Unfeeling

Nine | Invisibly Visable

Amberley
"I see the terror in your eyes. What's made you so frightened, little princess?"

I don't scream. I recall his warning for every noise I make, another whip scar will be added to my back and legs.

"I'm... I'm not scared, sir..."My voice trembles as if I'm choking on the lie that slips past my unbelievable lips.

I don't dare look the King in his eye. Instead, I stare at the dull toned robes that he carries himself in. The wrinkles in the rich fabric sends a unwelcome ping of hope that maybe the man before me is human after all.

The thought was ripped away as quick as it came. I feel the King's rough, calloused fingers grip my chin and yank my gaze to his. His eyes are a cold grey, a grey that used to remind me of a silver sea but now, now they are an endless stone wall or the point of a sword.

"You will look at me when I speak to you, or so help me God, I will beat you until you can't speak," the King hisses.

I push down the panic rising in my gut. The panic that leaks into my every bone, muscle and pore like a thick, relentless poison.

"Forgive me, sir..." I mumble weakly. My neck throbs were the King has my chin painfully forced upward.

Don't scream. If I don't scream, he will let me go and he will leave. Just don't scream. Just don't scream. Just don't scream.

"Forgive you? You stupid, naive little princess. Would your mother forgive you for taking her life in exchange for your useless one?"

I feel my insides turn painfully. My mother... I don't know her but the thought of the mother I never had makes me very aware the endless hole in my chest.

"I'm sorry sir... so sorry."

The King sneers and throws my head away as if my touch causes him pain. I rub my sore chin tentatively, letting myself revel in the chance that the King will leave me alone today, that he will leave without another word.

"Sorry... such a useless waste of breath. Apologies don't change a single thing. Pain... pain is a different story. You can do anything if you have the power to inflict pain."

My eyes go wide and I barely have time to brace myself before the King raises a decorated hand and backhands me, his hatred and momentum both helping his strong swing.

I gasp and slam down onto the hard ground. I feel everything in this moment. I hear everything in this moment. The first hit is truly and undeniably the worst hit.

"Do you feel that, little princess? Pain... it can make you do anything..."the King says from behind me.

I feel my body tremble as I lift myself up from the ground. The stone is cold underneath my clammy palms. Stone, just like the Kings eyes. The cold suddenly stings and sends unwelcome anxiety to stab my stomach.

I stand, touching the side of my cheek. My fingers come away slick and covered with the familiar sight of liquid crimson. I stare at the Kings array of ruby and sapphire rings, now wet with my blood.

"Father..." I plead silently.

The King, my father, only stares at me with a detached expression. But I still see the chaos churning behind his eyes, the thrill of making me suffer.