The Tyrant's Pet

While planning for the important things she must change in her appearance, Aries eventually fell deep into her sleep. It took her a long time to fall asleep on this enormous and soft bed, as it felt a little empty. Or rather, a bit too huge for her.

But when she did, as the night fell deeper, Aries found herself in memory of the painful past.

Blinking until her vision grew clearer, her hand that was barely skin and bones wrapped around the metals caging her. Inside a square cage that was big enough for her to fit with her body curled up, she shivered when the inbound breeze of the room caressed her thin ankle.

How long had it been since she entered this small cage that forced her to stay hunched in? Her eyes lowered, seeing the crumbs of food left on the concrete surface.

She was being treated like a dog, but she couldn't feel anything anymore. She picked up a grain of rice to her mangled lips, hoping that would make her survive longer.

Two years. She had endured two years of torture, she couldn't die now.

After the crown prince and all other princes and princesses had fun toying with her, he was now trying to kill her slowly and painfully. Aries knew. The crown prince was getting tired of her.

She knew because now he barely saw her. He simply locked her in this small cage like an animal, getting just enough food so she wouldn't die immediately. Unlike the pigs' slops, they served her in the past. Now they fed her once every three or four days. And the portion of the food had decreased significantly.

"I'm hungry," came out a whisper, not having enough strength to go on. All she could think about was her contracting, empty stomach. Her spirit, although still alive, was slowly dying along with this body.

'I can't die... not yet... I can't — you can't Aries... God... please,' she closed her eyes, breathing in and out heavily. 'Don't let me die. If anyone is listening... please give me strength to go on.'

Aries held on to the little faith she had been holding on for years. Even at this moment, she was praying to the God she believed in. But all she heard in return was the sound of footsteps — light footsteps echoing like thunders in her ears.

She slowly opened her eyes, seeing two pairs of black boots before her. Although they were black, she could see the speck of blood on them. Slowly, she raised her eyes as the person outside squatted down.

Her eyes softened as soon as her lifeless eyes met the pair of vermillion beyond the metal bars. "You..." she whispered softly, ignoring the painful scratch in her throat. "You're... here?"

"Darling, why are you inside this cage?" he inquired with a frown, his eyes studying her pitiful state. "Don't die inside here."

"How...?" her mangled lips quivered, reaching out to touch his face. "Why are you here?"

"Because I miss you?" Abel leaned his cheek against her rough and dirty palm, holding it gently.

"You can't be here," she whispered bitterly.

"Why not?"

"Because..." Aries trailed off as she looked at her petite arms that slipped in the tiny gap between the metal bars. "... am I worthy? Still?"

The side of his lips curled up, nodding slightly. "Was there a second you aren't?"

"I prayed to God, but you came," she laughed under her breath, brushing his lean cheek with her thumb. "I'm dying here. My heart is burning and yet, I cannot do anything." — she wasn't strong enough to break this small cage, nor did she have the strength to do so.

Aries was deprived of food for days now. If she could describe her state, it was as if life was slipping away from her loose grip. And that scared her, knowing she was only a step away from death. She hadn't gotten her revenge and the people who put her in this pathetic state were still happily breathing without a problem.

"Help." He stressed, watching her look up at him weakly. "Say, help me, and I will come and get you."

Her lips opened and closed, but she couldn't find the voice to say that word. The dominant part of her told her she shouldn't call help from the devil. Even if she wanted to, even when she was desperate, she must never call help from the devil.

"How stubborn." He laughed with his lips closed, squeezing her hand that was on his jaw. "If you don't want, then come to me, darling. You must survive this place. No matter what, get out of this cage and come to me. We'll have so much fun together."

She smiled wearily, staring at him affectionately. "Had I ever told you you're so beautiful?" eyes scanning his bewitching face. But when she blinked, the man's face changed.

"You think... I am beautiful?" the man inquired with a sinister smirk, but Aries just tilted her head in confusion.

She was hallucinating, slowly forgetting the man whom she was talking to in her head moments ago. Yes. All this time, Aries was just smiling without saying a single word.

"Do you think I am still worthy... even after what I had done to you?" came out another arrogant question with his smirk persisting.

Even so, 'that man's' words, who looked like a devil in human skin, were stuck in her head. She must do whatever it means to get out of this cage. Everything and anything. So, using her little strength, she smiled genuinely.

"Was there a second you aren't?" she asked, copying the 'devil's' answer to that same question.

"Hah... now you're learning." The man laughed, grinning from ear to ear until his teeth were showing. "Aries, aren't you amazing? Every time you're on a brink of death, you always learn a few tricks. Are you that desperate to live?"

She didn't answer anymore as she pressed her lips into a thin line, retracting her petite arms back. Aries balled her body in silence, but her eyes remained on him. Those eyes, which were lifeless moments ago, showed clarity once again.

That day... she left the cage. Changing her approach the second she filled her stomach until the day the crown prince took her with him to a neutral land where she met the devil.