"And when I think that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art"

"How Great Thou Art" by Stuart K. Hine (1949 ver.)

I was taken away from my mother as soon as she birthed me; I had no real memory of her or my father. I didn't have a normal childhood filled with irreplaceable memories, or stories that would be talked about during Christmas-time.

I would never be able to do the normal childlike things that people often took for granted: I didn't ever receive money from the tooth fairy after losing a tooth; I never got to run downstairs on Christmas morning after gushing over my presents; I didn't have friends, I didn't go to school; I never had a crush, either.

Since the day of my birth my life has been mapped out for me; I was meant to be a 'Sacrifice' for The Punisher after he had become frustrated with Gods and unleashed hell upon earth. I was what the people of the world had been looking forward to: the baby girl who would be able to calm and tame the beast of the world.

I had never met my intended Mate, but I could feel him sometimes as the older I got -- the more synced I became with him. I could feel when he was angry, annoyed and frustrated. Those were the emotions he seemed to always feel.

I hadn't told anyone yet as I was too scared. I was scared that they would tell Him and He would want to visit me.

Stories of his harsh and inhumane ways had gripped the earth for many centuries. I knew he was unforgiving, tolerated no disrespect, and was someone to fear. Not many people knew him personally apart from his right hand man. The right hand mans real name was unknown, but people called him The Soul Collector because of the number of people's souls he had taken after killing them.

***

Since The Punisher had taken over the earth, he had completely changed society as it once was; while he was cruel and unforgiving he was undeniably efficient and intelligent.

Poverty no longer existed as he created a policy that everyone was taxed £5 (or their equivalent) a month. That money went towards improving the third world countries by installing good education systems, health clinics, hospitals, houses, roads and other infrastructure. Crime was also down to a minimum as he had enforced very strict laws with incredibly strict law enforcers.

***

For the past sixteen years I was raised in a large house where I was taught by a private tutor. Margaret taught me how to read, write, do math, speak a variety of different languages, sew, cook and clean. Margaret also coached me on manners, etiquette and the correct way on how to address The Punisher. I also had a maid called Ms. Reid who was a motherly figure for me as she gave me advice, looked after me when I was sick, and was there for me whenever I was in doubt. Margaret and Ms. Reid were the only people I had ever interacted with or seen in my fifteen years -- I had never spoke to another human or even saw a boy in my life.

I was incredibly curious on what the outside world was like, but I was taught not to pry. Margaret had more experience than me, which was why I followed what she and Ms. Reid told me religiously; they always had my best interests at heart.

Secretly I liked the idea of exploring and seeing what the world had to offer, but I had never actually been outside . When I saw the rain droplets splatter across my window I often wondered what they felt like, did they have a taste?

Wriggling my toes, I wondered what it would be like to run barefoot across the grass but the idea was quickly chased away with the fear of being caught and scolded. I hated being in trouble, although it was very rare, because I felt like a big disappointment. I wanted to do my best in all aspects of life .

Resting my cheek on the cool condensed glass plain of the window, I closed my eyes. I soon became lost in my daydreams of what it would be like to be bathed in the sun's light as I laid on the soft grass, which would tickle my face and feet.

"Blue, I've been looking for you all over! Margaret is here to start your etiquette classes, dear," came the soft voice of Ms. Reid.

"Thank you, Ms.Reid," I replied as polite as I had been taught, before running off to the room where my lessons were.

Margaret was stood with her posture perfect and her hands clasped behind her back, wearing a grey sweater dress that stopped just below her knees, with thick black tights and ankle boots.

"No running Blue; you've turned seventeen today not six," she reprimanded as I skidded into the room.

"Sorry," I said, sheepishly ducking my head.

"Have you had a nice day today?" she asked once I was seated.

"Yes. Ms. Reid cooked me a lovely breakfast; I helped her bake a double chocolate chip cake; and she brought me this beautiful dress, but she said I can't wear it until I meet my Mate," I grinned, swinging my legs in excitement.

"That's wonderful! Are you ready to meet your Mate?"

"I-I'm not sure Margaret, do you think I'm ready?"

"Well, you only have a few lessons left of training Blue, but I'm not sure when he wants to meet you. Do you remember the most important rule?" she responded, unpacking her things on her desk.

"Of course, I remember everything you taught me! I must never disrespect him because he does not take that lightly," I recited proudly.

From the moment I was able to talk I was taught how to act when I finally met The Punisher, but I was still nervous. Being taught something that you had never put into practise would be a scary experience for anyone, and as I had never been around more than two people in my life I was scared.

Margret had taught me the key social skills for when I left the house such as staying calm in social situations, listening skills, empathy and interest in other's situations, responding back appropriately to what I had heard, and the correct body posture.

Unfortunately for me, I was exceedingly shy, and it took me a long time for me to be able to speak confidently in front of Margret and Ms. Reid, which was why I was worried about real social interactions. I was concerned that people would find me abnormal; Margaret told me how cruel the world could be sometimes, and I didn't want to experience the little cruelties.

"Brilliant!" she praised making me beam in pride, "Now that you're seventeen , I think it's time you learn how to act with other males when you meet The Punisher:

It is important that you never look another male directly in the eye, talk to another male without his permission, be alone with another male without his permission or touch another male at all especially if you have not been marked.

A mark is something you will receive during sexual intercourse. The mark will be unique to your mate and will appear on the body part they mark you on. Your DNA will become mixed with theirs, which means that unmated males know you belong to someone. Remind me of what creatures reside in the world?"

"Wolves, Demons, Vampires, Witches, Fairies, Half-bloods and Humans," I answered instantly.

"Good girl! Each of these mark their Mates in different ways:

Wolves will bite their Mate between their shoulder and neck as soon as they meet them; Demons will bite their Mates neck either side; Vampires bite their Mate on both their wrists; Half-bloods will mark their Mates on the back of their necks; Witches cast a spell that gives their Mate a warning aura so people know they are taken; and Fairies inject a special venom inside their mates when they bite them which gives off an odd smell.

Each of these creatures live on different sides on the earth, and are ruled by a Royal family that originate from the first ever Demon, Vampire, Wolf, and Fairy. Witches and Half-bloods will live wherever they were born, but The Punisher rules over everyone. Have you got that?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied. My hands flew rapidly across my paper as I wrote down everything so I could revise it later.

"Good. Now, we shall talk about the process of Mating."