Chapter 9

ASHINA'S POV

“Fifty lashes?” I said my eyes were burning through her. Before knowing it, I started laughing hysterically that I couldn't even control myself, not my laughter.

I don't know what exactly I was doing, but all that was showing in my eyes was nothing but pain. I was in a lot of pain before without getting beaten, yet the pain I was feeling was extremely painful.

“You've just a minute to plead for mercy and lip my feet!” She said in an authoritative tone but I wasn't having it.

I have never for once pleaded for mercy for what I have never done. And I wouldn't do that now, I would prefer to die than to do that.

“Plead guilty at your feet, huh?” I asked as I wriggled out of the guards that held me down before dragging myself to her front.

“For what exactly, mistress?” I asked

“Drag her out and increase the lashes to seventy!” She ordered and I was dragged out immediately.

I had intentionally provoked her; I know people like her crave to be respected and adored. She's just like Jessica and I know how people like them think.

I believe I would never survive seventy strokes and I have no regret. The only regret I have was taking Susan along to suffer in this place.

If I had known this would be the end of me, I wouldn't have taken her along. Now that I am sure I won't survive this, I would be leaving her to suffer alone in this cold place.

“I curse everyone that has caused me nothing but pain. Every day of your life, each person of you shall live in abundant pain and a sorrowful life!” I muttered with my eyes closed as tears streamed down my cheeks.

I was laid on my back on the pavement; I looked around and could see people throw scornful looks at me. They were nothing but hatred in their eyes.

“Ah!” I cried out in agony when a stroke touched my tender skill. I couldn't even think straight anymore; if my stroke could make me go crazy, what would happen by the time I received all the seventy strokes?

“10…. 15….24….30….”

I was surprised that I was still alive when I was given the thirty strokes, but I don't think I am the person still alive. I believe I just heard it faintly.

“.............70”

I have never for once thought if I was a liberty to my husband but seeing myself in this situation, I believe I was no different from other ladies who depend solemnly on their husbands.

Without Ethan, here I am nothing but a lowlife slave that could be tampered with at any time by the higher up. I could be killed without anyone knowing or caring to look for me.

“I am nothing without him,” he must have thought so too and believed I would be back soon for him, but too bad I ain't going back, and even if I did, I would be going there for revenge!

“I curse you, Ethan!” I screamed out in agony and my vision became blurry. Everywhere turned back which I guess I was finally dead.

CASSIUS POV

“What should we do about her? I doubt she can withstand seventy lashes,” Bata Idris said but I was confident in my judgment.

“If I make my presence known, that'll alert the enemies. She'll survive it,” I said as I continued watching how she was mercilessly beaten.

“Have you gotten what happened between them from our insider?” I asked before focusing back my attention on her. I could see her gritting her teeth in extreme pain.

“She never went on her knees when she got to the mistress, and she was looking at the mistress in the eyes, which seemed to annoy her.”

“She was told she wasn't special by Mistress Elyria, and she responded that she thought she was. All this made her angry, which led her to give such an order.”

“From the insider, she was given a chance to redeem herself by pleading guilty at her feet and wiping her legs with her tongue but she never did.” Beta Idris said explaining every single detail to me.

I clenched my fist in anger; I couldn't believe she had given her seventy strokes of cane for just random things that weren't worth it.

It made me remember those situations I was in when I would have been for what I knew nothing about. I remember those days that my brothers would do something but the moment the maids said I did it, I would be beaten mercilessly.

My mother was Luna, and I thought I had everyone on my side, but everything changed right from the moment she gave up the ghost. Reality hit hard that I struggled so hard to survive; I had nobody on my side except my Bata Idris.

Every single person turned their back on me; I survived alone as I grew up. I was pathetic throughout my growing up, and to date, I remain pathetic, and I hate that.

“Alpha, the full moon is in three days,” he said and I could see myself shivering in those few words.

“Okay, What about the background check I told you to run?” I tried to check the topic as fast as possible.

Every full moon is the day I always regretted being born. I hated it because it was nothing but a weakness to me. I hate the fact that I have that weakness in me.

“I don't know why; it seems very hard to lay my hand on her life history. It is as if she never existed in this century.”

“What does that mean? Does that mean that someone eased every detail about her?” I asked to be sure of what he meant because Beta Idris is someone who would easily get this kind of petty work done in a few minutes.

“Yes, Alpha. But I'll make sure to dig harder till I get a clue.” He said confidently.

I nodded before returning my gaze to her “ I curse you, Ethan!” I heard her scream which gripped my attention. At first, I thought my ears were hearing strange things.

“Did you hear what she said?” I asked Idris with eagerness in my eyes. I believe we could use that as glue, too.

“Yes, Alpha.”

I sighed silently at the fact that I wasn't the only one who heard the last scream from her before everywhere became silent.

“Who do you think is Ethan?” Idris asked.

I believe the person must have held a place in her heart for her to scream out her name.

“I believe it could be her father or her brother,” I said, expecting him to nod to my words, but Beta Idris shook his head in disapproval of my words.

“You're naive when it comes to things like this,” he said, making me more curious than usual.

“The person seems like a lover or more to her,” he said, but I still have my doubts, and I wasn't looking convinced yet.

“I shall take my leave now,” Beta Idris said, leaving before I could say anything else.

A WEEK LATER

ASHINA'S POV

The darkness seemed to be never-ending as I walked to nowhere… Everything seemed surreal; I tried opening my mouth; I wanted to shout out loud, but it seemed my mouth was tied as it wouldn't move. It was painful the moment I tried moving it again.

It has been a long time since I have walked to nowhere, I seemed to be walking around like a lost soul.

It was not until I saw a tiny ray of white light that I felt like I had gotten to my final destination at last.

My racing heart seemed to have calmed down as I followed the white ray, the ray that brought hope into my soul.

I followed behind until the brightness intensified. Every inch of my body ached as I dragged myself towards the source of the light.

“No…. I …. Mu…s..t …. Lea….ve….”

I wanted to desperately escape this hell hole that I was in as it was giving me terrifying feelings as if I would be caged in here the moment I gave up struggling to escape from here.

After what seemed like a long time, I stood dramatically in front glaring at the light. I was almost blinded by the bright intensity, which caused me to cover my face with both hands, and there the flash ended, and I found my eyes open wide.

“You are awake, ma'am!” I heard diverting my attention to the other side that the voice had come from.

“I thought I had lost you. I thought I wouldn't see you again, I can't imagine myself without you.”

“I was so scared. Everyone already said you're dead. They gave me just a week that if you're unable

to wake up you'll be properly buried.”

“I was so scared and worried about you, “ she said while I could only stare at her.