Chapter 3 : Mon ştri
VLADMIR;
I glared at my reflection and could only see rejection.
I look around me, misery stare back into my eyes.My heart is struck with grief and sorrow.My own family can not bear my existence, a mistake they say that i am.
Unwanted, they imprisoned me.Even death seems too far from my grasp.I'm human but I'm treated as less.I'm their blood, but they care less..
My mind pondered about that fateful day five years ago. I wasn't okay with any of this, but none wished to hear me out. I had no friends,no pets,no maid to talk to. By sunrise food would be brought in by a guard,by sundown another tray would be sent down.
My food is mostly Broth that has seen better days inside the pot and water that could merely be enough to quench any thirst. Some days, I would have maize and a piece of sliced ham. Surely not enough for a young growing boy. I talk to myself, to the shadows, to the stars, to my furniture like a madman without getting any reply. Do I really expect things to talk back? At least rats or roaches would be a lovely companion, but none could be seen anywhere. Even they reject my attention.
They left me in this room to rot,and rotting I am, countless times I wish I could end my life. hurt myself or cease to exist. No one cared about me, none of them loved me. The prophecy was just an excuse to lock me away,honestly, it was the perfect means of erasing me. And fate had to hand them the golden chance to break me.
Draco would come once in a while to gloat,or he would order the guard to beat me up to show his superiority. I begged him for years to end it, but he always replied with "death is an easy way out diavol". I know my mother hates me,but I was still living in the same castle she never visited. From my window i could sense the festivities. New year, birthdays and the likes. Not once have I been asked to visit or even step outside my room. The feeling of being locked away is one i would never wish on any of them,it drives you insane,makes you scream,yell,cry and laugh like a maniac.
Why will fate wish this upon me? Of course she knew what would become of me but still gave me that prophecy. Why not make me come into this world as a servant or a farmer's son. Even they would love their child. Anytime i think of ending it this strange confidence and will to survive emerges making it impossible for me to act on killing myself. Draco came into my room few years ago
" Why not end it," he once questioned."Aren't you tired of living? Is this living?"
"I can't. "I whispered loud enough for him to hear me "I just can't." I cried out curled up inside the room draw my knees up resting my chin between them crying as I begged him to help me.
"JUST END IT ALREADY!" I shouted "I know you want to, it would help eliminate my rebellion. You have the upper hand Draco, kill me." I crawled to him disheveled. He pushed me off his legs and yelped loudly.
"Get off me filth," he exclaimed "You have lost your mind if you think I would grant you that mercy." He scoffed looking at me with pure disgust."I hope you die before my next visit. And the whole kingdom has forgotten you, Nedorit, just as it should be." He walked away. Leaving me in my depressed state.
Fear eat me up by day, and nightmare taunt me at night, each night i have a nightmare of been dragged away on my 10th birthday, where no one stood up for me, but the nightmare was terrible than the reality that day i could see Draco calling me "Nedorit, burn in hell! " Lucius laughing at me and pointing accusing fingers
"Die, vlad....you belong nowhere."
"I wish i never birthed you monster, i should have killed you the first day you breathed." Mother viciously once said.
"You are no son of mine, a mistake, a filth." The king's thick voice thundered.
"You disgust me Vlad, you are an embarrassment. " Aurora shrieked
" Go back to hell." Rodawon roared and finally pushed me out of the hall.
Each night I woke up from the same nightmares, no one to talk to, no one to comfort me. I'm in a losing battle, fighting my nightmares by burying my head into my pillow ...foolish me to think it would work, anything would work. I really need a beacon of hope, anything to get me out of here. I'd sign a contract with the devil to escape this torture.
How i survived this past 10 years bewildens me, i slowly gave in to that part of me that hated my hopelessness, that part of me that seek vengeance,how i will destroy all of them and make them pay, how i will make them beg for life while i take it away from them slowly like they did to me. They will wish they killed me when I begged them to. I'm no longer that boy they maltreated, I'm Vladmir____their undoing!
5 YEARS LATER…..
One fateful day, I sat on my arm chair thinking of nothing, just rocking the chair in comfortable silence, when my door barged open, and the one person I had seen besides Draco, which is a guard, walked in. I take a look at door,and realised it's wretched state,it's broken part hanging loosely to the wall, someone looks angry i chuckled to myself. When he could just open the door he had to make a scene, a door he very much knows i can't break out from since they locked me from the outside. So I'm at their mercy at any given time.
Or so i thought.
"Get dressed,The king requires your presence, immediately." He added rudely and tossed me clothing.
"You know very much, I'm not allowed outside this room,what evil do u have planned for me out there to further destroy me." I angrily questioned. He walked to me in rage and smirked .
"His majesty asked me to personally get you, boy." He claimed.
"Why should I trust you?" I asked, putting on the clothes.
"You have no choice, it's an order." He glared at me.
