• Chapter 9

    “Angel!”, Rian fiercely whispered to me, “Please show them.”

    I sighed and turned around. As soon as they caught sight of the lacerations, I heard one of them get up and walk towards me. I quickly turned and pulled my fists up, Rian’s mother looked at me with an expression of pure shock, but quickly changed to rage.

    “Are you insane?! How dare you raise your fists to me!”, Evelyn shouted.

    I lowered my fists to my side. “I’m sorry“, I said through clenched teeth, “I just don’t trust you.”

    She gave a sinister laugh, “Likewise. You‘ll be punished later for your threat, but for now I‘ll need to take a look at your lacerations.”

    “Mother I don-”

    “Leave it be Rian! She will be punished whether you object or not!”, she shouted over him.

    “But I don’t thin-”

    “ENOUGH Rian! Turn around princess. Rian come hold her so she doesn’t try to strike me again.”

    I glanced over at Ivan before I let Evelyn look at my back. He seemed to be studying Rian, gauging his reaction to everything.

    Rian’s hands were suddenly on my shoulders, “Come on Angel, turn around.”, he whispered.

    I turned and got an eyeful of sadness. “Rian”, I whispered softly enough where only he could hear me, “you shouldn’t wear such a sad face, especially when your father is studying you so closely.” Evelyn pressed on a few lacerations and I winced, which caused Rian’s expression to shift to concern. I sighed, “Rian, please try to control your face.”

    He looked over to his father for a minute then back to me. “I’m trying.”, he whispered.

    “Well it seems that Helen has doubled your whipping. She will have consequences for abusing her power. What do you suggest Ivan?”

    He rose and walked over to stand beside Evelyn so he could get a better look at my back. “Take her off of prisoner punishment for a month, maybe then she’ll realize that she cannot abuse her power we have so kindly given her.”

    “Perfect, but who will punish the prisoners?”, Evelyn asked, eyeing Rian.

    “We will need to discuss this without the princess. Rian, get Erick to take her back to her cell.”

    “What do you need me to stay for father?”

    “We need to talk to you about some issues that have recently been called to our attention.”

    “Alright.”, he tried not to seem nervous, but I could see the uneasiness in his eyes. He walked outside of the door and retrieved Erick.

    “Will you take the princess to her cell?”, Ivan asked.

    “Of course highness. Come on Angel.” He took my arm and escorted me back to my cell.

    “What do you think they’re going talk to him about?”, I asked Erick once we got back to my cell, my voice heavy with worry.

    “I don’t know, they might have noticed that he’s been spending more time than usual in the prison wing or they’re just discussing who the prisoner punisher will be while Helen is gone.”

    My eyes grew wide, “What if they’re talking about both?”

    Erick seemed puzzled, “I don’t understand.”

    “What if they make him the new punisher?! He’d have to deliver my punishment!”, my anxiety was beginning to climb and I started to pace.

    Erick’s jaw dropped, “He wouldn’t do it.”, he managed to whisper.

    “But if he doesn’t then his parents would be suspicious and if they get too suspicious, he could be punished!” I took a deep breath. “If he does have to punish me, I’ll just need to let him.”

    “I still don’t think he’ll do it.”, Erick held firm; he wholeheartedly believed that Rian wouldn’t hurt me.

    “I guess we’ll have to see what they say first.” I sat down on my pile and Erick stood by the door.

    Soon the locks were releasing and I watched the doorknob turn. I held my breath and waited to see who would walk through the door.