Chapter 9 Things far worse than death

I'm on a plane between awake and asleep. I see flashes of green and white and there is a feeling of someone brushing the hair off my face gently.

I try to open my eyes but I feel so tired.

I lose consciousness once again.

I come back to my senses and everything is warm. Too warm. I try to escape that warmth only for it to tighten around me more.

My eyes open wide at that.

I'm in a room. A massive room larger than before and there is a glass ceiling, one similar to what I saw around in the throne room.

However, what made me panic was the fact that I found myself curled up on the Zakerian's lap as he rested his back against the headboard of a massive bed.

I couldn't help the dread that crept up on me but I didn't have the strength to struggle.

Noticing that I'm awake he shifts me closer to his body so the warmth seeps into me like liquid. He traps me inside his arms and I have nowhere else to go. The Zakerian rubs his hand down my back and the heat that follows was pleasantly uncomfortable. I wish he didn't touch me as I remembered what those hands did to me the last time they were there.

"We almost lost you." I hear him say silently.

I couldn't process that. Does he mean that I almost died? Did he bring me back to life? Can he even do that?

Sensing my question he answers. "I found you just before you lost your life. You were seconds away from death." The most unnerving fact is that he can read me so well. Like I'm an open book. I didn't like that.

I frown and choose to ignore him. My mission failed. I'm back where I started.

A shiver goes down my spine remembering the fear he invoked in me.

"That was foolish of you Aurora. You mustn't attempt to take your life in such a manner." I can detect the annoyance in his voice

I do not respond to that. I wasn't trying to die. Not really. I was trying to escape and telling him that won't do me any favors.

I continue to ignore his words, hoping he'd leave me alone.

Suddenly, he grabs my neck and squeezes it so tightly I start to choke. He brings his face so close to mine that I could see blue and silver specs in his green eyes.

"There are far worse things than death Aurora. Your life is not yours to take anymore. It's mine now." I panicked and claw at his hands. Trying to breathe.

"If there is another foolish attempt on your life or an attempt to escape, trust me my little one, not even death can help you escape my wrath. I'll show you the true meaning of torture." He whispers these words lowly in my ear and lets me go.

I take a huge gulp of air, trying to calm my burning lungs. I couldn't stop shaking at his words. 'There are things far worse than death' He's right. I'm living through it right now.

I started to cough, my throat felt extremely sore.

Shadow appears from the corner of the room and hands a glass of water to the Zakerian. He takes it and offers it to me. I glare at him and push it away.

I wasn't going to take anything he gave me.

however, I still couldn't stop coughing. I did not know how long I was asleep or how dehydrated I was.

"Come now, don't be stubborn," he says with a mocking smile.

I shake my head as a clear 'no' ready for another struggle.

He takes a good look at me and then proceeds to drink the water instead.

My shoulders slumped in relief.

Yet, the feeling only lasted for a moment because the very next second he grabbed my face and tilted it towards him. I was confused for a brief second wondering what kind of threat he's gonna make next.

That was until his lips touched mine.

My eyes widened and I could feel the water pour down my throat from his mouth. I swallowed it all in shock, my body not yet processing what was happening.

After I was done drinking, He didn't pull back, instead, his lips linger on mine curiously.

My hands came up to his chest trying to push him away in a futile attempt. I could feel his smile on my lips seconds before he plunged his tongue into my mouth. Deepening the kiss further.

My heart starts beating wildly in my chest as I feel his tongue twirl around mine. I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks as I unwittingly realized how good he tasted.

He nips at my bottom lip and adjusts me so that I wrap my legs around his waist as I lay there on his lap. I'm being kissed for the first time in my life and it's by my worst enemy.

My body responds to him against my will.

My mouth moves against his, our mouths dancing, and finally, after a long stroke of his tongue, he pulls away, leaving a trail of saliva before we parted.

I blushed. Horrified at what just happened.

"Why did you-"

"See now that wasn't so hard now was it?" he says rubbing his cheek against the side of my face.

I get it. He was toying with me and I'm giving him exactly what he wants. I wanted to yell at myself.

how could I let him do that?

In a fit of fury, I pushed away from him, proceeding to stumble off the bed, landing ungracefully on the floor.

I could hear his deep chuckle at my demise.

I blushed in shame.

"humans are such delicate creatures." I hear him say as I stood up. I realized I can't wander far away from him, I would end up freezing again.

"Leave me alone," I muttered in annoyance.

his lips quirked a fraction in response.

"You lost that privilege. You will not leave my side again Aurora."

I didn't know how to respond to that.

"Now come here," he commanded.

I hesitated. I could feel my lips tingling from the kiss earlier and didn't trust myself anywhere near him.

his eyes narrowed at my delay and I quickly made my way towards him. I didn't want to risk getting punished.

I let him place me next to his side. His warmth seeping into me in the process.

"You have trouble following orders I see. There is so much I need to teach you Aurora." The smile he gave me made me wanna shrink. I didn't like that particular smile. It's a smile that screams I'm going to hurt you soon.

"let's see how long you'll last before I break you."