[3.1] ARC WOLVES

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            "Fear the Night Court, my child, for the sun never shines too long."

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My back hurt as I lay on the weed mat, the cold biting at my exposed body as I stared up mindlessly into the darkness of the stoned roof above me in the slave quarters.

Pushed tears stung the back of my eyes, taking a calming breath out.

My arms were sore as I silently turned to my side, face twisting in pain, eyes meeting that of Vale. She smiled over at me softly, and I returned it despite the space between us.

She slept huddled with the others on a worn-out yet more comfortable mat, whilst I practically slept on the hard ground.

The other slaves had huddled together for warmth, but of course, they left me out, only talking amongst themselves and throwing me disgusted looks before turning off to bed.

I didn't blame them though. And it didn't matter as long as Vale was safe.

I watched her eyes lids close finally falling asleep. It was after I listened to the sounds of her low breaths when I finally succumbed to my own sleep, my last thought- AMA.

She had been alone when the Beta died and now that we were gone, I hoped she was alright without us.

When I dreamed, I repeated my nightmares.

The monster in the shadows with eyes of red, the soft voice that commanded me to find my Alpha, and finally the fields of ash healing back to life in the place where day and night meet.

————

Slaves are supposed to wake up bright and early, just as the sun creams the sky, still overpowered by the night- but that was not the case in the Night Court.

"Heavens above!" Someone gasped, her tone shaky, "I-it is as they say," Eve stated, as the candles flickered in the dark.

I turned slightly, recognizing the girl. She was the same one who had been with us in the cage, her hands in prayer.

She had thin brown hair and a heart-shaped face. Certainly tiny compared to the rest of us, and her voice was soft, as soft as her hazel eyes.

"What now Eve?" Haven grunted, her dark eyes settling on the shy girl who stood frozen, frail body rattling softly in the cold of the morning.

Haven was Eve's opposite.

She too had been in the same cage as us. Her cut lip had healed significantly in the last three days, to a scar, however, She still held bitterness in her eyes I had never seen.

I overheard the other slaves talking in hushed tones yesterday, she had come from Greenwood Pack, one of the bigger packs in the Night Wolf territory.

I heard rogues there were treated differently, harsher than what Vale and I had experienced in our small pack. The things I heard were done made me shiver. For if they could be that merciless to a Rogues daughter, what more a Keffer?

Eve pointed out the window with a shaky hand and my eyes trailed to it, "the never-ending night.." she trailed off.

"That's because the sun isn't out yet. You seriously can't be that stupid," Haven snapped rolling her eyes as she neatly wrapped her hair up in a bun.

My eyebrows arched at this, walking towards the window staring out into the night, my heart beating strangely at the sight, turning round to face the other slaves in the quarter, "she's right," I stated, "it's nearly morning and it's as dark as if it were midnight," I explained.

Vale's eyes rose to meet mine in confusion, the other slaves following suit.

"Are you dumb Keffer?" Haven growled, her eyes flashing angrily momentarily showing her wolf, "we were probably woken earlier than usual-"

"N-No.." Vale stuttered, she paused when everyone's eyes glued to her, "it is the same time as yesterday-"

Haven's fiery gaze launched on her but before she could say anything, a voice interrupted-

"The sun will not rise today. This is your first Dark Day, but I assure you, it will not be your last," A uniformed voice explained, Madam causally walking in our midst as we immediately separated into 2 straight lines.

"The Night Wolf controls the day, and the night. When he wills it, he forbids the sun to shine. On days like this slaves, tread carefully.. do not make mistakes- the night has many shadows.." she trailed off at this and I couldn't help but think there was a hidden meaning, "and when it storms.. do not more than breathe, for his fury is as harsh as thunder," she paused, straightening her shoulders.. "and as deadly as lightning."

Silence loomed among us, my throat running dry as I studied Madam's cool yet somehow creepy tone.

"off to your stations my dears.. your masters await." She suddenly turned, walking in the direction she had come.

                                                        ————-

Scoop throw, scoop throw.

My arms grew heavy after a few throws, the heat blazing in my face, roaring back to life. I dropped back on the stool, wiping the layer of slick sweat off my forehead.

I stared down at my blistered hands, unable to close my fingers.

A week. It had been a week of sleeping on the hard floor, eating scraps, covered in soot to my chin, spots of filth on my face, insults, kicks to my back, and eating the leftover scraps from the servants-

I was so hungry all the time.

"Tired already, keffer?"

My gaze traveled from my blistered hands, tucking them away quickly, settling my gaze on the heat of the fire, pursing my lips.

As a slave, I couldn't say anything to Barnabas, the man whose job I had relieved on my whim. I wasn't Shade anymore in this place. They didn't call you by name- they called you by your status.

Your Highness, My Lord, Madam, Master, servant, slave... and Keffer.

I watched as the flames tossed about, a sudden urge to throw myself into the heat. The longer I stared the more inviting it looked, a dark depressing thought echoing at the back of my mind.

