Odessa

My eyes flutter open to sincere pounding in my chest as the hard drumming bring my senses alive. My heart pounds so hard I can feel my body ache with each beat. I am semi-conscious but I know for certain I am lying on hard ground.

Darkness suffocates my body like a thick blanket, clinging to every inch of my skin as I try to control my heavy pants. Unable to move, I try to open my eyelids fully or raise my head in any direction but the he first thing I notice is how my ankles and wrists are tied. When I try to lift a fraction of my arms I can hear the rattling of steel chains that seem to echo on forever.

I can't help but let out a cry of defeat. They finally found me. I have been charged for my wrongdoings and I am now serving the price. What did Father think of when the guards told him what had I done? Did Nicolai spare the guards and tell him himself? Or did they eventually figure it out by the conflicted injuries I had caused to appear on Nicolai?

Flash breaks preoccupy my vision as I recall Nicolai laying his fingers against my cheek as his vile words pierce my heart.

"The dry bitch was a good kisser, too bad she wasn't good in bed"

The legacy of his words still remains intact inside as I try not to crumble all over again. I shouldn't let his words replay over and over again, besides I will be spending the rest of my life inside these cells, no need to let him take over every aspect of my life.

The air that enters my lungs is dry and stale and with each sharp intake of breath, I notice my sides agonisingly wince. The pain throbs in my guts in a way that someone has their hand in there squeezing my organs either gently or tightly. When it wanes I can move but when it returns I can only hold in my breath as I try to breathe out slowly and deeply until it passes.

I can't help but let out a strangled scream and feel blood gurgles inside my throat. What have I become? Someone is controlling my every movement of action because I know something doesn't feel right. This can't be me. I would never threaten to kill a man. I have been brought up to be a young lady who act proper and mannerly; not a savage who can somehow pack a punch at a man twice her size.

My body is curled into a spangled a ball as my breathing turns ragged. I can't get the tremors that consume me under control. I don't know when it started but all I know is that after thinking of Nicolai baring his slender fingers around me again sends me hyperventilating.

I sit with shaking hands that sends echoes of rattling throughout the space. As my eyes have adjusted to the space, a space shaft of light from a gap in the wall illuminates the room with its light as dust swirls around. No doors No window. No way out. Looking around all I see is an indefinite expansion of grey bare walls.

What would James think of me if he saw me now? Is he telling himself that his sister is not a murderer or has he already erased me from his memory? Has he come to visit me? Has he demanded Father to let him see me because he understands that none of this was ever meant to happen?

Just thinking about it, has anyone come to visit me since the occurrence or have I been lift alone to contemplate my faults? What if they left me alone to bare the burden myself? Has Alexander come to visit me? Surely he must know I'm innocent. Surely he, out of all people know that I didn't mean to cause any more trouble.

What does the kingdom think of me? Have they all bowed their heads in shame or have they started riots demanding me to be executed? Do the people of Erivale think I'm a murderer who doesn't deserve the chance of explaining myself for my actions?

With all these thoughts suffocating me, I can't help but notice my trembling bottom lip as my eyes fill up with tears.

None of this should have happened. This is all my fault. I should never have gone outside for a breath of fresh air. I shouldn't even be in prison. For god's sake if I just stayed inside I would probably be on my honeymoon by now.

I continue to sob louder to the thought that maybe why no one is here because maybe they have shipped me off to the Southern Isles to spend my eternity rotting inside these four walls. What if Nicolai did this on purpose to ruin me so that he could control every aspect of my life so far away from home?

I must be in a Southern Isles cell, I have to be. No cell would ever be as damp and cold as this, but then again my garments do not advance my conditions. I wear nothing but a thin ragged shirt that itches in certain areas I have no control over. I am left wearing what feels like a potato sack to make things more unbearable.

This is all an act of humiliation this is. No wonder why it is so dark, they are probably filming me right now at this very moment. This is all a public act they have conjured up for the public to show everyone that even the princess of Erivale can suffer the consequences.

Frantically, I twist my head side to side but I can see nothing. No flashing red lights, no secret lenses, nothing.

I try to hold back more tears but I can't, no matter how hard I try. They just keep streaming down my face. My throats closes as I try to murmur something, anything that will make the pain go away. My cracked lips open and with such force I wail, "Just let me go home! Please! I have done nothing wrong!" and I can't help but break down again, this time pleads erupt more strangled wails as I try with such force to break my hands free.

"Please just let me go! I didn't mean to cause any of this!"

My haggard sobs send vibrations that pulse throughout my body as I try once again to say something else that will send a guard to my cell. "Please!" I cry, this time bending forward and causing more pain to erupt everywhere. "Someone help me!"

I hear footsteps pound along the concrete and my hopes and prayers have been answered. The footsteps edge closer and closer towards my dark cell and I can hear the rustle of keys clanging. My anticipation begins to rise as with each step I am closer to finding out what exactly happened to me after that night.

All at once, there is a brief silence until I hear the turning of a lock. Within seconds sunlight bursts through the room and I am left coaxing my head back while allowing my eyes to adjust. But in that moment when I am not looking, a hand covers my trembling lips.

