[SILVER RAYNE WILLIAMS]

"Y-YOUR MAJESTY?" I gasped, my tone a high pitch, eyes wide as I stared right at him. I was frozen in place as I had been before.

Frozen by both his presence and the hostility in that single sentence.

One that rang in mind. I was in trouble- no I was in serious trouble. I could tell from the heaviness in the air and I had no clue why which led my heart to thud loudly and harshly.

His gaze sparked, taking a step forward, "Do not make me repeat myself, human," he gritted, and I found myself moving back as he stalked toward me, unable to breathe properly under his threatening gaze hardness grilled in his tone,

My eyebrows arched, and my heart rammed within me heavily and harshly. My blood ran cold and all I could think of was —I was going to die.

The prince looked angry because, for some reason during this stupid day, I must have done something stupid to offend him, and now I was going to die.

That was the only thing that made sense. The only thing I could think of was fast enough within the confines of my panic.

I could hardly breathe, my body stiff as I walked backward and he slammed the door shut without even looking at it, his gaze holding mine hostage, a snarl in his voice,

"If you faint,  I will take your head off," he growled.

It was a promise stated in black and white and I was certain the Tribrid Prince was not a man to go against his words.

Which only made me panic harder, nodding shakily and slowly moving backward as he stalked toward me.

His words were clear and precise,

"My knee is on fire and I never feel pain," he gritted,

I did not understand what he was saying. "Y-your high-" I couldn't even finish what I was saying.

"Where did you put it, Silver?" He gritted once more, "I allowed you to play your silly games, but do not think you can test me and get away with it."

I shook my head blinking rapidly, unable to answer. Confused and scared.

There were so many things running through my mind as I limped backward, trying to stop the tears that were already stinging the back of my eye.

"I-I don't," I couldn't even formulate a proper sentence,

"I don't know," I shook my head, my voice crumbling gulping as my lips trembled, "please your majesty, I-I don't know what you're talking about," I begged.

He stopped, tilting his head to the side-

All I saw was the corner of his lips lifting ever so slightly into a smirk, and the next thing I knew, the air was knocked out of my lungs, and I felt my body fall backward, lush on the covers of my bed. My curls sprawled around me.

I blinked, feeling numb, confused, and scared, staring at the ceiling, gasping for air, but unable to lift.

There was a hand around my neck, the feel of his silver rings poking my skin, putting the right amount of pressure that I couldn't move my neck, but I could somehow still breathe.

The prince hovered over me, as I stared at the mosaic ceiling of an angel, realization hitting me that this could be the last thing I see.

His hand was a tight lock around my neck, the other hand nailing my wrist onto the bed, whilst the rest of his body kept mine immobile.

I couldn't think. And I was so- so scared—

I never felt so utterly hopeless in my life.

A tear escaped the side of my eye as I gulped, my lips trembling.

His breath tickled right above my ear as he spoke, "You lied to me, Silver," He gritted.

Lied? I side-glanced his way, my lips trembling.

Did I lie to the Prince? Good Lord! when? When did I do something so stupid?

Is there was anyone up there, please, I couldn't die today. Not like this.

"Do you know how easy it is to kill a human, especially for a Tribrid," he hissed above me, his voice was calm and yet evidence of a threat.

It was what scared me more.

"Do not think yourself clever. You will be dead soon."

Tears run down my cheeks at this, flashes of Vella, and my father filling my face. Even Eden and for a moment I wished I had not pushed her away.

I was going to die like this. Without knowledge of the reason why.

"The vile." He stated, once more and it clicked.

I had told him my uncle created the vile. Had he found out it was my father?

Oh my god, I was so stupid and now I was going to die like this! By the very hands of the Tribrid Prince. The Monster, I thought I would never meet.

This was how it was going to end for me. Dead on top of the covers of my own bed.

I sniffed at this, wincing as his grip tightened and my shaky voice responded.

"Please-" I whispered, "F-Forgive me." I whispered, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you it was my father who created it. Please- let me go." I pleaded.

I had never been this frightened in my life.

Not even when the Damned raced toward me in the middle of the school hallway. No, my bones had never been as petrified as this.

Tears were rushing down my cheeks, and fainting seemed quite enticing but I was afraid if I did, I would never wake up.

I simply had to endure this nightmare.

The prince's face moved to hover right above mine, his stale gaze locking mine in, that electricity in his eyes that had misted slightly to grey, warning me my doom was near.

"The vile." He spat, "You hid another vile."

I stared at him blankly for a bit, blinking through the blur my tears had created, "I-I did not your majesty. I-I do not have another vile." I replied in confusion.

Why the hell would I hide another vile?? Is this what he thought?

His gaze did not seem to change, eyes still locking on mine.

"I only had that one vile, I swear. It was only the one you took!" I practically begged for my life, "Please, I swear to you, your majesty! I swear on my sister and my father I have not kept any of that formula! I do not have anything else, please, please!" I cried, "I swear, I swear it to everything I know!" my gaze trailed to the ceiling, blinking at it, and I prayed to anything out there.

