need for feeding, for blood, had consumed her so completely, she hadn’t been in her right mind. No one had ever taught her how to feed. What to do. She had to fend for herself, and she did the best she could.
But she did not regret hurting those mean soldiers, and she was still furious they’d caught her in a silver net. She didn’t feel that she deserved to be thrown into this dungeon. She felt more alone than ever. She could only imagine what horrors awaited her down below, as she was led deeper into the darkness, the corridors lit only by flickering torches.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” came the guttural voice behind her. “They told me to take you to the lowest chamber, to the silver room. Lock you up behind silver bars. But I don’t see how you need it. You’re just a flimsy little girl, aren’t you? No harm to anyone, are you?”
Scarlet felt his fat, sweaty palm suddenly grab the back of her neck, and then run up the back of her head, under her hair. She could hear him licking his lips, swallowing.
“Before I bring you down, I think I might teach you a thing or two. Break you in. Have my way with you, if you know what I mean?” he said with a laugh.
Scarlet felt the hair rise on her arms; she despised the sound of his voice. Beside her, Ruth snarled.
But she was helpless. She yanked again and again, but couldn’t break free.
Suddenly, the man grabbed her and threw her into a side chamber. Scarlet sensed that he was defying orders, not doing what he’d been directed to. That he was going to take advantage of her, for his own means. She looked up and saw the lustful look on his face, as he stared down, licking his lips. She realized that this would be bad.
He suddenly grabbed her by the shirt and tore open the buttons.
Scarlet squirmed, turning her back on him. She could feel her body shaking, and was more afraid than ever.
“Don’t you touch me!” she screamed back. But she knew it was useless.
The man smacked her hard in the back of her head, and she cowered from the pain.
She then felt him undo the silver clasps binding her wrists, unlocking them.
“You don’t need these after all, do you?” he asked. “No. Taking them off will make my time with you more fun.”
Scarlet felt the clasps slip off her wrists, then slink down to the ground. They landed on the stone with a clink.
She could not believe her luck. As the silver fell off of her, she felt a new power rise within her: it was as if a huge chain had been lifted from her. She could not understand the effect that silver had, but now, she felt completely rejuvenated. She felt all her power rushing back, infusing her from head to toe.
The man reached around and grabbed her from behind. He was strong, and his beefy hands clamped down on her. He reached up and began to squeeze her throat.
And that was his last mistake.
Now Scarlet had strength to fight back. She grabbed his huge wrist, spun it around, and easily held it there, in mid-air.
The man looked down, eyes wide in shock, uncomprehending.
Scarlet held his wrist for several seconds, enjoying the moment, feeling so much stronger than he. Now the tables had turned. His hand shook as he tried to break free. But he could not. His astonishment deepened.
Scarlet slowly turned back his wrist, turning it nearly upside down, until the man finally dropped to his knees before her, crying out in pain. She kept turning it back, more and more slowly, relishing the moment.
Soon, the huge man was shaking, trembling.
“You little witch!” he screamed. “I’m going to kill you!”
Snap.
The man screamed out in pain as Scarlet broke his wrist.
Now, she wanted vengeance. Not just for her, but for any girl this man may have victimized. And, of course, for Ruth. No one treats Ruth that way.
Scarlet wound up and kicked him hard in the face, snapping back his neck, and he collapsed in a heap on the floor, not moving.
Scarlet ran over to Ruth and tore off her muzzle. Ruth snarled, and without missing a beat, leapt onto the man, sinking her teeth into his throat.
The man squirmed on the ground, in agony, then scurried to his hands and knees and crawled into the corner, covering his head with his hands, trying to