Condemning One's Soul

PAST~


The coup her parents had planned had failed, so here she sat hidden in the back of their house in a “panic room” in a full panic. How ironic that she was trapped in a room filled with her own panic, her heart consumed with fear. She had greeted the rider with such hope that they had pulled it off. They had taken over the Kingdom and saved everyone from such a cruel fate that was there King.

Sadly the rider had only uttered a single word before a spear imbedded itself into his chest.

“Hide!”

It had seemed what would have been eons of waiting for Leila. Her mother had justified the coup by having said the King was even cruel for an incubus. He was unjust and greedy, he wanted all things even what wasn’t his, like her mother so something had to be done.

The sound of heavy footsteps neared the hidden entrance of the room, Leila’s heart all but seized in her chest. Her breath hitched as she covered her mouth with her hands tightly. Oh Gods no, she pleaded.

The silent prayers she had sent were not answered when light spilled into the dark room, light reaching all corners of the small five by fve room. The small crate she had hid in was the only thing that shielded her from being discovered. Her chest rose and feel rapidly as she tried her hardest to be stay quiet.

Her cries of pain filled the room as a sword had been shoved into the crate, it sliced clean into her shoulder. The top of the wooden box ripped off and she was drug out by her hair. Hot sticky blood seeped through her white silk dress.

“Oh look what we have here, Ranja,” the second eldest Prince; Radanon cooed as he gripped her golden white silk locks.

“Stop!” Leila gasped as he tore her from the crate, she was barely able to get her footing before he struck her across the face.

“Shut up you filthy traitor!” Radanon roared.

A yelp parted her now split lip as she held her cheek that felt as if someone had lit it on fire. Her head lulled slightly as she had stumbled back from the force of the hit. “Go to hell!” She spat at him. Before another blow could be made to her the eldest Prince stepped in front of her and caught his brother’s hand.

“Father wanted her delivered in one piece,” Ranja simply reminded his younger brother. Radanon grumbled displeased yet complied to his elder brother and left the room dragging the youngest of the three with him, Raku.

“Now let’s get you back to my father before you and your family cause any more trouble.” The eldest Prince gripped Leila’s upper arm and gave her no chance to protest before he drank in some of her energy just from such simple contact before he drug her with him.

Each time Leila would find herself with enough energy to fight out of Ranja’s grip he would draw more from her. It was like he knew she was about to fight him before she actually did. Hope would swell in her breast only to slip away as soon as it had appeared.

They arrived at the kingdom in no time, Radanon and Raku waited for them in front of the decayed castle. Before they entered Radanon gripped her face and forced her to look left, the sight of severed heads that were on pikes invaded her vision. One in particular drew her attention, sweet white locks billowed in the breeze, lifeless blue eyes that had once been striking.

“No…” She squeaked, tears stung her eyes. “Lynleigh!” She screamed, her older sister’s face held a horrific expression. She fought as hard as she could against both set of arms that restrained her. “You fucking monsters! You heartless monsters!!” She thrashed with all the strength she could muster. She tried to use all her might but she was weak from all the energy Ranja had taken from her.

Radanon gripped her by the throat, easily lifted her from the ground. The constriction on her throat caused the tears to spill down her cheeks. He pulled her close, mere inches from his face. “You listen to me bitch, had your family not have tried to overthrow our father your sister would be alive. Don’t worry though she was used before she was beheaded,” he taunted her.

With all force she had left, Leila raked her fingernails across Radanon’s perfect face. Taken by surprised he dropped her, she landed on the ground in a heap. She coughed, sputtered and tried to drink in the air greedily. Soon a blow to her stomach sucked the air from her lungs as she curled up in a tight ball from the kick to the abdomen.

“You cunt! You better hope this doesn’t fucking scar!” Radanon growled before he stalked off inside.

“You best stop upsetting Radanon or he will kill you,” Ranja warned her.

“Good he would put me out of my misery then,” Leila croaked.

The eldest Prince shook his head in disapproval but none the less picked her up and carried her inside bridal style. She hated being weak and she didn’t enjoy being held like a baby by someone that had probably taken part in the slaughter of her dear sister.

The doors to the throne room were already held open as the two entered. King Ragnar sat on his throne of skulls all high and mighty. His cold dark gaze lit up as he saw them enter as he stood up and clasped his hands in front of him. “Finally she is here!”

King Ragnar and all of his sons looks almost the same. Strong sharp features. Their skin tan, the fires of Hades had kissed them. Their eyes all dark almost consumed by their always dilated pupils. Broad in the shoulders and dark hair all of them but Ranja.

When Ranja was first born there were rumors the Queen had bed another man because of his fair hair but they halted as he grew older and became a carbon copy of the King.

The King stalked towards them and grabbed Leila's face in one strong hand. He drank in her appearance, from her golden white locks, sleek cheekbones and slightly swollen lips. He licked his lips his eyes filled with lust.

