It was a long black leather whip splited into eight pieces.
It swept through the air and landed on her back. A gasp of pain escaped her lips as she tumbled to the floor, her long black curly hair scattered to the sides of her face.
She immediately curled up on the floor, her folded arms protecting her face.
She knew how this went. This wasn't the first time, nor the second or third. She couldn't even count how many times her mother had done this to her and she knew this wouldn't be the last.
Isa swung the whip, striking it countlessly against her, on her back, her hands, anywhere it landed on.
She was breathing heavily and although her hands were arching her from how long she had been flogging her, she was blinded by so much anger that she just couldn't stop.
"H-how-- dare you?!"
The beating continued, then Belladonna heard her dress ripping from how much the beating was, the whip cutting into her flesh and blood seeping out of the long cuts.
She bit her lips till she tasted blood and the metallic smell filled her nostrils. She refused to beg because she knew that mercy wouldn't be granted.
So she took it all, till all she could see were black dots as different memories of all the times that her mother had ever whipped her in her life flowed through her brain.
Right from the earliest moment she could remember, her sixth birthday when Isa had almost flogged her to death because she had broken a dish.
She could feel life seep out of her slowly but Belladonna didn't fight it.
Wouldn't it be absolutely great if it all just ended right here?
By the time Isa was done, it wasn't only Belladonna's heart that felt numb but her body too.
And since fate was so cruel, her breath hadn't ceased.
Her mother crouched behind her, rolling the whip around her fist. When she spoke, she sounded really out of breath.
"How dare you make my baby feel bad?! She has done nothing wrong, she just took what she deserved. Why should you be the saved one? She should be!"
Then she stood up and stomped her low, slightly pointed heel down on Belladonna's right thigh, the tent gown she wore doing nothing to minimize the damage. "You even hit her! How dare you?! You useless child! You poison! You piece of garbage!"
With her heel still digging into one side of Belladonna's thigh, she yelled towards the door.
"Bring it in!"
Jasper ran into the room, a box in his hands. He stretched it towards Isa who hissed in annoyance. So, he quickly opened the box and brought out a dress from it.
She signalled to the bed. He ran over and laid the gown there. Isa signalled to him once again and he left the room.
She crouched behind her once again, speaking in harsh breathy whispers.
"Aniya really wants you at that wedding and you will be sure to make it. When she sees you, she will know that you have forgiven her and she will stop feeling bad. Be happy that she values you, if not..." Her voice trailed off as she issued out the silent threat.
Romina didn't move, she stayed curled up. She was used to this.
"You will wear the gown on your bed and be at the wedding on time, except you want me to strangle you with my bare hands before sending you off to your death."
With that she stood up and walked to the door, tucking the whip away underneath her cotton grey knee-length gown.
With her hand on the doorknob, she turned back to Belladonna who still laid curled up on the floor. "If Aniya should shed one more tear on your matter, by Ignas, Bell, if the Dragon King isn't the one to kill you then I will kill you myself!"
She left, slamming the door loudly behind her.
Belladonna listened to each of the hurried and angry step her mother took till she could hear it no more. Then she waited for a few more seconds, listening to make sure her mother wasn't coming back.
Once she had it all confirmed, she uncurled herself slowly. With her body swollen, marked with different whip cuts and aching terribly, every move she made was painful and laborious.
Right now, her gown was greatly stained red with blood.
She stood up finally, then walked to her bed.
Although she felt numb, her body was still reacting to the pain and the beating.
With shaky hands, she picked up the gown and inspected it.
It was a green chiffon, long, A-line gown with really long sleeves.
It had originally been made for Aniya as the bride's sister but now it was hers.
Which meant that Aniya now had her dress.
***
The wedding day was finally here.
Harps, trumpets, flutes, drums and all.
The temple was filled with many people, Lytio being the Village Head's son.
Everyone that had expected the bride to be Belladonna had been surprised to see her sister coming down to the alter in the bride's sleek white voluminous dress.
They mumbled to one other but no one questioned any of the Village Head's or Belladonna's family about this change. It wasn't there place to.
Although, the villagers knew that something had obviously gone very wrong.
Belladonna was in front seat of the crowd, along with her parents.
Aniya, who was now on the alter, turned and saw her. She smiled broadly but Belladonna did not smile back. She watched how the gown she had put so much effort in coming up with, had been fixed to be Aniya's perfect size.
