The Defiant Witch

Agila's POV 

The beta and Irina's evil servant lead the way towards an open ground between buildings where a rope hangs from a long piece of wood attached to two long poles. It looks like where they hang those condemned to death. I however know that they are not going to kill me, yet. 

I notice people, mostly servants, halting in their steps to watch us. The guards drag me to the rope and tie the end to my wrists. They pull the rope upwards, and it pulls my hands up until I am standing on my toes.

"Perfect. Now it won't escape your whips," the beta approves the work of his guards with a wide grin. 

I notice one of the wide windows of the main Palace being opened. Irina stands behind it, dressed in the finest silk robes and her Queen's crown. She stares out at us with a pleased smile as the guards take positions around me and ready their leather whips. 

How could she miss this show? How could she miss an opportunity to let me see her watching?

Two of the Alpha Kings, Parish and Alcott, join her at the window. They peck her on the cheeks and lips before turning their attention towards me. Their smiles do not falter, even when their beta signals the guards to start swinging their whips. 

"Make sure to impress your Kings and Queen. They want that Mark back as soon as possible," the beta urges the guards. 

My jaws clench in anticipation of the inevitable pain, yet the sheer force of the whips knocks the air out of my chest. Waves of excruciating pain spreads across my body and an instinctive yelp escapes my mouth. 

I thought I could maintain a little grace since Irina and her gorgeous husbands are watching me get punished.

The guards swing their whips the second time with even greater force and the resulting pain becomes impossible to withstand without letting out a raw scream. 

I bet that my stolen mates are enjoying the show. I wonder if my parents are somewhere watching as well. Do they even feel sad that I am getting tortured for something they lied about and I will soon die? That Irina to have her success they had to sacrifice me?

I bite down on my lower lip as more strikes continue landing on every part of my body except the head, some hard enough to cut through skin. The blows hurt worse when the whips hits the same place twice. 

"Let me give it a few strokes. I want people to tell scary stories about it's torture and how much it screamed. Then no other witch will have the courage to leave the comfort of their caves," the beta says, and one of the guards hands him his whip.

I panic because he is the most gigantic werewolf I have seen around the palace. His massive strength can rip flesh out of bones.

The guard steps aside and the beta takes his position. "I want our Queen to hear you wail ungraciously like a dog. Then she will be satisfied with my choice of punishment. And you will never forget me because your ghost will have the scars of my whip," he hisses before landing the first powerful strike on my lower back.

The pain makes my vision blur. I feel the wetness of my blood as it flows out of the shallow cut that the whip made. 

Those watching applaud his heavy hit, and he lands a dozen more strikes on my already sore back in a ruthless display of immense strength. 

My body feels like it has been trampled on by an elephant. Five more strikes would kill me. 

"Your highness, I think that's enough for today. She cannot give up the mark while dead," Irina's servant intervenes. 

Of course she does not want me dead before I surrender the mate bond to her mistress. That bottled scent cannot last a year. So without the mate bond Irina's secret is bound to be discovered later. 

I will never get my revenge if I give her the mate bond. I will only die sooner. 

"It should be left hanging for the rest of the day so everyone passing can see it and laugh. You will take it to the Queen to apologize for it's transgressions before locking it back in it's cell," the beta orders, referring to me as 'it' as they do to all witches. 

I am left dangling from the rope by the wrists which are already sore from all the jerking my body did during the whipping. 

The intense pain keeps my tired brain awake. The hot sun heats my sore skin, making the wounds sting. Now and then, someone passing hurls something at me, mostly at my face which I cannot shield with my hands tied. 

Several hours pass and the pain lessens, but the discomfort of hanging from a rope by the wrists grows with every passing second. I feel a little relief when two guards finally show up and set my hands free. 

I cannot walk on my own, so they drag me, carelessly like a sack of wheat. 

"You better be able to state your apologies to the Queen or you will suffer more punishment today," one warns as they pull me through the backdoors if the main Palace. 

I am reminded that part of my punishment was to apologize to Irina for stealing her clothes, stealing the Mark of my cruel mates and poisoning her and our parent's drinks with sleeping powder. 

I regret doing all that. Because my stolen mates were not worth the effort and risks I took. I won't however utter an apology. Not when I will still get burned to death after more brutal tortures. 

I am feeling drowsy as the guards keep dragging me down hallways and up staircases. I allow my eyes to close and my mind to pause all thoughts and drift to sleep. Until they suddenly drop me on concrete floor.

I let out a grunt before opening my eyes. An opulent dining room with lots of guilded items sets before me. A long table laid with mouthwatering delicacies and fine wines has all the occupants I hate; my stolen mates, my evil sister and our lying parents. 

The Alpha Kings wear frowns that reflect their disgust at the sight of me. Our father's expression is a reflection of their's. Mother looks dumbfounded, like she didn't know this is what their lies would lead to. Irina has a wide grin that can act as representation of all evil. 

The aroma of tasty food makes my empty stomach roar in protest. No one cares about feeding me, not even our parents who know well that Irina lied. 

The delicious meal they are eating might be worth the life of a daughter they hated. They are definitely not rueful. 

"She finally got the ugly look of a witch. They are doing good," King Parish comments. 

I would laugh at the fact that they got the real witch eating with them, smiling at my misery. 

"She was always ugly, your Majesty. Without my makeup and dress she always looked like a witch," Irina tells. 

Our father nods in agreement. 

"State your apologies to our Queen, witch!" one of the guards by my side orders. 

"No thanks, I . . . am good," I stutter. 

The table of wicked royals gasp in astonishment. Guess they did not expect me to refuse an order after all the torture. They expected me to beg for my life to be spared. Even when it's well known that that cannot happen. A witch has to be burned. 

"Sounds like her boldness hasn't faltered. Ilan's torture hasn't helped. It needs to be made a lot worse," Alpha Alcott says. 

"Worry not Your Majesties, the Mark is coming off fast. In fact, there might be no sign of it by the end of tomorrow," the guard points, pushing my hair away from my neck to show them the fading mark. 

The Alpha Kings and our father smile in satisfaction. Irina looks worried however. It might be the mate bond she wants and won't be getting it unless I get tortured for more days.

"Your Majesties, I must ask that her punishments continue for a few more days even after she gives up the Mark. There are many wicked people that will have the courage to practice dark magic if this witch only suffers a quick death. She needs to suffer endlessly for them to be afraid," she requests her husbands.

I notice a sense of surprise on their faces and those of our parents. The Alpha Kings glance at each other with raised eyebrows. 

"You have a very strict heart, honey, I like it. Making an example out of your own wicked sister will send the strongest message to her kind no doubt. Your request has my approval," Alpha Alcott says. 

Our father nods in approval while our mother sits stiffly in her sit, staring at Irina. 

"You and your parents are the only people who knows how truly wicked your sister is. I cannot deny your request as long as your parents approve of it. Your sister must be deserving of it," Alpha Parish says. 

Irina's smile widens. Two have already granted her request, she has the permission to have me tortured for more days. 

Alpha Reid simply shrugs his shoulders dismissively. 

"Thank you, your Majesties. My servant will supervise her punishments after the Mark leaves her filthy skin," Irina says.

The guards pick me up again and drag me back out of the majestic building.