The tick, tick of the timekeeper was extremely loud in the void. No one dared move or breathe as they waited for it to come. I growled at the one wearing the watch and a sudden slap and shatter made us all jump six inches in our marbled skins as he smashed it against the thick stone wall. Silence reigned, pure and unadulterated. Hell, now I missed the sound. At least I had know that time was passing. Now everything stood still including the world itself. I slid my hand over towards my mate. Her skin was icy and supple, like it should be before eating. She jerked softly in surprise at the uncharacteristic gesture, then closed her long fingers around my wrist and hissed at me, causing a ripple effect as the others sensed her immediate fear and anger again. I smiled and moved closer. This was better than the deathly waiting. She threw my arm away, her strength turning me in my step. I felt a male presence to my left and dropped to my haunches as a swirling wind swept where my neck was moments before. I growled deep and long showing my dominance over them all and they cringed at the mental intrusion of my telepathy. I sneered unseen and relaxed back against the wall again. Still no one to challenge me except a slight display of courage from Sasha and Nisha. I felt no cold in the stale black air of the tower. Felt nothing, not even fear. Yet. No, that was a lie. I felt impatience and frustration. I turned to face the wall again and tried to shimmer through it but felt every molecule of my being slam against the outer casing of the stones. Blasted people had used thistle and garlic to paint the outside of the tower. I eased upwards to the roof, my fingernails barely touching the wall. A hiss from below urged another growl from my belly and I whipped around to face a challenge. A stench of fear filled the room as my fingers turned into long hard spikes that ripped towards the stomach of the rival. A sudden flash of spark warned me of impending danger and I shimmered to the floor below, bracing my back against the hallowed soil that tingled. A rush of movement was stilled as black tainted blood flowed down my arms from the staked male body above. My nails had pierced his dark heart, but he was not yet dead. I curled my fingers, braced the body and ripped downwards. He stiffened then collapsed as the heart stopped beating in my hand. With a curdling bellow I shimmered upright again and waited for the next challenge. None came. Sasha had been the only leader in the other pack and I had effectively elimated him. My little Nisha came and knelt at my feet, showing her subservient side of the strong woman. I rested my hand on her head. “I will not tolerate this any more. I must seek a way out.” Hisses acknowledged my authority and I turned my back to them, easing again up the wall to the roof. I let my senses probe the wall, seeking a weak spot, searching for a crack in the stone. Nothing. I moved over and touched the cornice at the roof. It burned blisters into my white flesh. I bared my fangs at it and willed away the pain. The roof had been blessed and coated with holy water. I floated towards the center, noting a slight change in the air. Hmmm, yes there was an opening. I pushed my mind through the miniscule crack and focused on darkened warm air behind. I landed next to Nisha who was now on her feet. “I must try. If I fail.....” Her palm lay against my lips to stem the words of failure. She replaced the digits with her lips. “I’ll be waiting.” With a final growl at the rest of the group I headed upwards and shimmered to a mist. Every excruciating atom forced its way through the poisoned roof as I squeezed, barely alive, into the warmed dim space above. I rested a moment, gathering the pain to a bearable level. My mind was fuzzy with the pain and my powers had grown weak. A creak of the wood above made me raise my head. The wooden slates slowly tipped up and outwards like a flower unfolding to the blazing hot sun. My temperature raised with my voice as I howled my dying agony to the open air. Nisha’s scream echoed below, muffled by the stone jail that had been protecting us.