Alpha King isn’t the type to engage in an abomination for personal gain. He definitely would reject her on that day.”

“What if we make a bet?”

“I am definitely in. The human won’t be accepted as his mate.”

“I think he would have no other choice but to accept her. He needs an heir.”

“And anyone can provide him with that.”

“If it were that, he would have done that long ago. He wants an heir from his mate.” The second guard insisted.

“ Alright, put your money on it. I am sure to win.” The first one said.

Someone called out to them while they were at it, and they hurried away.

My lashes fluttered rapidly as the thought hammered through my head. His mate? When he kept repeating it, my thoughts got too fogged to understand what he was saying. But now that I think about it, I feel cursed. A mate to these beasts means a lifetime soulmate. The heavens must be having a swell time making a fool of me. Does it even make any sense that I just got out of a toxic relationship with a human, and now I am supposed to be tied for life with not just anyone but a beast who hates me? I would rather die than let him touch me.

What! He wouldn’t mind accepting me to give him an heir? I scoffed, and it got stuck in my throat, leading to a sporadic cough that reddened my eyes and chest. In a flash, the memories of every horrifying experience I encountered in Matthew’s hands flooded my brain. My breath hitched as I struggled to catch it. The room was suddenly closing in, suffocating me. The walls and furniture seem to be mocking me. My eyes rolled back into their socket as I threw my head back, fighting against the overwhelming force while my fingers scratched the ground to get a grip on myself. I tried to breathe but still couldn’t.

Giving into the pain, I curled up on the floor, wrapping my knee to my chest, shivering. I don’t know how much time passed before I felt calm again. Tears stuck to my face like glue. The floor had gotten colder than usual. Sitting up, I stared out the window, and it was getting dark. I stood up gingerly, feeling my legs sore.

I can’t stay here! I am not going to stay put and watch my life fade away right in front of me. Even if I might die in the process, I will at least know that I did my best to survive. If that beast gets a hold of me again, he won’t hesitate to snap me into two. It doesn’t even seem plausible for us to get intimate.

Checking the window, which seemed to be my only escape option, I noticed if I jumped out of it, I would have a soft landing on the grass. Also, the window had removable panes. It's either the people who locked me up didn’t think I could escape, or they don’t want to be bothered by a mere human. If not, they probably would have put me in a more secure room. Bringing back some of the survival skills I had learned in college, it was easy to get the pane out. Thankfully, the window size was enough for me to get through it.

Feeling my heart thump incredibly, I put my legs out first, my eyes darting around to ensure there wasn’t anyone nearby. It’s dark, and thankfully, no light is shining towards where I intend to land, making it relatively easy to leap out. I didn’t think twice before jumping. I fell on the grass, hurting my knee. It only took a few minutes to process the pain.

There doesn’t seem to be a route to escape with a large expanse of land behind the mansion that appears to have existed for centuries. But this isn’t the time to be sniffing through history. Right now, I must run as far as my legs can. I cannot go through the palace's main gate, wherever possible. As long as there is a way through which I was brought here, there will be a way to leave. Squinting my eyes, I noticed a tiny path on the far end that looked like it might lead out to somewhere.

Quickening my steps, I moved towards the place, trying not to run to keep the guards off my path. When I made it far from the house onto the path that seemed to be leading to actual woods, I felt a bit of relief. This is looking too easy. At the same time, it is comforting that I can make it out alive. If I do, I promise never to keep late nights ever again. I will be more humble in my affairs, reminding myself daily that life could be worse. Maybe I could save my fellow humans rotting away in that smelly cell.

Kicking my legs in sudden excitement, I heard the sound of a stream nearby as I got into the clearing with long trees and spaces. I felt a surge of delight again. I was so engrossed with my thoughts that I didn’t quickly notice the low growls around the woods. I looked back, and there was no one. That prompted me to start running. As I ran, the sounds of wild animals got louder and more vicious. I should have known I was getting too lucky. Something was bound to go wrong.

With the growls intensifying, I looked back again, still wondering where it came from. Turning my head too late, I hit my big foot on a stone and fell forward; that was when I saw them. It’s as if they were waiting for the perfect moment. In a second, I was surrounded by three vampires with their fangs out and eyes blazing red behind the mask they had on. The sight of them is just enough to kill me. My blood pressure is already skyrocketing. Just when I thought that was all, I looked back to find three werewolves behind, snarling with their canines out for some blood.

