Hidden Chamber

**Trigger warning**

The funeral for King Tomas was a few days later. Serenity was one of the few birds in attendance. She counted two other birds, both of whom were the King's personal slaves. Serenity didn't speak or make eye contact with anyone. Despite standing just behind Theron and near Lady Amira and Lord Michael, she did not want to bring attention to herself.

She was already getting enough attention just by being there. She wore a black chiffon floor length skirt and matching top that covered her arms and breast. Because of the material, she was sure that in the right light under the hot sun, the top was see through enough to see her nipples. The black material was a harsh contrast against her pale white flesh and silver hair.

The Tigerian court was staring at her with unforgiving eyes; like she was a disgusting intruder who needed to be destroyed immediately. Whispers and murmurs followed her as she moved through the crowd behind Theron. She could hear them as clearly as if the people were talking to her. She didn't know how the Prince ignored them.

"How do you think that little wench of a bird got here?" one Tigerian asked their friend.

"He beds her often," a different Tiger said.

"Can't say I blame the Prince," someone responded.

Serenity tired not to listen to their comments. She kept her head down but glanced up at Theron to see if he would react, but he didn't. He didn't appear to care what people were saying about him or Serenity.

It was becoming clearer to Serenity as she walked through the crowd that perhaps it was a very bad idea for Theron to take her as his mate. Even if he freed her people, even baring his child, the Tigerian people would never accept her as their queen. Serenity frowned deeply. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not pay attention to where she was walking. She looked up and fear struck her entire body. Theron was gone. Lord Michael and Lady Amira were out of sight. She turned around frantically in the crowd. How could she have lost them?

Someone's warm hand grabbed her upper arm. She turned sharply, hoping it was Theron, but her heart plummeted into her stomach. It was a member of the Royal Guard. His armor gleamed in the afternoon sunlight almost blinding her. Flashes of her last encounter with a Royal Guard entered her mind. She tried to pull away from him out of instinct, but he knocked her over the head so harshly that she grew dizzy. She felt her body slump against his and he half carried, half dragged her away from the crowded funeral. Within a moment everything went black as she passed out in the tiger's arms.

When Serenity woke, she found herself in cool blackness. She squinted around but it was no use, there was no light and her eyes were not adapting to the darkness. She shivered as she sat up on the cold stone floor. She crawled around on her hands and knees trying to find something, anything that might indicate where she was.

After a few moments, she ran head first into a stone wall. She sighed heavily and rubbed her temple. She used the wall for support and stood up to her feet. The wall was just as cold as the floor and felt as though it was made of the same brick. She followed the wall with her hand to a corner of the room. She wanted to cry out in frustration and fear, but she did not. She knew she had to stay calm.

She took a deep breath and very clearly in her mind thought of the sun. She imagined it's brightness in the room. Suddenly, a small glowing white orb appeared over her in the center of the room. She was thankful that she was able to channel her magic even in the dark crevice of a chamber she found herself in.

The room was a small, perfect square made entirely of stone. There was a small bed in one corner and a wash station in another. There were no windows. Serenity could not tell on the brick wall where the door might be. She frowned deeply. She was in a secret hidden chamber somewhere in the palace; no doubt, it was connected to King Terron's bedchamber.

She began to pace around the room as the glowing white orb hovered over her head. She felt her thigh quickly and was relieved that her dagger was still strapped to her. The royal guard had not thought to search her before leaving her in the room. She rubbed her hands together as she studied the walls. Perhaps she could find the hidden door. Although, she suspected that the room could not be opened from the inside, which meant, that she would have to be ready to fight her way out when the door did open. It was a shame she could not transform into her dove form. She'd be able to soar out over the person's head when they opened the door.

Serenity decided that it would be best to sit and rest while she waited for someone to come to the room. She was sure that it would be Terron himself. She had to mentally prepare for the fight of her life. She would not give into him or let him take her again. She would die fighting him.

She sat completely still on the bed with her legs folded under her. She took a slow deep breath as she mediated. She thought of everything Amira had taught her back in Allur. She knew she was going to have to keep her wits about her and not be emotional. Terron would no doubt push her buttons to enrage her. He would gain the upper hand that way.

Serenity opened her eyes wide when she heard stone scratching against stone. She looked to her left, where the entire wall was starting to slid open. She opened her hand on her lap and closed it into a tight fist. Her white orb disappeared from over her. She shielded her eyes as the room filled with bright yellow light from the exterior room.

She lowered her hand and was not surprised to see the massive figure of King Terron standing before her. Serenity did not move. She simply stared at him with dark glaring eyes. He was shirtless. His strong muscular chest was covered in curls of black hair that traveled all the way down his torso to the waist of his pants.

"Take off your clothes," he said as he stepped into the room. He was pulling his belt off.

Serenity didn't move. It was very rare that she moved when he first told her to. She almost always fought him. There was only a few times in the year she was in his service that she did not fight him.

Terron lifted the belt and brought it down sharply at Serenity. She lifted her arm over her head in defense from the blow. The belt smacked her forearm and wrapped around her like a snake. She twisted her hand, grabbing the belt and pulled on it harshly, trying to get it out of Terron's grasp. He did not let go though. Instead, he yanked the belt forward and pulled Serenity out of the bed. She tumbled onto the floor releasing the belt.

He stepped forward, crouching down over her, and grabbed her by the hair. He pulled her up so she was on her knees.

