Arielle
I could not understand what Damien was up to and though it stirred something within me, I still refused to believe it. There was no way Damien would take Raymond away just to save me from him— even if his reasons for dragging Raymond made no sense.
Damien hated me. He only wanted to make my life even more difficult. That was the only reason why he refused to reject me.
Raymond on the other hand, had a special place in hell reserved for him. He was nothing but a demon sent from hell to add to my suffering.
But no matter what he or Damien were up to, I still had the right to protect myself before they returned to finish off what they started.
Quickly, I dumped the bucket in the barn and started for the manor.
"Hey witch, where are you going so fast?" A disgruntled worker hissed at me, but I ignored them till I was safely away from there.
As soon as I got to my room, my eyes instantly fell on Riley.
"What took you so long?" She asked, her face contorted in worry.
"Raymond." I dropped stomach first on the bed and sighed. "He was making my life hell again."
"Oh goddess, why can't that man just leave you alone?" She hissed as she came to sit on the bed but as her eyes moved away from my face, she frowned.
"What's this on your neck?" She asked. "Did he use silver on—" She tried to touch it and the wince I released was enough answer for her.
"This man is truly a monster! How could he?" She cried out as she rushed into the bathroom and came out with a wet cloth. "How can he do this to you?"
"Riley, it's really nothing." I tried to shrug it off, but she wouldn't let me.
"Stay still!" She snarled. "I will put some water on it to reduce the inflammation… works all the time." She held my hand and applied the wet cloth to the skin around my neck.
I expected it to sting, but it rather, felt good— like ice on my skin.
"I saw Alpha Damien today…" Riley whispered as she continued applying the wet cloth over my neck. "He looked like he was looking for you."
I opened one eye and glared at her.
"Damien could be looking for anything but me," I spat out. "But if you are trying to ask if I saw him today, then yes, I did. He passed by the barn and took his Beta away. That's why I'm even here early."
Riley stopped taking care of my neck and her eyes looked like they would drop as they enlarged. "You say he took Raymond away?"
"Yeah? What? Something's wrong?"
She dropped the cloth and gave me her full attention.
"There is nothing wrong. It is just that... he might have stopped Raymond from punishing you," Riley explained. She held my hands and looked into my eyes. "Do you know what that means? He likes you, Arielle."
"Riley, those are just delusions." I went to my wardrobe and got myself some medicines.
Riley's excitement didn't die down, she followed me there. "So, you are just going to play dumb? I saw you almost smiled just now."
I ignored her and eyed the powdered painkiller instead. I wondered how much of it I needed before the throbbing in my back stopped.
"You know—" Riley reached under the bed as we returned to the room, and I looked at what she was doing. "—this was waiting in your room." She revealed a paper bag containing some bread and fruits.
"Is that food?" I asked the thoughtful frown I had suddenly disappearing. "Who brought it? I thought Bailey said I wasn't receiving any food. She changed her mind?"
"I can smell a male scent on it. So, no, it wasn't Bailey." Riley lowered the basket on the bed.
I shook my head and drank the painkiller. The bitter taste of the poorly mixed medicine did not even stick as my brain tried to think of who it could have been— "Who was it, Riley? Does the basket contain any sort of note?"
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "It's Damien, you know it! You can already sense that he's trying to do something for you because he cares for you!"
Why go through the ordeal of flogging and punishing me in front of people if he cared for me?
I remembered his gaze when he was close to me. Those intense green eyes as they peered into my soul. I felt my heart tingle— could it be— No, it was nothing.
"Riley, it's not possible. He doesn't care for me and even if he did… I'm not even good enough for him. So, no, I can't even have such dreams. This was just some miracle," I said.
"What are you saying, he's the one chasing you and he is your mate. We all heard his wolf's declaration—"
"Riley, stop! It's a bad idea! I can't be with him" I snapped at her. "I told you countless times, that Damien doesn't want me. He only wishes to kill me!"
"Arielle, what if you are wrong about this?"
"Look at this!" I moved towards her and showed her the red burns on my neck.
"You cleaned it, so you know it's silver. They are breaking me because they can't kill me. The pain is too much, and honestly— I can't keep up anymore."
Silence filled the space as we both stared at ourselves before she sighed and broke it. "So, what do you want to do now?"
"I'm done here, I have already decided what to do." I reached under the bed and pulled out a small bag.
Her eyes widened again as she watched my movements. "What are you doing? Don't tell me, you are leaving?"
I packed some of my essentials in the bag first. "Yes, I am. I can't keep waiting for them to kill me. My father wanted me to stay alive and that's what I will do."
"Are you crazy?!" Riley exclaimed. "Do you think they will let you leave?"
I dropped the bag on the bed and held Riley's hands. "Riley don't worry. I have a plan. But you have to come with me."
The shock on her face slowly transformed into sadness as her eyes dropped to our hands.
"Where will we go? I can't just leave, Arielle… I have stayed here all my life. I know life in this place isn't the best, but it's what I have in my life. I'm not strong like you, I might just drag you down… I am sorry."
I had expected that from her, so I sighed. "It's alright. I will still leave, regardless. Just wish me luck, I will be gone tomorrow morning."