Villainess’s Redemption (Reborn Villainess #1)

Chapter 2

The next morning, I woke before dawn, my muscles aching from yesterday’s ordeal. Seb’s labored breathing filled our tiny hovel as I quietly dressed quickly. Mother stirred, her eyes widening as she caught me preparing to leave.

“Ilyana, where are you going?” she whispered carefully, not to wake Sebastian.

I tied back my hair, avoiding her gaze. “To the mines.”

“No!” She scrambled up, grabbing my arm. “You can’t. It’s too dangerous.”

I gently pried her fingers loose. “Someone has to work, Mother. It won’t be Seb, not in his condition. And it can’t be you.”

“But-”

“The overseer made it clear. Our family’s punishment must be fulfilled,” I forced a smile hoping to reassure her. “I can handle it. I’m stronger than I look.”

Mother’s eyes filled with tears. “This is all my fault. If I hadn’t-”

“Stop,” I cupped her face in my hands. “We’ve been through this. The choices were mine. The consequences are mine to bear.”

She nodded, but I could see the guilt eating away at her. I hated leaving her like this, but what choice did we have?

“I’ll be back before dark,” I promised, not knowing if I really could. I grabbed a stale crust of bread but I noticed there was only one piece left. Seb would need it. So I left it there and drank a glass of water.

The pre-dawn air bit at my skin as I made my way through the empty streets. My first stop was the tavern where I’d been working. I needed to let Mathilda know I wouldn’t be coming in for a while.

The tavern door creaked as I pushed it open. Mathilda was already up, wiping down tables with a sour expression that only darkened when she saw me.

“What are you doing standing there?” she snapped. “You’re late.”

I took a deep breath. “Actually, Mathilda, I won’t be able to come to work for some time. My brother-”

“Oh, spare me your excuses,” she cut me off, slamming her rag onto the table. “I knew I shouldn’t have given work to a traitor like you.”

I flinched at the venom in her voice but stood my ground. “I’m sorry, I-”

“Sorry? Sorry doesn’t put food on the table or ale in the mugs,” She advanced on me, jabbing a finger in my chest. “Do you know how many people I turned away to give you a chance? And this is how you repay me?” She didn’t. I was the only option.

“It’s not like that,” I tried to explain. “My brother was injured in the mines. I have to-”

“I don’t care about your brother!” Mathilda’s face was red with fury. “I care about running my business. Something you clearly know nothing about, you spoiled little brat.”

Each word was like a slap, but I held my ground. I’d weathered worse.

“I understand,” I said, keeping my voice level. “I’ll make it up to you when-”

“Make it up to me?” She let out a harsh laugh. “Don’t bother. You’re fired. In fact, don’t ever show your face here again. I was a fool to think someone like you could ever be trusted.”

I stood there, stunned, as she continued her tirade. Words like “selfish,” “unreliable,” and “backstabber” pelted me like the vegetables thrown yesterday. But unlike the vegetables, I couldn’t turn them into something useful.

Had she found someone new? I couldn’t think of anyone who would put up with her temper for two bronze coins. It wouldn’t even buy bread for a week, I mostly worked there to get the leftovers and scraps after cooking.

“Get out!” Mathilda finally shouted, grabbing a broom. “Get out before I call the soldiers!” As if the soldiers would get involved in some minor squabble between criminals. That’s right, both of us were criminals.

I stumbled backward, my hands raised in surrender. “I’m going. I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused.”

She spat at my feet as I retreated. The door slammed behind me, the sound echoing in the empty street.

I leaned against the tavern’s outer wall, trying to catch my breath. This was bad. The tavern job had been our main source of food. Without it…

No. I couldn’t think about that now. One problem at a time. Right now, I needed to get to the mines. I’d figure out the rest later.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon as I made my way to the outskirts of town. The mine loomed ahead, a gaping maw ready to swallow me whole. I squared my shoulders and marched forward. Whatever lay ahead, I’d face it. For Seb. For Mother. For the family, I’d nearly destroyed.

It was time to pay my dues.

* * *

I collapsed onto a jagged rock, my muscles screaming in protest. Sweat stung my eyes as I wiped my brow with a grimy sleeve. The mines were a special kind of hell - dark, damp, and dangerous. But I could handle it. I had to.

