Chapter 10: Waken Power

Ophelia's POV

I pressed my hand hard on my chest.

“Oh I am sorry I was just walking by and this tray fell from my hand,” a voice interrupted them before he could open the curtain.

“It Is fine,” the man said walking away.

I had a sigh of relief after they left and opened the curtain, the old woman was standing by the curtain.

“Why are you hiding?”

“I guess I got too scared and ran away, thank you for helping out,” I said with a smile.

The woman nodded. “Yes it is fine, stay away from this hall, you should not clean it if you are too scared.”

“Ok,” I walked away, though I can still feel her stare behind my back.

I had a sigh of relief after walking far away from the hall. But why is this woman helping me out so much? I did not even know her and she knows so much about me.

I walked back to the kitchen.

“You go clean up Lady Seraphina's room,” Mira ordered, the head servant.

“Ok,” I responded with a nod, not arguing it is not as if I have any choice. I am lucky enough that I am not killed or tortured like a spy.

I went to Lady Seraphina room, I knocked on her wooden door, no response.

I open the door, my head peeps in. She was still lying on the bed, coldly, lifeless.

I frowned and took a few steps towards her, I pinched her cheek.

Suddenly her hand grabbed me, flipping me over to the bed.

I froze stunned, my hand above my head, I would have been romantic if it was a man.

She let go of my hand. “What are you doing here in someone else's room trespasser.” “I guess a trespasser will always be one.”

I almost lost it when she called me that. I took a deep breath. “I was assigned to clean your room.”

“Get out.” She ordered before a huge power began to form inside me. A strong powerful wind blew me over to the door, my back knocked on the door, I touched my neck, strangled. But no hand.

“Pl…please….let me…go,” I barely manage to speak, breathing heavily.

She let go immediately and I fell on the floor and my leg stumbled.

I ran out before she could say another word.

I ran to the kitchen, my feet barely touching the floor.

“Why are you back, are you done cleaning?” Mira asked, her gaze shifted to me immediately I entered the kitchen.

“Lady Seraphina….” she cut me off before I could finish

“I know this will happen, go clean the stairs, do it before the elders get here.” She ordered before walking away.

I frowned. Elders? Why will they come here?

I scrubbed the floor, my hand froze inside the icy water.

While I was cleaning, footsteps approached me gently, echoing through the silent stairs.

I saw them, but pretended not to. It is better to pretend not to see them than to acknowledge them.

I continue cleaning the stairs, not worried about their cold stares.

One of them kicked the bucket on purpose, sending dirty water splashing all over the floor I had just finished scrubbing. The water spread everywhere, erasing the work I had done, soaking into my dress, cold, humiliating.

I clenched my fist so tightly my nails dug into my skin.

This time… I didn’t hold it in.

“You—” I began, stepping forward.

They didn’t even let me finish.

A rough hand shoved me hard from behind. My breath vanished from my chest as my foot slipped. I tumbled down the stairs, hitting each step with my side, my back, my elbow. Pain shot through every part of me.

Their laughter echoed behind me, loud and cruel

Before I could even lift my head, they were already grabbing me again. Hands snatching my arm, my hair, dragging me across the floor like some useless rag. Pebbles and stone scraped my skin raw, tearing tiny cuts all over me.

“Let… go,” I tried to yell, but my voice came out too small, too thin.

They didn’t care about how much I screamed or begged.

They pushed me into a storage room, dark and cold, and slammed the door shut. I heard the lock click in place, sealing me inside.

Then their footsteps faded.

I stayed there helplessly, unable to move for a moment, my legs trembling, my body aching everywhere. My breath came out in broken pieces, uneven and shaky.

I wrapped my arms around myself tightly, trying to keep my bones from rattling apart.

Why…

Why does this keep happening to me?

My chest tightened painfully. Tears filled my eyes, but I wiped them angrily.

“I’m tired…” I whispered to no one. “I’m so tired.”

The room was silent, until something warm flickered under my skin.

I gasped, staring down at my hand.

My wrist began to glow again with every breath I took, the light grew stronger, brighter, than before.

My chest tightened, my body shaking, my head hurt, spinning.

I sat up slowly, my back pressing against the wall.

“What… what is happening to me again?”

The glowing intensified, wrapping around my wrist. It crawled up my arm, weaving through my veins, warm but powerful.

My body grew warmer, not burning or hurting, but stronger.

My fingers stopped trembling and my breathing steadied. My fear… melted slowly.

My hair lifted slightly, as if caught in a soft breeze even though the room had no windows.

The power didn’t feel like something new.

It felt like something familiar—

something that had been sleeping inside me for years, waiting for a moment like this.

Waiting for me to break so it could rise.

My palms tingled as the light thickened around them, wrapping my body in an invisible force. My heartbeat slowed but felt heavier, deeper, like it carried strength I didn’t know I had.

I wiped my face again. This time, my tears stopped easily.

I stood up, slowly, but I didn't fall

My legs no longer trembled, my cut didn't ache anymore, my body felt whole

More than whole, I felt powerful.

“I’m… stronger?” I whispered, almost afraid to say it aloud.

The glow in my wrist pulsed in response, one steady throb, as if saying yes.

I lifted my hand, staring at the light swirling under my skin. Even as it began to slowly fade from bright to soft, the strength remained. A steady, warm presence settled deep in my bones.

For the first time since I came here, I didn’t feel like prey.

I didn’t feel like the weak omega everyone could push around.

I felt… awakened.

My breath steadied as I walked toward the locked door, no longer afraid of who waited on the other side of it.

Because something inside me, this power, this spark. I don't feel helpless anymore.

I pushed the door open, it was as if the door listened to me and opened immediately I pushed it without force.