Page 5 of The Broken Queen

My eyes blinked rapidly, and the pain was steadily increasing with each passing second. Energy depleted, my lids shut and I fell to sleep, dreaming of brighter days when Father once loved me.

Day...of Training

There were heavy footfalls as they descended outside the door. I stood ramrod straight, hidden in the shadows of the corner behind the door, plotting my escape. The pain in my stomach came and went as well as that from the brand on the back of my neck, but I knew I couldn’t stay in this place anymore. I wanted to find Mother and tell her what he did to me. I no longer cared what he would do to me; if that meant killing me, then so be it.

I’d been trapped here for days, maybe even weeks. There was no clock to tell time and no window for the sun to shine through. The only way I could figure it out was the three meals I had received a day, and after the last time he came through, I’d lost all track of time.

Father hadn’t shown his face since he ‘tortured’ me, but I knew when I did see him again, I would do everything in my power to make his life miserable. The guards finally came and removed the body, probably because I refused to eat.

A key turned in the lock and it slowly opened. I twisted my position but groaned when my stomach reacted violently to it. He had sent a doctor in here not long after his infliction to tend to my wounds, but the doctor was only told to take care of the bleeding in my stomach, not the other gashes he caused. It was my lesson so to speak. He wanted me to be tough, not a weak little princess. He had noideawhat he created.

Once the guard was fully inside, my small figure slipped out behind him and ran. I fled down the corridor with John’s voice yelling behind me, and I desperately looked for a door or window to escape through.No wonder I’ve never been down here before...Mother would be angry.Dimly lit candles graced the brick dungeon walls, giving me little flecks of light on my path to freedom. I sped around the corner, bouncing off one wall, arms flailing to keep my balance.

My chest heaved as I drew in huge gasps of air while forcing myself to ignore the agony in my stomach and legs. The dungeon went on forever, and there were no windows leading to the outside. As heavy feet descended upon me, I knew I couldn't stop.

I rounded another corner, and my eyes landed on a door. Ablackdoor. It looked rather scary, but anything was better than being stuck in a room with no ties to the outside world. My pace quickened as I heard shouting from the other end of the corridor. Once I reached the door, my hand wrapped around the knob, and I pulled it open so fast I almost fell backward.

I entered the room and locked the door. I didn’t dare turn on the light or survey what was in here. Leaning against the frame, I slowed my breathing to an acceptable rate.

“Who are you?”

A gasp escaped my lips when a raspy voice filled the air. I turned around but couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

“The better question is, who are you?” My voice was a little breathy and uneven.

A deep chuckle came from what I assumed to be a boy. “I asked you first.”

I made my way over to the voice, my hand touching the wall, hoping for it to catch me if I fell. My eyes blinked when a small lamp turned on.

I stopped when the boy’s steel-blue eyes met mine with a hint of amusement. Sparks of electricity ran through my veins as I studied the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. He was hunched over a cot with a book placed down beside him, and his hands stretched out in front.

His tawny-brown, straight hair was in desperate need of a haircut. His narrow eyes and ears were all symmetrical, with the sharp nose on his youthful face.

He appeared to be older than me by a couple of years because he already had little specs of acne scattered across his face.

I took a step forward and clasped my hands behind my back. “I’m Raven.”

What seemed like recognition passed over his face before he cleared it. “Slade.”

My thin eyebrows furrowed. “That’s an interesting name.”

A laugh bubbled from his belly, and the sight warmed my cold skin. “As if Raven is any better.”

I shrugged and looked around. The room was small,verysmall. The ground was concrete, and the walls were made of gray brick like the rest of the dungeon. It held a cot with nothing but a sheet and pillow, a small side table with a crappy desk lamp, and a small, rundown bookcase. It reminded me of a prison cell.

I frowned and met his gaze. “Why are you here?”

He cocked his head to the side. “Why wouldn’t I be? This is the servant's quarters.”

My brows raised. “But I thought...”

“What do you mean she escaped?” A loud, booming voice that resembled Father’s broke through the brick.

I stiffened and slowly peddled closer to the door so I could hear better.

“When John went to give her food, the next thing he knew, she bolted out the door.”

My heart raced.Oh my God...I’m in so much trouble.

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