To save me from this moment.

I could feel his eyes on me, and I shut my eyes, my throat sore from the amount of pressure on it as well as my jaw, which felt locked.

Tears streamed down my cheeks at the silence above me knowing I could be dead without even knowing when the blow had come.

"Silver." He stated.

I sniffed, my eyebrows arching when I realized he had spoken calmly this time, "Open your eyes."

His order canceled the silence. It was demanding and precise.

I opened them, unable to see well, blinking through the blur of my tears, my eyes meeting his and I quickly stared at the ceiling behind him-

"Look at me." He grunted, sounding quite annoyed.

But being annoyed was better than threatening.

My eyes immediately dashed to his, sniffing softly. I was locked in his gaze, something misty overtaking his eyes as if it was fog that crept over still waters.

His face moved closer to mine, so close I was sure he could feel my breath, the little I managed to exhale.

"Say it again." He breathed above me, "Swear it."

I froze in his gaze, blinking rapidly as my heart thumped within me.

"I-I don't have another vile," I whispered, for the sake of my life, sniffing my lips shaking, as I gulped, "I swear."

He blinked and the misty gaze in his eyes disappeared, his saltwater gaze the only thing left.

He let go suddenly, his hand loosening over my neck and my wrist, resting near my head instead as he hovered over me.

I watched him still scared, able to breathe better and my body was no longer immobilized but I dared not move. Not with him right above me.

My heart thundered within me and he seemed to study me for a moment.

"I'm going to do something and if you do not faint through this, you will live." He stated, eyes searching mine for a moment.

My eyebrows arched at his words, but I nodded eagerly.

He moved off me, standing straighter but I did not dare to move a single inch and opted to just watch him, carefully.

I wanted to see him - when he decided to strike to relieve me of my head.

I had to be brave enough for that. I probably wouldn't be able to do anything, but I couldn't be so weak as to not even witness my death blow.

No matter how utterly hopeless I felt at this moment. I kept my eyes on him.

I watched as his gaze trailed my body, glancing at me for a moment,

"I need it to stop." He gritted. "I can bear it when it's on me."

Before I could understand what it was he was saying I heard a loud rip-

A loud tear resounded across the room as the prince ripped the sleeve of my pants, tearing straight down the middle to right above my left knee.

It was such a swift movement, I couldn't mask my surprise.

I gasped at this, partly because of the pain that sprouted from my cut and the abruptness of the action. My eyes widened but still, I did not move, unable to comprehend what was happening.

He glanced at me for a moment as if gauging if I was still awake or passed out.

Honestly, I was about to pass out, panic building within me as my whole body stiffened at the feel of his cold touch against my bare skin, right above my knee.

I winced when I felt him apply a bit of pressure and I slightly squirmed because it hurt,

His touch was as cold as I expected, and his eyes were fixed on the place his hand had settled. I watched as a wave of dark veins formed for a bare instant under his pale skin, like dark spider webs on his neck, glowing before they vanished and with them the pain in my knee.

My eyebrows arched at this, confusion racing within me.

I could now only feel his touch.

He slowly opened his eyes, but he didn't look at me, his gaze seemed frozen on the place his handheld, a second too long.

Then He quickly retrieved his hand getting off me.

He rubbed his palm for a moment, without sparing me a look, "You are as clumsy as a penguin." He grunted, "Do things you can do. Horses clearly aren't your strong suit."

With that he stormed off, the sound of the door closing behind him.

I did not move for a good minute, still paralyzed at all that had occurred. My hand rested above my heart, staring at the angel on the ceiling, a tear running down my cheek.

I shut my eyes, feeling my heart beat beneath my palm.

I was alive.

"I'm alive," I whispered to myself.

I opened my eyes, looking at the angel once more before I slowly sat up with a small gasp, a shiver running down my spine, and tears flowing down my cheeks freely.

I glanced at my hands, and they were thoroughly shaken.

I buried my face in them, sobbing for a moment.

This was hard. So hard.

So close to death, I could feel it in my bones. An echo of death's kiss across my skin as my body felt cold.

Why did I even come to this stupid place?! I needed to leave, I needed to get to West House.

I quickly wiped the tears off my face, with shaky hands, and got off my bed, about to walk to my wardrobe to start packing as fast as I probably could when a knock came on the door once more.

I stared at the door, frozen. Blinking at it. Was he back? Back to finish what he had started? I stared up at the ceiling trying to push back tears, shaking my body off.

No. Reason got to me first.

If he had come back, it made no sense he would knock.

Cradling my arms, I struggled with deciding whether I should open the door.

I had no courage left to gather but I quickly trod across the room before I changed my mind, nervously opening the door just a smidge, as I peered out.

