My Prison Mate.

~Katrina~

After the slap, I had no idea when I fell asleep. My eyes burned when I

opened them, and I squinted into the darkness, searching for the woman.

From what I remembered when the guards brought her in, she looked old and

worn, her clothes filthy from years of neglect.

"Are you there?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. The silence pressed down on

me, thick and suffocating.

No response. Maybe they had taken her away while I slept. I leaned back

against the cold wall, my chest tightening as hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

How long would this suffering continue? I had no idea what was happening

outside this prison. Did the king feel any sympathy for me, or had he turned

his back completely?

I sobbed harder, each breath ragged and painful. By the time I was done, I

felt hollow, as though I had poured out the last bit of strength I had.

It seemed like Queen Fortuna had poisoned him against me, and now, he would

let me die in here without a second thought.

"Don't cry. You'll need those tears," a voice echoed from the darkness.

I froze. It was the woman. Her laugh was soft but eerie, cutting through the

silence like a blade.

She didn't sound as old as she had looked.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to speak. "Why?"

"You'll need them," she said, her tone calm, almost mocking. "There will

come a time when you'll beg for tears, but they won't come. Fortuna will make

sure you regret ever stepping foot in Xylonia."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. She knew I wasn't from here. But how?

We had never met, and I was certain she hadn't left this prison in a long time.

"How do you know I'm not from Xylonia?" I asked, my voice

trembling. Was she a soothsayer?

"It's easy, girl. The king's concubines are never from Xylonia," she said,

coughing before continuing. "Fortuna is fond of throwing them in here. She's

scared you might steal her place."

I froze, unable to process her words. I wasn't the first. There were

others—innocent women trapped here—while the king did nothing.

"So…the king knows?" I whispered, shaking my head even though she couldn't

see me in the dark. Her next words crushed what little hope I had left.

"The king has no idea. If you're clinging to the hope he'll come for you,

let it go. Fortuna might kill you any day now. She's a psychopath."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Was she telling the truth, or was this some

twisted part of Fortuna's plan to break me?

"Why hasn't she killed you?" I managed to ask, my voice cracking.

"You think I'm like you?" She let out a harsh cough that echoed in the cell.

It sounded deep, like something was eating her from the inside. "I'm her

sister. She won't kill me."

Her words hit me like a blow. I gasped, my lips parting, but no sound came

out. Even if I tried to speak, nothing would make sense.

Fortuna had locked up her own sister?

Why?

Was this some cruel joke?

It seemed impossible, but then I thought of my own family—how they had cast

me aside without a second thought. Hatred and betrayal weren't limited to my

world.

I stared into the darkness, my pulse racing. Whatever Fortuna's reasons,

they didn't matter. If she could do this to her own blood, what chance did I

have?

"If you manage to get out… which is almost impossible, remember this,"

the woman rasped, her breath shaky. She coughed violently, her words fading. I

feared she would pass out. "Fortuna is nothing without the king. Once she loses

his favor, she'll be easy to defeat. Act fast… always stay one step ahead."

Her words shocked me. Despite her condition, she was warning me, helping me.

"Thank you," I whispered. "What's your name?"

"Faustino," she replied weakly.

I wanted to ask more, but she fell silent. "Faustino?" I called softly, but

there was no answer.

I crawled through the darkness, my hands trembling as they found her limp

body. She was still breathing, but it was faint.

Fear surged through me. Memories of my mother's death flooded my mind. I had

sworn never to experience that kind of loss again, but here I was, living it

all over.

"Help!" I screamed, my voice breaking.

The heavy sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Light burst into the cell

as the guards unlocked the door.

They didn't hesitate. They pulled Faustino from my arms. For a moment, I

froze, staring at her face in the light. She looked just like Queen Fortuna.

I couldn't believe it. Faustino was her sister.

The guards carried her lifeless body away. The door slammed shut, leaving me

in suffocating darkness.

The weight of our conversation crushed me. I had walked into this palace thinking I

could survive, but now I realized I was in a game far more dangerous than I had

imagined.

I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face.

Once again, I was alone.

And this time, the pain cut deeper than ever.