My dilated pupils widen in horror as a blonde figure crouches before me and whispers, "I swear if you make another sound I will blow your brains out"

A choked sob locks in the base of my throat as I stare back at the familiar face. When she finally drops her hand, I rasp, "Astra?"

She looks up at me with consoling eyes, her expression solemn as she grits, "I told you to be quiet-"

But I dare to interrogate furthermore. "But why are you here? Where's James? What happened to Nicolai? What about my wedding dress?"

Her only answer is to stare back and me expressionless, not daring to look at me directly.

There is a brief pause as I gather my thoughts before breathing, "Astra, what's going on?"

She parts her lips and a small plea escapes before another voice booms.

"Astra? What's taking you so long! Unchain the prisoner and bring her forward!" A rough voice booms, which sends me jumping high. At once I can see the feisty girl I met before change in a blink of an eye as she obeys the voice's command. She twists and turns, not daring to be gentle as she unlocks my shackles with force.

I cannot even focus on my new lease of freedom in my ankles and wrists before she ties my hands around my back with rope. She pulls me up from the ground with such a force and pushes me out of the cell into the daylight.

I land in a heap on the ground hard. It sends soaring pain as I let out a forceful gasp. I can't help but let out a small cry as I feel someone kick me hard in the stomach. I do not have time to react but only exhale with a loud cry before someone swoops down and grabs a fistful of my hair as they pull me up.

It isn't long before I collapse to my knees and try to hold back the tears that escape. My entire body trembles before a loud voice could be heard.

"Bring the prisoner to me"

Suddenly I am scoped up and pulled forward roughly. Pain shoots up my injured leg with each step, making me bite back a wince. Astra tosses me onto the ground carelessly. I fall forward to my knees, catching myself with my hands.

When I look up, I met eyes with a young man who is clearly the commander. After wiping the grit off my face onto my sleeve, I am able to get a better look. And suddenly I lose my breath.

The commander sits on a wooden throne draped with furs and bright strings of rocks and shells. His eyes are bright and young, a stark contrast to the black paint that surround them. The man looks fascinated by my appearance, leaning forward in his seat and watching me closely.

After several tense seconds of eye contact, the man clears his throat.

"I am Alder, Commander of my people and we all know who you are, princess Odessa Blackthorn" He speaks softly while observing me.

A tall dark skinned man who wears similar attire to Alder, stands at the commander's side and rolls his eyes.

"Alder, you're not the commander, Icarus is, and if you would just let me kill her already-,"

"Stop," Alder interrupts him. The man falls silent. "I will not have her harmed. It's Commander's orders. I'm in charge for now, Zephyr. Remember that."

I can't help but rise one eyebrow bitterly and pull myself to standing, keeping my weight on my good leg. Blood soaks through my garments, dripping onto the dirt floor.

Zephyr surges forward, probably to push me back down, but the commander places a hand on his chest to stop him.

"I will not have her harmed further, Zephyr," he snaps coolly.

Suddenly, he stands up off his throne and begins to circle me, looking me up and down. I can't help but rise my fists in defense, watching as the commander inspects me.

Zephyr huffs and crosses his muscled arms over his chest, rebuffed. My eyes flicker to the quiver strapped to his back and the knives in his belt, wondering how I could disarm him.

"You fought well, I heard," Alder says as he circles around me. I look up, confused by his statement.
"Looks like you put up too much of a fight," he adds, gesturing to my injury.

I maintain my stony silence while watching the commander closely.

His hair is blonde and messy, alot more different from the time we met in the woods. He is still the same muscle and force as before, the sort of man I would only ever compare to a guard.

Having walked all the way around her, he stops and holds his gaze interestedly.

I raise my chin and stay silent.

"Letting her live shows no strength, Alder," the other man interrupts. His voice is thick with boredom, as if he is reminding Alder of this the thousandth time.
"Besides, you know what our people think about pets."

"I'm no one's pet," I spit.

Alder stops and stares back at me, this time his gaze poised and bitter.

"Well the princess has finally started to act like herself again. Now tell me what happened that night and maybe we'll get somewhere with this conversation."

"This is pointless Alder," the man interjects.

Alder can't help but purse his lips together. "Zephyr, go fetch Isolde for me. I'd like to have her wound looked at," he says.

The man looks like he is going to argue for a moment. But he walks out instead, muttering something under his breath.

Now we are alone.

I blink rapidly at him, still confused about what had just happened.

"Alder I-" I say before he shushes me.

"Just stay quiet and do nothing, do you understand?" Is all he whispers back.

I can only nod at his command, not daring to ask more, swaying where I stand.

It isn't long before I fall forward and Alder stops my fall, catching me and lowering me to the floor of the tent. The last thing I feel are a soft pair of hands wrapping something around my leg.

Then, my vision fades to black.

Ah so you may be wondering why the sudden change in chapter context but after so many weeks of not actually writing I decided to sort things out and it seems the beginning of Odessa's POV wasn't actually as gripping as I hoped it would be so I hope you like the change! Expect the next 2 weeks to see plenty of updates! I can't wait to write more and more! :D