Chapter 4 Dark Powers Revealed

Rosa's POV.

"You've got to be kidding me!". The words exploded out of me before I could stop them.

Disbelief and growing panic made my voice pierce the garden like a whip. Alpha Caspian just stood there tall and calm like he hadn't just declared something insane. His smug smirk didn't waver as if my outburst amused him.

The Gammas kept their heads bowed silent as statues as if his mere presence demanded reverence. A slow deliberate clap echoed from behind us.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

My spine stiffened. I didn't need to turn-I knew that sound. It was mockery disguised as elegance. Lance. Coming out of the archway's shadows he left his ceremonial robe trailing behind him like water.

He walked deliberately and slowly, his hands clasped in front of him, a contented smile spreading across his face as if he had orchestrated this whole thing himself. Well I see the fates are finally aligning, he said in a voice as smooth as oil.

Between Caspian and me he glanced. "My dear sister and the great Alpha Caspian. How. . . fortunate. "

"Fortunate?" I spat jerking away from Caspian's still-hovering hand. "I feel like you're treating me like livestock."

He chuckled soft and cruelly. "Rosa dont be so dramatic. Haven't you always had a knack for it?"

Caspian continued to look at me as he remarked "She's quite spirited. I like that."

I turned abruptly to face him. "What you like doesn't matter to me."

"Oh..." he whispered "...you will."

I gaped at his foolishness. An infuriating haughty man. With a courteous nod Lance went on "We're honored really. You haven't come across any more. . . special partner. I'll make sure everything is prepared for tomorrow's ceremony. She'll be appropriately attired."

"Lance!" I yelled charging at him. "You can't be serious! You don't even know this man! I never agreed to this and I don't want this!"

Lance's expression turned blank and hardened quickly as he turned to face me. "Rosamond, you have no say in the matter. You are not a typical girl and this is not a fairy tale. You pose a danger. You are and always have been."

That felt like a slap to me. "You're trying to get rid of me," I muttered.

He said emotionlessly "I'm doing this to protect the pack-and you.This arrangement is ideal for all parties involved. A strong mate is acquired by Caspian. We win his trust. And you-well at least, you get to leave your golden cage. You've always wanted that havent you?"

I uttered my voice shaking "This...this is not freedom.This is a business deal, for your selfish desires."

"You don't get to tell me what is selfish or not, young lady and you will do as I say!" He snapped at me with so much force that it made me jerk.

Tears slipped down my cheeks, the way they'd always done anytime I sat myself hard beside my bed every dark night and cried myself to sleep. Like every single night that I'd stared long at the door hoping that someone besides my personal maid would walk in and flung the door open saying it was time for me to step out.

I had waited and waited, two years, three and four years. But now, the rumoured bearer of the dark curse was free only to be sold off again.

"Why are you so cruel? Why are you treating me like an animal! You have no love, no compassion, nothing for me!" I yelled, tears burning at the sides of my eyes.

He turned his head away. "It is done, your words don't matter right now. Tomorrow is the day of the mating ceremony."

I took a step back, my vision blurring with rage and my heart pounding. "No. This isn't going to happen, and I'm not sorry."

Then two Gammas stepped up. They simply seized my arms tightly without saying anything. One on each side. Professional icy and unfazed.

Thrashing against their grasps I screamed "Dont touch me!"

Lance called after me and said "You're embarrassing yourself."

"This is over my dead body!" I cried out as they started pulling me back toward the steps of the palace.

"Rosamond!" Lance yelled. "Enough!"

But I wasn't paying attention. I could not. Once more the pressure was increasing quickly and intolerably. With each breath the low hum that had begun in my chest grew louder. Something more sinister than I even recognized seemed to have been roused from the depths of my being.

The energy was creeping under my skin and burning up my spine. The Gammas grip tightened. And I broke. I let out a scream. I let out the sound and it came with raw violent uncontrollable power.

The world reacted. Out of nowhere the wind howled and circled me like a cyclone. Under my bare feet the grass withered. The earth split as if a hammer had been slammed into it from above.

Thunder roared low in the distance as the sky turned gray swiftly and violently. The Gammas were tossed like rag dolls into the air. One caused a sickening crack as it struck the base of a marble pillar.

With a choked scream the other vanished into a thorny bush. I glowed. dazzling. I felt the black and violet light shimmering on my fingers. The air shook all around me. I felt like a storm with a human face on and my hair was blowing in the wind.

There was a whisper."gods."

Gasps were heard, feet that were stumbling. The guards standing close to the palace doors had also gone cold. But not him.

Caspian. He advanced a single step. Not in terror but in wonder. He was always staring at me. He spoke in a low, almost respectful tone. "So the rumors were true."

The pressure became too great and I staggered backward gripping my head. The power was draining out of me; it was no longer flowing. I was having trouble breathing. I trembled.

I dropped to my knees. My breath came in sharp gasps. The sky was now completely dark. Far away lightning flickered. Someone was calling my name, was it my brother?

"Rosa!" This time his voice was different. desperate.

With burning eyes I looked up but my eyes were drifting close, slowly giving to the cold arms of unconsciousness.

Then everything...Everything turned dark.