Chapter 6

Calliope

"Times up" a voice grunted as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder kicking and screaming hitting his back with my fists as hard as I could. He slammed me hard into the cold metal box as my head hit the back of it my vision started to dim. I saw the faint shape of Oberon approach me as I stood there slumped against the side wall of the box.

"Now then, let us be on our way shall we? I would sleep while you can. It is a long ride and you should be rested before we arrive. I do apologize that we have met under such circumstances, I do hope that in the future you come to realize that this situation was not our intention and was an unfortunate necessity." His face softened and he truly looked apologetic, not that it helped or made me hate him any less. I gathered up my strength to spit in his direction. He stepped back to avoid it and his jaw tightened.

"I will never forgive you, I will never belong to you and know that no matter what I will fight you and I will not go quietly." My words seethed from my chapped lips caked in dried blood. He smiled a knowing grin that made my blood run cold.

"It matters not how you feel about the situation my dear. Per the agreement between your mother and King Elirond many moons ago you are in fact the property of the Kingdom of Astraea. You, Calliope Silverthorne, are the promised child to the crown." My breathe went still as I processed his words. "Clara made a trade, your life for her freedom and we have come to collect". What did he mean I was the promised child? Did he just say my mother sold me? Where the hell is Astraea? And why did he say my last name my silverthorne? None of this makes any sense. I was starting to lose focus, whether it be from the freezing cold box I was in or the concussion I had finally catching up to me. As my consciousness started to drift away and my eyelids closed as I hugged myself to try to combat the cold. What kind of hell would I find myself in when I woke up? That was a problem for another time, for now I would rest and hatch a plan to get myself out of this mess. All I know is that from this moment on my life will never be the same. Happy birthday to me.

The sound of the truck door opening wakes me up. The feeling of warm air hits my face as I blink the sleep out of my eyes to try to catch a glimpse of my surroundings. I must have been asleep for hours because the sun is shining down without a cloud in the sky. Oh what a beautiful day to be kidnapped. I try to stand and lose my balance, falling forward out of the suspended box and nearly hitting my face of the floor of the truck before a hand grabs the back of my shirt collar and lifts me up. I am yanked out of the truck and come face to face with my captor once again.

"You are not a very graceful creature are you?" he looks at me with a look of confusion like he was genuinely asking. Up close, I see that he is actually not bad looking, for a despicable, kidnapping monster. He doesn't look much older than me, with black hair, green eyes and a large square jaw. I can see what looks like tattoos creeping out from under his collar inching towards his neck. If this were any other circumstance I would consider wrapping my legs around his muscular hips and brining it all the way home, knowing hes not the type to stay 'til the morning, just how I like it; but the only thing on my mind right now is my mother.

"Is she ok, did you have someone bring her to the hospital? Look I came with you ok? Now can please you make sure she is alright?" At this he let me crumple to the ground, I am barely able to catch myself before I face plant into what looks like a freshly paved black road. Its an odd texture, almost smooth like marble. I look up to see Oberon has started to walk away, seemingly not caring at all about my state or my concern for my mother. His lack of empathy is starting to really piss me off, who is this guy?