Scumbag.

Ella cursed.

She gripped the hem of her shirt tightly; her knuckles turned white as snow.

That meat-head.

Her lip-twitched.

Ella fumed with rage.

The anger inside her curled hot and unstoppable.

Her blood boiled, and her self-worth?

Ripped apart, stepped upon, and shoved out of the window.

She bawled her fingers into a fist and banged it on the wooden cupboard.

The aftermath of which caused the glass decoratives that rested on top of it to clatter and fall.

The loud screeching sound of glass breaking echoed in the room.

Ella breathed heavily; her chest fell and rose in a rapid motion.

The now sore knuckles on her fist throbbed.

She ran her sweaty hands through her hair in frustration and clutched her strands tightly.

Her eyes closed; the events from the archery ground flushed through her brain.

The vivid images of her arrow being split apart in half, the references of "justice" that Ella did not understand, Prince Theodore acting like a dominant jackass, 

Him trying to step over Ella, 

Him trying to push Ella to kill him, 

Princess Irene blowing up on her,

And Prince Emmett.

A faint tear tickled at the corner of her eyes.

She creased her brows in resentment and pain.

Just one lasting and rare moment with him which too was ruined by Prince Theodore and his inflamed ego.

Why did he have to be such a jerk?

There was only so much that she could endure.

 Ella would have lingered in the shadows like a nobody and avoided all battles that the Royals purposely ignited.

That was her plan.

And so far, it has seemed to go well.

Considering she had refrained herself from towing Princess Irene's eyes out after the food fight or whenever she had tried to plunge on Ella like a maniac.

Her eyes yanked open.

The look of wrath and outrage flashed by them.

Ella had run out of her patience, maybe if Prince Theodore wouldn't have mocked her like the prick he was,

Just maybe Ella would have decided to let it all go.

But No! 

Not anymore.

With him involved every little problem had begun to feel like a mountain of irritation to her.

It had taken a deadly toll on her mind.

She glanced at the sharp, silver dagger that dived earlier on the floor along with the glass decoratives.

Silver patterns intricate along its edges, it's peak curved into a lethal needle-like tip.

If Ella was in the right state of her mind she would have questioned its presence in her room.

The dagger wasn't hers.

But at that moment she was anger-driven.

Too infuriated to figure anything out.

Ella huffed.

If Prince Theodore wanted death, he would receive it.

Not in broad daylight, in an open field, with many to witness.

But in the darkness of the night, in the comfort of his room, with none to witness.

So she could slash his throat and muffle his screams and nobody could hear them and ever find out.

Ella bent and swept the dagger hastily.

She jerked the door of her room open and sprinted.

Her bare feet walked briskly; the cold marble floor sent chills down her spine. 

She had memorized the hallways and corridors, looking for shortcuts here and there.
 
Determination engulfed her body as she marched through the royal quarters, inhaling steadily, even though her heart had almost leaped out of her ribs. 

Ella paused and took one last breath as she halted in front of his door.

The clasp on the dagger seized in her palm, tightened by each passing second.

Her jaw clenched and her body shook with aggravation.

You called it upon yourself, Prince Theodore.

Ella thrust the door open, it banged into the wall behind, creating a loud booming noise.

She squinted her eyes to the candles hung across the walls and the chandelier that dazzled the room with its golden hue.

The room smelt just like him.

Murky, minty, and oddly like vanilla.

She lifted the dagger in one hand, positioning it by the side of her head; her feet tiptoed. 

Ella eyed his bed-sheets still placed in perfect order; blood pulsed through her veins speedily as she furrowed her brows. 

No wrinkled sheets meant he might still be crawling somewhere in here.

The faint patter of water traveled through her ears, her neck craned towards the origin of the sound and slowly her feet followed suit. 

The bathroom.

She plastered her back to the side-wall near the bathroom, sucking in her teeth as the door creaked open.

Her hands moved before she could even think, the cutting-edge of the dagger placed firm by the crook of his neck.

The blade slightly ran through his throat, inflicting a small wound.

Ella would've smirked, held him roughly against the door, or dragged him by the collar.

If he had worn a shirt, that is.

Her mouth drifted open in shock.

Eyes as big as saucers.

Her gaze scanned his face which was dampened with water, the soaked tips of his brunette locks hovered above her shoulder, drenching it.

Bad timing.

Her brain stuttered, trying to comprehend the baffling situation she was trapped in.

Very bad timing.

Silence blanked the duo, 

The only sound blaring through the air were the beats of their clamoring hearts and the droplets of water pouring down from PrinceTheodore's hair, streaming down his exposed chest, drizzling past his well-built torso, his dark trousers and then hitting the floor.

It wasn't his masculine physique, his earthly and rich scent, or his dripping wet body that had grasped her attention.

But the scars, adorning every inch of his skin, top to bottom.

Grazing from the tips of his shoulders, extending past his buffed up stomach and suspending upon his waist bone.

