Chapter 6 THE LESSON OF PAIN

Amira’s POV.

"If you're tired, then follow my instructions."

Doreen's voice echoed inside the room like a dark promise. I slowly wiped my tears and stared at her.

"How?" I whispered weakly. "How do I survive this place when every second feels like torture? Are you sure I won't sign those divorce papers and leave this marriage in peace before it destroys me totally?"

Doreen was crouching beside the bed. She rose from the ground, her glowing eyes fixed on me.

"You stop behaving like prey. I have said this to you before that VYZ doesn't behave this way."

I laughed bitterly.

"Prey? Doreen, I lost my baby. I lost my title. Augustine hates me. Constance humiliates me every chance she gets. What exactly do I have left?'"

"You have power."

The room suddenly becomes cold.

Doreen stepped closer.

"And power is dangerous in the hands of a broken woman."

I lowered my gaze.

"You keep crying before them. You keep allowing them to see your weakness. That ends today but it also lies in your hand."

I swallowed hard.

"But I don't know how to become strong overnight."

"You don't need overnight," Doreen replied calmly. "All you need is to follow my instructions diligently and your first lesson."

I frowned.

"Lesson? Instruction?

Before she could answer, my mark suddenly burned.

"Ahhh!"

The pain was very sharp. I grabbed my palm immediately. The mark glowed brightly.

Immediately, images flashed through my head.

I saw Constance pouring oil on the grand staircase downstairs. Then I saw myself slipping. There was blood everywhere and laughter.

The vision vanished immediately.

I gasped loudly and staggered backward.

"What was that?"

Doreem looked completely unfazed.

"A warning."

My heart pounded violently.

"She wants to hurt me again...."

"Of course she does," Doreen scoffed. "Did you expect mercy from people who caused and celebrated your marriage?"

My chest twisted painfully.

Doreen folded her arms.

"Now listen carefully. Your mark will warn you of danger, but your survival depends on what you do with the warning."

I stared at my trembling hand.

"This is too much.."

"You are VYZ, Amira. Your bloodline was never created to be tormented. I have a lot to tell you about our bloodline but I won't do that until I am sure you're ready for it."

Before I could respond, a loud knock echoed on the door.

"Amira!" one of the maids yelled from outside. "Alpha Augustine demands your presence downstairs immediately!"

Doreen smirked.

"Perfect timing." Then she disappeared.

I stood frozen for a few seconds before finally walking out of the guest house. The moment I entered the mansion, laughter filled the living room. The entire place was decorated beautifully for tonight's banquet. There were golden curtains, flowers, expensive lights, and everything looked magical. It was painful knowing I once decorated this mansion myself as Luna. Now another woman was taking my place.

Constance sat on Augustine's lap while several maids surrounded her. The moment she saw me, a wicked smile spread across her lips.

"Look who finally decided to show up."

Augustine barely glanced at me.

"You're late."

I lowered my head.

"My apologies, Alpha."

Constance suddenly stood up.

"Since you're now part of the servants, you'll help prepare for tonight's banque"

She walked around me slowly..

"You'll clean every hallway...every staircase...every room."

Her eyes darkened.

"And if I find one speck of dirt..."

She leaned closer.

"You'll regret it."

The maids exchanged nervous glances.

Everyone knew Constance enjoyed punishing me. I quietly nodded.

"Yes, Luna."

Her smile widened proudly hearing me call her that.

"Good."

She turned dramatically.

"Now start with the grand staircase."

The moment she said that, my heartbreak quickened. I remembered the vision of the oil. I slowly lifted my gaze toward the staircase. Everything looked normal but my instincts kept screaming. Constance was planning something, but she would never believe that I have a clue what it is. I grabbed the cleaning bucket carefully and approached the stairs. Several maids pitied me silently. One of them moved closer carefully.

"My Luna..." she whispered softly.

I looked at her.

She quickly corrected herself nervously.

"I--I mean...Amira.."

I forced a weak smile.

"It's okay."

She hesitated before speaking again.

"Please be careful."

Before I could ask what she meant, she hurried away. My suspicion deepened immediately.

I bent slowly and started cleaning the staircase carefully..

Some minutes passed but nothing happened.

"Maybe the vision was wrong" I muttered

My foot suddenly touched something slippery. I touched it and it was oil.

My eyes widened instantly. I quickly grabbed the railing so that I wouldn't fall.

Constance pretended to look shocked.

"Oh my goodness!" I whispered to myself.

I slowly looked down. There was transparent oil spread across the step. It was exactly like the vision showed me. My breathing became uneven. She truly wanted me injured.

Constance rushed forward dramatically as though she saw a ghost.

"Amira! Are you blind? How can you spill oil on the staircase while cleaning?"

I stared at her in disbelief.

"You did this."

The room went silent..

Constance gasped loudly.

"Excuse me?"

"You poured this oil here."

Augustine stood up immediately.

"Enough!"

His thunderous voice shook the room. He descended the stairs angrily.

"First you try hurting Constance earlier, now you, now you're making accusations?"

"I didn't"

SLAP.

My head snapped sideways violently. The entire room became silent.

My cheek burned horribly because of the slap. Augustine glared at me with pure disgust. I kept wondering what I did wrong that made him detest me the way he did.

"You"ve become more pathetic than I imagined."

Tears gathered in my eyes again. But this time I didn't cry.

Doreen's voice echoed beside me.

"Good. Hold your pain. Never give them the satisfaction."

I clenched my fists tightly. Constance wrapped herself around Augustine dramatically.

"My love, she hates me so much..."

Augustine kissed her forehead gently.

"As long as I live, I won't let her hurt you."

Then he turned cold eyes toward me.

"Clean this mess and finish your duties before the guests arrive."

I nodded slowly.

"Yes, Alpha."

They both left together laughing so softly. The moment they disappeared upstairs, the maids rushed toward me. One of them handed me a cloth nervously.

Another whispered softly

"We know you didn't do it."

I looked at them in surprise.

The older maid sighed.

"We saw Luna Constance earlier..."

"She told us not to speak," another maid added fearfully.

I forced a smile.

"Thank you."

As I bent to continue cleaning, the mark on my palm suddenly glowed again. Heat spread through my body instantly.

Immediately, another vision flashed.

A glass cup that has red wine. Then saw Constance screaming. Augustine was very furious. The vision disappeared.

What again this time.?" I whispered internally.

Doreen appeared beside me invisibly.

"There's another plan on the ground."

I froze instantly.

"She plans to frame you again tonight."

Fear gripped me like never before.

"Why is she obsessed with hurting me? This is pure wickedness.”

"Because insecure women fear quiet rivals the most."

“So what do I do now?” I said panicking. It was laced on my face.