Willow's entire body shook violently as she sobbed. She took one look at her father's still body and a loud wail escaped her lips.
She couldn't believe it. He really was gone. The only parent she had left had been murdered in cold blood by those evil incarnates she called her step-family.
She crawled towards her father, simply collapsing on his body. She couldn't even cry anymore. She had no tears left.
Willow heard footsteps approaching and her body instantly stiffened as she slowly raised her head, preparing herself for another round of beating, but she soon realized that it was not Isadora or Savannah who had entered the parlor.
It was Sierra, Savannah's twin sister and Isadora's other daughter.
A relieved sigh unconsciously escaped Willow's lips. Sierra wouldn't hurt her. She would never hurt anyone, and maybe that was sort of a problem.
Sierra was too timid and quiet and she would never interfere when Willow was getting mauled by the others. She would only stand by and watch with a terrified expression on her face.
Willow just wished that Sierra would just come to her defense once. Just once. But she knew she was probably asking for too much.
Sierra had already done more than enough by not joining Isadora and Savannah to bully her.
"I'm so sorry," Willow heard Sierra whisper, but she simply ignored her, clinging to her father's body as her heart shattered over and over in her chest.
Sierra squatted next to Willow, her eyes darting around wildly. Willow could instantly tell that she was trying to make sure her mother and sister were nowhere near.
If they caught them speaking, they would beat her up without caring that she was family.
"Mother sold you to the palace. You have to leave before morning or else you'll become a slave for the rest of your life,"
Willow ignored her, still holding onto her father tightly.
"Willow! You have to run now! Do you want to be the Alpha King's slave forever?! Have you forgotten what fate awaits whomever is sold to him?!" She whisper-yelled and that caused Willow's head to snap up, her puffy and red-rimmed eyes wide with despair.
"I–I cannot just leave father here." She broke into tears once again, her lips quivering.
Sierra's expression turned sympathetic, but her eyes still kept darting towards the entrance in slight fear. "I'll take care of him. Just go!"
Willow was still reluctant to leave and she gazed at her father, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Go now, Willow!" Sierra whisper-yelled and it was hard to miss the desperation in her voice.
"Goodbye, Father." Willow whispered in a shaky voice and after she took one last look at her father, she dashed towards the entrance and out of the house.
She had no idea where she was going, but she knew she had to get as far away from Isadora as possible.
She was barefoot and sticks and stones bruised her feet as she ran, but she managed to keep going.
When Willow finally managed to get as far as possible, she finally stopped. Darkness was thick in the air, but thanks to her enhanced vision, she could see her surroundings clearly, although she had no clue where she was.
Rain was pouring heavily and because she had no time to dress properly before fleeing from the house, her body shivering from the harsh cold and her teeth clattering.
She located a stall which the trader had closed for the day and quickly found shelter there. She would stay there for a while and when the rain stopped, she would continue running.
Willow took her seat on the ground and wrapped her arms around her body, although it did little to ward off the cold. It would be a miracle if she didn't freeze to death.
She was so exhausted and decided to get some shut eye when she heard shouting in the distance.
She raised a confused brow as she slowly got up to her feet, wondering what all the ruckus was all about.
Willow blinked in disbelief, her eyes growing wide with horror when she spotted Isadora and Savannah barrelling towards her with angry screams escaping their lips.
"Oh no!" Willow gasped, her heart pounding loudly against her chest as she attempted to escape.
She didn't get very far when someone grabbed her by the hair, yanking her backwards.
Willow let out a scream as she landed roughly on the muddy ground, shielding her face with her hands.
She slowly looked up and there Isadora and Savannah were, staring down at her with furious and malicious expressions on their faces.
"You brat," Isadora gritted out, blue eyes darkening with rage as the rain poured down viciously on the trio. She didn't seem to mind and her entire focus was on Willow.
"How dare you try to escape?!" She yelled, landing a deafening slap on Willow's cheek which nearly cracked her skull.
Willow's head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging as her eyes turned blurry with tears.
"Drag her to her feet." Isadora commanded and Savannah obeyed instantly.
She pulled her forcefully to her feet by yanking on her hair violently. Willow could do nothing but sob as she was dragged forcefully by her hair all the way back home.
Once they returned, Willow's heart shattered when her eyes landed on her father's body still on the ground.
Next to him was Sierra on the ground in pain, clutching her belly and she didn't need anyone to tell her that she had been beaten up.
"I'm sorry." She heard Sierra whisper, but she couldn't bring herself to speak as her scalp felt like it had been lit on fire.
Isadora held onto Willow's hair, yanking it tightly. Pain shot through her entire body but she couldn't scream as her body trembled violently with cold.
"Get the chain made of silver. I need to teach her a lesson." Isadora barked and an evil smile slowly spread across Savannah's face.
"Yes mother." She drawled before disappearing into the house. Within seconds, she returned, her gloved hand carrying a silver chain and a huge smirk playing at her lips.
"Please, mother. Have mercy." Willow pleaded as tears streamed down her cheeks, her eyes wide with terror.
"I told you not to call me that. I am not your damn mother., Isadora growled, striking her across her face.
"Tie that stupid brat up and don't let her escape." She barked, hurling Willow towards Savannah before disappearing into the house.
Savannah's blue eyes glinted with mischief as she grabbed Willow by the throat and bound her with the silver chains to a support beam, ignoring Willow's screams and pleas for mercy.
"Hold still, you maggot!" Savannah yelled before striking her across the face, securing the chains tightly.
When she was done, she looked down at Willow with disgust written all over her face. "Disgusting," She spat before disappearing in the direction which her mother went.
"Please, wait! It burns!" Willow screamed, tears streaming down her face as every part of her body which the chains touched turned red.
"Sierra, if you don't get down here this minute, I'll kill you with my bare hands!" Savannah's voice travelled from the room to the parlor and Willow could see Sierra visibly wince.
"I'm so sorry, Willow." Sierra whispered as she slowly got up to her feet with a grunt, her expression devastated.
Willow's mouth opened but she could not form any words. She wanted to plead and beg Sierra to get her out of those horrible chains, but she knew it would just be useless
She knew how much Sierra feared her family and she knew what they would do to her if they found out that she helped her.
Willow could only watch Sierra limp away with tears streaming down her cheeks.