Chapter Three

  I wouldn't consider what I had to be luck. It wasn't luck; it was all thanks to Elysian's precision because she sent me back to the best possible time.

  Days had passed, and I had yet to hear back from His Highness. Whether it was a test or not, I didn't set foot outside my room. The maids' gossip came to me, and with each passing day, I remained in the bath as much as I could. The lighting inside felt soft and delicate, and the big mirrors on the wall let me admire my unscarred face. There were notable changes in me . The last time I saw myself in the mirror, I wore the red dress Elysian gifted me. However, it didn't fit someone like me. The contrast between my previously pale white hair and the red dress should have looked beautifully but it wasn't a lovely match; my face, covered in cuts, made it unsightly, and my body, unnourished, caused the dress to fit loosely. It was a mess. But now? If I managed to live differently, if I changed my life course, I could make that dress mine. For some reason, my hair was no longer the white pale color it used to be; now, it was as red as blood. black colored eyes and red hair. The change made me look stronger, a stark contrast to the frailty I once possessed. I couldn't help but smile, remembering the rabbits that would scurry around the place Elysian and I called home, Elysian would always say I looked like them.

  I stood up, and the white bath dress clung to my skin. I could see my body clearly. If this had been the past, I would've been enchanted by the riches he was gifting me.

  "Come in," I called out to the maids who wouldn't stop gossiping outside the door. They were on the younger side, luckily; it made it easier for me to pinpoint what exactly was going on.

  They scurried in, helped me out of the tub, and decently did their job getting me dried. I avoided saying anything directly to them, and I could tell they were so curious to know who I was but didn't dare ask in worries they'd offend a noble's daughter. Their ignorance was my bliss, and I planned to keep it that way.

  "What color would you like to wear today, young lady?" The eldest maid was the only one to speak to me directly.

  "You choose; I won't be leaving the room today." The girls looked at each other, and one had a small grin on their face, as if they had made a bet to see if I'd step out today. The eldest caught me staring at them and hit the side of her leg to catch their attention silently scold them.

  "Would you like some tea?" She asked as she turned to me; I could see she planned to send the girls away to make sure I don't scold them, not that I was planning to.

  "Yes, I would." With that, she shot a look at the young ones, and they ran along to prepare it.

  "They mean no harm," she continued to finish dressing me herself. "The girls are just curious." I didn't answer immediately, not until we made eye contact. She had kind eyes. I wonder if that's the reason I didn't recognize her. Perhaps she was killed trying to protect the kids, or hopefully she was simply one that got away.

  "I know. They're just children."

  "You make it sound as if you're much older, but they're just a year younger," she said with a smile on her lips; she no longer found me threatening.

  "What's your name?" I asked her.

  "Valerie- Val."

  "Do you know me, Val?" Her eyes darkened. If she knew who I was, then it's very likely she wasn't someone that managed to run away; after all, no one who knew of me and was kind-hearted had survived.

  "I saw you once," she paused and took a step back to look at her finished job. The dark green gown fit my body nicely thanks to Val, who nicely adjusted the clothing to fit on the first day when she saw it all fit loose.

  "I saw you being brought up the stairs; you were being guided to the King's chambers," she paused. "And I also saw you leave his chambers." That means she saw the bloody mess I was whenever I left his chambers.

  "Valerie, for your good and the others' good as well, I recommend you forget what you saw, and that you never mention this to a single soul. The entire situation would get you killed in a heartbeat." She faced the ground as I scolded her. What a funny scene that someone like me who had not yet learned the way society worked to dare scold anyone. It would've been impossible had things stayed the same way.

  Where is the King?"

  "I'm not too sure, but I overheard Miss Petra saying that His Highness wouldn't be returning soon. The beasts have broken through the barrier." This really helped me.

  “Is this the first time the barrier breaks?”

  “Yes.” I was certain now, of what period we were in.

  "Don't tell anyone what we spoke of."

