Chapter Five

ROWENA 

I managed to roll away just as the beast came upon me, not before I obtained a large cut from its paw on my back. I staggered but I had to regain my balance. The men laughed in their seats over my narrow escape.

“Look at the way she jumped,” One said as he made a mocking imitation of me avoiding the beast.

“I was certain she was done for but what can I say, she really wants to live,” said another. 

I scowled at them. 

'I cannot die in this pit,' I thought to myself. I have to fight. 

I surveyed the arena for anything I could use to my advantage. There was a chain lying at the far end of the arena but there was no weapon in sight. 

“How about you show us what your wolf looks like, Rowena,” one of the spectators shouted but I paid him no heed.

The beast had already regained its stance and had started charging fiercely towards me. In a swift moment, I ran towards the beast and slid under its stomach just as it was about to finish me off with its sharp claws. Then I ran, quickly grabbing the chain and wrapping a small amount of it round my hand. 

The werewolf was stunned by my maneuver and it began to charge towards me again with absolute determination. As it got near, I looped the chain around its neck and I pulled down with all my might. But the wolf was far more stronger than I had anticipated and I was cornered.

I could hear the men cheering from their seats. Just as the beast was about to bite down on my head, I grabbed a large bone from beside me and rammed its sharp end into the beast’s chest. The beast let out a wounded sound before collapsing in pain. It took a moment for me to realize it but I had won. 

The beast slowly began to morph into its human form. There in the sand, bleeding to death, was a young girl not much older than myself. I quickly reached for a worn cloak from a pile of bones and used it to cover her naked body. 

The men had stopped laughing and jubilating at that point. On their faces were masks of displeasure, annoyance and surprise. 

“You have to cut off her head to be declared the victor,” Thane Darkmoor shouted into the arena. “If you don't, you will suffer the same fate as her.”

I looked at the feeble girl laying in the dirt; her life was already leaving her steadily and he still wanted me to finish her off. These people were despicable. 

“I do not have a sword,” I said coldly. 

“You really want me to believe that you will actually kill the girl if I gave you a sword? You! Who could barely put up a fight” Thanes’ voice hinted at his suspicion towards me.

“It is either she dies or I die.” I glanced at the girl. Her breathing had become shallow and she wasn't whimpering in pain as she was before. “I might as well put her out of her suffering.” 

Thane motioned one of the nearby guards to toss a sword into the arena. “Go ahead then.” 

As I walked over and picked up the sword my mind could not fathom what I was about to do. My mother's voice echoed softly at the back of my mind. “You are not a monster. You would never hurt a fly.” But I shook my head to get rid of the voice. If my mother could see me, she would want me to fight till my last breath. 

I stood over the wounded girl. She was completely still, I was sure she was dead. Her blood had already formed a moist red patch in the earth underneath her. I raised the sword over my head and as I was about to bring it down with all my might, I was stopped. 

“Enough!” A woman shouted as she stood up from her seat amongst the spectators. The men had not noticed her presence until then and they bowed in greeting. All except Thane who only acknowledged her with a nod. The woman had long white hair and was wearing a black fur coat and gloves. 

“I want her,” the woman said to Thane. “She will be valuable to me.”

“She is a slave with a loose tongue. Of what use could she be to you?” Thane scoffed. 

“Yet we all saw utterly defeat her opponent.” The woman interjected. “And besides since when has the dealings of the inner sanctuary been your business as Alpha, Thane?” 

The woman turned in my direction. “She is coming with me. Get her out of there,” she ordered. 

When I was brought before the woman, I saw she had a faint scar that ran from the middle of her cheek to her lower ear. She was tall and had dark brown eyes that bore wisdom and endless secrets behind them. 

“What is your name child?” She asked me.

“Ro… Rowena,” I mumbled. 

“I am Eldra Morriganis, keeper of the inner sanctuary of this clan. Let it be known to you that I will not be taken for a fool.” She grabbed my jaw with her hand and pulled my face closer to hers. She had a strong grip and a frightening gaze. 

“I hear you are one with a loose tongue. If you want to see another full moon in this clan you will have to do away with that tongue of yours or it will get you killed. You will speak only when spoken to, do you understand?” 

I nodded slowly as much as her grip could allow. 

“Good.” She let go of my face and began to walk away. 

The Inner Sanctuary was a fortress deep within the darkest mountain of Ravenshallow. As I stood before its gates, I marvelled at the structure. Inside the corridors and rooms of the dark and mysterious fortress was illuminated by several candles and lamps. It oozed of secrets, magic and mystery. 

Men, but mostly women, were busy with various tasks and moving to and fro. 

“You must be wondering why I have brought you here.”

Eldra Morriganis remarked as she turned to face me. “Very few people have ever seen the inside of the Inner Sanctuary and even fewer know it exists, but I have brought you here for a purpose. A purpose I ensure you will find out soon enough.”

And with that she turned and walked away.