Chapter 70

While the festivities were going on for days outside Cleopoda hurdled against the cold wall of the cell in which she sat. Her back ached from being bent for too long, her knees having been bent for days were locked and aching even her wrist now had sticky bruises caused by the chains around them. Her breath came out in shallow gasps through dried lips. From outside came footsteps. For days no one had come to check on her or poke sticks at her so when she heard the light steps her head jerked up, an action she instantly regretted when the dizziness hit her hard. The sound of keys made her heart race and when the door flew open she crawled to her shaky knees.

Light rushed into the tight dark cell causing a burning sensation in her eyes which she squeezed shut.

"No improvement there," came a deep voice. "At least now we can work on her."