Chapter 25

This day, Amelia decided, couldn’t possibly get any worse. She rolled and tossed on her bed, her hands on her hair, her eyes tightening as she remained locked up in her prison.

The rage they had felt after she arrived at the house the previous night. It was the last draw, and her parents had kept her captive in the room.

It was wonderful just how much exploring one could do in an enclosed place. Amelia had discovered a big hole behind her bookshelf; she'd also spent a lot of time counting the marching ants that’d stolen a crumb of bread. She felt like sleeping beauty, both trapped in a gruesome reality, except there was no prince to come to her rescue. The window wasn’t an option either, her mother had sealed it, making the room appear darker than its usual form.

Then the thought clicked. A prince. The Prince…She’d been trying hard to block the thought of him out of her mind.

She felt some kind of internal hurt, one she couldn’t describe, and her wolf wasn’t making matters better. There was a separation, a withdrawal she felt from it; she’d thought her wolf was cold-shouldered, but this—this was much worse.

Harry had called her his mate; she could understand why she felt the stirrings whenever she was in his presence, the attraction and goodness, his fragrance! The fragrance she’d grown to love.

But now, she was trapped in her prison, with no hope of ever seeing the human and even her mate.

There came the sound of a click. Amelia opened his eyes, meeting with the figure that had walked in. Heaving a sigh, she raised her duvet to conceal her face.

“You are in no place to act up,” Veronica flippantly said through the mind link. Right, she’d forgotten she was a prisoner with no right to do whatever she wanted.

“Why are you here, mother?” Amelia said, raising her head abruptly.

“You haven’t learnt your lesson,” Veronica spat, “I feel no trace of remorse in your voice.”

“I did nothing wrong,” Amelia affirmed, her gaze darting across the room. Veronica was now sitting at the edge of the bed.

“Disobeying us—giving us a fright is nothing wrong?” Veronica widened her eyes, baffled by her deviant daughter.

“I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused, but I don’t want you worrying for me. I can care for myself,” Amelia softened her eyes, finally feeling some kind of warmth beneath.

Veronica rose from the bed, pacing the length of the room before cocking her head back at Amelia. “You will wed this season,” she affirmed, making Amelia lurch from the bed.

When was it going to end? After she gets hitched, of course!

“I shall make certain of it,” Veronica affirmed, landing her gaze back at Amelia.

“I’ll have you know, mother, that whatever I had with the prince is over now,” she revealed, her words stinging her more than she’d imagined.

There was no need for her to feel guilty, or sad, or even remorseful; she was in love with the human. She was certain of it.

Veronica clamped her hand on her head, “I should have known!” She tightened her eyes, “I knew you’d screw it up! You can’t even keep a man!” She moved to her front and gazed at her intently.

“Can’t you see, Amelia? Can’t you see how you’re slowly ruining your life? All I’ve always wanted is to protect you!” She grimaced. “And your brother…your brother also got a maid pregnant!”

Amelia paused, coming to realize she hadn’t seen Emily all day. She would have rescued her out of the prison, no doubt.

She couldn’t help but wonder how Veronica had found out.

“Maybe it’s you who needs protection, mother—protection from yourself,” her words came out subconsciously, but that was the dead-end.

Veronica raised her hand, violently landing it on Amelia’s right cheek.

When she gazed up, her eyes red, seconds away from drooling tears, it connected with Veronica’s, she was fidgeting. Amelia had never seen her that way.

“You will never speak to me in that manner again! You’re a disgrace!”

She frowned and stormed out of the room.

Amelia remained on her toes, alone with her thoughts and her company. None of the books on her shelf were of interest to her, nothing was of interest. There was a lump in her throat; she felt it lurking, and Amelia couldn’t take it anymore.

How did everything suddenly become so bad?

How did her life get so messy?

Suddenly, there was a knock. She raised her head.

It had to be her mother.

It was strange, why would she knock this time?

She’d grown accustomed to her mother’s dramatic entrance.

The knock stopped, and a figure slowly entered. It was her father, and he had an expression she couldn’t quite read.

“Father…” she whispered, unsure of what to expect from him. The slap was still hurting so badly.

“Father, what is going on?” She questioned, starting to get nervous.

“You’re frightening me, father,” she raised her voice. She was overwhelmed with different emotions, unsure of how to react to any situation, and her father was building the tension.

“I’m glad you’re fine, my jewel,” he finally spoke, warming her heart. “But I’ll have you know that I won’t take your truant behavior lightly next time.” He completed, but really, she’d expected him to react worse than her mother.

The general’s expression turned sour again. “What is going on? Are you hiding something? Is Roselyn okay?” She questioned all at once.

“She’s fine,” he waved off.

“I believe you’re hiding something,” she asserted, her gaze transfixed on him. For a moment, the general paused, as though he was searching for something, thinking of something.

“Two bodies were found in the woods.” The general revealed, and Amelia heaved a frustrated sigh.

It was getting rather consecutive, bodies continued to show up, and just the previous day, they’d tried to murder the prince.

When was it going to end?

“This is tragic.”

“I identified one of the bodies,” he cut her off, her mind clouding with different theories. Suddenly, she paled. She didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to think of the possibility. She didn’t want to believe it.

“I’m sorry Amelia, your friend…”

“My goodness, don’t say it!” She yelled, placing her hands over her ears, “don’t say it, father…”

“Sophia is gone,” the general completed.

With that, he stalked out of the room.

Amelia sank down onto the bed, drawing the duvet close to her body.

Was it real?

It wasn’t possible…

How was she going to live?

What had she done?

She’d caused the death of her friend…she’d caused the death of her friend. Her carelessness had led to the death of her dear friend.

She felt a wave spread through her body, a strange shaking over which she had no control. And then she realized she wasn’t just crying. With sharp breaths, unsteady gasps, she was wailing, and then screaming.