THEON

Thirteen years ago. "Agam

The voice of my father boomed as I stood in nothing but boxers in a forest covered with snow. Miro and I were just twelve years old, shivering to our teeth, our hands sore and bloody from hitting trees.

Miro might have hesitated a little too much because the next thing I heard was the hot lashing of my father's belt landing on his back

A scream pierced the cold, winter air as my brother fell to his knees. Miro's scared and tear-stained face turned to me and I was terrified to see his nose bleeding. I glanced at Dad and to my horror; he had his belt raised again, ready to strike. "No!" I screamed. Running ahead without thinking, Something had surged through me back then, making me push my father and he flew through the air before landing on his back a few feet away from us.

Scared that 1 might have caused a lot more trouble than necessary. I had helped Miro up and stood between him and my approaching father.

"Dad. please. Enough. Miro is having a nosebleed again."

My father's face twisted in anger. "Get out of my way, Theon!"

"Please. Dad." I shivered.

"Ten lashes for hesitating."

"Please!" A tear rolled out of my eyes, immediately freezing on my cheeks.

"Mercy is for the weak." He said, without remorse. "Ten lashes one will sleep out in the cold tonight."

I turned to look at Miro who was trying to wipe the blood from his nose with his swollen fingers.

"I'll take it!" I said. My father blinked in surprise.

"No! You will not take your brother's punishment."

"Mercy is for the weak, Dad. Don't show me any."

My father hesitated before slipping on his emotionless mask. Once again, his eyes became as cruel as the harsh winter. "Instead of lashing you. I have a fun idea." My father said, before stepping forward and handing me the belt. I stared at it, frightened and wary

"Take it" My father nudged.

Slowly but tentatively, I collected the belt from my father. By then, my hands had healed a considerable amount unlike my brother

"You get to give the rest of the lashes to your brother hitting as hard as you can or..." my father went to my bag which I brought and to my horror, brought out my white bunny. "or you give the lashes to this burny."

My twelve year old self became horrified, having to choose between my brother and my bunny. I looked at my father in disbelief and he stared down at me with no emotion. "What? You said I should show you no mercy."

III

Wed, Oct 30

"But Dad, what does my Banny have to do with in

"It's another lesson. Love is weakness. What you love can be used against you. Like this bunny. I see you are very attached to it, which is very bad. You're also attached to your brother. So choose"

"It's okay Miro sand, coming forward "I'll take the lashing Ted timidly.

"You have ten seconds to choose, otherwise your bunny gets killed and your brother sleeps outside."

And in that moment, I think I lost myself, especially when I chose to give nine lashes to my bunny and it stopped moving by the fifth. I think a part of me disassociated from myself and I haven't been the same ever since. Now, years later, I arrived at my father's mansion,

Big, sparkly and just empty. Every inch of this place reminds me of what has been stripped from me. My fear was born here. My darkness was also bom here. The walls have heard my screams, and I have fed it the screams of others. Entering the house, I met my father in his office and found hin pacing around.

"Your Highness" 1 bowed before taking a seat,

My father looked at me, appalled "Did I ask you to sit?" He yelled.

One look at him, and his high tempered fury calmed.

"I see." He said, understanding my unspoken language. Taking a seat, he sighed, "What did he do this time?"

I simply explained. "He wasn't supposed to be at her dorm. That's harassment"

"You can fault him for that." My father retorted. "He is a two time high-ranking official. My Beta and the Director of the center. He has every right to enter anyone's home on grounds of suspicious activity."

"Ryn had no suspicious activity going on. I was the only suspicious thing about her"

"How can you be sure?" My father queried. "That's how you defended Elizabeth. My blood ran cold.

The urge to reach across the table and strangle him overwhelmed me, but I smiled instead.

Rising to my feet, I re-buttoned my suit. "I will be taking back my position as Director of the Trainees. A document will be brought to you for your signing. Father, Just some minor budget approval." "Budget approval? For what?"

"A new expansion on the land where the real Elites live. I want the new Training Center there."

"No. That's a waste of resources." My father waved me off.

I smiled again, feeling my muscles tighten and spasm with the urge to do something. "Kindly sign off on the budget, Dad."

""And if I don't?"

I smiled politely and bowed before leaving his office.

Then I took a poker iron from the fireplace and whistled as I made my way to my father's private garage.

Getting there, I looked around at the exotic and antique cars parked in neat condition. My father was a sucker for them and would spend all his money on them.

Each car was worth millions, won at an auction by him. So I wen to the prettiest one. A pink Volkswagen Beetle and then raised the pokes iron and began to smash.

The alarms went off and in a matter of minutes and 1 was surrounded by security who were surprised to see me causing the damage.

My father also came down, and when he saw one of his antique cars getting destroyed, he stood in shock.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing!! He screamed, watching his car get annihilated. After making sure I did enough damage to it. I threw the poker iron away and walked towards his shockeil demeanor.

I leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Love is weakness. What you love can be used against you... just...like this car." I said, and moved to walk away but I stopped and whispered in his ear again. "I want that burlget approval signed, Dad or you're going to lose another love. Thank you in advance,"

With that said, 1 left the garage and drove straight to my office.

Getting there, I turned on my computers, scrolled to the surveillance cameras and watched Ryn sleeping peacefully in her

bed

I sighed in relief as I watched her, remembering how I discovered she was in danger.

I had felt her fear on the way to the office and when it didn't dissipate; I pulled up the surveillance cameras installed in her hallway. When I saw Dutton's men standing guard, I knew something was up.

Immediately. I had my car turned around, racing for her hostel. I remembered panic seizing me when I found it hard to breathe while watching Dutton choke her

That was when my disassociation began a personality that kicks in when it fears that I am in absolute danger. It comes out to protect me and doesn't leave until it's sure I'm safe.

Staring at Ryn as she slept, I had a feeling that my protective personality would be around for longer. Because whether I like it or not, I have come to understand that this is just not about a girl with a dream to be the first female Elite or about a guy looking to make a differe

I have come to the understanding that there are bigger forces at play and somehow, this pretty little thing sleeping so peacefully is smack deep in the middle of it and because I am drawn to pretty little things, I replace myself smack deep in it

100. 100.

My phone buzzed, and I checked it to see a message from my brother.

"How is she?"

"Sleeping in one of our rooms."

"Dutton is a bastard."

"I agree."

"Dad called to tell me what you did."

"Wow, so you've been promoted to Bestie. Congratulations, I'm so proud of you"

"Fuck you

"No, thank you. I don't want Herpes

"I don't have herpes!"

10:44 Wed, Oct 30 B B

"Oh right. Chlamydiar"

"You're just a bitter soul because 1 can get laid and you can't.

"1 can get laid if 1 wan"

His reply didn't come for a moment so I went back to work. Five minutes later, his text came in.

"Hey, don't shoot me for this question. I hope it's not Ryn that's getting you laid?"

"Why are you hoping it's not her?"

His text didn't come fast again. "I don't know. Isn't she kind of young for you?"

П

"She's nineteen. She can decide for herself but relax, I won't have sex with her especially since we are both under the effects of the Moonstone. When it's off, I'll really know how I feel about her." "And if you replace out that you like her?"

I stared at his text, unable to come up with an answer. So I left him on read. What happens if I replace out I really like Ryn? My heart raced at the thought.

I seriously hope I don't because then Ryn will replace out how truly twisted I am and that poor bunny has had enough trauma to last a lifetime.

Bunny.

I smiled at that word and let my gaze shift to her sleeping form in the camera.

Yeah. The word, 'Bunny" suits her so well.

SEND GIFT

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