Her spirit was bruised, her body shattered. However, despite the pain she persisted.
She could hear the slow deliberate echo of footsteps. She didn't even flinch.
Pleading with them will yield nothing positive.
The result was the same: whether the warriors were there to drag her to her execution or the guards were there to torture her, it would definitely lead to death unless Ravena and the warriors she came with strikes fast.
While she laid on the cold floor, a pair of feet in boots stood close to her. She quickly shut her eyes tight, trembling slightly.
"Traitor," a voice bellowed.
Her arm was grabbed by a rough hand which pulled her off the ground.
Her legs almost buckled under her as she was pulled to her feet, pain exploding through her body.
She let out a sharp gasp, but she suppressed the pain to cry, not wanting to satisfy them.
With the little ounce of strength left in her, she struggled against the man's hold but he held her tight.
Writhing on the cold floor, he walked menacingly, closed his calloused fingers around her hair, and then dragged her up.
She yelped as pain surged through her scalp, down to the root of her hair.
As he tightened his hold on her arm the man sneered, "You whore you'll die soon enough."
A look of disgust curled Selene's lip. Something broke inside her. She gathered all the saliva in her mouth and spat with anger and hate directly into his face before she could stop herself.
Silence fell in the dungeon for a moment. Then, a slap!
Her face was struck by the back of his hand causing her to reel. Stars blazed behind her eyelids as her head jerked to one side.
She staggered and could hardly stay upright. A thick and bitter metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
She spat out crimson droplets onto the cold stone floor. However, he wasn't done.
His boot crashed into her stomach before she could get her senses.
She let out a strangled gasp of air. She was briefly in the air before her back struck the wet wall.
Her spine erupted in pain. As pain tore through her body she fell to the ground and curled up.
With a laugh the warrior moved closer, his boot scuffing the stone as he readied himself to attack once more.
Then, a Swift movement in a blur. A gleam of sword. Then chaos broke out.
Under the faint dungeon light, Ravena struck first moving like a shadow and flashing her sword.
She slashed the warrior's throat with the tip of her blade. It sprayed blood on the walls. A gurgling sound came out of the man's mouth and he staggered, his hands flying to his neck.
Then he passed out and fell. The other warriors, including Ethan, lunged at the remaining guards.
Swords clashed. The air was full of snarls and grunts. With her head spinning Selene attempted to push herself up, still weak.
When one of Rylan's warriors swung his blade at Ethan. Ethan dodged, rolled, and approached from behind, piercing the man's ribs with his dagger.
After letting out a choked scream, the warrior fell to his knees.
A second one lunged at Ravena. She swerved, moving as smoothly as water then slashed her sword through his chest.
When the final guard saw his fellows were dropping like flies he moved and fled.
" No!" snarled Ethan and he sprang forward to chase the warrior. It was too late though.
In the tunnel, the man was already gone. Selene's heart drummed ferociously. And she began to pant, completely breathless.
Ravena knew instantly that their cover had been blown away. Soon, the alarm will sound.
As she stood over a body, Ravena pulled out her sword, blood dripping down its blade.
Although her breathing was steady and under control her jaw tightened in exasperation.
At her feet lay the remains of Rylan's warriors. Blood gathered around their corpses.
Then, there was a sharp clang.
The bell.
Selene felt a knot in her stomach. Only in dire circumstances was the bell ring, calling forth the Shadowfang Pack warriors.
They'd been exposed. There was no more time for them.
Ethan did not waste time. Hurrying forward he took Selene by the arm and pulled her to her feet.
She fought to keep up with his quick movements while biting back a cry of pain.
Ravena's mind raced as her eyes darted to the entrance of the tunnel. "We have to move."
From the passage beyond came the sound of rushed feet.
The warriors of the Shadowfang were approaching. In an attempt to ignore the pain, Selene balled her fists. They had to get away quickly.
As they hurried off, Selene's breath came in short gasps.
Ethan carried her on his shoulder as he began to run
Even though Selene's body felt weightless on Ethan's wide shoulder, he felt a sense of urgency with each step.
As he ran, his boots banged against the wet tunnel floor, and he exhaled sharply.
He felt her chest slightly rise and fall as her long, tangled hair brushed against his back, and she hardly stirred.
" Move move!" Ravena commanded sharply as she took the lead, her blade slick with blood.
The angry cries of Shadowfang fighters reverberated through the tunnels behind them, their sound like a never-ending drumbeat.
Ethan firmly grasped Selene's waist. She couldn't run because she was too weak.
Too weak to resist but still alive. Ravena hissed. "Faster!"
Before turning back to the path in front of her. Her piercing eyes briefly flew to Ethan.
Following the map that was ingrained in her memory, she turned abruptly at the next bend and guided them through the labyrinth of underground passageways.
The force of their pursuers made the walls tremble.
Sounds of hurrying feet and the clang of armor filled the air.
Then, with a sharp speed, an arrow flew past Ethan's ear and hit the tunnel wall.