The Bradshaws will be pleased as punch to start the proceedings to gain my generous trust fund. It is supposed to be my reward for all my hard work for the family. It should never have been in that stupid fucking contract.
Fury, hot and festering in my gut for months, finally takes hold of me. I scream again, until my lungs hurt. There is nothing else I can do.
I did it all for my parents; I did everything for them. My life was nothing but trying to please them and make them acknowledge how good I was. I worked night and day to raise the Field name higher. I never complained and I always did as they asked, even agreeing to that fucking engagement.
Now? It’s wasted. All my hard work has been thrown away because of the greed of others.
“Doesn’t matter,” I murmur the lie to myself in the hopes I will believe it.
For the first time in my life, I am free of the weight of expectation, and I end up in a fucking cell.
“She knows that if the others realise you are human, they may react poorly, sweet one.”Their voice is soft in my ear now, a coiling sensation inside me stirs.
“What does that even fucking mean?” I groan, throwing my hands up. “Are they going to eat me?”
“I would never allow it.”
I close my eyes and breathe through the frustration. Anger won’t fix this. I need to wait and find the weak spot. I’ve already fucked up once since waking up. I should have lied and just agreed to the first thing she called me.
But what kind of relationship survives when it is born of a lie?
A pathetic smile curls at the corner of my lips. It’s vain of me to be happy she called me nymph. She at least thought I was beautiful enough for a moment. I saw the way she stared at my hips, at my mouth. Her gaze was assessing, but she lingered.
Hold on to those,I tell myself.
I can do what I want. No more coy smiles, no more being polite and civil, no more abusive fiancé. Those are good things I can focus on, too. This is my chance to be me without fear of retribution from my parents. They aren’t my family any more.
And this me wants that woman to fall in love with me. By whatever means necessary, she is my goal now and her love will be my reward. No more wanting from the sidelines and being detached. A new life means a new way of living.
After I kill the people who did this to me.
“So, how am I supposed to get revenge from here?” I ask.
For the first time, I notice how my voice, now strained and dry, echoes off the walls. It only adds to the level of fear still pumping in my veins. My fingers still shake from the way she yanked me across that giant foyer.
“Do you wish for the power to be free of this place?”
Something tickles inside of me at the question, profound and unsettling.
“What do you want in exchange this time? More murders?”
“A vow, a bond so unbreakable that you will be forever transformed. But power is not gained without something lost.”
“So I promise myself to you, and what?” I ask again, my voice barely a whisper.
There isn’t anything to really lose. I have already died once, and that somehow got me a soulmate. Making a vow with them doesn’t seem to have a risk, and that is what made me hesitate this time.
“There is something inside of you, sweet one, a cavern that is empty, a vessel that is powerful enough to hold the power we are going to bestow you with.”
“You want to impregnate me?” Bile rises in my throat.
I have never wanted kids. I’ve vocally denied any maternal instincts that my own mother tried to instil in me. And, being the sole heir to the Fields dynasty, this has caused nothing but problems in my relationship with them. Maybe they even thought if they forced my hand in this fucked up arranged marriage, that I would fall pregnant by accident.
“Do not debase us with such a vile concept.”Their voice rises, and every part of me vibrates. My body freezes in terror at the feeling of falling.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” The words rush out of me as a tear slips down my cheek. Why am I crying?
“Close your eyes and open your mind, sweet one. Come to us.”
