CHAPTER 3: Escape

Two days later

 Athena's pov

My eyes squeezed shut when my door was flung open and the sunlight seeped into them.

 I groaned and held my wrist over my eyes to see Miriam standing there with a tray in her hand and tears in her eyes.

 "Shut the door... " I croak in a strangled voice, but I sigh and roll my eyes as Miriam dropped my tray of food next to the untouched ones she had been dropping since yesterday morning.

 She went around my room throwing the windows and drawing the binders open. She turned on the AC and threw down the remote before I raised my eyes to see she was towering over me.

 There were tears in her eyes.

"You caught him with another woman and so what?" She furiously cleaned her tears and I sat up on seeing how devastated and heartbroken she was. "starving yourself will do you no good My lady!"

Tears filled my eyes, but I was weak, I was numb, and I didn't even care If I died now. It was like the long battle I had been fighting all my years- hoping to win, had been a futile fight.

 "Miriam… "

 "What did you think? That he would check up on you? That he even cares the slightest about you?"

 "I do know that!" I snap back, my heart growing heavy at her words and mine before my voice finally softened. "I found out the hard way… " I laugh painfully and shrug. "I knew he was bound to do this, I knew he hated me, but I didn't know he…"

"It doesn't matter… " Miriam cut in, her voice softening before she knelt to grab my hand. "What matters now is your health and your baby's. Athena, you haven't even had a taste of a drop of water since yesterday morning! The chef realized It and now the King has sent for you… "

My heart began racing frantically. What If he knew about the baby and wanted to kill me for trying to starve the child?

Miriam however grabbed my hand and squeezed It.

"If anyone's going to inform him about the child, It has to be you. But before you leave, you have to eat something please… for the sake of your child at least."

I was reluctant at first, but realizing how I was being cruel by starving my child, I took a spoon and began eating while she smiled at me slowly with genuine concern in her eyes.

"Have you eaten?"

She nodded with a smile. "Yes… just eat, please. You know it's not advisable to keep him waiting."

I nodded, knowing how Damon could be when he didn't get things done his way.

I finally had a bath since yesterday and got dressed, ensuring there were no signs of starvation or haggardness before I left for his chambers.

To think two days, he would have known that I was pregnant with his child, but now, I don't even know how to tell him, because my child would never be safe around someone like him.

Once I reach the chambers, the guards part way for me and I walk down the long hallway leading to his suite.

Without a doubt, I knew he was in his room, but just as I stretched my hand to open the door, I heard another voice in the room, and my heart stilled when I realized he wasn't alone.

I gritted my teeth when I heard Sandra's annoying voice. My heart was raging in anger. The audacity! She was still fucking him behind my back and the entire time I was starving myself to death in my room, Damon wouldn't have noticed If the chef hadn't informed him. He just didn't care If I existed because he was 'busy' with her.

I decided to just leave before I'm hurt again, but her words strike an arrow through my heart and I'm forced to stay back and eavesdrop.

"... So what If the Moon priestess chose her to bear your child? There hasn't been a single sign that she's even capable of getting pregnant after several months!"

"Sandra… all we need is a little Patience. No matter how long It takes, my firstborn must come from her, and after that, I won't need her anymore."

"She might pose a threat to the child Damon… do you realize the bond a mother has with the child once it is born. You might not know, but once she's pregnant, she'll begin to get attached to the child, and once she gives birth, she might not want to… "

"I already have everything planned, Sandra. I know something like that would happen, but to avoid It, I would ensure she doesn't even get to set her eyes on the child. We might even have to tell her that her child died before banishing her from the place… "

"Oh~..." Sandra sounded pleased and I fumed as I heard the two exchange a lustful lewd kiss in the room and my blood boiled. "And when she's out of the picture… "

"I'll make you my Luna and you'll make a perfect mother for my child…"

My eyes suddenly widened and in shock, I attempt to move, but my elbow pushes down a vase sitting on the floor beside the door, and I jump back, hand over my mouth in shock as the vase tumbles back with a loud noise.

But just before It drops, I rush and hold It still, and the door opens with Damon standing there and glaring hatefully at me.

I could see his eyes narrowed down suspiciously before he steps out of the room and shuts the door behind him, but not before I caught sight of a woman lying on his bed.

"How long have you been here… "

My heart was racing fast, but I swallowed and tried to steady my breath as I answered, ensuring he didn't even notice I was lying. 

"I just … a– arrived now. T- the chef said you sent for me?"

I bow and avoid the hard glare he shot me, holding back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes from what I just heard.

"She said you haven't been eating well... are you trying to starve yourself? Were you perhaps bored and looking for something to entertain you… were you seeking attention from me?"

I shook my head, biting my lip hard.

"Are you dumb now?" He snapped coldly at me.

"No, Your Majesty." I'm ashamed of how my voice comes out. It's strangled and pitiful but when I raise my head, he's not even concerned. Instead, he looks disgusted.

"You will be the mother of my child, and I do not want in a situation whereby an incident happens.. do you understand?"

"Yes… your Majesty." I stammer before he raked his eyes over me.

"Now leave… and I will get back to the chef to report to me later this evening. I better not hear that you missed a meal… do you understand?" His voice was a bit calm now, but It was cold and emotionless.

"Yes, your Majesty… " I bowed and only raised my head to see that he had shut It in my face.

Once he left, the tears finally flowed down my cheeks. Now I have made my decision, and I was never going to back down from It. I thought Damon was the one I should be worried about, but It turns out that he was the least of my problems. I would never be happy, even in my grave to know that my child would have a mother like Sandra.

And they were going to take my child away from me?

No. I won't let that happen!

I quickly wipe my tears and leave the chambers, ensuring I was calm and my steps were casual so the guards won't notice anything off about me.

Right now, Damon and that bitch would be too busy, so I had enough time to do this.

Getting into my room, I'm aware of how well-guarded the entire place is, so I compromise. I take a little purse where I put all the money I have ever saved since my mother died and a little scarf.

I changed into casual clothes and stepped out, but not after leaving a note for Miriam under my tray which I know she would see since she's the only one who comes to take them away.

As I neared the gate, my palms became sweaty, and I'm aware of how everyone is looking intensely at me, but I just steady my breath and walk calmly, even brushing my fingers across the flowers in the gardens.

Once I got to the entrance, the guards barred my way.

"I'm just going out for a walk... " I calmly say, Looking innocent and vulnerable.

I watch them run their eyes over the simple bag and casual clothes I had on before they parted ways. They suddenly barred my way again.

"Where's your handmaid? She's supposed to escort you to and fro outside of the packhouse.."

"Oh yes… we were just heading out together, but she went back to get an umbrella… you know how the weather is these days... It's sunny one moment and the next moment, It's pouring." I chuckle mirthlessly, but despite not even cracking a smile, they part ways again and I walk out.

My heart starts racing hard for some reason as I'm aware that I've left the packhouse alone for the first time in ages.

Despite still walking ahead, I'm aware that the guards are watching me, but I keep walking, spinning and even plucking flowers to sniff on the way, ensuring they did not have a clue- a single clue that I was running away.

And I was never coming back.