The Curse of Living

”LADY Diana MyourGrey of House Fioravn!” a herald shouted out as she entered through the wide open doors. Her high heels made soft thuds on the golden carpet she was walking on. On both of her sides lords and ladies stood with wineglasses in their hands and sharp tongues prepared for the gossip session after the ball. She was an honoured guest tonight so they couldn’t say anything where she could hear it without being thrown out but she knew it was temporary. None really cared for her. 

Her long skirt swished against her calves with a tender touch of silk but it did little to calm her nerves. She had prepared thoroughly for this. Her dress was of Dianasatin made by the best dressmaker in the capital, perfectly matched with small strapped high heels, gloves that reached her elbows and a silver necklace with amethyst at its centre. Her hair fell in creamy waves around her shoulders, framing her face and making it look less angular. 

Everyone told her she looked great, but they were her family. They had no right to say otherwise. 

She shook her head in her mind, fearing to move even a strand out of place, and walked on forward, her eyes cast forward in a defiant manner. She was strong, she had chosen this fate herself, she could and would go through with it. There was no coming back from here. Her pride and the name of her family couldn’t survive that. 

She made her way through the magnificent ballroom and stopped before the throne where the old king sat with his young queen. On the king’s left sat his five sons, each more handsome and charming than the other. 

On the queen’s right sat the only daughter in the royal family. She was twenty years old, cream skinned, blue eyed and with the brightest smile anyone had ever seen; a jewel of the kingdom. 

The oldest son of the family stood up to greet her. She curtsied to him and he kissed her knuckles, presenting her with a smouldering look. It made her weak in the knees but she fought against it with all her might. They could never see what she felt. 

“Meet me in the gardens when this farce ends. I’ll be by the willow tree,” the prince whispered as he was raising his head and she made the barest of nods. She didn’t want to go meet him. Not today or for the rest of her life, which promised to be on the short side if she continued on the way she had chosen.

The prince threw her a mesmerising smile and taking her hand rose it above their heads. “She has come to us in our hour of need! People talked and cried, unable to comprehend the tragedy that was to befall the country but no one dared to act. They were sorry and sad for what was to come but they were too afraid to take action. One’s life is the most important treasure, is it not? Well, for some yes, but amongst us there are those that believe in something greater! Lady Diana is one of them. She has come here to give us her assistance when we need it the most. It is most ungrateful of us to ask that of her, but the sacrifice has to be made, and she has chosen to be it. 

“It is hard to believe but she stands here beside me cloaked in Dianas, the first to have taken up this fate. The colour of mourning lilacs is back with us and we should make it as welcome as possible even if it pains us to know what it means. She has come to do something unthinkable so let’s make her last days as joyful as they can be! Let’s dance and celebrate and forget what is to come! Let the music play and the ball be officially started!” 

Diana didn’t really listen to what was being said. It were only some pretty words to disguise the upcoming tragedy. This celebration wasn’t even for her unlike what was said. It was for the city. It needed to forget the horror it lived in and be too tired and wasted on the day it all happened to have the capacity of thought, or else it would go mad. 

Her lips were in a tight line as she stood with her hand raised and watched the crowd below her. She was standing on the steps to the dais and from there could see all the faces. Gentleman had small smiles while ladies preferred to hide their expressions behind painted fans. It would have been hard to say what they felt if not for the narrowed eyes, glaring at her from above the fans. 

They didn’t like her and it was no wonder. She came from a small family in a countryside yet had managed to win the crown prince’s favours. If that was not enough, she had just announced what she will do and so brought herself closer to the whole royal family. None seemed to care that in exchange for that she had to give up her life. 

Those that took notion of it, looked somewhat relieved and at the same time guilty for feeling that. They knew they should have done it themselves, they shouldn’t have allowed her, a girl of eighteen, to sacrifice herself. But life was such a fickle and short thing. They wanted to keep it for as long as they could.

Even if their pride had to suffer for it. 

She let her eyes roam further in the back and there they met with her family’s. Her mother was sobbing uncontrollably, people glared at her for disruption repeatedly but she didn’t seem to notice. Her father wasn’t unaffected either. He was a strong and brave man that believed in doing what is right but even he had been against her choice. It wasn’t her battle to fight, he said and, maybe it wasn’t, but she had decided. There was no coming back from it. He knew that and that’s why his eyes glistened in the light of the thousand torch-lights. 

Her both brothers were absent. They hadn’t taken the news well. They wanted to protect her, to go and fight the beast if that was needed, but she hoped her parents managed to make them see the truth of it. The beast held the city hostage for hundreds of years not because of lack of youngsters to try and defeat it.

The prince lowered her hand and sat her near himself on the dais. The royal family said some heartfelt words about her sacrifice and she thanked them as it was expected. Then the ball started and most of the houses came to thank her for what she was doing, give her gifts and promise to provide anything she might need of them. She received it all with the graciousness taught to her from childhood but a smile never graced her lips. 

It was tiring, all that nonsense. What could she possibly need in a day or two? What was the point of all those gifts? She couldn’t even leave them to her sister as she had none. All those silks and beautiful gowns, various jewellery were going to go to waste. How could no one understand, or more like care for it? 

She nodded as someone else approached her and listened with one ear. It was all the same and all she had to do was say the same words again and again. Hours passed accepting hundreds of gifts before she was released from it and allowed to take a breather. The prince brought her to the dance floor. She curtsied and let him take her around the room. 

The world spun round and round as they twirled by the sound of music and she could take a moment’s rest here. She had loved to dance from the moment she was taught and she was good at it. But now the most important thing was that it was impossible to talk as she changed partners and whirled around, her skirt crashing against her legs in familiar beats. 

A slow song came in and she wanted to run away but some noble came to her and the prince to ask if he could steal her for a dance. It would have been incredibly rude to refuse so she curtsied to the prince, took the nobles extended hand and curtsied to him. The man eyed her thoughtfully as he led her back to where the throng of the dancers resided. 

She allowed him to put his hands on her shoulders and she did the same herself. It was the most boring dance ever, meant for couples and such to enjoy a sweet word. The man didn’t notice her discomfort and simply swayed for a minute before starting a softly spoken conversation. He wanted information about the royal family and to use her for the few days she was still here. It turned her embarrassment to anger but she couldn’t act on it.

Ladies didn’t make scenes. 

So she replied to him in short, clipped answers. Not a single unneeded word left her mouth. The man soon decided she wasn’t worth it and left her but there was a never ending line of those who believed they would have better luck on moving her to their cause. 

Dance after dance she had to suffer through a questioning or a young, boisterous guy believing it would be some kind of an achievement to charm the doomed girl. She wasn’t sure which were worse. 

And this was supposed to be her ball? Frustrated laughter bubbled in her throat and she did her best to swallow it down. Just a bit more and she would be able to escape this thing. She couldn’t call it a celebration. It wasn’t one, not for her at least. 

Couple hours more and she excused herself. A butler passed her and she took a glass of red wine as she left the ballroom. Cool night air assaulted her and she took long deep gulps of it. Only now she noticed how stuffed the place had been. Fresh air tasted like honey on her tongue. 

Cold wrapped her in its icy cloak and, if she closed her eyes, she could imagine she was home. Why couldn’t they have let her stay home until it had to be done? She needed her peace of mind. Couldn’t they see it? 

