Chapter 2

Lillian Pov

“Mommy! Wake up!” I heard Zira’s voice, followed by her jumping on my bruised back. I bite my lip in pain before turning around. She was smiling at me widely, and her smile reminded me so much of Asher.

“Hey princess,” I said, sitting up. I cleared my throat because my voice is hoarse. 

“Good morning mommy” she said, pecking my cheeks. I smiled, rubbing her hair, but she looked at me expectantly, like she wanted me to say something.

“What?” I asked. She groaned, slamming her forehead.

“Today is my birthday, but you forgot,” she said, looking at me sadly. I suddenly remembered she was turning 10 today, and I totally forgot.

“I am so sorry princess, I am thinking about a lot of things,” I said, rubbing her black hair. 

“It’s okay, but we need to start with the preparations. Guests will start arriving,” she said, standing up happily. I smiled, looking at her as she ran out. She is not really excited about her birthday, she is just excited about her cousins coming. It has been a long time since they saw each other because they are all busy with their princely and princess duties. I stand up from the bed, groaning in pain. I wobbled to the bathroom and when I got there, I locked the door. Then I slowly removed my clothes and after I removed it, I could see the blood on the purple nightgown. I sighed, looking at myself in the mirror.

   My blue orbs stare back at me. I look broken and dead. I have lost a great amount of weight. My eyes are just blank, with no signs of life in it. I looked down at my body and my skin looks so irritating to me. I look ugly and unwanted and no man would ever want me with the amount of scars I have. Scars that have healed and scars that are infected are all over my body and no matter how I treat it, the scar always ends up opening up. I sighed, moving away from the mirror. I entered the shower and put the shower in hot water. I stand under the shower head and the hot water steam down my body. 

    I didn’t flinch because I feel no pain. This is what I want, and this is how I sometimes deal with pain. The hot water calms me and helps me in steaming out my sadness. After bathing, I tied my robes and went to my small closet. I am in the Asher’s kingdom, but I don’t stay here for long. I only came for Zira’s birthday and after I am done with her birthday, I will follow Octavia and Silver back to the werewolf kingdom. 

    I brought out a gold gown. The gown is so shiny with lots of sequence in the body. The gown covers every part of my body. It’s just a plain gown with a low slit that starts from the lower thighs. I think the design of the gown is the shiny sequence, honestly this is not what I would actually go for, but I have to hide my scars. I put on a black pair of heels and also put on some makeup to hide the eye bags and dark circles, which are just becoming darker each day. I look at myself in the mirror after brushing my hair. I look ready. Then I head to Zira's room. It might surprise you why I am not the one dressing her up for her 10th birthday, but I have no say on her. She is the demon princess, and she has lots of maids that dress her up and attend to her needs, so I am just there by the sidelines. I got to her room and unsurprisingly she was flooded by maids. They all move all around like a headless chicken trying to attend to her.

    I look at her dress, and her dress is black with a big puffy down. Looking at the dress, I know Zira won’t like it. She likes light colors, and it looks heavy. The hair and makeup they are doing for her is so extravagant. I can’t tell them anything, because I am a nobody in the demon kingdom, so I will just go to Asher. I turn around heading to the Asher room. When I got there, the demons stopped me.

“The king is busy,” he said, looking down at me irritatedly. Well, the demons hate wolves and they are not shy or scared to show it.

“I want to discuss something with him,” I mumbled.

“Are you deaf wolf? The king is bu…” he was cut off.

“I don’t remember saying that,” Asher’s voice boom from behind him. He turned around and he looked visibly pale. 

“Anytime she comes here, allow her in, whether or not I am busy. Am I understood?” he asked, his voice dark. 

“Yes, my lord” they bowed. Then he turned to me.

“Come in,” he said. I nod my head, walking inside. We got to his dark chambers. I wonder why demons love dark colors, but I don’t blame them. They are also dark, and even the kingdom is on another level. Everywhere is dark and gloomy, the houses are built in rocks and I don’t wonder in the street without Asher because there are so many vicious animals and demons that are ready to drain me of my energy. I think the demon kingdom is the ugliest kingdom and the people living in it are a miserable bunch.

“Excuse us,” he said, and all the maids ran out. Asher sat on a chair pouring himself a drink while I walked towards him silently. I stand in front of him, waiting for him to give me permission to talk.

“Yes?” he asked. I breathe out.

“It’s about Zira,” I said. He dropped his black drink. The amount of black here is enough to drive me crazy.

“What about her?” he asked, paying attention. I breathe out.

“The maids are too much in the room. They are doing many things for her at the same time. The makeup and hair are too much for a 10-year-old and her gown is too dark and looks heavy. And she doesn’t like dark colors,” I said. He hummed.

“And how did you know that?” he asked. 

“I have been with her since she was born, so I know her inside out,” I said. He looks at me and that gaze he always gives me is no longer there. I feel so sad about what happened between us, but we cannot help some things. 

“Okay, I will tell th…” he was about to agree but he was cut off. 

“I don’t think it is right to do that, your majesty,” the familiar voice that has been the cause of my nightmare said, her heels clicking as she comes in. Asher turned to her and I can see the respect he had for her in his eyes.

“Why is it so?” Asher asked. She looked at him, her gaze so in love, and I wondered how blind Asher was not to see through her fake exterior.

“Princess Zira is a demon princess. She is no longer with the wolves, so she has to dress and act like a demon princess,” she said. Immediately, I knew I lost the argument. Asher turned to me and I know he was going to side with her, as usual.

“I think Alma is right. Zira is no longer with the wolves,” he said. I nod my head slowly, I am not surprised he side with her. I avoided looking at her nasty smirk.

“I will take my leave now,” I said, bowing my head. I was walking out of the room, but as I passed her, she tripped me stylishly and down the floor I went. My head hit the floor harshly, blurring my vision. I whimpered as the migraine hit me harshly. 

“Hey, be careful,” Asher said, walking to me and he helped me up.

“Are you okay?” he asked, but I was not okay. My head felt like a rock had hit it.

“I’m fine,” I said, looking up, my vision still blurry. He looked at my forehead.

“You are bleeding. Quick Alma, get me that first aid,” he said, ordering her. My heart started beating fast because I know I will suffer for that later.

“No, I am okay. I will treat it myself,” I said, standing up to run away from the room. But he dragged me back.

“You are injured,” he said, pulling me to him. He took me to a chair and sat me down on it. Alma went for the first aid and she gave it to him. Asher sat in front of me, moving all my hair to one side. Then he opened the first aid and started treating me, but my eyes were on Alma. She was glaring daggers at me, and I knew my punishment would be terrible tonight. I wanted to cry out, as I know my punishment will even be worse because Asher is paying all his attention to me. Now I suddenly wished the ground would swallow me up and I would disappear forever, but the looks she gave me made me know I had nowhere to go.