She was surrounded by darkness again. Serenah cursed Autem. She had to get out of here. She was going to go crazy if she didn't get some light soon. Suddenly, a burst of warmth raced through her, and then she heard Romeo's voice. She couldn't make out the words, but she shouted anyway.
"Romeo! I'm here!"
Her words echoed in the darkness. Frustrated, she strained to see something, anything. Abruptly, pain flared on her wrist with the fated mark. She yelped, blinked, and shut her eyes against the bright light. In that brief glance, she recognized the ceiling of her room. Tears of relief ran down her cheeks. She was back from that hateful darkness.
"Milady!"
Serenah forced her eyes open. A concerned Lael peered down at her.
"Lael," she croaked out, her throat burning from the effort of talking after being unused for so long.
"Milady, I'm so glad you're awake." Lael's tears ran fast and thick down her face.
Serenah raised a shaky hand to pat Lael's cheek. "It's okay," she mouthed to her faithful servant.
Lael smiled and wiped away her tears. "Oh!" She reached over and grabbed a cup from the bedside table and helped Serenah sit up.
Gratefully, Serenah drank the cool water, drenching her parched throat. Once she stopped, she decided to find out what had happened after she fainted in the punishment chamber.
"Lael, how long was I in the punishment chamber?"
Lael suddenly looked uncomfortable. Serenah's eyes narrowed. "Lael." She only said her servant's name, but her tone ordered obedience.
Lael sighed. "It's been over a week since you were in the punishment chamber. I've been caring for your body. It looks better than when I was first allowed to bring you here."
Serenah sucked in a startled breath. "What's the date?"
"Today is New Year's Eve, my Princess."
Serenah's breath caught in shock and dismay. She had been injured for almost the entirety of the winter break. Anger, then panic, hit her. Romeo! Had he tried to contact her? Was he okay?
"Lael, did anyone call for me?"
"Yes, Milady. I called Romeo when you wouldn't wake up. He talked to you, and then you opened your eyes. I hung up the phone to check to make sure you were really waking up."
Serenah smiled happily at the news that he'd called. He hadn't forgotten her.
"My phone, Lael. Where is it?"
Lael snagged it from the bedside table and handed it to Serenah without a word. She stood, bowed, and left the room to give Serenah privacy.
Nervously, Serenah fiddled with the phone before calling Romeo. He answered on the first ring.
"Lael! Is Sera awake?"
Hearing his voice relaxed the rest of Serenah's tension. He was safe and concerned for her.
"Romeo," she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Sera! Thank heavens, you're awake! I was so worried. I've been calling since last week, and Al wouldn't give me any news except to say you were overseas on vacation with Amy. I knew he was lying. There is no way your selfish sister would go on a trip with you."
A choked laugh escaped Serenah's mouth at Romeo's astute declaration. Then she frowned. He had called Al. What in the world was Al doing then? He wasn't here when she woke up. Only Lael was present. She would talk with him later. For now, she wanted to talk to Romeo.
"I'm sorry, I was out of touch. I'm also sorry I didn't get to have Christmas dinner with you and your family. My father told me no and grounded me. I lost my phone privileges, too," she lied. She didn't want him to be overly worried about her being out of contact.
Romeo was tenacious about her safety, and he would most definitely take some kind of action if he learned about the "punishment" her father and twin had given her. No, it was better to divert his ire and worry in a different direction.
"Your father is a bastard! I wish he would stop punishing you for no reason. You are the most docile and obedient teenager I think I've ever met. You wouldn't hurt a fly, and you always do your best. Your father is being ridiculous," seethed Romeo, his voice rising with his ire.
"Thank you, my Prince, for defending me," teased Serenah.
The phone went silent, and she thought the call dropped. "Romeo?"
"Sorry! You surprised me by calling me a prince."
He laughed, but it sounded strained to her. Why would her calling him a prince produce such a reaction? Had she used the wrong word?
"I'm sorry. Did I use the wrong word just now? Sometimes, I say the wrong thing. But isn't the prince the one who rescues the princess in a fairy tale?"
"Ah, that's what you meant. Yes, sometimes it's a prince or a hero who saves the princess or damsel in distress. You had it correct, Sera."
"Okay. I was worried I said the wrong thing and offended you."
"Nope, no offense taken. So are you really alright?"
Man, he was so suspicious. Serenah normally didn't mind, but today she wanted to forget the hell she'd experienced at the hands of her father and sister.
"Yes, Romeo, I'm fine. Look, I'm a little tired. I'll call you this weekend."
"Alright. Listen, before you go, do you think we can have dinner with my father in a week?"
Serenah flinched at the request. Fear rose sharp and stabbing at the thought of asking her father. She didn't realize she was hyperventilating until Romeo's voice took on a soothing tone.
"Breathe, Sera. My father will ask. And, if we must, we'll invite your sister. It's not ideal, but my father wants to see you with his own two eyes."
Serenah regained control of her breathing at his words. She didn't want to share any of her time with Romeo with her vile sister. She knew she probably wouldn't have a choice.
"Okay," she replied, her voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.
"Alright, rest, and I'll talk to you this weekend. My dad will call your father tomorrow to arrange the details."
"Bye, Romeo."
"Bye, Sera."
The silence of the ended call was loud in her ears. She had gone from elated at hearing Romeo's voice, to anxious, and now to resigned. She just had to hold on until she graduated in May. Then, she could escape her hellish life.