My lips quivered as I sat up quickly, fingers sinking into the earth. I backed away, but I was cornered in every way. There is no way out of here. My heart thumped at its highest pace, like it would leap out of its socket as they all moved closer. Hot tears rolled down my face as my life flashed across my eyes. They had a bitter sneer on their faces. It doesn’t seem like they are hungry to eat me up. Instead, the mission is to kill me.

“P..please. I want to go home. I am not interested in being a part of you all. Please let me go.” I sobbed helplessly.

“You don’t deserve it.” One of them said, and I had no idea which one was among them.

I managed to get on my knees, putting my hands together in plea. “Please, let me go.”

They only cackled devilishly and got closer. One of the vampires stretched out his hand to grab hold of me, and out of nowhere, an arrow flew past my ear and stabbed the vampire right in the chest. His face turned pale almost immediately. I let out an ear-piercing scream when one of them fell right on top of me. Even when he was lifted off me, I was still screaming, confused as to what was happening.

Just then, a man in a uniform like the one those gossiping earlier wore bent over me with a cold expression on his face. I felt him reach for me, and I swear his claw sank into my palm.

“You will be stuck here for the rest of your life.” I saw his lips move maliciously, and the words settled in my ears like a heavyweight before life seemed to slip out of my body, and everything went dark.

            *******

 NEKTARIOS’ POV

Damon, my bodyguard, walked into the study with his usual darkened expression. “Your majesty, there is an emergency, " he announced, bowing his head.

I quirked my brows, staring at him with little interest in whatever he was about to say. “What is this emergency you can’t solve and had to ruin my day?”

“Your mate was attacked.”

My wolf reacted to his words, but I maintained a blank expression. “How so? Didn’t you get her locked up?”

“Who would dare to hurt my mate?” My wolf snapped.

Damon mumbled some curse words under his breath. Stuttering as he spoke. “S..she attempted to run away and got cornered in the woods by some people trying to hurt her. The royal guards were the ones who saved her.”

I tried not to fume at the fact that the stupid royal guards were right there when a mere human escaped under their noses. My wolf didn’t seem to be pleased by everything. He kept snarling under my mental hold, urging me to ask how she was doing.

As if he read my mind, Damon said. “She is currently unconscious. But I don’t think it is appropriate for her to be here, Nek. From what we could gather, those who you have hurt in the past by killing their families for mating with a human are coming for her head. If they can’t be with a human, you can’t be either.”

My eyes thinned in displeasure. “I never said I wanted to be with her. You should hand her over to them to do whatever they please with her.”

“Have you lost your damn mind?” My wolf sneered. I shut him out, refusing to be influenced by him even though I feel a strange sense of responsibility towards her despite not wanting to.

“Are you cool with them dismembering your mate?” Damon asked, holding my gaze intently.

“What would you have me do? I want nothing to do with her.” I repeated.

He ruffled his hair, inhaling sharply. “All the same, you can’t leave her by herself. You know what these folks will do to her, Nektarios. And you nor anyone has the right to blame them for it.”

I clenched my fist furiously. That weak, good-for-nothing pest just had to waltz her way into my perfect world and ruin the reputation I have held for centuries. How is something so useless as that to be so good at causing trouble? I never thought I would be the one going against my own rule. If the gods had been thoughtful enough to send me an actual vampire or werewolf, no one in their right mind would have dared to lay a hand on her. But they know how much of a weakling this fucked up mate is, and they intend to take advantage as much as they can. My wolf became vicious at the thought of her getting hurt. I find it gross that I might truly be bothered if something happens to her.

Taking a deep breath, I grumbled. “Take her to my house and have the security doubled,” I ordered. Also, I want the guards on duty when she ran off to be severely punished for being useless at their jobs.”

“Thank you. I will keep that in mind.” Damon mused, making a move to leave. Then he paused suddenly and held my gaze. “Are you not going to see how she is doing?”

With a straight face, I uttered without mincing words. “I am never going to set eyes on that pest again. I will be damned if that ever happens.”

He wanted to say something but thought it through again, bowing slightly towards me. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He mused, leaving.

Cursing loudly, I punched hard at the table, breaking it in two. Fuck that bitch for turning me into this. Fuck her and her entire generation of weaklings!