2
"How I wish I could fly," I said with eyes closed standing on the balcony.
"If you wish I can make that happen right now," Lisette spoke with her sudden appearance.
I opened my eyes, shocked. I quickly turned around and returned to the chamber, knowing that she could push me to my death. She stood there with a sly smile on her face. Lisette is the mistress's (now wife) child. She has similar traits to Benjamin, including mid-length ebony hair, blue eyes, and hereditary water magic.
'This bitch. What does she want?' I thought.
"Come now sister, don't be afraid. I personally came here to invite you." She stated.
"Invite me for what?" I asked softly.
She sighed and replied,
"You know I have to look better than you in front of your fiance." He is not your fiance until you are eighteen, but that is irrelevant. Whatever you have will eventually become mine."
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I looked pitiful in front of her.
"No I-" Before I could reply to her Benjamin came back.
"What is happening?" Benjamin asked with his sudden appearance.
"Oh it is nothing brother, I was inviting her to some tea," she answered.
"Lisette, you are so kind. If only she could learn something from you," he told her.
'Bitch one wasn't enough, now bitch two has appeared. Like seriously get the fuck out of my room' I thought.
I silenced them and stared off into space as they continued their conversation about me being a horrible person. They leave after saying unpleasant things about me to have tea in the garden with Belinda.
"Fucking finally!" I breathed out.
'First thing first, I need to go that bastard,' I thought while getting myself ready.
I made my way to the office where he would be. I'm still afraid to look him in the eyes after what happened. My heart is racing because I'm nervous. I nearly think I can hear it. I readied myself and knocked on the door.
"Come in," he answered.
He raised his head to see me fiddling with my fingers. He stands tall, with black hair and elegant blue eyes. He is complimented on his good appearance. His beauty is compared to the heavens, but they overlook his heart's ugliness. Even the devil would praise him for his heart's cruelty. The man known as the Duke of the East, Cecil Alarie.
"What do you need?" he asked coldly.
"I have a request, Duke. I want to be sent to my mother's quarters in the Shadow Grove," I told him.
He paused what he was doing and turned around to cast me a dubious glance. The air felt heavy and I was having trouble breathing.
'He's pressuring me with his magic,' I thought as I gasped for air.
He came to a cease, and I collapsed on the floor, tears welling up in my eyes, helplessly gasping for air. He approached me and placed his foot on my leg.
'It hurts,' I thought clenching my eyes in pain.
"Now, why on earth do you want to go there?" he questioned.
"Please excuse my impoliteness. I just thought it might be better if I wasn't here getting in Lisette's way," I shivered.
He squatted down after taking his foot off my leg. He gripped my face, questioning what I had spoken. I told him about Lisette's desire to be with my soon-to-be partner. He stepped back and clicked his tongue. He wiped his hand with a towel, implying that I was filthy.
"Get out," he demanded fiercely.
I exited the room as quickly as possible, rushing back to my room. I shut the door as soon as I walked in. I look down at my hands, which are trembling.
"Fuck him and his family. I am going to free myself of this hell hole", I cursed as I fell to the floor.
I was planning my escape when I heard a knock at my door. When I opened it, one of the maids appeared displeased. She relays the news that I will be required during lunch. I follow her down to the table for lunch. I'm sitting in the far chair, while the four of them are seated together. I couldn't help but be envious of how they all looked like a family.
The Duke makes a statement about Lisette's early birthday present. He announces my annulment and reveals that Lisette would be getting engaged on her ninetieth birthday. I was overjoyed when I heard the news of my annulment.
'They are a match made in hell,' I thought joyfully.
"Then what about Hel?" Belinda pretended to be troubled as she sighed and placed her palm on her cheek.
"Don't be concerned about her, honey. I'm moving her to that location. Shadow Grove's abandoned building close to the pond." He said this while gently smiling at her.
Shadow Grove, the eastern woodland, is currently plagued with monsters according to hunters. Before it used to be a beautiful place, brimming with radiance. The location where my mother was kept. My mother was renowned as the forest fairy. She had lusciously long golden hair, obsidian-colored eyes like mine, and world-class beauty. She was the sweetest and most humble person in all of creation. He abandoned her for that nobody. It makes my blood boil merely by thinking about it.
Belinda is far inferior to my mother's beauty. She shares characteristics with the maids that work here. Brown eyes, brown hair, and freckles. I wanted to gag as I watched their interactions, but I kept a neutral expression on my face. They ridicule me for the remainder of lunch. I was told to gather my bags and depart after eating the meal. They reveled in my misery like a horde of goblins.
Enduring the hatred I returned to my room and packed my suitcase. I was informed that I would be transferred inconspicuously in a carriage through the back roads. I was skeptical of the carriage because it did not resemble the one mentioned to me. It appears to be a wagon used for transporting creatures.