Waking up hours later, I blinked against the harsh light filtering through the curtains. It was around eleven in the morning, and a searing pain radiated between my legs. As I sat up slowly, I noticed Benjamin seated on the couch, positioned at a distance from my bed. A surge of fear gripped me, and I instinctively clenched the bedsheet, only to feel its wetness beneath me. My heart sank as I looked down to find a pool of blood staining the fabric.
"What—what are you doing here? Did you come to finish what your monster of a father did last night?" I stammered, my voice trembling as I watched him rise and move closer to my bloodstained bed.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything. My hands were tied," he replied softly, running his fingers through my disheveled hair.
I jerked away from his touch. "Your hands were tied, but your mother's weren't. She watched your father beat me and have his way. She saw me begging for help and did nothing! Just one night with you demons, and my life is ruined. I never wanted to come here! I did it because my dad made me promise and reassured me you people were good. I hate you! I hate you all!" I screamed, pushing him off the bed.
With shaky legs, I carefully made my way to the bathroom to clean up. Benjamin stared at me in disbelief, unaware that he had developed feelings for me in the short time we had known each other. But that was not enough to change the demon within him.
Under the shower, the water poured over me, mingling with my tears. "Dad, look at those you trusted with your daughter. They have defiled me and taken away my innocence. I will make them pay if it's the last thing I do on this earth. I'm not going down alone; they are coming with me!" I vowed, stepping out of the shower thirty minutes later. But when I returned to my room, I found the same maid and her companions arranging and cleaning, replacing the bloodstained bedsheets with fresh ones.
A delightful aroma wafted through the air, and glancing at the dining table near my wardrobe, I saw a plate of rice with stew and a glass of chilled orange juice.
I felt no hunger. Instead, I walked over to the dresser and began dressing. "My lady, please eat. The madam said you should come downstairs after you finish your breakfast," the maid informed me before they all filed out of the room, leaving me alone. I dressed quickly, passing the food without a glance, and collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down my cheeks once more.
I didn't know when I fell asleep, but I was jolted awake by the sound of the door slamming open. Morgana stood there, practically seething with rage. "Didn't they tell you I said to come downstairs after breakfast, not to sleep, you bitch?" she yelled, striding toward me.
I barely had time to react before a heavy slap landed on my face, sending me tumbling back onto the bed. I screamed as blood seeped from the split on my lip.
Benjamin rushed in, stepping between us just as she raised her hand to strike again. I pushed him away and bolted out of the room. Downstairs, I found my uncle lounging on the couch, a sinister grin plastered across his face. I stumbled outside, collapsing onto the stairs, sobbing bitterly. "Mom, come fight for me. Make them pay."
"The dead can't hear you, nor can they save you from us. You belong to me now. You belong to Lilith. Your soul is hers. Did you think I was the only one who had my way with you last night? Of course not; she had her turn with you after I was done, sealing a bond between you both. You are her plaything, and when she calls, you must satisfy her." His words cut through me like a knife, and I looked up at his grinning, demonic face, my heart pounding with fear.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I whispered to myself, feeling the weight of despair pressing down on me like a suffocating shroud.