Chapter 2

MAELIS

"No please, let me go," I begged, thrashing as my wrists were roughly pulled behind me and bound tightly in a hard knot.

I pulled, it didn't budge, "Let me see him, I have to see him!" I attempted to lunge forward but was yanked hard and pushed to the ground, "Stay put!"

The guards were gone after that, leaving me alone in this dark filthy room where the only sound I could hear was that of my heavy breathing.

"Please, let me out!" I tried again, my hoarse voice bouncing off the walls of the room, no answer came.

The guards were trained to only listen to voices that mattered, superior voices. Mine used to be one until now.

Seeing that there was no use yelling, I dragged myself across the cold floor, to a corner of the room and huddled with my head dropped between my knees.

My mind was tangled in a messy knot of confusion. My child's cries, Ronan’s voice, Serina’s smile...It all kept replaying, like a recurring nightmare.

"It can't be, it's not true," I mumbled repeatedly, refusing to accept that any of it was true, Ronan would never do that to me, nor would Serina.

We weren't biologically related but had spent the best parts of our years together. Despite everyone pointing out how she outshined me, comparing her brilliance against my flaws, my love for her endured.

Without bitterness, I loved this sister who my Father had taken in to replace my position as his heir and considered her my actual sibling.

She loved me too and would never betray me.

I held onto that thought, waiting until the door finally creaked open after what felt like forever. Light flooded the room when a torch was placed in a scone by the door.

Sweet Alyssum, a delicate honey-like fragrance filled the room and my head jerked up, "Serina," I whispered.

She stepped in, owning the room like she always did everywhere else with her presence.

"Serina, where's my child and Ronan, ask him to come here, I need to see him," I rushed to her, falling in my haste.

Serina glanced down at me from above, a smile that was too sweet to be kind etched on her face, "Oh sister, you still don't understand do you?"

I craned my neck at her, my eyes darting, searching for meaning.

“Ronan’s not coming, your very presence disgusts him. It amazes me how he has managed to persevere for so long." She let out an airy sigh, backed by a mocking smile.

"Wh...what..." Her words hit harder than a rod ramming into my skull and I blinked rapidly, certain I misheard.

"Ronan never loved you Maelis, he only pretended to because he needed you... I needed you." She stepped forward, bending slowly until our eye level aligned.

Her lips parted and a laughter of cruel delight rolled out, "Are you really so ignorant? You actually thought he would choose you?"

"Why would he when I'm right here? I have everything, the throne, strength, power...What would he want with you?" She added, her smile widening.

"Then why..." My breath caught.

If he never loved me then why had he treated me with so much care? He promised me so much too- a lifetime full of bliss and joy.

"Because we needed a vessel. I'm barren Maelis," She stood up, backing up from me while flicking off a speck of invisible dust on her sleeve, "I can't bear him a child, but you could and did."

My ears burned at her revelation and a scream lodged in my throat, "Why? Why me?"

They could have chosen anyone else, why did I have to be their breeder?

"Father thought it best the child came from you, he was very specific about keeping the bloodline pure," She shrugged nonchalantly, as if the tears welling in my eyes were invisible.

"You used me, all of you," I choked out. The truth I had chosen not to believe smacked me hard in the face, devastating and heart rending.

I sucked in a deep breath, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall, "Where's my child? I don't need anything else, just give my child back to me."

She could have it all-Ronan, the kingdom, my Father but not my child, I would never give him up.

"Where is my child Serina?" I demanded, eyes flashing with hatred towards this sister of mine, "I want my child!"

"He's no longer yours Maelis, He's mine now, just like everything else that has ever belonged to you. Rest assured, he will lack nothing and will never long for you because he's never going to know you exist." She stated cruelly.

"You bitch!" Rage surged through me and I stood up abruptly. My bones snapped and my flesh tore as I forcefully broke free of my restraints, "Go to hell!"

Serina smirked, a cold, scornful laughter. She didn't even flinch as I approached, claws snapping through my skin, an animalistic growl tearing from my throat, "I'm going to kill you."

Never had words cut me so deep like hers had done today and never had I experienced such a painful stab, like the betrayal from the people I loved all at once.

Crazed with rage, I lunged at her but never made it to her before I was sent flying back, crashing hard into the stone walls behind me.

My body dropped, cemented debris of will, of hope and everything that once made me power on falling all around me like the ruins of crumpled strongholds.

Still, I got up slowly, mouth trickling with blood that ran down the length of my chin, gaze locked onto her.

I moved again, but she was faster. Her figure flashed like a mirage and next thing I felt was steel sinking deep into my abdomen, "You never stood a chance Maelis," She hissed.

Pain flared from my abdomen, as she stabbed through my flesh over and over again.

When she finally released her hold, my eyes lowered to the hilt of the dagger protruding from my stomach watching as blood poured out from the numerous places she had stabbed, welling up in my throat and gagging me.

"Goodbye sister," Serina purred as my body collapsed like a fallen boulder onto a mountainous bridge.

Through my blurred vision, I made out her figure walking away, until darkness swallowed me in one final gasp of air.