chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Tanya’s POV

I had been sitting and staring at one spot for an hour. I felt numb and empty.

From the first day that he had raped me, taking away my virginity had done some thing to me. It made me feel worthless and dirty.

These days, it was even worse because I couldn't feel anything. I couldn't feel the pain, the pleasure and the way my heart clenched.

I really wanted to feel something, anything but my body had grown a defensive mechanism against the abuse which had numb my feelings.

The hitting, the rape and the way he insulted and downgraded me, they were now like mere words to me

After he finished and stood up from me, leaving me as empty as I was when he came in, I didn't know what to do.

Shout? No one would hear me and even if they did, they wouldn't do anything.

Cry? I had cried more than enough and I was growing tired of it.

Run away? With whose help?

Kill myself? No, my father would hate me for it.

In his eyes, there were obviously more things to do with my life like selling me off to his greatest threat. I had felt like a commodity, a piece of belonging that had been sold just to fulfill its purpose.

The constant visits to my room had become a normal thing. I didn't say a word to him nor did he, except when he was on top of me asking me if I liked it or if I enjoyed it.

How could I enjoy such a thing? I had been forced into a bond with him and now, I was being forced to sleep with him.

At least, the visits had let me have a bed. It was a soft bed with a very beautiful cover and the room was humane enough to live in, in contrast to that cell he had put me in when we first got married.

On some days when I decided to say no, I decided to actually stand up for myself, he would hit me. No matter how much I cried, he wouldn't stop hitting me until I bled and was injured and then, he would tie me up and have his way with me.

That was their cycle for over a year and after so many failed attempts, my father came visiting.

“I, what are you doing? You're wasting too much time. Kill him already! " He shouted at me with no conscience.

He deserves to also be among the beast. I had tanned down and looked very unpleasant yet a “father” didn't notice his child’s failing health. All he cared about was his greed.

My father, Raymond, had no clue what I was going through and the last thing I wanted to do was explain to him about what was going on because I knew he didn't care.

He would definitely tag me as a weak person. After all, the places where Arturo had punched me were very visible and if he didn't say anything about it, that meant it didn't matter.

“I'm working on it, dad. It's not as easy as you think it is. He's too strong, I don't know if I can do anything." I explained to him bluntly and that was the honest truth.

I stood no chance of facing him, not like I was allowed to leave the room without being called. My father responded with a slap on my face which brought me back to reality. 

“I have sacrificed everything for you and now it's time for you to pay me back. You will kill him." He shouted at my face and then he walked out without looking back. He hadn't asked me why I was half my weight or why I had a black eye or so many bruises covering my skin.

 All he had asked about was his mission. His mission was now more important than his daughter.

Maybe running away would help solve the problem. Then I would be able to get away from my father and this man that I had been forced to marry. I couldn't even refer to him as my husband.

But that would be worthless since there were guards all over the house and in the compound.

I heard footsteps approaching and I knew what they were about to do.

I was used to the routine, used to the pattern. The bed was always neatly dressed because that was the way he liked it.

One time, he had come in as usual and when he saw how messy the bed was, he stopped and asked me about it.

 “Why haven't you made the bed? Has it been like that since last night?" He yelled at me with his intimidating eyes locking mine, I couldn't answer him or move. I just stared at a corner which made him angry.

“You have no respect for me!" He growled in fury before giving me a hard hit on my shoulder. 

“You're worthless." The next was a hot slap with anger burning in his eyes.

“Useless!" Every word that escaped from his mouth came with a painful beating.

I didn't move as all these things were happening. I knew that even if I apologized or quickly went to make the bed, it wouldn't stop him from hitting me.

The door opened and he walked into the room. I had barely seen his face except from the wedding day. The room was always dimly lit with only a lamp by the bed.

He always tried to hide his face. He didn't want me to see how ugly he looked. The curse surely did a number on him and one day when he looked into the mirror, even he didn't like what he had seen.

The curse had made him look twice his age, he lost his charm and everything that he could boast about. No one wanted to be close to him anymore despite knowing that it was him. And he could only get closer because of his fame.

He hadn't thought that a curse would be that bad. He had been mocked and even given a nickname - “old grazer”. Being called that name made him so angry but he couldn't only kill everyone just because they called him that.

Those useless witches and sorceresses that he had visited had only taken his money and done nothing for him. He had traveled long distances just for a solution but so far, none had come to him.

All these were mostly rumors and gossiping that filtered from the mouth of servants in the mansion.

However tonight, when he walked into the room, he was surprised to see that the lights had been turned on. Our eyes met and it was like time froze.

I stared at him right in the face, my eyes hadn't faltered. It was the first time that I would actually be able to do this.

Arturo had to admit. I was a very beautiful and attractive lady, the type he would have bedded five minutes from meeting me.

Now I was his wife.

I was surprised. Arturo turned around and walked out of the room. That night, he didn't rape me.