Save me!

03.

~Lenora~

The soft knock on my door woke me up from sleep. I got off the bed drowsily, dragging my feet to the door.

The maid stood before me, staring sternly at me like I kept her waiting. I couldn't even get mad. It was what my family had reduced me to. Even the maids didn't respect me.

She wouldn't dare glare at Eleanor this way.

"The Princes demand your presence downstairs," she informed me.

"Okay, I'll be right there. I just need to..."

"Now!" She curtly interrupted. Releasing a sigh, I shut the door and followed her downstairs. The smell of food hit my nose and my stomach grumbled.

After what happened yesterday, I completely lost my appetite, not to mention the food was already wasted by Eleanor. I had to go to bed hungry because my family stopped me from dining with them long ago and the maids didn't bother to serve me even the leftovers.

"You look amazing, Eleanor. Flawless as always," Davis commented and she giggled loudly. Her gaze darted to me and I rolled my eyes inwardly, already smelling her little act from a distance.

"Are you sure Lenora wouldn't be mad?" She feigned meekness. "This was her favourite dress. Maybe I should take it off..."

"Of course not!" Vincent jumped in blindly. "You're her sister! What's hers is yours!"

Their heads whipped around as I reached the foot of the stairs. Two pairs of eyes snapped to me almost immediately. Eleanor shrank behind them like she was afraid I would hurt her.

I stopped metres away before they would accuse me.

"You sent for me, your highness," I bowed. The greeting caught off guard.

"Your highness?" Vincent spoke first, surprise etching across his features. He took a step forward, "What's with the formal tone?"

Davis stopped him. "Don't fall for it, Vince. She's just trying to get attention as usual." His eyes hardened as he looked at me. "Can you go one day without acting up?"

Acting up? I didn't even do anything!

"You sent for me," I repeated.

"Yes," Davis cleared his throat, taking Eleanor's hand. "You know Eleanor's birthday banquet is in two days. We're taking her to see the custom made dress we ordered for her."

"What does that have to do with me?" I blurted with cold indifference that surprised even me. I guess my heart has finally accepted that there was no place for me anymore in their world.

"Why would you say that?" Eleanor's voice cracked as her fake tears began forming once again. "I just wanted you to get a dress as well. You're my sister after all. You don't have to be so cold towards me."

She burst into tears and as expected, my silly brothers were instantly sold.

"What is wrong with you? " Davis barked. "Eleanor is just being nice, yet you keep on hurting her! Are you even human?"

The words landed like a slap.

I stared at Davis, then Vincent, then at Eleanor—who was crying a little too perfectly against Vincent’s chest. If tears were currency, she’d be a queen by now.

I laughed.

It slipped out before I could stop it. Soft. Broken. Completely out of place.

The room went silent.

"And what's so funny?" Vincent spat.

"I just realized that you three are a bunch of clowns who can't even tell right from wrong," I shrugged, and they flared up instantly.

"Lenora!" Eleanor fired, stepping forward. "You can say all you want to me but I won't let you insult our brothers! They have been nothing but good to you!"

"Have they?" I arched a brow and they blinked, taken aback by my words. "I just came down, didn't even say a word or do anything and I was already being painted a villain. They said they wanted to take you shopping and I asked how it concerns me and suddenly I'm the bad guy? Because of a very normal question?"

Seconds passed and the room was silent. I i guess they finally realize they're wrong now.

"That's enough, Lenora. No need to make a scene. Let's go," Vincent finally spoke.

Of course! What did I even expect? They would never apologize even after realizing how wrong they were. I was supposed to just let go.

I said nothing and followed them to the car. Davis got in first and Eleanor jumped in right after him. She pulled Vincent in before he could make way for me to enter.

Without a word, I headed for the front seat but then Eleanor spoke.

"Five people in a car? That would be too suffocating." She gasped, tucking Davis's hand. "Big brother, I'm claustrophobic, remember. I really can't handle tight spaces."

"But Eleanor..." Davis tried to argue when she interrupted him.

"The store isn't even far from home. I'm sure Eleanor can make it there." Her eyes drifted condescending to me. "Besides, a little jogging will do her body good."

My fists clenched by my sides but I forced myself to stay calm.

"Eleanor," Davis started, but I cut him short.

"It's fine. I'll ask Mark to drop me," I said.

"Oh no!" Eleanor gasped suddenly. "I already gave Mark and the other drivers some time off today. I'm sorry, sister."

"It's no big deal, don't stress your pretty head. She can always walk," Vincent patted her hair gently, then turned to me. "Be at the store in fifteen minutes. Pull any stunts and you'll regret it."