So many shapes. So many sizes.

Deep scars. Light scars. Sutured ones. Unsutured ones.

So many untold stories.

Ella hoisted her orbs from his heavily blemished frame and met his piercing gaze.

The otherwise jolted look in his eyes had switched into a calculating one.

Ella's hands were frozen in time, and that was his cue.

One bloody second was all it took.

Prince Theodore clasped his hand on her wrist and twisted the silver blade away from it.

He strangled his weight upon her and pushed Ella by the far wall, the impact knocked down the candles above, darkening the once lightened room.

He hissed out a breath, his legs pinned hers. 

Ella felt the hard wall bear down harshly on her back.

Her temple began to perspire nervously; she tried to struggle her way out.

The ankle of her foot squeezed fiercely on his toe.

But Prince Theodore didn't budge.

One of his hands was planted on the freshly painted wall, next to Ella's arm.

His other hand had Ella's weapon grappled strongly, almost hidden behind his back, prying it away from her.

She tried to wiggle her way out again, using both her free hands to nudge his chest backward.

He still didn't budge. Not even by the slightest.

"If it isn't Gabriella Adler?"

Prince Theodore lessened the distance between his and Ella's face; their warm breathes mingled.

While she stirred the opposite, tugging back her head until it too pinched into the wall.

"In my room at midnight."

He moved closer.

Ella rotated her face to the other side.

"All alone."

His nose brushed her cheek softly.

A small smirk played dangerously on his lips.

Ella had averted her eyes from his, her gaze fixated on the silver dagger.

"I think you have misread my intentions, Your highness."

Her fingers were in a constant war to advance for the blade Prince Theodore held on to.

"How about we start by you, handing me back my possession?"

Prince Theodore sneaked the dagger further behind his back, making it almost unreachable.

A sinister chuckle escaped his mouth to which Ella groaned internally.

His chuckles were calm before the chaotic storm; it only indicated that any of this was not going to end easily or early.

"Bold of you to give orders provided the position you're currently in."

Ella gradually whipped her head in his direction; her eyes bored arrows in his and her lids narrowed.

"Ooh. That's a deadly stare."

He grinned, his tooth squeezed his bottom lip.

Ella grimaced at the sight.

Pervert.

His veiny, pale hand outstretched to skim away the strand of Ella's hair that dangled in front of her face.

"So this is an assassination attempt, I presume."

Ella smacked his hand away that swayed for her brunette lock.

"I thought I had given you that golden opportunity earlier this afternoon."

Prince Theodore propped back his hand on the wall, his head tilted.

Ella rolled her eyes.

Being offended by Prince Theodore's outrageous flirts was one thing.

Him thinking that she was stupid enough to execute him in front of everyone was another.

"Ah! I get what it is."

His eyes twinkled in acknowledgment.

"Since you had no guts to own up to my dead body to the world-

He quirked his brow.

-You decided on being an anonymous chicken."

A frown sprawled on Ella's features.

She furrowed her brows and her jaw clenched.

Prince Theodore knew how to get Ella all worked up.

Things that irked her, things that made her want to strangle him, every detail was jotted down in the back of his mind.

"Coward~."

He smeared his lips on her ear and whispered in a sing-song voice. 

Ella clenched her fists.

Fury tore through her and anger coiled in her stomach.

She pushed Prince Theodore back with all her might.

He stumbled back, increasing the space between them, but was quick to catch himself on his feet again.

She sucked in an irritated breath through her teeth.

Coward? She was a coward?

Taunts, mocking, and sneers. It was as if he had pulled her into an everlasting loop of his insults.

"What do you want from me?!"

Ella shouted.

The vortex of anger that swirled in her gut swung its way to the tip of her tongue.

She felt all the bitterness buried deep within her heart turn into words.

"What did I ever do to you! Why can't you leave me alone?"

Prince Theodore remained hushed; he just watched her, blinded with rage and yelling at the top of her lungs.

She inhaled intensely, her nails dug painfully in her palm.

"You-"

Ella cut her speech short and bit the inside of her cheek as she saw Prince Theodore flip the dagger on his bed and approach her again.

She should have made a run for it.

"Stay away- oomf."

She would have made a run for it.

Only if Prince Theodore's hands weren't pinned on both sides of her jaw.

Only if he hadn't collided his lips into hers.

Or if the taste of his lips wasn't sweet as honey yet bitter as wine.

The hair on the back of Ella's neck soared, she was flushed, cherry, ruby, rosy, or coral.

Any word there ever was, she was all that.

Prince Theodore embraced her like his most desired goods and chattels.

His eyes were shut, his lashes gently stroked Ella's cheek and his ears blushed scarlet.

He leaned in further, leaving her completely breathless and dumbstruck.

The wind out of Ella's chest had knocked out.

Her skin was hot as burning iron.

Her eyes were wide open unlike Prince Theodore's.

