Alone and forgotten
BRIANNA’S POV
Keeping track of time in this cell was difficult. The only thing I could do was look out through the small window with bars and watch the sun rise and set. That’s how I managed to measure the passing days.
If I was right, it had been a day or two since Sebastian, Amelia, or any of the maids had visited. I hadn’t eaten, taken water or bathed since then. My stomach hurt so bad from hunger. But I had to endure. I’d survived longer without food before, after all.
I could tell that something was happening out there. Something strange and unusual. But what could it be that made Amelia and the maids not visit? Sebastian even promised to be coming every day. But it turned out to be a lie. Perhaps this was his way of punishing me for trying to escape. For not reciprocating his feelings of love.
No…no…no. Sebastian wasn’t that type of person. He might be on an important trip or in a meeting. Alpha Kings are always busy with such stuff. Or perhaps… this could be one of Catherine’s schemes. She might be influencing him not to come and visit me. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true. She did promise to make sure I rot in this cell.
The thought of that made my breath congeal into lumps in my throat. It can’t be. I can’t let her get the best of me. I can’t die in here. Not now. Not like this.
Watching the sun occasionally rise and dip into the horizon was something I was used to doing. Feeling the soft rays fall onto my skin and heat it was therapeutic. Comforting. It was one thing that kept my mind occupied while I was in Hermes’s hellhole. But right now, it was doing little to none of those. Somehow, someway, Sebastian’s words kept finding their way back into my head, leaving me in a state of disarray.
“First you kissed me—”
“And you kissed me back. You wanted that kiss as badly as I did. Tell me you didn’t like it…Tell me you didn’t like the feel of my lips against yours.”
Of course, I liked the kiss. I wanted it as badly as he did. It was one of the best feelings ever. It set my whole body in flames and burned me to ashes. But I had to do the right thing by backing away even though I didn’t want to. It was for the best.
“I can’t let you go, Brianna. I love you… and I want to protect you.”
His tone and expression were genuine as he said those words. But he shouldn’t love me. He shouldn’t protect me. That was dangerous. It was impossible. But why I was feeling this way? Feeling unsure. Like part of me wanted him to love and protect me from the hurt and fear that was tearing me apart, yet another part kept reminding me of the dangers that came with all that.
“Fuck!!… I’m losing my mind…I just can’t handle this,” turning away from the window, I gritted my teeth till my jaw almost went numb and gabbed my hair by the roots, messing it up the more.
I can’t stay locked up in here forever. The longer I did, the more my thoughts tormented me. The more I was losing my mind. I needed to get out of here. Get away from all these. One way or the other.
“Hey!!,” I yelled through the bars as loud as I could. A guard or two usually stood watch outside the cell door. Hopefully, they’ll hear me and come in. “Hey, Are you there? I really need to use the bathroom!”
My plan was simple. When they come in to take me to the bathroom, I’d try my best to take them out and escape. But deep inside, guilt started to consume me. Will escaping be the right thing for me to do? I couldn’t bear the thought of Sebastian losing his Alpha King position because of my escape. According to the shitty slave rule Sebastian said the other day, a slave was bound to her master until death. Plus, the punishment from those monsters if they found me was terrifying. The fear of these consequences made me lose my determination and energy.
After some time of calling out to the guards with no response, I gave up. It was obvious they weren’t there. So there was no use trying to figure out a way to escape.
Where was everyone? I was all alone in this castle. It was as if they had moved to another place and forgotten I was still locked up in here.
“No…” I muttered as I slid down to the floor in despair and hugged my knees to my chest, tears I couldn’t hold back no matter how hard I tried clouding my vision.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the ways I might die. Thirst was my biggest concern. My mouth was dry, and my lips were chapped from lack of water. I could manage without food for a while. But without water, I couldn’t survive. My body would decay in here. And nobody would know. Catherine would be happy. That was what she wanted. I never thought I’d end up like this, dying alone in here. All I ever wanted was a happy life far from my past and all these problems. But that life was nothing but a dream.
I was lost in my dark thoughts when the entrance door clicked open. Quickly, I rose and on seeing Sebastian hastily make his way in, my teary eyes shone with relief.
However, I noticed something that made my heart bounce back in shock and fear as he came closer. He had a black patch around his right eye and was almost limping as if he was suppressing pain. He looked like he had been to hell and back.
“Goodness!” I exclaimed under my breath. What happened? Was he involved in some sort of accident or fight? Was it with Catherine? Maybe they argued again because of me and it ended up badly. This can’t be true. I needed to ask him.
“I’m so sorry for not coming earlier,” he said as he approached the cell. “I had to deal with something,” he said as his tone fell.
The moment his creamy black satin eyes met mine, I knew something was wrong. They had a thick layer of hurt. Regret. Of pain more intense and severe than I had seen on the night of his anniversary party when he told me about the birth control pills Catherine was using without telling him.
“What happened to you?” I asked, unable to look away from his face, which seemed like he didn’t sleep well last night.
“Ohh this,” he replied as if it was nothing to worry about, pointing at his right black eye. “It’s nothing serious. I’ll ice it well later. You don’t have to worry about it.”
“It does look serious to me,” I insisted, crossing my arms. “Were you involved in an accident…Were you fighting with someone?… Please tell me you and Luna Catherine didn’t argue again because of me.”
“No,” he replied, shaking his head in disbelief. “Catherine and I didn’t argue because of you,” he emphasized. “I told you not to worry. It doesn’t matter. What matters now is you. Tell me,” he asked, his eyes searching mine. “Did any of the maids attend to you yesterday?”Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
Lowering my gaze, I shook my head.
“Fuck!” he muttered in frustration, causing me to look back at him. “Do you mean to tell me you haven’t eaten or had a shower since yesterday?”
“Yes,” I nodded, answering with a voice barely above a whisper.
“Shit!!” He said through clenched teeth, looking away. I could tell he was angry. But what happened? Why didn’t the maids come? “I’ll be back. I promise. Somebody has a lot of explanations to do.”
He started walking to the door.
“Sebastian,” I called out and he turned to face me. “What’s happening?… Please tell me.”
I hated being left in the dark. Something was happening. I knew it. But he wouldn’t say.
“Trust me, Brianna. Nothing has happened. Just stay put. I’ll be back,” he said and quickly left, his steps filled with a hint of anger.