28. Raine

It had been days since I'd been thrown into this cage. After the first day Slo came down I hadn't seen him since. A small part of me was hurt but considering what I did I couldn't blame him. Of course I just chalked it up to yet another person in my life that let me down. That thought just made me hate them all more.

As for my plans of escaping so far no luck. They had positioned the cage well. Building it right in the middle of the floor and was made of titanium the only thing unbreakable even for a sup. I had been secretly testing the hinges on the door seeing if there was some way to pry them off but so far no luck. They had me guarded at all times outside the door. I wasn't too worried about getting passed them it was just this dam cage.

It didn't help that I was getting weak from not eating. What can I say I trust no one. The fact that they had knocked me out once with wolfsbane told me that they wouldn't be opposed to drugging me with other means. Wolfsbane wasn't the only thing that could weaken me. The proof of that was when Driak would preformed his experiments on me. Since the wolfsbane would effect the outcome of what he wanted he used the same drug as when he'd planted this thing in me. Down side I was awake for the whole thing. I shivered at the memories. Shaking my head I growled no point in thinking about that now. What's done is done nothing can change what I'd become so why bother trying.

I hadn't seen Vericus since the first day either. Good thing to they must have believed what I told them and he was keeping his distance. I mean it's not like I cared if his power was stolen but if What ever he put in me makes me hand it over to Driak then even I knew that would be bad. As much as I hated Vericus I hated Driak more.

Problem is he had used me to gain power. Not the type of power that hid inside Vericus but enough that even I wouldn't be able to beat him. not that anyone could beat an immortal. I mean sure you could knock him around enough that he could no longer fight.

He wouldn't die but it would give you a chance to imprison him. My point being he'd gained so much power already that the only person that would come close to accomplishing such a thing would be Vericus and That's assuming Vericus used the power inside him which I'm pretty sure he couldn't even use. Which if you ask me is kind of pointless. Why have a power inside you that you can't use?

I shook my head ridding myself of thoughts of Driak and Vericus. I must be bored if I'm trying to analyse something I didn't even care about. Sure I didn't want Driak to get any more powerful but as long as I stay away from Vericus and he stays away from me we're Algood. Easy right? My thoughts went to the fox and hound. The kiss we shared while I was Kandra. I growled at myself hating my body for responding to just the memory of it. Oh for fucks sakes i need to get out of this god dammed cage.

I tried to get up but the five days of no food had finally gotten to me. My strength was spent I had no energy to even stand up.

"You'll only get worse if you don't eat."

I snarled at the voice. Angry that he'd been able to sneak in without my knowing clearly I was weaker then I thought.

"Don't patronise me."

Owen didn't smile as he sat against the bars beside me. Almost like he was mocking me, knowing that I couldn't even lift a finger to hurt him. If I was at my full strength he wouldn't dare sit so close.

"Are you here to gloat or is there a purpose to this visit?"

Owen sighed as he pulled his knees up resting his hands on them. He didn't look at me merely started ahead. Since we were facing opposite ways I had to turn my head slightly to see him.

"I just thought you might want some company."

I scoffed which only made me cough my throat so dry from no water and no food. His eyes met mine a concerned look in them.

"You won't last much longer if you don't even have water you must know that."

I chuckled.

"Your concern is touching but I've been through worse."

He frowned a slight nod of his head as he continued to watch me.

"It doesn't have to be this way you know. No one here wants to see you die of starvation."

"I'm sure Slo would disagree. He would like nothing more then to see me dead."

Owen turned putting his hand on my arm, I growled at the touch but he didn't pull back.

"Is that the real reason your doing this?"

I stopped growling confused by his words a scowl on my lips.

"What are you talking about?"

"I think the real reason you don't eat is because your punishing yourself."

I used what little strength I had left to rip my arm away. Which turned out to be a bad idea as I fell sideways only just catching myself before I fell over completely. I glared at him.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"Is that true?"

Both of us turned to face Slo who had just come through the door. I cursed at myself yet again I hadn't even noticed him enter. I avoided his eyes. Was it true? Was that the real reason I refused to eat? I shook my head. No! That's not it. I can't trust these wolves. Their planning something I just know it. I can't trust anyone only myself.

"Of course it's not true I just don't trust any of you."

"If that's the problem then let's solve it now."

Slo left again only to come back ten minutes later with a plate full of food. I groaned, what the hell was he planning. To my surprise Slo went to the door of the cage. Owen said nothing to stop him as he opened it and even left it open as he sat before me. I eyed him cautiously, this was my chance. This was my ticket to getting out of here. I don't care how weak I was Id make it some how. Gathering the last of my strength I was just about to make my move against Slo when his eyes met mine.

I froze, I couldn't look away. The hate I had seen in him the last time he was here was gone. The anger that I had brought out in him taunted him with all of it no where to be seen. The only thing I saw in his eyes was honest concern for a friend. He stared at me like he used to before he knew who I was, before I became Raine once more.

