Loving the enemy

5. Ax

The pain around my wrist was killing me, and even if he'd kill me soon he was the only person I could ask for anything, so I did.

It took all the courage I had to speak. I tired to muster a sentence, but my voice failed me and only the last word turned audible. "..., please."

Way to not sound helpless. I feel so humiliated.

Lord Asher turned to me, still only wearing his trousers. "If there's something to you'd like to say, do speak up, dear."

Ugh.

I clear my throat and look away quickly. "Water," I whisper loud enough for him to hear me. My throat aches when I speak, to an almost unbearable extent.

I don't look towards him directly but I see him watching me out of the corners of my eyes.

After a few more seconds of staring at me from across the tent, I'd hated myself. I'm not the type to beg, but I needed something to drink and by the looks of it, Lord Asher couldn't care less.

He just stared at me. Maybe even amused by my plead, leaving me to bury my head in my lap once again. I'd been stupid to think that he'd help me.

Tears of anger start forming as I stare into my lap, but I quickly try to hold them back. He's not worth the tears and I had to be stronger than this.

"Here."

What? Could he possibly-?

I look up at the man whose walked closer to me, holding a cup in his hand.

I didn't even hear him move.

He bends down and I stare at his cup, thoughtfully.

"I wouldn't waste the poison on you, don't worry." He mocks, and before I could think twice he holds the cup to my lips, lifting it slowly letting the cool water slip into my mouth.

I chug and swallow and repeat, as the cold, refreshing liquid seems like the best cup of water I'd ever had. My mouth is finally free of the cotton like feeling and I quickly finish the cup.

That was so revitalizing that I didn't even care about him having me drink like a toddler from a mother.

"Another?" The man asks, seemingly amused.

I nod my head 'yes', hastily, and after finishing another two cups I'd finally had enough.

Water had run down the side of my chin and I wipe my face on my curled up knees to get rid of it.

"Anything else, your highness?" The man bended down in front of me asks.

I shoot daggers at him for his remark before looking away sternly.

How I hated him. No matter what he'd done he was still my soon-to-be-murderer.

"Whatever." He murmurs before getting back up and turning.

"The ties." I croak as confidently, as I can.

He turns his head back to me. "You really do take me for stupid, don't you?"

Hell, I know he isn't going to let me go. That's not what I meant, for Christ sake.

He walks away and places the cup on his wooden desk where the jug of water, which is probably empty now, is standing.

"I mean my wrists."

Confused the man turns and looks down at me. I hate it when he does that, it makes me feel so damn vulnerable.

To my surprise he walks behind me and bends down behind the small pole I'm tied too. A thought of fear flashes me as he's so close to me and I can't see what he's going to do.

Suddenly pain erupts around my wrists which had been rubbed raw from the ties biting at my skin, and my failed attempt to free myself.

I jerk and try to pull away. "Stop." The man says calmly. It hurts!

I bite the inside of my mouth as I slowly realize that the ties are being loosened and peeled off of my skin.

I cry out slightly as my hands are painfully freed from the ties.

When I'm finally able to pull my arms to the front of my body again it aches, badly. My wrists burn like fire as I look down at the shriveled pink flesh where my ties had been.

They looked horrible but they felt even worse. My eyes quickly search the tent for anything I could use to fight my captor. An ax a few feet away catches my eyes.

If I could jump over to it quick enough maybe it could be my only chance at winning against Lord Asher.

I turn my head ever so slightly to see if I could possibly even lift the damn thing, when a massive hand grips my throat from behind, making me gag as I'm being pushed back against the pole harshly.

Panic erupts as my airways tighten.

"Don't even think about it." The man still kneeling behind me threatens as his grip on my neck makes me choke. I claw at his hands, trying to breathe as every cell in my body is begging for air.

His grip loosens leaving me heaving for air, while holding my neck.

Lord Asher gets up and walks to stand in front of me. "If I ever see you, even thinking about escaping, I'll kill you without hesitation."

"I wasn't-," I pant, "I wasn't thinking about that," I lie through my teeth.

The pressure on my neck still feels present as I try to calm myself.

"So your telling me," the man starts making his way towards the ax, and picking it up before turning to me, "that you weren't looking at my little toy here?" His angry eyes stare down at me, but all I can do is stare at the weapon.

I can feel my face turning pale and my heart sink into my chest. Was he going to use it? Was this going to be my end this time?

"Fucking answer," Lord Asher grits.