CHAPTER 2

"I didn't kill them." I coughed out. "Arlene, I couldn't do such. We were happy..." I attempted to walk towards her but her outburst stopped my advance.

"No! We were happy! You weren't! For all I know you selfish creature, you wanted it all! All! You had to kill them brutally. I hate you Violetta. Day and night, I lay in my bed, awake, the image of papa and mama, so fresh in my head. You did this, to us, to this kingdom and I hate you!"

Pin drop silence. "I can't kill you. But I'll make you suffer until your last breath. I idolized you, Violetta. I loved every single part of you. I worshipped the ground you walked on!"

It would have been better, if she cut my heart open with a dagger. Her painful words hurt me so deep. A wave of weakness hit my knees and I couldn't help but bend a little bit, my palms on my calves. Warm tears rolled down my eyes and soon, I was sobbing out loud. For a second, love flashed in her sad eyes but it was soon replaced with a scrowl and that familiar hatred in her eyes. Despite everything, all I could think of was how Arlene looked so much like mama. Too much in fact, it was almost painful.

"Can I go, my queen?" My voice was strange to my own ears. It was rough and so deep. I cleared my throat and dipped into a curtsey. I had to leave. Everything was too much for me to take. Any more words from her would drive me to an early grave, but wouldn't that be peaceful for me? To finally rest from all these injustice?

My own sister, didn't believe me.

This was how it has always been whenever she requested my presence. She always tore the barriers I managed to surround my heart with her sharp tongue and made me more miserable than I had been.

Arlene laughed loudly. "Go? No, Violetta. You may not. In fact, I summoned your presence because I found a good way for you to commit your life to papa and mama."

Commit my life? A good way?

The evil glint in her eyes sent my heart racing. "What do you mean? Arlene please, I beg of you. Please. I didn't do it. I couldn't have..."

"Then who did?" Arlene screamed at the top of her lungs. "Who did, Violetta? Tell me! How did you end up with their blood all over you? How were you, of all people in their chamber? You evil witch! You lie!"

"I don't know but it wasn't me! It wasn't me. Please, believe me. I was framed. Don't do anything stupid!" I sobbed as I lowered myself to my knees on the cold hard ground. My vision was blured with my warm tears but I could still see her golden shoe walk towards me.

"Oh, but I already have, Violetta. You are the cause of this clan's misfortune. You, shall be the solution. A few moons more and I won't be able to feed my subjects. We have no crops and for eleven moons now, we have been feeding on stored food."

That's it? She wanted me to farm or look for fresher crops? This was the work of the normal servant in the castle. I could do it. It wasn't a difficult punishment. Thank goodness.

I wiped my tears quickly and nodded. "Yes, Luna."

Seconds passed before a resounding knock sounded on the door. "Is she ready, my love?" It was Robert. I took in the scent of his wolf in large gulps and enjoyed how his voice still managed to calm my raging heart after all this time. I wanted him to come closer, so my lings would finally take in a breath of fresh air but his footsteps stopped a distance from me.

"Goodness Gracious, what is that smell? Why isn't she ready, Arlene? His people will be here any second!"

I was reduced to nothing but a slave, no match at all for him. I wasn't worth his attention.

My eyebrows squeezed as I realized I was the subject being discussed. Why wasn't I ready? I was supposed to start the agricultural activities now? What did he mean? I looked questioningly at Arlene but she had a blank stare. She stretched towards the dining table and rang the bell, calling for servants.

"Make sure she's looking...presentable. Remember, darling, our lives depend on this." Immediately after Robert left, I questioned Arlene. "I don't understand. Get me ready for what? What is happening, Arlene?"

"I sold you, Violetta. I traded you for a lifetime worth of food supply, to the cursed Alpha Gohan, of Hillsboro clan."