King Bayrel put aside his paperwork when the call came from the guards that Serenah and Alaster had returned. He had given them orders to send Serenah to his office. Ten minutes later, there was a timid knock on the door, and Serenah entered, eyes downcast. Seeing her tense form brought a smirk to his face. He schooled his features and stood. The scrape of his chair was loud enough to cause Serenah to flinch.
"Serenah, I don't know if you are choosing to be obtuse or if you think rebelling will get you somewhere," said Bayrel while circling his trembling daughter. "But you are sorely mistaken."
He didn't give her a chance to respond. With lightning speed, he grabbed her by her hair, yanked hard, sending Serenah stumbling backward toward him. She flailed to catch her balance, and he slapped her hard enough to pull a shriek of pain from her.
Bayrel twisted his fingers deeper into her hair until Serenah yelped, clawing at his hand to release his grip. He smacked her hand away and forced her to her knees. Her harsh breathing filled the air along with her whimpers. It was a symphony of bliss to his ears. Weak things should know their place.
"You were told to be in the same department as your sister. Why did you disobey my order?"
"I didn't! I swear! We were in the same department today," cried Serenah, her eyes wide and pleading.
He leaned closer to her ear and hissed, "Liar."
"I am not lying, Your Majesty. I speak the truth!"
Bayrel stared into his youngest's eyes and laughed mockingly at her plea of innocence. He wanted to drag her to the punishment chamber and do a session, but decided to do it another day. Serenah was so full of openings, it wouldn't be long before he'd get to play with her in his favorite chamber.
It was time to wrap this up. Keeping his grip on her hair, he shook her head violently before releasing her. She fell forward on all fours and vomited. He kicked her in the ribs and chuckled when he heard them break. Her agonized shriek didn't move him. He glared at her.
"You're disgusting and pathetic. Your protestations of innocence have worn thin. I know the truth of today, and the next time you lie, the consequences will be harsher." He paused and watched as Serenah struggled to breathe and keep him in view at the same time.
"I still owe you punishment for causing your sister to fail. You will resume doing her work, and this time, she'd better pass. If her grades continue to drop, you will be removed from school and confined to the castle." He laughed at her horrified look at his words. "Why should you be allowed to have fun and be happy when you have disgraced this house and your future queen?"
Her mouth opened but snapped shut as Serenah dropped her head in defeat. Bayrel loathed her spinelessness. He was bored with dealing with her.
"Get out and go get your sister's assignments so you can get started on them."
Serenah shakily rose to her feet and wheezed, "Yes, Your Majesty." She winced, her face contorting in pain as she bowed to him.
Bayrel's smile widened at her pained expression. Yes, he lived for moments like this. All useless things needed to know their place. He watched her leave, the sound of her hurt breathing music to his ears. Satisfied that he had put Serenah in her place, he went back to work.
~***~
When they had arrived home, Serenah felt a sense of unease fill her. Her anxiety spiked when the guard in the garage told her that her father wanted to see her. Alaster gave her a sympathetic look before leaving her to make her way to her father's office alone.
She hadn't expected the level of violence her father would throw in her direction. She couldn't swallow the flow of bitterness at her father's steadfast refusal to believe her words. Why was it so hard for him to acknowledge that she was indeed telling the truth?
To top it all off was his order that she resume doing her sister's work. He was being so unfair! She didn't have time to complain. Her body hurt from her broken ribs. She managed to escape with only that injury, for which she was grateful.
She went to Amanah's room and was met with her twin's smug smirk. She almost lashed out, but caught herself. She couldn't take any more hits today. Keeping her eyes lowered, she said, "I'm here for your assignments."
"Sister, your demeanor right now suits you well," purred Amanah.
Serenah clenched her fists, then relaxed them. She refused to be goaded.
"Ha! You're no fun today," snapped her twin. "Here!"
Serenah yelped when Amanah swung her backpack and hit Serenah in the face, instantly bloodying her nose. She jerked her head up, her hand flying to her nose. She glared at the smirking Amanah and tried to staunch the blood flow.
"Pick it up, little sister, and get the hell out," ordered Amanah.
Serenah grabbed the backpack's strap, wincing at the pull on her broken ribs. She backed up two steps before fleeing from her sister's room.
She made it to her room, dropped the backpack, and went to the bathroom to take care of her nose. Once she got it under control, she called for a healer to fix her ribs. She waited over an hour, but no one showed. Finally, a guard arrived with a note from her father.
With shaking hands, she read it. She couldn't stop the tears that fell. Her father was denying her healing. She hated him! Hated this life! Resigned to this added punishment, she went to her dresser and took out bandages. With deft fingers, she bandaged herself.
She sat down and got started on Amanah's homework. This week was going to be hell. She could just feel it.