CHAPTER 4 - Perfect.

ITHRA

It's been a while since I was imprisoned.

At least, I could enjoy the peace and quiet over here. Meanwhile, had it been at home, I wouldn't have rested from the taunts and insults from my oh so sweet sister.

I must have concluded too early because the next moment, my gate flung open and a blonde lady walked into my prison with the meanest look.

I knew her from somewhere, I just couldn't place where.

“You shouldn't be alive, witch.” She spat at me, and the next second, I felt my arm stretch in the most painful way. My chains shot up, forcing me to my knees.

How could I have forgotten her? She accompanied the cursed Alpha to my cell this morning. She was the reason why my arms were so sore and almost out of joint.

“What do you want?” I spat back, “did your alpha send you here?”

Slap!

My eyes rolled back as I felt a stinging pain engulf my face. How on earth did she get here so quickly?

“You will not use that dirty mouth of yours to mention his name!” She growled in my face, holding my neck in a tight grip.

I could feel my breath leave, “Kill me already, I know that's why you are here.” I managed to say, “stop beating about the bush and do it now!”

“Oh I love your eagerness to die.” She said with a sickening smile, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you wouldn't be dying. At least not yet. However, I've taken it upon myself to see that after I'm done with you, death would be your biggest wish.”

In a split second, the chains on my legs pulled, dragging me back to the dirty walls. Now, I was totally under her mercy. But I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me in fear.

“Perfect.” She tutted, “I'll teach you a little lesson to stay in your territory and stop causing people problems.”

Her eyes narrowed at the band on my wrist. She took some steps forward and checked to see they were intact.

I recognized the band, it was a forged band that hinders witches from using their powers. I've only read about them in books, who knew I'd be able to see one with my own eyes.

With the way she looked at me, it was clear she thought of me as a threat. If only she knew.

After verifying the band was properly tightened around my hand, she threw a wicked smile and I watched in horror as her hand elongated to claws.

“This might hurt.” She says, and casually slashes my clothes open, leaving me in my undergarments.

Before I could breathe, I felt an excruciating pain in my abdomen. With my hands tightly secured above my head, I couldn't see what she was doing, but I felt it.

She was digging into my bowels! Her claws slashed everything it came across and in that moment, death stared me in the face.

My breathing dulled and my sight blurred, the pain in my arm, legs, and stomach became distant.

“Not so fast, hunny!” Athaliah said and immediately took a small bottle out of her trousers and doused it on the large wound.

A few seconds later, something strange took place. The pains ceased and to my utmost surprise, I was healing, and fast!

Within one minute, I felt strongly. So much so that even the sore in my arms was gone. I looked up in shock and met the eyes of my tormentor.

“W-who are you?” I stuttered, a brand new wave of fear engulfed me.

“Athaliah Hezron. Luna of the Blood Moon pack.” She smirked, “Oh don't be so scared now, darling, we're just getting started.” she cooed, “I made a promise to make you beg for death, and this potion here will ensure that I keep to my words.”

Before I could reply, she gave me an uppercut that left me spitting blood. The pains returned with a vengeance.

“Dirty, dirty witch.” She said in disgust, landing a couple other low blows in my abdomen, leaving me gasping for breath and sucking the wind out of my lungs.

Her assaults continued until I lost consciousness for the second time. I wasn't given an opportunity to rest as the next second, cold water brought me back to life.

The third round was a series of cuts and slashes. She cut me using her claws, knife and everything at her disposal. Almost as though she wanted to brand me and leave reminders of this cruel nightmare.

Athaliah was careful not to touch some parts of my body. With the precision of the cuts, there was an intent I couldn't understand.

Leaving me ragged and in pain, she held up a red bottle, “the sweet thing about this potion is that, it leaves the scar behind.” She laughed, and immediately doused me with the bottle’s content.

As soon as the fluids made contact with my body, it felt like salt added to injury. I couldn't help the scream that escaped me.

“Did I forget to tell you it also intensified the pain while it heals you?” She cackled.

Whimpering in pain, I heard the doors open and a masculine voice roar,

“What the hell is going on here?!”

I couldn't even raise my head to see who it was.

“Beta Azriel, what a pleasant surprise!” She said in a cheery tone.

“What the hell did you do to her? Have you lost your mind?!”

“No I haven't.” She replied in a curt tone, “I have everything under my control, Azriel. This witch had it coming since she showed up here.”

I heard Azriel pace around with his hand in his head, “You must be out of your mind, Athaliah. Jesus! How could you do this to her knowing who she is?!”

“I did this to her for that exact reason! Since she decided to show up and roughen my plans to be Luna, it's only fair she got a taste of how I feel inside.”

“Alpha's going to be mad.” He stated, “You really are not scared of death, are you?”

“He won't be mad, because he won't find out. Her scars will be well hidden under clothes and the potion will heal her alright. Unless you want to tell him.” Athaliah remarked with a raised eyebrow.

Azriel kept silent for a moment, a battle going on in his head. Afterwards, he said,

“I don't know what the hell this is, but it ends now. Wrap it up and do a good job because if the alpha comes asking, I wouldn't cover your sorry ass.” He said and walked out the door, leaving Athaliah to her devices.

“I guess it's about time we cleaned up.” Athaliah remarked, “Azriel sure has his way of taking the fun out of things. Where were we?”