7. Chapter 7

"Wake up!"

I open my eyes to the darkness around me. When did I fall asleep?

There is faint light coming from the opened door of this stupid dungeon. At least this isn't someplace that is dirty and creepy.

"Yes?" I ask, while I try to focus on who is standing right in front of me.

There are two uzains. When I sit on the floor, they look even taller and more muscular.

One is the captain with that ugly, annoying face and the other is Zil, who I don't hate with the same intensity. One is better than the other, but both are bad for me.

I sit up. Maybe they are here to punish me. There's nothing around me for me to defend myself with. The other uzain brought me food, but he also took everything away when I was done with it.

The captain comes over and grabs my throat, yanking me off the ground. "Look, it is time for you to pay up."

"I'm not owing you anything." I sneer at that. "If anything, you should be the one regretting this."

The captain laughs. He laughs so hard that I'm shaking in his hand and it feels like I've said something wrong. But I know I'm right. He just thinks he gets to do whatever he wants to.

He drops me onto the floor. I grunt when I land on my ass. The padded floor makes it a bit better, but not enough for me to stop hating this place.

Before I can blink, a fiery lash lands on my back. Fuck... I thrust my back out, which should at least be better than taking the hit on my stomach and my face.

Zil hisses, but he says nothing. Is that a hiss for me? To warn me?

The captain whips me a few more times before he stops. I open my eyes to a thin line, only to see...

Zil is grabbing the captain's wrist and they are glaring at each other with their horns lowered. If I let out a loud breath, maybe they will explode.

Captain hisses and talks in a language I don't speak. Zil says something back, which is almost a growl.

It doesn't take another growl before the captain punches Zil in the stomach.

Then...

There are groans and both of them are on the ground, wrestling each other. They probably have other weapons with them, but they are fighting with punches and kicks.

Why are they fighting?

I thought they were here to beat me up or something.

I inch away when the two of them are tangled on the ground.

My heart races at that. It is quite a thing to be watching these two big guys fight. Not to mention having no idea what is happening.

Zil kicks the captain, and he stumbles to the side. Zil stands and shrugs, seemingly relatively unscratched.

The captain holds his stomach and stands, sneering at Zil with his horns lowered. Zil says something and they argue a bit longer before the captain glares at me.

What did I even do? I've been sitting here, getting whipped, and dodging these crazy ones who are fighting each other.

The captain says something more while Zil sneers again. Eventually, the captain lets out a growl at me and he leaves.

Zil remains in the room, and he watches me. His arms are folded. The whip sits on the floor, almost as if it is glaring at me.

I swallow. Does this mean I'm safe? Like... the two of them fought for me?

But that makes no sense at all. Why would Zil care about me?

He comes over and I move back. It doesn't take long before the wall stops me. He gets even closer. The whip is left on the floor away from us, but he doesn't need that to break me.

I shiver and close my eyes, waiting for what he wants to do to me.

He says, "You seem scared."

I don't want to be scared, but how he just fought is a bit too threatening. I'd die and wouldn't stand a chance, not that I'd even try.

More importantly, are they trying something together? Zil pretending to be the nice one?

But the captain said he was here to punish me. There's no reason he would want to be nice to me.

"Look at me."

I force my eyes open. He is so close to my face that his hot breath kisses my face.

His eyes stare into mine with an intensity that can burn me alive. Yet, he isn't threatening. I don't understand, though. He is such a big guy and...

Maybe he will hug me.

That's such a dumb thought. Why would he hug me?

More importantly, why would I want his hug?

He is still watching me. I ask, "Hey, is there something on my face?"

He blinks as if he isn't looking at me. "Are you hurt?"

Oh... Now... I'm very aware of the whipping marks on me. The fiery heat goes through me and the lashes throb. "I think so."

He straightens and... turns to the door. Maybe he hears a footstep or two. But that doesn't concern me any more than...

He probably isn't aware, but when he stands, his crotch is right above my head and I can't stop my eyes from staring at...

Fuck... Why must I keep staring at his cock?

He is a big male, so he probably has a huge one, too.

Dammit... Why am I even thinking about that?

He turns back to me from the door. It doesn't take a lot before he lifts his brows at me. "What is it?"

I finally managed to look away, but he had already caught me. I swallow. "Nothing. I'm just... I don't understand why you are fighting and all that. And it is pretty clear that both of you don't want to give me a single idea."

He blinks but says nothing. Yet, he grabs my shoulders and picks me up from the floor.

"Hey!" I move and he snarls at me. Before I can think about it, my body flinches on its own.

He holds me in a bridal carry and heads to the door. His hot body is right next to me. I don't want to lean on him, but when he walks, it is shaky. And I don't want him to think that I'm trying to fight him.

I'm still going to fight my way back home, but not like this. I won't win a fight against him and there's nothing I can do, even if I managed to beat him.

He keeps walking. The view isn't too bad here when his chin is right up there. Somehow, his warmth is inviting. Maybe I don't hate him that much.

These beings confuse me.