Forbidden Desire

[62] Irrevocable Redemption

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

Dressed in pristine white silk, she looked like an angel descended from heaven. Except, this angel had bruises blooming like violets across her skin.

The gown that clung to her delicate frame had it's bodice laced with intricate embroidery that shimmered faintly beneath the vanity lights. Pearlescent beads adorned the edges of the sheer sleeves, trailing down to her wrists, one which were marred by red welts of the ropes that had bound her hours ago.

Her skin had paled, robbed of it's natural warmth from being kept in the freezing cells. Her lips trembled with a breath she couldn't release, stuck somewhere in the ache growing in her chest.

The usual waves of enchanting turquoise in her eyes were now brimmed in raw redness from quiet cries. They stared vacantly into the mirror, glassy and unfocused, as if she couldn't quite recognize the ghost staring back at her. She couldn't comprehend the situation she was in right now.

Sirena sat rigidly in the crimson velvet chair before a gleaming vanity, framed by gold leaf and soft lights that did nothing to warm the frost of dread running in her veins.

There were rows of wedding dresses in silk, satin and georgette lined against the walls. Shoes with jewel-encrusted heels sat arranged on the floor, along with countless jewelries stacked upon on the glass shelves.

The room smelled faintly of jasmine and expensive perfume, but Sirena felt sick to her stomach. A deep nausea curled and coiled in her gut like smoke, twisting her insides into knots she couldn't undo.

She hadn't eaten. She couldn't eat, nor was she allowed much either. The only thing she had was an oatmeal bar and a glass of water this morning. She didn't mind, though. The very thought of food made her gag. All she could taste was bile and bitterness. All she could feel was the heavy chain of fate tightening around her throat.

Why hasn't he come here yet?

The thought slithered into her mind for the umpteenth time in this unfortunate night.

She despised herself for it. Despised the stupid hope it carried on it's back like a parasite when no one was coming to save her tonight. Despised that, despite everything, her heart still thundered whenever she heard someone take his name here.

Elliott.

Her fingers dug deep into her palm, sickened by how hopeless and desperate she had become to think about him so relentlessly, so endlessly like this. He had caged her controlled her, hurt her. And yet, her broken soul still clawed for him in her darkest hour.

Because deep down, a hopeful, yet stubborn part of her still believed that if anyone could burn this whole empire to the ground just to get to her, it was him.

It would always be him.

But what if he didn't this time?

What if no one was coming?

The doubt crept into her mind like poison ivy, spreading through her blood like a fear she couldn't stop herself from feeling. The possibility wasn't entirely impossible.