*Days later*
I wouldn’t say I became better, at heart after Emily’s words.
There was an improve, yes.
But I didn’t become better in my sword man ship, skills. No matter how I tried, I just couldn’t get it right.
While Elder Zu taught us the techniques everyday and made us practice, I came back to the battle ground each time.
Trying to learn, but nothing came out of it.
“The challenge would be in a fortnight to now, ladies.”
Knight Lydia announced one day, after gathering the 25 of us together.
“Only after that, would the winner face me.”
She was about walking away, when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, taking a view at us training.
“With what I’m seeing, I’m sure none of you would be able to combat with me, one on one.”
She snickered, before walking away.
The morning bell for breakfast rang instantly. I shook the snow off my boots, walking inside the castle to eat.
The beast’s Kingdom was starting to get cold and frosty.
Rain fell in combination with snow. But it didn’t mean I was giving up anytime soon.
“I think I’ve found it, Ava.”
Piper wrote to me in a letter one day.
“Someone in the castle was involved in your assault in the ship, that day.”
“Meet me in the restroom at midnight and I’ll tell you all.”
She concluded. I sighed, tearing off the paper.
When midnight fell, I snuck out of my room with an intent to meet Piper.
However, on my way there, I heard footsteps trailing behind me.
I looked back, only to see multiple shadows behind me. I wanted to turn back, but thinking Piper was alone all by herself in the restroom, made me not want to.
“Seize her!!”
My eyes widened when hands enclosed my mouth and my body was dragged forcefully.
I did try to scream but to no avail. They had overpowered me and there was nothing I could do.
I was taken to a dark room, with a sack over my head.
The minute the sack was removed, I looked only to see the vicious enemy of every pawn girl.
“T-Tania? What are you…”
“Quiet!” she snarled angrily.
There was a severe look of hate and disgust in her hands. I noticed there were lit lamps in the hands of people that supported her.
I knew Satandra was up to no good.
I couldn’t however recognize the girl beside Satandra. I didn’t remember seeing her around.
“Do you know what this is going to cost you when the beast finds out?”
I asked her immediately.
I struggled to get out of their hands, but it seemed like it was no good.
Tania began to cackle in a sinisterly tone, out of the blue. She leaned in with her hand pounding the wall beside me.
“He won’t.”
She seethed.
“This is a game, moreover. Of blood and bones.”
“Eliminating anyone earns points, not the other way round.”
Tania added.
“We found that out.”
Satandra seethed, with an evil glint.
“Wonder why Knight Lydia was protecting you ass.”
“You’re just a nobody like us, Ava. A mere pawn and don’t think you can cheat your way through.”
“B-But I wasn’t—”
“Never said you could speak!”
“We shouldn’t be doing this, Tania. We should be working our way towards freedom.”
I hurriedly let out, before she silenced me.
“Freedom? There is no freedom for any of us. This is why we fight for it..“
“Eliminating people like you.”
She finalized.
My eyes widened when she brought out a little knife from under cloth.
Still held by the girls, I realized her intent to harm me.
“Have this!”
I immediately hit one of them, in the groin, using the opportunity to bring my dagger from my stockings.
I slashed Satandra on her face and hands, instantly.
“You bitch!!”
She screamed instantly.
Tanya came forward, and I paced my step, studying her carefully.
“I’m not going down without a fight, Tanya.”
I said, preparing to combat with her.
“Bring it on, Ava.”
I threw the dagger towards her legs, which pierced through. I smiled, knowing she had been injured.
In pain, she fell to hold her leg.
I moved to take a hold of her little knife when I was kicked hardly from behind.
Shit.
I had been so distracted that I didn’t notice the other girl!
My body hit the ground forcefully and I laid flat, with the dagger falling from my hands.
I was about to pick it, when it was kicked away.
“Take that.”
Tanya said, using her little knife to slash my neckline. I felt a heavy stone hit my mid back, as kicks were countlessly given to me.
“No…”
I trailed out, not sure why I had said that.
I couldn’t die.
Not now.
I had many people that would cry if I would. Mum, Emily, Moses.
People that depended on me— Piper goddamit.
“See you soon in Hades, Ava.”
Tanya stated slyly, with an evil smirk. I could only see blurs right now.
With blood seeping slowly out of my neck.
My backbone seemed injured. And that left me paralyzed on the floor.
I had a hard time moving and began to feel so dizzy.
A sudden urge to sleep, whooshed over me.
To sleep…
Or die, which one?
Was this the end, like Emily said?
Or just the beginning…
…
“Sister! Sister!”
Someone panted out, shrugging me from sleep.
I opened my eyes.
It was my little sister.
She looked so different. Not sick and palely like she did.
Instead, her face was all bright.
“J-Jasmine?”
I rubbed my eyes, calling out to her.