"You better be right for your own sake." I walked out of the room all dressed up, not bothered to check if he was behind me or still pondering on what I said.
I'm returning to my roots, where love was exchange for hatred, where I i tried to gain acceptance but failure and rejection embraced me, a place I don't belong to, the guards by the door opened it for me, a memory of how I got dragged out of this doors sprung up, but I dropped it back,down memory lane.
I walked in, six pairs of eyes glanced at me,taking me in with their eyes,they studied me like I'm a stranger that dropped from the sky. I looked back at them, the faces I wished would visit me, would tell me it was all a farce and they loved me,and they are sorry for subjecting me to their hatred for the past 10 years, but, I know better than to let my guard down. I strolled in casually, hands behind my back. I stood a few meters from them.
"You summoned me?" I nonchalantly asked, getting tired of being here already.
"Still ungrateful huh? After 10 long years?" The king teased, with a smile plastered on his face.
"I'd rather be in my room,than spend another second here." I replied, yawning. I wasn't the same 10 year old boy craving attention, I'd grown.
"You mean the same room you kept begging to be out of huh?" Draco asked, trying to stir me up.
I turned to him. "I didn't ask you to speak Draco, I'm talking to your father, not you." I hissed, still keeping my calm.
"THE AUDACITY!"
"DISRESPECT!"
The queen exclaimed. "We let you out of your hell, thinking it will tame you but, you have finally grown more horns."
She shrieks ,her dark gaze burning into me like an iced coldfire.
I rolled my eyes before sending her the same fierce gaze "You did not let me out for my own gain, you all did for your selfish reasons." I coldly replied "Now, tell me why I'm here so I can return to my hell." I groaned .
"Rumors of war must have escaped you," The king started "considering how you spent your time in isolation." He added. I clenched my fist and then arch a brow,urging him to continue.
"Few weeks after your sentence, a letter arrived at the castle. Prior to the letter 3 kingdom were attacked by something invincible and menacing." He takes a deep breath and clasps his hands. "Another one arrived this morning, 10 whole years later, informing us that they will invade Bran castle." He explained.
"What does that have to do with me?" I questioned looking him directly in the eye.
"We need all the manpower we can get." Draco retorts.
"You mean, you need Nedorit 's help, right Draco?" I pressed, toying with him.
"You are obligated to protect the castle when needed," The queen confidently voiced out. "For once in your life,make yourself useful." She demanded rolling her eyes.
"And what do I gain from this so-called help?" I turned to the king "Say, I do make myself useful as the queen proposed, what do I get in return?" I simply asked.
" You'll be allowed to join the court,and roam around freely." The queen answered as though that's the best a filth like me could get. I laughed so hard, it echoed inside the hall. They all looked at me as if I had grown three heads.
"What do you take me for?" I asked no one in particular, "The 10 year old boy that craved his family's love and care?" I muttered.
"You should be honored that we want you to up North and negotiate." A familiar voice said "And stop crying about not being loved." Aurora finished. Making everyone shake their head and smile evily.
I took my time to assess her, sure it's been 10 years. But, she has grown into a proper lady. Dressed up like a doll,like every other royal dump.
"I didn't see you there for a second Aurora, still the castle little princess huh?" I teased, she clenched her fists and wanted to say something but was cut in…
"What do you want in return?" The king asked ,clearly tired of the banter that has been on since.
"I shall go as your interceptor, in return, I'll no longer be of the royal family." They all gasped,stunned after my request,looking at me curiously.
"Why would you want that?" The king curiously asked, I'm very sure they are wondering what my hidden agenda is. What I said next made them shift on their chairs.
"I would rather be a poor farmer than a member of this wretched household." I confidently said.
" No more attention hunting?" Rodawon pouts sarcastically ,but Draco gives him a look that "shut up". They silence sweep the hall
I know the king and queen would never endanger the lives of their sons and daughters,so they needed a child they wouldn't care about even if he walked in the frontline in war.
"Done." The king boomed , he looked closely to detect any feeling or sign of changing my mind. But, all he saw was determination and boldness.
"That's if he comes back alive." Draco mocked.
"He better be back in one piece,i don't want to let any of my other children set foot in that dreaded place." She trailed, casting a glare at me.
"Very well then,I'll leave in two days" I informed them.
"How will we know you won't run away?" Draco threw the question to the room.
"You just have to wait and see." I popped my hands and snickered.
"The fate of the kingdom is in your hands, be wise." The king warned.
"In the hands of the devil you mean." I gave him a sly grin. I walked away knowing they would never know if I would honor the deal or not,they can't bear to send a warrior with me, probably because they value a soldier's life to mine. I need to pack up and prepare for a long journey in two days.
I entered my room, and I felt sleepy as if I was drugged. That can't be possible right? I have not taken anything today. I feel so sleepy,just a little nap won't hurt. I layed down on my bed and zoomed off.