Revenge - PAST
TRIGGER WARNING - blood and gore, murder, discussions about implied SA
Juliette - Age 17 (In the Past)
Panic attacks plague me during the day and terrors follow me into the night. The King and his guards hadn't found Matthew and Warren that night, knowledge that sent pure fear down my spine every-time I remembered that terrifying fact.
It took me three months before I could put any pressure on my leg and even now my knee twinges painfully with every step. The cane I lean on is new, something Daria found for me once we realised that it was likely my leg would never heal.
I'm walking, well limping, towards the King's study again.
It's a path I've travelled often since that night and it fills me with so much terror I can feel my muscles seizing at the thought of looking in his eyes.
I reach his study door again and one of the guards gives me a pitying look before opening it.
The King is standing when I limp in. A fact that makes me pause. He turns to me and my heart sinks at the anger already on his face.
"I received a letter. King Richard contacted me about your.
.. condition." He says the word like it's contagious and disgusting.
I know what he's not saying. That my condition was caused by one thing and one thing only.
How pathetic I was. That I couldn't fight back against those men.
Shame crawls up my throat and lodges there.
I stay silent. He doesn't expect an answer anyway. He continues talking, "He wanted to know if you'd been... damaged. Are you?"
I pause at the question. "D-damaged?"
He reddens in anger. "Are. You. Damaged Juliette. Did those men take the only thing of any worth about you?"
I pale as I realise his question. "N-no. They didn't."
He sighs forcibly, "I'll reply then."
I nod and turn to leave but a sudden yank to my long hair pulls me backwards.
"Where do you think you're going, you entitled brat. Did I say you could go?!" His breath is hot and venomous and I cringe back.
His meaty hand comes down hard on my chest knocking the breath from my lungs as I gasp for breath. I curl in on myself protecting the rest of my body but he swiftly kicks my exposed side hard.
"Get up. And get out. I can't believe I had such a pathetic daughter. You should have been a son. Get out!"
I scramble upwards grabbing my cane and leaving as quickly as my broken body would allow.
"Oh and Juliette. We have guests tonight." He grins viciously and it unnerves me more than his physical violence ever could. I have no idea who's here but I know that I won't like it. I nod.
I'm crying silently as I leave and the guards look away as I pass. So do the servants. No one cares.
I'm walking quietly down the halls of castle when I hear muffled voices that sends instant fear down my spine. No. It couldn't be. No.
I spin around immediately turning to face the guest wing where the voices are coming from. I'm moving before I can think. It couldn't be.
I keep walking in a haze of fear and disassociation until I'm standing outside a closed door listening to two familiar male voices. Warren and Matthew murmur to each other and I can't make out what they're saying but the sound of their voices has been ingrained into my brain.
These were the guests the King invited. He... invited my attackers to stay at our palace.
Pure shock fills me. He wouldn't. Right? He wouldn't. Surely... the threat of further "damage" would stop him. But... he did.
Rage replaces shock.
Pure. Fucking. Rage.
I turn away from the door heading straight for the palace kitchens using my cane as quietly as I can.
How dare he. How dare they. Adrenaline rushes through my veins. The audacity, the nerve of these men. The King. Matthew and Warren. Those fuckers.
I stride to the knife rack and pick up the meanest, sharpest looking one and stare at it. Then I turn and walk back to the guest rooms.
It's silent inside when I reach the door again. The lights are off and no voices reach my ears. I open the door gently and walk in quietly, leaving my cane at the door. Two beds are in the room and two lumps lay on them. I walk softly towards the first bed and spot Matthew lying on the bed.
He's smiling in his sleep. Like he's dreaming of something good. I hate it. I raise my knife over him and smile. Then I bring it down straight through his throat severing his vocal cords.
His eyes fly open in shock which swiftly turns to pain and shock as he spots me. He tries to yell and scream but the knife did its job and he stays silent. I laugh silently and twist the knife and his eyes dim as he bleeds. It only takes another second before he slumps on the mattress.
I remove the knife and then turn my attention to Warren. I walk over there ready to do the same when he moves quickly. He knocks me down to the floor and I yell out in surprise.
His eyes are wild as he stares down at me, "you little bitch!" I hiss and try to bring my knee up but he dodges easily and presses his weight onto me more.
"You fucking killed him! I knew you were a snobby little bitch." He's out of control and his hands clamp around my neck pressing hard. I choke and try to push him off desperately.
My vision fades in and out.
My hands tap desperately around me searching for anything and I almost sob with relief when I grab the knife by its blade. It's cuts deep into my hand but I don't care when I flip to the handle and drive it deep into Warren's neck.
He lets go of me in shock and then tumbles off my body and lands on the floor with a loud thud.
I stare at the ceiling panting, processing what I just did. Rage leaves my body and I start to cry.
I just killed two people.
Is this what the King wanted? To break me like this as well. Or did he think I wouldn't be able to do it and he was hoping I'd get roughed up again.
Questions flood me, nothing making sense but I can't focus.
I just killed two people.
I stand clumsily, step over Warren's prone body and limp over to the door. I grab my cane and turn back to the room. It's grotesque.
Blood coats every surface and I realise suddenly that I too am covered in blood.
I got my revenge but at what cost?
I swing the door open to leave and stop short at the King standing there. He turns to face me, studies my blood covered form and laughs loudly.
"Knew you had it in you. You're just like me." It's all he says before he turns away, still chuckling.
I watch silently as he leaves. Tears run tracks through the blood on my face but I don't wipe it.
I think I'm broken because as I leave the rooms I feel completely and utterly numb.