I gulped hard. I didn't have any doubts about that for sure.

"Okay."

The car zoomed off almost immediately.

My stomach grumbled again to remind me that I wasn't exactly in good shape to walk that long. My vision blurred, but I couldn't just turn back.

It was better to faint than have Vincent batter me.

I took a shaky breath and started walking.

The sun was unforgiving, beating down on my head like it had a personal vendetta against me. My slippers slapped weakly against the paved road as I walked, each step felt like I was drawing my dying breath. Hunger twisted my insides but I ignored it.

Halfway down the road, my legs began to tremble.

“Just a little more,” I whispered to myself. “Don’t be pathetic, Lenora.”

But my body no longer listened.

My vision darkened at the edges, the world spinning violently. I staggered, clutching my stomach as nausea rose in my throat. Sweat trickled down my spine, my breath coming out in shallow gasps.

So this was it.

I wondered—briefly—if any of them would care if I collapsed here. If my brothers would blame me even then.

'She’s just being dramatic again.' That would be their verdict.

My knees buckled and darkness took over.

By the time I woke up, I was still on the road and the sky was pitch black. I knew for sure they would have seen me if they passed by. They probably didn't care enough to pick me up.

My chest tightened and hot liquid brewed in my eyes but I blinked it back furiously. Wiping my eyes, I forced my weak body to stand.

I had barely taken a step forward when I heard, "Hey beautiful."

Goosebumps spurned across my skin as a terrifying chill ran down my spine.

"Don't be in such a hurry," another voice slurred. My knees trembled as I heard footsteps approach me.

Two? Three? Five?

"What's a pretty girl like you doing alone out here? It's really dangerous you know?" A taunting voice followed.

I thought about running, believing the adrenaline could help me sprint away but the minute I moved, my legs gave out from weakness and I crashed to the ground.

Mocking laughter followed.

My body was too weak from malnutrition to even support movement of any sort.

"Now isn't that adorable?"

"The little bunny is trying to run away."

"We will have so much fun with you tonight."

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

“No… please…” My voice came out broken, barely louder than a whisper as their shadows shielded me from the moonlight.

I tried to crawl back, my palms scraping painfully against the cold road, but one of them grabbed my ankle and yanked me back.

“Easy there,” he chuckled. “Didn’t you hear? We just want to play.”

Tears spilled freely now. I hated myself for how weak I was. How helpless. Strong arms grabbed me and I fought as hard I could managed, fighting against them with strength I didn't possess. Claws slashed into my skin, blood trickling down my arm.

"Let go of me!" I screamed weakly as my clothes ripped off piece by piece. Their cruel laughter echoing in the silent night.

This was how it ended, wasn’t it?

Abandoned. Forgotten. Thrown away like I never mattered at all.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I won't even be able to do the damn sacrifice.

Right as I thought it was all over, headlights flashed in my direction. Relief bloomed in my chest as the car screeched to a stop.

"Get your filthy hands off her!" Vincent stormed out of the car in anger. Davis joined him and soon, they were throwing fists.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I lay there, thanking the goddess.

The men retreated just as the fight grew intense and ran off. Davis quickly carried me off the floor.

"Hey, hey, are you okay?" He asked worriedly and in that moment, I saw a glimpse of the brother that loved me years ago. I burst into tears.

"What took you so long?" I cried, hitting his chest with all the anger, pain and hurt buried inside me. "How could you leave me out here alone? How could you abandon me, how..." I sobbed.

Vincent patted my head gently.

"We'll take you to the healer, don't worry. You're safe now..." He whispered. Just then the door opened and Eleanor stepped out.

"Really, Lenora?" She crossed her arms. "So you really went through with that crazy plan?"

I felt Davis stiffen against me. Oh goddess, not now please!

"What plan?" Vincent asked.

"I... I probably shouldn't say it. I don't want Lenora to hate me more than she already does..." She muttered.

"Can you give me a break and stop lying for once!" I screamed at her. "Can't you see I'm wounded?"

"I can't let you keep deceiving your brothers like this! It's unfair," she said, then stepped forward. "Big brother, earlier today, I heard Lenora planning with a maid to arrange some thugs to attack her. She said if you see her bleeding, you will definitely feel guilty and devote your time to taking care of her."

My eyes widened in shock and disbelief. How do you even come up with that?

"No! She's lying, I swear she..." I didn't even finish the words when Davis suddenly let go of me.

I hit the road with a thud, my head slamming hard against the concrete.