But the city needed its celebration too. People needed a way to forget and if she was sacrificing herself already, why couldn’t she do that too? It was other people who would have to face tomorrow, not her. 

Tears welled up in her eyes at that thought. 

She angrily cleaned them up. She had promised herself not to cry when she had decided on this. She had told her parents and she had told the prince without letting out a single tear and now she was going to fail? 

“No,” she said it aloud to make is stronger. She wasn’t going to cry. Never. She wasn’t a weak little girl any more, she had chosen this fate and was going to follow it to the end. 

A sound of voices came from somewhere nearby and she decided to investigate it. She lightly stepped off the path so the gravel beneath her heels wouldn’t give her away and made her way to where the noise was coming from. The grass was damp from the evening dew, making her feet cold but she was interested to hear what the people were talking about.

From her young years she had been terrible at talking with her peers. She had somehow grown up before her age and never fitted in. Books had become her friends and she’d learned to watch the world rather than act in it. They had also taught her that life was a fickle thing, it was more important to be able to face yourself and your choices rather than live a hundred years in shame and disgust. 

“-was so cold! I thought the room was going to freeze over!” 

“That’s what I’ve been telling Lady Vinelo but she says I’m seeing things! How impudent! Young people these days are so uncultured.”

“Give them some leeway, Christopher. They are young. It’s their first Offering. They don’t know what is waiting for them in the near future.” 

“True that,” the man said, sighing tiredly. Diana couldn’t see him through the edge but his voice betrayed his old age. “We might have been like that once too. I no longer remember.” 

“Of course, we were,” the woman beside him laughed. It was a light sound and reminded the girl about her youth when her mother would chuckle at her brothers. They were a naughty bunch, always up to something. “We too were young and innocent, believing that life was never going to end, that we were strong and unbeatable, that the whole world was beneath our feet.” 

“Until the time for Regina came.” 

The female stayed quiet for a moment and Diana was about to leave but the woman started talking again. She was quieter than previously. “She was a brave girl. I don’t know if I saw anyone else with so much courage in my life. She was barely seven when it was asked of her and she accepted it without a word. When the celebrations were held, she smiled so brightly! No one could have ever said that she was a few days away from her end. Such a brave little girl.” Her shoulders sagged and she started to cry. Diana heard as the man tried to hush his wife while she remembered the stories. 

Regina’s Offering had been more than sixty years ago. She had read some books about it and in all of them the girl had been showed differently. For some she was a symbol of acceptance, always doing as you’re told; for others a maiden of sacrifice, she took the heavy burden on her shoulders without screams or any refusals. Yet others believed her to be more down to earth. They praised her for being able to enjoy the mortal things to the last of her breath. The upcoming death did nothing to her appetite or love for pretty dresses and little kittens. 

One thing everyone agreed on, however, was that she was an outstanding being. She was from an unknown origin and death took her early but she became someone that everyone wanted to follow. Her way of living was an example for everyone and all strived to hear at least once in their lives that they were similar to Regina at least in some way. It was the best praise anyone could receive. 

“But this Diana of House Fioravn, she’s nothing like her,” the man said when Diana noticed they were talking again and listened in on the conversation. “Have you even taken a good look at her?” 

“Yeah, but you shouldn’t be so hard on her. She agreed to go instead of the princess.” 

“So what? Have you really seen her eyes? They’re two blocks ice! And her expression? Was there a single time she actually smiled? I watched her for a long while but not once did her lips curl up. Couple of times they resembled a scowl, but never did they come close to a smile. Maybe it is a good thing she’s agreed to go for the princess. I wouldn’t want people like her populating our city.”

“Christopher!” the female shouted out loudly. “You can’t say things like that! What if someone heard you? She’s doing an Offering! And even one she wasn’t called for!”

“Does that make her acceptable? She’s a disgrace. All those that had done Offerings before fulfilled their duty in both sacrificing themselves and acting as role models for people. Yet she only wants to go and die. What kind of person does that make her?” 

“What are you listening to?” someone hissed, grabbing Diana’s hand and dragging her rather forcefully away. “I told you to meet me by the willow. What are you doing here?” 

Diana had no answers to that. Or anything else for that matter. Did all people think of her like that? All she had wanted was to save her country. Was that so bad? Did one require to be something special to be allowed to do that? Be a people person? One that doesn’t feel fear and can smile all the time?

“Di? Can you hear me? Let’s leave this place,” the prince said, dragging her frozen feet away. She let him do that, trying to make her mind go back on its rightful track. So what if she was a disgrace? It wasn’t like she had heard that particular wording directed her way for the first time in her life. 

She secretly took a couple deep breaths to steady herself and surprisingly it worked. She closed her eyes thinking of how little time she had left in this world and that it didn’t matter what others thought of her. It wasn’t for them she was doing this.

The kingdom needed her and even if every single person within it despised her, there was no way she’d let it fall. 

“Di?” the prince asked and she raised her head, taking in her surroundings. He had led them to the willow which was surrounded in all directions by thick bushes the size of humans. It had been their secret place since childhood. 

He led her to the bench right under the tree and she sat with a sigh. It had been some three years since they last met but the prince didn’t seem changed. This meant it was going to be a very hard conversation and she wasn’t sure she was ready for it. Not that he was going to ask if she was. 

“What were you thinking?” he asked without any niceties before. In private he never liked sugar-coating things.

She shrugged, not really having an answer he wanted. “Someone needed to do it and it might as well be me. Your sister is a jewel of our kingdom.” 

He moved under the tree, unable to sit down. His hands were clenched in fists but she knew he wasn’t angry at her. The world itself more likely. “We could have found someone else! We’re the royals, god dammit! Shouldn’t we have the power to take care of our own?” 

“You know it doesn’t work like that,” she answered with a sad smile. “The sacrifice has to be willing, allowed by the other, younger and of the same sex. On top of that the old magic knows if someone was bought out. It doesn’t let anyone go that wants to help his family financially or just wants to get rid of his own life. The exchange of sacrifices is possible if only the unchosen one is doing it for the land and not its people.” 

“Why do you care about it so much then? It did nothing for you!” 

Diana raised her head to look at him and a stray ray of moonlight caught on the prince’s face. It highlighted his slightly rugged features, making his wide silver eyes glisten brightly. There was great suffering in their depths and powerlessness that no man should ever feel. He knew what he wanted, but also knew that he was no longer capable of having it. 

“What about our promises?” he whispered, returning to the shadows. 

She closed her eyes tightly so she wouldn’t start crying. “They were never meant to be,” she answered, slowly. Each word a stab in her heart. 

“We were children then... Marry?” she asked, her lips twisting into a mockery of a smile. “You’re a crowned prince, you’ll be king in a few years if your father’s health keeps on declining. And me? A country bumpkin? It was fun while it lasted but I never deluded myself that it could actually work.” 

She stood up, turning away from him. “I had already made arrangements for my wedding with a suitable lord. Had this event not occurred, I would have visited you with a few children on my hands.” Her voice was surprisingly strong as she said that. She wondered why it didn’t break. Had she always been this strong or was it the strength of one protecting his loved ones? 

