15. Snow
Chapter fifteen
Snow
I’m slowly losing my mind in this cell, which is probably Prince’s intention.
He hasn’t visited for days, but I know that it’s all just a part of his mind games.
Good. The less I have to see of that asshole, the better.
When is he going to learn that Regina doesn’t care about her stepdaughter?
I bet she is laughing and sipping cocktails with one of her many admirers at this very moment, glad that she finally got rid of Leroy’s little brat.
But Prince doesn’t seem to care about any of that.
So, I’m pretty much dead, anyway.
He won’t keep me alive for long. Sooner or later, he will realize that I’m a lost cause and will move on to his next victim.
I wonder if he will kill me himself or get one of the twins to do his dirty work for him.
Will I go to heaven or hell? Reunite with Mama or Daddy?
Ferdinand’s smashed, bloodied face flashes up before me, and I shudder under the blanket.
I didn’t stick around long enough to see if he’d survived, and I can still feel his blood dripping from my fingers.
With a shaking arm, I bring my hand up to my face, spying his red blood drenching my trembling fingers.
A whimper escapes me, yet I can’t tear my gaze away from my hands.
I, SnowWhite, caused harm to another human being.
I’m a monster.
Monster.
Monster...
The word echoes through my mind, fading then coming back louder each time. What have I become?
The bolt of the door slides across, and with a gasp, I tuck my bloodied hand back under my blanket, turning away from the door.
Those familiar footsteps enter the room, and it’s funny how I even recognize the sound of their feet now.
It's Prince and Saint.
Once again, I sense those mismatched eyes, and I don’t even have to look at him to know that his green eye glows.
“It’s time to get up, Snow.”
I shudder when he speaks my name. Even though I hate him, his voice still sets my soul alight.
It's deep, husky, and vibrates in my bones. He’s under my skin.
I am attracted to all of them; I can’t rid myself of the sensation of Knight’s fingers, as I can still feel his gentle ministrations against my bruised ribs.
Luckily, bruises are all I do have. But I wonder how long it will be until Prince completely snaps.
Until I am six feet under like my parents.
I tense my shoulders, hoping they will get the message and just leave, but I know Prince better than that.
He steps forth, tugging the blanket away from my shoulders, and now I lay bare on the hard bed.
A breeze wafts across my exposed arm, and I curl up into a ball, shivering helplessly.
From the corner of my eye, I spy Prince handing the blanket to Saint, and then he crosses his arms, staring at me endlessly with those irregular eyes.
“Now, are you going to cooperate today and tell us what we want to know?”
That’s the thing; I don’t know anything about Regina.
Other than the fact that she’s a vain woman and obsessed with her reflection.
She has a room with a lone mirror— my old room—and I find it unnerving.
“Well?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping he will go away. In my mind, I’m six again with my parents as we play in the green gardens of the estate.
Mama even hands me a penny so I can throw it down into the well and make a wish.
But then Prince’s voice breaks the sweet illusion, and now my memories vanish with a wisp of wind as he shows his teeth.
“Look at me when I address you…”
I don’t look at him, and the last thing I should do is poke the bear, but I am sick to death of this.
Regina isn’t coming for me. There will be no reprisals on her end.
“Saint.”
The blond steps forward, but he needn’t bother. With a sigh, I sit up on aching limbs, hissing through my teeth. “I can sit myself up, thank you.”
The male nods yet keeps close, and silence drifts through the cell.
Why haven’t they bothered dragging me to the torture room? Are they finally realizing how fruitless it is?
I bet my blood still stains the floors. I’m just glad I haven’t lost a tooth.
“Now, tell us what we want to know. Who are Regina’s closest confidants?”
I exhale.“I told you. I don’t know…”
Yet I don’t bother telling them about Ferdinand again. Am I afraid of how it will make me look if I confess what I did to him?
If I confess what I did, then it would just give these men more cause to antagonize and hurt me.
They will think that they’re justified in their actions because I’m a monster just like them, and maybe they would be right in that aspect.
Prince sighs. “As you keep saying. But how can I be sure that I can trust you?”
Finally, I meet his eyes. The green one burns brighter than a flame. “You can’t, but believe me , that woman has never loved me. So, you are wasting your time.”
Prince's jaw ticks. He doesn’t like that answer one iota, and soon, the monster breaches the surface.
It seems I poked the beast.
I swallow.
I just hope I survive.