chapter 3 VENGEANCE AND A A PROMISE

_The next morning_

Alina woke up because of a rumbling sound outside the cave.

Golden light streamed in through the cracks in the stone. Her body no longer hurt. The bruises on her wrists had faded. The oversized ivory gown was still wrapped around her body.

But her heart... still hurt. Hurt because of what Raka and his friends did to her. Especially the villagers who not a single one wanted to help her.

Memories from last night attacked her. Raka. The ravine. 

They were the ones who pushed her. They were the ones who laughed in satisfaction seeing me helpless.

_"Just throw her away! She's bad luck. Let her disappear,"_ said Raka, the leader of their gang.

Her hand clenched on the tiger fur. Her nails dug into her palm, her face full of anger.

"So you're awake."

That low voice made Alina look up.

Draven stood near the throne. His back was to Alina. Tall, shrouded in shadow. In his hand was a bone spear.

"Do you hear them?" he asked without turning. "They're still up there. Looking for you. Maybe now they regret that no one helped you last night," said Draven, the Tiger King, firmly.

Alina sat up. The fur blanket fell. "Let them. And where were they last night? When I screamed for help, they just stayed silent and locked the doors of their houses," Alina said softly.

Draven turned around. His golden eyes stared straight at Alina. 

"Then what do you want now? You're already here. You have to be bound to me. You have to be my queen," said Draven.

Silence. 

Alina looked at her own hands. Hands that used to only sew and cook. Hands that used to beg for mercy. 

Now... she wanted to make a fist.

"I hate them, all of them," Alina whispered. Her voice broke. "I hate Raka. I hate that village. I don't mind being bound to you... but I have one condition. I want to take revenge on Raka and the villagers. After it's all over... then you can have me completely," Alina said, her voice trembling with anger.

Draven narrowed his eyes. Then a small smile appeared. "Good, good," said Draven.

Alina was surprised. "Good?"

"Hate is fuel," Draven said softly. He walked closer and crouched in front of Alina. "Without it, you would have died at the bottom of the ravine. With it... you can live."

Alina bit her lip until it bled. "But I'm weak. I can't do anything. There are too many of them. How can I get my revenge?" Alina asked quietly.

Draven lifted Alina's chin with 2 fingers. Forcing her to look at him. 

"You're wrong." His growl was low. "You survived. You screamed. You didn't die. That's not weak. You can get your revenge. You have to know, the reason you're here is to destroy all those villagers. But of course there is a price you have to pay."

"What is it?" Alina asked softly. 

His thumb wiped the blood from Alina's lips. 

"Be my queen. From now on you are in my territory. Under my protection. No one can touch you again," Draven said firmly.

"Then..." Alina took a deep breath. Her eyes were teary, but there was fire in them. "Teach me. Teach me how to make them afraid. Just like they made me afraid."

Draven looked at her deeply. "Are you sure? The path of vengeance is bloody, little girl," he said with a slight smile.

"I’m sure." Alina's voice grew stronger. For the first time, Alina became a woman full of hatred. Her voice didn't tremble. "They threw me away like trash. Now it's my turn to make them kneel," Alina said angrily.

Draven's smile widened. His fangs showed. 

"Then we start tonight."

He stood and walked to the stone door. He knocked once. 3 warriors immediately entered and knelt.

"King."

"Take me to the edge of the ravine," Draven ordered. "Bring this girl too."

The warriors glanced at Alina, then bowed again. "Yes, King."

---

_Night. The edge of the ravine._

The cold wind hit Alina's face. It was dark below. Above, 20 villagers held torches. Raka was at the front. His face turned pale when he saw Alina standing flanked by tiger warriors.

"Alina?!" Raka shouted. "You're still alive?!" said Raka.

Alina stepped forward. Her hands trembled, but she didn't back down.

"I am alive," her voice rang out loud across the valley. "Thanks to the one you fear."

The villagers whispered. Afraid.

"You think throwing me away would be the end of it?" Alina continued. Her tears had dried. All that was left was coldness. "You think I would die and you could forget me?" Alina said firmly.

Raka raised his spear. "She's possessed! Kill her, she went into the Tiger's den on her own, we don't know anything about it," Raka lied to the villagers.

No one moved. Because behind Alina, Draven stepped out of the shadows.

His aura pressed down on the entire valley. The ground trembled. His golden eyes glowed.

"Anyone who touches her," Draven's voice boomed like thunder. "I will skin you alive."

Silence. Then the torches fell one by one.

Raka knelt. "Mercy... mercy, King... then ran away in panic."

Alina looked down at him. From the same place where she had been thrown. 

Before, she was the one begging. Now Raka was the one begging.

"You don't deserve mercy," Alina said softly. But everyone heard. "But I won't kill you. Not yet."

She turned to Draven. "Let them live... with fear. Just like what they gave me," Alina said softly. 

Draven looked at Alina for a long time. Then he nodded. Once.

"As my Queen commands."

The warriors roared. The sound echoed all the way to the village.

And that night, a new legend was born.  

The girl who was thrown into the ravine...  

Returned as a Queen.

_TO BE Continued_