  The girls came back giggling, and as much as I wanted to sit back and enjoy their happiness, I couldn't help the smile falling off my face thinking about how these girls were in so much danger. Val saw my expression but didn't do anything this time. I feel we both knew exactly what the other was thinking. That even though they were in danger, they would never leave. Even being a maid here was considered elite.

  I remained seated on the chair and table they had set up for me, allowing the sun to kiss my skin as I inhaled the fresh air I had missed. It felt different from the past – cleaner and fresher, like the purest air imaginable. I had never truly taken a moment to enjoy such a simple pleasure. Memories flooded back of the child who lived surrounded by nature, dancing with flowers in her hair.

  Standing up, I walked outside onto the balcony. The North wing faced the forest, beckoning me. After His Highness had killed my people, their lifeless bodies were dragged to the palace, and their blood was utilized to create a barrier surrounding the capital. No beasts could penetrate it until this recent incident. His Majesty’s previous method was straightforward. Every month, substantial amounts of my blood were extracted, pushing me to the brink of death. If I had been normal, I would have died over a million times.

  My blood served to fortify the barrier, all information I didn’t learn until much later. I endured immense suffering and never fully recovered because the wounds inflicted were profound, leaving large, horrible scars across my body that never ceased to ache. There is no doubt that he will come for my blood. He always did, after all, because my blood was his elixir.

  Yet that was also his biggest weakness. The one I hadn't realized until it was too late. The weakness that made me the weapon. His obsession, addiction, dependency.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "Young Lady?" Val's voice interrupted my train of thoughts.

  I was about to enter again when a person caught my eye. There he was. The one who never made it. Prince Cynrik, after family was massacred for treason, he was left alone with a brother who he shared no blood with and that planned to kill him for the throne-, no. Who did kill him for the throne.

  Prince Kaiser, who later became Duke of the North, was someone who worshipped the ground The King walked on, and that was why he would never become king. After all, His Highness was-, is a greedy man, whose life depends on his power.

  "I have great things planned for you, Prince Cynrik," I said under my breath before turning around and going back inside.

  I opened my eyes to Petra's hands on my shoulders, shaking them to wake me.

  "Hurry!" The tone of exasperation in her voice conveyed everything I needed to know. He was back, and he needed me again.

  Nervousness coursed through me as I swiftly got up from the bed, slipping on my slippers. The room, dimly lit with heavy, velvet curtains drawn tightly, carried an air of foreboding. There was no time to change or fix myself up; Petra was pulling me with urgency, her grip tight as she guided me through the dimly lit corridor.

  As we stepped out, Rav awaited us at the corridor's end. The walls were adorned with faded tapestries, their once vibrant colors now muted by time and neglect. We hurried past antique furniture, the polished wood bearing the scars of years gone by. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Val observing the scene discreetly from the shadows of the hallway but her flickering candlelight was bright enough to reveal the intricate carvings on the oak panels lining the walls. It was impossible that Rav hadn't seen her, and I wondered if her presence would soon be noted in the report that His Highness would inevitably receive. No time remained for contemplation as we pressed forward, drawing closer and closer to the ominous chamber.

  I didn't realize I was holding my breath until we reached the imposing doors. The heavy oak doors, adorned with gold, loomed over us. Rav knocked three times, the sound echoing in the corridor. As the doors creaked open, revealing the opulence within, His Majesty’s voice echoed through the room, reverberating against the marble walls.

  "Send her in." His voice was as cold as ever, a chilling contrast to the warm glow of the chandeliers hanging overhead. I remembered it all too well, the echoes of past commands lingering in the grand chamber.

