Chapter Thirteen-- Life for Pain (Trigger Warning)

Trigger warning: physically and emotional abuse described in this chapter. Discretion is advised.

"You stupid, wicked bitch!" Agatha screamed as she snapped the whip against my exposed back. The strikes were deafening, and with each blow I cried out. The Count and Agatha were taking turns on me, my back bloody and raw. I had lost consciousness once, only to be brought back somehow-- I was unsure at first. It was after my third blackout where I determined I would have been dead, unless they had hired a cleric to heal my wounds and keep their mouths shut.

After the ball, we went home under the guise of Agatha's exhaustion. They started their assault in the carriage, as Agatha bashed my head against the wall of the carriage causing me to black out. I woke up groggy to the knights dragging me by my armpits up the stairs, dropping me on the floor of my barren room. Agatha and the Count followed in, and now the beatings began. I don't know how long it went on for, I could only count how many times I blacked out and if the sun was up or not when I regained consciousness. The torture and beatings lasted at least four days, but I blacked out about a dozen times between them. Everytime they would start with a new assault before bringing back the whip to make my back bloody and raw. I had just groggily opened my eyes and looking at my left hand, now without its finger nails looking raw and broken. My back felt like it was on fire, my head splitting and I didn't have enough energy to pick myself off of the floor. I was a broken and bloody mess, my clothes torn to shreds, and my hair balled up front yanking. Chunks were missing from being yanked from my head, unnoticeable unless you really looking through my scalp. My throat was dry, I had only gotten water twice since I started and they still force fed me my medicine. It was also torn up from my screaming and crying, as well as a splitting headache behind my right eye throbbed uncontrollably. I was in excruciating pain. I waited in baited breath, now knowing how much time had passed. I could only watch as the sun dipped below the sky and cast demonic shadows across my room. Then I heard the footsteps coming down the hallway and I couldn't help the lump in my throat. I almost felt like I was going to cry as they got closer. It was definitely more than one person shuffling through the narrow hall. I started shaking uncontrollably, but I couldn't cry. I was so dehydrated I was unable to cry. The door slammed open and I flinched as the gust of wind flowed over me. I turned my eyes to see a smug Emma and Agatha looking over me. Agatha was dressed in a long flowy silk dress, with a pattern at the bottom looking like ice crystals. It hugged her body with no hood skirt underneath. She walked over to me, Her hair coiled backwards in a French braid with silver rings braided in.

"How are you feeling? Repenting?" She knelt next to my face, her floral perfume wafting in my nose. She looked content, reaching out and brushed a strand of hair from my face surprisingly gently. I was waiting for a blow but it never came. She just stared back at me, a devillish friend on her face. My ragged breaths was the only sound in the room. She took joy in it, like I was singing her favorite song.

"I've decided that there's a way you can make it up to me." She cooed softly. Her soft voice frightened me more than her angry one.

"You see, there's a rumour going around that I was never poisoned and I was faking it," She reached out and touched my fingernailless hand. She then dug her fingers deep into the open wound causing me to make a hoarse croak from the pain.

"That was not a part of the plan. Not only that but that bitch Ophelia is still alive." She twisted her finger and I tried to pull my hand away. It just made it hurt even more.

"It's quite simple. You're going to come with me to Viscountess Grisha's tea party in two days," She twisted the other way, "You're going to use all your mana to convince people to love me and the Ophelia poisoned me. I don't care if you start bleeding out of every pore, you will fix this. You will also tell people that you were too frail and that's why the Count hid your powers." She let go of my hand, leaning down so she could whisper in my ear.

"If you fail this time, I'll kill you myself." Her voice left me ice cold and filled with fear. She pushed herself to a standing position, looking down at me with contempt. I expected her to kick me, but she just floated away silently.

"You better hide your injuries and wear gloves. Don't want you ruining my image even more." She grinned down at me and walked away, Emma holding the door.

"Oh, and one more thing." She gestured to Emma who nodded back to her. Emma stepped outside of the room for a moment, and came back holding a jug of water, a bucket, and two brown satchels.

"I think that you've had too much company. Other than that tea party, you'll be left alone for the next two weeks. Since I'm merciful, I'll leave you your medicine and an extra chamberpot." She looked triumphant, and Emma tossed one of the satchels to me, two loaves of bread falling out.

"I would make that last as much as you could." She giggled, before her and Emma left me alone. They thought they won, but I couldn't help but smiling. One thing worked out properly. I had acted attached and indebted to Emma, in hopes that they would try to punish me woth isolation. To do that, they would have to leave me extra medicinal tea as well as food. Mercy had a stash of extra tea from other times they had done this, at least a years worth, probably more. They were pre-made tea bags, and she had a literal box filled with them. I was guessing that she kept the spares over years of abuse in case they ever forgot to give her her medicine. It was perfect for me though, but I would have to figure out how to get more medicine outside of the house. For now it didn't matter, I was just happy that everything was running smoothly for once. Even though I was a bloody and injured mess, I was determined to survive.