chapter five

Cassandra 's pov.

I fluttered my eyes to find myself in a dimly lit room.

I tried to get up from the seat where I was, only to discover that I was restrained to it.

“The fuck!” I cursed, “what's happening here!” I yelled.

“Detective….” A deep shrill voice responded from the shadows, “you of all people should know how to be careful with their choice of language.”

I was livid.

“Get me out of this fucking place, you're dealing with an officer if the law, wait till my partner comes to bust this place.”

“Which of your partners?” the voice asked mockingly.

“Show yourself if you're not that much of a coward.” I spat.

“Well if you want to see the face of a coward that badly why don't I show you one.”

A clap echoed through where I was restrained and slowly the lights came on from the end of the hall till it filled the entire hall.

“Nikolas !” I gasped, “what did you do to him?” I yelled.

Nikolas was tied to a chair just as I was. The only difference between the both of us was that he was bloodied and unconscious.

I prayed hard to whatever power that might be that he was still alive.

“Don't be in a hurry, I will be willing to answer all of your questions.” He replied, still hidden from sight.

“That doesn't answer my questions,what did you do to him?”

“Nothing that he would not do to you,” came the reply, “we need less of his kind in the world.”

“His kind?” I thought.

“Are…are you a werewolf too?” I asked.

“That's not the point, let's just say that you've mingled with the wrong person, one who is willing to kill you and others just for his own selfish interest.”

I sat there conflicted, it was not as if I had any other option.

“Don't listen to him.”

My heart skipped with hope on hearing Nikolas ' voice, I never thought I would be this happy to hear him speak.

“Nikolas ….” I said shedding a tear, “just hang in there, I am certain the police are on their way to find us, it's only a matter of them before they bust this place and free us.”

“Oh goodie!” The hidden voice said, “he's awake, perhaps he can start with telling you why he's been trailing you all these while and why he had you brought in here.”

“Don't listen to him Cassandra , he's only trying to get into your head.” Nikolas warned.

“Oh come on now Nikolas , you were about to deliver her head to me.” The voice said.

“You were willing to bring her here, tell her how you turned her into werewolf, you took advantage of her weak state and made her into the creature that she is now.” The voice continued.

I froze, “Nikolas , is this true?”

The silence that followed was deafening, I did not want to read meanings.

“Answer the beautiful wolf, she is a product of your selfishness after all, she deserves an answer!”

“Nikolas , what is he talking about? Did you turn me into a wolf so you could end up killing me or whatever like he said?”

Nikolas managed to turn his head away from me.

“Answer me Nikolas !”

“Yes…” he said feebly.

“Look Into my eye Nikolas , tell me that this is a lie, tell me that you're not behind the murders that have been going on,tell me that you're not behind this sudden werewolf transformation, tell me Nikolas that you did not bring me here to have me killed.”

I continued, “tell me that all these are lies.”

“They are all true,”

I felt my heart shatter to a million pieces. This was a man I trusted with my very life even if we had just met a few days ago.

He continued, “except that I was not behind those murders.”

“Then start speaking.” I said almost in tears, “I trusted you Nikolas , there has to be some reason why you took my trust for granted, this has to be good”

“I don't think that this is the place or the time for all of that Cassandra , I just want to let you know that you are in danger.”

“You do not have to tell me that, I am in danger with you.” I retorted.

“I saved your life Cassandra , this is not something I do to anyone.”

“You turned me into a werewolf, you brought me here to die, is there anything that I left out?”

“Yeah Nikolas ,” the voice mocked, “tell her.”

“Stay out of this” I fired back.

“Cassandra , you just have to believe me, I only turned you into a werewolf because you were dying.”

“You were attacked that night, I could not sit back and watch you die, i had to intervene”

He had to be telling the truth, I knew him better than anyone this past few days.

“You have to believe me Cassandra , I never meant to hurt you, I know it is too late to apologise and change things but I would really love to change things.” Nikolas said.

We could deal with that later, I just needed to get out of this place.

“Let her go now…” Nikolas yelled to no one in particular, “she is not what you think she is…”

“You said she was the moon goddess didn't you?” The voice dork the darkness asked.

“The shadow is not the only one who knows how to bend and twist agreements to fit their own personal needs.”

“She is of no Divine blood, I just said to get what I wanted, I am so glad that we both beat each other at our own games.” Nikolas muttered weakly.

A deep chuckle erupted from the darkness and filled the entire room.

“Then I have no need for her, she dies!”

“No!” Nikolas screamed.

Enraged, I made to break loose from my chains, the voice from the shadow must have seen my struggles as he spoke.

“Even the greatest alpha that lived cannot break those chains, how much more you a recent wolf pup?”

“Cassandra …” Nikolas whispered.

I ignored him as I tried to break free.

“You're doing this all wrong, I need you to believe me And trust me and I will help you break free.” He said.

I still did not want to listen to him,he had my trust, he had my heart and life in his hands and he took them for granted, I was not willing to go through that again.

“Look deep within yourself Cassandra , you can do this, if anyone makes it out alive, I want it to be you.”

I tried to shut him out like trying to channel the rage to break the chains.

I yanked against the chains, panic tearing at my brain

My mind was a messy tangle of fear and desperation.

“This can't be it. I won't be trapped. I won't give up.” I muttered silently.

"Look deeper, Cassandra . The power within you."Nikolas 'voice sliced through the chaos.

I scowled, frustration etched on my face.

“ Look deeper?” I thought, “ What's that even supposed to mean?”

It sounded like some vague, mystical crap.

But...there was something about Nikolas 's words that resonated within me. A spark of hope, maybe. A glimmer of possibility.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. My lungs burned, my head spun.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the spark within. It was there, a tiny flame that flickered with every beat of my heart. I concentrated on it, willing it to grow.

“Come on, Cassandra .” I mumbled as I bit my lips, “You got this.”

As I did, a spark began to spread its warmth through my veins.

I felt a sense of calm wash over me, replacing the panic. My breathing slowed, my mind cleared. I was still scared, but I wasn't helpless.

"You can do this, Cassandra ," Nikolas urged, his voice a gentle prod. "Let go of your doubts."

I opened my eyes, and the dimly lit chamber seemed to brighten, as if the very darkness itself was receding.

The chains rattled, straining against the ancient magic that held them fast. I felt a surge of confidence, of determination. I was done being trapped.

With a burst of energy, I unleashed the power, feeling it explode from my fingertips like a river of pure energy. The chains shattered, fragments clattering to the stone floor.

I stood tall, my heart pounding in my chest. I felt...alive. Free.

Nikolas 's smile gleamed in the darkness, his weak eyes shining with pride. "I knew you could do it," he said, his voice low and husky.

I grinned back, feeling a sense of wonder and awe. I did it. I actually did it. The realization hit me like a wave, leaving me breathless and grinning like an idiot.

That did not last long as the same voice came again from the darkness, “well well well… you do it.”

I looked around me and then up, there was an opening in the vents, I could escape but I couldn't.

It felt wrong to leave Nikolas behind. I made to release him when he resisted, “go, you're free.”

“I am not leaving without you…” I replied as I worked furiously to break him out of his chains.

“You can't free me,” he said, “you just have to leave.”

“Listen to him Cassandra , leave, this could be your last chance.”

Frustrated,I made my decision as I leaped towards the opening.

“I will be back for you Nikolas , trust me.” I said as I made my way through the vents.

“We will be waiting” the voice from the darkness cackled.

I made my way out as the chill night air dried the tears from my face.

“I'll be back for you Nikolas .”