STRANGLED
FREDA'S POV
Williams' hand tightened around my neck, cutting off my air in an instant. I struggled hoping that the rope on my hands would lose but it wasn't bulging. All I could do was move my body hoping that I could free my neck from his grip but it was more painful.
My vision began to blur as tears gathered in my eyes. My lungs burned, desperate for air, but he just squeezed harder, his face inches from mine, filled with anger.
I was on the edge of blacking out when his hand loosened. I coughed and sucked in a sharp breath, my whole body trembling from the shock of being so close to death.
Before I could even gather my thoughts, his hand cracked across my face. The slap was so hard it whipped my head to the side, and the sting of it made the tears fall. My cheek burned, the pain sharp and hot, but I bit my lip, forcing myself not to cry out. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. But the tears, they fell anyway, slipping down my face silently.
Williams stood up, towering over me, his facial expression proved that he was still angry. His eyes narrowed, and I saw his fangs coming out fully. He bent down once again to bring himself to my level and closed the gap between us before he started talking.
"Eat," he growled. "If your plan is to die in my hands, you won't die yet. Not until I get the throne."
This man is evil, how can he be Damien's uncle and do all this just so he can get the throne. As he continued speaking the only thing I could do was stare at him, my mind wondering if it is better to die or be used as a pawn
"But if you don't follow orders, I won’t hesitate to suck you dry, Freda. Dead or alive, you'll still be of use to me, I can't imagine Damien's face when he sees the little human he's obsessed with is dead."
I shivered at the threat. He was serious. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate if I pushed him too far. My breath was shaky as I held back the sobs that threatened to escape. There was no escape from him. Whether he killed me or kept me alive, it didn’t matter, all he wanted was the throne.
He stood up and turned to the maid who was shaking in the corner like she was the one almost on the verge of death. "Feed her," he ordered.
The maid, shaking, stepped forward again, holding the plate out toward me. I tried to understand her plan. My hands are tied. How does she expect me to pick the plate and eat. I kept on staring at her until she realized that I couldn't help myself.
I could see the fear in her eyes, just as much fear as I felt. Slowly, she reached out and took the bread from the plate, her hand trembling as she brought the dried bread to my mouth. I didn’t want to eat. The bread was stale and dry, but I didn’t have a choice anymore. I tore a piece off and brought it to my mouth, chewing slowly, the tears falling freely now.
The bread tasted like ash in my mouth. As much as my stomach was rumbling before now and my throat completely dry, it was the least of my worries. I just hope someone my dad is able to discover that my mom and I are missing and come rescue, also wherever my mom is she isn't being strangled like me.
Williams watched me for a moment longer, satisfied with my submission, before he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with the maid. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, and I let out a shaky breath of relief. I continued eating, piece by piece, my body still shaking, the tears falling while I ate the dead bread.
The maid offered me a cup of water, and I took it with shaking hands. I drank quietly, staring at the floor, trying to gather my thoughts. I wanted to ask her why she was here. Why wasn't she back in the palace, where she belonged? Was she forced into this, or had she chosen to be part of Williams' twisted plans? But before I could speak, the thought of her answer stopped me. Did it even matter? I can see that she didn't choose to be here willingly, she was scared of Williams just as I am.
After I finished the food, the maid stood back, wringing her hands nervously. She hesitated for a moment, then glanced down at me with a sorrowful look in her eyes.
"Sorry, my queen," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.
Her words sent a pang through my chest. *My queen.* Even now, in this miserable state, someone still saw me as their queen. I wanted to scream, to tell her that I wasn’t a queen, that I was powerless here, just as much a victim as she was. Being the queen of the Vampire kingdom is what brought me into this situation. But I couldn’t speak. My throat felt tight, all I've been able to do is cry. For the first time I actually wished Damien was right here to save me.
As I turned my head to side, laying on the wall behind me, I promised myself that once I'm out of here I'm never going to go close to the vampire world, it Damien and the throne.