Where was I?
It looked so much beautiful around. There were amazing flowers and butterflies all around.
“Yes me, common stand up let’s go play! It’s sunny today!”
She exclaimed, pulling my hands up. I looked back down. Seemed like I had dozed off on the shrubs.
Was it all a dream then?
The dystopian world?
“Where is mum?”
I asked just to be sure.
“We took permission from her remember? She made us promise we’d be back before sun goes down.”
Jasmine said, taking my hands again. Remembering the way, she looked when she was terribly sick, made tears coat my eyes.
“Wait!”
I called out to her, pulling her closer. I wrapped her in a tight hug immediately.
“I missed you.”
I muttered, with more tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Huh?”
She let out, freezing in surprise still in my arms.
“I missed you, so much, Jasmine…”
“Why did you have to leave us? You promised big sister, that you’d fight for your life…
“You promised…”
I trailed on my words.
“You promised!”
I yelled out once more. But she just froze on her spot, with a confusing look on her face.
A harsh wind begun to blow suddenly.
The butterflies ran for shelter and some flowers were plucked from their roots. It scattered, everywhere like a nightmare.
Far from the fairytale it looked earlier. The weather begun to change from summer to storm.
Thunder bolts begun striking loudly. With lightening all around.
“I’m so scared, Ava.”
She let out with her small hands around my fingers. I recalled she had a fear of storms.
“Please take me home…”
“I’m so scared.”
“It’s okay, Jasmine. I won’t let any harm come to you.”
I muttered, lifting her in my arms.
“I promise.”
I instantly began running rapidly, towards our village.
Clearing the thorns in my paths.
“You can drop me down, if you’re tired. I can run too.”
“You don’t have to be in charge of it all, big sis.”
She timidly muttered, holding me tightly.
“Don’t worry, little sister.”
I said.
“Big sister got this…we would soon be home.”
I exclaimed, going faster with the droplets of harsh rain beating and piercing through my back as I ran.
My clothes tore and I had a few injury scrapes, but it didn’t matter.
What mattered was she was safe.
In my arms.
The minute we got home, I barged through the door, dropping Jasmine from my hands.
Still wet all over, I saw mum at the entrance, crying a lot.
Moses was by her side. And just in a little bed beside her, was Jasmine.
“Jasmine?”
I called out. I looked by my side to where I dropped her.
She had vanished.
B-but she had just been with me…
“Mum!! She was here right now, I promise!”
“She was with me! I promised to save her!!”
I yelled instantly, shaking her pale body in front of us all.
“Ava…”
Mum called out.
All of a sudden, it seemed like the scene changed to her burial.
And the stylish man who announced, from the choosing showed up.
He looked at me, as I cried and was swelling hot and boiling in anger.
“You need to calm down, Goodchild.”
He remarked.
“Shut.Up.”
My voice yelled. In a husky tone though, from the numerous shoutings.
“Jasmine…”
I trailed out, with tears rolling down my eyes as I held her grave closely.
Remembering her pig tails.
The way she liked playing with butterflies.
Or hated storms.
“Little sister…”
I muttered, closing my eyes and drifting into an unknown world.
I opened my eyes, only to see the beast Caspian. Staring right back at me, with her silver grey eyes.
It wasn’t a dream, after all.
“I’m sorry.”
He muttered, holding me closely.
“Sorry I was too late.”
“I let you fall into the hands of the enemy.”
“My sister…”
I trailed on my words, saying. Had a hard time deciphering reality right now.
“What sister?”
I became silent at his question, like one in grief.
Tears rolled out of my eyes, each time I remembered I lost her.
“It’s okay now.”
Caspian came closer, kissing my forehead while I cried.
“You have me to lean on, Ava.”
I hid that scar long time ago.
Locked it in, because I couldn’t handle it.
..
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The beast held me as I leaned on him, crying intensely.Remembering Jasmine, did make me want to run into a box, and hide myself from it all.“She was my sister.”In a husky and hushed tone, I said.“And you lost her, didn’t you?” he asked.“She was just 9…”I brokenly let out, shivering. My body pondered as I said those words, with so much hurt withheld in my chest.“I lost someone too.”He suddenly let out.“I might not know what it’s like but I remember having an empty feeling.” he added, gently.“She was my mum.”“And her death was unforeseen. She died in the hands of the enemies.” he added.“And when she did, my dad became a gruesome, ruthless beast. I became worst.”“First you feel immense guilt, next…rage and anger. You then begin to blame y
The snow fell slowly, pouring on my head while the rain drizzled too. I suspected it was due to my transformation, that I couldn’t feel much of the weather.My skin felt a million thicker and impenetrable.I in fact, felt so much stronger, as I approached Master Zu. My face wrote of a determined look.My sword dragged on the floor, making linings on the snow that fell. And breeze blew off my already short hair, which I had earlier cut.I must win.I had to win.If I wanted to defeat Knight Lydia, I had to pass the hurdle.By defeating Elder Zu himself.“Come on!”Master Zu exclaimed, stretching his hands forward.I suddenly began running towards him, swaying my sword as I ran in the air. Instead of a sword, Master Zu took out a wooden stick.What was he doing?I stopped on my spot immediately.“You’re using that?”
