The Drowning Fish

She stared out the window to look at the stars. It felt so good to feel the breeze on her skin. She wondered how long she had to enjoy it.

He would soon be back and her little happiness would fade. Six months of anguish and abuse. Six months of pain, Six months of being treated like an animal. She looked down at her body in shame.

Scars. All over. She didn't even want to talk about her face. It had the ugliest of them all. He had done that to her with a dagger cause she tried to defy him. Some days, she subjected to the torture of angry wolves. Other times, he would do it himself.

Sometimes, she prayed she would die and escape it all like when he almost drowned her for talking back at his Luna. She could run away but that would cost her mother's life.

Her mother. She chuckled at the thought. The reason she was stuck here. She just had to steal from him. Why couldn't she go somewhere else? Someplace safer?. Somewhere she wouldn't be caught.

She didn't even know if the woman she was suffering for was still alive. He said she was but he could be lying. After all, he took her against her will and used her whenever he felt like.

He had a wife. A Luna. Yet she was stuck with satisfying his hunger. It's been six months already and she was yet to set eyes on her mother. The door opened and she scurried away from the window.

He walked in with his usual confident smile and all she could do was lower her gaze. It was a serious crime to look the king in the face. A rule she found ridiculous. What was so special about that face of his? He was the least attractive man on her list.

He walked over to her and lifted her face to meet his. He liked the hatred he saw each time he stared into her fierce eyes.

"Katarina" He called softly.

"Your highness" She replied with undisguised spite.

"Why are you still dressed?" He asked huskily.

"I..didn't think think you would....Actually I was just taking it off" She said quickly letting the robe fall. He smiled and walked away from her. His champagne was always on the table. She made sure of it.

Last time she forgot, he had her whipped and starved for days. SHe watched him pop it and serve himself.

"Your mother's judgement is tonight. I want you to look your best" He said sipping his drink. Her mother?. She almost jumped in joy. Her patience was finally going to pay off. He was going to keep his promise.

"I will do just that. Should I go now or...."

"You know I've always loved that look in your eyes each time I come close to you. Tonight, I feel it's gonna be my favourite. I'll let you get dressed but you have just ten minutes" He said before ,exiting.

She didn't give his words another thought. She was happy she would finally see her mother. Happy they could finally go home. Proud she had resisted the thought to poison him most times.

She quickly dressed and ran out to meet him. She met with one of his guards instead.

"Come with me" He said coldly and walked ahead without bothering to look if she was following him. She didn't mind though. She wasn't going to let anything ruin her happiness. Or so she thought until she entered the courtroom and realised how wrong she was.

Her mother was in the center on the room with chains binding her hands and feet. She starednin disbelief at the woman who was supposed to her mother. She looked worn out and haggard. She was still in the clothes she wore the day she stole and her skin, tatted with bruises and scars and dirt.