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But there was nothing.

“What did you do to her?” I snapped, turning to face him.

“Do to her? Nothing. I brought her here like you wanted.”

“She’s… she’s… broken!” I said flapping my hands wildly at her.

“Then just kill her already.” Gage moaned.

I turned on my spot. “Do not tell me what to do! You are not the Queen. Do not forget your place!” I was raging mad. Nothing had gone to plan, nothing at all! I had pictured this moment for months now and I was left with a lifeless sack of shit on the bed. No, I needed something more. I needed to make her feel. I needed to make her fight.

He raised his eyebrows and held his hands up. “Fine. Don’t then. I don’t care.”

“Fuck!” I pulled the key out of my pocket and unlocked the chains.

She sat up, rubbing her wrist, but didn’t make an effort to escape, which only further irritated me.

“Come.” I said, waving at her as I walked out of the room.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Stop asking questions,” I heard Gage say. I turned around and saw him yanking her off the bed and push her across the room.

She looked up at him, her eyes lost and confused. She was probably wondering how could Gage do this to me? I trusted him. We were friends. Blah, blah, blah. I laughed at how pathetic she was. Only I knew the real Gage, the one he tried to keep hidden. No, I knew this Gage and relished in his power, in his darkness. She didn’t know him at all.

“Let’s have a little family dinner.” I said, walking down the hall to the dining room.

I snapped my fingers at the frumpy woman, who was standing by the door in shock, her gaze fixed on Snow. “Get the King prepared for dinner.”

“Yes, my Queen. Right away.”

“Excellent.” I turned to look at Snow, with her quizzical brow, “This shall be a fantastic last feast for you.”

“I can’t wait.” She said dully.

We walked into the dining room and I sat her on the side closest to the door and instructed Gage to sit beside her, while I sat across from him and the King in front of her. I wanted her to look at her father the entire meal and know that he didn’t care about her in the slightest.

She looked at Gage, her eyes almost pleading with him to help her, but he sat there, uncaring.

The hinges on the door squeaked as the King walked in. “My King.” I moved across the room to greet him. “We have a special guest.” I fanned out my arm to show Snow at the table.

“Dad!” she yelled out, standing from her seat before Gage yanked her back down.

I smiled with great satisfaction, her apathetic demeanor breaking in an instant.

“What is she doing here?” His tone was of confusion and irritation.

Perfect!

I looked at her and saw her face fall.

“Dad. It’s me. Snow.”

He looked at her, but didn’t speak.

“What have you done to him?” She yelled, standing up again. Gage moved to grab her arm, but she yanked it out of his grip. He quickly reached for it again, much harder this time, and forced her down.

I smiled. This was the reaction I wanted. I wanted to see her fight and her horror when she realized she was alone. I wanted to break her down piece by piece.