21. Break her

*THALIA'S POV

My brows knotted because I still couldn’t remember regaining my powers that night. All I could remember was that I had a sudden burst of energy when I was extremely afraid…

My eyes widened in realization. “It was a meaningless display, sire, I have no powers,” I tried to cajole Savior into understanding, but it would be easier to cajole a tiger than this lycan.

He yanked my head back, his inches away from mine. “Are my eyes blue or green?” He asked, but when I hesitated, he became angrier. “Answer me!”

“Amber!” I cried. “Your eyes are neither blue nor green, they are amber colored.”

Savior chuckled darkly, momentarily releasing his tight grip on my hair. “I thought you were blind? How does a blind girl know the color of my eyes?”

My eyes widened as I realized my mistake. “I… Only see your eyes, your majesty, I have been able to see them since I was only a child.”

Savior must have assumed that my dragon side was the cause of everything that happened that night, and I didn’t know if he was wrong or right, but I knew that I felt uplifted for a very brief moment. That could potentially spell doom for him and his people if my dragon side got awakened.

He wouldn't let that happen on his watch. He dipped his fingers in the liquid that was on the stool by his chair, then he rubbed it on my eyes.

Immediately the liquid came in contact with my eyes, I began to wail in pain.

“It burns,” I cried, rolling on the floor like a salted worm.

Savior allowed me to finish her crying before he crouched down to my level.

“Listen and listen carefully to me,” he said, yanking my head up, resting it on his shoulder. “If this happens again, I will put an end to your miserable existence, dragon.”

He released me with a shove and stood up to dust his outfit. He turned his back on me as he ordered, “leave my presence, I wish not to see you.”

I kept sobbing as I desperately searched for my cane. When I found it, I couldn’t stand on my feet, so I crawled to the door, missing it by hitting my head against the wall I assumed was the door.

Everything was pitch black again. I felt blind again. The pain in my eyes was excruciating, and I could still feel the burning sensation. As I crawled, the hard floor beneath me felt unforgiving, and sobs racked my body. I struggled to find my way out of the room, my hand blindly reaching for any surface to guide me.

Finally, I felt the coolness of the corridor floor, and I knew I had made it outside Savior’s chambers. The pitch-black darkness continued to engulf my vision, and my heart raced with fear and uncertainty.

The cruelty I had endured seemed to intensify with each passing moment; it got harder to breathe.

As I dragged myself along the hallway, the sound of footsteps approached. I tensed, fearing it might be Savior coming to inflict more torment upon me. To my surprise, the footsteps paused, and a soft, familiar voice spoke.

“Thalia? Is that you?” Ellie’s concerned tone reached my ears.

I couldn’t hold back the fresh wave of sobs as I struggled to respond. “Ellie, help me please.”

Ellie hurried to my side, her hands gently reaching for me. “What happened? Why are you crying? Did something go wrong with the Luna’s duties?”

I shook my head, unable to form coherent words through my tears. The pain in my eyes and the fear of what might befall me now that I was completely helpless, the things I can’t avoid.

Ellie helped me to my feet, her touch gentle and compassionate. “Let’s get you inside our quarters,” she said softly, guiding me with a supportive arm around my waist.

“Stay here, Lia. I’ll bring some soothing herbs for your eyes,” Ellie offered me, her gentle presence a balm to my wounded soul.

Alone in our dimly lit room, I reflected on the torment I had endured. When I thought I was beginning to understand Savior, he goes ahead to do something as unpredictable as this. And the constant threat on my life left me in a state of perpetual fear. The incident in his chambers made me realize that I am only fooling myself thinking that he would change his feelings towards me.

Ellie returned with a herbal concoction, and she carefully applied it to my burning eyes. The soothing effect eased the pain, and I felt a temporary relief.

“Thank you, Ellie,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from crying.

Ellie sat beside me, offering silent companionship. "Tell me the truth Thalia, did your mistress do this to you? Or was it the king?"

I didn't know if I should tell Ellie the truth considering the fact that she already knew about my relationship with the king and also the fact that Savior wanted me to keep it a secret.

Seeing that I was unwilling to answer, she hugged me. "It is the king right?"

Slowly, I nodded, fresh sobs racking my body. "I'm blind, Ellie, completely."

"I know, Thalia, I know." Ellie rubbed my back soothingly.

I knew she didn't understand because she didn't know I wasn't fully blind before now, but I also didn't want to explain anything to her.

From that day hence, my life became an even bigger living hell because the pain in my eyes kept returning back no matter how much soothing herbs I applied.

The flip side, Janette wasn't around for a whole week and I was a bit relieved. I avoided Savior like a plague and nothing made me happier than what he did for me by choosing a new food taster.

As my life was getting better, Ellie's life took a turn for the worst.