TALIA'S POV
The council always sides with the king. I have heard people say it before, but now I am watching them do it in reality.
It's clear they are set on declaring our chained and abused young mother guilty without giving her much chance to defend herself. The queen on the other hand has got all the attention and stands to speak whenever and for as long as she feels like it.
Seeing bruises and tears on my mother's face makes my jaws clench with anger. She sits on a wooden chair being guarded by three soldiers despite having all her limbs chained. Her expression is a mixture of anger and despair.
I can only imagine how mean the soldiers have been to her considering how much everyone adores the prince, a powerful man leaning on the wall while standing a little too far away from the Council.
One would think he would see through the lies of his mother. Apparently, he has been fooled alongside everyone else.
He lost his servant and I can see the rage in his eyes. He is probably the person that wants my mother punished most.
For the first time, I find myself able to resist staring at his face. I am too worried about my mother who he has been glaring at since he walked into the room.
The Queen is still faking tears, acting like this is the worst thing that has ever happened to her precious family. The council once again gives her all the time to speak and lays more false accusations on our mother.
Who gives a damn if some poor single mother lives in prison for crimes she hasn't committed anyway? Not any of the adult people in this room apparently. Or they are too blinded by anger to figure out the truth.
Michael already gives up fighting the two soldiers restraining him from running to his mother he now just stands looking down at the floor, tears falling from his eyes.
Taylor is crying as well as she glares at the wicked Queen. She too realises that no one in this room will listen to us no matter how loud she screams that our mother is innocent. We are clearly and utterly doomed.
"I have always suspected that my friend was envious of my son's amazing perfections. But I never thought she would try something so wicked!" The Queen pauses to wipe her fake tears. "I asked his servant to take a bite of the food she made because I wanted to be cautious with anything that can endanger my son's life. The servant is now dead and the monster responsible is still breathing freely!"
Everyone cast our mother a death glare like they didn't already know what she was being accused of. Being jealous of the prince's amazing perfections and trying to kill him. As if his perfections were hurting us. He isn't even as perfect as I thought if he can figure out that his mother is fooling them.
Her aim is to have our mother imprisoned for life so she will no longer be the one that people think of as the strongest or bravest female in the Kingdom. That will mean that I and my siblings will officially be orphans. I don't know of a single thing I can do to find the money for food for all of us. Too much will fall apart if my mother goes to prison. I don't plan on letting it happen. I will not let the devilish queen have her way. The council and the King may not want to listen to us. But there are many ways of killing a rat. I am never afraid of burning the house. I can take her place. The laws of our Kingdom allow it. But the punishment will be doubled. Like. . . if she was going to get imprisoned for life, then I would get the same plus torturous daily work. I am ok with that as long as my mother goes free. "How do we know you are not the one that poisoned the food, you awful liar!" Taylor screens, causing the council to turn their glare at us. "You are just as ill-mannered as your mother! Such an evil family you are! No wonder your father left you!" The king snaps and I see Taylor's eyes feel with fresh tears. She was too little when her father left that she can't remember the kind of a jerk he was. Of course, the King's words hurt her feelings. "Was any of you aware of your mother's plan to murder my son?" He asks watching us with a disgusted face. No one answers him. "I will take your silence as a no." He states, looking around at his council members. "I think it's time we decide on the punishment that best fits this devil." He says gesturing at our mother. There is so much concern and misery in her eyes as she looks at us. It's like she is trying to say goodbye but is afraid of verbally saying it. It's obvious they will send her to the dirty and unsafe prison of our Kingdom, I and my siblings will be left to survive on our own in a Kingdom that hates us. "Wait! I cut him short and all eyes turn to me. "The time for you to defend your mother is Long gone! Now allow my council to speak or we will have you punished for impudence as well!" The king snaps. "I am no longer seeking to defend my mother," I swear. Everyone except the prince looks at me with confusion on their face. The king seems irritated. "Then what is the important thing you wish to tell us?" The king asks in a voice full of impatience. "I will take whatever punishment you and your council will decide in place of my mother," I said in a firm voice so no one will doubt my resolve. Most of the council members gasp in shock. Even the prince turns his head to finally look at me. The Queen shoots me a glare but I ignore her. "I am sure one of the laws of this Kingdom gives me the right to take her place since I am her daughter. It's not up to you or the council to decide." I say, looking directly at the King. He first clenches in anger but I know he has no option but to allow it. "If you take her place then you will suffer twice the punishment, be careful what you wish for young girl." He warns. "I am well aware of what the law states. But I still stand by my decision, I will take my mother's punishment in her place." I affirm and watch him and his Queen get even more furious. "Talia don't!_" Mother attempts to speak but she is cut off. "Be quiet!" One of the soldiers guarding her shouts. I am grateful that they were ordered to force her to stay quiet. She doesn't seem to understand that I am making the best decision for our family. A decision that will see me spend the rest of my life in a prison cell. But she and my siblings will be free to go home and carry on with life. The angry King consults with the members of his council for a full minute before looking back at me. His eyes are literally glowing with rage. Evan steps away from the war he was leaning on and taps his father on the shoulder before whispering something in his ear. I can't tell what it is but it makes the king's lips curve into a terrifying smirk. The prince goes back to leaning on the wall while his father once again casts his glare at me. "Well, your request to be punished in place of your mother is granted." The king says. The smirk stays on his lips as he delivers the most horrifying statement. "Your mother's punishment for causing the death of a loyal servant and attempting to kill the prince of this Kingdom was supposed to be an immediate public execution! We cannot kill you twice to multiply the punishment, so we will make the experience worse!" He says and my whole body trembles. our mother's gasp is loud enough for everyone to hear. The guards once again hiss at her to say quietly. Execution?! For a crime, no one actually committed?None of the former convicts of murder got killed in front of a crowd in the name of punishment. but I guess everything changes when you are accused of attempting to kill the prince. I look around and see that the council members are all nodding their heads in agreement with their King's decision.