There was a gasp from behind her and she knew she had hurt him horribly. No going back now, she whispered to herself in her mind. You only need to not to break for a couple more days. That’s all you have. 

It wasn’t a happy thought but it brought reality closer to her. She was meant to die and he shouldn’t fault himself for it. He needed to think that she had never truly been his. That she was a frivolous little thing. 

She wouldn’t be there to see the anger in his eyes as he got over it so it was fine. It wasn’t like she would have to live with the pain long and he would have a happy life afterwards. It was all for the better. 

“Goodbye, my prince,” she whispered in a soft voice as she was leaving the clearing. 

She didn’t turn back to look. 

He didn’t say anything. 

She moved through the gardens with a swiftness of a terrified gazelle, evading walking couples and friend groups. Her target was the ballroom. If she went to her room, she would break so she went to the place where she would never be alone. A place where her training could take over and she could drown in her own misery without anyone knowing anything. 

The next couple of days passed in a blur. She talked, danced, acted polite and sat in her high place near the royal family. Not once had the prince approached her and she was thankful for that. 

She couldn’t cry. 

It was her choice to do this and she wanted it. Her kingdom had to survive. The princess was too important to die. The alliance her marriage would provide could keep off the war for a generation or two more. 

She couldn’t let war destroy her land simply because the magic had chosen the princess for its sacrifice. 

The carriage almost fell over as one of the wheels hit a large rock on the path. Diana laughed at that. No one even wasted a good driver for her. She was going to die for them and they didn’t even let her go to her death comfortably. 

She strengthened her hold on the window pane. It was the only way to prevent herself from jumping all around the carriage as large rocks threatened to topple it over. 

Nobody dared to go to the caves where the beast lived. That was why she was given one of the worst carriages and a drunk driver that didn’t care if he returned back home or not. There wasn’t going to be anyone to say goodbye to her as she had to walk inside. 

Alone and scared, aware of what was to come. 

The carriage stopped. She wondered if the driver fell asleep or if they actually reached the destination without any accident. She took a peak outside and saw a huge mountain towering over them. There was a path going upwards into a cave blocked by a large stone. 

She wondered how she was going to move it but she knew it was the place. Many travellers had come here and mapped this area, in earlier traditions people also came here with escorts for Offerings so there were many descriptions. 

They were very accurate but not a single one explained what was behind the rock. 

She left the carriage and with shaky legs started to move up. Her mind screamed at her to run, there was nothing stopping her. Not a single guard was in sight and she could easily take the carriage from the drunk driver. There was no reason she should die. 

But what would become of her if she survived? What would she do alone in the world? In a world which was being ravaged by a demon she released? How could she live with herself knowing that it was all her fault? 

It didn’t take her long to reach the cave. The entrance towered over her; some fifteen feet high. A large rock was blocking her path and she tried to touch it, but her hand passed right through it. Fear closed her eyes as she stepped in.

She found herself in darkness. To her surprise the cave was dry and even almost welcoming. It was nothing like the damp mountain passages near her home where droplets of water were making one’s imagination grow wild. 

Here it was peacefully silent but for the sound of deep breathing coming from somewhere ahead. Light was coming from there too so she moved in that direction. Fear tried to freeze her legs but she pushed against it with all the misplaced courage that was left in her.

In moments she rounded the corner and gasped in terror mixed with wonder. 

Right before her eyes a great creature lay in sleep. 

Myths about beings like him walking the earth could be found around the whole continent but they were so old that even the name of these creatures had been forgotten. 

Their majesty too.  

The creature was easily the size of a building; in his sleep some twenty feet high and fifty in length. He was all covered in scales like a snake and had a huge tail wrapped around himself. His feet were larger than her with talons that glistened sharply in the strange light. 

Diana looked around to find its source but to no avail. The place was simply lit by a yellow glow that was just there. 

Her eyes returned to the monstrous being as he moved. An eye opened. It was light purple with a slitted pupil. Diana felt small and insignificant under its scrutiny but stood her ground with knees shaking under her. Or more like her whole body. 

What was this great being? What did it want from her? 

“Do you mind getting rid of that dress?” it asked in a low growl like voice. It was hard to understand it with echoes flowing from all directions. The creature might have not shouted but he was still unbelievably loud. 

Then what he had asked registered in her mind. “What?” she asked in horror, her whole body turning pink from embarrassment. 

“Humans...” the monster grumbled followed by what she could have sworn was an eye roll. “Your dress will get between my teeth and it is damn hard to get it out so be nice and get it off of yourself.” 

He’s going to eat me was the only thing that Diana understood from that sentence. Her faked courage finally gave in and she stumbled backwards, fear taking control of her shaking body. What was she doing here again? She thought death was some devil that will just poof and kill her, but to be eaten? 

Her body shivered uncontrollably. 

The monster eyed her as she held herself back to the wall. “You’re not the one I asked for,” he said in a voice without any emotion. There was no surprise or anger there and it made him feel even more alien to her. This was not a human. 

“It is interesting,” he said but his voice lacked the feeling of it. 

“Why do you care?” she asked in a quiet, shaky voice. “You’re going to eat me anyway.” 

The monster rose, flexing his muscles like a man after a good night’s sleep. Then he turned to her in all his glory and she fell to her knees. This was not something one ran away from. Or fought. 

No wonder elders had all those thousands of years ago made a deal with him. How else they were going to to stop this monster from laying waste to their lands? A sacrifice every three months was better than absolute destruction. And there were many countries to share in this burden. 

“I am going to eat you and take all you memories and feelings for myself but it is strange. When I allowed for the exchange of sacrifices I wondered if it will ever happen. It took you humans more than a couple thousands of years.” 

“Our religion doesn’t allow for one to waste his life. If you die before your time, no matter from a weapon or your own hand, you’ll never see heaven. One can only die from sickness,” she whispered in a vain attempt to prolong her life. Maybe if he liked what she knew, he’d keep her around? Her mind screamed at her that she came here to die herself but fear wasn’t rational. It shut down all other voices. 

“Even if I eat them?” 

“It is a glorifying death, we remember those people, they’re our heroes but we’ll never meet them again. They won’t be there in heaven.” 

The beast grumbled loudly. Was that laughter? 

“So why did you choose it, girl? Don’t you want to live forever along with your people?” 

He stood up, towering over her like a moving mountain. How could she think like that? What could have been a good reason to die like this? Crumbled in a corner before this being? 

“I-I..” she whispered unable to find words as he lowered his head to her. His nostrils flared beside her and wisps of smoke left them. They felt hot against her sweat stained, freezing skin. 

She could fit in his mouth without even being chewed. 

“Speak, girl, or I’ll just swallow you whole and get my answers that way,” he growled at her and she covered her ears, trembling horribly. “I-I..” she started, not able to finish again. He was too close. Her teeth were chattering. 

The beast pulled his head back an inch as if getting a better look at her and she knew it was all over. He was going to eat her. 

Now. 

“I wouldn’t want to meet anyone there,” she whispered, louder than she thought was possible. Her voice was still shaking, teeth chattered but it had to be said. Those words hadn’t been admitted to even herself, although, that didn’t make them any less true. That’s why they had to be said before she died. 

