Page 21 of Cage of Darkness
Allyssa had the urge to argue withher, to tell her she shouldn’t have been on the throne in the firstplace, that Rema had shown Jana compassion by banishing rather thankilling her, but she bit her cheeks, forcing herself to remainquiet. Nothing she said would change Jana’s mind. The queen hadbeen plotting her revenge for almost twenty years.
“Guard,” Jana said,addressing the man off to the side of the dais. “Please tell mymother, Lady Eliza, that there is someone here she will be mostinterested in.” He nodded and left. “As I have suffered at thehands of your parents, so shall you suffer at my hands.” Shereached up, touching the crown atop her head. “It is time for youto learn firsthand the might of Russek.” She stood and moved to theedge of the dais, looking down upon Allyssa, a cruel smile etchedacross her face. “Send in the squad.”
A sentry opened the door and sixsoldiers marched in. “Take this prisoner to the dungeon,” Janacommanded.
Although Allyssa knew it was coming,hearing the words out loud and seeing the soldiers sent a tidalwave of fear through her.
“Princess Allyssa is ourenemy. Show her no kindness. By the time I’m done with her, she’llbe begging for death. Take her away.”
Chapter Nine
The soldiers surrounded Allyssa. Oneseized her arm, dragging her out of the Throne Room. She didn’tfight back or respond, thankful she hadn’t been killed right thereon the spot. In the hallway, the reality of the situation crasheddown into her. Soldiers were taking her to the Russek dungeon. Notknowing what awaited her in the bowels of the castle made thesituation infinitely worse. She was going to be sick. Her fingerstingled, and her arms went numb. It felt like someone was banging astick against her head. The soldiers marched along hallway afterhallway, making it seem like she was caught in a never-endingmaze.
Once they locked her in the dungeon,it would be near impossible to escape. She had to try before it wastoo late. Up ahead, there was a door on her right. Just beforereaching it, she purposely tripped. As she fell, her fingersclutched onto the hilt of a nearby soldier’s sword. His arm snakedaround her waist, yanking her body against his. A sharp pain shotthrough her hand as he pressed his knuckle against a pressurepoint, making her release the sword.
“Looks like we got afighter,” one of the soldiers said. “Check her forweapons.”
One roughly patted her down. “She’sclean.” Allyssa didn’t feel very clean after having hands roam overher body. Still, she kept her face blank, trying not to showfear.
“Cover her head,” someoneelse ordered. “She doesn’t need to know the layout of thecastle.”
“And here I thought we hada mere princess on our hands,” the man holding her said.
“Never underestimate yourenemy,” another responded with a dark chuckle. “Especiallyconsidering who her father is.”
If they knew who her fatherwas, then they knew she wouldn’t give up. She was a fighter—justlike Darmik. A soldier pulled a cloth bag out of his pocket andshoved it over her head, cinching it around her neck with moreforce than necessary. Her breathing sped up. She made herselfbreathe slowly so she wouldn’t hyperventilate.Never show fear,her father haddrilled it into her.No matter how direthe situation or how scared you are. Fear empowers yourenemy.Someone shoved her from behind, andshe resumed walking. A firm hand was on her arm, guiding her. Sheheard a door scraping against the stone floor, and then she was leddown a flight of stairs.
“Prisoner for processing,”a gruff voice said, pulling her to a stop.
It would be so much easier if shecould see. Clearing her throat, she announced, “I am the princessof Emperion.” Her voice came out muffled from the cloth bagcovering her head. “My kingdom has made no move against Russek. Itis Russek who threatens to invade us. Let me negotiate peacebetween our lands so we can save our people’s lives. Do not lock mein a cage like an animal.” Her heart pounded, and her breathingcame out in loud, raspy gasps. She would not faint like some wimpygirl.
“We’ll take it from here,”someone else said.
It sounded like a door opened ahead ofher. Large hands clutched her arm, yanking her forward. A momentlater, a door slammed shut behind her, and a rancid stenchassaulted her senses. She tried not to breathe in the smell ofsweat, vomit, and bodily waste. As she was led deeper into thishellhole, a soft hiss followed by a distant scream made the hairson her arms rise.
The person holding her laughed. “Justanother day in paradise.” They stopped, and metal grated againststone. The cloth bag was removed from her head, and she was shovedinto a small room. The door banged shut. “Enjoy your stay,” hesneered through the square, bar-covered hole in the door. The boltslid into place, locking her in, and he strode away, leaving heralone in the cell.
The desire to sit down and sob in thisten-foot-by-ten-foot room was overwhelming. But she had to be smartand think of a plan. Keeping her mind focused would help hersurvive this ordeal. What did she know about being a prisoner? Ayear ago, Rema had told her about the brief time she spent in KingBarjon’s dungeon. Granted, her mother had never gone intospecifics, but she said when life seemed impossible, one had tohold onto hope. Allyssa needed to keep her spirits up and not allowthe situation to break her. She refused to give in to her fear. Shewould be strong—like her mother.
Darmik always insisted sheremain analytical with the end goal in sight. Steeling her resolve,she glanced about the room. Her dressing closet was larger thanthis space. At least there was a straw cot. Well, straw on theground in a semi-rectangular shape that vaguely resembled a bed. Aused chamber pot filled with waste had been shoved in one of thecorners. There was nothing she could use as a weapon. She tried toorganize her chaotic thoughts.Maintainhope. Keep my endgame in sight.She wouldsurvive this. She blinked away the tears that threatened and beganpacing about the room.
***
Time inched by, almost driving Allyssamad. There was nothing to do but think in this blasted place. Abloody week passed, and not a single person came to see her. Werethey going to let her rot down here?
And there had been no word from Odar.Was he in the dungeon or had he been taken elsewhere? She didn’teven know if he was alive. Pacing about the cell, Allyssa rubbedher temple. What about her parents? They were supposed to be hidingin Emperor’s City. Were they aware of what had happened to her? HadMarek managed to return to Lakeside and seek Emperion soldiers toaid in her rescue? Were they even going to try to rescue her nowthat she was in Russek?
She kicked the wall, hating that therewas so much unknown and little she could do about it. Theconditions in her cell were quite foul. Never again would she takeliving at the castle for granted. What she wouldn’t give for a bathor some decent food. The stuff they thrust into her cell twice aday wasn’t what she considered food. More along the lines of barelyedible mush that smelled like dirty socks. The water was even warm,stale, and had a brown hue to it. Most likely, she would catch somedisease in this filthy place and die without anyoneknowing.
She resumed pacing. With only one oillamp, the room was fairly dark, making her eyes ache for not onlysunlight, but also for the radiant flowers behind her castle, thegreen rolling hills, and the vibrant blue sky.
A man started screaming. It wasn’tclear if he was being tortured or if the isolation of this placehad driven him mad. Allyssa tried not to think about the atrociousthings that happened down here. She’d never realized fear had asmell.
She paced back and forth. Back andforth. The worst part wasn’t the conditions or the food. It was thewaiting—the not knowing what the future held. She kept grasping athope, but it was quickly withering away.
***
Metal clanged against the outside ofher door. A moment later, it swung open. A large soldier withunusually pale skin and light blond hair towered in the doorway.Like other Russek soldiers, he had black markings on hisface—lines, swirls, and dots from his forehead, down his rightcheek, and to his chin. She thought it was some sort of paintinstead of a tattoo.
