♕—Delilah I groaned and rolled over as a pounding headache filled my skull, my eyelids felt too heavy to open. But with a monumental effort, I forced them apart, cringing at the sudden influx of light. My mouth felt like sandpaper and I had to swallow hard to make the rock clogging my throat go away. I awoke, my eyes immediately recognizing the ceiling above me. dread settled in my stomach as memories flooded back and I came to my senses - it was the same ceiling I had spent countless days beneath. Sitting upright and surveying my surroundings, I realized I was in my own bedroom.How? How did I get here? Jack... I was with Jack and—Lorenzo, oh my god! The door creaked open and Rita walked in, "Rita?! Oh my GOD, Rita, what happened?! How am I HERE?! Where's Mama? Where's Anthony?! I was with Jack and--and he--!" Rita cautiously approached me and took a seat on the bed, her grip tightening around my hand as she gave me a nervous smile, "I'm here to make sure you're ready for King
♕—Delilah Heavy laughter echoed through the thick walls of this palace as walked to where I was supposed to go. I won't give up just like this, I can't! I won't give up without a fight.I knew the odds weren't in my favor but I need to try for him... I walked to the grand hall and the first person my eyes fell on was my own father. His laughter got replaced by a menacing smile when his eyes fell on me; he stood up and so did everyone else. So did Alexander. I know he was watching me but I didn't even glance at him as I walked straight to my papa. "Where's mama?" I asked. "Delilah, greet our guest first then we'll talk..." he answered, trying to grab my hand but I stepped back making him clench his jaw. "I don't care about your guest, I want to know about mama!" the second those words left my mouth, he landed a back-handed slap on my cheek making me stagger to my side with the force of it. My teeth cut into the inside of my cheek. "You ungrateful girl, after everything I did to
♞—Lorenzo I walked to Niko, wiping the blood that trickled down the side of my face. Niko seemed tensed, raging mad and it only made me more fucking restless. He hung up the phone and then glared at me once more. "What?" I asked. "Nothing... he was just making sure I hadn't changed my fucking decision!" As I took in his words, I couldn't help but feel a wave of relief pass through me. Knowing that she was in the arms of her lover, I knew she was safe and couldn't be happier. At the same time, there was a yearning deep in my heart, fucking wishing why I couldn't be the one to make her feel the way he did.Niko walked to the home bar and poured himself a drink, "Where the fuck is she?" he asked. "She is with someone who will keep her safe." I'd go to the ends of the earth and back for Delilah, to make sure that she is happy and safe. I'd tear down any walls and destroy any bridges blocking the way to giving her all she deserves. I'd give her the world, never take it away, and be b
♕—Delilah I winced as Rita put something on my back, something cold but it did nothing to ease the pain papa's whips had left on me. I wrapped my arms around my knees and gently rocked myself back and forth. "Do you know where they are keeping her?" I asked her for the millionth time. "No, I don't, probably in the dungeons in your father's wing," she replied coldly. "Is she being tortured?" "I don't know..." My heart drowned in my stomach as I asked the next question, "Is she even alive, Rita?" Rita sniffled, "No, I'm not talking to you about it. I told you everything and what did you do? You went to the grand hall and challenged your father in front of his subjects, and got whipped to death. So, no I'm not telling you anything anymore!" I swallowed, she had been crying since it had happened, trying her best to relieve the pain as papa had denied me medical attention. What she didn't know was that I didn't want the pain to be just gone... I needed the pain, I deserved the pa
♕—Delilah I felt like a lamb facing death at the hands of the butcher...I closed my eyes and reminded myself of what Lorenzo thought of me. I can do this... The white dress was clinging tightly to me as if it was a second skin. Alexander seemed to have a penchant for soft, silky, and transparent dresses that made me feel so suffocated. I felt like it was just another way he liked to torment his wives. I tugged at the neckline and muttered to myself that I was doing this for my mama, but I couldn't help but scoff as I thought it. I'd tell myself this same thing when Lorenzo's touch made me forget my own breath. I'd pretend that I was just doing this to get back to my mama, my little brother, and Jack, but deep down I knew that wasn't the case.I was doing it because it felt right. The feel of his naked skin against mine felt right. The feel of his rough hands on my body felt right. The feel of his tongue against my tongue felt so utterly right. The feel of his voice in my ears fel
♕—Delilah Half an hour later, the door opened and mama entered with a solemn smile, "Delilah, it's time..." Heartbreak crashed over me like a tidal wave. Longing for the person I could never see again, for the love I would never have the chance to cherish again, for the dreamy relationship I would never get the chance to enjoy. The flutters that would never be ignited in the depths of my soul again. The hope, joy, and thrill of the unfamiliar that I could never experience ever again.My heart felt broken and desperate, the thumps and beats echoing through my head, my throat, and my feet, all desperate to escape the confines of my flesh and run away to someplace safe. "I must inform you that all the guests have taken their seats, your royal highness. Only a few moments remain before we must begin."I entered the church, my arm intertwined with my mother as I looked around the place, trying my best to avoid the man standing at the altar waiting for me. My marriage to Alexander Griman
♞—Lorenzo I loaded up the last dead body over the pile of them, watching their filthy blood dripping down the ground. I grabbed the kerosene and doused the bodies in it. Saturday... We were supposed to hand her over to her father today but she left before that. She left with him... I had half a mind to go to Niko and found out her location, she still had a tracking chip in her arm but decided against it. I let her go...And letting her go meant I will have to forget that she ever existed... I pulled out a matchbox from my pocket and watched the men's uniform. The sigil of Onteros burning up. Those were Octavius's men that we had captured, we were supposed to return them today when he comes but Niko had other plans. He wanted Onteros and he will not rest until he takes it. I struck the match, watching the flame for a few minutes before I flicked it on the ground. The fire followed the trail of kerosene reaching the pile of dead bodies. In a moment, it was a blaze, an inferno tha
♕—Delilah Trembling in Alexander's majestic bedroom, I was unable to drift off to sleep and could only continue to wait for him anxiously. I was petrified of what would happen when he arrived, and I felt utterly powerless.After the wedding ceremony and the reception ended, he brought me to his palace and since then I had been sitting in this room while he was out there somewhere, drinking with his friends and family. I can only dread the thought of how much he will drink and what he might do when he gets back. I hope he passes out! But all the hopes vanished into thin air and Alexander entered the room making my skin prickle with fear. Alexander's gaze scoured the bedroom before settling on me and he gave me a malicious smile as he started to undress in silence, he carelessly threw his clothes on the ground before staggering a little in my direction. I stood deathly still as I took in Alexander's hirsute, intimidating and daunting physique. I could hardly believe how different he