Chapter 11: The Butterfly's Gift
Lirian sobbed into the thick silence of her room.
Her voice cracked like a dry earth as she pulled with strength the chain locked around her wrist.
"This isn't fair!" she screamed, her throat ached from the strain. "This is not fair!"
Her sight blurred her vision, and her chest lifted with every desperate breath.
She slammed her hand against the iron bed frame, feeling the dull pain shoot up her arm, but she didn't stop.
The door suddenly opened, and she paused, hoping that someone was here to free her.
But it wasn't freedom.
It was one of Gabriel's knights, a tall, silent brute with dark armor.
Without a word, he crossed the room, snatched Pedro from his perch on the bedpost, and turned to leave.
"No!" Lirian cried out, scrambling to her feet. "You can't take him! Give him back!"
The knight didn't so much as glance at her, he slammed the door behind him.
"Pedro!" she screamed. "Give him back!"
But the silence that followed was absolute, leaving her more alone than she'd ever felt before.
She sank to her knees, clutching her chained hand against her chest.
Theisolation crushed her, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
"This isn't how it's supposed to be," she whispered, trembling. "This isn't how my life is supposed to be."
As her sobs quieted, a strange warmth brushed her wrist.
She blinked, her breath hitched as she saw a single golden butterfly land gently on the chain binding her.
Its wings shimmered in the moonlight, a glow that seemed almost otherworldly…like magic?
"What…?" Lirian whispered to herself.
Before she could move, another butterfly landed beside the first, then another, and another, until a small swarm gathered around the chain.
Their tiny legs scraped against the iron as they began to nibble at the links.
Her heart stopped as she watched the impossible unfold.
Bit by bit, the butterflies consumed the chain, their wings seemed to be fluttering together at the same time and rhythm.
And then, as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone, dissolving into the air like flecks of gold dust.
The chain fell away, clattering to the floor.
Lirian stared at her free hand, not being able to believe it, her chest tightened with a rush of adrenaline.
She was spinning with so many questions, but she had no time to answer them.
She pushed herself to her feet, wiping the tears from her face.
Her eyes went to the knife Gabriel had left behind on her bedside table.
She grabbed it, the cold steel bit into her palm as she tested its weight.
"Perfect!"
Her jaw clenched.
"If you thought you could break me, you are wrong."
Moving to the window, she glanced outside, looking at the sprawling mansion.
Her eyes landed on a faint light glowing from Gabriel's chambers in the east wing.
"That's where you are," she muttered again.
She pushed the window open, the night air chill kissed her skin.
Looking down, she felt a small fear eat her veins.
The room was high above the ground, and the walls were smooth stone, with few handholds.
But fear didn't matter. Not now!
She clenched the knife between her teeth, gripping the edge of the window frame.
Her fingers slipped slightly, and she gritted her teeth harder, steadying herself.
Slowly, she climbed out, her bare feet scraped against the wall as she searched for footholds.
The wind whipped around her, tugging at her hair and nightgown.
Her muscles strained as she climbed, her hands ached from the rough edges of the stone.
Twice, her foot slipped, and her heart traveled into her throat as she scrambled to regain her balance.
The knife wobbled between her teeth, threatening to fall, but she bit down harder, refusing to let it go.
"I'm not going to die here," she said through clenched teeth.
Lirian's voice was muffled by the blade. "Not before I make you pay."
Her fingers caught the edge of a windowsill, and she pulled herself up, her arms trembled with the effort.
The closer she got to Gabriel's chambers, the angrier she became.
His arrogance. His cruelty. The way he'd laughed at her pain.
By the time she reached his window, her rage burned hotter than her exhaustion.
She paused, catching her breath, and peered inside.
Gabriel stood near the fireplace, his broad back facing her, golden light made shadows across the room.
He looked calm, almost smug, as if he had already won.
Pedro perched on a nearby chair, his feathers ruffled. The bird squawked loudly, as he looked at the window.
"Danger!" Pedro screeched. "Danger!"
Gabriel turned, his golden eyes narrowed as they looked at Lirian.
But it was too late.
Lirian hurled herself through the window, the knife gripped tightly in her hand.
"Lirian!" Gabriel shouted, startled, but she was already on him.
She slammed into him with all her weight, knocking him off balance.
The knife flashed in her hand as she raised it, aiming for his chest.
"You think you can break me?" she screamed at him.
"You think you can chain me like some animal?"
Gabriel caught her wrist just in time, his strength overwhelmed hers as he forced the knife away from his body.
"Have you lost your mind?" he growled like a wolf.
"Maybe I have!" she replied back, her voice shaking.
"You've taken everything from me! My freedom, my family—everything! And you think I'll just sit here and let you control me?"
Their struggle was fierce, the knife was almost vibrating between them as Lirian fought against his grip.
"I hate you!" she spat, tears kept falling down her face. "I hate you, Gabriel!"
"You don't know what hate is," he said coldly.
"Then show me!" she screamed. "Kill me if you want, but I will never bow to you!"
With a sudden surge of strength, Gabriel twisted her wrist, forcing her to drop the knife.
It clattered to the floor, but Lirian didn't stop.
She clawed at his chest, digging her nails into his skin as she fought like a wild animal.
"Enough!" he roared, grabbing her shoulders and shoving her backward.
She stumbled, but continued glaring at him.
"I'm not afraid of you," she stated. "Not anymore."
Gabriel stared at her, his chest heaved.
"You're a fool," he said finally.
"Maybe I am," she replied, her chin lifted on itself.
"But I'd rather be a fool than a monster like you."
Gabriel's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.
She didn't care what happened next.
Whether she lived or died, she wasn't going to let him win.