Chapter 11

***Serafina's POV***

I felt like I was just an empty shell. I was just letting them do whatever they wanted. I let them wash my whole body and scrub some oil making my skin glow.

They made me wear a long white gown and make soft curls on my hair. They also put light makeup on my face just to make me look alive.

"You look exquisite sweetheart," the Queen uttered after scanning me from head to toe.

I forced a smile trying to hide what I felt inside. I felt scared. I thought I would be ready once this day came but all I wanted to do right now was run away and escape this reality.

I want to disappear and just live a life where no one will control me. I want to claim my freedom.

"Just stay in your room for the meantime. Once the clock strikes midnight the wedding will happen,"

The Queen planted a soft kiss on top of my head before she stepped out of the room leaving me with Cressida and other servants.

I was staring at my reflection and in my peripheral vision, I could feel Cressida staring at me. I know what she thinks. I know just like me she doesn't want this wedding to happen.

"Can you leave me for a minute?" I politely asked and without any question, the servants nodded their heads including Cressida. The other servants already stepped out but when it was Cressida's turn I called her.

"Stay with me Cressida,"

She looked confused but stayed in the room just like I wanted.

"Do you need anything Lady Serafina?" she asked anticipating the words that will slipped out of my lips.

"Help me Cressida. Help me escape the palace,"

Her eyebrows are now deeply furrowed looking at me with so much confusion.

"Are you insane? You will run away after everything that you have been through? I thought you would marry King Calixto no matter what happens. Why did you change your mind now Serafina?"

I took a deep breath and turned my head on her meeting her gaze. "I don't want this life Cressida. I don't want to marry a man who doesn't love me. I want to find my true mate. I want to spend the rest of my life with the man who will love me,"

She fell silent. She was just staring at me and during those seconds I was praying so hard that she would agree to help me.

"Isn't this for the best Cressida? Your mate won't marry me and I can be free. Everything will work in our favor once I disappear,"

She chuckled as if what I said sounded ridiculous.

"If you leave they will just find another bride for King Calixto," she responded bitterness and sadness laced in her tone.

I reached for her hand and looked at her directly in the eyes. "Or maybe both of you will be brave enough to fight for your bond. Maybe once I disappear both of you will find the courage to reveal to everyone that you are mated to each other,"

Silence enveloped us. Cressida just stared at my eyes and after a while, she nodded her head making my heart swell in happiness.

"Fine, I will help you but make sure you will disappear. Make sure you won't show up again?"

I nodded without hesitation and pulled her into a tight hug. I never thought that being selfish would make me feel free. I never thought that fighting for my freedom would be this happy. Yes, I admit fear still lingers but the thought that I will have the chance to live my life the way I want makes me feel alive.

"Let's go, I know a way,"

Cressida broke off the hug and walked towards the door so I immediately followed her. She took a peek checking if someone was outside but since everyone was busy preparing for the wedding they were all gathered in the garden and the hallway of the palace was empty.

"Let's go we don't have time,"

We quietly stepped out of the room. I was just following Cressida putting all my trust in her.

We kept on walking until we reached the abandoned part of the palace. Cressida opens a small wooden door and my eyes widen when it leads us to the backyard.

"Do you always escape?" I can't help but ask.

Cressida turned her head on me and rolled her eyes. "Why do you have to ask so many questions? Just follow me and be quiet."

This brat. If I don't need her I already slapped her mouth but I have to control my temper. Just be patient Serafina and you don't have to deal with this woman anymore.

Cressida passed through the small wooden door and I followed her. I watched her as she walked towards the wall and started removing the vines and after a while, I saw a hole in the wall enough for us to squeeze ourselves.

"Move Serafina we are running out of time!" she said getting all impatient.

Why can't she be kind to me? Who knows this might be the last time we will be seeing each other.

"Can you calm down? This gown is too heavy for me to move freely," I complained rolling my eyes before I squeezed myself on the hole.

I ended up falling on the ground because the gown was too heavy and I lost my balance. The moment I stood up and roam my eyes around I found myself a few meters away from the forest.

"I know a way for us to reach the border in just a few minutes,"

Cressida was about to run on the dark side of the forest when I held her wrist to stop her. "That place looks dangerous Cressida are you sure we can go there?"

Cressida rolled her eyes for the nth time as she pulled her wrist out of my hold.

"Do you want to escape or not?"

I can feel fear creeping into my system but I have no choice. I have to do this.

Gathering all my courage I followed Cressida as she ran towards the forest. We ran as fast as we could but she stopped out of nowhere making me confused and scared at the same time.

"What's wrong?" I asked whispering.

Cressida immediately covered my mouth and pulled me towards the nearest tree to hide.

"Be quiet. Rouges are roaming around,"

My fear doubled and it felt like I was taken back to that night when I was attacked by that rouge. I can feel my chest tighten and I am having a hard time to breath.

"Can you smell that? I can smell the scent of a she-wolf," a deep voice uttered, and before we could even run away I saw their blazing gaze directed at us.

"We got lucky tonight," they said followed by their evil laughter.

When they started walking towards us all we could do was hold each other's hand. I can feel Cressida's hand getting cold. I know she is scared too.

"What should we do Cressida?" I asked fear evident in my tone.

"Run Serafina! Fucking run!" she shouted and started tracing our way back to the palace but before we could even step out of the forest the rouge already blocked our way.

"Where do you think you're going? You can't leave. The two of you will be our meal tonight,"

They started walking towards us. They were two rouges each one, walking towards us but they stopped midway.

"This one," the rouge pointed at me. "This one is a royalty. We can't kill her. We might end up being hunted until we are killed but this one..." they pointed at Cressida with an evil grin plastered on their lips, "this one is a mere servant. No one will notice if she dies,"

After saying those both of them attack Cressida.

"No please don't hurt her!" I shouted at the top of my lungs but none of them listened to my words.

I tried getting near them to help Cressida but I ended up getting thrown, my back hitting the huge tree and I ended up falling on the cold ground.

Using my remaining strength I stood again to get near them but before I could even dig my claws into the back of the rouge a loud growl echoed in the whole forest and upon turning my head to where the sound came from I saw a blazing red eyes and without seeing his face I already recognized King Calixto.

I can feel his rage. His heavy footsteps as he walked towards the rouges almost broke the ground.

The rouges did not even have the time to run away because in just a split second King Calixto's claws were already dug on their chest and they were cruelly thrown on the ground lifeless.

I saw King Calixto's shoulder move up and down as he slowly kneeled on the ground and held Cressida on his arm.

My knees were shaking but I used my remaining strength to walk towards them to check Cressida. I kneel in front of King Calixto. I was about to touch Cressida when King Calixto's hand held my wrist firmly his claws digging into my skin making me whimper in pain.

"I will kill you if I lose Cressida. I will make sure to kill you with my bare hands Serafina,"