Countdown to Freedom

Nora’s POV 

“You have seven days .... just seven days to kill that man and afterwards kill yourself. That’s the only thing you can do to uphold your honor after you die” he made known, grabbing his box of cigarettes and relaxing in his chair as if nothing had happened.  

He lit the cigarette, stuck it between his lips, before puffing out smoke.  

I just stared at him – at the man who called himself my father. The man who didn’t hesitate to sentence his own daughter to death. He had always caused me nothing but pain since my childhood. He never made me feel at peace, he never cared about how I felt– all he cared about was himself, his gang and his empire which I planned on turning to ashes in his lifetime.  

He always made me feel love was a weakness, but he was wrong.  

Falling in love with Liam didn’t make me weak – it made me human. It made me realize there was another reason to live apart from bloodshed. But that man sitting in front of me, wouldn’t understand that.  

I wasn’t going to be his puppet anymore – not in this life, not in the hereafter. 

I wasn’t going to allow him to control me anymore and, at that moment, I made up my mind to be the one pulling the strings going forward. And when everything was finally over, the only prey left in the game would be him.  

I rested both my hands on the edge of his desk, leaning in just enough for him to see the fury ruminating through my veins.  

“Listen James. I, Nora, the daughter of Late Victoria, refuse to bow down to your orders going forward. I will NOT do what you have requested of me and if you can’t handle that, you can go to hell” I yelled, banging my hands on his desk which erupted a loud noise. 

“You see this man” I said, grabbing the photograph of Liam and showing it to his face. “He means everything you couldn’t be to me and if you dare touch as little as a strand of his hair, I wouldn’t hesitate to send you to the great beyond. Dare me!!” I screamed, shoving the photograph in his face.  

“The only mistake my mother made when she was alive was falling in love with a monster like you and I so much detest every drop of blood that we share”. 

“Well, that means the feeling is mutual. You think I am happy to have a weakling like you as my daughter?” he scoffed. “If I had known this is how you are going to turn out, I would have had you aborted when you were in your mother’s womb.” 

I was flabbergasted by his statement. How could a father say that to his daughter? 

“You are despicable!! Just try me and see what the Tigress you have raised is capable of doing” I spat angrily, pointing my index finger at him as a form of warning. 

I turned around to leave, but his words made me halt in my steps. 

“Just 7 days, Nora. That's the grace I am giving you to do the needful” he slowly said, as if he was trying to ensure his words were well received by me. 

I scoffed, turning around to face him.

“Then old hag,you are going to wait till eternity for your wish to happen. And if someone is going to die, it would be you. So, tell your soldiers to dig your grave in advance”.

“And also, thanks for the words of encouragement you wrote at the back of his photograph. "Terminate the threat before the threat terminates the throne", those words really want to make me burn than this kingdom of yours. Be on the lookout for it” I said, before storming out of the room, banging the door loudly. 

I walked to my room in rage, dumping myself on the bed as soon as I walked in. I was burning with anger at what had transpired between us. 

How could he think of killing me … us? Is it that he loves his honor and empire more than me, his daughter?

That was even the least of my concerns. I was more concerned about Liam's safety. My father wasn't the type who showed his cards to his enemies- he always played his games in the shadows. But him doing otherwise, definitely meant he had something up his sleeves.

I picked my phone and called Liam, narrating all that transpired between dad and I - most especially his knowledge about us - about HIM in particular. 

To be on a safer side, I told him to leave his apartment and stay at a safe hotel pending the time we leave the city in two days’ time - a suggestion which he agreed to. 

Throughout the rest of the day, I camped myself inside of my room as I didn't want to see that man’s face and I needed to think of a way to flee from the house without him getting a wind of our escape. 

I wasn't bothered about his threat of giving me 7 days to take Liam out of the way because I knew before then, we would have been long gone. What I was scared of was him knowing about our plan and I sincerely hoped and prayed that he wouldn't. 

I laid on my bed watching as each hour passed - counting down to the D-day, before I stumbled upon sleep and fell into its arms. 

The next day came and nothing unusual happened. I communicated with Liam from time to time to make sure he was fine and he sounded perfectly well and safe. 

“Don't be too worried and bothered about me babe. I am perfectly fine. It's less than 24 hours before we leave and I can't wait to have you wrapped around my arms. And don't forget the plane will be taking off by 11am tomorrow. Make sure to be right on time” Liam had said to me. 

I kept on waiting for the D-day to come, watching as each second passed by. Everything was fine except for the pain I began to feel in my lower abdomen. 

At first, I thought it was my menstrual cramps but the pain became unbearable for it to be one. So, I messaged Vanessa, booked an early appointment with her for the following morning. 

I had planned to drop at her hospital and get checked and from there, I would head straight to the airport.  I didn't bother to pack any bag, because leaving the house with a heavily-packed bag would only arouse suspicion. 

So, I decided to buy some clothes when we got to our destination - at least, I had the money to do so all thanks to my father. 

I slept that night wriggling in pain, hoping the pain would have vanished before I woke up the following morning or better still, Vanessa would be able to provide me with some pain killers. 

But that was all a lie. I woke up the following morning and the pain only worsened. I managed to wash myself up, got dressed and was ready to head over to the hospital. 

I texted Liam to inform him that I would be stopping at the hospital before heading to the airport which he replied that it was fine, but I should just make sure to get to the airport on time. 

After taking one last look at my room because I knew I wouldn't be stepping into it ever again, I exited it and just as I was walking down the stairs, I met Alaric halfway. 

“Hi, Ma’am. Your father seeks your presence in the judgement room” he informed bowing his head, walking away before I could say a word. 

Judgement room? The very same room my mother died in? That wasn't a room my father frequented all the time, but trust me, anytime he stepped into that room, blood would surely flow. 

Someone …… was about to die.