Meant to be protected, murdered by my own hands

Nora’s POV

“Who is dying this time around?” I pondered, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Just then, my mind trailed to Liam.

“Liam” I muttered underneath my breath, my breath hitched in my throat as I ravaged through my bag and got a hold of my phone.

With fear of the unknown gripping my heart tightly, I dialed Liam’s line, wanting to ensure he was fine, but he didn't pick.

I called him repeatedly, but he still didn't pick up and that got me more terrified. Realizing he might be the one being held captive in the Judgement room, I dropped my bag and took to my heels - running to the execution room as if my life depended on it.

I immediately forgot the pain I was feeling and all that was on my mind at that moment was to ensure Liam was okay.

I was terrified at the thought that he might be in there.

“What if he has been shot dead before I get there?” This thought crossed my mind and I increased my pace, not minding the pain I was feeling in my lower abdomen.

Just a few steps away from the door, my phone beeped and it was a message from Liam. I immediately halted in my race and let out a sigh of relief.

“Hi, babe. I missed your calls. Is everything okay? I was in the bathroom when you called earlier” his message read.

I rested my head on the wall, trying to catch my breath. I shut my eyes, inhaling and exhaling loudly.

I was grateful that he was fine, but at the same time, the “What if he had been the one? Is that how I would have lost him?” lingered on my mind.

I knew I needed to act fast, to get out of that house as soon as possible - that was the only way I could save him.

“I will just go in there and do whatever he asks of me so I can leave here quickly,” I told myself. I knew he needed me to kill his new captive and that was exactly what I was going to do. I wouldn't waste any time and just get straight to the business.

I stayed in that position for some minutes and after ensuring that I was relaxed, I walked in.

The man I was to kill was on his knees, his hands tied to his back and his face covered with a big bag.

His body limped as if he would collapse onto the floor anytime soon due to exhaustion and judging from the blood around him, it was quite glaring that he had been trashed up by my father's men.

“You called for me?” I asked, facing my father who was seated on the same arm chair he sat the day he killed my mother- the chair he called his throne.

Any time I walked into that room, I was always reminded of my mum and the memories of that always haunted me.

“Yes, I did. We have a traitor here and I need you to finish him” he informed, his eyes glistening with amusement as if something he was pleased with was about to happen.

I didn't bother to ask further about the man’s offence - all I wanted was to get out to that place as fast as I could.

“This would be my last job for him actually. So, let me give him this as a parting gift” I thought, smirking, with a satisfied smile displayed on my lips.

I requested a gun since I wasn't with mine and Alaric did a favor by giving me his. I cocked the gun and as soon as the man heard the sound, he began to tremble, struggling to free himself - to run away and escape death.

Sincerely, I pitied him - everyone deserves to live no matter how grievous their sin is, but I needed my freedom - I wanted to be with Liam and protect him.

Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and the bullet, hit the man right in his chest. His body limped before collapsing onto the floor, erupting a heavy thud.

I could feel the joy and satisfaction in my father’s eyes, but I couldn't lay my hands on the reason for that.

Dad rose to his feet and walked to where I was standing.

“You’ve done well, my girl. This is the version of the girl I trained - brutal and ruthless, not the lover girl personality.”

“You made me happy and for doing so I am willing to overlook your shortcomings and make you my heir again. Take my hand, Nora and become my strongest ally once again” he said extending his hand, which I successfully ignored.

This old hag must be a joker. Make me his heir? Become his strongest ally? Hell No!! I would rather die by his blade than bow before him.

I rolled my eyes in disgust.

“May I take my leave now? I have to be somewhere important” I impatiently said, running out of time.

Realizing I had politely dismissed his proposal, he smiled before taking his hand back to his side.

“Sure, you can” he said, gesturing for me to go with his hand. I turned around and was about bolting out of the room when he said:

“You need to hurry up so you wouldn't miss your flight”.

Immediately, I halted in my steps. Fear gripped me, my eyes widened in shock and I forced saliva down my throat.

“My flight? How did he know about that?” I thought, blinking repeatedly with my hands trembling by my sides.

I slowly turned around, only to be met with a sinister smile on dad's face.

“How …… did you know about my flight?” I managed to ask in a low voice, still shocked by his revelation.

“How did I get to know?” He giggled. “Have you forgotten who I am? Don't you remember I have my men all over the city? In corporate organizations, police force, on the streets? So my dear, it was easy for me to figure out what you were up to”.

I stayed silent for some seconds, silence enveloped the room and all my father and I did was stare at each other.

“Now that you know, are you going to stop me? Or are you going to kill him?” I asked, my voice screaming “I dare you to do the worse”.

“Stop you? No, I won't since you will be going alone. And as for killing him, I won't since you can't kill a dead man twice” he dropped the bombshell.

The world around me tilted and it took me quite a few seconds to grab what my father had said.

“A dead man? What do you mean by that? What the hell did you do to Liam? Did you kill him?!!” I yelled, grabbing dad by his shirt, my eyes laced with tears which were threatening to roll down my eyelids.

“Killed him? No, I didn't. You just did!!” a loud mischievous laughter escaped from his mouth and his soldiers too joined in, turning me into an object of their heartless mockery.

It was then it dawned on me that the man I had shot ….. was Liam.