Thorns and Promises

Safe and Sound

[Trigger Warning! This chapter contains themes of kidnapping, S/A, domestic abuse, torture, and drugging. Please read at your own discretion.]

{Lilliana’s POV}

The nightmares of my father’s torment were killing me. As if living through it the first time wasn’t enough. When I looked down I could see the runes he had carved into me. One for each time I made him angry by not being the “perfect heir” he so desired. One that meant “Respectful”, another that meant, “Flawless,”one that meant “Soft-Spoken”, another meaning, “Beautiful”, another one that meant “Talented” another that read, “Perfect”, another that meant, “Pure,” and then the very last one “unemotional”. He wanted me to be a perfect little robot, but I couldn’t ever seem to get it right. He’d always find another flaw.. like he was trying to find them. I felt cool water on my face, and felt a rag move across it. Next was my hearing, footsteps leaving, far off voices, birds outside my window, this startled me, it had been so quiet in the cell. I opened my eyes, jolting straight up in bed, gasping for air as though I hadn’t been breathing. “NO!” I cried out.

My eyes were wide as I looked around the room finding myself all alone. I looked down seeing my hands were bandaged up. I was back in the same bed at Hettie’s, the room was darker now, it must be either early morning, or going into nighttime.

I heard footsteps scrambling towards the room, and looked up seeing Hettie, Adriel, and another man standing in the hallway peering in at me. I stared at them for a long moment before clearing my throat. “W-What happened?” I whimpered, moving my legs to the side of the bed and trying to stand.

As I stepped down off the bed, my legs crumbled under me, causing me to fall to the floor. Adriel rushed to my side swooping me up and setting me back down. “You’re still weak, you should be resting.” He said, his voice somewhere between worry and frustration.

I nodded slowly looking to Hettie, and the man behind her. He was bigger than Adriel, bulkier, more muscular, taller. His hair was black, and curly, and his eyes a beautiful amber color. His skin was tanned, and he had a well trimmed beard that adorned his face. He was handsome, I could admit that. I quickly shook the thought from my head, looking back to Adriel who was still kneeling in front of me. “I-I’m sorry..” The words came out as they always did, quiet, soft, and instinctive.

“Why are you sorry? We’re the ones that nearly killed you!” The other man shouted.

I flinched, and I hated myself for it, but I couldn’t stop it if I tried. “I-I.. I’m sorry.. I just.. I didn’t mean.. I’m sure you didn’t mean to..” I began but decided it might be better to just stop talking. I bit my bottom lip, and gripping my dress until my knuckles turned white, a bad habit of mine.

Adriel was looking up at me, this unreadable expression on his face. “You could have died in that cell.. we left you down there for days with no food, or water, we didn’t bother to check up on you, and you don’t seem bothered at all!” He snapped.

I flinched once again, my grip on the dress tightening. “I’m sorry.. I just.. I don’t know what you want from me. I-I can be angry.. if that’s what you want.” I whimpered.

“What do you mean?” He asked, looking up at me, I could feel his piercing blue eyes burning into me.

I shook my head. “I-I’m sorry.. I misspoke.. it won’t happen again. Just allow me to grab a cloak and I’ll go back to the dungeon. I’m sorry to have caused you trouble.”

He stared at me, a look of regret, then fear, then anger flashing across his face. “You’re not going back to the dungeon, you’re staying here with Hettie!” He said with a sigh.

Hettie rushed to my side, sitting next to me. “Child, you should be resting.. you’re still sick, and your body is weak. Let me help you lie back down, and I’ll see our guests off.” She said, grabbing my shoulders gently.

I nodded, letting her help me lie back down, she tucked me into bed, before turning on her heel and taking Adriel and the other man out of view.

“If anything changed you send for us.” Adriel’s voice urged. “No matter day or night, we will be here.”

“Alright boys, I’ll keep you updated on her progress.” Hettie’s soft voice replied.

“We could have killed her.. and she apologized to us..” the other man’s voice came in. “She apologized for bothering us, and said she’d go back to the place where she almost died. What happened to her that made her this way? I’ve never seen someone so unemotional, and self destructive.”

I suppose he was right about that.. though it wasn’t my choice. My father made sure I behaved in this manor, he carved those words into my flesh to make sure I never forgot who I was supposed to be, and how I was meant to act.

“I don’t know.” Hettie whimpered. “I’ve never seen a royal, or even a noble that was so jumpy, and reserved. I know that she was attacked the night Adriel brought her here, but this, this is something else.. something that I fear you boys might know all too well. She acts eerily similar to the way that your mother did when she was still with your father.”

“I know.. I hope that isn’t the case. Try to find out what’s going on here, and help her get better, please, Hettie.” Adriel’s voice spoke softly.

“Of course!” She replied. “Any word from Eldarin?”

“The king is apparently planning another ball, as if his daughter and only heir isn’t sitting in the next room as our prisoner.” The other man sneered. “Some father, he seems to be as good at being a dad as he is at being king.”

Oh no.. they already found out that I’m a useless bargaining chip to my father. They were being kind to me now.. but what if it’s all a ploy to lull me into a false sense of security, before they torture information out of me before tying off their loose ends?

“We’ll be back to check on her later Hettie.” Adriel said, as I heard their footsteps retreating, and the door closing behind them.

I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep, and soon I heard Hettie moving around in the next room, before she came back in looking over me. “Poor girl, what things have you suffered to turn out this way?” She asked, as I felt her sit beside me and brush a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t worry, I’m here now child, and I’ll make sure you’re safe, and sound.”