  Upon entering, I couldn't help but cower back. The room was vast, with high ceilings adorned with ornate frescoes that told stories of a bygone era. Heavy drapes framed tall windows, their rich fabric billowing slightly in the cool breeze that entered the room. The air was thick with the scent of cigar smoke, lingering from His Majesty's previous indulgence. The flickering light of the numerous candles cast shadows on the opulent furniture, upholstered in rich fabrics that seemed to absorb the room's history. He sat on a plush couch, opposite the grand bed draped in silk. I approached him at a respectful distance, my eyes scanning the room's lavish details. The polished mahogany furniture, intricate gilded mirrors, and the soft glow of the fireplace added to the luxurious ambiance. Yet, despite the grandeur, an undercurrent of tension permeated the room, as if the walls themselves held the secrets of the kingdom. Our eyes unexpectedly locked, the room's opulence momentarily forgotten in the intensity of the exchange.

  "You look different." It was true. A few days up here, and I looked the healthiest I ever had. It was pure evidence of my blood work, mocking him, for he looked terrible. By now, he hadn't yet realized it was because he was addicted to my blood. It didn't take him long to realize, and even less to determine what he was going to do about it; it was how the plan to tie me down to him came to be.

  "My King, please take what I have!" I threw myself to the floor and lifted my hands to him. Palms facing up, these ugly scars were left exposed. Scars that had healed over and over again after being cut open time after time.

  My head hung low, not wanting to look at his, but feeling him place his face in my hands scared me. I slightly jumped, and I felt him grin in my hands. Lifting my head, I saw him breathing in my scent. He didn't even open his eyes as he pulled out a dagger from his side. I was too busy looking at the dagger to notice him trying to read my expression. To his relief, fear was evident on my face.

  Suddenly, he yanked my arms towards him and let out a chuckle as I gasped in surprise and fear.

  "You speak like a proper young lady, and you try to act like one, but the fear in your eyes is too evident. You're still the little rat from the sewers. You still smell like one. If it weren't for your blood," he stopped mid-sentence as he dragged the dagger across the entirety of my left forearm. I couldn't help but cry and whimper out in pain. It stung so bad, and my blood started to pool in his hands as he still held my arms. His entire clothing was getting dirty in my blood as he let it spill and go to waste. I couldn't help pulling back when he went in with the dagger in the same place he had just cut. I pulled back, and he let me fall back. I hit the ground, and my head thudded harshly. My entire body shook in fear. I couldn't think; I couldn't see; I couldn't breathe. It was pathetic, but I couldn't get it together.

  It didn't come clear until his slimy tongue licked my arm. Everything stopped. The shaking, the fear, the pain. It was gone. I had slipped into the mind of the younger body I had. This wasn't scary. This was typical of him, and I had fallen for it like I always had. This wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be. He was still the manipulator, and I was still the manipulated. I had thought that years of living with Elysian had fixed me, I had thought that knowing the past would make me stronger, but I was so wrong. Because something so small made me stop in fear.

  The strength Elysian taught me was simply physical, and that is the reason I died so pathetically. Because I had such a mediocre mindset. Because even after thinking I had managed to run away, the second I had a chance I came running back to his arms.

  His face was buried deep onto my bleeding arm. I swallowed down the pain and bit down my whimpers. I wish there was an easier way to compress the pain, but my body remained powerless.

  He felt my body stop thrashing in fear and looked up at me. His mouth covered in my blood.

  "It's much sweeter when you're obedient." His eye color resembled those of a rabid beast. Pupils completely dilated. His desires splurging from his very own scent. I knew what would happen. I knew I had to let it happen. There was no way for me to stop it, so saying that I had to let it happen was the only way to comfort myself into thinking I had somewhat control of the situation. In reality I was just too weak to stop it.

  He sat up and yanked my legs around his torso. He had never been so violent with me the first times he took me as a woman, but the cockiness in my attitude made his actions change. I should’ve known. I should have considered it. After all I couldn’t bring myself to act the same way I previously had. So stupidly.

