Before her eyes

*WARNING: VIOLENCE

Dahlia dashed towards her room while making sure steps were inaudible.

"Did you hear that?" the Knight asked.

"No. What was it?" the Duke replied.

Only the knight was able to hear those barely audible steps. Since he was a Knight he was extremely sensitive to his surroundings.

Dahlia was already infront of her room when she heard the butler steps slowly approaching her. She immediately opened the door and slowly closed it.

*Click

The butler turned his head for he thought he heard something.

When inside, she gasped. Searching for air. Then she quickly jumped to her bed. She turned towards the window, her back facing the door.

She can hear her heart beating loud and fast. Then the door opened. She held her breath and clutched her dress. 'If I make a sound, I'm dead' she reminded herself.

The butler looked at her seemingly sleeping figure then decided to leave. The door closed. She counted to ten. When she felt that there was no one there,she released her breath.

She quickly ran towards the window. Far away, She saw men holding torches as they walked towards carriages.

'They're leaving. What do I do.... Father...'

She looked down. The height seemed high, but it was manageable. 'Just broken bones. I guess.' she said observing the height by which she could fall.

When she was sure that there was no one that could see her. She opened her window slowly before jumping.

*Thud.

She choked a groan that tried to escape her lips. Her back hurt like hell. But this was not the time to fret, she had to go to her father as fast as possible.

She carefully stood up not minding the terrible aching of her body. She flinched when she realized that she was bear footed. She stepped on some sharp stone. She can already guess that her foot was bleeding.

She slowly ran towards one of the carriages. After looking around and making sure that there was no one there she went to the carriage. At the back of the carriage was a compartment, she decided to hide herself there.

She fitted herself in a fetal position. While not minding the ache and pain from her body, she couldn't help but feel nervous. Her heart was beating so fast as if it would explode.

Moments later she felt the carriage move. It took almost an hour for the carriage to arrive at the Count's mansion. Throughout the whole journey, Dahlia was holding her breath and being careful not to make a single sound.

Her whole body felt stiff because of enduring staying in the same position for almost an hour. When they arrived, she can hear screams and smell something that was burning.

Her expression sank. 'No. It can't be. Was I too late?'

She carefully went outside the compartment while taking notice of her surroundings. The knights seemed to have departed from their carriages. When she saw the scene in front of her, she fell to her knees.

'No.'

All of it was burning.

The mansion was burning into ashes. There were bodies littered everywhere. The maids, servants... all of them.. dead on the floor.

She felt the tears roll from her eyes. 'Nana'. There she saw the maid's body with a slit on her throat. She couldn't believe it. It was gruesome. All of it.

It didn't look like her home. No. It was more like Hell. 'No. This is a dream. This is a dream. This isn't real. No.. It's just—' Dahlia's thoughts where interrupted when she saw a Knight dragging a familiar man.

'Father.'

The man was dragged towards a person. She recognised who that was, it was the King. The King upon seeing the man's face sneered. He moved his head to whisper unto the knight's ear.

Dahlia's eyes widened. She understood what he wanted to do. She stood up and dashed towards the knights.

The knight who dragged the man swung up his sword. The Duke who was watching noticed Dahlia who was fast approaching. He was shocked. 'What is she doing here?'

He immediately commanded the knights pointing them Dahlia's direction.

"The girl! Catch her!"

Dahlia was near where they were when strong arms suddenly grabbed her. It was a knight commanded by the Duke.

"No! Let me go!" Dahlia continued to struggle against the knight's grasp. She felt numb,adrenaline rushing through her veins. "Please!" she pitifully begged. She wailed.

The Count upon recognising that voice lifted his head, searching for his daughter. He gasped and his eyes began to water.

The King slowly lifted his hand. Dahlia continued to struggle. Suddenly as if regaining her strength, she broke free from the knight's tight hold.

She ran till she was almost a step closer to her father.

The King finished his signal. The knight grabbed the Count's hair, then struck the the Count's neck.

Blood spewed out the Count's neck, it stained Dahlia's face.

Dahlia let out an agonizing scream. Her eyes widened with shock. Her body trembled. She suddenly lost all energy from her body. She slumped on her knees. She clutched her head and her eyes were bloodshot.

She looked up her father's head held by the knight. It was dangling from his hands, eyes wide awake and tears trailing to his neck.

'Father.'

She suddenly wanted to die on the spot. Her eyes shifted towards the King. He was looking at her with pity but mostly with annoyance. He thought the sight of this little girl was pathetic.

She stared at him with rage. Her twisted expression showed how much she loathe him.

'I'm gonna kill you.' she said with spite however she couldn't utter a single word due to her body growing numb.

Suddenly the knight, whom she broke free off, trapped her in his arms again. This time he tightened his hold. She didn't try to protest. It was all meaningless.

If they wanted they could just kill her too. The Duke rushed towards her. His face fuming with rage. "What are you doing here?!"

*Slap

She tasted blood in her mouth however she looked at the Duke like she didn't feel any pain. The Duke gazed at the King and bowed.

"Pardon me your Majesty. My wife she—" the Duke wasn't even finished with what he was saying when the King decided to leave. As if listening to him was a waste of time.

The Duke was humiliated and decided to shift his anger unto her. He slapped her again and looked at the knight who was holding her.

"Take her away!"