CELESTE
The next day, I stood at the dungeon gates with Amelia. The place was built behind the castle, hidden deep in the woods, surrounded by trees so tall and thick they blocked out the sunlight. It wasn't even dusk yet, but it already felt like night. Only a few torches flickered in the shadows, barely lighting the path.
"Celeste, you have to be fine, okay?" Amelia was trying hard to cheer me up. She too had realized that I didn't have a way out.
I nodded.
"Next," someone called from within the dungeon.
The heavy wooden door creaked open and a man stumbled out. He looked like he had seen death and barely escaped it. His face was pale, eyes wide with fear.
My eyes dropped to his hand. Blood dripped from his thumb where the nail had been sliced clean off.
Sierra recoiled, baring her teeth at the smell.
I held my breath as something cold and sharp ran through my body.
"Celeste… I will meet you in the staff building. I will send you letters too…" Amelia's voice trembled behind me.
She was scared for me. I didn't blame her. She was like a sister. She had this motherly way of clinging to hope, even when there wasn't any.
"I will be fine." I whispered, even though I wasn't sure I believed it myself.
The gate shut behind me with a loud thud. I was on my own now.
The place inside smelled like blood, sweat, and something older. Something rotten that made it hard to breathe. There were no windows, no light except for what little the torches gave. Stone walls pressed in from every side, coated in moss and dust. I couldn't hear anything but the sound of my own footsteps.
"What's your name?" A harsh voice cut through the silence.
I jumped a little. I hadn't seen anyone else inside.
"I… I am Celeste," I said, turning toward the sound.
A woman stood there, cloaked in black from head to toe. Her face was mostly hidden under a hood.
Without replying, she turned and started walking down the narrow, dark path. I had to hurry to keep up, though every breath felt harder to take. It was like the air itself was fighting me, trying to choke me before I reached the end.
Soon, the darkness gave way to a dull orange glow. Torches lined a spiral staircase ahead.
The woman didn't pause, didn't even glance at me until she noticed I had stopped. Then she turned her head just enough for the firelight to catch her face. That's when I saw her, at least the part of it. A scar ran from her forehead to the tip of her lips, long and thin like it had been carved with a blade. Her skin looked tough and tired.
"Do you need an invitation to move?" she asked coldly.
I quickly shook my head. "How should I address you?"
"You won't need to address me." Then she turned and continued down the stairs.
The scarred woman. That's what I decided to call her.
"Alpha is waiting." she added, and it sounded like a warning.
I followed her to the bottom and stepped into a long stone hallway that led to a large hall. The stone walls barely held the light.
Guards stood along the corridor, holding swords and sabers, watching us without a word.
I kept my eyes straight ahead, tried to focus on anything that kept me calm. But I failed.
I heard screams. Animal-like growls. The sound of fire crackling. Whips tearing into flesh. People crying, begging, breaking.
Each sound cut into me, louder and louder.
Sierra snapped and paced, urging me to stay alert. My steps slowed as panic rushed into me.
Okay. Fair. It was a damn dungeon. But what was I doing here? Why did she bring me here?
I decided not to stay and ask her directly. So I looked up.
But… that woman. She was not here. She was gone. What the heck.
"Where are you?" I spoke as I spun around, scanning the hall. "Hello?" I called out. My eyes darted into the shadows.
No answer came. She had disappeared.
I stepped back. Then forward. Where on the earth did she go?
I turned toward a dark archway, thinking maybe she slipped through it. My foot caught on the edge of uneven stone.
I stumbled hard.
But before I could fall, a hand grabbed my arm.
"Watch where you step," came a cold, detached voice.
I recognized it immediately. Alpha Tristan. When did he come?