“Water?” A gruff voice offered. I looked up to see Greta, one of the older miners, holding out a ladle.

“Thanks,” I croaked, gulping it down. The lukewarm liquid tasted like heaven.

Greta nodded, moving on to the next miner. She’d been here longer than most, her weathered face a map of the harsh life we now led. I admired her quiet strength. She was also one of the only ones in this village who was treated worse than us but she still remained kind throughout all these years. I didn’t know if I would be as kind as her or sane at her age because I didn’t see any escape from this place. I’d die here one day.

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

I stiffened at the oily voice. Slowly, I turned to face Overseer Bren, his bulbous form blocking out what little light filtered into the cavern. His beady eyes raked over me, lingering on my chest in a way that made my skin crawl.

“Just catching my breath, sir,” I said, forcing politeness into my tone.

He grinned, yellowed teeth on full display. “You’re a right pretty thing, aren’t you? Even covered in muck.”

I bit back a retort, reminding myself that antagonizing him would only make things worse. Instead, I stood, ready to return to work.

“Not so fast, sweetheart,” his meaty hand clamped onto my arm. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

“I’m not interested in any propositions,” I said firmly, trying to pull away. His grip tightened.

“Hear me out,” he leered. “You’re struggling, ain’t ya? Barely scraping by on what we pay you a lot. But I could change all that.”

My stomach churned as his meaning became clear. I’d dealt with lecherous men before, but this was different. More dangerous since there was no one to save me. No power. Nothing.

You deserve it. A voice whispered.

“I could make things real easy for you,” he continued, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “More coin than you’re making now, and you wouldn’t have to break your back down here. All you gotta do is warm my bed.”

Rage and disgust battled within me. How dare he? Did he think I was so desperate, so broken, that I’d sell myself to the likes of him?

“No,” I spat, yanking my arm free. “Never.”

His face darkened. “Now, don’t be hasty-”

“I said no!” I snarled, loud enough for nearby miners to glance our way. “I’d rather starve than let you touch me.”

Bren’s piggy eyes narrowed. With surprising speed, he grabbed my chin, fingers digging painfully into my jaw. “Listen here, you little bitch-”

I didn’t think. I just reacted. Gathering what little moisture I had left in my mouth, I spat directly in his face.

He recoiled, releasing me with a roar of outrage. “You’ll pay for that!”

As he wiped his face, cursing, I felt a surge of wild satisfaction. But beneath it, cold fear gripped my heart. What had I done?

“I’ll see you whipped for this,” Bren growled, advancing on me again.

I backed away, hands raised. “Stay away from me, or I’ll tell the soldiers what you tried to do.”

The soldiers didn’t care what the overseers did with us criminals but one thing they adhered to was the rules and if Bren got caught getting bribed, there would be hell to pay. I would also pay for ‘bribing’ but it would be satisfying to take him down with me.

He hesitated, glancing at the other miners who were now openly staring. With a snarl, he turned and stomped away, leaving me trembling but defiant.

It wasn’t until he was gone that I opened my clenched fist to reveal the weight in my palm. During our struggle, I deftly slipped my fingers into his coin pouch, taking a single gold coin. The muscle memory from my past evil days had served me well.

I quickly tucked the coin away, heart pounding. It was more money than I’d seen in months. Enough to buy real food, and even medicine for Sebastian.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. And if anyone deserved to be robbed, it was that pig Bren.

As the break ended and miners shuffled back to their posts, I took a deep breath. I’d deal with the consequences of my actions later. For now, I had work to do.

* * *

I trudged home from the mines, my body aching but my spirits lifted by the weight of the gold coin in my pocket. The sun had long since set, plunging Outlaw’s Den into darkness broken only by the occasional flickering lantern.

My first stop was the apothecary - a shabby hut on the outskirts of town. They were already closed but I knocked anyway. The door opened and the old man eyed me suspiciously as recognition and disgust filled him. He tried to close the door but I wedged my foot, stopping him in time.

“Not so fast,” I put a sweet smile on my face but his demeanor changed when I produced the gold coin.

“Medicine for broken ribs and deep cuts,” I said quietly. “And whatever food you can spare.”

He nodded and quickly pocketed the coin, bustling around his cramped shop. Soon, I left with a few small vials of potent herbal tincture and a bundle of dried meat and hard cheese. It wasn’t much, but it was more than we’d had in weeks. Months, if we count the meat.

