*TRIGGER WARNING*
THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF ABUSE/TORTURE/RAPE, AND MORE. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION OR SKIP TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE READING THESE THINGS.
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--Ines POV--
"Please! Let me go!"
I screamed, desperate, purely moving on instinct as I grabbed hold of anything I could to prevent him from dragging me further into the cellar, the very embodiment of my living Hell.
"Ines, stop wasting time. You should have thought twice before you acted if you were so scared of this place... Besides, it's not even that bad." And he paused in his steps, leaning down to pick me up as he slung me over his shoulder, his hand gently patting my butt as he continued to casually walk towards the cellar, humming a sinister tune to himself as he did.
I reached out towards Maxwell who stood, eyes widened in shock, calling out for his help, hoping that, unlike his brother, he at least had a little more humanity in him.
"Help me! I'm begging you, please!" But he didn't move.
And then he was gone as Malachi stepped into the cellar, shutting the door behind him as he flicked the light switch on before strolling down the stairs. I gripped onto the material of his shirt, holding on desperately as my heart felt like it was about to be thrown up.
"Please... Let me go..." The whispers slipped past my lips, again, and again, and again, but no one listened, and little by little, I felt the hope dissipating into nothing, as if it never existed, which, maybe it didn't.
"You know I can't do that... Now, it's almost time for Cordelia to receive her next payment of mermaid scales, I wish I could have made this less painful for you by putting you in the water, but you know... A lesson needs to be taught today-"
"-I've learnt it, the lesson. I promise I've learnt it, Malachi... Malachi, please," Setting me down on the marble floor, the coldness almost soothed my fear as he sighed, a smile playing at his lips as he revelled at the terrified sight of me.
"Please..." I couldn't help but desperately whisper as he raised his hand, resting it on my cheek and wiping away the stray tears before they could turn into the valuable pearls that he loved collecting so much.
"Oh, how I've missed you, my dear Ines..." He whispered, and I jumped, tightening my hold on his shirt as he chuckled, leaning down until his lips caught mine in a kiss. And not wanting to anger him more than I already had, I let him do as he please, his lips moulding against mine, his warm hands stroking my cheek.
"You'll- You'll let me go?" I asked when he pulled away.
And to answer my question, he moved to pick up the chains connected to the wall behind me, unlocking the collar before locking it around my neck, his hands hovering over the skin of my collarbones for a moment longer.
"No!" On instinct, I screamed, my body jumping forward to grab him, but he grabbed hold of my hands, chuckling at my attempt to injure him, as my mermaid facade revealed itself.
He knew so little about the curse, but so much about mermaids, the species he both revered and feared. Mermaids are strongest in their true form; But the longer they go without water, the weaker they'll get, and the weaker they get, their bodies will form more scales on it as if to protect itself like a sort of armour.
But as smart as that was, it was just as naive; The body didn't know that the scales are so easy for humans to pluck away, and with every scale pulled off the body, the closer you are to falling into insanity from the unimaginable pain, it felt as though bits of your body and soul were being plucked away. It was pure torture.
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The Grace of a Thousand Stars (PREQUEL)
RomancePREQUEL OF THE THREE KINGS SERIES (CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE) She's the world's treasure, both cursed and graced with a voice that enchants anyone that hears it. Nicknamed as a siren, it's almost ironic how she is truly a mermaid. Ines is a merm...
