Born to rule ('Born to be a slave' sequel)

33

"We should spend more time together." Cristina said delightedly.

I didn't understand what made her mood so bright. She stood in front of Edmund, his eyes boring into the newspaper, ignoring her subtle suggestions. Just for a second, his pale stare reached her tall form, under the dark, creased eyebrows. She giggled.

"I mean all of us, my 'sisters', Thea, you. Right?"

She glanced at me, eyes burning in happiness.

I couldn't enjoy myself. Victoria occupied my mind. This time her words seemed genuine, I saw the emotion in her usually cold face. Something told me to believe her – my intuition. It has proven trustworthy, but I don't know why I chose to ignore my feelings before?

I watched my husband. He appeared different like something has been taken away from him. In the presence of Cristina and us - the girls, Edmunds mood had darkened. Why? If Victoria didn't come, what made him change?

"Is something the matter?" He asked seriously, looking me up and down over the newspaper.

I shook my head. No word wanted to escape my lips. The bitterness and awareness of the horrible attitude I put up for Victoria were clinging to my chest – suffocating me. It was not me – the person this ugly emotion turned me into. When Edmund didn't belong to me, not once I thought of any woman in his life, it never bothered me, I didn't care. Now... the situation has changed. Stirring up my world and creating problems, which did not exist before.

He slowly folded the newspaper not leaving his eyes from me even for a second.

"Where is Victoria?"

"I don't know... I think she didn't feel well." I tried to avoid eye contact with him.

"Oh my god! What is that?" Cristina's sudden gasp snapped everybody out of their own thoughts.

She was behind me and for a second I didn't understand what she is talking about. Cristina came closer and her fingers traced over my neck. I froze.

"Is that a scar?"

I turned away, unconsciously covering the mark imprinted in the past. I felt nervous and unable to figure out what to say or how to react.

"Who did this to you?"

I looked up at Edmund and my heart pinched with pain. The memories of my cruel past and people I met flooded back into my mind. Nervously I fumbled with my hair. I didn't want to announce to everyone, that Edmund was the person who marked me, who created the scar and what circumstances caused it. I have chosen to leave it in the past, buried and forgotten.

"I.... it... was..."

"Her former owner." Edmund stopped my mumbling, tracing his gentle touch over my arm and taking hold of my palm firmly.

"What a cruel thing to do. Did it hurt?"

"Of course it must have," Margaret whispered as if afraid to disturb somebody. "That's a stupid question, Cristina."

Cristina and both sisters watched me with sympathetic looks. I saw that they were on edge, afraid to ask another question, even though deep interest nudged them.

"I don't want to talk about it, remember ... it... It's all in the past, long forgotten."

I looked up at Edmund again and felt a shiver of fear run through my blood. The memory was too real and recent to forget it completely, though I deeply wished so. I felt his hands, the strength and anger running through his firm touch back then. The angriest Edmund I have seen in my life.

Though Edmund has proven, that he can be caring. I understand that in the past my husband, my owner was in the darkest place in his life. None of us wants to return to the miserable state that twisted his mind.

"But, wouldn't it be better to..." Scarlet couldn't finish her sentence when I stopped her.

"I said I don't want to talk about it." I stared in her brown eyes as well as gave a glare to Cristina, who wanted to add something too.

"We are sorry, your highness. Please forgive us for insolence."

My heart was beating erratically in my chest. Nervousness, fear? I couldn't pinpoint what caused my anxiety, but one thing was certain. I couldn't get the thoughts of Edmund marking me out of my head. I turned around and marched towards the castle wanting a piece of solitude.

"Thea! Thea!" I heard Edmund's distant voice like a ghost haunting me. "I think we should finish our gathering for tonight."

My feet guided me deeper through the castle's empty halls until I reached my room. I closed the door and took a deep breath in hopes it will slow down my beating heart, but at the moment when Edmund's heavy hand landed against the wooden door on another side, it went back to its former pace.

"Thea! Let me inside!"

His voice held urgency, strong and demanding. It sounded like he is angry or upset.

"Thea! Let me in! I am not going to hurt you!" He shook a door handle.

"I want to stay alone for a minute."

"I just want to see if you are alright. Open the door." His voice calmed down.

Hesitating my hand reached for the door and unwillingly I opened it. My husband burst inside the room causing me to step back in freight. His creased eyebrows told how upset he was and I feared for the worst.

"Please... I am sorry." I felt my knees shake.

He stepped closer with even steps - slow and silent. There was nowhere to go, behind me a wall blocked my path.

"Thea, just calm down. Snap out of it!"

"Please, please...." My voice had turned to whisper while tears streamed down my cheeks.

I was yanked towards his chest, deprived of the ability to move freely. I was trapped in his hands, Edmund's hot breath fanned the top of my head. I could feel and hear his beating heart - fast and not slowing down.

"There is no point to ask for your forgiveness... knowing how horribly I acted. No amounts sorries will free me from my sins. I know it... I marked you... Branded you..., but you have to let it go. Let go of that memory and calm down. I won't hurt you, trust me, please." My husband's chest rumbled faintly.

"Why are you angry?" My cries were muffled in the crooks of his shirt.

"I am not angry at you Thea. It's myself..."