He released a sinister laugh that shook me right down to my core as he bared his teeth. I wasn’t speaking to the Nicholas I
knew. This was his other mask, the one he’d shown me back in the summer house. The king lost to his shadows, his power
overwhelming him.
“You know nothing, you stupid foolish girl. I will kill you right here and send your head in a box to them as a gift.”
“Do it then,” my voice shook as the words came out, “If you are so bent on revenge then just do it already. Don’t make me
fall in love with you when there is no point. When you don’t feel anything but hatred and a need for revenge.”
He dug his nails into my shoulders, and I could feel the trickle of blood running down my arms. I didn’t move, didn’t falter.
He wasn’t going to break me. I may have been frightened and worried he would do what he threatened to do, but I still stood
my ground.
“GO ON THEN! DO IT!!” I shouted.
Squaring my shoulders, I stood straighter and bared my teeth in return. My ears started to ring, my heart beat harder and
faster in my chest while I shook with adrenaline. He just stared down at me as I watched the black fade slowly in his eyes then
reappear again. Whatever was going on in his mind, he appeared to be fighting it.
“WELL!” I shouted, again.
Suddenly his lips were on mine, hungrily and filled with wanting. I pushed him off as best as I could while he still held me
pinned against the wall. He pushed harder into me, his lips rough against mine, but I stood still. Unmoving. I refused to return
the kiss.
“Ornella,” his voice came out soft, normal, like before.
I released a laboured breath as I continued to shake with tears streaming down my cheeks. The shadows retreated,
revealing his blue pools again. Loosening his grip on me, I could feel the ache and sting as the new wounds exposed
themselves to the air. Instead of moving away, or fleeing, I found my hand resting upon his cheek as he looked at me, confused
and lost.
“Do you really want to kill me?” I asked.
He didn’t answer me right away, just continued to stare down at me and my breath caught in my throat. I’d been a fool. I
was after all nothing, but his stupid, foolish girl. His puppet. His pawn to use and dispose of when he was done using me.
“Do you want me dead, Nicholas?” I asked again.
“No, but?—”
I didn’t want to hear the end of that sentence. He had said enough. I pushed him off me. This time he stepped back and I
began to walk towards the door, determined to hold myself together until I made my way back to my rooms.
He reached out, grabbing my wrist as I walked away. I felt him tug me back and for a moment we stood, unmoving as I