Chase Me Alpha (Daria and Caleb) novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Daria’s POV

The night was long, cold and trepidatious.

After some discussions with both Eric and Sabrina, we had agreed on trying to escape tonight. My heart pounded in my chest. The guards had just left after taking away the gruel they called our dinner. Neither Eric nor I had been able to stomach much of it, and Sabrina took a full bowl but ended up becoming nauseous. The chill sank into my bones. I lay down, closing my eyes and counting down, waiting for any sign that the guards would return.

It was after Eric whispered, “It’s clear,” that I rose, turning to face the cell bars. The hairpin was in my hand, and I began to fiddle with the chains binding me. It was difficult, having to bend my hand at an awkward position, but I managed it. It had been a while since I picked a lock, but the memories stayed with me. Sweat beaded at my forehead as I tried to turn the hairpin. My palms were getting clammy, and getting a grip on it was proving more difficult than expected.

“How’s it going, Daria?” Sabrina’s voice was hushed, fear coating it. My breath hitched and I put more force behind the twists and turns of the hairpin.

Great Moon Goddess, please let this work, I thought fervently, desperation filling my body.

A beat later and I felt it; a click that was audible enough in the dead silent dungeon. I sighed, all my worries fading away in an instant.

“Got it,” I shakily said, and the sighs of relief echoed in the air.

“Thank Goddess,” Eric muttered. The chains fell from my hands and I caught them before they could hit the floor and make too much sound. Placing them on the ground cautiously, I rushed, armed with the hairpin, to free myself from the bars. This time I was quicker, much better than before.

The cell bars swung open with a soft creak. I looked towards the direction of the exit cautiously, and Eric said, “They’re not close. Free your friend. I’ll keep an eye out.”

I nodded and crossed over to where Sabrina was. She gazed at me with wonder and hope brimming in her glossy eyes. I felt overwhelmed by emotions, my heart rapidly beating. Once I had opened her cell door, I moved to grasp her arms, checking over her.

My hands brushed her abdomen, and I froze, speechless.

What?

I realized I had been too silent after Sabrina jolted, saying my name in a small voice.

I had to be quick

“Dont worry,” I assured her, shakily. “Hold out your hand.”

As I unlocked the chains from her wrists, I wondered how I was going to tell her the news.

I should have known, I thought, my mind racing.

Sabrina was none the wiser at my slightly distracted state, and pulled me out of the cell. We moved over to Eric’s cell. I noticed his eyes were fixed on the exit behind us.

As soon as I got the cell door open for him, he immediately said. “Someone’s coming.”

My body froze, and Sabrina gasped, covering her mouth with panic flashing in her eyes.

“Come on,” Eric beckoned, and we followed his lead, shutting the bars of his cell and moving to stand at a much darker part of the room, so close to the exit.

The footsteps were quiet, but still there.

I realized after some listening that it was only one person.

“Hold on,” Eric muttered, gripping his chains with tension in his words.

As soon as the guard crossed our paths, not noticing us, Eric acted. He swung the chains over the guard and tightened it on the man’s neck. The man suddenly kicked out and was about to shift, but the physical contact with the aconitum chains wouldn’t let him. Sabrina and I watched as within seconds, the flailing man was strangled to death. Eric grunted and gave a twist, and the resounding crack felt like a burden had just lifted.

We had to move.

Eric must have felt the same, because he looked at me.

“There will be more coming,” He said, holding out his hand for me to free him. “You know the way out.”

“Y-Yes,” I replied. Once the chains were off his wrists, we hurriedly walked towards the exit. I led them out of the dungeon, my body filled with a pulsing rhythm that wasn’t there before. My wolf was back, and free.

We barely made it past the hallways when we sensed someone coming closer.

I froze. Not one person, by the sounds of it. Multiple.

“Quick,” I pulled Eric and Sabrina into a tiny room. It was one of the unused servant’s rooms. Realization and dread shot through me. “Theyre going to the dungeon. They’ll realize we’ve escaped.”

Luckily for me, Eric was more clear-minded than I was.

“Come,” he gestured towards the window. We were on the ground floor, and the window overlooked a large part backyard, with trees overlooking the distance.

Suddenly a loud bell rang.

“Escapees!” Someone called out, echoing in the air.

Damn it!

of the

I didn’t bother to look at them again. The warriors were gaining on us, and I threw myself into the furor, knowing that Eric would save Sabrina. He knew how important she was to me. And there was no other choice. My heart ached as I fought with everything in me, even though I knew that I would fail. I just wanted to give them time to escape. Enough time. Even a minute.

My body was battered and bruised, and I had taken more hits than I could bear. When I fell, I was surrounded by warriors,. their gazes fueled by darkness.

I panted, turning my gaze to where Eric and Sabrina had stood before. They were gone.

Relief sank into me and I relaxed, sinking to the ground as darkness overtook me.

They were safe.

When I woke up, it was searing pain.

It took me barely a second to realize what it was: a hot metal object pressed against my arm. I struggled, feeling chains restrict my movement. The pain made me gasp, coughing hoarsely.

“Enough,”

Jamal’s voice rang into the air, and nothing else could have prepared me for the way his eyes gazed upon me. I blearily blinked, momentarily dazed. Then slowly realizing I wasn’t merely chained. My feet weren’t touching any solid ground underneath it. I flailed in midair. The collar around my neck and shackles around my arms seemed to be the only things that held me up.

“I have underestimated you,” Jamal approached me, his very aura intimidating. He looked disheveled, like one that had just gotten out of bed. I tried so hard to not let my fear show, but it was impossible. Beside him, the man that had placed the red-hot iron against my arm stood, his lips curled in a leering, dirty smirk.

“Perhaps you have,” I barely managed to push those words through my lips before I felt a blow land against my check. I tasted copper, and spat it out onto the floor. It landed at Jamal’s feet.

“You have earned my ire tonight for this. By the time I’m done with you, not even Caleb would want you,” He sneered. Then he gripped my chin, tightly, almost choking the breath out of me. As he forced me to meet his eyes, I couldn’t keep up the act of bravado anymore.

I was scared.

“Kill me if you must,” I whispered, my throat hurting. “But you will join me soon.”

He laughed, his grip on my throat tightened even harder. I struggled as my very breath was knocked out of me in one motion. My vision began to blur, everything faded…

Then he released me, and I coughed, unable to stop.

Tears slid down my cheeks, and I let them silently fall.

“Find those two,” Jamal ordered someone, storming out with his taskmaster beside him. “I want their heads.”

I knew this wasn’t over by a long shot. But I prayed desperately in my heart.

Goddess, please let Eric and Sabrina make it back before he finds them