Read Pine Needles (Veil Realms Series) for Free Online

together, crying with grief and pleading to the guards, I catch a glimpse of a familiar fuchsia red hair and instantly I recognize Tiffany, at the same time the realization hits me, she turns and shouts over to me in worry, “Selene!”
    The impervious guards begin shoving the girls into the cell, some land head-first in the brumal dirt, others pile on top, but Tiffany bolts back up snatching onto the habitual bars. “Selene!” Seeing her breaks my reserve and tears blur my vision.
    “Tiffany!” I yell out noting that all dispirited eyes focus on the virulent warlord standing within my cell. Callously, he turns back to me, enunciating my name as if it’s a sordid word, “ Se...lene .” In that particular moment, I have the chance to notice his teeth are not animalistic, like the other licentious warrior’s are.  A quick gesture from his hand to the guards as he thunders away, he never looks back in my direction while he fades into the unknown at the end of the corridor.
    “Oh my God, Selene what have they done to you?!” The guard has apparently been ordered to unhook me from my hanging position, and chunks me over his shoulder. Hauling me still bound and unclad down the intricately decorated vile catacombs, as I lift my objecting head up, with a blanket of hair covering my face I call out to Tiffany, “I will find you again Tiffany! I promise!”
     

Chapter Four
     
    The FEAST
     
     
    The enormit y of the passageway far surpasses anything mere humans could ever accomplish, even with the technological advancements that have developed over the years. An entire underground city, with walls embellished in cravings of skull-like images and cryptic motifs.
    Everything is symmetrical and precise from the ever-flowing stairways, arched doorways, to the eight column rooms. I’m left alone in a limestone vestibule, an entrance in-between two massive rooms.
    A round shaft above shines a wondrous light through, I blink several times not sure how long it’s been since I was hunted down and brought here. Drawn out of my abhorrent musing, I hear someone speaking. Finally emerging into my view are twelve women who shuffle through the halls to where I stand. Guards take a few steps to the side making a path for four of the women. “What’s going on?” A shorter woman with me demands, watchful eyes tensely glance back and forth toward the statuesque guards.
    “You are here for the great feasting . The choosing of the warlords will take place then,” a tall, slender woman with peppery hair answers as she prepares to scrub us down, making gestures to the other women to go on about their business.
    “Feasting? What does that mean?” another concerned voice announces.
    B efore anyone begins ranting madly out, a guard venomously commands, “Silence!” The air becomes thick with his tone, as if he evaporates oxygen from it. Making us almost choke from the tension that surrounds us.
    Again, we are washed down and a resin type substance is rubbed generously over our bodies, as gold and pearl fabric is placed before our feet. We are not allowed to dress until flakes of pure gold are buffed on completely overlaying our skin entirely. Our faces are painted with more preciseness, which conceals any redden, swollen markings on my jaw. The women assist with clasping me in a golden breastplate, a slip of pearl white material drapes the front and back of my hips and tiding down to the stone floor.
    “Stop shaking, ” the woman kneeling down commands me as she sews gold beads around my waist, attaching it to the fine fabric.
    “Sorry, I just don’t want the thread of beads to be a permanent lavaliere.” I cough into my still shivering hand and add, “I’ve been told of a woman with lips sewn together here.”
    “Ah, yes...Nina.” Her tone never once wavers as she speaks calmly abou t the torment the woman endured. She places her hands firmly on my hips and peers up to me. “But it was not me that performed the suturing.”