noun ~ the state or condition of being superior to all others in authority,power, or status.POLLUX

On one of the coldest days down here so far, I woke with more vision than before. I didn't realise it until someone came to me.

I had been ecstatic, elated, and everything in between. Still, in a dark room, my vision was apparent to a human's. I could see the shifting darkness whenever I turned my head, but couldn't make out the shapes. I still had no sense of smell, either.

My excitement had been short-lived, because soon someone banged the door, sending a loud rattling vibration through the tiny room.

But it also gave me light.

Light that blinded my poor, sore eyes.

Light that I had to pretend I didn't see.

A small female was bringing me food when I realised I could see more. I couldn't see the exact definition of her face, though. It was like I was looking through fogged goggles; or that my eyesight was poor. A human who lost their glasses, perhaps.

Her hair was dark, her tan skin peppered with freckles. She didn't really look at me, and I realised it was because a gruff male figure stood at the door, waiting for her to finish. She was mute as she placed down a tray of food and a drink. I muttered a thanks as usual, and she weirdly dipped her head in submission before leaving.

Odd.

Why would one of the leader's people bow their head to me?

The door slammed shut behind her departure, but the guard left the barred latch open. It gave me just enough light to figure out where things were, and I ate my porridge breakfast with more ease than usual.

Once I finished, I leaned against the wall with wonder.

Why was my vision coming back?

It was odd and I never truly thought about. I figured my eyes were adjusting to the dark better, but this... this was sight. And if my eyes were slowly working, then I hoped the rest of my senses would too. Maybe even my wolf would come back.

A little while later, somebody came to retrieve me for a wash. As always, somebody forced me into a cool, tiled room, but I didn't really care. Now I could see more, I realised they stood on the other side of the bathroom door with their back to me.

But that wasn't what struck me. It was the fact they turned the light on.

Why would they turn the light on if I couldn't see? Sure, it was habitual, but they didn't even enter the room. They always shoved me in and then there were two clicks, followed by a whirring. I had just assumed it was an extractor fan, but all this time it was a light as well.

I needed to act like my vision was still gone. That means fumbling, cursing, and walking into things. I had no senses; I needed to hold on to that pretence, so I didn't lose it again.

So, after my shower, I called out that I was done and dry before they passed some clothes into my arms. I dressed quickly, hating the cold that seeped into my skin.

Once dressed, my red-haired retriever took me by the elbow and lead me down some blurry hallways. I looked around when I could, but mostly kept my attention on the ground to not look so suspicious.

We went down a different hall to where my cell was, and I wondered where he was taking me. We climbed some stairs, and I was grateful that it was this retriever rather than my other. The other one dragged me up the stairs. This one was kinder.

Turns out the narrow cement stairway took us into the main house. So, all this time, I really was in the basement.

My capture's 'estate' was warmer than down in the jail cell. I secretly look around, observing my surroundings through hazed vision. The ceilings were low, and the walls were white with gold and red accented decor. The hallways had tiled floors, but in the few rooms we passed, I saw black carpets.

We turned left at the end of a hallway, coming to a locked, dark wood door. My retriever knocked twice before being called to enter and I squared my shoulders as I recognised the voice behind the door.

The room we entered was darker than the halls and bare of furniture apart from a couple of armchairs against one wall. In the centre was a metallic chair that I knew I would soon be acquaintance with. My retriever led me toward it before forcing me to sit. I grunted as my shoulders hit the hard curvature of the chair, frowning at the sudden rough treatment.

Who were we trying to impress?

Footsteps echoed, but I kept my eyes cast down; unthreatening and docile as ever. The footsteps came from behind me, and by the slow, scraping pace I knew it was the one man who left me with nothing but questions.

He approaches me, his presence a looming shadow that I could almost feel pressing against my skin. The air thickened with his steps, and I forced myself to remain silent; to play the part. My heart pounded in my chest, a steady drum that threatened to give me away.

"Look at me," he commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

I hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted my gaze, letting my eyes remain unfocused. Despite my unfocused gaze, I couldn't help noticing the outlined features of the man before me. Dark, wolfish eyes, scarred, distorted skin and wispy, mousy hair flecked with grey. Whoever he was; was old. For a wolf to turn grey, they had to be over one hundred. It was simple genetics.

He scrutinised me, his eyes boring into me as if he could will the truth out of me through sheer force. I held my breath, praying that my act would hold.

"You've been quiet." He remarked, circling the chair.

I swallowed hard. "I don't have much to say."

Well, I have enough to say, but I don't need to get into trouble.

He stopped in front of me, leaning down so that his face was inches from mine. I forced myself not to blink, to act as though he didn't just move into my personal space.

"We'll see about that." He murmured, his lips curling in the corners. "We have ways of making people talk."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I kept my expression neutral, my breathing steady. This was a dangerous game, and I had to play it perfectly if I wanted to get out of here with my wolf intact.

"What do you want from me now?" I muttered.

He chuckled, moving away from me to sit in an armchair across the room. My jaw hardened, my skin crawling with unease. Despite staring down at my lap, I felt his heavy gaze on the side of my temple. He was watching me, silently, and it was as creepy as the entire room.