It didn’t matter that an overgrown lizard would be the only one to hear them. It was more of an audience than she ever could have hoped. No gods ever listened to her prayers and people were only wolves in sheep skins. 

“At a young age I had to live in the castle because plague was spreading in our lands. No nobles accepted me because I was of too low birth and they envied me that I lived in the castle with the royal children. I was a thing of mockery for them. 

“The only ones that made me feel safe and happy were the royal kids. They played with me, not holding my low birth against me. Even loved in their own way but that didn’t mean they understood me. How could they know what it was like for a young girl without family in a huge castle where everyone either laughed at her openly or made her life living hell in secret? 

“Even my beloved prince never understood how he hurt me with his belief that everything one wanted would become true in time. He told me to get things so I would fit in, he helped me even and I smiled at that. I knew he did what he thought best for me but he had never been in my position. He was a prince! What could he have known about the horrors I faced getting up every morning? 

“And then three years ago my family came. The plague was gone and they believed that I should return. Home they called that place but what was it to me? They took me from all that was familiar and expected me to be happy? I smiled and laughed, pretending I loved it there, but it was nothing more than a blatant lie. 

“This Offering. I really hoped I would get chosen. I didn’t have a reason to live. The only person I ever cared about, my prince, was too far out of my reach. There was no way he would be aloud to marry so far below his station and I didn’t want to live in a world where I would have to see him with another.” 

Somewhere in the middle of her rant, Diana had stood up. She felt a feverish heat running through her veins as she spit out all her thoughts out. She had never admitted to them, hoping to learn to care. That one day someone will notice her suffering. 

“You sound so sure of yourself, that you hate everything in this world yet the magic aloud you to come. Do you know what that means?” the monster asked in his rumbling voice. 

The girl rested her back against the wall, but she was no longer cowering on her knees before him. It gave her strength to speak. “That your magic is faulty?” 

“This is why we never understood humans. You hate everyone around you, you wouldn’t mind much if all of them got killed, but at the same time you still love humanity as a whole.” 

“Not all humans are worthless bags of meat. That is only the nobility with their stupid rules and restrictions. The simple townsfolk live better lives. They are allowed to love and hate in open. They can show their emotions and they deserve to be saved. If I’m going to die anyway, I at least want them to admire me. That is all I ask and your magic gave it to me.” 

“Did it?” the creature asked in a tone that could have been mistaken for mockery. Was it truly emotionless?. “Do you really believe that they will love you? Won’t they betray you like everyone else had?”

“Never! They’re better than that!” she hissed, her hands finally shaking from anger instead of fear. “The townsfolk are the real humans! They symbolise everything that is good in humanity!” 

This time the creature laughed for sure. The noise rumbled through the cavern and chilled her to the bone. It wasn’t a happy sound. 

“Let’s see it then,” he said with something resembling a smile on his face. “I’ll meet you in three months and then you can tell me how amazing and self-sacrificing they are.” 

With those words he used his talons to pull her off the wall and throw in the air. She screamed bloody murder as large jaws opened beneath her. Yet she wasn’t swallowed whole. He bit her in half, blood rushing through his teeth. She screamed as insufferable pain tried to consume her. 

Her mind recognised pain for way longer than she could have ever guessed.  

LIGHT seared her eyes. It brought her mind from the obliviousness and woke her up. She felt her muscles hurting, her bones aching in places they had been cut in half. Her mind reeled from the memories of those last moments and she rose instantly. 

Eyes opened as she did that and she found herself in a circular room. There was a pulsing ball of light above a pedestal. It shone in all the colours of the rainbow, mesmerising her. She would have watched it for hours if not for the sound of wood groaning. 

She snapped her eyes in the direction of the doors. Ten mages in purple cloaks entered, their steps faltering at the sight of her. At first it was horror and anger that twisted their faces, but soon their features relaxed. They shifted to something that could almost be called wonder.

It scared her. What was happening here? Where was she? And why were the mages here. They were the ones that decided on Offerings through magic that only they knew. It was them who had doomed her by choosing the princess as their Offering. 

Her eyes narrowed as she remembered that. 

“You’re the last sacrifice,” one of them whispered. She wanted to disagree, not to be discovered as an oddity. Those that met the monster didn’t return to tell the tale.

But it had happened this time. And she didn’t even knew why. Although, as she thought of it, a distant memory came back. The creature had laughed at her, it had mentioned something about destroying her faith in humanity. 

She laughed at that. Is this was the way? What did it expect to achieve by keeping her alive? 

The mages ushered her out and she let them. She might have found the monster’s words laughable but a certain doubt lingered in her heart. What if she didn’t know something? It had to have had a reason to do this... 

For a couple of days she was tested and checked for life signs and whether she was truly who she looked. Her family along with the royals of her country were called over to recognise her. They did and it was a touching moment. 

They were overjoyed and she happy, but it wasn’t the same. She found holes in her memory. Some things were entirely gone while most were like a faint dream. Main actions could be brought back, the plans but feelings and emotions were gone as well as little details. 

It was like her memory was cut and then sewn together by a novice tailor. One that had done a mockery of the original work. Half of things were missing entirely while the rest were pulled wrongly together, losing all their meaning. 

But she was still alive. That was what mattered. She could make memories anew. To lose only one month of one’s life and have the previous life twisted, gone was still a cheap price to pay for the Offering. 

None before had had it so easy. 

Or so she thought when other countries heard of it. They were outraged. How could she survive when so many of theirs had lost their lives? It was a mockery of their sacrifice. Or so they claimed until her country agreed to let her go as the next Offering. 

Diana’s eyes widened when she heard those news. “I won’t! The magic won’t let me! I had done my part in this already!” she said as her heart picked up its pace. She could remember the monster clearly, its dagger sharp teeth and mouth that could swallow her whole. 

“You have to or else the other seven countries will wage war on us,” the queen said in a tone that brook no argument. “Didn’t you want to save us from that?” 

The girl shook from fear or anger, she wasn’t sure. It was clear she was being used, but there was nothing she could do about it. The choices were very simple for her. It was either step away and let her country suffer or return to the cave, the monster. 

Her heart urged her to refuse, it wasn’t her fault that the beast had decided to return her. She had had nothing to do with it. Yet her mind had other thoughts on it. She had told her story, intrigued the monster which resulted in her revival.

And that was the danger to her country. Her mere existence. It would be much simpler if she had died. 

Revival had made the most human instinct of survival resurface in her. She didn’t want to die now that life had been given back to her. It felt like a waste even if she knew nothing had changed, no new reason to live had appeared. 

“I did,” she said to the queen, her back straightening up. It had to be done, just like before. She had chosen her fate to be an Offering for the goodness of her country. Nothing had changed. 

A month and a half she lived in the magicians’ castle. It belonged to no country so she was safe there and many people came to see her as if she was some kind of a spectacle. They wondered why she was still alive, why she was brought back. 

This was high magic that had been lost to the world. The monster was the only one capable of using it as it was the last one of his kind left. And with the loss of them the magic in the world weakened. 

People feared that if the creature was to die, the last of magic would disappear from the world. It wasn’t only safeness of the land that the magicians protected with the sacrifices. 

Stolen novel; please report.

She found the questions and meetings tiresome but did everything none the less. It was for the goodness of her country. There was no need for her to be happy if she lived only to die in a couple of weeks. 