As I neared our hovel, a chill ran down my spine. Something was wrong. Torchlight flickered where there should have been darkness, and the sound of raised voices carried on the night air.

My pace quickened, heart pounding. As I rounded the final bend, my worst fears were confirmed. A group of soldiers surrounded our home, their armor glinting in the torchlight.

What were they doing here? No. This can’t be happening.

The bundle of food and medicine slipped from my numb fingers as a scream tore through the night - my mother’s voice, raw with terror.

“No!” I gasped, breaking into a run.

I burst through the door to a scene of chaos. Two soldiers restrained my mother as she thrashed and wailed. In the center of the room stood Commander Maxwell, his face a mask of cold fury. He gripped Sebastian by the hair, forcing my brother’s head back at a painful angle.

“Tell me what you’ve been feeding to the enemy!” Maxwell snarled, giving Seb’s head a vicious shake. “What secrets have you sold, you traitorous mutt?”

No. God, no. Please, no.

“Please!” I cried, falling to my knees before the commander. “He’s done nothing! We’re not spies!”

Maxwell’s head snapped towards me, his eyes narrowing. With a grunt, he released Sebastian, who crumpled to the ground with a pained groan. In two quick strides, the commander was upon me.

His hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my throat as he hauled me to my feet. I gasped, clawing at his iron grip as he brought his face close to mine.

“Then you tell me,” he hissed, breath hot on my cheek. “What information have you been passing to our enemies? How long have you been betraying your kingdom?”

“We haven’t!” I choked out, tears streaming down my face. “I swear it! We’re no spies - just trying to survive!”

Maxwell’s grip tightened, spots dancing before my eyes. “Lies!” he roared. “You think I don’t know about the meetings? the missing gold from the mines? Only you could give them the maps. Didn’t you already whore yourself out to Elenthar before? It wouldn’t be tough for you to do that again.”

I flinched. My past continued to haunt me. You deserve it.

Through the haze of pain and terror, I realized this was the end. Looking in his eyes there was nothing but conviction. He had already decided that we were guilty and no pleading from me would change his mind.

But still, I had to try. For Seb. For Mother. For their future— even if it was bleak.

“Please,” I begged, my voice a raspy whisper. “We’ve done nothing wrong. Have mercy…”

The commander’s face twisted with disgust. He released my throat, shoving me backwards. I stumbled, gasping for air.

“Mercy?” Maxwell spat. “There’s no mercy for traitors.”

What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Maxwell drew his sword, the steel gleaming in the torchlight. He turned towards Sebastian, who was struggling to rise.

“No!” I screamed, lunging forward.

But I was too slow. The blade flashed, and Sebastian’s eyes went wide with shock. He looked down at the crimson stain spreading across his chest, then back up at me. His lips moved, forming my name before he collapsed.

My mother’s wail of anguish cut off abruptly as Maxwell whirled, his sword finding her heart with brutal efficiency.

I froze, unable to comprehend the horror before me. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a nightmare.

My gaze zeroed in on Seb and Mother’s limp, lifeless bodies. Their eyes were wide open from shock or fear or both. Their lifeless eyes stared at me accusingly. You did this. You are a murderer. You deserve it.

I could see nothing but the blood flowing on the dirt floor. One moment they were here and the next, they were gone. My numb legs gave out and fell on the floor. Their blood mixing and flowing towards me, staining my tattered gown. Their blood was on me. Everything was quiet but my heart felt chaotic at the same time.

Please, stop this. Stop this pain. I will do anything to erase this, to make everything right. Anything. Oh, Lord. Please, give me a chance.

Maxwell advanced on me, his blade dripping with the blood of my family. “Last chance,” he growled. “Confess your treason, and I’ll make your death quick.”

“We’re innocent,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I stood up. “We’ve always been innocent!”

His face hardened. “Then you will die a liar as well as a traitor.”

Pain exploded in my chest as Maxwell’s sword found its mark. I gasped, my legs giving out beneath me. As I fell, my gaze met Sebastian’s lifeless eyes.

I’m sorry, I thought desperately. This is all my fault. If only I could go back… change everything…

Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision. With my last breath, I made a desperate wish.

Please, I begged whatever power might be listening. Let me turn back time. Give me one more chance to make things right.

Please.

The world faded to black.