Ruled by him

My back had become numb to the pain of the whips inflicted on me. Whip... Whip... Whip... I was used to it, but it didn't stop the pain or the bruises left behind. "You slut!" Another whip landed, and I flinched, tears staining my face, my hands tied against the cold metal cages. "You like being a slut, huh?" the guard whispered into my ear as he dragged my hair. A shiver ran down my spine as I tried to push him away. A slap landed on my face. A sharp sting spread across my cheek, and I knew it would probably leave a scar as blood dripped from the side of my face. Another slap. Again... And again... Until I couldn't bear it anymore. My vision blurred, the sight ahead fading. I couldn't even see the guard who kept hitting me. I couldn't see anything—nothing except the darkness that swallowed my eyes. "Dina." I heard a whisper. "Dina." I heard the voice again. I knew that voice... but I couldn't recall it. "Dina." "Mom?" I whispered. I turned around. A vast abyss of darkness surrounded me, consuming me. I loved the darkness. It was calmer than the light. It was my safe haven. "Dina," the whisper called again. "Mom!" I yelled, my voice cracked and weak. "Don't die," the voice said again. I furrowed my brows. Then, a vision came to me. A woman tied up. Her white dress was torn to shreds, her face soaked in mud, staining the fabric. She looked ready to be burned alive. Was she a witch? Why had they tied her like that? The people around the podium shouted, "Burn her! Burn her! Burn her!" Then the torch was lit. But they didn't move toward the woman. They went to a baby. A child. A girl, tied inside a ratty sack. The guard, the torch master, lit the child on fire. A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the woman. She was the mother. "No... no! My child! Don't do this!" she screamed in agony. Tears stained my cheeks. The baby was burning. Crying. Burning. Suddenly, a thick, dark mist spread across the sky. Everyone looked up in fear as swords of fire rained down. Screams filled the air. The flaming swords sliced through flesh, stabbing people, setting everything ablaze. The mother fought against her chains, trying to break free. But nothing worked. Then, one of the swords cut through her restraints. The flames burned her wrists, but she didn't care. She ran to her child, her baby, who was now nothing more than ashes and charred flesh. "No... no! My baby! Please, wake up... please don't die! I love you, don't die!" she sobbed, cradling the lifeless body as if love alone could bring the child back. A guard stalked behind her, a sword in his hand. "No! Move away! Someone is behind you!" I screamed, desperately hoping she could hear me. No one could hear me. No one could see me. "No!" I screamed as the guard drove his sword into her back. "No!" I screamed as she collapsed, blood pooling beneath her. "No!" I screamed again and again. "No..." I rasped out, and immediately, pain filled my whole body. I winced. A sob escaped my throat. "You should lie on your back. You're bruised everywhere," an unfamiliar deep voice sounded from behind me. I tried to turn my head toward the voice. The sight before me was... breathtaking. Dark hair. Strong build. Tattoos raking down his arms. Pale, white face. I blushed as he raised a brow. He had caught me staring. I tried to sit up despite the pain. And I did. I glanced around. Where was I...? And who was he...? "Aren't you curious?" the man asked, standing beside me. I looked at the bed beneath me. It was stained with blood. My blood. My breath hitched. He was going to punish me, just like the others. "Relax, kitten. I'm not going to punish you," he said, and my eyes widened. I stared at him, shock written all over my face. How did he know what I was thinking? "I guess you don't know me," he muttered, and I furrowed my brows. Did everyone know him? Oh, no... if everyone knew him, then I wasn't supposed to see him. "I'm not a mind reader, kitten," he said, smirking. "Your emotions are written all over your face." I blushed. Twice now. Despite the pain in my face. "Can I ask you a question?" the man asked. I nodded. "Why were those guards hitting you?" My breath hitched. Those guards... Did he see them hitting me? Is that why I was here? Did he rescue me? I tried to stand up. I didn't want to talk to him. He made me nervous. He grabbed my hands, the same hands that were bruised from the chains earlier. I winced. But he didn't let go. What did he want from me? His green eyes pierced into my grey ones. I tried to look away, but he kept staring, like he was trying to read my mind. Trying to read my soul. "Are you a maid?" he asked. I wasn't a maid. But to my family, I was. I nodded slowly. He let go of my hands. "Did you steal something?" he asked again. I swallowed hard. I did steal something. I hadn't eaten in five days. Hunger got the best of me. I was caught trying to survive, and it led to my punishment. I nodded slowly. He scoffed. "You can leave." His tone was cold, distant unlike before. I gently stood up. But I couldn't. The doors of the room burst open. My brother. No. Stepbrother. Brian. He stormed in, his eyes blazing. "What are you doing in my room?" he yelled. I flinched. I was in trouble.