Althaleya strode through the mansion corridors, her breath steady but her pulse hammering in her ears like a war drum. The guards she passed and barely spared her a glance since she is illegitimate daughter, just the overlooked noble whose mother was a parlor dancer(more like a Prostitute) they say-but today,their indifference was armor.Let them underestimate, by the time the viper strikes nothing is going to save their souls..
She reached her chambers and shut the door with deliberate softness. Only then did she allow herself to tremble fingers clenching into fists as she leaned against the carved oak door.
I had done it. I did it!!. I had spat in Leonard`s face and walked away unscathed (at least for now). But victory was not sweet, it was smoke and embers, burning under my skin already too tightly from whatever cursed power simmered beneath it.
A sudden pain flared up her arm like liquid fire.
She hisses through gritted teeth as black veins slithered beneath pale skin before solidifying into that damnable sigil again, twisted thorns, looping in cruel patterns around her wrist where Leo had placed his betrothal and I had jack it off now discarded on some forgotten floor. The mark pulsed hungrily with every ragged breath she took... feeding on fury? Feeding on fear? No matter, she would choke this darkness before letting it control anything more than what little power it offered freely between them both...
Right now though?
It hurt worse than the sword that pierced through my ribs and worse than drowning ever could have been supposed to feel when water filled lungs instead of air and until nothing remained except desperate clawing at life slipping beyond reach...
And yet here stood death itself whispering promises in veins turned ink black by its touch.
Unable to tolerate standing any longer while feeling so weak despite knowing full nobody else saw these wounds inflicted upon soul rather flesh. Althaleya collapsed onto bed as her mind welcomed eternal darkness.
...
He was pacing in his study back in the palace. Frustration radiating from every movement. Rewinding his conversation with His betrothed Princess Althaleya. The audacity of her to open her mouth and say she wants to break off the engagement. She was supposed to be docile,The perfect noble daughter who`d submit to my every whim.Or is she just angry I spend much time with her young sister more than her.. Maybe she is just jealous.. but still...
How dare she refuse me.
He clenched his fist, the leather of his gloves creaking omniously."She is a fool," he spat, his voice low and seething."Too stubborn for her own good. Thinks she can do better than a prince!"
"foolish girl," he muttered, his jaw clenching.
'Tieran!" He called and his bodyguard appeared from the shadows almost soundlessly, his face betraying nothing.
"You called my Prince?"
He stopped pacing, His expression hardening."I have a task for you," he said his gaze locking on his bodyguard.
"I want you to look into someone for me," he said sternly " I want it done quietly." he added his tone leaving no room for argument.
...
Althaleya woke to darkness, her head spinning. The pain wracking her body was a relentless drumbeat against her skull,and she struggled to distinguish memories from feverish dreams. But in the shadows, she swore she heard something...
A whisper.
"Wakey wakey little rabbit.."
It said, its sound terrifying yet soothing at the same damn time.
"Little viper... wake up."
She tried to answer the call but her entire being protested. Every muscle ached every thought felt sluggish. Too much. Too strong. The darkness was closing in...
Althaleya groaned. The voice sound like a snake`s rattle than anything human. Or even Demonic."What do you want?" she rasped,her fingers curling weekly by her head.
"You are weak, Little one."
What the..!
She felt a ripple of anger irrational but intense."And whose damn fault is that!?"
She shadow chuckled.
Althaleya clenched her teeth. The shadow`s condescending tone was unbearable,"Is pain and humiliation amusing to you?"
The shadow`s deepened,almost a purr- but still dripping with mockery."your suffering will make you strong.You`ll survive and rise. You are no ordinary prey,little rabbit."
"Stop calling me that," She hissed back weakly."And don`t pretend you`re trying to help. You enjoy this!"
The shadow chuckled again, the sound slithering up Althaleya`s spine like poison and... and something else she couldn`t quiet grasp.
"Your pain is my symphony, little rabbit."
She hated it. She hated the way it savored every syllable. Each word was a weapon... and she was too weak to fight them. Her head ached horribly but anger burned like fire in her gut, fueling her will." I refuse to let you use my pain for entertainment!!"
"So leave me alone!!!" she said in anger.
"Shush now my little rabbit someone`s coming... you better open those beautiful eyes and prepare for what`s to happen next.. looking forward to our next conversation... and I promise you won`t be in pain in the next one" he said playfully and chuckled. And her eyes flew open.