Weakness

Save my son! Why are you all just standing there!", Queen Eliza screamed frantically as I held a sharp blade to her son's neck.

Nero crossed his arms, and the guards were mortified that a mere woman could do such a thing. The council members were still, and Aven chuckled.

"Wow darling, how impressive. But darling, listen. If I die, they die, your brother dies, your father dies, and the list goes on & on."

"Screw you". I spoke.

"Well, what are you waiting for.... ", his voice was calm

then he screamed, "Do it"!

The sword was shaking in my hands, and my head started to hurt. My vision becoming blurry. I zoned out hearing voices until Aven grabbed the sword from my hand and pushed me onto the ground. He threw the sword across the room and pinned me down with his body weight.

I squirmed trying to set myself free. He starred at me with such anger in his eyes, the room silent. Aven started to entangle his fingers in mine slowly, then in one fast motion

"Crack".

I let out a blood-curdling cry. The pain is increasing with waves, I wanted to be lulled to sleep after every crack I heard and felt. Each peak of pain was robbing my ability to speak. All I could do was writhe, as he stayed on top of me. The occasional whimper echoing onto the walls of the palace. He then moved on to the left hand then stared into my eyes "You're so beautiful when you beg with your eyes. This will be the last finger I break if you stare at me while I break your pinky".

I could barely understand him with the ringing in my ears but I nodded. He held my left hand up as he kissed it then he separated my pinky from the other fingers.

"Crack".

I let out a silent scream then sobbed. I looked at him the entire time. He stood up and asked the guards something. The last thing I remembered seeing was two guards coming towards me. I tried to stand but I fell into Aven's arms as he rushed back over to me. There was a look in his eye, one of remorse and one of obsession.

--

A few days later, I woke up in a bright room hooked on to morphine. My eyes had adjusted, I looked at the splints on my hand before I had glanced over at Aven standing in the corner of the room. I starred down to see handcuffs around my ankles and one on my dominant hand only connected to the bed railing.

"I bought you food", he had walked over to my bedside.

He sat down on a stool.

I didn't dare look at him. Stuck in a room for 3 days straight, I wouldn't dare look at him, yet he was always right in front of me.

He opened my mouth as I didn't have the energy to move. He blew on the food and spoon-fed me. My will was fading. I slowly chewed his food and swallowed. "Good, isn't it?"

I licked my lips and sighed giving Aven a blank stare.

His eyes narrowed "You make this hard. It's so hard for me to stay mad at you..."

I tried speaking. But he put one finger on my lips "But then again, you did try to kill me, I don't know how I could forgive you... breaking your fingers was the only punishment I could think of where I couldn't cause you any major bodily harm."

He leaned forward close to my face only to stand up, and kick the stool from under him.

He wore a dress uniform, one for special occasions. With a black coat uniform and black pants with a red sash in the middle, his uniform consisting of tarsals and medals, but he didn't wear a hat. His hair slightly slicked back, his hazel eyes were now watching the window, his back turned.

"Remember that stunt you pulled, Letharia?"

I didn't dare answer.

"We'll be watching two executions today. The first one is Sir Hethway, his poor wife and children will get a front-row seat. And as for the second one... we will go to the public square in the city and arrive at the gallows, you will be presented as my fiancé, Would you like to know the name of the executed?"

He turned his back, facing me.

"Does the name Jessi Vulpine sound familiar, well I caught him trying to escape with the help of a palace whore?"

I stared at him blankly "What exactly do you want? My opinion? You're a King are you not? Do as you wish if it will make you happy."

He stared at me in awe as if he wanted to hear something else, I couldn't stand him call his servants whores, he made them that way for his amusement, but he crossed the line when he talked about my brother.

"You would rather be a powerful tyrant and force someone to love you as Zeus did with Hera than to do the right thing, you sicken me... but I am forced to follow your command."

Aven smirked "And...?"

"And?! He tricked her and ravished her after his offer was spurned, as her own brother".

Aven smiled "You compare me to a god...but darling didn't they create one of the most powerful gods in Greek mythology? Ares. Ares wed Aphrodite and Aphrodite is the one who spoke to me... therefore we will be wed if the time so comes to me ravishing you, then I will."

I clenched my fists, keeping my mouth shut. I tried to rip the needles from my arm and attempted to place one foot on the cold ground. I fell in the process on the left side of his bed.

He stared at me once again "Do you need help?". I couldn't help but cry as I fell, the needles had been yanked out of my skin "Fuck!", I cried. I had a moment of weakness while I started to cry loudly. Aven immediately un-cuffed me, treating my wounds. I couldn't contain my composure, I started sobbing and shaking, my body's reaction due to shock. Aven wrapped my wounds quickly, I could tell he softened his demeanor. He tightly held me in his arms "I will leave as you wish", he almost left me alone. I tugged on his shirt as he almost turned his back "Don't leave.. please don't leave", I sobbed. I needed someone...anyone. I hugged him tightly as he never loosened his grip, years of repressed emotion slipped out.

He held my face for a minute "I know you wouldn't want my sympathy but I know you feel like your world is falling apart... right on top of your shoulders, such a heavy burden to carry". I pulled the collar of his t-shirt as my anger got the best of me but then my mind went blank, I, for the first time I thought with my heart. I pressed his lips against mine. I had kissed my enemy, whom my family had hated, and whom my people have hated. What kind of person was I?