I could only rely on myself

Chapter 11

Lily and Rosemary let out a giggle, "We servants only serve our masters and guests. Who do you think you are, ordering us around?" Lily asked mockingly.

"I've worked at the Palace for ten years and I've never served a rogue," said Rosemary with a look of disdain.

"You guys..." My face reddened, but I couldn't refute this for a moment. Since Theo had presented me with his ring at the garden party, I had felt people looking at me differently, especially the maids in the Palace, who must have been jealous of Theo pampering me.

If I let it go today, then all the servants could embarrass me in the future. With that in mind, I approached them, raised my hand with the ring that Theo had given me, and commanded them, "Now you make me a lunch, or would you like to feel the consequences of not doing as I say?"

Either the two ladies were stunned by my imposing manner, or they were frightened by the sight of Theo's ring, and a hint of panic surfaced on their faces. I raised an eyebrow at them and instructed them firmly, "Now, hurry up!"

"Of course, please bear with me for a moment, I will do it for you straightaway." Rosemary complied after she had exchanged a quick glance with Lily.

Soon, Rosemary served me a platter of sandwiches, and not only the servants' cucumber fillings. Lily made me a fresh pot of pepper mint tea, and then they both took their leave.

I picked up a sandwich and took a bite; it tasted good, but at this point I had no appetite. The maids' words were still ringing in my ears. In their eyes, I was just a whore serving the King.

I was detained in an empty Palace where I could not see any sunlight. I felt a stabbing pain in my heart, but where could I go if I didn't stay here? I can only take one step at a time. There is life and there is hope, the words were ringing in my ears; I took a deep breath, I can only hope it is so.

The more I thought about it, the more agitated I became, so I decided to go to visit Sophie. She was the only true friend I could talk to, the one person in the world who cared about me, and I cared about. I hurried from the Palace and entered the massive garden.

I looked for Sophie's waif-like figure and called out, "Sophie, I've come to see you."

I felt footsteps behind me and instinctively turned around, when I felt the thud of a blunt force on my head, and everything went black…

That next thing I knew, I felt the shock of ice-cold water being poured over my head. I shivered and opened my eyes to find myself in a dark, dank cell, where I was tied to a post so tightly that I could feel the pain in my ribs as I breathed.

"Bitch, you're finally awake?" I followed the voice and looked up to see that my abuser was none other than Emily. She was immaculate in her delicate makeup, but her eyes were staring at me viciously, as if she wanted to devour me.

"What do you want with me?" I asked her with a trembling voice. Thinking about Esther's earlier warning about how cruel Emily was, I felt cold all over, and in an overwhelming state of fear.

"I can do whatever I want with you. What, are you scared now? I saw you look quite fearless at the party last time!" She approached me closer. Crack! Crack! I felt a burning pain in my face as she slapped me, there were stars in front of my eyes, and my ears were buzzing.

"You bloody siren, what devious sorcery did you use to seduce the King? How could he ask me to apologize to someone like you?" Emily slapped me hard, this time even harder, screaming and cursing all the time.

When she had finally stopped slapping me, she spat in my face. "Too bad I'm a girl and can't fuck you, but I'll have all the guards here fuck you one by one, and let them tell me what is your special trick? Do you have three breasts or two cunts?" Every word she spoke was infused with a viciousness, her face twisted into a scowl of pure hatred.

Having insulted me, she laughed. It was a high-pitched, shrill laugh that reverberated off the stone walls of the tiny cell, filling me with a sense of foreboding. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.

"Don't expect the King to come to rescue you, he'll be away for three days before he returns." She paused for a and stroked her chin in her hand, narrowing her eyes at me, "Uh, let me think, I'll torture you for two days, and then let the guards fuck you on the third day."

She kicked me hard in my pussy, causing a spasm in my stomach as I howled. "Tut-tut, you can't take any more?" Emily clicked her tongue and put on a mock pathetic voice.

The next second, her face turned fierce. "Guards, chop off her hand!" A menacing growl emanated from her throat as she spat out her words.

But one of the guards whispered in her ear, "Miss Emily, she is the King's favorite now, you might anger her..."

Before he could finish speaking, Emily hit him on the face with a loud slap. " How dare you! You care for this slut and want to help her plead for mercy?" She then screamed at the other guards, "Drag him out and give him 100 lashes."

Emily turned to me, she softened her tone again, as if she was doing me a favor, "I think I'm becoming soft by not chopping your hand off first." She then snapped at the guards surrounding me, "Drive iron nails through this bitch's fingers and toes, one by one!" Her voice was again sharp and cutting, like a blade slicing through the air.

Soon, I was experiencing searing pain as my fingers and toes were pierced by the nails, and my howls were accompanied by Emily's unbridled laughter echoing off the cold stone walls of the cell.

I passed out, I don't know how long for. When I came to, all was silent and it must have been night time. There were two guards standing at the door. I had been untied now and was now restrained with handcuffs and ankle cuffs. One of the guards came over and placed a plate in front of me. "Here, eat."

My hands were covered in blood, and I couldn't barely move them. I persisted and finally grabbed the bread on the plate and stuffed it into my mouth. It had a musty smell, and it made me cough.

I tried to pick up the cup of water on the plate, but I just couldn't. I tried several times before I knocked the cup over, and the water spilled onto the plate. I lay pathetically on the floor and licked the water up like a dog.

I gasped and said to myself: I just have to live and hope to see the dawn. At least until tomorrow comes, I can't give up find hope.

I couldn't put my hope in Theo and wait for him to save me, I really meant nothing to him. Maybe he knew I was here but still wouldn't come to rescue me. I had to figure it out myself, I could only rely on myself.

I lay on the cold stones, gently trying to move my fingers and toes. The pain was unbearable, but I clenched my teeth and continued to move their joints.

Dawn broke, and I was tied to the pillar again. While they were tying me, the guards murmured to me, "Why did you asked for this? Why did you have to offend Miss Emily in the first place? You will be even worse off today than you were yesterday."

I was silent. Before long, there was a sound of footsteps outside, and Emily walked in with a group of guards. "You look good, it looks like I was too soft yesterday." She stared at me and winked at the guard next to her, who handed her an iron rod.

"Look at the words engraved on this rod." She held the rod out to me.

I took a look and shook, it was a 'bitch' sign.

"Later when this rod red-hot, I will burn this word on your face, on your neck, on your chest, and on your back." She sneered and continued, "By the way, after the branding, I will apply wolfbane's water on your scars, so that the scars will follow you for the rest of your life and you will never be able to erase them."

She looked my frightened expression and became more and more belligerent. "Are you hoping that the King will come to your rescue? Dream on! Do you think the King hasn't heard of what I have done before? Did he care? You fools are just lightly praised and pampered by the King, and you think you're going to be Luna."

She barked these insults, each one laced with disdain and contempt. "You are of such low status, how dare you think you can compete with me!"

My voice trembled and I whispered, "Please, please don't do this to me."

Emily was delighted to hear my pleas, and she looked at me with a mocking expression. "What? you're scared now and begging me? Your voice is too faint, I can't hear you, speak louder!"

I said it again pitifully, "Please spare me, I know I was wrong."

Emily frowned and yelled at me, "Haven't you fucking eaten? Your voice is as quiet as a mosquito!"

I repeated myself, still under my voice, and Emily, clearly frustrated by me, rapidly approached me, grabbed me by the hair, glared at me and yelled, "Beg me louder!"

I knew this was my chance.