It felt like years to her, though, but when the moment to leave came, she felt it had been too short. She wanted another month, week or at least an hour. This was too soon. Her time had been so short. 

She didn’t want to meet the monster again. 

But she did. The cave was the same as the last time she’d seen. A warm glow lighted the place where the beast slept. It breathed slowly, its sides moving in a steady rhythm. But this time one of the eyes was already open. 

The purple slitted pupil was the size of her head. It was hard to say if any emotion was there from the sheer size and closeness of it. “You are back. I wondered if you would return,” the live mountain grumbled, not bothering to raise its head at her approach.

She took a couple of steps, unknowingly returning to the wall she had been standing beside the last time. “It is my choice. I decided to protect the people. I need to do this.” Her voice lacked the resolve it should have had but at least it didn’t break. 

It had worried her for a long while that she would stammer, won’t be able to talk back. For some reason she didn’t want to look weak against this being. He was locked up, confided and forced on a diet. This thing could never have the higher moral ground than she. 

“Then come over,” the monster growled, opening its jaws. The teeth that came into view were half her size each, canines being even larger. In the warm light they shone pearly white. Healthy, sharp. 

This time all of her courage fled in an instant. Her body shivered, knees giving out beneath her. Skirts swooshed around her as she fell into them; hiding within. The creature growled at that. Then it stood up and she saw her end coming. 

There weren’t going to be any long conversations, she knew that in a moment. No way to prolong her life. She closed her eyes and rather felt than saw giant talons picking her up. They tore the dress in places, cutting her skin without even trying to. 

Then she felt herself flung to the ground, air rushed out of her lungs and eyes opened to see talons descending on her. They landed on her torso, covering the lower half of her body. 

Giant head closed in on her and she would have wished it had been the end. Yet the pain had other ideas. It seared through her whole body, and even when it was torn in two. She could feel phantom limbs and feel them being chewed on. 

She tried to scream but no sound came out of her ghostly lips. Agony clouded her mind, losing her in its burning grip but she still had one last thought. 

This hardly was her last death. 

“YOU’RE back here again,” a voice whispered as she felt air kissing her skin. It was a nice feeling until memories flooded her mind. talons tearing her skin, teeth piercing her organs. A whimper escaped her lips as she curled into a ball, trying to banish the lingering feelings. 

“Are you okay?” It was a familiar tone, one that calmed her frayed nerves and she opened her eyes. It was the crown prince of her country.  

She wondered what he was doing here but it wasn’t her place to ask such questions. “Your highness,” she whispered, raising from her place and bowing low. “I’m sorry for the condition you have found me in.” 

“Diana? What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to her and taking her into his arms. There were bags under his eyes and paleness in his face. What had happened and why was he calling her in such a familiar manner. She was no one, a lowly noble with barely a name to herself. 

She escaped his hands and took a step away, looking around. They were in a oval room with a ball of light of all colours shining in the centre. It made strange shadows appear and shift around. “I remember this place. I’m reborn again, aren’t I?” she whispered in a broken whimper. 

It was obvious what was going to happen next. Wizards, questions, orders and the cave again. Tears threatened to come out but she shook her head violently, biting her lip. 

She had promised not to cry. 

The prince moved in closer to her. “Diana? What is going on? You look so pale!” 

“I’m sorry your highness,” she whispered taking a step back. “What is it you want of me? I don’t have much to tell about my last encounter with the monster. It was very short.” 

“Diana! Diana!” he shouted out, grabbing her by the shoulders, shaking her. “What are you talking about? Why are you acting this way?” 

She could see pain in his eyes, worry written all over his face but couldn’t understand it. Was he worried about his sister? But that didn’t make sense. The girl was safe now that she had taken up the Offering. “Prince?” she asked in a soft voice. 

Doors opened with a loud bang and both of them turned their heads in that direction. Five mages in their purple robes entered with narrowed eyes. They didn’t look happy to see them here. 

“So she’s back again,” one of them murmured quietly. 

“That she is,” another added in an even lower tone. Then he raised his voice, aiming it at the two of them. “My prince, may I ask what are you doing here? It is a private area.” 

“I- I- I was waiting for her!” he said and Diana’s head snapped in his direction. What was he talking about? Why would he wait for her? 

“That is not the best of decisions, your highness. You know she’s a mystery now. There’s no telling whether she’s still the same person you’ve known.” 

Diana took a step backwards. Not the person he’d known? Did she knew him? That didn’t make any sense! There was nothing in her memory to suggest anything of the kind! 

One of the mages came closer to her. He stopped a few feet away. “Do you know who you are?” 

“Diana of... of House Fioravn,” she answered, her eyes darting around the room. What was going on here. Something was very very wrong. 

“Who is in your family?” 

“Me.. mother and father... and, and.” For some reason it was very hard to remember. She had to search her mind thoroughly until she came upon the information. “And my two brothers!” 

The mage released a *hmm* sound and then asked another question. “Where did you spend your childhood?” 

This was even harder. She racked her brain but it was empty. There wasn’t a single memory. Or wait, there was something about the royal family when she was around five. But it was most likely her family visiting the capital for some celebration. 

“With my family, in our house. Why?” 

A sharp intake of breath caught her attention. The prince looked mortified by her answer. “You... You don’t remember?” he asked in a shaky voice. 

“Remember what?” 

“The plague! Your parents sent you to the capital and you lived with us in the castle!” his words were quick and sharp, loud to her ears. But they didn’t bring any memories with them. It was a blank state where her childhood had been. “We were the best of friends! We did everything together! How could you forget?” 

He was shouting by the end but Diana felt nothing. It seemed like a huge misunderstanding to her. Sure her memories were a bit scattered, but she couldn’t have forgotten having been friends with the prince. Could she? 

She shook her head with a smile. Not a chance. All the girls dreamed about meeting the prince at least once in their lives. There’s no way she would have ever forgotten their meeting. 

“I think you have mistaken me for someone else,” she said with a small smile. “I’m sorry.” 

The prince lurched back from her words as if someone had hit him. His eyes clouded with what couldn’t possibly be tears. They collected in the corners of his eyes but he brushed them off with the back of his hand. 

Then he gave her a long look and turned around, walking swiftly out. 

Diana felt a need to reach out to him, her hand even rose up, but what was she going to say? She didn’t know him. He had mistaken her for someone and it would be horrible of her to pretend otherwise. 

Especially when her interest in him was as shallow as of all those other girls. She didn’t know enough about him to have real feelings and tricking him so horribly was wrong. It would be too cruel. 

“Diana!” came a scream from behind the double doors and her mother rushed in. She had gained some weight in the last month but seemed to have been in good health. “Diana! You’re alive!” 

“Mother,” she whispered, wrapping her hands around her. She was soft and warm, her hair smelling of flowers and trees. It reminded her of her childhood in the fields and a sudden melancholy came over her. It was all gone. She had two months before the next Offering had to be made and it was obvious who was going to do it. 

A shiver ran past her body at the memory and mother squeezed her tighter. “You’re so thin. Were they starving you? That’s unacceptable! You need to eat!” she rambled and Diana listened to her voice. It had a calming effect on her nerves and a smile broke on her face.

