"Start, Jonathan."

It was the same voice, the same man, the demon who did all those cruel things to me. The creature who touched my body and left me to starve and thirst for days. Those things did not matter anymore when I heard another name. My brother.

Dominic pulled out the blindfold on my eyes and the tape that covered my mouth. I don't know how much time it took me before I could see. The darkness was my solitude when I was alone and now that it is gone, I became even more blinded by the newfound light.

Then, the air that touched my lips. Instantly, it became dry. I tried to lick my lips but in failure, even my tongue could not move. So I let myself inhale the air, reminding me that I am still breathing, alive, and fighting.

But before I could even think of more ways to survive, I heard a whooshing sound which came before a burning and painful sting on my stomach.

I blinked rapidly to register what was happening before me. First, it was all a blur, a shadow of two men. One of which was sitting down and the other was standing in front of me, holding an inanimate object.

Then, another whipping sound that hit the other side of my abdomen. I wanted to curl from the pain, clutch my skin until it fades away but the pain in my arms was the reminder that I was tied and helpless.

More and more lashes landed on my body. I thought that the ones that came before the other hurt the most but as he whipped me continuously, the pain grew unbearable.

It frustrated me that it was still hard to see. This time, they weren't a blur, the men turned to look glassy which meant one thing, the tears that welled up in my eyes were threatening to fall because of the pain. I shut my eyes closed because I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of my hurt.

Blood was now starting to drip all over my body. He landed the torturous object on my stomach, my legs, my thighs, and the ones that hurt the most were on my back.

I didn't beg him to stop, I didn't cry nor did I flinch. I just stood there, emotionless. What have I done to deserve this treatment? I was never cruel, right? Then, my eyes finally adjusted, I saw the man before me, someone whom I never expected to do such a thing.

After my vision cleared came the sounds. I thought I was deaf already but the sounds just turned to be muffled, a result of plain silence for days. "Count, Felicity!" He screamed while the other man chuckled. I couldn't see his face because he sat on the shadow.

How could he? "How could you?" I whispered to him, hoping that he would cease his motion. The tears were still a prisoner in my eyes, I couldn't show any signs of my weakness even if my own brother was the one to cause it.

"Damn it, Felicity! This won't stop until you start counting!" He screamed over and over again but my voice seemed to be far gone. I just looked at him, feeling numb, thinking how bad I was to him that led him to turn his back against me.

All those years, I only wanted a family that will love me for the way I am. I had a brother that only cared for me when he could beat me up and tell me, "Get back up and be a warrior!" Even if I fell a million times, he never stopped until I stood up again, that was how he told me, "I love you, Felicity."

But did he really? Where was that brother now? My mind started believing something else, Jonathan never thought about me because all he wants is the kingdom. He wants to be the king, a greedy and ruthless ruler. He hated me for stealing that from him even if I never did, I never wanted to be a queen, I just wanted to be a normal girl.

Seeing him hit me over repeatedly slowly erased the memory I had of him. Every lash made his image of a good brother fade away. Each whip that he landed on my skin turned my heart against him. Although he wanted this to stop, telling me to start counting until we reach fifty, my mouth never opened.

It wasn't because I could not speak. It's because I know that as soon as my words fall out of my mouth, I would not be counting numbers, I would pour all my wrath and hatred to him, something that I'd much rather put action into it than telling him in spiteful words.

Jonathan Lowell has never been and will ever be my brother. He's just one of them, a cold-hearted, blood-thirsty, vile creature.

I did not know how much my body could still go through, this day will never be erased in my mind. The scars and bruises that were starting to form, they will be the constant reminder of who I was before I completely change into someone new, a better and strong Felicity Lowell.

While more wounds scarred my skin, my soul burned brighter. Pain and fear, it doesn't bring me down, it makes me want to fight because I am not someone to back down.

"You hit like a girl," the devil, Dominic mocked but I saw the resistance in Jonathan's eyes. I knew that he wasn't at fault why I am enduring this pain but I couldn't bring myself to have sympathy for him.

Jonathan dropped the whip, he looked more exhausted and in pain than I was. "I am not your puppet, Dominic!" He angered him to the point that he landed a punch in the devil's face.

I thought that Dominic would fight back but instead, I saw another familiar man walk inside the room, holding a woman. Both of them looked so familiar but I couldn't see well with the dimly-lit room.

"You're disposable, Jonathan," Dominic growled and brought the other woman closer to him as he choked her neck. "You're pathetic, you're weak!"

That's when I finally recognized her, Katherine. She was brought by the other familiar man, Hayden. Another betrayer that I used to trust, I quickly wondered what his king, Dimitrius will do to him if he finds about his deception.

I locked eye contact with Katherine. There wasn't an ounce of fear in her eyes, all I saw was anger and determination. She loathes my brother more than anyone else, I knew that for sure.

"K-Katherine what ar-are you doing here?" Never have I heard my own brother stutter nervously between his words.

Dominic gripped Katherine's neck tighter and laughed, "Well, aren't you enjoying the show? The two destined mates, always finding their way back into each other's arms again."

Hayden and Katherine were exchanging looks like they knew something was about to happen. Then, out of the blue, Katherine bit Dominic's hand and said, "You won't enjoy this show."

Everything happened like a blur, Katherine grasped Jonathan's arm, sending him out of the room while Hayden suddenly had vampires beside him, all ready to fight Dominic.

But no one's going to win without a fight, Dominic had his own servants surrounding him, they were holding knives and guns, all of which were loaded with wooden bullets.

"You think I am stupid? Why would the almighty sister of the vampire king surrender herself, huh? And you, Hayden, turning your back against Dimitrius just because you want to be by my side is the dumbest excuse I have ever heard," Dominic laughed and growled at the same time.

Some vampires lurked their eyes towards me, my barely clothed and tied up body, no one bothered to help me out of the restraints. Hayden's men looked at me with pity while Dominic's servants looked at me with malice that disgusted me to the bones.

"Then why take me in, Dominic? If you knew that I would never side by you, why did you let me in your circle?" Hayden threw a knife that Dominic dodged, making it hit another vampire instead.

Dominic stepped away from them and went towards where I was. He held a dagger, tracing it across my skin, giving me wounds over the ones that Jonathan created. "Like I said, I am not stupid," he growled and pressed the dagger closer to my throat.

One moment, I was held up high, suspended to the ceiling, a dagger pointed to my throat, ready to slit anytime. Then, I felt a whipping sound that cut the ropes in my hand, sending me to fall straight to the ground.

I waited for the impact yet it never came instead, warm familiar hands caught me and instantly, I met with the most beautiful oceanic eyes that I saw.

The person who swiftly cut the ropes on my hand was now standing before Dominic while my mate held me in his arms, worry, love, and passion were evident in his eyes.

My ears heard a voice, one that sounded so familiar in my dreams. The voice that sang my lullabies and comforted my cries. She said,

"Stop hurting my daughter for something I have done, your coward!"

But before I could look at her once more, hell broke loose.

• • • • •

Thank you so much for 23.4K reads, your support is my motivation! Here's a chapter that leads to the very climax of this book and I hope you guys read until the end because I'm pouring all my mind and heart's efforts for y'all. Don't forget to always vote, comment, and share!

1.) How's this chapter?

2.) Any messages for Katherine?

3.) What do you think will Felicity do?

4.) Who missed Dimitrius?

See you on the next update!