“You share your mother’s beauty.” He stated. “Put her down Ranja and bring in the prisoners.”

Ranja stood her on her feet before rushing off to do as the King commanded him. Her eyes followed him until he was out of sight. Her heart sank with dread, Ragnar circled her like prey. “Do you know what took place last night?” His eyebrow darted up with inquisitively.

Leila couldn't find her words so she simply nodded her head in acknowledgment.

“Hmm,” was all that came from the cruel ruler.

A door creaked open and three people sauntered in chains and shackles with bags over their heads, guarded by two soldiers and Ranja. Leila stood paralyzed where she was at, her heart beat against her breastbone.

The prisoners were kneeled in front of their King and one by one the bags were removed from their heads. A sob broke Leila’s silence when she realized it was her remaining family. Her mother, her father and her uncle. The all turned their heads at the sound and her mother let out her own cry.

“Leila!” She tried to get up but was struck down by Ranja.

“Stop!” Leila begged her eyes locked on the King. “Please, please don't hurt them…” Her words drifted off as Ragnar made his way over to her.

“Shh, sweet Leila,” he stroked her cheek. “There, there. Radanon tend to her wounds that I assume you inflicted on her.”

Radanon glared at her, but accepted the dish of water and rag a servant offered him. A few large strides later and he stood behind her, ripped her gown roughly, she cried out softly as he washed her wounded shoulder. He tore a piece of fabric from the rag and tied it around her open wound.

“There father,” he spat with disgust. He walked away but not before he tossed another glare at her.

“Thank you, son.” King Ragnar emphasized the word son to remind the strong headed boy his place.

“As you know Leila your family and select few members of my council tried to overthrow me from my rightful place as King.” He's words were sharp as he circled her once more.

“As you can tell by the position they are in it did not work,” he chuckled with amusement.

Leila’s stomach was in a tight knot. A shiver ran down her body when the king stood behind her, his hot breath tickled her ear.

“I gave your sister a choice, your life or her’s.” He whispered, his words haunted her.

He moved fluidly in front of her, “She chose to die so you could live.” Amusement danced in his dark gaze, his words taunted her for a reaction. A few silent tears fell down her face.

“Lynleigh gave her life so that Leila could live!” He announced, his hands flew up as if he was still astonished by her sister’s choice to save her.

“You fucking monster! I'll kill you, you bastard!” Her father Thurin roared like a wild beast as he attempted to lunge for the King. Like the coup he had planned it failed, the chains tripped him up and he collided with the floor with a loud thud.

Hot fresh tears stung in Leila’s eyes, she hated that her father looked so weak. To a daughter a father is the most strongest person in their world. There her’s laid sobbing as if his own heart had been torn from his chest. She had never seen him so broken and she was helpless.

Ragnar reached her father with three easy strides, gripped him by his shackles and pulled him to his feet. “Should I tell you about the last hours of your daughter’s life? How she was passed around between not only my son’s but some of my guards as well. How she pleaded on your behalf even after all she had endured? Or how about she cried not for herself but for her sister.” He spat the words out with disgust.

Thurin sagged in Ragnar’s grip, his sobs echoed off the walls. The sound mixed with her mother’s cries. “My poor baby… Lynleigh I am so sorry..” Her mother called out to her sister as if she could hear her.

“Do you want to know how I knew about your little attempt? How I wasn’t where I usually am when you tried to claim the castle?” The King gloated. He released his grip on Thurin as the broken man dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. “Bring him in,” he called to one of his guards. “Oh just wait, it gets better,” he warned them.

They all straightened up slightly, even her parents that mourned the loss of their oldest daughter. Everyone wanted to know who had done such a horrible thing to turn on them. In walked a figure that weared a dark cloak, he stopped just shallow of center of the room. The King stalked over and ripped the hood of the cloak off. In unison they all gasped in shock at the person that had done such a wicked thing.

“Benji?” His name slipped from Leila’s lips like a soft whispers but the vibration of betrayal carried it across the room. His eyes snapped over to her, the look of remorse flashed across his face. “How could you?” She cried out and launched herself at him. Her hands wrapped around his throat, her fingernails dug into his skin. “They killed Lynleigh because of you, you selfish coward!”

The betrayal stung worse because Benji was her guardian, some parents choose them to watch over their children if anything should happen to them. He had been a second father to her sister and her. He had taught them so many things and now his actions had caused her sister’s life.

The King clapped his hands in sheer delight at Leila’s outburst. “That’s it Leila, kill the man that betrayed your family,” he shouted like a wild beast. The demonic side lashed out, it clawed at her milky chocolate skin. Her hypnotic blue-purple orbs swirled with lust, lust for the blood that had caused the death of her sister, the fall of her sister.