I blinked at the Lord, confused for a moment, "Lord Graydon?" I whispered, eyebrows drawing in.

He grinned softly, "Are you going to invite me in, or will you keep your Regional Lord at your doorstep?"

I glanced back into my room, at the bed where it had all happened barely five minutes ago, before glancing back at the Lord, nodding slightly-

It wasn't like I had a choice.

I was weak and I was amongst Fang. They could do what they liked. I had no power to go against them.

I stepped to the side and Lord Graydon walked in.  I gently closed the door behind him.

"I-Is there something wrong, My lord?" I asked, my throat dry. Trying to stop the shake in my voice.

He looked at me for a moment, his head tilting to the side.

"Are you... Are you alright?" He asked.

I felt numb. I felt like I was anywhere but here. But I nodded, longer than I intended as my displaced gaze shifted away from him.

"Yes-y-yes I am."

"Were you crying?" He asked, his eyebrows arching as he took a few steps toward me and I immediately took a step back in high defense.

He seemed to notice this and immediately stopped.

My hands were shaky when I realized what I had done and I ran a hand over my face and through my hair, shaking my head.

"No, these are not tears. I don't do tears, I- I just uh, I washed my face." I replied, offering him a small smile.

What I wanted was to be left alone. To my thoughts. To my escape from this dreaded palace. The sooner he left the better.

He sighed, "I know you got hurt during your clumsy little fall." He finally confessed.

"I-I did not."

"You're a bad liar. Your pants are ripped open." He stated, setting the package he had on a table, opening the bag, and taking out some first aid, "Go take a seat."

I stared at him, not willing to move.

He glanced back at me rolling his eyes, "For the gods' sake I have never seen anyone so infuriatingly stubborn!" He gritted, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward a chair, where he had me sit.

Kneeling before me as he got his equipment, rolling up his sleeves.

"Fear not, I had done this quite a many times," he huffed, glancing at me before pausing, "well not for a human but-" he shrugged.

My eyebrows arched at this, staring at the lord still unconvinced he was trying to help.

Why would a fang help me? One just tried to kill me five minutes ago.

Lord Graydon paused looking up at me, his jaw ticked momentarily, seeming slightly uncomfortable clearing his throat-

"May I?"  He asked.

I glanced at him for a moment skeptically, watching him carefully, when I nodded. Still trying to keep my body from shaking.

He held my gaze nodding to himself before rolling up the ripped pants for better access and lighting.

He froze for a moment. And my eyebrows arched at his stiff body.

"There's - there's nothing there." He finally stated, more to himself than to me.

My eyebrows arched at this, moving forward, examining my knee.

The cut was gone. My skin was fair. As fair as the day I was born. No blemish or mark in view.

I stared in confusion at the place the cut had once been. Trying to understand it. Flashes of the Prince filled my mind. Of his touch against my skin. What had he done?

It was only now I realized I did not feel any pain in my knee. Flashes of those dark webs beneath his pale skin flashed in my head.

"I don't understand- I could have sworn...." Lord Graydon trailed off, glancing up at me.

My gaze shifted from him to my clear knee and back to him again. My eyes widened momentarily knowing this was a weird phenomenon to explain.

"I-I told you I was alright." I managed to stutter.

"I saw you limping." He stated. Staring at me in both confusion and curiosity.

"I had a cramp." I lied, gracefully through my teeth.

Lord Graydon glanced at my knee once again, "there was a tear." He spoke, seeming confused, "It was torn from the fall. A cut like that-"

"A tear doesn't always equal an actual wound, my lord. I told you I was alright." I gritted, moving my knee away from his touch.

"You talk about trust, why don't you trust me when I say I'm okay?" I grilled.

He glanced up at me for a moment, still looking as if he was starting to piece a puzzle he didn't quite yet have all the pieces together.

He solemnly nodded, looking away and getting to his feet.

My throat was dry as I watched him curiously.

Seeming in deep thought, the wheels in his head turning.

Pushing my wild locks from my face. I tried to remain calm.

"I sensed blood," he finally confessed, his gaze trailing to my torn knee, "and why is there blood on the inside of your trousers?"

I glanced down at it. Shit.

My gaze trailed back to Lord Graydon whose look hardened, folding his arms.

"Did you fake all this to get out of your punishment, making me worry to guilt me?" He accused.

My eyebrows arched at the absurd statement, "Of course not, I didn't even think you worried." I scoffed.

It's a human emotion. He was a monster and he did not care about a human from the smallest region of his territory.

"No. I do not." He gritted back, walking passed me rather angrily for some reason.

"There is a new uniform for you in there," he announced, referring to the package he had left, "I require you bright and early tomorrow morning and I will not tolerate any tardiness." With that he left, the door slamming closed.

My gaze shifted to the door. Pursing my lips for a moment, my fingers feeling down to my exposed knee.

A loose breath escaped from my pursed lips as I glanced down at my knee.

All gone.

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