"I always admired your fight," he said with a jeer. "I took it as a challenge. I was pleased when Theron said I had damaged you."

Serenity cringed and looked away from Terron's glaring yellow eyes. She didn't want to stare at him as he inflated his own delusion about how he had broken her. Yes, it was true, he had broken her. She wanted to die because of him. But she would never let him know that. She hated that he held that much control over her – she hated it more that he knew he held that control over her.

He let the belt fall from his hand and released her hair for a moment. Terron grabbed the center of her shirt, at the collar, and tore it apart revealing her beautiful pale breast. She heard his heavy exhale of pleasure. He pushed the sleeves down her arms, his fingernails dragging into her pale flesh, leaving the shirt on the floor around her. She turned her eyes to him with an even darker glare. He picked his belt back up, folded it in half and smoothly glided it across her breast. She took a slow deep breath but refused to cry out. She did not want him to see her tremble or squirm with discomfort. She kept her eyes on his hoping to stare him down.

"I like breaking you," he said as he dragged the belt to her neck. The leather was cold against her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment. He grabbed her face, squeezing her cheeks. She opened her eyes to glare at him. "Keep your eyes on me. I want to see your fire. I want to see it flicker and dim as I take you—"

"You won't take me," Serenity finally spoke. "I'll fight until I die—"

"Then you will die tonight, little dove," he let go of her face and stretched the belt behind her neck. He pulled her head against his groin with the belt holding her firmly against him. "I have dreamt of your lips on me again. The feel of you squirming beneath me while I force my cock into your tight ass…"

Serenity squeezed her eyes shut as tears formed in them. She could feel him growing hard as he fantasized, remembering the things he had done to her. A large bulge was forming against her cheek and it made her shutter. She was going to start sobbing. She wasn't sure if she could remain strong anymore. She was going to lose control and it would be just like it was before—him taking everything from her all over again.

He released the belt, grabbed her hair in a tight grasp and pulled her head up so she was looking at him. He undid his pants with his other hand.

"You have no fight in you," he laughed as his pants fell to the ground. "Maybe you'll live tonight after all."

Serenity kept her eyes open, staring up at him in disgust as he rubbed the tip of his penis against her lips. He grabbed her throat, choking her and forcing her mouth open in an attempt to get some air. He closed his eyes in complete ecstasy—Serenity wasted no time—she lifted her skirt trying not to move too much to draw his attention. She grabbed the dagger against her thigh and with all the force she could muster, slammed it into Terron's side.

He cried out, stepping backwards in shock. He ripped his hand from her hair, pulling a fistful out of her head. She screamed in pain and fell forward, but pulled the dagger from his side. She did not want to lose her weapon to him. She lunged forward again, making to stab him, as he seemed shocked that she had done it to begin with. He tried to block it, but knocked her hand down, causing her to stab him in the upper thigh.

She pulled the dagger out of his leg as he fell to the ground, his leg giving out under him. She stood up and thrust the knife at him again, this time in his chest, directly into his heart. Terron glared at Serenity with harsh yellow eyes.

"I have plenty of fight in me," she said as she loomed over him.

Terron grabbed her hand holding the dagger. He pulled it out of his chest with all of his strength. His breathe caught as he opened his mouth once the dagger was out of his chest. He pulled on Serenity's arm, dragging her to the ground with him. He grabbed her throat and squeezed tightly as he fell back against the nearby wall.

"You are…." He sighed as he squeezed. Serenity could barely hear him as her ears were starting to ring. He was squeezing her throat so tight she wasn't getting any oxygen. She clawed at his hand trying to break free. "…nothing… You—" he chocked for a moment. Serenity was starting to see spots. In her mind, she was begging for him to die so she could escape his grasp and breathe again. "—will always have….my blood on your….hands. It will destroy you—"

Terron heaved and fell silent. His grip on Serenity's throat instantly loosened and she collapsed to the stone floor coughing to regain air. His limp, dead body lay next to her. She sat up and backed away from him. Her chest heaved as she stared at him in utter shock. Disbelief started to fill her body. What had she done—it couldn't possibly be that easy—

She sat upright. She had to get out of there. If someone found her with Terron like this, she would be killed. It didn't matter what he had done to her—she had killed the King. She had to get out of the room and find Theron.

Serenity jumped up, adrenaline pumping in her body suddenly and grabbed her knife and torn shirt from off the floor. She pulled her shirt back on and tied it in a knot over her chest as if it were supposed to be worn that way. She replaced the dagger under her skirt. She frowned deeply as she looked at Terron's body. She didn't think she could move him. He was much too massive. He would have to stay in the hidden chamber.

She stepped over his body and made her way out of the stone room. She looked at the stone sliding door to assess how to close it. With all of her weight, she pushed against the door until it slid shut completely. She looked down at the ground to make sure no blood was pooling under the door. There was none. Without a second glance she ran from the bedchamber and into the hall.

Serenity sighed heavily as she reached the stairwell. She began to descend it quickly, but she tripped and rolled down the steps. The wind was knocked out of her with every hit. She felt sharp pains in her hips, back, arms and neck as she fell, each stair hurting her in a different place and in a different way. Serenity's body sprawled out at the base of the stairs. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked up at the high ceiling. Was this karma, she wondered? She rolled her head to the side as a blurry figure rushed towards her. She hoped that it was someone she trusted…someone who would take her to Theron…