The Delta's Daughter Chapter 128

KELLEN

Our ‘digs’ were primitive, but I dint expect much more. We had running water and a toilet, That was good enough for me. Although we are called slaves, I didn’t expect the level of treatment to be… well to be as good as this.

I mean don’t get me wrong, there was nothing, absolutely nothing nice about this place and the people, but the fact that they gave us toothbrushes and toothpaste was a luxury. The food… hmm. It was food. We would get porridge in the morning and a piece of bread and fruit in the evening. The third meal was only when they remembered to bring it.

I have seen humans treated a lot worse than this back home, especially in the boroughs where human slavery was still a problem. A problem we were working on as a kingdom, we wanted equal rights for all races.

I woke when the first rays of light hit my cot. I managed to snag the cot by the open barred window, a prime view of the compound, where I would be able to watch the comings and goings of people as well as the guards when they changed shifts.

Because I had woken up so early and I hadn’t noticed any of the other men I was trapped with, were up. I began doing pushups and crunches. Working my body up into a sweat as the sun rose higher in the sky and dawn broke. I had no concept of time as I worked my body and only stopped when a deep baritone voice broke my concentration.

“I see you are already preparing for the games… this is good.” I hopped up onto my feet to look at the owner of the voice.

The tall muscular man lent against the open wall, legs and arms crossed. His red hair was curly and his blue eyes were almost as clear as mine. He looked weathered and had scares littered across his body. He wore a pair of cotton shorts and nothing else.

He stood straight and uncrossed his arms, standing at his full height I could tell he was almost as tall as me. He looked to be in his late 40s maybe even pushing 50 but I saw no grey in his hair.

“You look like him, you know” I furrowed my brows at his remark. “Your father, you look like him.” He said tossing me a pair of cotton shorts, the same as his.

“You knew my father” I questioned, wanting to know more.

“I met him some time ago when he visited my pack,” He paused, his eyes getting a faraway look in them before he shook it off “That must have been more than 25 years ago.”

“How long have you been here for” I asked dropping the clean pair of shorts onto my cot.

“Too long,” he said solemnly leaning back against the wall. “22 years they have held me here.”

I think I gasped like a little girl because the Alpha male with the red hair let out a deep chuckle. I was lost for words, twenty two years was a long time. He had been stuck in this shit hole since before I was born! I cocked my head in disbelief and he laughed again.

“Death does not greet us when we ask for it, no matter how many times. My name is Teal, former Alpha of the Seadog Pack. It is a pleasure to meet you, your highness.” And he bowed to me, acknowledging my rank and title.

“Kellen Moon,” I reached out and offered him my hand “Former King of the Royal New Moon Pack.” He took my hand giving it a firm shake.

“Former” He questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“My father and mother were killed by the same men who sold me to… this,” I said waving my other hand around.

“You are no former King, you are still a King. I can feel it. My wolf acknowledges your rank.” He told me with a sense of determination in his voice as if to solidify his words and meaning. “Now come, I will show you around our humble abode as well as show you the ropes. As the eldest and longest resident here, I try and help the newcomers.”

I had so many questions for this man but stumbled to find my voice. He gathered Ajani, the rogue, and the omega whose name I finally learned was Aaron.

Teal showed us the rest of our ‘abode’, which was more like a barracks or one of our warrior wings. It was just a lot… less. I listened and watched as he talked, taking in as much as possible.

“…So yeah on game days spectators are free to wander around and visit our small compound. Some will jeer and some will cheer. We are also free to wander around the compound during certain hours, but never on game day.”

“Exactly what is 'game day' And what is our role in 'game day'” The Omega took the words right out of my mouth asking the question I had been waiting to be answered but Teal had not explained to us.

He had only shown us the weapons room, that we would have access to on ‘game day’, the bathroom that 26 of us men who were here, would share. Yay. And he also showed us the common area that we could gather in if allowed.

Teal stopped and turned to look at us all, his head bobbing. “I was getting to it young one.” He addressed the Omega, Aaron. “You know you are slaves, I assume. But I am sure Baron did not tell you what kind of slaves you are” He asked us.

“He told us we were entertainment and called us ‘Gladiators’.” I supplied, crossing my arms and waiting for Teal’s explanation.

“Aye, that you are. Gladiators that is, slaves to his sick mind and games.” His eyes shifted over all of us until they settled on me. “Game day is when we are sent into the arena to fight for our lives. We do not know the rules until we enter. Sometimes the only rule is to survive. He can pit us against each other or an outside prizefighter; sometimes he has us fight the guards.”

He sat on a rickety wooden bench that was against one of the sandstone walls and leaned his head back. “The crowds will pay money to see a fight, they will cheer for their warrior or if a Gladiator captures their interest, they may place a bet on you to win a fight. That’s why on game day, spectators can come and view the contenders, the contenders being us, like betting on a race.”

“The Alpha wants us to win” I was a little stunned that we would be given the opportunity, or allowed to kill his guards or pack warriors.

“Oh yes, because then it brings in more money.” Teal chuckled.

“He does not worry that we would retaliate” Ajani queried. I could see where his thoughts were leading.

“If we could, I would have done it 22 years ago.”

“What about escaping” I had to ask because I was getting out of here. No ifs, no buts, it was a matter of when and figuring out how.

Teal laughed at me, his chuckle just as deep as his voice. “Young King, again if I could I would have.” He tapped the back of his neck with his finger. “This thing they injected into you, it controls your wolf, or whatever other counterpart a shifter has.”

“It does what now” I asked in horror as I too, felt the back of my neck, letting my finger run over the slight bump where they had stuck me with the large needle a few days ago.

“It’s a chip, an inhibitor. It restricts your spirit animal so you cannot shift at will. It can also kill you if Vargr decides to push a little button. It will send two shocks through your body, one to your heart and one to your brain. Instantly killing you where you stand. Why do you think I am still here after 22 years and haven’t made an attempt on his life”