  He positioned me where he needed me. I felt my tears well up in my eyes. He didn't give me time to protest. He yanked and ripped my dress down from my chest and I was left bare. I felt too much pain to move my arm but still attempt to cover my body with my right arm. He pulled it down and forced me to show myself. He chuckled, and I could hear him speak but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Other than the attempt to cover myself, there was no other resistance coming from me. I wasn't screaming, or crying, I wasn't kicking or fighting. I was accepting it. As much as I wanted to hide my disgust my facial expression showed it every time, he brought his lips onto my body. He was harsh, covered in my blood and disgusting. I didn't register when he uncovered his bottom part, but I felt it when he brutally thrust in me. My body recoiled in disgust. I tried my best to lay still as a corpse, but I couldn't help wincing in pain or the tears falling down my face. This was the way he decided to do this this time. It was closer to his real self than previously.

  It felt eternal until he finished with me. He let his heavy body fall onto mine. I couldn't breathe and my body thrashed looking for air, he felt heavier and heavier, and I could feel my ribs crack and get more and more compressed until a sharp pain made me scream out and gasp out for air. He finally lifted his body up and laughed at me as I laid in complete pain. I had thought acting in love would be sufficient but no. He wanted to truly break me and make me his broken toy again. I felt a sting on my thigh, and I screamed again. He bit and ripped my skip apart. He crawled up until we were face to face. His mouth still held the piece of my skin he had just bitten off. He leaned down closer and closer until I could feel his mouth on mine. I kept my mouth shut tight until his dirty fingers opened my mouth enough to put it in my mouth. apart from my skin I felt myself down in the metallic taste of my own blood. I wanted to spit it out and vomit, but he immediately shut my mouth and covered my nose. I couldn't breathe. My body that looked for air couldn't help swallow what was in my mouth, but even after that he didn't leave me breathe. I started to see black when he finally let go.

  "What a good girl, I'll reward you." His words, laced with a sinister sweetness, echoed through the opulent chamber. The room itself seemed to recoil, as if unwilling to witness the unfolding darkness. He shot me a smile, a mockery of warmth, and stood up, strolling into his bathing room, leaving me alone on the cold, unforgiving floor. The room, adorned with decadent tapestries depicting scenes of power and conquest, felt like a silent witness to unspeakable acts.

  As he vanished into the bathing room, the air hung heavy with the acrid scent of his cigar smoke, a constant reminder of his indulgences. Though I wished to vomit, I held it back, for this suffering, grotesque as it was, made it easier for me. My blood, tainted and exploited, took effect almost immediately. I could feel my cuts healing and my ribs cracking back into place, the grotesque symphony of my body's repair playing out in the silence of the room. The scars, however, remained etched into my flesh, a cruel reminder of the torment endured.

  My leg, which had been left bleeding, ceased its crimson flow, and an overall sense of physical health returned. But my mind? It remained a battlefield, haunted by memories of Elysian and a past life that lingered like a malevolent shadow. If I didn't cling to those memories, I might have succumbed entirely to the darkness that threatened to consume me.

  Ten agonizing minutes passed before I summoned the strength to stand. The remains of my clothes pooled around my feet, a pitiful reminder of my vulnerability. The dampness he left behind spilled down my leg, an unspoken mark of his cruelty that clung to me like a sinister shroud. I stood still for five minutes, a silent witness to my own resilience, before walking to the doors to knock.

  The doors creaked open, revealing Petra, who, despite her attempts at composure, couldn't conceal her shock. His Majesty had never taken me as a woman before, and the revelation left an unsettling air in the room. She removed her own cloak and draped it over my blood-soaked body, a feeble attempt to shield me from the darkness that clung to my skin. Silently, she guided me through the grand halls, I missed the knight who on bad days would carry me to my dungeon. Rav’s presence offered no solace, no words exchanged as we traversed the opulent corridors. We reached my room, and with the same silence, they departed, leaving me alone and naked in the cold embrace of the night. The room, dimly lit, offered no comfort, only an oppressive solitude that mirrored the darkness within.

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