“You know I love you, right?” Vatale whispered huskily against my ear. I didn’t reply and instead I stared back at him with hatred and fear. He sighed, and as he tucked the strand of hair that brushed against my face, he kissed my quivering lips tenderly to somehow comfort me.

“Do you really hate me that much, Karina? Even if I gave you the freedom you so longed for and deserved? Even if I gave you the love and tenderness that you tried to earn? And even if I gave you all the things that can make you happy, which your ‘Holy Father’ and your damn goddess of a mother never gave you?”

“Shut up! You never gave me freedom!” I spat back. “You gave me new burdens to carry within me and imprisoned me in a place that you know I abhor so much. You enslaved me to your master, who can’t even give much but temporary pleasure and bliss with all his tools of deception. You took away the love my Father once had for me, and the chances to make my mother love me back. And most of all, you deprived me of the honor and respect I tried to earn, and the opportunities to do so! All because of YOUR OWN LUST! Honestly, the nerve of you to tell me that you love me! Ha! You make me sick!”

Smack. He slapped me. Hard. He grabbed my hair and pulled it upwards, making me look at him at eye level.

“Don’t you dare answer back to me,” he sneered. He roughly pushed me to the corner at the end of the room, and I couldn’t quite balance myself due to the impact, causing me to fall and land on my knees. My legs, my arms and maybe other parts of my body have been bruised by now. I slightly winced at the pain that I felt that very moment, yet I was careful so he wouldn’t see. That I was weak and that there was nothing I could do. That I was at the palm of his hand and I cannot do anything but follow him.

“If you talk back to me again, I swear you will get more than that Karina. Don’t make me do something that I’ll regret later on.” He walked to the door and slammed it as he went out. For awhile I just knelt there, not knowing what to do.

I thought about what happened, and why I was in this predicament. Hah. I can’t help but laugh at myself. I’m so pathetic. I once thought I was strong, and that I could overcome every obstacle that came my way. I was so sure that I would get anything that I wanted using my perseverance and hard work. But now that I think about it, I think there was something lacking in my efforts that I still can’t identify right now. Funny how I thought I was so smart. Oh well. Things like this happen for a reason, I guess. But bullshit. I hate this.