Liars?
1593 Words
Veronica POV
I didn’t count, but I guess there may be a few hundred old men, women, and even children tied to large pillars where they were being tortured by a bunch of vampires. The vampires were whipping them continuously with the silver whip. Fresh blood oozed from their wounds. Their mouths were tied so that no one could hear their scream. But I can hear them screaming out of their lungs. I can hear them begging for mercy. I didn’t know why, but it was as if I could feel their pain and it was hurting too much for me to bear.
My trance was broken by the movements beside me. When I turned, I found it was Amaya. She was visibly trembling. Her breathing grew heavier just like before, still, her eyes didn’t leave the sight in front of us. I grabbed her hand and took her away from that place. I embraced her and caressed her head softly. She calmed down after a while.
“Can you tell me what their crime was?” I asked Amaya when she was stable enough to talk. I had a feeling that Amaya knew something about them.
“They...they a-are the royal servants who made a few mistakes w-while serving them,” she stammered while talking.
“What mistakes?”
“They may br-break some-something accidentally while wor-working or unable to do the assigned task,” Amaya’s answer shocked me. They were tortured for such stupid mistakes.
“Did they torture you the same way?” she nodded and started panicking again.
“Shush, don’t worry. They won’t hurt you again. I won’t let them hurt you,” I comforted her softly. Was Edwin referring to this while he was talking about the consequences? Was he threatening her with this kind of torture? My heart twisted thinking about Edwin torturing them. My Eddy can’t be that cruel, ruthless, can he?
“What are you doing here?” I turned my head to see him. He was standing a few feet away from me. I asked Amaya to leave. It’s between me and him. I need him to answer me truthfully. He stepped forward and stopped right in front of me.
“Only one question – do you know anything about the torture of those poor servants?” he didn’t answer and instead stared at me blankly as if finding something in my eyes. Then he only gave me a curt nod. That’s all? Wasn’t he supposed to explain? We stood there staring at each other. I was expecting him to explain, but when he didn’t, I got angry and left.
I was going in the direction that my feet led me without thinking. The only conception swarming around my mind was Eddy. He can’t hurt innocent people. I wanted to believe this so badly.
My mind was so distracted that I didn’t realize I got lost. f*****g hell! How could someone’s sense of direction be so worse? I literally jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Whoa-whoa! Relax, it’s me,” I calmed down seeing his familiar face. “Are you lost?” he asked, putting his hand in his pocket. I denied it even though he was telling the truth. He smirked. “Then what are you doing in this portion of the castle?”
“I was just looking around,” I replied nonchalantly.
“But nobody comes here,” he said.
“Why?”
“Cause it’s where I live,” he answered, sounding distant. I stared at him, wanting to know more, but without glancing in my direction, he started walking. I remained still at that place until he called. “Aren’t you coming?” I followed him silently.
When he stopped walking, I looked around. We were surrounded by flowers. Hundreds of roses were blooming in the yard. I looked up. A small smile was playing on his handsome face.
“Roses were my mother’s favorite flower. She used to plant roses and take care of them whenever she was sad. And I do the same. Aren’t they beautiful?” I could feel the pain in his voice, though he was smiling. “You know, cupcake, the only reason I am living is my mother. She wanted me to live. And I had to...I had to live to get revenge on whom snatched my mother away from me,” Eli continued, his dark eyes growing darker. “And I will get the revenge one day,” he stated.
I placed my hand on his arm to console him. He looked at me with watery eyes and then started laughing. I frowned at his change of expression. “Aren’t I a good storyteller, cupcake? See, you almost believe me,” he uttered in between his laughs, holding his stomach. Bloody i***t! Was he kidding with me?
I restrained myself from slapping him and left, giving him a last glare. And thankfully he didn’t stop me. I was fuming with anger. First Edwin, then Eli... What did they think about themselves? That they can do whatever they want with me!
“My lady.”
“WHAT!” Amaya flinched and that’s when I realized, I shouted at her without any reason. “I am sorry. I was just distracted,” I apologized.
“My lady, don’t apologize to me. Else I need to bear the consequences,” oh, I forgot, it’s a kingdom where the subject’s got punishment without any reason. “I was looking for you everywhere. It’s time for dinner. The king will join everyone today to greet you,” she said. She dressed me up like a Disney princess. I didn’t argue as I didn’t want her to get punished because of me.
When I entered the large dining hall, my eyes landed on the only person my heart was looking for. Edwin, Sam, and Jace were talking and they suddenly stopped at my arrival. I sat beside Edwin and remained silent just like him. Sam and Jace glanced at us with suspicion. A few moments later, Eli came and sat beside my right.
I felt their gaze upon mine, but still, I remained silent. Both of them are the same. Liars! Everyone in the dining room stood up as the King and Queen stepped inside. Everyone greeted them. The king, Emanuel Roberts, was the older version of Edwin and Eli. The aura around him screamed authority. But his gaze felt so uncomfortable to me. He did look like the one who could s*******r an entire clan with his cruel hand.
“So, she is the one?” he said scornfully. “You denied mating with Rebecca because of her?”
“What’s so great about Rebecca? Cupcake is far more interesting than hers,” Eli muttered. And I guess everyone heard him.
“Eli Willard Roberts, I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Emanuel’s voice boomed through the room.
“I didn’t answer you either,” Eli retorted. I kept my head down the entire time. I felt Edwin become tense beside me. I could sense he was getting angry. I placed my hand on him under the table and he relaxed instantly.
The entire dinner was awkward. Edwin’s mother calmed Emanuel when he grew angry at Eli. And no one uttered a word after that. After the king and queen left, everyone went to their room as well, including Edwin. Did he leave without me?
When I was about to leave, Jace called me. He gestured for me to follow him. Once we were in his room, he told me to sit and asked if I was okay. What should I reply to him? Am I really okay?
“Something happened between you two, right?” Jace asked. And I knew hiding from him wouldn’t do me any favors, so I confessed everything. He sighed after listening to me. “Vicky, I have known Edwin since my childhood. Edd is egoistic, broody, and rude, but not ruthless, or cruel. I thought you might know him better than me,” he said, disappointment clear in his voice.
“Now what do you want me to do, Jace? I waited... I waited for his explanation but he just remained silent,” I uttered in frustration.
“Then let me tell you a story. There was a boy, at the age of 14, who came to learn that the subject of the kingdom was being tortured without any fault. So he went to his father to request him to change the rules. Have any idea what his father did?” I shook my head. “He ordered to whip his own son with a silver whip for 3 days and nights,” my eyes widened at his words. “His fault was he became soft-hearted. He was trained to become a ruthless, cruel beast, but he didn’t. He only takes on a mask of cruelty. Do you know why he was searching for his mate so desperately?” I again shook my head.
“Cause he wanted to be the king so that he could change the f*****g rules, he could protect his subjects with his mate by his side,” tears were rolling down my face. How could I misunderstand him! I should have... “Don’t think too much. Just talk to him,” Jace advised.
“Thank you, Jace,” he gave me a smile.
“Just wanted to make my brother and sister happy,” he replied, giving me a brotherly hug.
- Writer
