Abandoned (Born From Shadows #2)

“Get out of my bed, whore,” a male voice said to Tatianna waking her from her sleep. It was the first good rest she had had in months, and it only lasted a few hours. It was much easier sleeping with chains around her ankles than around her wrists.

Her eyes fluttered open to see the Queen’s son standing there with disgust in his eyes, she eyed Tyrion still sitting in the same chair as before. Was he there the whole time watching her? It crept her out slightly, but then she realised it was his job to do so.

“I said move,” the Prince ordered and walked over to the bed in anger. He pushed her to the ground before she had time to react. Her body slammed against the stone floor, and she tried not to make any grunts from the pain. Her body was so weak, that she struggled to even sit to an upright position.

“Let’s make some ground rules, whore. You are not to touch any of my things. This room is not yours. You belong on the floor, you understand?”

He’s right, Frederick’s voice confirmed in her head. She belonged not in a warm comfortable home, no matter how far she goes from Avalla her place was always on the floor.

“Answer my question,” the angry boy demanded. Still unable to speak she just nodded her head. “That’s not an answer,” he told her.

She felt helpless as a hand struck her skin right across her cheek, his Elven strength clear to her in the burn left over by the collision. “You will learn to be less disobedient,” he said and stormed out of the room.

She felt too empty inside to cry, despite knowing that crying would be the appropriate reaction. She lifted her fingers to touch the bruising on her cheek, still shocked and in daze. Fortunately it didn’t take long to heal. Tyrion got up from his chair and approached her crouching body. She did not hide away from the Fae warrior’s piercing stare.

“Get up,” Tyrion said in cold deep voice. She couldn’t.

Getting impatient Tyrion grabbed her arms and pulled her to her feet. Once he let go of her she almost fell back down to the ground, had it not been for Tyrion’s reflexes she would have hit the hard stone yet again.

Tyrion mumbled something that sounded like a series of curse words before helping her walk forward. “Come,” he said. It didn’t sound as harsh as his previous words, but he left no room for debate as he dragged Tatianna from the bed chambers.

He took her through the large castle, some Elves look on with curiosity, others did not notice them. The chains on her ankles were hidden, but the paleness and boney complex gave away the fact that she was in no way a healthy individual. Her monstrous eyes looked over to Tyrion, who’s focus was only on the direction that they were walking. Their destination was uncertain to her, but she was just happy to be out of solitary. To see an array of faces, skin and hair colour. It was like stepping outside and seeing a rainbow high in the sky, feeling like she’s finally having a lucky day. Tyrion could be taking her to a torture chamber, and she wouldn’t care because she got to see all these people who looked her on with curiosity. Not hate nor disgust, it was a blessing to her.

They went down many sets of stairs until he stopped at a pair of large doors. “Brace yourself,” Tyrion told her, causing her own curiosity to spike within her.

The guard pushed open the large doors and sunlight attacked her skin and eyes. She closed her eyes and felt it hug against her skin, warming it up. She missed that feeling so much, the warmth, the smell and the sound of the birds chattering in the trees. Then she felt it, that tug on a string within her and her eyes snapped open.

Tyrion walked her through the palace’s garden, and she felt the string grow shorter and shorter with every step. Tatianna knew exactly what they are feeling was, and hope sparked in her heart. She couldn’t hold in the smile on her face as she smelt the familiar scent, no matter how much it hurt her jaw to hold it.

Then she saw the beautiful creature, so loyal and protective. Had she the ability to run she would have dashed towards it’s chained body. Once the were close enough to touch Tyrion released her body and she fell down to the floor.

The wolf seemed bigger than when she last saw it, seeing the chained collar wrapped around Nylif’s throat pained her but they were finally together. The wolf licked her face and she smiled, tears of joy threatening to pour out of her eyes.

Lifting her hand, she ran it through Nylif’s grey fur, it was so familiar. It made her remember all the joys of life, rather than the pain and to that the water in her eyes finally came.

“So weird,” Tyrion muttered. It was quiet enough that she assumed he hadn’t intended her to hear it, but rather just slipped out of his mouth.

What is? She wished to ask. Instead, she just looked at him, hoping he would understand the question underneath the silence. If he did, he did not wish to reply. There was just the panting of the large wolf as she wagged her tail in joy.

It meant so much to Tatianna to see the wolf again, to have part of her old life back. When she turned to Tyrion she knew that she had exposed her tears, but she didn’t care. She wanted to tell him thank you. She desired so much but clung onto what little she had, including this moment with Nylif.

“Queen Salina may seem cruel, but she is just trying to keep her people safe. She isn’t without a heart. Whenever you wish to come down here, tell me and we shall visit. Meeting with your friends will be much more challenging, at least you can still see your wolf,” Tyrion told her.

Oh, how she wished she could speak. No one with a heart inflicts such immoral acts upon another, no matter their justification. She wasn’t going to go on a killing spree and murder all of the Elves’ originally. But after what they were doing to her perhaps, she might. She didn’t fully understand the reason why they locked her up in the first place, but she understood why the kept her in chains now. If she was free, she would no doubt find a way to wrap her hands around the Queen’s pale neck.

“You need food and water,” Tyrion said to her surprise. First, he showed her Nylif, now he was going to give her water? Was this another trick that her mind was playing or was it truly real? Why put her through so much only to care for her now? She was sick of all the questions. Tired of everything, and tired of not being strong enough.

Tyrion carried her away from Nylif and she felt the string inside her tug harder with every movement she made. It was like seeing the Wolf made their connection even stronger. The distance hurt, but it was bearable. She would come back for the wolf, that she promised. First, she would eat. Drink and build up her strength.