Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Natala (Emerald) POV:

“Natala Natala break the barr….” I heard a voice call out to me.

It seemed so far away, but before I could respond, everything went blank; static rang loudly that I jolted up, my eyes popping open. Looking around, I was confused; this wasn’t my room when the realization of what had happened came rushing back to me. I jumped out of the huge black canopy bed, ignoring everything around and rushed to the door. Edward had taken me, he had taken Leah, and she wasn’t here with me. Where was she? Was she safe? Question after question popped into my mind.

The image of my mates flashed in my mind over and over again. I had never seen them so scared and helpless. I tried reaching out to them, but all I felt was emptiness. Both my hands went to the side of my neck, cupping my marks as tears fell down my cheeks.

Were Hannah and Ela fine?

Where were we?

What would happen now, and would my mates and brothers be able to find us?

Question after question rang in my mind, answers to none as the fear of not seeing my mate or family ever again dawned on me. I tried reaching out to my wolf and Lycan, but all I got was static. I slid down the large brown mahogany doors, clutching my legs to my chest as I cried my heart out.

I was scared; I wanted to go home. I didn’t want my bond with the quads suppressed and forced to mate with that psychopath of an uncle I had. My soul cried out to our mates in the hope they would find us, but I knew it was a long shot. As long as Khole stood by Edward, it would be difficult to do anything. How and when she got Ela, Leah and Hannah in my room and successfully enchanted the doors back in the packhouse was proof of how powerful she was. Clara had put wards around the pack and, from what I knew, even enchanted my room to keep me safe. Despite all of that, Khole managed to break through every ward put up.

I don’t know how long I sat there drowning myself in my tears till, eventually, darkness succumbed to me again.

———

“Miss, wake up! It’s time to eat.” I felt someone nudge me.

Slowly opening my eyes, I see a worried-looking redhead with brown eyes looking down at me.

“Miss, you’ve been asleep for more than thirteen hours now. Please eat something before you faint again.” Said the girl.

I looked over at the tray of food. Even though the spaghetti bolognese looked delicious and smelled even better, I couldn’t trust anyone here. What if they had added something in the food for the spell or any other reason. I needed to stay alive and find a way to rescue Leah and get out of here. Sitting up, I looked at the girl; she couldn’t have been any older than me. Without my wolf or lycan, I couldn’t tell if she was a witch or wolf.

“What’s your name, and where are we?” I asked

“I’m Rayla. As for where we are, I’m sorry I can’t tell you. It will get me killed and you into some serious trouble.” Rayla said, whispering the last part

As much as I wanted to argue and get an answer, I wasn’t going to put her life at risk.

“Do you know where my friend is?” I asked

“She’s fine! She’s being kept downstairs in the guest wing. She has an attendant for herself. Don’t worry; I sensed she was pregnant and ensured she was kept far away from Master and Mistress.” Said Rayla

Her words had calmed me down a bit. As much as I should’ve doubted her, I had a feeling that I could trust her.

“I’m Natala.” I said

Rayla smiled

“I know, the lost princess of the wolf multiverse. One of the three hybrids to exist.”

I was shocked she knew I was a hybrid: that information had been kept a secret for security reasons. All the more Rayla talked, it became clear she wasn’t a wolf but more a witch. Just as I was about to ask her, she spoke up.

“I’m a witch. I was taken away by a mistress from my coven when I was a child. I’ve been severing her ever since. I can read auras and see the future, not like an oracle but a recent glimpse.” Rayla said

Before I could ask her anything else, Rayla spoke up.

“You need to eat!” She said, pushing the plate in front of me.

My stomach growled at the smell of food, but I was scared to eat it; what if it was poisoned or had any drug in it. I needed to stay awake to make sure I could at least fight them off when they tried doing the spell.

“Look, I know what you’re planning, but for that, you need energy, and you won’t get any if you don’t eat anything. I can assure you the food has nothing in it. I personally made it.” Said Rayla, as she took a fork full of spaghetti and ate it.

When nothing happened after a few minutes, she smiled again and pushed the plate towards me. I didn’t waste a second and took it and started eating. Even though I thought Rayla was nice, I was a little scared; what if she told Edward or Khole what I was planning. I knew she didn’t know the plan because, honestly, I didn’t have one, but I didn’t need her telling them that I was trying to escape. They had Leah hostage for this very reason, to keep me in check, and I was sure Edward would not think twice about acting on his threat toward Leah’s life.