Aniya was so much smaller and less curvier than her, Belladonna couldn't even fit properly into the gown she was given. She couldn't even zip it all the way up but she wore it like that. If it wasn't long with really long sleeves, the cuts she had received from yesterday's beating would have been out for all to see.
Good thing it was though, Belladonna didn't want to have to go out of her way to cover it up in fear of her mother.
When it was time for the couples to exchange their vows while they held hands, Lytio glanced quickly at her every now and then but Belladonna did not return his gaze.
Soon, the wedding was over and it was time for everyone to go home.
Aniya rushed over to Belladonna and hugged her, thanking her for showing up at the wedding and telling her how sad she had been that she had been mad at her yesterday.
"But you forgive me now because if you hadn't, you wouldn't be here. I am so happy."
Belladonna didn't say anything, she only nodded and stepped away.
Aniya twirled in front of her. "How do you like my gown?"
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Isa stepped in.
"Of course." She replied flatly.
"Thank you for your understanding." Lytio also joined in and held her hand in appreciation.
She quickly pulled away and looked up at him. His parents were behind him, in fact, her father was also here too.
"Of course, I am very understanding."
"And thank you for not making a scene." The Village Head, a tall lean man with a golden band on his head said.
"We've worked so hard for our reputation. You are a good person for not soiling it." The Village Head's wife, an equally lean woman with a golden band around her head added.
Lytio and his parents were so alike. t
They had the same fair complexion, were almost the same height, equally slim, same chestnut eyes.
The little differences were that his and his father's hair were golden, while his mother's was brown.
Unlike his father, Lytio had no beards.
Belladonna had always wondered how someone that hairy had no beards.
Also, Lytio always smelt like fish because of his work. She had gotten used to it overtime but right now, she could smell it again, it was just a whiff but it was there.
Before she use to think it was heavenly but now anymore. Right now, Lytio just smelt like a fish and a betrayer. She couldn't tell what a betrayer smelt like but she was certain that it would definitely be Lytio's smell.
She suddenly felt sick to her stomach.
They all smelt like betrayers.
"Of course, I am. I am a really good person. If you will excuse me."
Just like like, she excused herself.
While she walked out of the temple, she realized that Lytio had tucked a piece of paper into her hand while he held her earlier.
She pulled it opened to see that he had written a message in it.
It read: "Just wait for me, my love. I will find a way for us to be together again." Lytio must have had his brain replaced with one of the fishes that he captured to make such ridiculous promises. She looked at the piece of paper blankly once again and muttered to herself, "such terrible handwriting." She threw it into the fire, where some women were cooking for another wedding. Then left for the library. The moment she stepped into the library, the Librarian greeted her. "There you are, child. My wife told me everything. That mother of yours is a witch." Gladies, his wife, always some how knew everything that was going on in Inaymi. Belladonna had always thought they were a match made in heaven. While she knew about the things going on in town presently, her husband knew very well about the things that happened in the past. Soulmates, she often called them. "And that sister of yours is a snake. Spineless man, the father you have." "Technically, he is not my father."
