Hidden Strength

Ashina's POV
The door was on the latch, and it slowly creaked, revealing the bully's face.

I slurped as I traced my feet backwards, avoiding his stern gaze. Anger was written all over his face but I couldn't really pinpoint the reason why.

It couldn't be the cost of the food he brought to me. He couldn't have added love potion to the food. He didn't like me, and I didn't like him either. He didn't want me to like him, and I didn't want him to like me either. I just wanted the salvation of my people, that's why I'd been suffering from his hands ever since.

"Do you think what you're doing is smart?" He asked as he slowly shut the restroom door and leaned in closer.

"Don't come any closer to me," I whispered weakly, as my lips trembled with each thud he made towards me. I knew he wouldn't hurt me if my sister was still in the room. She would hear me scream and know him for the beast he was.

"Am I a man beater?" He suddenly pulled my chin roughly as he asked, impatiently waiting for my response.

"No," I lied as I avoided his gaze still, "you're a...loving man."

"Look at me," he ordered, "and say that to my face."

I turned to face him but my eyes were round and wet. It discouraged him immediately our gazes connected. He roughly dropped my chin and walked around the restroom, thinking of an instruction he would give to me without sounding harsh or raising his voice or making me scream, so my sister wouldn't hear.

He definitely would have tried to convince Meera to leave the room, but she could have insisted that she wanted to confirm if I was fine.

"Will you come to the room now and let your sister take care of my kid at least?" He asked, his tone sounding calm and composed for the first time.

He was really a coward in front of people who didn't know about his dark secrets. But I'd made up my mind that at least someone else must know about this maltreatment. It could still be Estel, but she had been brutally killed.

Though I didn't want to make an intentional search for who could keep this secret and treat me well like Estel did, but I prayed internally that the moon goddess would favor me and bring such person my way.

"No, I'm okay now. I want to clean myself," I said, as he gritted his feet and rushed at me. He pinned me to the wall as his claws grew wild. He tried to dig it on the nape of my neck but I quickly spoke up. The whispers were loud, but Meera would never be able to hear from the room.

"You have your heir.... remember your hair," I faintly spoke as he struggled to move his hands away from hurting me, "don't..."

"Shut the fuck up," he said and covered his face with his palms, as if trying to recover from pain. The pain he could be feeling now wouldn't be more than the pain of wanting to beat me but being unable to.

"Come to the room, now," he said and offered me a bowl of water when Meera opened the door and watched us.

"Wash your face, my love, and come to the room. I'll be waiting for you." He said and gave me a dangerous glare before turning to leave, smiling mischievously as Meera also left.

I didn't dare defy the order once again, as I washed my face and hurried off to the room. Meera was arranging some books on the shelf while he was seated on the bed, focusing on Meera before my presence drew his attention.

Meera slowly sighed as she turned back to look at me. It seemed like she was trying to confirm if Lobo would take good care of me or she can come over to do it, since after being forced, I still didn't eat.

"Sit this way," Lobo ordered but I defied it intentionally.

"No, I will not."

"Why, sweetheart?" He asked, nodding his head slowly at my disobedient replies.

"Because of my kid...our kid..my heir," I said and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He hated to hear me call the unborn child my kid. He assumed the child would be his only and I would never have a claim over him.

While I still reeled from the sudden expression on his face and the silenced I turned to Meera who fixed an irritating look on her face, shifted her gaze from me and continued her work.

"Meera, aren't you almost done?" Lobo quickly asked, and I knew he was about to unleash his anger on me. Whenever he asked for privacy, it meant time to be bullied.

"I'll like to go outside with her as well. We could talk some things out within ourselves." I said to Lobo and he only gulped, chuckling softly to ease the tension in the air.

"No, you will be here." He sat and quickly forced me to sit. Though I whimpered a little when I was shoved to the bed, Meera didn't look back and he felt quiet satisfied about her reaction.

She eventually turned towards us with a happy look on her face, "I am done and I will get to see both of you by evening." She said and pecked me on the chin before leaving.

As the door slammed shut behind her, Lobo turned to me and pointed his fingers at me, his eyes flashing with anger.

"You think you can escape, right?" He asked, laughing at me on derision as he suddenly cast an unholy glance at me.

"Strip." He ordered.

"What?" I asked, trying to make my way out of the bed but he held me back and pinned me down, slapping me across my chin multiple times.

"Don't do this," I said, as my heart felt heavy, "please I beg of you."

"Didn't I say you'll be begging me soon? Can you see now? I am your master and will forever be. Now, get off those damn clothes and let's see what's there in your limp, skinny body." He abused and almost tore my clothes out of anger when I felt a weird strength that made me flip him over, making me over him and him under me now.

I spat at his face and hissed before running towards the door.