"Who said I wanted anything from you, Pollux?"

"You bathed me, dragged me here, and then threatened me." I cocked my head, staring at the frayed hem of my trousers. "That makes me think you want something."

"The bath is a mere courtesy, Pollux." He snickered. "After all, you are in a small room with no windows. I'd hate for my workers to smell all of that."

"I hardly think they mind." I muttered.

He snorted a laugh; the chair creaking as he shifted his weight. "You are untied. I am not forcing you to that chair, Pollux."

"Yet the moment I run; I'd be back in it." I tutted. "So, I'm not playing games today."

"I'd like to see that." He mused. "Christmas is over, but that doesn't mean I cannot be in the giving mood."

So, apparently, I missed Christmas.

I was completely unaware of the time scale in this place, but at least I knew it was early January or late December. I wondered how Nova was. She loves Christmas, and it was the twin's first. I wonder what she did with them. Did they all have fun around the open fire? Did they exchange gifts and feast on something Phoenix caught?

"Disheartened, Pollux?"

I cleared my throat, shaking my head. My heart felt heavy; the sorrowful loss of memories tugging me down like an anchor. But it was in the wrong place, because I couldn't be anchored here. Not when I had no shore; not when I was lost at sea.

"It's hard to be disheartened when nothing else exists." I muttered.

The shadows danced across the floor as he rose from his chair to stand before me. I felt the tug of my hair pull against my scalp as he yanked my head back. Hissing, I squeezed my eyes shut as he brought his face close to mine.

"That's because you are unworthy of anything." He whispered in my ear.

My eyes opened, staring at the side of his temple and ear with a glare. His fists tightened, pulling my head back until I grunted.

"You are unworthy of your blood, remember, Polly?" He taunted. "You have shown no worth in your life. Nothing about you screams lycan. Nothing. And until you realise that, you will always be disheartened. Just accept it, Pollux."

He moved away to stare at my face. I kept my glare on the point of his sloping nose, glaring hard despite the force of his grip. I could try to fight him back; I was untied after all. But like he said, why would I? I had no wolf, which meant nothing. Compared to him, I was human, and he relished in his power.

My fists tightened on my knees, holding back the urge to retaliate. His chin dipped, staring down at my lap before a smirk lifted his cheeks. Despite the fuzzy outlines, I could see that the distortion of his skin wasn't my vision, but scarring. Perhaps burns. They covered his entire head.

"Who even are you?" I hissed.

His dark eyes darted up to glare at me, and I kept my expression hard. "You insult me, Pollux."

"I do?" I cocked my head. "Huh, I thought I was beneath you."

"You insult me by not knowing who I am," He huffed. "I knew I should've taken your sister. At least she had a brain in her head."

I scowled. "Why didn't you then?"

"The luna doesn't stray far from home." He scoffed, moving away from me. "And her alpha mate would not let her out of his sight."

"You say that with so much adoration for hierarchy." I taunted.

He snarled. "Wolves do not deserve their hierarchy, Pollux. They stole it."

"Stole it?" I scoffed. "They created packs, and from that came the alpha hierarchy."

"Lycans gave them their gifts." He snapped. "Lycans created the first wolves and then those had to be selfish and breed like fucking peasants. Before you could blink, they infested the entire planet."

"You sound like you've been around a long time." I raised an eyebrow, keeping my gaze on the wall before me.

"I have seen enough to watch the world go downhill since the packs grew." He seethed. "They have nothing but greed."

"Don't you have that too?" I scowled. "You only keep me here to harvest my blood."

He laughed darkly, almost mockingly. "That's what you think, Pollux."

"It is?" I wondered. "But isn't that all you do? You can't touch me because you want my blood. I am nothing but a...a...blood cow for you."

"Your blood makes my men strong." He stated. "Soon I'll have plenty to run my army, and then what will the wolves do? Against an army of lycan fuelled predators?"

I frowned, staying silent. He crept over to me, crouching before me as he leaned in close.

"What will they do, Pollux?"

"Fight back, I guess." I shrugged.

"Exactly. All they do is act. They never think." He laughed, patting my knee as he rose to his feet again. "They will misjudge, and we will win."

"Win what?" I wondered.

"The world, Pollux." He threw his arms in the air.

"Why do you want the world?"

"Why not?" He sneered. "Who wouldn't?"

"Me?" I shrugged. "I wouldn't."

"That is why you are undeserving of your power."

"Trust me, I have thought countless times about whether it is even worth it anymore." I scoffed.

He hummed, and the door opened in the corner. I did my hardest to not react to the person who entered. It was the harsher retriever, and he grunted as he passed the devil man something large and obviously heavy. I couldn't focus on it, but from the corner of my vision, it looks an awful lot like wood.

"That is where you and I differ." He sighed, lazily strolling toward. "I know what I deserve, and nobody will stop me from taking it. Soon they will come. And soon they will beg me for saviour."

Before I could speak another word, a loud clatter echoed around the room. A sharp pain ricocheting across my skull had me gasping for breath and falling from the chair. And then... then there was nothing.