5. SERAFINA

SERAFINA

The cold splashes of water hitting my face drew me out of the dark abyss I was previously in and my eyes batted open. Guess death wasn’t even ready to take me yet.

Before I could comprehend anything else, I felt another painful tug gripping my hair and pulling me up to my feet, I let out a pained yelp as the roots of my scalp ached at the action.

I was face to face with those domineering and unfeeling eyes of his and a lump formed in my throat as apprehension and fear surged in my veins from being under that intentful gaze.

“We have arrived.” Zahir said to me and those three words travelled deep down and settled distraughtly in my chest, rumbling around and creating an unsettled feeling.

He went on to loosen my leash from the carriage and held it in his hand, yanking and pulling me forward like I was a bought cattle. I followed after him, my eyes wandering about the perimeter and I realized that I was at the Town Square and the people of the Kingdom stared at me with loathe and hatred inscribed boldly in their eyes.

“Curse you and your foul people. You got what you deserve, I hope you die a painful death!” They hurled insults at me, yelling scorns, mockeries and obscene profanities. I accepted it all, I deserved it. It was for this purpose I relinquish my crown and my title, I would take it all.

Soon after, they began pelting me with food from all directions—tomatoes, rotten food, and even stones. They hit me violently and it hurt a ton. It hurt so badly that I screamed in terrored pain and agony but it only fueled their anger and hate the more and they continued to throw things at me.

I tried to run away from their aims but I only ended up falling on my face roughly and a huge uproar of laughter of mockery erupted from their midst. Zahir didn’t stop for me to get up, rather he continued to drag me even though I was face down on the floor. My body rubbed against the hard gravel and more scratches were gained in addition to the array I had already painfully acquired.

These were so severe, that my arms and legs started to bleed; my dress was nearly in shreds and my exposed chest and belly swerved on the ground and I got bruises and cuts as well. I suppressed the stinging tears that threatened to fall, trying my best not to cry —as all it did was show my weakness and make these people more happier.

I was behind him and his back was all I could see, but that didn’t stop me from staring at him with so much contempt and disdain. The ruthless monster who did this to me. Who changed my status from a princess to a lowly slave in a matter of days.

I hated him, deeply.

Finally, I tried to get on my wobbly feet and stand up but they failed and I crashed back to the ground and hit my head against a stone. The impact was dangerously painful and blood trickled from the opening it created and down my nostrils as well. The whole crowd froze, their laughter and mockery dying down as well.

I thought some level of sympathy had welled in their hearts and they would defend me, save me, do anything at all in my favour but instead, they continued hurling things at me—this time it was only stones, no food, and they hit brutally and delivered a vicious pain. It was terrorizing and unrelentingly harsh, I just wished for a stop—for me to stop, I wished I’d just drop dead and everything would end.

But sadly, my wishes fell on deaf ears.

-:-

By the time we arrived at the mighty palace—I couldn’t even properly take note of what it actually looked like, my eyes were swollen and I had blood gushing down my forehead that clouded my vision. In fact, I was bleeding all and the pain ravaged deep, even to my bones. What remained of my dress was almost gone now, dirty and completely torn and it exposed my undergarments.

Zahir came closer and unleashed me, immediately I was free from his control, I dropped to the ground overcome with fatigue and tiredness.

“Be on your feet now!” He barked the command at me, but I couldn’t move even if I tried.

“Have you no heart? Where is your compassion?” The words feebly aired from my mouth and he chuckled sardonically.

“Compassion you say?” Zahir stood so close to my face.

“My heart and compassion died the very moment your people took us and subjected us to immense hardship. I am doing nothing but giving you a taste of your own medicine, so you would know exactly how it feels.” Zahir expressed and as much as it pains me to admit, he was very right. He seemed to take delight in suffering my scalp as he once again pulled me up to my feet by my hair.

He let go of me and I staggered as I tried to find my balance, my frail legs struggled to bear my weight and keep me standing. His eyes were on me again, and they roamed about my greatly exposed body. One would think that he looked at me admiratively, but there was no appeal in his eyes. Just hate. Undiluted hate.

“You are the biggest whore I have ever seen.” He brashly commented and I wanted to say something in return. Something about him being the biggest monster I have ever seen. A beast. But I was already finding it hard to even remain on my two feet, anything else would be a hassle.

He stepped further to me, standing in a very close proximity and I could feel his heavy breaths rest on my skin and their harshness made all the hairs on my skin stand on end.

So close that it made me hate that he smelled like every other normal being and not like a foul beast against my better judgement.

“This is just the beginning of your suffering, trust me when I say there is more, so much more to come. I will take delight in breaking you, subjecting you to what my people and I faced in ten folds. And only then would you know what it means to suffer.”

His words struck like a needle and from them alone, I already had a glimpse of the painful life ahead that awaited me. His gaze tarried on me and I wished to be saved from the torment that came from being underneath it—this time my wish was granted and I heard the door open and someone step in.