I Would Rather Die

When Evan entered the palace, it felt strangely desolate. She did not see knights or maids. Even the butler was nowhere in sight while he mostly came and attended to their needs.

She missed Daisy at once. But Sophie.. She should be here. 

"Sophie!" Evan called when she heard laughter and turned to look at the stairs. Elene was standing on the first stair with a mocking look on her face. 

"Sophie is not here." she took a step down "no one is here who will hear you and help you." Evan had a ominous feeling at that moment when she noticed the sinister look in the eyes of her sister.

"I have given a leave to everyone since they had worked twice for mourning of our father. I informed them that I am going to cook dinner tonight for my family. The chef even helped me by baking bread in advance and preparing all the ingredients for soup. She seemed touched by my thoughtfulness." Elene had already walked all the stairs and was now standing in front of Evan. "Everyone can see my kindness, my sweetness, sister except you. You are so cold to me as if you want me dead. Do you hate me that much, sister?" her voice was soft, pained yet cold and hiding something sinister when Evan breathed.

"Elene, i do not hate you. I never hated you. You are my sister and even now…" she touched Elene's cheeks but the woman pushed her elder sister's hands away. 

"Even now you are lying. You lie all the time with this cold face of yours." Evan was sure that a slap would come afterwards. She was already prepared for the impact. Ready to hold her sister's hands and tell her that she was not a pushover but the impact did not come.

What came was two men holding her down.

"You thought I was a fool to slap you? Either you have stopped me by holding my wrist in your frigid grip or you would have let me slap you and then showed the world that we torment you. Harold had already warned me about both things." when? The man was with her in the carriage. When did they get time to discuss her fate.

"Elene, you have lost your mind. How could you do this to your sister? I am your family, not Harold." She screamed as she struggled to get herself free. Fear filling her heart. They were inside their palace. No one could protect her here. If they did something… no! Harold would not be so cruel. Elene could not do such a thing.

Despite her denial, her heart was throbbing and she looked for her escape routes but all the windows of the palace were closed. The door was tightly shut behind her and there were no maids who came to help her.

"Ha! Enough of your pleadings and provocations. I will not fall for any of it." Elene shook her head. "You have ruined my image today and soon rumors will spread all over the empire but you know what could help me in getting rid of my rumors?" Elene grinned, thoroughly enjoying the situation, "another rumor. And you will do that for me. After all, we are family." Evan struggled hard. She kicked her legs in the air while moving her hands in another direction but the man had held her tightly. They forced her to kneel on the ground and soon she was completely trapped.

"Do not fret sister. They will not do anything in reality. It will be just for show. But it will be enough to ruin you completely." Elene laughed as she turned and walked to the sofa. She sat there leisurely as if waiting for some great entertainment.

"Now, do not be too rough with her. After all, she is my sister." the man nodded solemnly and held the collar of her dress.

"No! Please.. No!" Evan shouted and shook her head. Tears filled her eyes again. Three days! She had thought she would damage their image these days and leave the palace unscathed. How was she such a fool?

It was only the first day, yet..! 

"No, Elene. I will do as you say. There must be some other way." Evan pleaded. As long as she was able to hold her innocence, she did not care what other things she needed to do. But Elene only scoffed.

"You are being naive again, sister. Did you forget it is not your first time. And as I told you, they would not do anything. Just leave some damage and return." the woman laughed as if it was a joke when Evan gritted her teeth.

She bit the hands of the man on her shoulders tightly.

"Elene, stop them or you are going to regret it." she warned in a cold voice making Elene laugh but her eyes went cold.

"You have still not learned to plead properly sister. Do you think you have the right to threaten us?" she shook her head in pity when the man winched and pushed Evan on the ground.

Two men loomed over her and stared at her with anger.

"Teach her a lesson that she would never forget." The voice came out distant as Evan tried to stand and run but they held her by her feet and pulled her back. Her head hit the ground and dragged brutally.

"You have nowhere to go. Now be a good girl and cooperate with us or we will not restrain ourselves later." they warned her in a cold voice but she was beyond comprehending their words. 

She went for another run but failed and then another. She did not care if she died in the struggle, but she would not let them touch her.

"I will pay you twice," she offered. No, thrice. If you let me go. I will do anything in my power to fill your other conditions.." 

 But the man did not stop…