ARIA
I pushed back the anger threatening to spill out of me, breathing hard. I didn't want to see my father. After all, he hadn't moved in to help me when Kaiden humiliated me. He treated me like a total stranger!
Yet, I was his blood.
"You're here," my father said as he came into view. His gaze was on Lyra.
Lyra nodded. "I came to see how Aria was faring and wanted to assure her that everything would be fine. Although she doesn't look happy about that."
"I'm not surprised," my father answered dryly.
"I shall leave her for you to handle, Father. I need to discuss Aria's matter with Kaiden; perhaps I can use my position as Luna to lessen it."
I scoffed. "Worsen it, you mean?" That was the only thing she'd be doing.
Lyra didn't care about me enough to want to discuss things with Kaiden in my favor. She'd do anything to bring me down even more.
"Do your best, sweetheart," My father said.
"I'll, father," Lyra replied, walking off. There was a brief silence between us until I spoke.
"Are you here to scold me for bringing the family name to shame? You might need to save your breath." I muttered.
My father mocked, "Still arrogant in the face of death."
I drawled, "I believe I got that from you."
My gaze flickered to the wall as a bit of light reflected on it, then back to him.
His nostrils flared. Speaking through clenched teeth, his voice came out tight and sharp, "The alpha and council of elders has passed a judgment."
"And?" I murmured, leaning forward. Knots formed in my stomach, and my heartbeat picked up.
My father gave me a blank look, saying nothing. I couldn't think of any punishment other than execution for treason, especially now that I was brought into a prison for war criminals.
But Kaiden wasn't that cruel to want that fate for me. Was he?
"Execution." My father said,
I stared at my father without moving. Blood rushed to my head, and I gulped noisily, each swallow stuck like a stone.
"No. No, no, no." I repeated, trying to make sense of what he had said.
It can't be. Kaiden wasn't as callous as that! He won't hurt me even though he loathed me.
Dear goddess Selene, I do not want to die. I wasn't ready to.
My father said, "I suppose you should be happy."
"Happy?" I spat, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. I let out a harsh laugh, my hands shook so badly I clenched them into fists until they hurt. I swallowed back the nausea that surged up my throat forcefully, glaring.
My father continued in a flat tone as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on me and wanted me to be okay with it. "The Alpha is so kind that he overruled your execution and ordered you to be whipped fifty times."
I trembled, my back pressed against the wall, and I laughed and cried at the same time. Of course, Kaiden wouldn't kill me! Even though the punishment wasn't any better. At least, I'd live. Why didn't my father say that before? He must have enjoyed seeing me in pain and wanted me to think the worst.
"As your father, I was made to convey that to you. This will be our last conversation. Farewell, daughter."
My father turned away from me as soon as he was done speaking.
But I wasn't done yet. "Did you believe I did that, Father?"
He stopped, not turning to look at me.
"You do," I whispered hoarsely after a brief silence from him. "How can you believe a lie over what your daughter is saying? You raised me. You trained me. And you would rather trust them than your blood?"
My father was silent. I might as well be speaking to the wall right now. The tears that I had desperately tried to push away slid down my cheeks slowly.
I stood on shaking legs, ignoring the sting around my ankle; the silver chain tightened against my skin. "If only Mother were still alive, she'd never allow this to happen to me. She'll always shield me, but you brought in your mistress to disrupt everything!"
"Watch your tone, young lady." My father scolded me, gritting his teeth. "How can your sister lie about what she saw?"
"Lyra hates me. She'll do anything to see me go down!" I shouted, dragging in a staggering breath. I moistened my lips, tasting the saltiness of my tears.
He gripped the bars of the cell, shaking it until it rattled. His palms burned, but he didn't look phased. "One more word against Lyra again, and you'll be sorry."
He hates me. I thought it was just him being neglectful. I could see it now. Hot tears blurred my sight, and anger twisted with ache in my chest.
"Ever since she came into our house, you've chosen Lyra over me. You won't even tell me what I did wrong. You hate seeing me and said nothing when Selene made me a maid for Lyra's sake. And now you're throwing me to the wolves. Your fucking daughter. What did I do to deserve all that ill treatment from you?!" I screamed, yanking my chain until the skin around my wrist turned red.
My father gave me a long, measuring look, rage smouldering in his eyes, accompanied by disgust and contempt. I thought he'd say something—anything to defend himself.
Instead, he said, "You're a traitor like your mother. If I knew you'd turn out this way today, I'd have forced her into aborting you."
The hostility in his words stabbed my heart, and I gasped. Those times he had told me he loved me, and had even promised to protect me until his last breath. He had called me 'princess' and told me bedtime stories, then kissed me goodnight. Was…it all just an illusion?
"One last thing before I leave. Henceforth, let it be known in the witness of the guards here that I, James Davenport, disown Arianna Leigh Davenport as my daughter. I no longer have ties with her."
"No!" I choked out, coughing. My heartbeat quickened. It was the last thing I expected him to say. "You can't disown me. I am your only child!"
"I already did," he snapped. Turning to the guards, he said. "She's sly and manipulative, be careful with her."
Then he walked away.
"No, don't leave me here." I wailed, straining against the chains. I hopped to the door, yanking it open, my palms roasted, but then the ache was mild compared to the one in my heart.
"Wait, father!" I screamed, running past the guards. "Please, don't go."
Reaching him, I clasped his shirt, my words tumbled out in a frantic rush, "Talk to Kaiden. He'll listen to you. You're his father's friend. Please speak to him on my behalf to pardon me and—"
"Get away from me!" My father barked, pushing me.
I landed on my butt. I sensed a bone snap in my right hip, but still I got up, running towards him once more. Strong arms wrapped around me, wrenching me back.
"Let me go, bastards. Unhand me this instant!" I growled. But they continued to drag me back inside the cell.
"Simmer down!" They thrust me in with so much force that I staggered back and slammed my head on the wall.
My vision blurred, and the world spun out of control. I stumbled once, then twice, before falling face-first on the ground, welcoming the darkness that surrounded me.