Gina's POV
I dashed to the bathroom as fast as my legs could take me. And sat there for a couple of minutes, crying my eyes out. I heard a sudden footstep that made me pause for a minute. I tried sniffing around to get the scent of the person who walked in; it was Anayah. What was she looking for again? Hasn't she done enough damage?
Her steps quickly approached the bathroom stall I was inside. She pushed the door open, dragging me out of it with my hair. “ Don't you have any shame?!” Her voice was completely void of emotion.
“I didn't mean to …” I tried defending myself, but before I could finish speaking, a scorching smack landed on my cheek, causing me to feel dizzy instantly.
“You're a slave; nobody will want you as a mate, and you don't deserve a mate. You will always be nothing but a slave.”
“Now stay away from my mate!” She said before releasing me, and shoving me back a few feet. Without another glance, she marched down the hall and out of sight. I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths as tears kept streaming down my face.
“She's wrong. Don't listen to her, Gina.” Raven tried to soothe me.
“She's right, though. I have always been a slave. Who could possibly want me? Look at me!”
“You underestimate your strength, Gina. You've endured a great deal, and yet here you are. Still standing. We can leave this pack and never come back since our mate has rejected us and there is nothing left here that is worth fighting for.”
I blinked. “You'd go rogue?”
“I told you I'd always be here with you. Even if we had to be a rogue.”
Tears welled up again, but this time from happiness.
“Wow. Thank you. I love you, Raven.”
I cleaned myself up and headed back to the kitchen. Camille saw me coming and immediately signaled me to walk faster.
She gestured to a tray of food. “Go serve that table.” She said while pointing to the same table where I was just humiliated.
My heart froze in fear as my eyes landed on my father's table.
“You're to serve the Beta this food and drink,” Camille said before walking away.
I drag the tray to the table, trying my best not to appear too nervous despite the prying eyes. I managed to serve the food without causing a scene, and I left, walking as fast as I could to the kitchen without looking back.
When I got to the kitchen, I started cleaning the dishes, hoping I could use it to pass time till I got my pay and then find my way out of this pack for good.
30 minutes later.
“Regina! Regina!” I heard a guard call out as he marched towards me with another guard.
“Yes!” I answered, turning to face them, surprised as to why the guards were here for me.
“Regina. Alpha George sent us to get you.” The guard replied while directing me to the hall.
“Why? Father rarely asks after me.” I mumble to myself while walking to the hall.
The hall that was once as noisy as a marketplace is now as silent as a graveyard. I became scared, thinking about what could have possibly gone wrong that made everyone go silent. Immediately I stepped into the hall, all eyes became focused on me as if they had been expecting me. Shock ran down like blood in my veins. But then I noticed Harlin’s father lying motionless on the floor, eyes wide open, lifeless. Confusion crashes into me like a wave. What’s happening?
“You thought you'd get away with it, didn't you? Poisoning my Beta under my roof because his son rejected you as his mate.” My father comments, finally breaking the tense silence. His voice deep, and scary, like that of a beast.
My heart, pounding as I try to keep my voice calm. “I–I didn't poison him, father! I swear it-I would never …”
“Lies.” He said cutting me off.
“Who served that table? And who served Elrand?” He asked, pointing to their table, as he began walking towards me.
“I-I did… But I swear I didn't poison him, I didn't do It! P-Please, father, you have to believe to m-me!” My voice trembling as I try to defend myself.
Snarling, he grabs my arm, his grip painful. “Enough! Your stuttering only makes you look guiltier. Admit it already!”
“Camille asked me to serve the food to him, I-I swear I’m telling the t-truth… I d-didn’t… I c-could never.”
“Go get me Camille this Instant.” His voice thundered.
I stood there, terrified, while the soldiers went to call Camille. I was a little bit relieved when I saw her coming with the guards. I know only she can say the truth that would set me free, and I know she will.
“Camille.” My father called out. “Where are the servants you had with you in the kitchen? And Gina said you gave her this poisoned food she served Elrand, is that true?”
“These are my servants,” Camille replied, pointing to the servants behind her.
“That's a lie, my lord, I haven't seen Gina today and I didn't ask her to serve any food,” Camille replied without looking at me.
At the completion of her statement, all eyes became fixed on me once again. I stood there frozen in shock; I couldn't react. I tried to speak but couldn't find my voice.
“My Lord, this is the uniform I and all my servants wore today.” She replied, showing their matching uniforms, which I didn't have. “I know all the people that worked with me today, and Gina isn't one of them. You can ask my servants, my Lord.”
“Yes, Camille is telling the truth, my lord.” The other servants replied in unison.
I stood there paralyzed and in shock, with my heart pounding hard like it was about to explode out of my chest. I trusted her with everything. Camille is the one and only person that I could vouch for in my life that would never betray me. How much more frame me for a crime I didn't commit?
“So you thought you could kill my Beta because his son rejected you as his mate and get away with it?” My father thundered, his face and eyes red with anger as he glared hard at me.
“Guards! Take this wretched being out of my sight and lock her up. She will be beheaded at sunrise tomorrow outside the city gate, where everyone may see and witness. This will act as a cautionary tale and a reminder of what happens to traitors.”
I stood there, still frozen in stock, as the two guards marched towards me. They both snickered as they lifted me roughly, their large hands tightly wrapped around my frail arms, pulling me into the hallway. They threw me into a cold empty cell and the cold hard floor sent shivers down my spine. They both decided to give me a parting gift before they left. They descended on me, punching me in every area until I couldn't cry or block anymore. Slowly, the world fades out before me and all I can see is darkness.
*********************
I opened my eyes slowly, and a feeling of discomfort traveled through my skull. Ugh.” I hold my head with both of my hands. The headache and pains all over my body feel unbearable.
I tap around the walls of the prison cell, it is eerily cold. I try to get up and I hear the sounds of chains clinging to each other. I ignore it and still try to stand but I am forced back down because of the chain. I try to feel the chain and break it if I can. My hands can’t go beyond a certain distance.
“Great.” My hands and my legs are bound tightly. I sit there, in the cold room, in silence, trying to process everything that happened at the ball. I still couldn't believe that my mate rejected me, Camille betrayed me, and my father sentenced me to death all on the same day. I held my body with my little hands, my tears flowing down like a river.
Tears poured down my face as I gripped my aching jaw. Why did you leave me, Mother? If you were here, things would have been better.
If you were here, I would know how love feels-
The sound of the large door opening cut off my train of thought, and I scrambled to the corner of the cell in fear.
Is it sunrise already? Are they here to take me to the city gate? To my death.
The footsteps echoed through the cell and the footsteps halted when they reached my cell door.
I covered my lips with my hands to prevent the sobs that threatened to escape.
“Come out!” A female voice echoed through the cell and the door flung open.
I stayed frozen in the corner. Was she here to drag me out to my death?
“Come out Gina.” The female voice called out, but this time it sounded like a familiar voice.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure slips into view, shrouded in a dark cloak. But as the figure approaches, I catch a glimpse of the familiar face. My eyes snap up, and everything inside me freezes. “Impossible,” I whisper, eyes wide with disbelief.
“What are you doing here?” I manage to whisper to her.