THE Knight's Hidden Princess

Tears rolled of Heather’s face as she dipped her hands into a bowl and brought out the bloody wash cloth she was using to clean me. My teeth clenched together while a harsh breath escaped when Heather put the wet fabric onto my open injuries. My entire body burned with a fiery agony as if flames were licking the skin. It hurt. It hurt so much.

This wasn’t the first time that Madam Heidi would discipline me but it was the first time I would be receiving such lashings from her and without the usual balm to accompany it, the tears of a mermaid.

I wasn’t a stranger to the pain she inflicted on me but without the salve to take some of the pain away, it was just unbearable.

Immediately the first cane hit my back, a wave of scorching pain spread through my back instantly. I clamped my mouth shut through the white hot agony that exploded across my back. The salt water added to the cane didn’t help, it penetrated the open wounds which extended the painful sensation to a level that felt as if my skin was removing itself from my body.

When the very first cane impact hit my back a wave of scorching pain spread through it instantly. A gasp escaped my lips when the first strike hit me while I lay on the cold stone floor with my clenched fists. The salt water penetrated the open wounds which extended the painful sensation to a level that felt like my skin was removing itself from my body.

I didn’t scream.

I would never allow them to experience satisfaction from my frightened reaction.

Another lash. Then another. The intense vibrations from her striking motion passed through my body but I remained strong by gnawing on the inside of my cheek until I tasted the tangy taste of blood.

Through it all Heather continued to wail, pleading but everyone seemed oblivious to her screaming or were deaf to it.