Anastasia woke up with a sore body and a throbbing headache.
She opened her eyes to a shabby cabin deep in the woods.
The unknown surroundings triggered her memory of being kidnapped from the Holy Kingdom's palace.
Her sister schemed against her, and for what? Jealousy? Power? Whatever excuse she gave would be unforgivable.
Anastasia intended to part ways with the Holy Kingdom regardless of the past. Yet they continuously showed their dark heart.
They showed no remorse for how they treated her in the past. The situation at hand also proves how little they think of her.
After coming to her senses Anastasia tried her best to stay calm and think of a way out.
She believed as long as she kept herself alive she could get away or Wolf would come for her.
In the midst, of her thinking of a getaway plan, two men came into the cabin.
Anastasia could not recognize them but she assumed they were the kidnappers.
On the older side of the spectrum, one man had dark brown hair and eyes. The other had black hair and green eyes.
From appearances alone, they look crooked and mischievous.
Putting on a brave face Anastasia sat on the floor of the cabin tied up by rope.
Her hands are tied behind her back and feet her are bound together.
She felt vulnerable and at the mercy of these two brutes.
Their gazes over her body did not help her uneasiness. She could feel them undressing her with their prickly eyes.
She shrunk in size trying to hide within herself but their gazes only lingered.
"Brother, we are selling her to the slave traders anyhow, let's have a taste for ourselves first," the dark-brown man grinned at his partner.
"She does look delicious but she'll sell for more if she's untainted," the black-haired one said.
"Tainted? You think that monster of a King from the North hasn't already tainted this beauty?"
"You have a point, Ed," the black-haired one said.
"Brother John, I'll let you go first."
Anastasia listened well when they spoke to each other.
From what she gathered just now is that the black-haired man is John and the other is Ed.
She made sure to remember every detail of their faces and voices.
Now having names to match faces meant she could always catch them if they somehow got away.
Anastasia could feel her heart beating faster as they slowly approached her.
"Get back!"
Anastasia wanted no part in whatever scheme they had planned.
She could see their drooling mouths as they approached her.
John moved in first, reaching his dirty hand out to touch her.
With her hands and legs tied up Anastasia could only bite his hand as he came close.
"You bitch!" John pulled his bloody hand back in pain.
Looking at his bleeding hand John grew angry and smacked Anastasia across the face.
Not wanting to give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry Anastasia held back her voice and tears.
Spit! Spit! Spit!
She spat blood from her mouth into John's face causing him to stumble backward.
Her cheek stung more than she led on, her tongue and lips were bleeding profusely.
"How dare!" Ed was now furious.
Both John and Ed were slightly shocked by Anastasia's attitude.
Most noblewomen would be a crying mess in this situation.
Yet Anastasia's face was unchanging and filled with anger, not fear.
Although she was frightened she could not afford to show it.
"I'll show you!" John wiped the blood from his face and stomped back toward Anastasia.
She used her feet to push herself backward until her back hit a wall.
John began to ruthlessly kick Anastasia in her stomach and back.
Again Anastasia used all her might to not make a sound.
She bit down on her tongue to suppress the screams that desperately wanted to escape.
These types of beating are nothing to her because, in her previous life, she was beaten all the time.
Her silence only grew John's anger more and his assault became more violent.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
John was out of breath but he smiled as he looked down at Anastasia's trembling body.
"Ahahaha," he laughed.
Ed grabbed her by the hair yanking her head back.
"This face suits you better Your Majesty," he grinned as he tossed her head back down.
Anastasia felt like she could die at the hands of these men. She knew she had to get away before something worse happened.
Using the strength she had left Anastasia stood on her own two feet. Stumbling across the cabin in tiny steps nearly falling with every inch she took.
"Ahaha, Ed, look at that," John laughed at Anastasia's efforts.
"Watch this," Ed said.
With a running start, Ed jump-kicked Anastasia in the back.
!!!!!!!!!
Thud!