“Um, you’re not going to…” before I could complete my sentence, Rayla grabbed my hands and smiled at me.

“I may work for them, but that doesn’t mean I like them. I’m helpless in the situation, but you aren’t. I would never tell them anything, plus even if they ask, it’s not like I know what you’re planning.” Said Rayla, winking at me.

I gave her a genuine smile this time, and just as I was about to hug her, the door opened, and Edward walked in.

“Well, good morning, my darling mate. How are you feeling?” Said, Edward

I ignored him and went back to eating as Rayla got off the bed and left the room. I heard his shoes smack the wooden floor coming closer and closer to my direction, but I didn’t look his way. I didn’t wanna look at the abomination of a man. Just as I was about to take another fork full of spaghetti, the back of my hair was pulled back, and my arched outwards as Edward sneered down at me.

“What did I say about disrespect, darling. Do you really wish for me to beat you?” He said.

I didn’t say anything and just closed my eyes, thinking about my mates and their warm embrace. However, the sociopath had to fulfill his urges; he pulled harder on my hair, no doubt ripping them out of my skull.

“Well, since you love to be an annoying b***h how about I bring that little friend of yours and play around,” Edward said

That had my eyes open instantly as I gave him a hard glare.

“Leave Leah out of this! Are you that curl of a person to attack a pregnant she-wolf, have you no honour?” I sneered

“Oh, I do have honour, darling. It’s just that my mate is being a stubborn b***h and the only way to get her into submission is by torturing her little friends. Like I said, darling, everything is in your hands. You cause problems, and that she-wolf will suffer.” Said, Edward

I don’t know what came over me or where I found the strength, but I spat on him and then slapped him hard across the face with the plate I had in my hand. The plate shattered, and his b***d mixed with bolognese sauce. The scene was quite an amusing sight, but I didn’t dare to laugh. The look in his eyes was that of a killer; if I wasn’t the so-called hybrid to give him extreme power, I would’ve no doubt been six feet under by now.

I screamed out in pain as Edward pulled me off the bed by my hair and dragged me by my hair on the floor, out of the room and down the stairs. Every bump of the stairs bruised my body as we went down; my back was on the verge of breaking. I gripped Edward’s hand, hoping to lessen the pressure, but he just kicked me, which had me grunting. As we passed the living room, Khole’s annoying voice rang out.

“Nice look, Edward, loving it.” She said and then looked down at me with a cruel smirk.

“Well, that didn’t take long. So much like her mother always causing problems.” Said Khole, filing her nails as she walked out of the room as Edward continued to drag me across the hall and down a set of dark stairs. Tears ran down my face, but I didn’t beg him; I would never beg him! I would never stoop so low to beg him, he wasn’t going to listen, and I wasn’t going to put my self-respect on the line.

Without my wolf or lycan, I was practically blinded down here. But I didn’t need my enhanced senses to smell the stench of feces, piss and rotten flesh. The smell had me dry heaving, and the thought of being left alone here made me shiver in fear. Edward had finally stopped and instructed someone to open the cell door. I shivered in fear; apart from us three, I could also feel other people around; I wasn’t sure how many, but I could tell there were a few.

Before Edward threw me in, he slapped me and grabbed my jaw, making my lips pucker out. His hold was so tight that I believed it would crack if he didn’t let go soon.

“You like misbehaving, right! You’ll stay here until I think you’re ready to be let out. Plus, since we need those quadruplets mutts’ b***d for the spell, we have some time on our hands to kill.” Said Edward as he pushed me back into the cold hard rock floor; I heard the cell door shut and locked in place.

“I could’ve given you the world till the spell was completed. Wine and dine you, but you had to ruin it! No matter! A little time here will show you how serious I was about everything, and it’s only a matter of time; your bond with me will make you do my every bidding.” Said Edward.

His words gave me shudders. I heard him turn and walk away just before he left, he told the guard.

“Move all prisoners to the east wing. Leave her alone here and give her only one meal and one glass of water daily.” Said Edward as he left.

His words awoke a new fear in me. I was not a fan of the dark, and being alone with no food or water scared me. How was I supposed to escape? Tears fell from my eyes as craddled my bruised legs to my chest.