The Engagement

/-RAVEN-/

I paced the back and forth in the cold cell, my mind racing with escape plans. Every plan I could think of had a blind spot that would definitely get my ass caught. I needed something extreme. 

As time went by, it was starting to feel like I'd been locked there forever. The guards' silence was deafening. I could hear them and smell them so I knew they were there. I'd asked them repeatedly about the letter, but they just ignored me.

"Any update on the letter?" I asked again, trying to keep my voice from showing my frustration.

The guard, a big man with enough beard to make Santa Claus envious, grunted. "No questions. Just eat your food."

I glared at the stale bread and watery soup. My stomach growled, but I refused to touch it. If they wanted to kill me, then a sword through the heart would have been preferable, not food poisoning. I refused to die shitting out my guts. 

Just as I was about to ask again, a hissing sound echoed outside the cell, followed by multiple thuds which I could only imagine were the guards’ bodies slumping to the ground. I moved to the bars and sniffed the air. Sleeping gas.

My first thought was that Eric had come to save me finally but using sleeping gas wasn't like him. It was a coward's way and Eric was no coward. 

A woman's voice called out, "Raven? I'm here to help."

I narrowed my eyes. The voice was unfamiliar but whoever it was knew my name. A lot of people knew my name from reputation, so it made me wonder who this woman was.

The cell door creaked open, and a tall blonde walked in. Her smile was friendly but her eyes seemed to hold a sinister glare.

"Hello, Raven. I'm Lisa Graham. We need to get you out of here."

Every bone in my body warned me not to trust this woman. My instincts screamed at me, but I decided to play along. "How do I know I can trust you?"

Her smile never wavered. "There's someone interested in your safety and I'm here to ensure that."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would anyone send you to rescue me?"

Lisa sounded sincere as she said, "You have enemies but you also have friends."

"And who is this ‘friend’?” I asked, trying not to make her aware of my suspicion.

"I'm sorry." She shook her head. “I can't tell you that right now." 

She brought out a vial of clear liquid from her pocket. "Drink this. It'll make your escape easier."

My gut twisted. Something was off. I tried not to show it but a red light bright enough to light up the galaxy came on in my head. 

"What is it?" I asked, stalling as I thought of a way to turn this to my own advantage.

"Just a little something to knock you out so I can get you out. You'll be safer that way."

I took the vial, pretending to consider it. Lisa's eyes sparkled with triumph. She was a terrible liar and an even worse actress. 

Nice try but I'd have to be dumb to fall for your bullshit, I grinned. 

With lightning speed, I threw the vial back at her, shattering it on the stone floor.

"You're not here to help me. Next time you want to put on this pathetic display of heroism, do well to practice before the mirror because your expression reeks of hypocrisy and your eyes are pure evil. How stupid do you think I am?” I snarled as I pinned her against the walI. “And for God's sake, cover up the stench. I can smell the poison from a mile away." 

I picked up a shard of broken glass and pressed it against Lisa's neck, her eyes widened in fear. Her body shook so much that I had a hard time grabbing hold of her arm. 

"Time to make a deal," I whispered. "You're going to help me escape. Or I'm going to stick this into your pretty little neck. Got it?"

She nodded, trembling. "Please, I'll do anything. Don't hurt me.”

"Let's get out of here," I growled.

I was going to use her as my ticket to freedom. She owed me that much for trying to poison me, and once I was free, I'd consider sparing her life if I was feeling generous enough. 

As Lisa and I stepped out of the cell, I spotted Declan blocking the doorway, his arms crossed. Motherfucker, I sighed. He's like a bad tick that never goes away. Fuck! 

His smile was lazy, but his eyes glowed with amusement. He was enjoying this. If he thought I was going to let him get a drop on me like he did the last time then he was delusional. 

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "This is a really sticky situation." 

His gaze shifted to Lisa, and his expression turned icy. She reacted like a child that was about to get the belt. 

"Lisa." He sounded like he was trying hard to control his anger. “You really outdid yourself this time." 

Lisa trembled beside me, her eyes darting between us. She looked like a trapped animal considering its options to escape from its prey. 

"We need to talk, Raven," Declan said, taking a step forward.

I tightened my grip on Lisa's neck, the shard of glass pressing deeper. Lisa screamed which was the exact effect I was looking for. 

"Don't come any closer," I warned him. My voice was low and deadly.

He stood frozen, confirming my suspicions - he was involved with this stunning woman. A pang of irritation shot through me, and I pressed the glass shard deeper into her neck. He took a few steps back, his eyes locked on mine.

A mix of emotions swirled within me: annoyance at his attachment to her and excitement at the prospect of regaining my freedom. My heart raced violently.

"Do it," he said calmly.

"What...?" I trailed off, incredulous.

"Kill her. Drive the glass into her neck." His voice remained detached, but his words sent a chill down my spine. "If you don't want blood on your face, insert it diagonally. That way, the spray won't be as messy... wouldn't want to mar that beautiful face of yours, my little princess."

I was beyond stunned. “Holy shit, is he for real?”

His unreal calmness and the coldness in those silver orbs told me all I needed to know.

Declan didn't care about this girl, even if I killed her right now, he wouldn't even blink. This was his true face. What else would be expected from the ruthless leader of the BloodFang Pack?

I gazed at the woman in my grasp, her face now ashen, drained of colour.

The momentary distraction was all Declan needed. In a swift motion, he disarmed me, twisting my wrist until the glass shard fell to the floor. I tried to hit him but he anticipated the move and grabbed my arm. 

Lisa scrambled backwards with a terrified glance at Declan. She seemed to be more afraid of him than she was of me. 

"No!" I screamed as I struggled against Declan's grip.

He dragged me back to the cell and tossed me inside. "Take Lisa away," he ordered his guards. "Deal with her."

As the guards dragged Lisa away she screamed and begged. I would have felt bad for her if she hadn't tried to poison me.

With Lisa gone, he returned his focus to me. I glared at him, “This is not the end, you bastard!”

Declan chuckled, holding up an envelope. He waved it in the air like it was magical. 

"Recognize this?"

My gaze flicked to the envelope, and for a moment, my thoughts stuttered. It had the Ampleton seal on it. 

"A response to your letter," Declan said, a smirk playing on his lips. Fuck! The bastard must have opened it already. 

Didn't his mom teach him anything about privacy? The scoundrel!

Declan's smile turned cruel. "You really are gullible, Raven," he said, holding up the envelope. "Here.” He tossed it into the cell. 

My eyes widened in horror as she read the contents. "A wedding invitation?" I whispered, unsure of what I was seeing.

Declan chuckled. "Your fiancé is getting married in a week. To someone else. I thought I'd save you an invitation."

My face crumpled, and I collapsed on the floor. My legs wobbled and I felt a pain deep in my chest.

“Liar!" I screamed at him. “You forged that fucking invitation. It's all a lie."

Declan turned to me, his eyes burning with intensity. "I wish I did but don't give me so much credit."

He drew closer to the bar. “You're not going anywhere, Raven."

The cell door slammed shut, trapping me inside.

I seethed with rage as Declan's words echoed in my mind: "You're not going anywhere."

We'll see about that!