ARIELLE
"The woman raised by rogues – the dark horse of the Blackstone pack whose looks are barely bordering on acceptable," Raiden scoffed, pulling me away from his body and throwing me onto the cold marble floor like I was trash that made him feel sick.
"Did you really think I would stoop so low as to settle for someone like you?"
He rose to his feet, pulling his pants back up, a bitter grin playing on his lips. He looked down at me with a cruel blend of pity and hate, and for the first time in years, I could actually see it – all he had ever felt for me was hate. Those cold eyes of his were proof enough.
"So you..." I said quietly, though I didn't really have to say the rest. "You just used me... You used me to get rid of all the obstacles and ascend the throne, while I did all the dirty work for you behind the scenes."
"Can you blame me?" He asked, his eyes even colder now. "I couldn't let Serena get her hands dirty when you practically offered me your loyalty on a silver platter. Come on, Arielle," he snarled, leaning closer to me just to make sure I could see the despise in his expression. "You could never become anyone's queen. You are trash born from a rogue womb. The world does not need garbage like you."
He didn't even give me the chance to refute – with one single strike of his heavy foot, he landed a powerful blow to my head, spiraling me out of my senses.
Pain hit me first, but then darkness began to spread like an oil spill over the ocean water. And before I succumbed to the blackness completely, I saw a fading picture of Raiden and me together, bright, happy smiles shining on our faces as we walked side by side, planning our perfect future.
***
My body felt impossibly heavy, dragging me down into the swamp of my own consciousness.
I had already been awake for hours, yet I had no desire to open my eyes or move a single muscle.
Today was the day of their wedding. I knew it because I could smell the scent of the flowers I picked for the ceremony myself. I knew it because I could hear the string quartet I chose myself, too.
But then, as the morning breeze wafted through the cold, damp space, I picked up a hint of something else, finally snapping my eyes open.
"Finally awake?" My sister's voice rang through the air, sending a jolt through my stiff body.
"Serena..?" I asked, still unable to believe my eyes.
There she was, my little sister, standing right before me, radiant as ever. Her long, red hair was like a heap of flames against her porcelain skin, while the gorgeous white wedding dress that was meant for me, had been altered for her petite figure, making her look like a graceful swan gliding over the still surface of the lake.
"You filthy bitch!" I yelped, crawling on the cold, stone floor like a mad ghoul desperate to grab her and tear her apart. I could have done it had it not been for the thick, metal shackles chaining me to the wall.
"Well," Serena scoffed, watching me slam back against the stone behind me. "I think it's pretty clear who is actual filth here."
She laughed again, but her fake joy sounded like nails scraping against glass.
"How could you do this to me?!" I snapped again, pushing my body forward as I tried to break the chains. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, the metal wouldn't budge.
"What did I do, pray tell?" Serena tilted her head to the side like a confused dog. "Go on, tell me. I don't seem to understand you, Arielle."
"You stole him!" I cried out, my skin burning inside the rusted shackles. "You bewitched him! You stole my place next to him!"
Another bout of laughter exploded through the room, but this time, Serena's joy was genuine.
"Oh, you poor thing," she purred, circling me like a predator toying with its prey. "Did you really think you had a place next to Raiden Wayne? You – the ugly duckling of our family?"
"You didn't even want him!" I pressed on, ignoring her insults. "You wanted to marry the future King, and it was I who handed Raiden the throne!"
"But of course you did," Serena smiled, running a hand through her fiery hair. "And both Raiden and I will forever be grateful for that! Well, at least I will. You know how ungrateful men are."
She laughed again, her elegant shoulders trembling, but all I could do was bite my tongue, swallowing all the bitterness her happiness awoke in me.
"Arielle," she then leaned down, her face suddenly surprisingly dark and serious. "We are all born to fulfill a certain role. My role was to become the Queen of the Werewolf Kingdom, while your role was to do everything to make that happen. And you've done well, my dear sister. You have fulfilled your role."
I did not know what to say to that. I felt defeated.
All my life, I was treated like a tool – brought up as a lowly servant to the family I had never even wanted to begin with.
All they had ever done to me was remind me how worthless I was, while all I ever wanted was to prove them wrong.
And I had.
And where did it get me?
"You look sad," Serena cooed, taking a few steps away from me like she was suddenly disgusted by the mere sight of me. "Don't worry, dear sister. I will remember your sacrifice for as long as I live and maybe – just maybe – the Moon Goddess will forgive you and let you enter her Kingdom despite all the grave sins you've committed."
Then, she nodded at something, and before I could realize what was happening, a cold, silver blade slid right through my heart, choking the last remnants of my pathetic life out of me.
The last thing I heard was Serena's boisterous laughter. She had always laughed so carelessly, even when she killed.
And it was unfair.
So fucking unfair.
All I had ever wanted was to prove my worth. I wanted to be loved and cherished. I wanted to belong.
So why did it all have to end like this?
Goddess, I don't want your Kingdom. But if you can't forgive my sins, then let me erase them all and make it right.
Give me a chance to make it all right again.
Please.