Forever Bound to the Night

LARISSA As I desperately tried to flee, I darted through the grand palace doors. The sound of my pounding heart echoed in my ears, each beat threatening to burst out of my rib cage. Fear consumed me as I knew the royal guards were relentlessly pursuing me. I was trying so hard not to get caught. I really needed to escape from this wretched abode I called a home. "My lady...where are you?". Immediately I heard the voice of my personal maid Mary, I swiftly hid myself behind a nearby pillar squeezing myself onto it as if I had the power to effortlessly penetrate its existence. "Urgh...where could she be?". Frustrated and slightly exasperated, I strained to hear the voice of my personal maid as she questioned the royal guards, desperately searching for my whereabouts. Carefully, I peered out from my hiding spot, observing their backs turned away from me. The weariness etched on Mary's face, drenched in sweat, filled me with guilt for making her go through the stress of looking for me. Yet, the urgency to escape this hellhole I called a home overwhelmed me. I couldn't bear to persist in residing within this abhorrent place that had caused unrelenting pain and agony in my life. "I think I saw her running in that direction". I heard one of the guards say as he pointed to the direction adjacent to where I was hiding. Once I heard their fading footsteps in the distance, I darted towards the opposite direction that led to the palace secret exit. The knowledge of this hidden escape route was something I had stumbled upon while I discreetly left my room to explore the palace as I was hardly allowed to leave my confines. I quickly looked behind to check if anyone had noticed me before increasing my speed, but in my haste, I collided with a wall, causing me to stumble and fall. Wincing in pain, I peered upwards, only to find myself faced with my father's personal guard, who stood composed and visibly seething, his face expressionless and his clenched jaw revealing his extreme anger. Filled with panic and desperation, I found myself gasping for air as my breaths came out raggedly. Realising the futility of my attempts to flee, a sense of hopelessness washed over me. It dawned on me that standing before me was none other than my father's unwaveringly loyal guard, Jarvis. Understanding that escape was now impossible, I forcefully rose from the floor, tears blurring my vision. In that moment, I locked eyes with him, silently begging for mercy and understanding since the words refused to leave my trembling lips. "Were you attempting to escape, princess?", he asked in a demanding tone, anger still evident on his face . As I wiped away the tears, which were already streaming down my face, my eyes frantically scanned around, desperately seeking any possible escape routes. Deep down, I was aware that I couldn't possibly outrun my father's formidable personal guard, given his immense strength, but I still had to make an attempt. Acting swiftly, I decided to flee from him, only to have my efforts instantly thwarted as he firmly grasped my hands and forcefully yanked me back, causing me to crash against his unyielding, rock-solid physique once again. "Just let me go, Jarvis...I'm begging you", I pleaded desperately, with tears now streaming down my face like unstoppable rivers, fervently begging him to release me. However, my heartfelt pleas were utterly ignored as he persisted in forcefully dragging me away against my will. As I stood before the wide throne room doors, Jarvis's grip tightened around me, leaving no room for escape. When I turned to face him, I couldn't help but notice the cold expression etched onto his face. Memories flooded my mind, reminding me of the time when we first met. Jarvis was once a jovial and playful guard, assigned to protect me for a brief period. He freely shared tales of his village and friends, painting a vivid picture of his life. However, as he gained my father's trust and became his personal guard, he transformed into someone unrecognizable - stern and aloof, always wearing an air of superiority. Abruptly, the doors swung open, jolting me out of my thoughts and grounding me in reality. Jarvis walked into the throne room, tugging me behind him as his pace outmatched my own. Raising my gaze, I spotted my father seated regally on the majestic throne, while my stepmother sat beside him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. I directed a fierce glare at her, ensuring that my seething anger and deep pain were clearly etched on my face. "I was informed that you were trying to escape, Larissa." I shot a resentful glare at him, desperately longing to wipe away his self-satisfied smirk despite his role as my father. It bewilders me how he could be so cruel towards his own daughter. My days of pain and suffering started after my mother's untimely demise three years ago. In a drastic transformation, my father changed drastically, from an affectionate and caring father into a heartless and wicked monster. Blaming me incessantly for her death, even now, he insists that I should have died instead. Merely four months after losing my mother, he swiftly married my stepmother, a spiteful woman akin to a witch. Ever since, everything changed; my father's intense hatred for me knows no bounds as he ceaselessly seeks ways to inflict punishments. I vividly recall the period when I was unjustly locked away in a dungeon, deprived of sustenance for an agonizing three days. There were also instances when I was confined to the confines of my room, forbidden from venturing beyond its boundaries. Most often, I would endure starvation, and any attempt to leave my room in search of sustenance would prompt my father to mercilessly order for me to be lashed. At times, I wonder if he is truly my biological father, and similarly, the wickedness of my stepmother intensifies these doubts. She has done nothing but torment me both emotionally and mentally. Though I have contemplated putting an end to my suffering, I cannot muster the strength to do so. Both emotionally and physically, my father and stepmother have left me irreparably damaged, with no one to advocate on my behalf. Everyone fears going against my father, even his council members, due to the dread of being punished. The sole companion who has stood by my side throughout these trials is Mary, my personal maid. Granted, her position restricts her abilities, but she would do what little she could to assist me. Whether it was covertly providing me with sustenance during periods of starvation and confinement or tending to my wounds inflicted by lashings, Mary relentlessly strived to offer solace, even supplying healing herbs. "I asked you a question, Larissa. Were you trying to escape?". The anger was now evident on his face. I gulped and shook my head slightly. "I don't want to get married to that man", I uttered, despite my ragged breath. "And who said you had an opinion on that? You'll get married to him and that is final!". No! No! No! I cannot get married to a monstrous creature, as it defies all reason and logic. I know my father hates and despises me to the core, but I didn't even think he would even consider offering my hand in marriage to the formidable, mighty and intimidating Lycan king. I can't marry him. According to the circulated rumours and murmurs, word has it that the Lycan king possesses a reputation for extreme cruelty and ruthlessness. Mary disclosed to me that he not only killed his own mate but also his second chance mate. Shockingly, now he harbors intentions of marrying me, seemingly for the purpose of inflicting the same fate upon me. Astonishingly, my father apparently gave me away freely to this perilous fate with no qualms. Consequently, this is precisely why I had an overwhelming urge to flee in the first place; I refuse to get married to a creature who annihilates lives as if they hold no value. With tears welling up in my eyes once again, I pleaded with my father, desperately hoping he would understand, "Father, I beg of you, please don't force me to marry him. I'm willing to do anything else you ask, just spare me from that man." "You're of no use to me here Larissa, it's better that you go somewhere far away. A place where your shits won't be tolerated. Because of you, I lost someone very dear to me. You're getting married to him tomorrow, so you better save those tears of yours and go and prepare for your departure tomorrow. Take her away from my presence". He gave me a look of disdain before turning to go back to his seat. I looked at my stepmother with teary eyes to see her smiling with a look of satisfaction on her face. She's the mastermind behind this. I'm sure of that. She's so evil - a witch. With a heavy heart, I sensed Jarvis forcefully grasp my arm and pulled me away from the throne room. Despite my best efforts, my tear-streaked face betrayed the overwhelming sadness that consumed me. Glancing towards Mary who came in a while ago, her expression was a blend of both pity and concern, but I knew deep down that she was powerless to alter the grim course that destiny had set for me. Resigned to my cruel fate, I allowed despair to engulf me, tears relentlessly streaming down my face, as Jarvis dragged me away from the grandeur of the throne room.