Everyone fell on their kneels immediately, their heads bowed. Although Belladonna had been a little clumsy about it, she had managed not to draw any attention to herself. "Rise." The Dragon King commanded, his voice was deep and it commanded respect, a sought of authority that couldn't be ignored even if one dared. Indeed, even a flick of his finger resonated power.They rose up to their feet."Sit."They did.Then the Dragon King started walking towards the Possible Potentials section, the woman who had arrived earlier following after him.Belladonna quickly casted her gaze to the ground, her arms around herself protectively. Then she heard them stop right in front of them."Begin." The Dragon King said to the woman that was now standing behind. She stepped forward, looking from one lady to another while she went through the space between the benches. "Up." She commanded.Now that she wasn't announcing the presence of the King, her voice sounded firm yet sultry. The lady stood u
It was all a blur, right from the moment when she realized that she had failed herself and allowed herself to be chosen. All while the seven Potential Brides were led into the long carriage that had come to take them, while the carriage journeyed into the night, through the forest, down to the castle, while the ladies sat side by side, their hands curled up in-between their thighs, their eyes fixed to the carriage's floor under the strict gaze of the woman who had chosen them, until they finally got to the castle and stepped out of the carriage one after the other.Everything just felt like a huge blur.Belladonna had expected some dark, desolate castle with distant eerie sound of a forest, in the middle of no where. She had been wrong. Very wrong.The castle was the most beautiful building she had ever seen. There was a huge beautiful water fountain and a long colorful garden along the walkway. The lights illuminated the whole castle, making it look magical in combination with the
Just like that, she turned away, up the stairs and the servants started leading each down the hallway, to seven different doors. Everyone got a male and a female servant to help them to their door. The female servant helping Belladonna was a couple of inches shorter than she was, although she looked older, like she was in her early thirties. She had bags underneath her eyes and a few wrinkles by either side.The male servant on the other hand was just an inch or two taller than Belladonna. His face was calm and he seemed collected.Asides that, they were both wearing sought of deep blue uniform and they looked like as if they are well taken care of.Belladonna got the fifth door.Hung on it was the kind of slate which had a name carved on it. Moria Nakunriver.She furrowed her eyebrows at that.That was the name of the previous bride, the one who had authored the book containing all those rules she had read. The bride whom everyone had thought would be the last.Had this been her r
The landing would have been rough had she not landed on a bundle of blankets placed just at the bottom of this crazy tunnel."Making a run for it, Lady--""I wasn't..." She jumped, startled that she was still alive and that she hadn't fallen into a dungeon instead.She stood up, looking back at the man who was sitting by the dinning table, some distance away from her. He was oddly silent and her heart started to race. Was he looking at her and thinking she was absolutely useless?If so? Good."I admit, it was stupid." She chuckled but her mischief immediately died the moment she realized something. What if he was thinking of making her his dragon's meal and not sending her home instead. Her breath hitched, trying to rack her brain for exactly what she was still doing wrong.Too bad, she couldn't figure it out through his face because of his golden mask.Was he seething in angry or was he boiling over with rage.Her eyes grew wide the moment she realized she hadn't greeted."Your Ma
"A black gown? My Lady, you can not. The Choosing Ceremony is today."Ceremony? Belladonna scoffed, internally while she looked at herself in the mirror.'sounds more like a funeral.'She had cried so much for this past one week that she now felt absolutely drained and empty. Her eyes were red and puffy. If anything were to sadden her right now, she would have no tears to shed.After her outburst in the he presence of the King, she had decided to stay in her room without coming out for anything. Her servants Plea to Lady Kestra on her behalf had been denied, not that she cared to begin with, and the rumours were flying around that the King wouldn't pardon her disrespect in any form.Rumours said that she would indeed be a dragon's meal by the end of the Ceremony, which was to happen tonight.Her punishment was sure.The rumours also conveyed that Lady Piper would most likely be the bride as Lady Kestra was most pleased with her performance at her dinner test.As much as Belladonna did
Once again, her mind went into a blur. Her environment fading into a distance while she remained stunned by the crazy thing that had just happened. How was it that she was the crowned the Bride? How was it even possible?Her mind was so occupied that by the time she realized that she had been brought into a room that wasn't hers, the guards were already gone and the door had been shut firmly. She jumped to her feet with a start, looking around the red painted room, it stung her eyes somehow considering red wasn't even really her colour to begin with.She yanked at her hair, pacing around the room, mumbling inaudible frightened words underneath her breath. At that moment, she heard horses neighing, a carriage driving out of the castle and heavy gates been pulled open from a distance away.She looked around the room quickly searching for a window, pulling open all the red curtains she laid her hands upon till she eventually from one with just the right view.From here, she could see
When next she opened her eyes she was greeted by Raquel's teary face. "My Lady." Raquel fell on her feet by her bedside. "You made me so--so--" more tears. "So worried!" She finally blurted out. Belladonna blinked, just trying to catch up with the world after returning from the land of sleep. Then she remembered, her eyes widened as the memories flooded in.She jumped with a start, looking around like a frightened deer, her head ringing from how swiftly she had moved."I slept!" She exclaimed like it was the strangest thing that had ever happened to her. Her stomach growled at that moment and she fisted her hand against it, leaning forward slightly. "I'm hungry too! Arrgh, I'm so hungry."Raquel's eyes lit up, she rushed up on her feet, stretching her hand to drag the trolley of food she had come in with. The wonderful aroma seeped into Belladonna's nostrils and it took everything in her to be patient for Raquel to hand her the plate instead of yanking it right out of her hand."I k