I watched in silence as he lifted a sandwich and took a bite. Then he offered it to me.

"If this is what I have to do to get you to eat then I'll do it. For every meal I'll set your mind at ease."

I didn't move to take it, what was this? Was it a trick? Was I just too tired to see through his false emotions?

"That is unless Owen is right amd you are punishing yourself."

I growled. He was playing me. Either I take the food and risk being drugged or I don't take the food and he thinks I'm on some hunger strike crusade to atone for my sins. What a load of crap! Fine they want me to become stronger then that's what I'll do. If it turns out the food isn't drugged then more fool them it just means I'll have the strength to get out of here. I slowly took the sandwhich from Slo as a smile spread on his lips.

"Don't think this changes anything if you really haven't put something in this then it just means your all fools for thinking you can hold me here."

I bit into the sandwich and my fucking god I had never tasted something so delicious in my life. It was only a simple chicken and salad sandwich but god it tasted good. I still had my eyes on Slo as he lifted a glass of water to his lips taking a drink then just like the sandwich he offered me the glass. I grabbed it down it's contents in one go.

In the corner of my eyes I watched as Owen stood up a small smile on his lips as he headed for the door leaving Me alone with Slo.

"This reminds me of that time I visited you in New York. You had just had a run in with an elf mercenary and were in pretty bad shape. It took days for you to heal but it was fun all the same making you watch naruto that you pretended to hate though I know you secretly liked."

Ah now I get it he get it. It wasn't that he some how got over his hate he was merely trying to think of me as he remembered, as Kandra. I growled at him making him frown.

"You can't bring her back Slo so don't try."

His brow creased in muck confusion. Yeah right you'll have to act better then that to fool me. Now that some food had given me some strength back I planned to take full advantage of it.

"What are yo-"

I pushed at his chest forcing him back as I made a break for the door. Not completely recovered he was faster as he grabbed my ankle making me trip, I just managed to break my fall. He was on me in less then a second turning me over as he grabbed my wrists and pinned my legs with his own. I snarled up at him.

"Kan stop it!"

I head butted him twisting my hand at the same time as I brought my knee up hitting him between the legs. Grabbing his wrist I got out from underneath him and with my other hand I put pressure on his elbow twisting his arm around his back as I pressed a knee into his spine.

"I AM NOT KANDRA! THE KANDRA YOU KNEW IS DEAD! SO NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO PRETEND SHES NEVER COMING BACK!"

Our strangle alerted the guards on the door as Ty and another wolf rushed in each grabbing my arms and pulling me off Slo. I struggled but I used all the strength I had gained fighting Slo. Held my the two wolves I growled as they forced me to my knees before Slo as he rose from the floor. i thought he would run away again leave me to rot for another two days but he surprised me. Waving off the two wolves they released me to stand out side the cage. I stood up slowly panting.

"Your wrong, you may be Raine now but Kandra is still inside you. Your names may be different but your soul inside remains the same. Her experiences her feelings are still there still apart of you. You can tell yourself all day that those four years meant nothing but I can see it in your eyes that they do. You can't change your past just like I may never forgive you for what you did but at least I'm trying to make things right."

I scowled at him.

"You have no idea what your talking about. Everything your saying is just pretty lies from a naive child playing at alpha. They mean nothing, you know nothing. Give up trying to fix me, trying to help me. You mourn your friend? Well I say fuck her. She was weak for counting on your help. She should have done herself a favour and trusted no one. It's the only way you survive. The only person you can count on is yourself."

"Yet look where that thinking has gotten you."

Slo indicated the cage and its surroundings.

"You've been here for days, alone and starving yourself. Telling yourself it's because the food has been tampered with. Is it really better to be alone if this is where you end up?"

I gritted my teeth my words coming out strained and full of emotion.

"How could you possibly understand. None of you get it, none of you know how it feels to have your will taken from you. To be forced to do horrible things. You think you know what I've done but you have no idea. You will never comprehend the things these hands have been forced to do."

I sank to the floor staring at my hands as I saw the blood of all the lives I had taken. Slo bent down before me.

"Then help me understand."

He reached for me I slapped his hand away as I stumbled back putting as much distance between us as the cage would allow.

"NO!"

I shook my head curling myself against the bars burying my head in my legs my voice muffled.

"Just leave me alone. I was made into a monster nothing you say or do will change what I am so just give up on me already."

I heard him sigh as he left the cage closing the door behind him. Pausing I felt his eyes on me.

"I won't give up on you Raine, friends don't give up on each other."

My head lifted tears dripping down my cheeks as I watched him leave the basement. I'm sorry Slo but I won't let you do it. I won't let you take away my hate, because after everything it's all I have left. It's the only thing keeping me going and I won't let anyone take it away from me not even you.