RALIA
I sat in front of my window, starring out, and wondering what would have happened if my mother lived, if my father was poor, if I did not have any brothers, how my life would have turned out.
I’m what they call a curse disguised as a blessing, or at least I am a blessing to my family and a curse to myself, though I am not allowed to say that out loud, it might . . . tarnish my innocence, and I am not allowed to do that.
My family was not always rich. My father was a poor coppersmith when he met my mother, and according to what I was told, they fell in love with each other, married, and lived happily, but not for long. My mother kept giving birth to children – she had eight children before me, and there was just no money to take proper care of them. Things got worse and even more worse for my family, until – just like in the fairytale stories, they met a witch. The witch gave them the key to riches, and I was that key.
According to the witch, my mother was going to have yet another child, this time, a girl, me. I was to be dedicated to the moon goddess and kept pure from every vile thing, otherwise my family would lose their entire fortune.
If my father had the capacity to love in the past, it probably died in the severe poverty he suffered, because even though the nurses had told him that another pregnancy could kill my mother, he still went ahead to get her pregnant, and all because of riches. She died giving birth to me.
I only have vague memories of my father, because he too died when I was only six. I still remember him scolding me with a controlled look on his face when I cried out for scrapping my knee, or any other childish hurt. He would then look at me with a stern expression on his face and tell me to be a good girl and shut up, that if I chose to be bad, I could destroy the whole family. I didn’t know what he meant then, but I just knew it hurt to see how differently I was treated from the rest of my siblings. I felt like an outcast, with no love, no warmth, no family.
And yet if my life was sad under my father, it was even more horrible after he was gone. My brothers used me as a pawn in their game of chess, provoking me to cry when they felt it would hurt the fortune of one of them, and threatening me to pretend happiness when they thought it would make them have more good fortune.
I was locked up in a tower room, having to take my lessons privately, and only getting allowed to the balls they threw on very rare occasions.
Today, I sat on my favorite spot in front of the window, staring out at a life I could have had if only I was born differently, if only my mother still lived – if only my parents had never met that witch.
Cheyenne, my personal maid had dressed me earlier in a peach colored gown, and put pearls in my hair. She always does that anytime there was a ball, and then we’d both hope one of my brothers would pop their head in and ask that I be brought downstairs.
The door opened, and I turned around so sharply I fell off my seat, but it wasn’t any of my brothers, it was Cheyenne. She smiled sadly, already reading my mind and seeing my disappointment.
“I brought cards.” She held up her hand as though the cards were a peace offering, and I smiled.
Cheyenne was easily my best friend, she was in fact the only friend I had. No one else apart from my tutors spent much time up in my tower, and then even my tutors treated me like I was some kind of a leper – who knows what my brothers told them.
Cheyenne came forward to drop down unceremoniously on my bed. “Would you rather lose in a card game to me, or sit by the window being miserable.”
I smiled again. Even though Cheyenne was my maid, it did not stop her from using her smart mouth with me – she is my friend after all – and she cheats at cards.
I stood up and joined her on the bed, then began inspecting the entire cards to see if she had marked them. She was such a card cheat, I couldn’t put anything past her.
Finally satisfied that the cards were in good condition, I handed it over to her, when the door opened again. It was my brother James.
His eyes took in the scene in front of him, my maid and I playing cards, and he looked like he was going to scold me, maybe playing cards could also tarnish my innocence, but then he seemed to change his mind. “Come down to the party tonight Ralia.” He said curtly, then turned around. I exhaled the breath I had been holding when the door closed behind him, but then it opened again, and once again, I had to endure the scrutiny of his piercing gaze. “Tell your maid to make you more beautiful. I have boasted a lot about you. I don’t want to disappoint my friends.”
This time, when he turned around, he was gone. Just like that. No warm greetings, no asking after me, how I was faring, if I wanted anything. A tear slipped down my cheek, and Cheyenne caught it with her thumb before it could roll down my face.
“Look on the bright side Ralia. You get to go to a party tonight. You could even meet your prince charming today.”
