Chapter 5 The Nightmare Betrothal
Fernanda felt helpless as she sat in front of a golden framed mirror and studied her reflection. Her face was pale, whiter than its normal shade and her eyes were bloodshot red from constant crying. She had cried all through the journey from her father's Manor to Sebastian's castle.
She had felt more miserable when she saw how gigantic the castle was, it looked as if it were carved from ice. She had always seen the top of the towers from her father's manor but had never set eyes upon the castle itself.
The castle, although had a captivating beauty, Fernanda could still sense the danger emanating from it. Staring at it made her feel so small and helpless, it felt as if she was being escorted to a lifetime prison, one bigger than her father's manor.
Her eyes had scanned the whole surrounding and there didn't seem to be any corner, gate or opening that was left unguarded by the gamma werewolves. The whole castle was tightly secured with all guards standing alert as if they were expecting an external attack at any moment.
Before she realized it, her eyes starting welling up with tears again. Her body jerked when the door to the room she was in got opened, she immediately wiped off her tears and straightened her back thinking it was Sebastian.
Her shoulder relaxed a bit when she saw three ladies come in instead, they were carrying different trays in hand that contained food, jewelries and other necessary adornments for a lady.
"His Majesty has ordered us to come." One of them who looked the oldest spoke up. Fernanda didn't respond, she simply continue to stare blankly at herself in the mirror.
The one that spoke earlier slightly cleared her throat and tried to speak again, "Please leave." Fernanda said before she could say anything.
"But we have to clean you up my lady, it was the King's order. It has to be done." The lady replied, nervously looking back at the other two ladies behind her.
The three of them looked stunning, their soft makeup complementing their elegant attire. They wore long skirts with matching bodices that left their waists and shoulders bare. Adorned with golden ornaments, they resembled princesses, and Fernanda almost forgot they were servants.
"At least he treats his servants rightly, they don't look like they live in fear of him." Fernanda thought as she clutched her wet clothes tightly to stop her hands from shaking. "Don't be naive! They are definitely sleeping with him, they aren't servants but courtesans!" Her inner goddess sneered at her.
The thought alone made Fernanda's stomach churn uncomfortably. She gripped her stomach as a pained expression immediately appeared on her face. The servants noticed her discomfort and started getting closer to help her.
"I said I wish to be alone! Leave!" She yelled at the servants, pointing a shaky finger towards the door. "My lady, His Majesty will get furious if he is disobeyed. We will be punished." One of them said, her eyes pleading.
Fernanda scoffed, "I am so sorry about that, but I truly wish to be by myself without any disturbance. Tell the king I said so." She said firmly, looking so ready to fight them off if they refused to leave and come closer.
The servants finally but reluctantly turned to leave. As soon as the door was shut, Fernanda shuddered and sank onto the floor and began to cry again. "Mom, I need you. Why did you have to leave me alone in this world. It's so scary." She cried harder, she needed to hug her mother at that moment.
As she cried further, the door to her room suddenly kicked open, startling her. This time it was with force because it was Sebastian who came in. Fernanda frantically stood up and started backing away from him as he approached her with a death stare.
She backed against a wall and at that moment, she wished it would swallow her if it meant escaping the man in front of her. Sebastian's eyes were icy blue as they stared daggers into hers, the room which was slightly cold before became colder now because of his presence.
"Stay away from me." Fernanda gritted her teeth as she said so, her voice shaking as she continued to pressed her back tightly into the wall. "I don't think that's advisable considering I will be marrying you soon." He replied her. But he stopped moving even though he was already close and towering over her.
She let out a frustrated sob, "I don't want to marry you, why can't you understand that?"
"Do you think I permanently spared your father just because you said yes to the marriage agreement?" Sebastian asked rhetorically, Making Fernanda's blood run cold in her body. His mouth curled into a devious smirk when he saw her shocked expression.
She looked away to the side as he reached for her chin with the tip of his index finger, when his finger came in contact with her skin, she flinched. Sebastian gently tilted her face to make her look at him. Her blood red eyes stared back at his deep ocean ones as she studied him. Everything felt cold. His touch, his presence, his energy.
Fernanda was used to coldness, she lived in a Kingdom governed by one of nature's most abundant element which is water. Clawshire is surrounded by a vast ocean and rain fell in abundance and there were also a large population of water wielders, so of course Fernanda was used to coldness.
But there was something dangerous and bitter about the coldness she felt at that moment, one that emanated from the man in front of her. Sebastian looked like someone who was carved out of a war, his eyes and the scar on his face gave it all away.
"How naive." He said softly, his finger still lingering gently on her skin, as if he was being careful not to hurt her. "We had an agreement!" Fernanda forced herself to say, trying to ignore the alien sensation that coursed through her body due to his touch.
"And you are breaching the agreement, my future wife-to-be." Sebastian snarled back, "You said you are going to spare him if I agree to marry you!"
"I meant wholeheartedly! If you so much as think of running away, or hurting yourself to stop this wedding from happening, then I will kill your entire family. I'm sure it will be a hearty reunion in the afterlife for all of you." Sebastian told her, his deep voice low but firm enough for her to register in her head.
Her chest spasmed as she tried and failed to hold back her sobs. Sebastian moved closer to her, his face a mere inches from hers. "Do not be the reason why your father would have to die a painful death." He warned, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb.
After Sebastian departed, Fernanda remained frozen to the wall, fighting to catch her breath. The three servants came back into the room, they weren't the least surprised when they saw Fernanda in the state she was in.
For the remainder of the night, Fernanda complied with every request without resistance. The servants bathed her gently, their hands moving with a softness which was betrayed by the pain in her eyes.
They braided her hair with delicate flowers tucked into each intricate strands, the gentle tugs on her scalp a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil she was suppressing.
Fernanda was finally dressed in a breathtakingly beautiful garment, the soft fabric and delicate embroidery a cruel difference to the anguish she felt inside of her. As she lay on her bed, the numbness that had shielded her began to wear off, and she finally burst into tears, her body shaking with sobs.
"Mother save me from this hell." She said amidst sobs before her body finally succumbed to a deep sleep filled with nightmares.