Back to the cage
Freda's POV
The sky was gradually becoming darker, signaling that it would be raining soon. The journey back to the castle was silent. My heart was beating so fast in her chest. My mind wandered back to how the vampire prince killed his brother and threw his father into the dungeon during the dinner. What would he do if he found out I tried to escape?
Captain Volkov was sitting beside me with a straight face, I'm sure he’s sitting beside me to prevent me from doing something else, the first time he didn’t sit beside me and now he is. Christie was darting her eyes nervously between me and Volkov, It was obvious that Christie could also feel the tension between us.
I removed my eyes from Christie, turning my head to the window. I was this close to having my freedom, this close to escaping this cage. From a distance, I could see the towering walls of the castle and suddenly my chest felt so tight. I have to hold back my tears.
We passed through the castle gates, the heavy iron creaking ominously as it closed behind us. There was no escape. The guards at the gate exchanged glances but said nothing, now everybody looked like they pitied me.
Captain Volkov’s voice broke the silence and brought me out of my thoughts. “Take her to her quarters,” he ordered the guards.
Two guards stepped forward, One holding my hand and the other just guiding the way. I resisted the urge to pull away, I wasn’t some criminal I only tried to escape and be free I didn’t murder anyone.
I turned to look at Volkov once more and his gaze softened for just a moment, a flicker of something like regret passing through his eyes.
“Take some rest, Miss Freda,” Volkov said, his voice quiet and gentle now. “You’ve had a long day.”
I said nothing but nodded my head. My silence was the only thing keeping me together. If I opened my mouth I was certain tears would start flowing from my eyes.
The guard released his grip on my arm as we entered the castle building heading for the stairs leading to my room.
We reached the quarters, the door swinging open to reveal the room that had become both my sanctuary and my prison.
The guards stood at the door as I entered the room, some minutes passed and I could still feel their presence. “You can leave,” I said quietly as I turned to face them, My voice surprisingly steady.
The guards hesitated, exchanging a glance before nodding and stepping out of the room. The door closed behind them with a soft thud.
I stood there for a moment, my hands trembling at my sides. I sat down on the sofa close to the window as I let all the tears I've been holding drop. I was stupid for even thinking it would work out, leaving this castle into the kingdom was surely a death sentence.
The door creaked open behind me, and I quickly wiped out the tears in my eyes, not bothering to turn around. “I thought I said to leave me alone,” I murmured.
“It’s me,” Christie’s voice came. I didn’t respond, keeping my gaze outside the window as I watched the raindrop from the sky. Christie took a cautious step into the room, closing the door quietly behind her. “Freda, I… I’m sorry.”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Sorry for what? For failing to escape? Or for believing, even for a moment, that I could?”
Christie sighed and kept quiet. I turned back to the window, the rain becoming more heavy as each minute passed.
Christie hesitated before speaking again, “Captain Volkov… he didn’t mean for any of this to happen, you know. He was just trying to protect you.”
My fingers curled against the windowsill, My knuckles turning white. “He was protecting Damien’s interests, not mine, after all, he works for the royals,” I said coldly. “I’m just a pawn in whatever game they’re playing.”
Christie didn’t respond, knowing that anything she said wouldn't make me feel better. Instead, she moved closer, placing a hand gently on my arm. “Rest,” she urged softly. “You need your strength.”
I closed my eyes and allowed myself to find comfort in her words and touch. I was too tired to argue, too drained to fight. “Maybe you’re right,” I murmured. “Maybe I just need to rest.”
Christie offered a small, sad smile. “I’ll be just outside if you need anything,” she said before slipping out of the room.
