"Fine. Jump if you want to. I know you are just bluffing", * the man smirked as he signaled his men to come closer."
*His smirk shattered the last of my hesitation. A cold, clear calm settled over me—no more panic, no more fear. Just a choice. I met his gaze one last time, a flicker of defiance in my eyes, and then I let go.*
*For a heartbeat, I was weightless. The wind roared in my ears, whipping my hair into a frenzy as the tower's stone edge blurred above me. The leader's shout—"No!"—was a distant, pathetic sound, swallowed by the rush of air. Below, the ground rushed up, a patchwork of shadow and moonlight, but I didn't look at it. I closed my eyes, focusing on the spark inside me, the one they'd tried to crush.*
*I heard a loud sharp melodical whistle coming from within the tower.*
"Huh?!"
"I gasped confused as a huge creature wrapped It's sharp talons around my arms. I looked up to see a three eyed beast with huge magnificent wings and silver feathers. It flapped it's s powerful wings, rendering me almost breathless. I only realized that we had reached the towers archway when it flung me back into the tower.*
"Argh"
*I grunted in pain as I hit the floor.As I lay trying to catch my breath and stabilize the ache crossing through my limps. I heard the satisfied laugh of the leader as he walked towards me."
"Hahaha, you think you could get away? Good thing we captured this miserable beast some months back.*
"He laughed hard at my pitiful state as he placed his boot's heel on top my hand making me writ in pain. He then went ahead to hold a handful of my hair in his hand as jerked my head up to look at him.*
"You little slut. You thought you could easily escape from me huh?"
*He growled, the stench of his mouth invading the air in front of my face.*
"If it wasn't for your buyer that wants you in one piece I would have made the beast to tear you up."
*He paused for a minute as if thinking.*
"Who says we can't have our fun?. I can still still punish you without tearing you up into shreds." *The terrible smile on his face, scared me more than death it self. He nodded to his men.*
"Bring me a bucket."
*He commanded and a moment later, his men brought a huge bucket filled with water . The leader yanked me up enough to stay on my knees. Before I could think straight. He buried my head into the cold icy water*.
*The world vanished in a rush of ice-cold water, the shock so sudden it stole the air from my lungs. My hands scrabbled at the stone floor, fingers slipping on the wet surface as I fought to rise, but the leader's grip on my hair was iron, holding me down with cruel precision. The water filled my nose, my mouth, burning as I choked and gagged, my body convulsing in a desperate, futile struggle for air.*
*A ragged, gurgling gasp tore from my throat as he wrenched my head up, water streaming from my hair and nose. My lungs burned, each breath a sharp, stinging ache, but the air—cold, thin, and so very sweet—filled my chest, and for a moment, I thought I might actually survive this.*
*Then his fingers tightened in my hair, yanking my head back so hard my neck cracked. His face was inches from mine, his breath hot and rank with stale ale. "Not so fast, little bird," he sneered, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "We're just getting started."*
*He nodded to the guard holding the bucket, who stepped forward, a cruel grin twisting his lips. "You think you're clever, don't you? Kicking me, running, threatening to jump. But you're nothing. A piece of property. And property needs to be broken in."*
*He shoved my head back down into the water before I could even draw another breath.*