“Thanks,” she whispered in her mother’s ear and took a step back to glance at the rest of her family. The two brothers stood identical, like supporting pillars at the doors, though they weren’t twins. Right behind them father waited, a warm smile on his lips. 

The magicians didn’t let her leave with her family, but instead they were all allowed to stay within the neutral castle. That is more than Diana had expected and she was ecstatic. She wouldn’t have to be alone this time. 

It was a huge boost to her morale and the constant questions and tests didn’t manage to dampen her mood. Only the prince was capable of that. For some reason he had stayed and each of their meetings ended in disaster. There was just so much awkwardness between them. 

One she could not find a reason for no matter how much she thought about it. 

But soon enough her thoughts were cut off. The Offering was days away and everyone knew she was going to go. No one even asked her, like the previous time she’d revived. It was disappointing in a way. 

Everyone expected her to just sacrifice herself for them. None gave her anything, no one even said thanks. It almost felt like they thought she was doing this for the fun of it. 

When at one point she mentioned refusing, the whole castle went into an uproar. Ambassadors started threatening her country, nobles made an obvious effort to evade her in the halls and servants stopped coming to aid her. Even magicians, the so called neutral party, went out of their way to make her life miserable. 

They created little spells so that she would trip, tear a gown. Others kept questioning her for hours till she would storm out, unable to take it any longer. This ripple then would turn into a wave in the gossip waters and make her into a laughing stock for a time being. 

It was the last straw when she left for the town in a nearby kingdom and a villager spit before her feet. Many others cursed her in her face for selfishness, letting a child go in her place. Apparently, for the next Offering magic had chosen a six year old girl. 

Under normal circumstances there would be no way to exchange for her, but Diana had a feeling it was no longer so. The monster had taken a liking to her and wasn’t going to let something as age old agreements dampen his entertainment. 

She was going to be the Offering and that was that. No one was giving her a choice. 

On the Offering’s day, she was alone. Her mother had cried her eyes out the day before, promising to pray for her return. Diana had no heart to tell her she’d rather she didn’t. It was painful enough already to see everyone turning on her, not caring that she’d seen more than her share of horrors. 

How many times can a person die before going mad? 

“Are you ready?” the prince asked and she turned to find him coming to the carriage’s front. 

She nodded, not trusting herself to say a word. Any little thing could make her bolt. The memory of talons and teeth descending on her was clearer than anything else in her mind. Sound of her body breaking in two, then more pieces. 

No, she couldn’t think about it. Instead she focused on the prince who looked like a ghost of himself. His hair had been cleaned and groomed but had gone shabby in the months since she’d woken up. Face withdrawn and lined with worries unknown. 

What was he even doing here? Where was her usual driver? 

“Please, get in. I will drive you,” he said as if sensing her thoughts. 

It was unusual but who was she to question the royalty. They lived by rules unknown to her. Maybe this was some sign of consideration to the people? Proof to everyone that they cared? 

She shook her head and put her foot on the first step. That was when she heard voices coming from nearby. They were loud and distinctly worried. Something had happened in the wizards’ castle. 

“Get in!” the prince grated out, pushing her inside the carriage unceremoniously. Then he jumped on the driver’s seat and whipped the horses into motion. 

Carriage lurched and Diana found herself thrown against the back seat. The horses were set in a gallop and it took her some time to get her bearings, sit up and glance through the window. 

They were going in the wrong direction. 

The path to the monster’s cave had been etched into her memory from previous times and this wasn’t it. If she had to guess, they were going in the opposite direction. 

It made no sense. 

She tried shouting out to the prince but he either didn’t hear her or pretended not to. But what reason could he have to? It was the day of Offering, she had to be there. Why did he want to prolong her suffering? Was he that cruel? Did he think she wanted a last look at the lands? Things she was going to lose? 

Carriage hit stones and veered off the path once but the prince did not slow down the horses for a moment. No, he only encouraged them to go faster and faster. Grasslands or dirt roads, he cared nothing for any of them. He just pushed the horses to hurry. Even as sweat drenched their coats and white foam started dripping from their nostrils. 

“Slow down!” Diana shouted out, fearing for the animals and herself but winning no notice. The prince had turned to her on hearing her voice but shifted away in an instant, ignoring her presence. 

What was he doing? Diana held onto the seat, looking through the scenery flashing beside her. They were going to hit something very soon and that would be that. At least she wouldn’t have to go to the monster then. 

It was all for the better. 

She leaned against the seat, trying to tell herself this was the right thing. If she died in a crash, there would be no more revivals. Her body would rot and decay, maybe get buried or burned. No more Offerings, no more teeth like swords plunging into her soft flesh. 

This would be swift and over in a second. No more suffering. People will be able to find another sacrifice. It will be like it had always been. The monster will have to find someone else to amuse him. 

When she was close to believing that, sound of horse hooves reached her ears. They were thundering right after and she dared a look through the window. Twenty or so riders were galloping behind the carriage, catching up quickly. 

The prince whipped the horses again and again but the animals could not go faster. He cursed and damned them, shifting in the driver’s seat like a man possessed. 

His bedraggled voice scared Diana. She pushed herself against the seat, closing her eyes and praying. No deities came to mind but that did not matter. The familiar mantra murmured in her mind should have been enough. 

But the prince’s voice lanced through all her defences, painting her heart in blood. Without understanding why, she found herself crying. Choking on tears and sorrow. It felt like she was being torn to pieces. Her life blood being stolen away. 

And then the riders were on them. Someone jumped on the driver’s seat and managed to wrestle the reigns from the prince. He fought like a wild beast but they subdued him and bound him in place. 

She watched his tear ravaged face as he was being put over a horse and another rider went off with him. There were words on his lips - whispers - but she could not make them out. Her own vision was too bleary. 

Someone checked on her and said he’ll take her to the place. She nodded without paying any attention. What were these emotions? Why did she feel like something had gouged out her insides? 

She hadn’t known the prince!  

Why did it feel then like this was a betrayal? Like she had done something unspeakable? 

Her mind and heart were working on different wavelengths. She couldn’t understand anything at all. Nothing made sense any longer. There was just pain and more of it to come. 

She was standing before the cave, huge boulder blocking the entrance. Someone was telling her to enter, whether she needed help in a shaky voice. It was understandable. Something normal for once. No one wanted to die. 

Yet, why then they expected her to do it for them?  

He pushed her but she caught herself before entering. “I don’t want to,” she whispered in a broken voice. “I don’t want to...” 

“You have to!” came a squeaky reply. The man’s voice had grown very thin as he watched her with wide, terrified eyes. “You have to!” 

And before she could disagree again he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her into the boulder. The man’s shocked surprise of her passing through was the last sight of the outside world. 

Inside she turned around and tried passing back out but the wall was solid rock. She hit and hit it, her skin bruising and painting the wall red until she tired. There was no getting out. 

Talons scrapping against stone made her turn around. The mountainous monster had stood up and was making its way towards her. “Have you had enough?” he asked in a loud rumble. 

She covered her ears, closing her eyes. If she didn’t see him, maybe... 

Her childish thought was interrupted by something sharp getting in contact with her side. She opened her eyes to see talons the size of her gently scooping her up.  

“You don’t seem very happy to be here,” the creature rumbled again. Its giant purple eye was turned towards her. 

