Chained (The Siren Series #2)

by L. A. Griffiths

  Then the leaches sniffed the air around them. They could smell the scent of my blood; they closed in around me like a pack of hungry hyenas. They outstretched their claws, ready to strike. I slowly backed away from them. A stinging pain quickly traveled up my arm, as one of the leaches beside me had slashed at my skin. I winced out in pain as it licked the tiny amounts of blood from its talon claws. It smiled as it tasted my life-force, and then he wanted more.

  Faster they approached, they each wanted a taste.

  “No, not again. Please, no. Stay away” I screamed inside.

  “Enough!” a voice shouted. The leaches stood still and dispersed leaving me clutching at my fresh wound.

  “Take the siren back to her cell, and give her something for the pain.” He told the doctor.

  Dr. Moss weaved around the leaches and slowly picked me up off the floor. Touching his hand felt weird. I expected for him to turn into the animal I’ve come to expect from others, but my powers were truly gone and for once in my life I really needed them.

  The doctor ushered me down the stairs and back into the pits of the dungeons. I tried to fight against his grip but it was too strong.

  “Don’t struggle.” He gruffly said.

  “So you’re with them now are you?” I asked.

  He remained quiet on the subject.

  “Answer me!” I yelled and a sharp pain made its way to my throat.

  “I don’t have to tell you anything, just shut up and do as your told.” He replied.

  As we moved towards my cell, panic began to slowly creep in. I didn’t want to be shackled up again. I tried to pull away from him once I saw the chains swinging from the wall.

  “Please don’t do this!” I tried to say.

  “Do you think I want to do this?!” he replied quickly.

  “Then don’t, you have a choice.”

  “No, I don’t.” he said.

  The doctor replaced the cuffs back on without saying anymore. Fresh pain traveled throughout my wrists and I wanted to cry, but not in front of him. The blue eyed doctor pulled out his black concoction and slowly brought the needle towards my neck. The fear inside me seized up all of my muscles and I just wanted to scream. It then burrowed into my neck and I could feel the liquid flowing throughout my body. Fear and pain was replaced by a soft darkness, and I gladly let it take over.

  I awoke to the sounds of ringing in my ears. Slowly it tried to drill its way into my brain. I gritted my teeth and tried to deal with the pounding pain. The tingling sensation was back and this time it was making my arms and legs feel heaver then they actually were. Sitting on the ground was another metal tray of the same goop that decorated the wall. Deep down I wanted to devour it in one sitting, but it didn’t look or smell edible. I ignored it, I can still hold out a little more. But those words were a lie. I would surely die down here. More ringing shot though my head and I had to fight the urge to scream.

  Tears flowed down my face, how many had I shed while being here? I couldn’t even wipe them away, I was a total mess. Shuffling footsteps stopped my train of thought. I didn’t care anymore what they stuck into me or their failed attempts of trying to intimidate me. The rusted-out door came alive with a sharp moan and I welcomed the fresh air. It was the blue eyed doctor again. He held a glass in his right hand and offered it to me. He placed it softy to my lips and I drank the cool refreshing liquid, trying carefully not to choke. The dryness inside my throat was washed away. I finished the glass and I just stared at him, how could someone so caring, be so cruel. What had I done to him? Did he know from the start what I was? My mind was too broken to finish any thoughts.

  “I wish I could help you Ellie, I do” he said softly.

  I just hung my head. I didn’t want to listen to him anymore. Unless the words are I’ll free you. I just didn’t want to know.

  “I’m sorry Ellie but..” his words were cut short.

  The ground above us shook with force and chips of stone broke away from their foundation. The doctor looked around, his face startled. He rushed off locking the door behind him with a metallic clunk.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  I closed my eyes, more shakes came from above and this time there were loud shouts coming from outside of the cell. I stood there listening to the loud yells and explosions from afar. A bright light pierced its way through the peep hole. It was warm and inviting. It felt familiar. Slowly, I tried to get to my feet. The light was getting brighter and warming up my entire body. My cell door started to contort and peel away from its once strong hinges. It was thrown to the side like a crumpled piece of paper. The light engulfed my entire room leaving no shadows to dwell. I tried to shield my eyes from the radiance and prepared myself for the worst.

