Chapter 22
Rhea PoV
The walk with Gabriel was about as pleasant as you’d think, mainly because he was quiet for most of it. Thank the goddess. I didn’t want to speak to him, not r unless I absolutely had to, and right now, I didn’t. I wouldn't speak to him and less it was required of me, but right now he didn't seem to care, he was quite happy walking around in the cold with me by his side.
but why wouldn't he be? he wasn't the one being held against his will. he wasn't the one who was forced to stay here. he wasn't one ripped away from his family. I was, and I swore to the goddess, silently, the eventually I will be free of him.
my hope of a loving man it was long gone, though my brothers always said that life full of excitement and disappointment. This was definitely something that I didn't expect, I wish I had, I would have been long gone before he could take me.
I would have found a way, no matter the cost, to leave my home, and everyone I loved behind. but at least then it would have been my choice.
”what are you thinking about?” Gabriel asks, pointing to a row of yellow flowers I couldn’t recall the name of. “I planted those for you. I thought you could fill your room with them.”
How nice, a flower. I would have much preferred my Freedom.
“The gardens are nice, I didn’t expect them to be this high in the mountains.” I say, keeping my eyes on the multiple flower beds. “Do you throw vegetables and fruit up here?”
I couldn’t tell him what I was really thinking, it would change his mood for the worse and I wasn’t ready to deal with yet another one of his outbursts.
“We do.” He says with a smile, oblivious to my sour mood. “Not everything will grow up here, but most of the food we have, it’s all from our land.”
Awesome, so escaping when food is delivered is a no go.
I needed to find out more about this place, as much information as I can get without making him suspicious of me.
I don’t say anything else to him, I walk over to one of the yellow flowers and pluck it from the ground, admiring its quiet beauty.
For something this beautiful to grow in such a harsh place is quite something, I wonder if I will ever be strong enough to grow here.
“You look sad.” Gabriel says, watching me.
I nod a little, just a small bob of my head, “the flowers reminded me of something back home.”
“This is your home now.” Gabriel shrugs, “you should make new memories here.”
What kind of memories could I possibly make here? I’m a prisoner, a womb for him to use to get his precious heir.
Would I even love a child that came from the devil himself? No, I couldn’t. I didn’t want to.
I’d love to refuse, tell him I’d never do it, but the truth is, the choice was never mine. This is my fate, and it was dictated long ago, before I was even born.
How I would love to hurt him the way he has hurt me, more so, I want to see him suffer. But I don’t have that kind of power. I’m defenceless against him, he knows all my tricks even before I do.
Though I suppose that’s because he has lived a lot Longer than me. He knows what I’ll do because this isn’t the first time he has take a she wolf, I just know it.
But what happened to the others? And why doesn’t he have a child yet?
I have a thousand and one questions, and I can’t ask any of them. Not right now.
“Perhaps if you give me a small amount of freedom to roam the grounds I could make new memories here.” I finally say, my voice low, unsure.
I shouldn’t have said that, but I couldn’t help myself.
Gabriel’s eyes narrow, “perhaps one day, when I can trust you won’t seize every opportunity to run from me.”
I nod, though my mind is elsewhere as I look down at the flower, “I wonder how many times you’ve done this, how many of my kind have died at your hands.”
“More than you would like to know.” Gabriel’s eyes watch me, as though he’s trying to read my every thought. “Let’s go back inside, I don’t want you to catch a cold.”
I almost laugh. Almost.
He doesn’t care about me or my health, he never will.
“Can I bring the flower?” I ask, too afraid to be hopeful.
“Yes.” He says, turning away from me, “I told you that they were planted for you, so what you wish with them.”
“Thank you.” I murmur, more out of habit than actual gratitude. “I am kind of hungry.”
Going inside seems like another step towards my own doom, but how could I refuse? He wouldn’t stand for that.
He turns back, smiling at me, “then you shall eat, I’ll ask the chef to prepare you something as soon as we go back inside.”
“Does the chef have hot chocolate?” I ask, following closely behind him, the flower grasped in my hand.
I hope so, though it’ll never be as good as my mothers.
She loved making coco in the winter, for everyone who would taste it, once she made an entire bucket full for the school.
I miss her, even if she did agree to give me away.
“I think he does.” Gabriel says, his eyes on the horizon. “You need to move faster.”
I frown, following his gaze, but I couldn’t see anything, “why?” I ask.
“Don’t question me, just get to the mansion, now!” He shouts, catching me off guard.
That’s when I see it, a blur of movement, no, many blurs of movement. Were those other vampires?
Why were they here?
“Get inside!” He shouts again, whistling as loud as he can.
I want to obey, I do, but my legs won’t move.
It’s as though I am glued to the spot.
Is it fear? Perhaps.
Someone is attacking, and I have a sinking feeling that they are here for me.