Shivering, I woke up from the coldness of the room , which only signified that Dante wasn't in bed with me anymore.
I sighed and lifted my head to see if my assumption was true, and indeed it was .
Getting up , I went to the bathroom and brushed my mouth which still tasted like what he shoved in my mouth.
I stared at myself in the mirror, eyes swollen from relentless crying. Dark circles had taken residence beneath my eyes, and eye bags formed, signs of the toll Dante's actions had taken on me. My once vibrant hands appeared pale and lifeless. The Elena who had once thrived on Dante's love was now a distant memory.
Continuing to brush my teeth, lost in my thoughts, I pulled out a bloody toothbrush, realizing the physical toll of my distress. Self-blame surged within me, regretting not running away with Isaac when the opportunity presented itself.
As I cried, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Quickly composing myself, I opened the door to find Mercy. Excitement overcame me, and I hugged her.
"Mercy!" I exclaimed , Excitement overcame me, and I hugged her.
"How are you doing? I just wanted to check up on you and see that you are fine."
"I'm fine, thank you, Mercy. Please don't address me as 'your highness' , Ele or Elena will do."
Mercy protested, but I insisted, holding her shoulder. "I insist."
Something seemed to worry Mercy, and I noticed. "Is everything okay?"
"Actually... I was just worried about you. Everything just doesn't seem right. You don't deserve this," Mercy said, giving me a faint smile.
"Everything happens for a reason. Right now, there's nothing I can do about it," I replied.
"You are such a strong woman."
I hugged Mercy and said, "Please get back to serving Antonia. I don't want you to get into trouble."
Mercy bowed and left.
Feeling empty, I filled up the bathtub with bubble bath and relaxing candles. Sitting inside, soaking away my sorrows, I drifted away in my own world.
Suddenly, I felt hands gripped my neck tight, pushing me into the tub. Struggling to break free, I tried to scream, but my head was under water , only bubbles formed. I started to fade away , was this the end of me.
Everything started to blur out and the last thing I heard was the sound of two objects colliding echoing through the bathroom.
I tried to open my heavy eyelids and wondered were I was , raising from where I was laying my head felt like it was used in a drumming ceremony. And when I looked at my surroundings, everything was familiar.
I was in Mercy's room. Trying to get up the door opened to reveal Mercy coming I with a tray of soup and some tea.
" Your majesty, " she bowed " you are finally awake, you have been unconscious for five hours. The doctor said you had low blood pressure, fatigue and stress but you will be fine."
Five hours? I don't even remembered what had transpeared. All I remember was Antonia trying to drown me.
Turning to where she sat besides me I questioned her , " but how ...how did I get here?"
Mercy had explained that she was about to return to the bathroom after she met me and heard bubbling sounds and Antonia cursing.
She attacked immediately and hit the back of Antonia's head with a vase she found , forcing Antonia to let go of me and fall to the ground.
" And Dante , does he know about this that Antonia tried to drown me ?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.
" Unfortunately, he doesn't... Antonia lied saying she found you trying to commit suicide . I tried by all means to let him know the truth but she's too cunning."
" Did he come to see me at any point?"
Mercy just looked at me and grabbed my hand placing it in hers. He didn't, all he now cared about was Antonia.
Taking the bowl of soup from her , i paused with the spoon mid air as it was hard for me to process that Dante didn't care at all.
" Was he always this cold , before I married him?"
Mercy shook her head , " he was never like this , he detests men who abuse and hit women and if anyone from the city or village complain about being abused he made sure justice prevailed. " she paused and took a deep breath, " on several occasions he has ... murdered unfortunate people who betrayed him. Who can blame him anyways."
Then what changed, I have never betrayed him before and I don't even intend to.
What could have been the cause of his sudden change?
A familiar voice entered the room, I was so happy to see her I just wanted to cry and tell her everything.
" Oh my dear child , " she said rushing towards me , as she raised her gown in order to move faster .
Mercy bowed to her and let her sit beside, " Mother , what brings you here."
" Are you out of your mind ? Why didn't you say something?"
Could she have known what was happening , maybe mercy found a way to tell her what I was going through.
But before I could talk she continued.
" Why didn't you tell me that all your duties were getting hectic and to much for you, as the queen I could have shared how I handled everything when I was your age ."
I furrowed my brows confused by her statement, " duties , I don't understand..."
" I tried reaching your phone for quite some time but no response, I was worried and decided to come and see you.
Your lovely cousin and Dante told me you were not feeling too well that's why."
She explained further that I needed to fake care of myself as the future queen and should ask her for pointers.
She knew nothing about the truth, he deceived his own mother , how low life and disgusting , I expected this from Antonia not Dante
She held my hand , snapping me out of my worry zone ,. " Elena , you don't... something else seems to be bothering you?"
Mercy looked at me and nodded , a signal that I should tell her everything.
" Mother , I have something to tell you..."
She looked into my eyes and I saw worry reflect in them.
" Talk to me my child." she urged me to open up .
" Well you see , Antonia isn't what you think she is , Her and Dante..." but before I could finish talking, there he was standing at the door looking at me.
I froze and knew I had just screwed up.
She followed my gaze and looked behind to see her son standing there.
" Ah ... Dante we were just talking about you."
" Well isn't that fascinating, and what about me, what is my dear lovely wife telling you? " his gaze didn't live mine at all, silently informing me that he was going to do something I would regret.
"Well ... I ... I just, " words failed to exit my lips and I had to think of something quickly.
" Well I just wanted to say that you and Antonia have been taking good care of me and I really appreciate it."
The queen looked at me confused , but had nothing to say. Dante slowly walked towards us and sat next to me holding trying to hold my hand but I hesitated and gave in.
" I' m glad everything is fine , I must get back to the castle before your ftaher gets worried . Stay bleesed my children."
With that being said she left the room leaving me with Dante.
As soon as she left , he got up and slapped me , making the bowl of soup spill all over me . Gripping my hair to make me face him .
" Da..Dante please I can explain." I tried to plead with him but he just tightened his grip , I could feel some of my hair being uprooted.
" Explain what ... That you almost ratted me out , huh?"
I shook my head slowly trying to fight back tears as the sting on my cheek and loss of hair intensified.
" why Elena, why are you trying to make me look like I'm a bad person? "
He did it all on his own, even the rats that roamed secretly within the walls knew he was a terrible person.
" Please, I'm sorry... I promise it'll never ever happen again." tears ran down my face, thinking maybe he would feel pity on me . I almost died today and all he cared about was me ratting him out.
" of course it will never happen again, and.i will certainly make sure he doesn't.
You my dear wife deserve a sweet punishment."
The last time he told me he was going to give me a sweet punishment was when he took away my virginity on our wedding night.
But this time fate had something else in store for me. He pulled me by my hair making me stand and face him and what he said made me wish i had drowned.
" You are going to watch me and Antonia make love ."
" What! " I exclaimed I felt my insides cringe, like I could just vomit my intestines.