Her crimson hair swarm widely, as she flipped some pages of her book. I inhaled nervously.What was she doing telling me to be free?I pressed my lips firmly, deciding to do as she said. Maybe she’ll tell me what I needed to know.“S-sure,”I muttered, reaching for the books in the shelf. My hands scanned through before taking one of them in my hands. I carefully observed it, as I did.Maybe it was a hint? Or was it?The book I took had an old brownish cover. It seemed dusty and ancient. But surprisingly, it was locked. With a padlock and it seemed like it needed a key.“It’s locked, Lady Archer.”“Yes dear, it is.”“For now, though. It’s left to you to open it; I’ve played my part.”“But I don’t have the key. How do I unlock it?” I asked frightfully.What if the answer to everything
Warning! Some parts of this chapter trigger self-harm and suicide.Dear readers, suicide is never an option. Whatever you’re passing through or facing will soon be over. Hang on in there, please...After that encounter with Rook Francesca, I headed to Knight Lydia’s quarters. My intentions were simple— I wanted Piper in my room.Then I would practice more and find the key after.Luckily, she agreed. Although with the condition that Piper shared a bed with me, since it wasn’t in her power to move anything in the castle.She had suggested me talking to Bishop Cicilia about it, but I waved it off agreeing.What was worse than going to one’s enemies for help?Cicilia would pay for her deeds, with Lady Francesca.But that was until I found the truth.Because something didn’t quite add up. I sensed a hidden enemy; pulling the strings.Who wa
King Caspian’s Pov“Milord, I sent the message. Lady Ava would be here in a few minutes.”Jaskier, my personal guard said with a bow.“Okay thanks.”I said, sitting down in deep thoughts as he left through the door, closing it behind him.Why won’t she accept to be my concubine?Why doesn’t she want me to protect her anymore? Why is she so stubborn?With these thoughts, I stood up pacing back and forth in my chambers.“I want mate.”“I miss her sweet scent and want to hold her in my hands.”My beast grumbled, threatening to take over.“Quiet, would you? Can’t you see I summoned her already?”He won’t rest until our mate was safe with us. Until she was protected from the games.Not that I couldn’t forcefully take her. But doing that, w
Ava’s Pov It was almost like I could hear imaginary bells. Completely zoning out the moment Tabitha jumped. Holding my gown, with my both hands shaking. Through the linings which supported the balcony, I peeked and saw Tabitha’s disfigured body. “Oh no…” She was already dead. It was an eye sore. Right beside her down, were Francesca and Cicilia. Seems like they intended to stop her from jumping so they won’t be exposed. I knew Tabitha was right, that instant. Clearly, they were both responsible. In fact, they have been feeding on her. “Lady Ava…” I wondered who was calling me. “Lady Ava!!” Someone jeered me out of my thoughts, shaking my arms steadily. I looked only to see Cassandra. “You need to get a hold of yourself,” She said. Thankfully, she had followed me unknowingly. Sh
As he reached for them, a strong feeling of déjà vu washed past me.My head couldn’t help but remember the moments we had been intimate. Back on the ship, and the night he chose me for the Great Dance.Also, the other time he was drunk.He did make me feel special.“Ava…” he trailed on his words.“I love you… you know, that right?”My heart beat thudded frantically. I reached for his shoulders, wrapping my hands around them. I also wondered if he was a bit tipsy.“Mhmm,”Those were the words I breathed out, unsure of what to say exactly.What was I supposed to say? That I perhaps loved the person I was forcefully given to?“You mean the world to me. So much more,” Caspian said, trailing kisses on my earlobes, down to my neckline. I gasped when he ripped my cloth forcefully, tearing the material with hi
I laid on his bed, in my ripped clothes from the desire of his beast.Just by my side, Caspian laid down too. His back pressed on the bed as I watched him. He watched me too, his face laced in guilt.Or was it?Didn’t even know if I should cry.“Ava…”He reached out for me saying.“Please, don’t touch me.”I went out of his reach immediately. Felt betrayed that he will put his seed in me, without asking me.“It was my beast. You very much know his desire for an heir. I can’t stop him.”“I’m fully aware of that, milord.”I immediately let out, looking the other way.“Besides, what say do I have in this? I’m just a mere pawn whose duty is to serve you and bear your pup.”“Do not say that. You are my mate, my chosen.”Caspian retorted.“Am I?&rd