  “Ellie?” the seductive voice called.

  That voice. I lowered my hands and in the doorway was Rhea. My heart soared, I was saved. I walked forward only to be restricted by the wrist cutting chains. She stood in the doorway bathed in a glowing white light. She was truly a goddess and she was here to save me.

  “Rhea?” I cried.

  “What have they done to you Ellie?” she said.

  Rhea walked into the room and with a wave of her wrist the metal shackles fell to the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was free. Rhea placed her healing hands on me. Her ebbing light found its way into my body, and I could feel my skin knitting itself back together. Slowly, my strength came back, and the tingling sensation gone.

  “Ellie?” said a voice. I looked over Rhea’s shoulder and standing there with a gentle smile across her lips was Sophia. She walked into the bright cell and smiled a bright smile. I was so happy to see them that tears were obstructing my view.

  “Let’s go, we need to get back up top.” Rhea ordered.

  “Why can’t we just leave now?” I asked.

  “This stone is enchanted and prevents me from teleporting.”

  Rhea walked back through the door and left me and Sophia safely behind her. I was ready to say goodbye to this pit and I hoped I’d never see it again.

  Sophia helped me up the stairs, only now noticing that Rhea was leaving a trail of ash behind her. She must have killed a lot of leaches to get here and that made me smile. We reached the top of the stairs, but I had to stop for breath. I inhaled deeply but the air stung my lungs. I coughed and spluttered, while trying to find new breaths of air. I still hadn’t gotten my full strength back.

  “Ellie, we need to hurry my dear.” Just listening to Rhea’s her voice made me happy. I forgot how calming her voice had been.

  “Come on, we’re nearly there.” Sophia said with her elegant voice.

  I pushed on and we came into a main hall that I was taken to before. It was empty, except for the tiny drops of my blood speckled on the floor. Rhea grabbed onto my hand along with Sophia’s. But before we could escape a loud voice boomed throughout the hall.

  “Ah Rhea, I expected no less.” The brutish man said.

  “Barbus, I’d wished never to see you again.” Rhea spat.

  The shaggy haired man stared at me with hunger in his eyes. “If you think you’re taking my Siren you’re wrong.” he said.

  “You think she’s yours? She nobody’s toy!” Rhea shouted.

  “No I wouldn’t say that, but she does have her uses.” His lips turned into a sick smirk that made chills run down my spine.

  “You are sick.” said Rhea

  “Don’t be like that, remember the good times we had.” He replied.

  Around the man who called himself Barbus, gangs of leaches started to appear. I stood behind Rhea, hoping she would protect me.

  “They were never good times, Barbus. I’m a different person now.”

  “No one ever truly changes, but if it helps you sleep at night.” Barbus replied.

  “You disgust me, you did horrid things!” Rhea yelled

  “Don’t lie you enjoyed every bit-.” Before Barbus could finish he was blasted back through a door. That was the leaches cue to
attack. They rushed at us screeching and gnashing their teeth. Sophia stepped forward and erected a barrier around us, turning the eager leaches into dust. From the back of the room blasts of red came flooding towards us. It struck the barrier, but it held its ground. Before Barbus could attack again, Rhea grabbed mine and Sophia’s arms and the world was torn away in a blink of an eye.

  Chapter Four

  The same feeling came over me again. I wanted to be sick, but I fought the urge. My stomach flipped and jumped as I traveled from one place to another. Finally I was dropped onto a hard floor and I rolled to a stop. Rhea stood over me while Sophia was just getting to her feet. She looked perfect, truly an angel.