I don't really regret dying in place of my mother. She can do a lot of things for my siblings that I can't. And the queen didn't get exactly what she wanted. She doesn't look as happy as I imagined she would be.
"That doesn't stop my body from going stiff with fear when the king speaks again. "You will be locked up for five days without food or water. Then your public execution will take place outside the gates of my palace on the sixth day! I will make sure to tell my man to make it as painful as possible."
I am surprised that my heart doesn't stop beating. But it does feel like it will soon burst its way out of my chest. Will I even be alive on the sixth day? No food or water for five days should be enough to kill me.
I am too afraid to look at the faces of my siblings. They are obviously too appalled.
"Your evil mother and siblings cannot be allowed to carry on living in my Kingdom with the rest of us of course. They seem to salvage to know what is right or wrong. So we have decided that they will be sold as slaves to people outside of this Kingdom! Perhaps then they will learn the importance of respect and loyalty." The king adds, taking away the hope I had of my mother and siblings freely returning home. The council once again nods in agreement with their King.
The queen now smiles like she has won the biggest battle of her life. I see mother burst into tears from the corner of my eyes. She must be blaming herself for this moment of horror. But the jealous Queen is the one to blame. She and this council of fools.
"You are a monster just like your wicked Queen!" I angrily yell at the King. "Your wife will always be the useless vixen she is whether my family lives in or out of this Kingdom."
Everyone including the prince gives me the worst of their glares. Of course, they see the queen as a good and very talented woman. What I said is a fact but it is taken as an insult.
Take her out of here and I lock her up!" The king orders and the soldiers that were restraining me from moving immediately starts dragging me out of the room. I know it's useless to fight them, they are too strong than I am.
I rather save the energy for the days ahead. No food or water for five days, that will be unbelievable. Yet not even my mother or siblings will be going free. Slavery is sometimes worse than death.
Michael once again attempts to free himself from the soldiers holding him but he can't. He screams my name as the soldiers keep pulling me towards the door. Wish they would at least allow us one last hug.
I glance at Taylor who watches me with her face stained with tears. She isn't fighting the soldiers holding her, she seems to have already accepted our fate.
"Bye sister!" she mouths.
''I love you." I mouth back before the soldiers pull me past the door and close it.
TALIA'S POVI can't tell what day it is. The air in this dark room does not change to indicate sunrise or sunset. No one opens the heavy metal door that is locked from the other side since I don't get fed or checked.I am so thirsty and hungry that I doubt I will survive for ten more hours. My head also hurts, probably because of dehydration and overthinking.Somehow I feel like I wouldn't mind if I die right now. It would save me from enduring more pain. My lips are so dry that they have begun cracking. I would exchange anything for a drop of water right now. this really hurts more than the hanger.The feeling of misery is intensified by the lack of anything in the room to distract me. I keep thinking of my family and where they may be now. Have they been sold already?It's hard to believe that my family is now completely ruined and not because of a crime we actually committed. My heart pounds harder every time I imagine little Michael as a slave. Can he even survive the work?There
TALIA'S POVI keep dreaming about my execution and it's the worst of nightmares I have ever had. Life has never been this harsh. My body has become so weak that I can't even pull myself up to stand on my feet. I would definitely die on my own if they let me stay in here for a day longer. But I guess my five days of imprisonment are already over.I am now counting seconds with a racing heartbeat before soldiers walk in through the door to get me. There is no good way of preparing yourself for an execution. Doesn't matter how many times I keep telling myself that it's better than dying slowly of thirst in here.I just hope that whenever my young siblings are they can at least eat and drink. They will have no one to look after them even when they fall sick. I really wish I can go back to that moment when we let mum accept the Queen's invitation. I would spit on that messenger's face and tell him to tell his Queen to f off. it's too late for that now.The sound of the heavy doot clicking
THREE YEARS LATERTALIA'S POVI yawn and stretch out while still laying flat on my bed with my eyes closed. I can already feel the rays of the sun warming the room through my bedroom window.I rub my sleepy eyes before blinking them open. Everything surrounding me looks different and I gasp in shock. The room I am in looks nothing like my bedroom. It's fancy and colourful, two things I have never been a fan of.The curtains that now hang on the window are pink and larger than the tiny blue ones I used to have. Several framed pictures hang on the walls making the room look like a small, overly decorated gallery.I try to think about what may have happened. Then all the memories come flowing in. The match, the soldiers, King's council. . . The execution! Oh my God! How comes I am standing here breathing again? And whose room is this now? Did another family pick up our own?I have heard stories of rebirth before. Tales of a few people that actually died and then came back to life later.
