Chapter Three

♕—Delilah

"He is going to kill me, mama" I whispered, staring at myself in the mirror. This beautiful white gown felt like a death sentence. "...that's what he did to all his wives"

Mama stroked my curled hair and she adjusted the veil in place. "No, he won't, my Delilah is stronger than that. If anyone can change that man, it's going to be you"

My heart felt so heavy, tears burned in my eyes and I shook my head in negative. "He won't change, mama! This isn't a fairytale. He isn't a prince. People like him... they don't change. I'm going to die," I whispered the last part to myself.

Everything was in order, Jack and I were supposed to flee last night but I'm not sure how some of the guards got wind of it. The gates were sealed shut, I didn't even get to see him last night, he was taken away before that.

From what I have heard from Rita, Jack tried his best to save me, he took the blame and told everyone that he was the one who filled my head with such ideas.

He did it all for my love and now he was going to pay the price for it.

He was captured.

He is going to pay the price of touching me, he is going to pay the price of loving me, he is going to pay the of ever laying eyes on me.

I did this to him.

I sentenced my Jack to death.

The guilt overwhelmed me.

Papa had thrown him into a dungeon, he is going to torment him. Papa threatened me that he was going to torture him long and hard... all because of me.

They said if I did anything wrong if I tried to run or do anything that puts the future of this kingdom in danger, they will serve me Jack's severed head for dinner.

Jack warned me that running away like this was stupid, he told me that it won't work; that my father will know one way or another and he did. Papa was one step ahead of us and now here I was in a white gown for a man I could never love.

The door slammed open and papa walked in. Mama and I and everyone in the room bowed down on one knee.

"Rise, Delilah."

I did and faced my father. He raised his hand to cup my cheek but I cringed away from his touch. He was no father, a father would never do this to their child.

Papa formed a fist and pulled it back to his side. "Be out in ten minutes"

He walked out followed by his guards. The servants that were tasked to get me ready did some finishing touches to my make-up and dress. I wore the four inches stiletto heels and little brother, my cute little future king, Anthony handed me the bouquet that he made all by himself with the flower he personally plucked from our gardens.

The doors opened expecting me to walk down to my hell. I inhaled a deep breath and entangled an arm with my mama as we walked out of the room to get into the church.

Grand music started to play, it was the same doomed song that played at my parent's wedding and my grandparent's wedding. It was our family's song. The sound of it made my skin crawl.

I raised my eyes and saw the monster standing at the altar. My chin trembled and I sniffled; keeping my tears in. I will not let this weaken me, I will come out of this marriage one way or another and I will save Jack from the hands of my father.

CRASH!

A loud shattering sound that chilled me to my bone.

The whole church got startled even all the King's guards as the large glass windows crashed violently sending shards of glass everywhere.

I winced as it cut the bare skin of both of my arms. My mind suddenly went numb, I had no idea what was going on as all the guards pulled their guns out. The men dressed in all-black ran into the church from everywhere, through the windows, through the door I just entered from, and they just kept coming and coming.

The guests hid under their seats, screaming for their lives, every single sound, every single scream just echoed in my mind.

"DELILAH!" I looked to my side to see my hysterical mama. "RUN!"

Run...

I looked to the altar to see Alexander hiding behind a pillar loading his gun, I glanced at papa hiding behind his guards with a look of sheer terror on his face, and then I looked back at mama.

"Go, I'll be fine, this is your chance, Delilah, GO!"

My senses suddenly came back, I sprinted towards the door and once I was outside, I kicked off my heels and picked up the long tail of my dress, and ran as fast as I could.

"LORENZO, MARCO, GET THE FUCKING BRIDE!" I heard a deep voice call out, his commanding voice sent a chill down my spine but I didn't stop running or looked back.

I ran out of the church and saw all the soldiers running inside to get to their Kings—Alexander and Octavius. Whenever a tragedy or war strikes, they are ordered to protect the King first, then the Heir to the throne, then the Queen Consort, and lastly the Princesses.

And I have never been happier about that law!

Without looking here and there, I ran straight towards the woods in front of the church. I don't know where they led but I didn't care at the moment. Keeping my breathing steady, I pushed harder and went faster.

I felt my whole body working; my leg muscles running warm, fresh air entered my lungs and blood flowed into all of my limbs.

My pulse pounded in my ears, my breath coming out short. I heard footsteps behind me, I tried to run faster but my dress was incredibly heavy, it was slowing me down. I didn't have the time to stop and rip the fabric off.

The woods led to a road and there was just more forest on the other side of the road, I glanced back over my shoulder and sprinted deeper into the woods.

Must get away!

Must not get caught!

My foot nearly slipped from beneath me as something sharp prickled into my heel making me let out a little shriek, I covered my mouth with both of my hands and kept on running. The sharp object had clung to my skin, every step I took, it went deeper and deeper, and tears trailed down my cheeks but I didn't stop.

I found a big rock and I hid behind it, for a moment to catch my breath and to get rid of the thing in my heel. I looked behind me and found no one, I heaved a sigh and dropped to my butt on the ground, I pulled my foot up and saw a sharp piece of wood lodged into my heel. I gripped it and closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, I pulled the wood out and watched as the blood dripped out and soaked my white, dirt-filled dress.

I ripped my dress from the bottom, it was a mermaid dress with a little slit. I wrapped a piece of clothes that I had ripped on my feet, so my feet won't hurt again.

Then I heard a sound.

Crunching of leaves under boots, multiple boots.

"She went this way!"

My heartbeat accelerated, I think heart might burst out of my chest. I slowly crawled behind another large rock before getting to my feet and sprinting out of there.

"Over there!"

From their accents, they sounded Americans. I have met a few Americans in my lifetime and they were all politicians, who have come to meet papa.

I halted in my steps when a man stepped before me, he had a malicious smirk on his face. I have no idea where he came from. "You have been a very bad little princess"

I turned on my heels and saw another man, my breath got caught in my throat as my eyes met with his. Sweat poured down my body but I stayed as still as possible. My teeth chattered in fear.

The man before me had black eyes and black hair, and there was a scar on his face, a long cut on his right cheek. The hollowness of his eyes sent a surge of terror throughout my body making my limbs shiver in response.

I turned to my side and tried to run but they were too close, one of them grabbed me by my arm and the other grabbed the back of my dress, my ankle twisted and I fell to the ground, I let out a scream but the one with the scar sat over my lower body and covered my mouth. I fought him as hard as I could, I landed punches on his stomach, on his thighs, on his arms but he seemed unaffected by all of it.

He extended his hand to his partner and he handed him something, he grabbed my forearm and I lost it, I started to thrash around wildly, his partner kneeled on the ground and held me down while he stabbed my arm with something. I let out a muffled scream but it was of no use.

Tears streamed down my face as I felt my body going limp under him. He got off me and threw my limp body over his shoulder.

My eyes started to close of their own accord. No, please, no, Delilah, you can not give up, please!

My body lost all its power and there was nothing I could do to save myself.