Anastasia fell to the ground hitting her head first all without making a sound.
Without feeling her head Anastasia could tell she was bleeding.
She felt the warm liquid flowing down her face from her temple.
Laying down on the ground face first she had no choice but to roll onto her back.
Blood and tears mixed in her eyes made the scene before her blurry.
She could only see two figures hovering over her lifeless body.
She eventually could feel two sets of hands trailing down her body.
Anastasia wiggled around but her efforts are futile as she is too weak to do anything.
John and Ed rip at her clothes tearing away the fabric of her beautiful blood-stained dress.
Before they could see her precious skin the door of the cabin was knocked down.
Anastasia could hear the commotion and sounds of screaming.
Her eyes flickered trying to stay conscious but she wasn't able to see clearly.
Feeling warmth cover her half-exposed body she felt somewhat better.
"I'm late,"
Her vision may be obscured by tears and blood but Anastasia could recognize that voice from anywhere.
"Husband," is what she wanted to say aloud but nothing came out.
She could feel Wolf wrap her up and begin to carry her out of the cabin.
Wolf's body was tense and he slightly shaking as he carried her out.
Anastasia finally felt safe and could no longer hold back tears.
Silent tears fell from her swollen eyes and she could feel his warm hands wiping them away.
******
"Your away, Your Majesty!" Elena cried as she saw Anastasia sitting up in bed.
Anastasia had been sitting in bed awake for a while.
Yet she did not call for Wolf, Elena, or anyone else for that matter.
She needed time alone to think about what happened yesterday.
To be honest she was afraid and did not feel comfortable in the Holy Kingdom.
She felt rage, sadness, and anger at her alleged family members.
"Yes, Elena," she replied.
"Oh my, Your Highness! I- I thought I wouldn't see you again. I'm so sorry for not being there at that time," Elena cried guiltily.
As Anastasia's handmaiden, she is supposed to be with her at all times.
On the day of the kidnapping Anastasia agreed to talk to Analeigh alone she did not blame Elena.
"Don't blame yourself. I'm foolish to think my sister had changed," Anastasia admitted.
"How dare they! You're a Queen and also their flesh and blood how could they do such a thing to you, Your Majesty," Elena was beside herself with anger.
Anastasia did not have anything to say because she knew that her secret of being a sandbag for her family was out.
Her head hung low thinking of all the respect people must have lost for her.
Bang!
The doors of the chamber burst open revealing an anxious Wolf.
He rushed to her bedside and kneeled on one knee taking her hand in his.
"Wife," he said.
"Husband," she replied.
He immediately embraced Anastasia in a tight hug.
"Are you alright? How are you feeling? Physician come check her condition!"
Anastasia has never had someone care for her to this extent.
Her eyes watered at the thought of being loved unconditionally.
"Her Majesty is stable but she suffered injuries that can be painful. I've prescribed pain medicine and I advise that she does not do any strenuous activities," the physician said after his examination.
"You can go,"
The physician bowed respectfully and took his leave.
"I'm sorry," Wolf said with a hanging head.
Anastasia took his face in her hands and lifted his head high.
"Don't say that. It's not your fault," she reassured him.
"Why didn't you tell me,"
Anastasia knew what he meant but she played dumb.
"Tell you what?"
"I would have never brought you back here if I had known. I would have killed them a long time ago had you told me,"
"I-I,"
"No need to speak now I will handle it," he said.
"What will you do?"
"Something that should have been done long ago,"
"I want to see them again."
Anastasia has unfinished business with the royal family.
In her heart she wanted the original Anastasia to face her family one last time. Even if she isn't physically present she wanted her spirit to rest and have peace.
"Not! Wolf said.
"I have to!"
"Why do you have to face such people again?"
Wolf couldn't understand why she wanted to see them again. He is afraid that her body and mind can't handle the stress.
"I shall see them fall from grace with my own eyes!"
Anastasia was determined and would not take no for an answer.