TALIA'S POVWalking through the gates of this palace again makes my blood start rushing through my veins. The moment that I was drugged out by soldiers and a mob was allowed to lynch me keeps replaying in my head.I was so helpless and extremely weak then. I couldn't even fight a single soldier. I should feel safe now, but my heart thrombs the moment too many eyes turn to look at me. Even the outside of the palace is full of people. I see faces that I used to know, my mother's and Taylor's friends, all their eyes turn to stare at me. My whole body quivers. Can they so easily recognise me?Then I see men smiling amorously and I sigh in relief. They don't recognise me. They are just staring for some weird reason."She is gorgeous!" I hear one of the girls whisper to her friends."Yeah, she must be noble. You know her?" Another asks in a voice just as low.It's strange that I can hear them. "I don't know her. But she does look kind of familiar." The first girl answers and my heart throb
EVAN'S POV"I have gathered everyone that she spoke to, Sir. But I am also afraid that they too don't know much." My servant says in an anxious voice. "Let them in, I will question them myself," I order. He bows again and leaves my office.Apprehension can actually make breathing hard. Why the f did she run?She is literally the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on. She wore no makeup or jewellery, yet her natural beauty was honestly breathtaking.She looked extraordinarily just like I imagined my mate would be. I knew she was in the room the moment I inhaled that alluring scent, nothing in this world can smell so good and pure. The strange thing is despite looking like an angel among humans, her stunning features did look familiar. But I could have only seen such beauty in a dream. I will chase her to the edge of the world if I have to."Try to relax. Your girl will come back to you. Just give her a day or two." My mother tries to comfort me. She may have been right abou
TALIA'S POVHaving powers is apparently the only good thing that has happened to me since I came back to life. I have lost everything else, my family, our home and now the hope of ever having a loving mate.I no longer know where I am headed to anymore. My former plan can no longer work. The fact that I cannot walk into the palace without prince Evan smelling my scent also means that I have no means of getting near the Queen. There is no point in being alive as long as I cannot find my family. They are the people I want to protect."Hey, why do you look so sad? You didn't like the party?" The woman that I met fast after coming back to life makes me halt."Where are you going?" She asks. I look around. I had no thought about where I am headed to. I just had my legs carrying me towards wherever. But seemingly I am on the road towards what used to be our home. I am in fact a few metres away from the small gate."The people that live there now won't welcome you." She informs with the same
THIRD PERSON'S POVThe Queen wears a troubled face as she walks fast down a corridor and bursts into a magnificent bedroom with a king-size bed and the most exquisite furniture. Some of which have been decorated with gold. It's too extravagant even for a royal bedroomHer husband lays down on his back on top of the bed covers, his eyes gazing at the ceiling as he appears to be thinking deeply."We need to talk." His Queen states as she matches to bed and sits on the edge."I already heard that Evan's beautiful mate is Talia's cousin if that is what you wish to tell me." He replies without taking a glance at her."Then I guess the news you haven't heard is that . . that is a lie." She says and he finally turns his head to look at her."What do you mean?""Miss Abram was my best friend before she tried to poison our son. She didn't have any nieces or nephews. The girl lied!" She says, sounding clearly too certain of what she believes is the truth. Yet the husband shakes his head in disa
TALIA'S POVI thought the soldiers were going to only hurt me during the night but so far I have bypassed over a dozen of them and answered their questions about whether I have seen an incredibly beautiful and tall young lady with pitch black, wavy hair and bright brown eyes.Good thing is that my very kind host advised me to dress like a widow and hire a carriage instead of walking. I put on a hat and a veil to hide my face. The soldiers wouldn't expect a young lady to be blessed in the long dresses of a widow anyway.I am headed to the north to start the search for my mother, Taylor and Michael. Hopefully, they got bought by one of the arrogant alphas.My host did warn me that this was going to be a long journey. I thought she was exaggerating but I have been on this carriage for over eight hours and we are yet to get to the border.But I can now see a long line of posts far ahead so I think we are finally close. I think I will let myself sleep for the rest of the journey since I am