I smiled weakly and nodded as she led me once again to my dressing table. It was a game we both played, where we pretended my life would get better, that I was Cinderella, and that one day I would meet my prince charming in one of my brother’s parties, and he would whisk me away from the cage of my tower room into the freedom and love of his home, or that I was Rapunzel, and one day, an honorable thief would climb inside my tower room, hoping to steal treasures, but instead, would find the greatest treasures of all – me.
We both knew these games were mere pipe dreams, that they could never come to pass. No Prince charming would risk facing the wrath of my brothers just for me, but I still played these games of wishful thinking with Cheyenne, it was either that or focus on the miserable reality of my life, and my brothers would not want that, it could bring bad luck.
Cheyenne finally found the dress she was looking for, a wine red share fabric that was practically just bits of fabric held together. When she made me wear it, I did not feel like I had any clothes on. The dress exposed all my womanly curves for anyone to see, I did not even understand why such a dress was among my things in the first place.
Tears stung my eyes as I turned to face my friend. “Please Chey, don’t make me wear this to go to the party downstairs. I can’t just wear it. Please! It makes me feel . . . vulnerable.”
I watched as tears equally filled Cheyenne’s blue eyes. “I’m sorry Bella. You know I cannot disobey any of your brothers, and Master James specifically asked that you wear that tonight. He called me earlier today and told me that should he ask you to be brought downstairs, you were to wear that.
I turned away, feeling betrayed. “So you knew all along that my brother was going to ask for me to come downstairs, and he was going to make me wear that, and yet you kept quiet all this while, even offering to play cards with me. How could you Chey?’’
Chey came forward to hug me from behind, burying her head in the crook of my neck, so that I could feel her warm tears trickle against my neck.
“Please don’t be angry with me Bella, I couldn’t bear it. I’m sorry. I had hoped he would not call you, and that was why I remained silent about it. I did not want you to worry unnecessarily. Your brother is up to something, I just know it, and it scares me because I don’t know what it is.”
I finally turned around to hug my best friend, and the only true family I had as fiercely as she hugged me. Our hair tangled together, and our tears mingled as we wept.
RALIA In the end, it took Cheyenne an extra thirty minutes to get me ready, maybe that was because I had already stained my face with tears, and my eyes were a bit puffy. She took off the pins that held my hair, and ran a brush through it, so that my dark tresses fell around my shoulders, and if I could just stay still, my hair covered at least a considerable amount of my cleavage that was exposed by the dress. My heart thudded against my chest as I finally stepped downstairs. James was waiting at the foot of the stairs smiling pleasantly, and if I did not know better, I would have said he was happy to see me. “Welcome Bella. Please make yourself feel comfortable.” Confused, I nodded as he turned around and disappeared among the many guests. This party was unlike anyone I had ever known. There were several other women as scantily dressed as I was, they all had elaborate make up, and they were smiling at gentlemeàn in a coy manner that made me blush. The a
RALIAHis lips were a bit rougher against my own now, maybe as a punishment, maybe it was simply because he was angry, but it did not still fail to draw a moan from deep within my belly. I felt ashamed by the noises I was making, but he seemed to like them, because he became more gentle as he drew me to the bed beneath him, and the hands that wondered all over my body, touching me intimately did not hurt me, instead they brought me a kind of pleasure that was akin to pain.I felt shame and embarrassment wash over me, and I closed my eyes to hide from his face. His hands suddenly went still, and he swore angrily under his breath.My entire body tensed up because I thought he was finally going to hit me, maybe I had done something to make him angry again. My sister’s had never hit me before, but I knew it was only a matter of time before someone did.“Open your eyes.” He commanded, and even though I did not want to, I could not disobey the commanding tone of his voice.My eyes opened gr
RALIAI was confined to my room after that, and not even Cheyenne was allowed to see me. I spent the first few hours in fear of what would happen, if my family would listen to the Alpha, Lord Lesley, and spare me, or if they would go ahead and have me flogged. I could already figure out what had happened. James had set me up to cause misfortune for one of my sisters, or my other brother. I was so tired of my family using me as a mere pawn in their childish games of jealousy. I heard Helena was set to marry a Count, and this was no small feat because Helena is now considered to be quite old and still unmarried, plus a Count is quite powerful. I learnt James sent me down dressed like a whore so that Alpha Lesley would defile me, and then Helena’s luck would be spoiled. A tear slipped down my cheek and I did not bother to wipe it. The makeup Cheyenne put on my face was probably spoiled by now. I just wondered why my family could not blame James instead for what had happened,