A shiver ran down Diana’s back as she choked out a reply, “I don’t want to die.” 

The eye blinked. “What about all those people then? Do you want them to die?” 

“No..” she whispered in a gasp of pain. The talon was slicing into her side so very softly. If not the searing pain, she would have never noticed its pressure. 

The monster didn’t say anything more and Diana saw the gaping jaws before her. She scrambled, trying to get away but there was no escape. She was like a fly locked within the creature’s talons, only able to await its demise. 

Her body was thrown in and teeth descended on her form. They pierced her flesh, biting bones in half as she screamed at the top of her lungs. Blood rushed into her mouth and she choked on it, spluttering. 

Unbearable agony pierced her every limb and she shrieked again and again. Each nerve was on fire as it was torn apart. The creature was chewing her into small bits before swallowing in leisure. 

By the time it was finished she was nothing more than a bundle of shrieks. 

“WELCOME back.” 

She screamed as loud as her lungs could manage. Her voice bounced off the walls as pain racked her body. She shrieked and shrieked from the memories, feeling herself being cut again and again. There was no end to it. 

Someone tried to cover her mouth and she jumped on them in full force, clawing their eyes out as she wailed. Her body was a mess of shouting muscles, each remembering what it was like being torn apart. 

Diana opened her eyes to see the man shivering beneath her. His face was all blooded but she couldn’t make herself care. That pain, that pain... Tears streamed her face as she shook, crawling near the wall to wrap her hands around herself. 

She tried pushing the memory away but it wasn’t moving. Being swallowed in one gulp, torn in half, chewed to small pieces; all the various deaths the creature had acquainted her with. Each more agonising than the last. 

“Diana!” a rotund woman past her glory days dashed towards her with a sob in her voice. 

Diana raised her head, shuffling away from the woman. What did she want from her? Her body still shook from the remembered pain, forcing her to hold it together with her hands. 

“Dear, what is wrong?” the woman asked, stopping a few steps away. She wrenched her hands, staring with sorrowful eyes at her. 

The girl lowered her gaze, the pain at the woman’s only making her more uncomfortable. “Who are you?” she asked softly. 

“Diana!” came a loud scream. She raised her head to find the woman dropping before her, trying to take her into her arms. 

Diana released herself in an instant and crawled backwards out of range. “I don’t know you,” she said in a steel tone. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t let herself be taken advantage of. 

This broken body was all she had. Her only mortal possession. 

Wizards in purple robes entered the room and took the woman out. She struggled in their hands but then let herself be led out. Then the men returned and circled Diana. 

Interest gleamed in their dark eyes. “Who are you?” one of them asked. 

“Diana,” she whispered, darting her gaze from one face to another. All of them wore identical masks of avarice, seizing her up and down. Not a single expression giving her hope. 

“What is your family?” another asked. 

She thought about it but there was nothing in her mind. It was blank. There were no recollections of her childhood, loving faces of her parents. It was as if she had never even lived, a shell of a human.

“I don’t have them,” she said in an blank tone, eyes growing by the moment. “I don’t have anyone!” she screamed out, grabbing onto her hair, pulling at it. 

There was nothing in her memory. Nothing but the recollection of teeth and talons, a staring purple orb. How could this be all she’s known? “No!” she screamed out, pulling a handful of her hair, digging nails into her scalp/

“No!” This couldn’t be! Pain laced her mind but it didn’t matter. How could she be empty? Where did all her memories go? This was wrong! It couldn’t be so! 

Hands grabbed onto her and she twisted, kicking one of her attackers. What were they doing? Had they done this to her? She jumped on one of the robed figures and dug her nails into his face. The scream that left the man’s lips was like a victory signal for her. 

Shifting she punched a man between his legs and rose to rush another. He ducked in fear and she kicked his head, sending him rolling. Her leg ached but what did it matter. These people, they had done this to her! It was because of them that she was nothing now, a shadow of a human. 

Nothing but torturous deaths left to haunt her memory. 

Rage mixed with hatred and pain sending her forward, into a cluster of cowering figures. They had been murmuring something under their breaths, aiming towards her but the attack shattered their concentration. She kicked and punched, stomping on anyone fallen, digging into those she caught. 

They all had to suffer! Maybe then they would understand! How could they do this to her? What did she do to deserve it? Her hand squeezed around the neck. The man was red, turning purple. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet, not yet. 

Only in death he would understand. They all needed to be made to understand!    

Doors banged open but she paid no attention to it. She was so close. Another moment and ... 

Hands dragged her off her victim. She kicked and bit but the hand holding her was mailed. All her attacks were turned void. Nothing she did could ever cause the man damage. 

She screamed her frustration, twisting and shifting, hitting the armoured vulture holding her. He was telling her something but the words made no sense. Calm down? How could she do that? 

He did not understand. None of them understood! 

They wanted her to die. And she knew she would be forced to do that again. Her body shook at the memory and tears streamed down her face. “No, please, no!” she wailed. “No, not again!” 

Something was put against her mouth, acidic breaths and she fell into a fitful sleep. 

When she woke up again, there were bars around her. People came to stare at her, laughing and whispering. No one dared to get closer. Whenever she stood up, people squeaked and left in a hurry. 

Prince came once with bodyguards flanking him that seemed to pay more attention to the prince himself, rather than watching her for suspicious movements.  He said some meaningless words and she was relieved when he left. No one else from the royal family visited her. 

The woman claiming to be her mother paid a few visits but Diana did not believe her. There was no way she would have forgotten her own mother. She must have been a nobody, girl from the street. That’s why it was so easy to wipe her memory clean. 

Only constant visitors were the people in long, ground reaching robes. They questioned her about everything; past, present and general information. She never answered. Then they would whisper amongst themselves and use magic. It reached towards her; probing, invading her body, searching for something that wasn’t there. And after they’d whisper again. 

Sometimes she’d wake up strapped to chair as they poured something into her mouth and argued about the results. They wanted to know what made her special, why the beast took her life but repeatedly brought her back. It was an enigma and they couldn’t leave it at that. 

They had to know. 

But did not listen. She tried telling them that the creature was amused, that it enjoyed tormenting her, wanted to see her break; no one heard. They called her words mad ramblings and looked for reasons in places they weren’t in. 

It was maddening to suffer through their experiments when she knew they’d find nothing. They were looking in the wrong place and the day was coming up. She had heard the Offering was now only weeks away. Shivers racked her body at the thought but no one minded. 

Just another show of madness from the sacrifice. 

Somehow the fact that she was going to be sacrificed made them think everything was right. They did unspeakable experiments on her, hoping to find the reason why she was so special. Each day woke her with a promise of another painful encounter. Her body was a map of all the torture ideas the wizards could come up with. 

At some point she even came to long for the beast’s touch. If nothing else, it would be quick. The excruciating pain would tear her mind apart but, at least, it would last but a moment and she would be dead. For a month or so. 

Still, when they brought her near the cave in an iron cage, all such thoughts disappeared. Memory of razor-sharp talons ripping her flesh apart, teeth crushing her lungs, shattering bones until searing agony was all she knew made it all irrelevant. 

She couldn’t return there. Not again. No more. 

