Tortured.

Mei and her group are startled awake by the guards barging into their room led by Anna who wore a haughty smirk on her face. Mei exited her room, confused wringing up her nose at Anna's pungent and sour scent.

"Grab her." Anna says pointing at Mei and the guards rush to obey her orders. They grab Mei roughly by her arms before leading her out of the room.

"Mei!" Alec yells reaching for her.

'DON'T.' Her voice cold and sharp like a whip echoes in his mind causing him to come to a stop. She allows the guards to drag her away but they lead her to the dungeon instead, chaining her up with silver chains. She didn't make a sound as it connected with her skin instead she took deep, even calming breaths.

"Did you really think that you would have it easy?" Anna asked as she entered her cell but Mei didn't respond or even raise her head.

"Nate won't be here for two weeks so I have enough time to deal with you how I see fit and I intend to have fun." Anna said giggling as though she heard a joke. She left the dungeon hoping that it would break Mei but she was calm even though the silver was burning her skin.

Sometime later, cold water was splashed on her but she didn't scream at the pain when the silver in the water made contact with her skin. She kept quiet and the one who threw the water at her was shocked. He left her alone taking the bowl of food with him and looking at her with guilty eyes.

"Wake up you brat!" Anna yelled holding a silver whip in hand but Mei didn't respond. She kept her head bowed, eyes closed, and kept taking deep breaths which annoyed Anna. She tightened her grip on the handle of the whip before hitting Mei who still kept quiet. Infuriated, she started hitting her relentlessly 'till every time the whip made contact with her skin, her blood was sprayed everywhere. Her smooth skin was now covered in open wounds and her pajamas were soaked with her blood, sticking to her.

"We'll see how long you can stay silent." Anna said happily at how pitiful Mei looked, on her knees with her hands and wrists chained not allowing her to move from position. That's how the days were for her, there was no window in her cell for her to feel the sunlight but her keen sense of time aided her in counting the days as they passed.

She couldn't contact Alec and the other due to the amount of silver he came into contact with her sense disoriented her but she didn't lose consciousness. She was temporarily cut off from communicating with Nixie was frustrated her but she didn't show it, silently enduring everything that Anna did to her.

Meanwhile, Nate was waiting for a message from Mei confirming that she got his surprise gift, a bouquet of pech-colored peonies that he hand-picked for her but the lack of response had him feeling restless. His phone went off notifying him he had a message and when he looked at the Id of the person, he smiled. It was his Mei.

(Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful.)

The message read, bringing a smile to his face as he responded.

(You're welcome sweetie. Expect more in the future.) - he replied unaware that Mei's phone was in Anna's hands.

(What are you up to?) Anna asked.

(Just going over some documents.) He responded.

(Why didn't you tell me that you and Anna had a history together?) Anna asked hoping to sow discord between the two but her question made Nate pause, that's not how Mei spoke to him. She would always have a face-to-face conversation with him if she had doubts or questions. That was one of the things he loved about her.

He and Anna didn't have any other history except for the fact that they grew up together and she was in love with him. He let the conversation run its course before ending it, red flags waving in his mind.

'Something is wrong.' Eli said not bothering to hide his worry.

'What do you mean?' Nate asks.

'Something is wrong with Nixie. She's weak.' He responded

'Then let's not keep our mate waiting.' Nate responded before giving the order for a return flight to be prepared, trying to prepare for the worst since his parents weren't in the castle at the moment and on a vacation trusting Anna to help Mei keep things in order unaware of the best the unleashed.