Guilt

Theresa's POV.
'No... don't do this... please,' the voice of my niece echoed, which startled me. I immediately woke up, my heart pounding, my gaze searching, trying to calm down as I took deep breaths, but it yielded little effort.
I sat down on the bed while averting my gaze in different directions, guilt heavily weighing on me, recalling how Isabella came to be, seeking refuge, but then Anita, the chief guard, had instructed me that if I brought four demons to her, then she would release my son. So immediately I saw Isabella; I never wanted to hand her over to them. That's why I urged her to leave, but as fate would have it, Anita walked in, demanding the last demon blood. I was terrified of losing my son; I did what any mother would have done.
When I handed Isabella over, I inquired about my son, and she told me that I should contact her today; for that, I can't wait to meet her and demand to know about my son's whereabouts.
I took a deep breath, my gaze searching, my heart pounding while finding as I stood up to go and meet Isabella. I walked towards the door, then the pleading cry of Isabella made me stop; a tear slipped down my cheeks recalling my sister had made me swear to protect her daughter, but now I have failed both of them.
I covered myself using dark clothes as I walked through the busy crowds, and then I found myself at the palace entrance. I sneaked into another hidden entrance that Anita had shown me as I navigated my way through it. When I got in, my gaze was searching, hoping to see Anita.
Then a young lady approached me and said, "Please follow me; the chief commander is waiting for you on her balcony."
I followed her quietly without saying a word. When I was inside her room, my gaze briefly searched the environment. I noticed the room was well decorated, and some expensive furniture was kept at each corner of the room.
I noticed Anita facing the outside world while standing at the balcony; when she noticed my presence, she turned to look at me and told the maid to leave. She nodded her head as she left.
I lowered my gaze when I saw blood trickling down to her lower lip. "I'm sorry, but I'm here as you had told me."
"Oh, about your son, yes, you offered me the last demon, which I would have had for my last meal, but unfortunately she managed to escape."
"She escaped!" I exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over me at the thought of Isabella being alive.
I took a deep breath and said confidently while looking into her eyes, "That's not my concern. I gave you the fourth demon, which you had requested, and it's not my concern if you had been careless enough to let her escape, so I'm demanding to see my son right..."
Before I could complete my sentence, she lunged at me, pushing me hard against the wall as she lifted me up like I weighed a few pounds, her eyes turning bloodshot red as she stared intently into my eyes.
"Watch your tongue, woman, because I might just have you for my next meal, so be careful with each word you utter so I might reconsider keeping you alive."
If it were before, I'd have started trembling in fear because Anita always uses my weakness, which is my son Aries, and I'm no longer certain if he's alive anymore, so what's the use of sacrificing lives for him?
"Then do your worst," I retorted with so much audacity etched in my voice. Her eyes widened in shock; before I could utter a word, she threw me to the ground until I hit my head so hard against the wall, causing so much pain.
"Is it like you no longer understand who I truly am?"
"Of course, I know what you are capable of. If truly my son is still alive, then show me my son."
"So you have the nerve to talk back at me because you think your son is not alive..." She paused, took a deep breath, and averted her gaze towards the maid who had invited me in. "Go bring that loser, and I'll show this woman her place."
Fear gripped me. So my son is still alive? There were times my instincts were telling me he was still alive, but his voice was very faint, so I thought he was dead.
Without another word, I immediately went on my knees and grabbed her knees while pleading with her, "I'm sorry, please forgive me, but please don't harm my son. Just let him go and take me instead. Kill me and let him survive. I'm pleading with you, please," I pleaded as more tears slipped down my cheeks.
"Oh, but I thought you dared to exchange words with me. I'll show you that you are from a common home and don't need to leave," she said with a mischievous smile as she started kicking me hard against my belly, making me let out a deep groan. My heart was racing so fast, and I was trying to calm my nerves. Then suddenly the maid barged in and said, "We went to the body disposals, and we couldn't find his body. I think he might have completely decayed." When those words escaped her lips, my world ended that instant; I didn't see the need to live. Then I noticed a dagger placed on the table. I started crawling towards the table. I was about to carry the dagger only for Anita to stop me by wrapping her hand around my wrist. "And what do you think you are doing, old woman?"
"Killing myself, I sacrificed many lives for him, and then you have already killed him. All for what, Anita?"
She smiled and brought her lips closer to mine. "Because I never wanted your son; I have always wanted you."