CHAPTER 15- Pain Of The Shadow

Danger lurks in every corner,

but safety lies in caution.

~ Aesop.

*** 

 A sound woke her up, abruptly. She had been asleep and didn't know how long. Time flew by quickly, that she wasn't able to keep track of the days she had been locked up in an underground prison. The heavy stench of blood had lessened a bit, enough for her to handle.

 Medusa squinted at the single shaft of light that fell down upon her. As the illumination swelled upon her, it revealed the small prison and the jagged things like skulls and bones. Her body shrunk over the days she spent locked up, due to the absence of sunlight on her skin. Even if she was a witch, it didn't stop her body from functioning like that of human's.

 Realizing the light came from the upwards direction where the little gap space allowed a person to peek into, it was left open for two seconds, after the guard assured the prisoner was low-key.

 She was still seated on the cold floor even when the warm streak of daylight reflected her body and the heat on her skin which could have felt pleasant compared to the cold and tense atmosphere, the door finally opened and the iron bar was pushed aside to fully reveal the two guards.

 It had been three days since Medusa were locked up. Those three days, she had been left to starve and sent out at dusk for several torturing tasks that was difficult for one to carry. It was part of her punishment. It exhausted her body, but not her mentality. But those three days had been worth her planning.

 Her last encounter with the keeper kept her pondering. How did the keeper appear to the future? So many pasts and she had been in Hell, there was no portal that could send a past soul to the future. The possibility was thin.

 The Devil has many tricks on its sleeve but this was far than what she least expected. Every action had its effect; if he had sent her to the future, it could only mean the Devil came across God.

 The ancient sacred portal, one that were referred to the Pict of Cobalaith, were destroyed and annihilated after God sacralized death and at the same time redeemed sacralization. Christ's death had not come in battle; the death of a warrior with the sword in his hands, it had been a humble sacrifice for his people, an execution which could not be avenged. A total surrender on the part of man to save his human children. But this sacred portal was destroyed centuries ago.

 The only power that had triggered the portal's power before was the condemnation of Christianity, what the Devil did with Aelin. He made her forsake the blood of God, staining her hands with the sins of the flesh. He had used that very same blood, the flesh of mankind, as a downfall that would trigger the opening of the portal. The sins of the flesh, which had caused humans to become monsters in the eyes of their breed and bringing forth full grown offspring. The assumptions were clearly founded upon this conditions which were very obvious.

 But that wasn't where the confusion originated from. The question was how did that portal appear after it had been destroyed? He had used her virtue for its vices. She was blinded, or she IS blinded, but that wasn't what disturbed Medusa.

 A curse evoked the enclosure of the portal in the past that had cursed the human kind, because it was believed God treasured humans more than other creatures. A curse that had a dreadful consequence which affected them and not the creatures that was known to be not of God's making. Those creatures were known of Satan's, and they only had an illusion to the sight of the portal. A curse that would change human's appearance if passed across this ancient portal. It was a curse that marked the banishment of heavenly beings; Humans, out into the evil sphere of earth.

 How then is Aelin not possessed by the curse? Her looks sustained that of humans. No sign of strange powers consuming her, except the prolong survival when she tried to kill her at the stable.

 Medusa was cut from further thoughts when the guards drew closer, grabbing her arms roughly. Her blue eyes glittered in anger and as she looked up at them from her seemingly lofty height of about five foot eight inches tall.

 They dragged her out of the cellar heeding to the exit of the underground prison. Once her skin was exposed to light, she felt the warm sensation crawl to her skin and spread to every part of her body. The fresh air she could finally breathe, swayed her silver hair that was hanging loose yet splendid, like fax over her shoulder to the movement of the breeze. One would mistake her for an angel dragged as a prisoner to hell.

 As they drew closer, passing the flowers that had begun to sprout, as though the garden were singing and rejoicing to the torture about to face the victim, Medusa could feel the glares and gazes coming from each angle.

 The slaves paused their works to take a look at the prisoner being dragged by the guards. Although no one knew what Medusa had done because of the compulsion, they believed she attempted to murder the keeper. The only reason they could sum that up, was if only she planned to escape. Relieved that the witch would be put as the first test for disobedience, but worried as what will happen if their fate turned out to be like that.

 Medusa who had been chained to her hands, the shackles reaching her feet made it difficult to move as fast as the guards kept dragging her to the supposed direction.

 Handcuffed from hands to her legs, the chain made noises with each step she took, and it was a great difficulty to walk without stumbling and dragged up once more. Then she was pushed to stumble to her knees. Even the rag which was long enough to reach her feet weren't enough to save her from getting scarred. The force was extreme, as blood soaked her garment on the injured part.

 Unable to feel the pain, Medusa bit her lips in self-control, feeling of rage work on her. The audacity to be dragged as a prisoner by humans again. She wanted to burn them all. Every one of them and their sickening rule.

Other slaves gathered at the platform to watch the outcome of the punishment. There were murmurings at different corners, some pointing at the girl that was about to be punished. How soon, they thought.

 Esther on the other hand walked towards the corner at the right side, not too far and not too close, but enough to watch what could happen. Her mind couldn't help but worry over the situation Medusa was in. It was one thing that could not be prevented.

 As much as it didn't suit her well watching the punishment unfold, she remembered her place as a slave with no power. She was nothing but a submission to critical fate.

 Dragged to her feet, the guards unchained Medusa, marching her to the wooden pole at the center of the platform. Futile, her body came in contact with the pole while her face scrunched to her side, as she watched them chain her back in the same manner.

 Sir Conrad, assured that everything was done in accord, stepped forward to the front of the platform with a face arrayed in his usual displeasure and pride. But what one failed to notice was the flicker of amusement which one could see when taken a close look.

 The way he appeared and carried himself showed how powerful he was. Not with his looks, but with the way he spoke. "Listen and listen carefully…" his authoritative and calm voice booming around the platform with the gathered slaves. "Today will be set aside as a day an example would be shown amongst you all. A day a scapegoat would be used as practical to those who seem to have deaf ears and empty skulls! Heed to my warning this day, that henceforth, whosoever decides to disobey the rules of Dragsholm, would not only be whipped but executed depending on his or her offense…"

***

Word Help; *Sacralization* in religion means attributing value to practices, constructing them as sacred within their tradition. Hope this helped ^.^

A/N; Dearest readers, i wish to remind you that this book is purely fictional. Whatever you read and imagine is my typical work of art. *wink* As an author, it's my responsibility to create an interesting piece and i hope you ride along with me through this journey.

Ps; This book is a combination of both mystery, dark, slow-burn romance and most especially suspense :)