Although her legs, thoughts, and body were immobilized yet her hands still rammed strongly on his chest.

Any frail aim to tear him apart from her, she attempted that.

But if her power was any finer than his, she wouldn't have been in this situation, to begin with, right?

So she did what she had to.

Ella opted for the last resort.

She bit his lip.

Hard.

It's as if his body didn't have enough of them, Ella gave him another scar.

The familiar crimson liquid seeped out from the newly imposed injury; she could taste the metallic tang of the enemy's blood, numbing her senses.

And it worked.

Prince Theodore jerked his head back to the sudden, dull discomfort that took over him.

The fatal silence flooded the atmosphere again and so did the sounds of their beating hearts and their pants gasping for air.

Their hands simultaneously headed for their mouths, while's Ella's hand covered hers in utmost shock ;

Prince Theodore caressed his now bloodied lip with his thumb.

"Damn Ella. You are wild."

The forbidding smirk reappeared on his face, he levered his hand back to his side, his tongue licking off the remaining bit of blood lingering on his lips.

Ella felt the world crumbling beneath her feet.

Was she horrified?

Appalled?

Maybe she was just humiliated?

Would that explain the strange sensation she felt throughout her body?

Or was it something else?

Was this the so-called " butterflies fluttering in your belly" sensation?

Or were these just winged insects of shame and vexation flapping around?

"You asked me what I wanted from you."

Prince Theodore's voice rang in the otherwise quiet room.

"Or why couldn't I leave you alone."

He locked his passionate eyes with her distressed ones. 

"Was this enough of an answer to you? Or do you want more?"

Ella's fingers quivered and so did her very being.

 Heaves of emotions rippled inside of her, so many of them that she couldn't name.

But out of all of them, there was one that she could identify, one that stayed with her since the very beginning.

Hate.

Beads of tears brimmed at the corner of Ella's eyes, sparkling like glitter under the moonlight shining through the window.

She carried her hand up and slapped Prince Theodore across the face.

So roughly so harshly that her palm began to sting.

The previously brimming salty, lukewarm tears now streamed down Ella's cheek.

Crying wasn't for her. Crying was embarrassing. Crying was not her plan.

But then again, was any of this her plan?

She expected him to scowl or at least wince.

That was the most she could wish for after all the losses she had experienced.

But he remained neutral, lips pressed together in a thin line, and breathing stable as ever.

Probably because he already saw that coming.

"I have changed my mind, Prince Theodore."

Ella wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, and sniffed, her eyes bloodshot.

"I won't be the one killing you, not anymore."

She curled her lip in detest.

"But I hope you die in the hands of someone you had dearly loved."

She wished that the tears would stop flowing out at that moment, but they crowded her eyes again, blurring her vision.

"You deserve that, Prince Theodore."

Ella's voice broke in agony.

"You are not human. You are a monster."

Maybe she wouldn't have sobbed like that if a certain someone wasn't standing by the door, mouth agape and eyes ballooning, keenly observing the whole scenario in bewilderment.

She yearned it to be anyone but him.

Ella scoffed, choking back her tears.

But when has the world ever listened to her or her wishes?

Slowly and cruelly, even her faith in God was wavering.

She strolled past Prince Theodore, bumping her shoulder into his and halting for a little while In front of the person rooted frozen at the door.

Prince Emmett.

His mouth open and closed, trying his best to muster out words for the puzzling situation he had just witnessed.

Ella glanced at his bewildered features before she steered past him as well.

He observed her speed-walking, head hung low, disappearing in the shadows.

Prince Emmet sighed.

He glanced at his brother staring at the night sky outside the window, his bareback still facing him.

"We were only supposed to be using her-

He crossed his arms by his chest.

-But look at you now."

Prince Emmett uttered.

"All messed up, turmoiled and insanely in love."

He scorned.

"This is so unlike you, brother, quite entertaining to watch."

Prince Theodore picked his white button-up shirt from the chair near him and pulled it on his shoulders.

His eyes peeked at a familiar silver pendant that was lying under his garment on the chair.

A part of him was relieved Ella didn't catch sight of it, not before it's finally time for her to.

"I just hope we leave this Palace with our heads still intact to our necks."

Prince Emmett leaned his back on the wall, watching his brother fastening the cuffs of his shirt on his wrist.

"Don't worry Emmett-

Prince Theodore responded. 

-We will."

His eyes glinted in determination, absolute will, and vengeance.

"Because everything is going exactly as we planned."

A/N : Idk if i should turn on a "Mature" tag after this chapter LOL.

idk about Ella man, but this chapter took me a lot of guts, lmao.

Forgive me lord, for i have sinned.

Anyway, Ella was right to doubt theo's intentions, because not only him but emmett too, has a plan up his sleeve as well.

Also A. Silver. Pendant?

Plus i might have promised a face reveal when he hit 10k which we'r near to and now im having 2nd thoughts about it😅🤣.