  “Thank you Rhea, You saved me, I thought I would die down there.” I said with a weak voice.

  “I’m happy that you’re back too. That’s why I’m sorry to do this.” She said.

  Two strong men walked over to me and lifted me up on my feet. I tried to fight against them but they were like two brick walls. They dragged me away and put me in a small room. I was about to run back through the door but Rhea stood between me and freedom. She waved her hand and the door clamped shut, locking me in.

  “I’m sorry Ellie, but you need to stay here.” She said, her voice echoing through the door.

  “No, Rhea, please let me out!” I shouted.

  “Listen, they have been injecting you with something that’s highly addictive and for your own benefit, it needs to leave your system.” Her voice was so calm and confident.

  “I trusted you Rhea!” I screamed. I repeatedly slammed my fists against the sturdy door.

  “It’s just for a few days, I’m sorry.” Her footsteps echoed down the hall and I was all alone, again.

  When I finished slamming and pounding on the door, I gave up. I slumped down on the floor and curled up.

  This cell was much nicer then my so-called other one. There was a small single bed in one corner and a toilet, and sink at the other side.

  “Well at least it has pluming.” I thought.

  The room had been painted with blinding white walls along with the pristine while floor, it felt like being in a padded cell.

  How could Rhea do this to me, first she rescues me and now she leaves me? I felt awful, my wrists were healed and the marks on my neck too, but, I felt itchy and irritable. I just wanted get up and leave but there was no way. I picked myself up from the floor and helped myself to some water. The cups they had were made out of paper. (What am I a child?) The water was cool going down, and for just a second I forgot about the nagging itchy feeling. I closed my eyes and tried to focus my mind onto something else, other than the pain I was feeling. I threw myself onto the bed and it felt like heaven, I hadn’t felt something this soft in a long time. I pulled the blankets around me tight and tried to get some needed sleep.

  A loud noise woke me up. I shot up from the bed, fearing another leach would be accompanying me. When I remembered that I was safe, free from their clutches (well if anyone would call this free?). The door opened slowly and I waited for whatever was about to greet me.

  Sophia thanked someone to her right and walked in. She smiled and placed down a tray that was supporting a sandwich. My eyes lit up and I snatched it from the plate. For such a basic sandwich it tasted amazing.

  “Slow down or you’ll choke.” She said.

  I took her advice and took my time. Sophia stood over me and watched, as I tore the sandwich apart like a savage animal.

  “I’m sorry it took so long to find you, Ellie.” She said softly.

  I stopped making a pig of myself and looked up to meet her gaze. Sophia was wearing one of her unusual outfits again. This time she wore frilly gloves that traveled up to her elbows, a tight fitting corset that pulled her in tightly attached to a ruffle skirt. Where did she get her clothes from?

  “What do you mean? I was only gone a few days wasn’t I?” I asked.

  Sophia didn’t answer. She remained quiet.

  “Sophia, tell me? How long was I gone for?”

  “Two weeks.” Her words felt hollow and strange.

  I swallowed my final bite with a bit of difficulty. “What?!”

  “Rhea did not stop until she found you. It took us awhile but-.” I cut her off.

  “I was gone for two weeks?! But it only felt like a few days at the most.”

  “It’s because of the stuff they injected into you. You must have been asleep most of the time.”

  The words passed though me as they meant nothing. Two weeks I was locked up, it didn’t even feel remotely close to that. I immediately grabbed at my neck. They had been drugging me, keeping me asleep and doped up. The words just spun around my head, until I felt sick.

  “Are you ok, Ellie?”

  “Yeah, fine.” I lied.

  I took a sip of water that sat on the tray.

  “When can I get out of here?” I asked her.

  “It’s not up to me Ellie.” she replied.

  “But why, can’t Rhea just heal me? Surely she can do that?”

  “I asked her that and she cannot. Whatever is in your system cannot be cure by magical means.” She said “I’m sorry. You just have to wait it out.”

