19

Jade’s POV

My breath hitched in my chest as hot, violent anger flared through my veins. I had barely stepped foot inside this dark fortress, and I was already completely sick and tired of this arrogant bitch.

I looked at Abigail’s tall frame and broad shoulders, my mind racing as I measured her up. I didn't even know for sure if I could win against her in a full physical brawl. She was bigger than me, and she clearly knew how to throw a punch. But I swore to the Moon Goddess right then and there—if she pushed me into a fight, I would make sure I broke something in her body. I would shatter her nose, break her fingers, or rip out her hair—anything to guarantee that the next time she looked at me, she would respect herself and stay far away from my sight.

Before I could hurl my weight forward and strike her, a small, trembling hand reached out and grabbed my wrist.

I turned my head slightly, my fierce glare softening as my eyes landed on Bakito. Tears overflowed from her large, watery eyes, streaming down her pale cheeks as she looked up at me with absolute desperation. She shook her head softly, her bottom lip trembling as she held tightly to my hand.

"Don't worry, Jade..." Bakito pleaded softly, her voice cracking with fear as she tried to pull me back. "Please... you don't have to fight her for my sake. I can just take the bed near the door. It's really nothing, I swear! Besides... it won't make much of a difference to me anyway."

I looked down at the fragile girl, my heart aching as I shook my head in firm disagreement.

"No, Bakito," I insisted, my voice low, strong, and unyielding. "You cannot just let this go! It won't make much of a difference to her if she stays near the door either! If you allow her to steal your bed today, how many more things are you going to keep letting her walk all over you for? If you back down now, she will just keep doing more and more cruel things to you every single day!"

Bakito swallowed hard, a fresh wave of tears spilling over her eyelashes as she squeezed my hand tighter. "I know... but please, don't get hurt because of me. Just leave her alone. Let her have it."

Abigail threw her head back and let out a harsh, loud laugh that echoed off the high stone walls.

A cruel, victorious smirk spread across her face as she looked down her nose at me, folding her arms over her chest. "Look at that! The tiny little girl knows you can't do shit! She's just trying to save your pathetic ass from getting beaten into the floorboards!"

Abigail took a step forward, leaning her head down as her eyes locked onto mine with a nasty, challenging glare. "Or are you just too scared to fight me, huh? I dare you! Do your absolute worst, or walk away like a scared little puppy with your tail tucked between your legs! I told you from the start that I am the one calling the shots in this room!"

My eyes flicked between Bakito’s terrified, tear-stained face and Abigail’s ugly, arrogant sneer.

My blood was boiling, my teeth grinding together so tightly my jaw ached. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that disgusting smirk off Abigail's face and teach her a lesson she would never forget. Who the hell did she even think she was? Standing here in this grand room, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that me and her would never, ever get along—because I hated her with every single cell in my body.

I let out a long, heavy breath through my nose, forcing my hands to unclench from their tight fists. Fighting her right now in front of a crying child would only cause more chaos, and Bakito was already on the verge of a complete panic attack.

Without giving Abigail the satisfaction of another word, I turned my back on her. I wrapped my arm around Bakito’s small shoulders, gently guiding the young girl away from the fireplace and leading her across the thick blue rugs toward the bed right beside the heavy wooden entrance.

"Don't worry about her," I whispered softly as we reached the mattress near the door. "Just stay on this bed right beside me. I will sleep on the outer mattress right by the door so you don't catch a cold from the draft."

The moment we sat down on the edge of the mattress, Bakito completely broke down. She leaned her small body against me, burying her pale face straight into the front of my clothes. Her entire frame shivered violently as soft, muffled sobs soaked into the fabric over my chest.

"Thank you so much..." Bakito whimpered out, her voice muffled against my shirt as her hands clutched my sleeves. "Thank you so much, Jade... But... why are you doing all of this for me? You don't even know who I am. We just met today."

I looked down at her small, trembling body, a soft, bitter smile touching my lips as a pang of quiet sorrow hit my chest. I reached up, gently stroking her soft hair to comfort her.

"I have always wanted a little sister," I murmured softly, my tone laced with a deep, quiet honesty. "But I never had one. My mother died when I was very young, and I was left all alone in a house full of enemies... So, seeing you here today... I guess I've finally found the sister I always wished for."

Bakito froze for a split second before throwing her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly as she wept against my shoulder. "Thank you, Jade... Thank you!"

I wrapped my arms securely around her frail body, leaning my cheek against the top of her head as I spoke in a quiet, firm voice. "So stop crying now, alright? Don't cry anymore so you don't look weak in front of people like her. You have to try your best to be strong."

I leaned down close to her small ear, making sure my voice dropped into the tiny, barely audible whisper that wouldn't travel across the room.

"Because I promise you..." I whispered, my eyes narrowing with intense determination as I looked toward the dark stone walls. "...we are going to find a way to escape from this hellhole."