The cool Sunday morning air brought little comfort to the room's inhabitant. Inside, Serenah lay on her stomach, her back throbbing. The red, angry welts visible on her back reminded her of her miserable situation. The week had been hellish. Every day, she was forced to do back-breaking, menial work. Midway through her shift, she was summoned to her father's office.
Once there, Grand Duke Noward and her father awaited her. Each time, they ganged up on her, pinned her, and whipped her. When the whipping was over, she was sent to the healer for light healing. After that, back to her menial tasks. On the second day of her punishment, her father added the stipulation that she was only to be served one servant meal a day.
Serenah felt her vitality draining because of the extremes of the punishment. No matter how much she pleaded for mercy, her father mocked her and continued punishing her. She tried to resist, yet her defiance was slowly changing into resignation. She couldn't escape her father or the grand duke.
The grand duke grew bolder as the days progressed. His groping and feeling her up at every opportunity had increased. The sexual harassment made her sick to her stomach. The fact that Noward believed he had the right to touch her in such a manner made her anxiety and worry grow.
Added to the stress was the order from her father to do her sister's homework. Serenah buried her face in her pillow, tears of frustration, sadness, and loneliness flowing freely. She was completely isolated. She didn't have a phone and couldn't get one until her two weeks of hell were over. So no Romeo, no Liz, no Penelope. Just her room. She didn't even have Lael or Alastar. Her father had moved them to other stations for the duration of her punishment.
Serenah bemoaned her stubbornness in refusing Romeo's offer of help and protection. He might be human, but maybe, just maybe, she could escape her situation with his and his father's assistance. When she saw him next time, she would accept his offer. She would tell him the truth about herself. No more hiding. No more letting fear rule her life.
She glanced at her bedside clock and sighed. It was time to get up. With a pained groan, she pushed up from the bed, wincing at the twinges in her back from her wounds.
She wrapped her robe gingerly around her and slipped on the fluffy kitten house shoes Lael had gifted her. She felt slightly warmer. She sat, pulling her twin's homework toward her. Sighing, she got started on it.
Time moved on, but Serenah didn't notice. She was engrossed in the assignment. She loved learning. She believed in the human adage that knowledge is power. It was true. The more you know, the greater your chances of improving your life or even changing unfavorable situations.
Knowledge helped her learn about Earth and humans. It also helped accentuate her healing ability. Anything that could help others was a plus in Serenah's mind. Her sister's work wasn't as challenging as hers, but it was still fun to note the difference in the curriculum. She wanted to use this teaching method with her country's children.
A hard bang on the door startled her. Her gaze whipped to the door as it was pushed open, and Amanah strode in. Serenah tensed. Her sister's smug, calculating expression meant nothing good for her.
"Amanah," she said neutrally.
Her sister came to the table, stopped, and stared at Serenah for a long moment. Serenah didn't move. She wasn't sure what her twin was plotting, but she needed to be ready.
"Looking rough there, twin," chuckled Amanah.
Serenah bit back a retort. She would not give her sister the satisfaction of getting a rise from her.
"Hmm, cat got your tongue?"
Amanah's mocking tone grated on Serenah's nerves. Why couldn't her twin just leave? She looked at a point above her sister's head. Making eye contact would goad Amanah into taking it as a challenge. Things would get ugly then.
"I swear, younger siblings are so disrespectful."
That was the only warning Serenah had. Before she could move, Amanah's hand flew through the air and landed hard on her right cheek with enough force to rock her head.
Serenah tasted blood. She turned to face her grinning sibling.
"You forget who has the power," stated Amanah.
Amanah moved into Serenah's personal spot, grabbed her by her, and hauled her to her feet. Amanah stuck her face in hers.
"Listen, Romeo is almost mine. They say never to waste an opportunity. I've been able to work closely with him. You know what they say, 'out of sight, out of mind.'"
Amanah's suggestive tone was not lost on Serenah. Her words were like daggers in her heart. Had Romeo moved on? Had he lost interest because she hadn't talked to him? Refused his help? Was that enough to kill their love?
He was human. Maybe love worked differently for them. Her chest tightened painfully. If she lost him to her sister, she wouldn't survive it. Her fated bond would kill her. Her anxious thoughts roiled in her mind.
Amanah's grip on her hair tightened before she leaned in and whispered, "I'm going on a date with him in a few days. I'm sure he'll enjoy my ample charms. Men like those who are giving in the ways that matter."
Serenah felt sick to her stomach. Thoughts of her sister making love to Romeo made her mark blaze with a stabbing heat. Tears of hurt pricked her eyes.
"Get out," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Amanah's triumphant smile was not lost on Serenah. All the fight went out of her as Amanah's joyful laugh filled the air. She released Serenah's hair and glided from the room.
Serenah swayed, her soul going cold as the world closed in on her, and she fainted from the stress.