  “But I feel like I’m going crazy.” I said.

  “I’m sorry, Ellie.”

  Sophia picked up the tray and the empty cup, as she was about to leave I snatched at her dress.

  “Please don’t leave.” I pleaded with her.

  “Ellie I wish I could stay but I have orders.” she pulled away from me and exited through the door that led to my only escape.

  I crawled back into bed with a full stomach. It felt nice to have some decent food, not that disgusting thing on a plate they tried to feed me. Sophia said it would only be a few days, I could handle that, just a few more days and I could get the hell out of here.

  At night that was when the pain started. I began to sweat through my clothes. I began to feel clammy and irritable. My temperature was high then it would drop. It was like my body didn’t know how to regulate my temperature, I just wanted to scream. My body ached throughout. What did they put into my body? I splashed myself with some water and tried to calm myself down. Nothing worked. I scratched at my skin till it became sore. I pounded on the door till my hand hurt, but no one answered. I needed to get out. With my powers, I could bring this place down if I needed to, but I had to suppress it. Clenching my teeth together would take the pain away, but only for a few seconds and then it would start up again. I climbed into bed and wrapped myself up in the blanket, no matter how hot I was. I would beat this thing. Waves of heat came from within my own body and sweat trickled down my face. I brought my knees up towards my chest and sat there. After a while of trying to suppress the pain, sleep caught up to me. I tried to get myself into a comfy position and tried to get some rest.

  I awoke to a piercing noise throughout the room. My eyes scanned each of the white walls to see that there were many slash marks made into the walls. My heart raced as I could smell the familiar stench that brought me back to those deep dungeons. The lingering scent beckoned me from outside the room and as I stepped forward the door was torn away before me. A group of leaches stood in my path but did not block it. They soon parted on each side and out walked Barbus. He stood proud among the many creatures that he commanded. He held out his hand and waited for me to take it. I wanted to go back into the cell, to run away, but my body moved forward, like I was being called to him. Closer I drew near him until I was within arm’s reach. He pulled me into his chest and embraced me and I could feel his strong muscles through his clothes as his hands traveled down my back making my flesh crawl.

  His fingers started to caress my body and for a moment it felt good, but I didn’t want this. I should be disgusted by him, but his breath on my neck took it all away. Without warning he grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back exposing my throat, but I didn’t fight it. His lips traveled from the bottom of my neck and up to my ear lobe. My cheeks flushed wit
h colour and my heart pounded rapidly inside my chest.

  “You won’t escape me.” he said.

  His voice was strong and commanding and at that moment I felt I could do anything for this man. Something inside started to scream, telling me to run away, to never trust this beast of a man. A cruel smile graced his lips and he threw me towards the leaches like I was table scraps for the dogs. I lay on the floor while the leaches gathered around.

  I woke myself up with a scream. Quickly, I placed my hands over my mouth when my brain realized what I was doing. I had blown open a small hole on the wall opposite me. I jumped out of bed to give it a look, hoping I didn’t do too much damage. Well at least I didn’t bring the place down.

  “Don’t worry about that.” said a voice behind me.

  I spun around to be greeted by Rhea who stood in the doorway.

  “Uh, sorry ‘bout that.” I said.

  Rhea giggled and smiled. “I’m so glad to have you back Ellie, and it looks like your powers are slowly regaining as well.”

  I smiled weakly at her.

  Rhea made her way to my bed and sat, she tapped the spot beside her and I took my place.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through this Ellie, as soon as those foul creatures took you I didn’t stop until I found you. I failed you. I should not have let this happen.”

  I took both of her hands into mine and a surge of power flowed through me, fueling my once beaten body. I forgot how good it felt to touch her.

  “Rhea, you saved me.” I said to her “I almost gave up.”

  “I’m just relieved that I got to you in time.” Rhea pulled me close.

  It felt good being in her arms; my once troubled thoughts were gone.