Chapter 185

Cut. Another cut. A slice. A deep gash.

I would tell myself that I was now immune to the pain but with the enchanted silver and whatever else they injected into me the pain of the enchanted silver blade burned more painfully each time.

I no longer had the strength to scream I only whimpered.

I had realized long ago that they would never release me, and they had realized long ago that I would never tell them what they wanted to know.

But El-kor didn't care. He enjoyed my pained screams and dejected whimpers. My sobs of agony and my resilience. But it wasn't that I hadn't died yet, no… they'd kept me alive, somehow.

Every time I got to the point where I was near death they would clot the blood, or fix my lung any number of things they would fix me, but never heal me.

However long it had been, I don't know. It felt like an eternity, but I knew that Raph was searching for me. I could feel it, his love and determination. He was always looking, of that I had no doubt.

But I never wanted him to find me.

El-kor had promised that if my mate ever came to save me, he would die.

And so, I desperately hoped that Raph would never find me.

Today, or night, I don't know. I had awoken blindfolded, I didn't know what they would try this time but I could feel the familiar burn of the rope on my wrists and ankles and I soon felt the prick of the needle, a fire being injected into my body and melting and reforming every inch of me painfully.

I couldn't scream. My body had froze in agony, my body trembled and I heard my voice unleash a loud agonized scream.

"What a beautiful sound." His loathe-full voice said from behind me. I heard the clank of a metal blade and knew what would happen next.

Cut. Another cut. A slice. A deep gash, I felt my blood drip down my body my strength leach with it.

I felt the sting of his knife slide down my neck to my mark and he stabbed into it, I cried and felt hot tears run down my cheeks.

"He dies today." I heard him say and I felt my heart freeze.

I couldn't reply though because he continued to slice my arms and chest.

After what felt like hours of this the knife stopped, "Ha, I leave you." And he was gone.

I relaxed but I could never actually relax so I just sat there, my head hung with exhaustion and weariness from blood loss.

I jumped in my seat when I heard a bark. The movement had caused my bindings to once again dig into my skin. My heart sunk in terror.

I mentally shook my head. Not Raph, not Raph. He can't be here.

I heard the door slam open and closed my eyes beneath the blindfold.

The first thing the Elves had taken, other than my hair, was my gift. They blocked it. I was useless and I don't know why they bothered to keep me alive, but I did know. For their amusement.

I felt warm hands hold my wrists and loose the rope, then the same hands touched my ankles. I felt a tear leak from my eyes, I had to tell him to leave. He can't be here. But my heart and voice betrayed me.

I wanted to see him.

I had no strength to feel him and my nostrils were only filled with the scent of blood.

Then I felt his hands touch my face.

'No.' I whispered in my mind.

He had removed the blindfold but I couldn't look.

"Brooke." His voice broke me, knocked down all of my defences.

I wanted to gasp for joy and sob in his arms as he comforted me.

He lifted my face up and spoke again, I didn't pay attention to his words but just the soothing caress of his voice.

I opened my eyes and saw him for the first time in an eternity.

I swallowed and tried to warn him but my lungs were burning and refused to work.

"Brooke, it's alright now. I'm here." He said and I finally gathered the strength to warn him.

"No…" No, you're not safe. Run! Go! Get out.

I wanted to break down in sobs. I didn't want him to leave me here. I wanted to go with him but he had to leave.

He stroked my cheek again and I looked at his golden irises that looked confused.

"Beta, look out!" A voice shouted and the next instant I saw El-kor swipe a brown wolf that had been behind Raph. Raph turned but it was too late and El-kor hit him to the wall.

I didn't have the strength to turn and look but by the sounds I could hear Raph's pained voice.

Hope surged in my chest when I caught the angry yell of an Elf and then a shriek. I gasped out a sigh of relief and cracked my eyes open to see green smoke oozing from one of El-kor's wounds.

'Raph wouldn't die.' I thought my heart surging with relief, but it seems I thought it too soon as I soon heard a yelp.

I felt someone's arms reach around me and carry me away from Raph. I gasped and fought the pain that engulfed my entire body, "No! Let me go! No! Raph! Raph!"

"I'll be right behind you!" He yelled and then I felt a piercing stake drive straight through my shoulder and into my chest. This pain was worse than any other I'd experienced at the hands of El-kor.

I screamed, my throat went raw and I couldn't breathe but the pain was so intense.

I felt myself being laid on a table. My senses came back. Not the table, I can't. No.

I weakly fought the strong hands that wrestled me to the table.

"We'll need to sedate her." An unfamiliar male voice said.

I gasped and struggled anew, "No." I said frantically. No drugs.

But I felt the well-known pinch of the needle and found myself in a black void.