Chapter 16
Ziana’s POV
The next two days go by the same as the first. I am getting really tired of sitting in the damn room. Killian and Zane tried to see me a few times. Each time I told them to shove it unless they were there to let me out.
Kai has come and spent quite a bit of time with me. We play games and talk. Turns out he is Killian’s Gamma. He told me when the royal members got here to help Killian with the missing girl problem, they
asked about me. That surprised me because I wasn’t too popular at the royal pack.
It just seemed like no matter what I did, how much good I could do, a lot of people don’t like me. At first they
were still wary of me. I understood why. I was raised by Franklin. Everybody knew I called him father, so they
thought I was brainwashed. After a while they got used to my outbursts and smart mouth, but because of
these they just didn’t like me.
I am an acquired taste and I know that. Unless you are family, I will push you away. No need for more people being fake. And definitely no need for your heart to break when they eventually hurt you or you hurt them.
I am pulled from my thoughts by a knock. I look over to see Kai entering with his little cart. I sit up in bed and
smile.
“What’d you bring me today?” I ask, eyeing the covered plates. His eyes sparkle as he chuckles.
“Oatmeal.” He says, with a smirk and I gag. Just the thought of it makes my heart beat faster and threatens to send me back there.
“Just kidding. We got some breakfast burritos with some salsa and sour cream on the side. I also brought
you some muffins if you want something sweet.” He answers by lifting the cover from the plate and hands it
to me. I am still laying in bed, but yesterday, he brought some trays that can sit over your lap. Perfect for
eating in bed.
He comes to sit next to me and we begin to eat. I scarf it down and by the time ham almost finished with my third he is starting his second.
“Goddess you eat like a barbie not wanting to gain wait.” I say and he snorts.
“Better than eating like a barbarian. You can’t even taste the food when you eat that fast.” He says and I
shake my head.
“You know…. Don’t you have anything better to do than sit in here with me most of the day?” I ask and he shrugs his shoulders.
“Yeah, I guess, but this is much better than getting my a*s handed to me at training. Or dealing with fights.” He says. I hum in response, taking another bite of the burrito.
“What’s your favorite flower?” He asks, randomly.
“Uh. I don’t really have one.” I answer as he eyes me.
“Everybody has to have one that they think is pretty or unique.” He says and I roll my eyes, of course he is
trying to read into ‘why that flower‘.
“Well then what’s yours?” ask, trying to be a smart a*s. His smile changes from a smirk to sad and I know
1/3
Chapter 16
that I just f*cked up. We have been avoiding the heartfelt past stuff.
Please don’t say what I think you’re gonna say. Please don’t.. My thoughts are interrupted.
“Rose’s and Lilly’s.” He answers and my face falls. I know there is no hiding my reaction. I have been pushing back the memories harder lately. Being chained and seeing Kai’s face then the other two’s faces has been bringing them back more and more.
“Are you okay?” He asks, putting a hand on my shoulder as I flinch.
“I’m fine. I. I just don’t feel well. Thanks for breakfast.” I say while getting up and heading for the bathroom. I try to fight them, but they are fighting back.
I pull myself against the farthest wall and begin to shake. It has been so long since I’ve had an episode. I should have figured that I would start having them again. I hear a knock at the bathroom door.
“Ziana. Are you okay in there?” I hear muffled through the door. I quickly get up and make my way to the door. Pulling myself together, I open it and smile.
“Yes. I am. Thank you.” I say as he eyes me. Hls dark pink eyes gaze into mine. Her face flickers in my vision and it pains me to have to fight it back.
“Okay.” He says warrily and wheels the cart out of the door, shutting it quietly behind him.
I walk to the large chair and sit down, taking a deep breath. Focusing on the room I try to find the details in everything. I need to ground myself. First I look at the window, noticing that there are 6 panes per. The sun shining through to illuminate the room. Soon though I am in the cell with the little outside hole, letting the sun in to illuminate the dirt floor.
My vision comes back and I focus on the next thing, the curtains are floral, but each flower on it is different.
They remind me of our room growing up. Outside there was a patch of wildflowers, I would look forward to seeing those in the springtime. One minute I am in my childhood room, the next I am back to the present, staring at curtains.
I focus on the feel of the chair, the red fabric and the gold painted framing of it. Its antique look reminds me of my father’s study. Franklin’s study. It reminded you of a vampire’s lair. He would lock me in the floor hutch and all I could see was the underside of that damn chair. The intricacies of the carved wood.
I don’t know how long I sit there, flickering from reality to past, but it’s long enough that people enter.
I see them, but I can’t focus. They get close to me, their faces register. Kai and Zane. Their eyes. Dark pink and golden, turn their faces into the two I don’t want to remember.
“Are you alright?” Comes a deep voice that turns into a soft voice in my head. I flinch.
“GET OUT! GO!” I scream and throw something in my hand at them. They leave, but the women don’t. They still stand there. The memories play out now, and I can’t help it. I am taken back to that time.
“I’m Rose and this is Lilly. What is your name?” The kind woman with dark pink eyes says. I look between her and the lady with gold eyes. They’re so pretty.
“I don’t have a name.” I whisper, looking down. A hand lands on my face and I flinch, expecting the hard hit that I normally receive.
Instead it’s a soft touch. One of the first ones I have received.
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Chante: 16
“That’s alright sweetheart.” Lilly says and I look up.
“1. I’m sorry.” I sob and they hold me. Telling me it was alright. I am flown Into another memory.
“KILL THEM!” Father screams as he brings down a whip.
“AH!” I scream as it slashes my stomach. I look over to see momma Rose and Lilly in the same cell, chained to the wall. They’re screaming begging for him to stop, but he doesn’t listen.
I am thrown against the wall, father holds a blade to my head.
“DO IT OR I KILL YOU!” He screams. His rough fingers dig into my face as he holds my jaw. I can’t move, he gave me something. I’m nothing better than a rag doll
Mama Rosa and mama Lilly are still struggling against the chains, sobbing. I feel a sharp pain at my hairline and the trail it makes. Burning me as it slices against my skin.
“KILL US! KILL US BABY! It’s okay. Please!” Momma Rose begs me.
“Please sweetheart. Please just do as he says honey. We will be okay. We promise.” Momma Lilly pleads.
Father stops carving and looks in my eyes. His eyes are black now.
“They’re begging you. Kill them!” He yells and I sob as I feel the electricity fill my veins. I hear screams and then they stop. I am then tossed next to momma’s bodies, holding their hands as they grow cold, crying.
Next I am thrown into a room, chained by my wrists in the dirt cell. They forgot to take my blade when they
beat me, I need to get to the kids, they’ll kill them if I don’t.
I grab my dagger and slice my wrists, using the blood to lubricate them enough to slip out and run.
Everything goes dark.
