Six

Chapter 6

Elena

The door slammed behind me, echoing through the darkness of the castle. I reached forward, tugging at the handle, but it was locked from the outside.

I had expected to be locked up, but the lack of light was confronting. I was never without light, never without something to guide my way.

At home the moon will surely guide my way and shine through my windows, the lantern will burn in the garden. At home, I have the light from the scullery floating up the stairs, the warmth of the fire burning down the stairs.

They had always been light in my life. Life and laughter and something to look forward to.

But now, there is nothing but darkness, the cold echoing touch of the night. And wasn't that fitting? I was stuck in a world of darkness, after all. I was stuck in a hole where the light of hope no longer burned.

I was stuck here with no hope of ever going home and no idea what was going to happen to me.

The dread sink into my heart and I felt sick with it. Shuddering, I leaned backward, stumbling until I hit the door with my back.

The huge mental door was icy through my dress.

I sank to the ground, drawing up my knee. Everything felt hopeless. Everything felt like it was going wrong, and I had no choice but to pull along with it all. It was insane.

I would never see my father again. I would never see Catherine again. I would never see my house or my room, or walk through the beautiful palace gardens that my mother had tended to so lovingly.

This was a very huge price to pay.

I felt a sob catch in my chest and I touched my necklace, the one that my mother had left me. I wanted to stay strong, but I no longer knew why.

Who was I protecting by staying strong now?

Who was I helping by holding back my tears in the darkness of the room?

I didn't know. Nothing made sense anymore.

As I closed my eyes in the darkness. I remember the dream I'd had on the way here. I remembered the touch of a man's hand on my skin, gentle and rough all the same time.

I remember the way his kisses had felt on my skin, so vivid, so wonderful.

I remembered the shiver of pleasure that had moved down my skin, as the warm and beautiful sunlight tricked through the window and bathed us both.

I remembered every little detail, every touch, every wave and trembling of pleasure that had been wrenched from my body?.. And tears filled my eyes

Because I knew now that I was never going to experience that. I was never going to feel the touch of a man. I was never going to find my prince charming and I would be lucky, so very lucky If I ever got to live as long as my first kiss.

I bit my lip and tried to hold back the tears, but they spilled over, unbidden. The loss of everything that was being torn from me was too great.

How could I handle the pain of being locked in a dark room, with my whole future stripped from me?

I was given as an exchange to my kingdom. I wouldn't grow old ruling over my kingdom and serving my people. I wouldn't have any of that.

Because of Dracul!!

Because of the Dragon Lord that had threatened me here for his selfish reason. He didn't need my help. He was just playing with me. It was all a game to him, but to me, it was my life.

I buried my head in my knees, feeling the wave of sorrow crash over me. I hadn't stopped thinking, not for a moment.

I hadn't stopped mourning because I had been terrified that I would someone how to take myself out of the coming here. I was terrified that I would misstep and let people down.

But now, I had no one to let down. Not anymore. Now, I could cry. I could mourn. And so I did.

I cried. I cried in a way a princess wasn't supposed to do until my dress was damp, and my breathing came in hiccoughing dobs.

Still, dressed in my finery, leaning against the wall, I cried until there's no more tears left until I was exhausted and spent.

I didn't know how long it had been since I left home. I didn't know whether or not it was still night, it if my room just didn't have windows. I don't know.

Bang, Bang, Bang!!!

A knock on the huge metal door knocked me out of my thoughts. The feeling of the knock shivered across my back a bit hastily scrambled on my feet,

I whipped my eyes and smothered my dress and waited. I wanted to prepare for whatever horrible they were going to throw me. I could cry in private, but Dracul didn't deserve my tears and neither did Zane.

Bang, Bang, Bang!!

The knock came again, this time accompanied by a voice.

"May I come in, your highness."

For some seconds I couldn't breathe. The soft female that came through the door was not what I was expecting. The polite lits of a young servant echoed through the room and left me speechless.

"Umm." I cleared my throat "Yes, of course."

I didn't know what else to say.

The lock clicked and the door was pushed open, light spilling into the room. For a moment, it was hard to know what I was looking at.

Then I focused, coming face to face with a young girl, only a few years younger than me. She was neatly dressed in a maid's uniform and she was looking around with a frown on her face.

"Excuse me, your highness, but shall I on the light." She seemed confused.

"Yes." I simply said.

I was dumbfounded. Another woman. She didn't seem to be a dragon, well no not like I know much about them!

The girl walked around the room, lightening the touches inside. For a moment, it was almost blindingly bright, after the long stretch of darkness.

Then my eyes adjusted, and I look around.

The room itself was modest, but I was a room and not a prison cell. They were a rug, a bed, a dresser, and a sink to wash up. There was also a chair and a small writing desk.

It wasn't what I was expecting either.

The whole experience was sending me an emotional ride, up and down up again. I was caught off guard at every turn, and I hated it.

"Thank you." I said, staring at the girl, who just nodded.

"Who are you." I blurted out.

That was rude of me, but luckily, she didn't seem offended.

"Oh forgive me. My name is Delaney." She said a flush on her cheeks.

"I will bring you bags inside." She hurriedly added, turning around and hurrying out of the room.

She dragged my bags in a moment later, displaying much more strength than I had possibly thought.

A shiver went through me. Was she a dragon too? Or was I just paranoid at this point? After all, whoever said Dragon Lord didn't have human servants?

No one knew enough about him to judge or to have an idea of what went on in this castle. That much was clear from all my misconceptions.

I'd expected a barbarian, who lives in a dank, horrible castle. Instead, I got a charming, attractive man who had provided me with decent quarters. I hadn't been ripped apart yet, but I was still a prisoner.

It was conflicting and confusing, and my chest ached when I thought about it for too long and let the emotions rise inside of me.

"Thank you." I said again, dumbly.

I don't know what else to say to this girl, Delaney. I swallowed feeling anxiety and uncertainty in my stomach.

"Of course. If you need anything else, you can just ring for me."

She said with a smile. Delaney gestured a cord similar to the one I used to call Catherine at home. I didn't know was to say. Was I being provided with a servant now?

Was all my hope unwarranted? Maybe they were more to this than I thought at first.

My opinion kept flip-flopping all over the place. One moment, I was tentatively hopeful and the other I was filled with despair. I couldn't keep up with myself, or with what was good around me.

"Thank you. Umm." I trailed off, not sure of what to say for the moment.

"Delaney have you worked here long." I said, feeling unsure.

We're people allowed to come and go? Were all the nasty rumors false?

I didn't know anymore.

"Oh, yes." Delaney said with a smile, My whole life I was born here. after all?

And just like that, my tentatively hopeful heart sink.