Chapter 4

- Ashina -

Gizmo was seated on a high chair in an almost dark room with a pipe in his mouth, blowing thick smoke. He did not look in our direction when the guards marched in with me. Before I could get my stance from the rough pushing, they kicked me down to my knees.

"She's here, my Lord," One of them said and Gizmo took his time before paying any attention to me. He looked at me with disgust on his face.

"You don't look at me straight in the eyes like that," he said and I slowly lowered my gaze. He stood up slowly and walked around me.

"Your father owes me a terrible amount of Money. So much more that even if I were to take your life, I still wouldn't have gotten it back. So I am almost doing you all a favour by keeping you here. You look dirty and hungry, and I will have to feed you still. Do you know what that will cost me?"

I could not tell if that was a rhetorical question, but if it were not, I wouldn't want to answer because I was very sure the words that would come out of my mouth would only put me in trouble.

"You will work in my fields," he continued. "You will work all day so that I make sure my money is squeezed out of you. You will wash my men's clothes because you are not fit to touch any of my things. You are not allowed into the royal chambers unless you are sent for. Do you understand?"

Why will he make me do all of these because of money? I began to wonder how much money Elena’s father took from this man and what pushed him to? 

Everyone knew what kind of a man Gizmo was. Taking anything from him is like negotiating with the devil.

Nothing prepared me for the slap that crossed my face and while I was yet to nurse the first, another followed, throwing me to the ground.

The pain I felt was unbearable and I cried out, covering my face with my hands fearfully before he wrecked it with another hit.

I could feel the impact of his hand as my face swelled up immediately and I tasted blood.

"You will learn to give answers when you are being asked questions," he said harshly. "When I ask you a damn question, give me a damn answer. Do you understand?"

I nodded vigorously, afraid of another slap.

"Speak up!"

"I understood," I whimpered.

"Good. This is not your father's house. You do as you are told and speak only when asked a question." He turned to the guards. "Take her out of my sight."

I was pushed back to the maid's quarters, and I covered my face so they wouldn't notice my face. I went straight to the bed and lay on it, hoping no one, that would be Ann would ask any questions, and I was glad she did not  even though her eyes did.

No. I can't survive this for another day. I have to tell Alpha Lucian the truth. He needs to know that I am Ashina and I am not dead, reincarnated back to life in another lady's body.

I made up my mind. This night, I will go to him and tell him everything. He shouldn't be with Stacy. She killed me. And I will not continue to remain Gizmo's slave. I cannot stand it.

I waited up till I was sure everyone was fast asleep before sneaking out of the room. It was not hard to find Adonai's room since I had been in the palace before now. The only problem was the guards and the darkness but I successfully got to his room unnoticed.

But just when I was about to knock on the door, I heard noises from within and stopped to listen, my heart skipping a beat at the familiar voices.

One was of the man I loved above all things and the other of my supposed sister.

- Lucia-

I could not sleep because there was a strange presence in the atmosphere that made me restless. It had lasted for some hours in the day and till now.

I stood up from the bed and paced around the room, my legs leading me towards Ashina's portrait on the wall.

I stood there, looking at her pretty and soft face. I placed my hand on the frame and it felt real. Like she was right there in the room with me.

"I've missed you so much," I muttered silently.

"Lucian?" Someone called behind me and I turned round. I had almost forgotten Stacy was in the room with me. She had insisted on spending the night with me, and because we were legally married, I couldn't find any reason to say no.

"Lucian, what are you doing up?" She asked accusingly, her eyes darting from me to Ashina's picture on the wall.

"I uh..." I cleared my throat. "I couldn't sleep so I needed to clear my head."

"And this?" Her eyes pointed towards the frame. "Lucian, why are you doing this? Why are you making me feel like you don't love me enough?"

"Stacy, what are you talking about?" I shook my head in confusion.

"You were the one who forced me into your bed and offered to marry me," she continued. "If you knew you wanted to marry me out of pity you should have just let me be. You asked for my hand in marriage after taking advantage of me and you still want to punish me this way."

"Stop it," I said in a harsh whisper. "Stop it okay?" I ran my hand through my hair in agitation. Whenever Stacy spoke like this, she stirred so much guilt in me. "I care about you."

"You don't show it in the way you acts towards me," she said, now teary.

"But I do, believe me."

"Then prove it to me," she said. "Let me see that you love me. I am your wife for crying out loud. I shouldn't be begging you for certain things if you really do care about me. You don't make me feel loved."

"I try my best, Stacy. What do you want me to do?" I asked her.

"Why don't you start by taking away all the pictures of Ashina from this room," she said and I squinted my eyes.

"What?" I couldn't believe my ears.