RALIA Unable to understand anything, I watched as he pulled away from me feeling a little bit of regret. Surprising to me, I longed for the warmness of his embrace, the feel of his strong arms around me and his warm breaths caressing my bare skin.He probably has charmed me with his handsomeness because I don't understand this thingy feeling in my stomach. We finally got to his house and he led me to a room."This will be your room from now on"he said coldly with that lovely deep voice that makes my heart flutter."Someone would come to help you get comfortable". I watched as he leaves without sparing me another glance.I looked around the room, it looks quite comfortable. And somehow it doesn't feel like a cage- just like my former room.I looked through the window, it has a nice view. I could spend all day watching the city from up here. I moved and sat on the bed, it feels comfortable. But something's missing, I might never get to see Cheyenne again; I'm really going to
I watched her face in the mirror as she brushed my hair quietly. RALIA She looks nothing like Cheyenne, I know she can't pass as a replacement for her.At that moment, I longed for Cheyenne, I longed for the fun moments we had together when talk about our fantasies. I longed for the days she brings cards to my room, I miss being defeated by her, I miss her cheating me in the card games. I snapped back to reality when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. "We are done mam" she said formally."Let's head downstairs for breakfast".I nodded and followed her downstairs.LESLEYI sat impatiently on the dinning table wondering what could be taking so long.Is she that hard to dress up?A few minutes passed before I heard gentle footsteps on the staircase. My jaw drooped when I looked up.I had always known she's beautiful right from the first time I set my eyes on her but right now, her beauty is undiscribable. She looked like a water goddess whose sole aim is seduction, like a morn
RALIAHe quickly stood up with a disappointed look plastered all over his face causing me to immediately regret my actions. I don't know why, maybe it’s because I love him but I always feel like pleasing handsome man in front of me, I always want to do only the things that would make him happy with me. But he isn't looking particularly happy right now. "Go to sleep" he said with his hoarse voice before I could figure out what to do to make things right..“get dressed in the morning I’ll show you to the garden”.I felt a pang of pain in my heart the moment he shut the door behind him. “I didn’t mean to react that way, I was just taking aback because he was touching me so intimately. I must have annoyed him with my action, I must find a way to make things right tomorrow”.I couldn’t get any sleep the whole night because I was lost in thought, thinking of a way to make things right.It was dawn already, I got up early so I can dress up to impress him.I was scouting through my ward
RALIA It was already dawn by the time I woke up, we had just gotten to the house. He lifted me up and made for the entrance. I offered to walk on my own but he would have none of it, he insisted on carrying me till we got to my room. All this while I couldn’t get my eyes off his face, my eyes kept searching his handsome face with arms wrapped around his neck. He placed me gently on the bed and tried to get up but I won’t let go of his neck. He planted a soft kiss on my lips, the kiss gets deeper and more intimate by the second. A moan escaped my lips before I could stop myself. I was starting to get lost in the moment when he suddenly pulled away. He gently unwrapped my arms from his neck and stood up. “get some sleep, you must be tired” he said before walking out and shutting the door. I felt a little bit disappointed, I wanted him to stay. I wanted to get to spend more time with him. I wondered what I could do in order to make him spend more time with me. LESLEY I walked in
RALIAWe finally got to a destination, and he stopped. The whole place looked void of people, more like a desert.“where is this place?” I asked him“you would find out very soon” he answered.He seemed to be searching for something with his palm on the ground.He eventually got to a point and stopped. I watched his claws grow and his eyes turned red then suddenly there was a vibration under the ground like a small earthquake.And then a mighty tower building which I could swear wasn’t there emanated from the ground causing the whole environment to shake, the area which seemed deserted now looked like a small city.I opened my mouth and watched in awe.He held my hand and led me inside. The inside of the building is something indescribable, though it looked like an abandoned building, it cannot also be written off completely because it looked like something that was once a beautiful mansion.It looked big and magnificient, almost like a palace“wait for me here” he said and walked int