Vale was right, there was no need to fear death- death was better than a life stuck in these walls.

I would be sitting on this stool for the rest of my life if Vale and I didn't come up with a valid plan to escape. And by the looks of it, there was no plan. I had only been to three places in this Court. The kitchen, the slave quarters, and the bathhouse.  All were guarded each night.

"A week and you're already miserable," Barnabas chuckled, hearing him sway into a seat, with a hard sigh, "then again, you must have already been miserable. A Keffers life can't be that glamorous."

My jaw clenched but I remained quiet staring into the flames. I had to be quiet and obedient.

That was my place.

"He must be gloomy," Barnabas suddenly stated, causing my eyes to snap to him, watching as he took a swing of the ale he held, his eyes settling on the only window in the furnace room, high above us.

My gaze traveled toward it, spotting the blackest night only lit by lanterns in the night court glowing lowly in the howling wind.

This was the fourth day and the sun hadn't risen. I missed the sun because, at night, one could really tell what time it was, how long the day had taken. Minutes felt like hours and I felt like I was trapped in hell, only the flames were burning brightly in the furnace before me.

My eyes found the fire again, watching the heat dance.

"What does the bastard have to be gloomy about? He is a fucking King. All he does is wake up, sit, eat and shit."

I couldn't help but agree with the drunk, despite my better judgment, as the man usually said things like this when he was wasted.

From my week with him, I could describe Barnabas as a man with nothing to lose. He was not a slave but a servant, which meant he had some kind of freedom and got paid coin- no matter how little.

But that was just about where his luck ended.

From the rumors I heard, he had lost his mate to the hunt, years ago- since then, he had become a miserable bastard. Not that I blamed him.

As much as I had once wished for a mate

of my own, I was quite aware of what happened when one lost their other halves.

AMA cried herself to sleep every night. However, whilst she found some little comfort in Vale and I, save a few drops of tears each night, Barnabas had found his at the bottom of an ale bottle.

He talked whenever he liked, he cursed, and by Selene, he was certainly not kind in his words. But somehow, I noticed, drunk was the better time to talk to him.

Maybe this was my chance, my chance to ask questions. Vale was doing her part, growing closer to the other slaves.

I had to do my part.

I had to get as much information from drunk Barnabas as I could from this place. But I had to be careful-

"How do you know?" I whispered lowly, turning to him.

His eyes snapped to me, and my heart stopped, seemingly studying me. It was the first time I had actually directly talked to him. I couldn't back out now.."how do you know h-he's sad?"

His eyes hardened, and for a moment, I regretted saying a thing to him. However after a lingering second he pointed a rough finger at the window, "he takes away the sun when he's angry so we can be as miserable as him.." his eyes turned to the fire chuckling, "as if our lives aren't miserable already aye Keffer? Might as well just put us out of our misery."

"I-is that all he does?" I asked, gaining a bit of confidence, his eyes snapping back to me, and I sucked in a breath, "I-I heard each Arc Alpha has a gift and their wolves are different-" I trailed off, "than ordinary Alphas."

"No shit," Barnabas growled, "I've been here for 12 years," he grunted, eyes trailing to me a took another swing of ale, " I was here on the last Tribunal, 5 years ago," he continued, "all 3 Arc Alphas came back home, to the Night Court.." he trailed off.

"I saw 3 Arc wolves, that night.. one that was shaped in fire.." he stated.

"The Fire Wolf," I blurted.

He glanced at me nodding, "another wolf who was bathed in dazzling light, and the last, who froze everything his claws touched."

He described the 3 other Arc Wolves exactly as I used to hear from AMA and the other kids in the Night moon pack. The Fire Wolf, The Light wolf, and the Ice Wolf.

The three other Arc Alphas of the 4 territories in Valcane.

"Y-You didn't see the Night Wolf?" I asked, my eyes trailing his face as he took another swing of ale.

He shook his head, "I count it a blessing every day. No one sees the Night Wolf and returns whole.." he grunted his rough fingers pounded against the side of his head, "he does something to your mind girl, he plays with shadows.." he huffed looking down at his open palm, "the night wolf doesn't just control the night, but even the monsters that hide beneath the shadows," he glanced down at me, seemingly returning back to normal, "dig Keffer," he growled getting to his feet, "your fire burns low."

I nodded, watching as he walked toward the door, "oughta get another ale," he huffed

I pursed my lips at this. grabbing the shovel, taking in some coal, and shoveling it into the dying flame as I thought all he had said over.

I counted it a blessing I hadn't seen him yet too.

I was sure the Night Wolf would kill me if he ever knew a Keffer was in his court.  I took out a short breath relaxing my beating heart. It didn't matter.. there was no way I would ever see the Night Wolf.

If Barnabas had been here for 12 years without ever seeing him, it was more than likely I was safe here.

The rest of the day was long and harsh and the sun remained hidden in the veil of night.

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