The Year 3000

Chapter 3: Punishment

Scarlett's POV

Previously:

"What are you doing here? Where's King Harry?" he asked, his grip turning painful. I winced, my eyes darting around the room in panic. I didn't have time to wonder how he knew I belonged to Harry. There was no way out. My chest rose and fell at an alarming rate, my breathing labored. The guards were closing in. I couldn't breathe. Suddenly, the door burst open, and none other than Harry flashed to a stop before me.

He did not look happy at all, and suddenly the guards looked like tame kittens.

"Guards, I'll take it from here. Give her to me."

The guard's grip was quickly replaced with his. My insides froze at Harry's tone. If I wasn't in trouble before, then I sure as hell was now.

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My breath came out in short puffs as Harry came over to stand in front of me; partially to catch my breath and partially from fear of enduring Harry's wrath.

Mainly the latter.

In less than a second, he had me pinned up against the nearest wall. He had already ordered all of the guards out of the room, so it was just me and him.

"Did you really think it would be that easy to escape me?" Harry growled, his face so close to mine I could feel his breath fanning my face. I shivered, even though I was burning up.

His grip on me tightened painfully.

"Answer me!" he shouted, furious eyes piercing mine. Slowly but surely, my spine returned. I lifted my chin, meeting his fiery gaze.

"I made you a promise, didn't I? That if I were given the chance to escape, I would. And I never break my promises," I hissed, my top lip curling back. One of his large hands left my shaking shoulders and clasped around my neck, barely allowing me to breathe .

"You can't even imagine the things I'm going to do to you," he seethed, anger radiating off him in waves. I didn't reply, but I didn't break his gaze either.

Harry leaned in further, and our noses brushed.

"Ashton is still here, you know," he whispered. Just like that, my spine disappeared.

"You promised you would be my blood slave and follow my rules. All of them. And I think that not trying to escape was one of them," Harry taunted, his lips brushing mine with every word.

"Don't hurt, Ashton! He never did anything—it was me; all me," I begged pleadingly. Harry pushed me even harder against the wall as his grip on my shoulders became even more painful.

"Why do you protect that worthless human?" He spat out human like it left a bad taste in his mouth. Of course, Harry wouldn't know a damn thing about what family means. Anger flared inside me, clouding my judgement.

"A heartless monster like you couldn't possibly understand loyalty!" I pushed Harry's chest as hard as I could, only to regret it a second later when he didn't move an inch and gave me a knowing smirk.

"You never learn do you?" Harry whispered, "Well then, maybe this heartless monster will just have to teach you."

I tried my best to mask the white-hot fear his words shot down to my very core.

"Harry? What are you doing?" an unfamiliar male voice called from behind us. Harry turned around, giving me a full view of who had bought me some time. There stood a lean man with tousled brown hair and a perfectly sculptured jaw that held just a hint of stubble. Sea green eyes shifted over to me, causing a frown to taint his otherworldly features. I recognized his face immediately.