Her hands clawed through the space between bars but no one was stupid enough to enter within her reach. An entourage of people were coming with her to the cave but of those she was alone. 

Most of the people around were soldiers to ensure she reached her destination and the rest were wizards. They were intrigued by how she was going to enter. Couple had tried pushing other people through the stone boulder but none had passed. It was a solid structure, like a building’s wall.

Even now they tried to get a few in but without any more success than before. So, it was time to send her in. 

“No!” she screamed but it was as if everyone was deaf to her cries. She wailed and cursed, begged and pleaded but not a single head turned her way. The cage moved closer and closer to the stone boulder. 

“Please...” she whispered, rattling the bars with her dirt smeared hands. Blood was trickling down from her knuckles with which she’d hit the iron surrounding her. 

It meant nothing. She pushed the bars with all her strength once she saw the boulder but they didn’t budge. They were made of iron after all. Nothing she did could even leave a mark on them. 

And the stone was right before her. She pushed as far away from it as she could but it was still too close. No more than three meters separated her from the monster inside. 

“No, please, no!” she begged but the cart was being pushed forward. It’s back went through as if there was nothing in its path.Turning away from it she clawed at the back, reaching for something, anything. 

Nothing was in her range. Hands went through air, their movements pointless into absurdity. Same as her cries and pleas. No one heard them. 

And she was within the cave. 

Soft light welcomed her in and she pulled herself into a ball, whimpering. Any time now the beast would come to tear her apart. Moments passed as she listened to her own rapid breathing but nothing changed. There was no sounds of clicking talons, giant body being dragged through the floor. Tentatively she uncurled and glanced upwards. 

Staring purple eye met her gaze. She flinched from its attention but there were nowhere to move. Cage had her closed to the wall, unable to even stand up. 

“I don’t eat metal,” the monster rumbled. 

She trembled at his attention but he was waiting for her reply. Wetting her lips, she stammered out a reply. “Than- thank your followers!” 

“Not followers,” the beast growled, raising his front left foot. It sliced through the metal as if it was cheese. “Insects, barely worth the name.” 

The cutting had opened the path out for Diana but she didn’t move. Once she was out, only one thing awaited her. 

Beast seemed to read her mind. “Get out, girl. You don’t want me fishing you out myself.” 

There was no anger or threat in his tone. It didn’t feel like he cared for either choice she made. More nuisance or less, to him it was no difference. 

On shivering legs Diana pushed herself up and went through the opening. Metal caught on her skin, cutting it. Blood trickled out but she barely noticed the wound. Her eyes were set on the monster standing way over her head, eyeing her with its head turned to the side. 

The moment she took a few steps away from the cage, the beast grabbed it and threw through the wall. It passed without a hitch. “Ha,” he mumbled, in what closely resembled satisfaction. 

Trembling, Diana moved to see what he was so happy about. The wall had turned see-through, revealing chaos outside. The cart with her cage had smashed into a line of wizards, killing many, injuring more while finishing its flight against a carriage. 

Clearing before the cave had a lot of space, but both the cart and carriage were thrown off a cliff with someone screaming loudly from within. Horses, frightened by the sudden sight and smell of blood, bridled. Soldiers were thrown off, couple trampled in the mad dash. 

Those lucky enough to be out of danger, stood staring, unable to comprehend. Their faces were colourless as they watched the chaos surrounding them. But it didn’t last. 

A commander suddenly shouted out and all eyes turned towards him. He gave orders and relieved soldiers went to their tasks; looking for horses, helping those injured. 

Wall started to shimmer and Diana dashed towards it. Maybe, just maybe. 

Her hands met solid surface. She hit it, screamed at it. Shouted all the most vilest curses she had ever heard. 

“You’re not leaving this place,” the beast murmured behind her and she felt herself being pried off the wall. Talons cut into her skin as she was thrown into the wide jaws, swallowed whole. 

But she didn’t die that instant. No, her body was mangled and crushed going down to the beast’s insides. There acids slowly ate at her, disintegrating her little by little. 

Tears corroded her eyes. Screams brought agony. Breathing was a torture unto itself.  

In time, her mind just let go. It had reached its breaking point and passed over, miles in. There was no longer anywhere to hide, anything to hold onto. Her whole world but a memory of pain.  

AND she was awake again. Iron bars surrounded her as she opened her eyes. Circle of wizards stood around her but she no longer cared. They asked and questioned, tortured answered out of her but her mouth stayed silent. 

They had nothing that could be compared to what she’d lived through. Death upon death piled in her mind, all for the reason she could no longer recall. Had she really chosen this for herself? 

It was a question that made her laugh. Loud, cackling, bitter. No one could mistake it for a joyous sound. Wizards wanted to know what brought it out but she had nothing to say to them. They were monsters even worse than the beast. 

At least it didn’t pretend. 

Two months passed in a blink of an eye and the cart with her cage was pulled up next to the cave. People were scared to move in close but she needed to be pushed in. Some drunks were sacrificed for the task. No one would miss them, after all. 

Moments before she would be inside, she turned towards the wizards. “One day,” she whispered, opening her mouth for the first time in months. Her voice was ragged, rough from disuse but it would be good enough. “I will kill you all,” she promised. “Just you wait. I’ll kill every single one of you. I vow it upon this broken soul of mine that won’t die!” 

Smirks and chuckles came from the robed figures but she did not care. They would suffer, just as she had suffered. She would make it happen. All the time of the world was in her possession. 

Inside the beast freed her from the cage, throwing it out once more. He didn’t need trash littering his lair. 

“You smell familiar,” the monster bellowed. 

Diana stood up, facing him with a level gaze. “Maybe because you’ve eaten me more times than you can count?” 

“No...” her drawled, lowering his head so the eye was right before her. She could hit it if she had any weapon but that would achieve nothing more than a more painful death to her. Maybe even eternal rest, something she no longer wished for. 

“You’ve become like me,” the monster finally said, closing his giant eye. “It is over.”  

“No!” she screamed out. “No! It’s not over! Those bastards have to pay! They have to die! Each and every one of them!” She was panting from her rage but the eye did not open again. “Say something! You can’t just stop this now! What would it be for then? All that you made me go through! I need to make them pay...” Her voice broke at the last sentence and she started weeping. 

All that those wizards were unable to achieve with their many torture methods, this beast brought out in but a moment. Few words and everything was blasted to pieces. Her mind shattered like a castle of glass. 

“So, you want revenge?” he asked her in a voice that almost resembled a human’s. She looked upwards at him, wondering whether she had heard right. Was he really offering her what she thought he was? 

His eye opened to regard her. “I’ll still need to eat, the taste of human emotions is the only thing that interests me in this cursed world.” 

Her heart leapt at his words. Eat. She was nothing more than food. Unique somehow, but still just a meal. For a second her mind wondered why would a creature like him call this world cursed but it was but a fleeting thought. 

“I don’t care,” she hissed at him. “I don’t give a damn what happens to me. They need to suffer! All of them! I’ll be glad if this world turns to ash!” Steeling her body not to shake, she added through dry lips. “Get on with it.” 

The monster took a step forward, soundless. “See you on the other side,” he rumbled. One of the girl’s lips tugged slightly upwards as the huge beast moved towards her and razor sharp teeth descended to swallow her whole.