The kingdom was blooming in happiness, every other street was filled with chatters of excited people. Some were happy to know that their king was finally having his queen and some were happy to know that their princess was finally marrying King Jasper of the Logon kingdom.

The castle was bustling with maids and servants running here and there, whispering the romance of the new couple in each other's ears while giggling and blushing. The romance that took place in their imaginations. The arrangements were in full swing for the upcoming grand wedding that was to take place in a week. The guests already started to bless the kingdom with their presence.

The bride, Sasha who was currently standing in the middle of the hall, donning a dark green velvety dress that fitted perfectly on her upper body and was floral from down was greeting the guest with a warm smile on her face. She knew most of them and fortunately, none of them was passing her sympathetic look, they looked delighted.

A few guests she didn't know were introduced to her by the butler of the castle who was standing right beside her. The butler wasn't a woman or an old man, it 'maybe not so surprisingly' was a young man with long black hair.

"We are pleased to have you here," Sasha said genuinely and the guest passed her a warm smile, eyed her from head to toe, complimented her, and was taken away by the guards to show them around.

Sasha took a deep and heavy breath.

Some of them looked like pretenders.

The way they eyed her and then complimented her, it was as if they were mocking Jasper for marrying someone as average-looking as her. They have been treating her low ever since she lost her kingdom.

Pivoting on her heels, she began to walk away once she was done greeting all the guests.

The servants and maids bowed at her while passing by her, she paid no heed to them or their silly talks until something unconsciously fell on her ears which she didn't pay attention to either.

The maids were talking about a guest.

They were squealing in happiness.

"You saw how tall he was? Oh my Lord, that body was of a Greek god." Maid one.

"Yeah, Yeah, I almost slipped after seeing him." Maid two.

Both of them giggled and wandered away.

Sasha took a turn to take a different path and instantly halted on her steps when she saw her granny instructing the maids on what to do.

Her heart almost leaped to her mouth.

Before she could get caught by her, she slowly turned around and scooted away from there, taking another path. With a low huff, she shook her head and looked back to see if she was caught and if the granny was tailing her but fortunately, she wasn't.

With a little grin plastered on her soft features, she turned around and before she could even take a step further, she bumped into something so hard, almost broke her nose and went blank for a second. The colliding impact was so hard that she was about to fall back but something on her back prevented her from falling back. It was not a thing, it was a hand, a very big one at that. Her eyes snapped open and when she looked before her, there was nothing.

Not even a wall.

Her eyes widened and her hand lunged at her back where the hand was holding her, she could still feel that sensation on her back but there was no one before her or even behind her.

The corridor was empty.

A zap of horror ran down her spine and she instantly became pale. She bumped into someone and that someone was holding her waist so that she wouldn't fall back. Before Sasha could grab her dress and run away from there, a voice startled her shitless.

Snapping her head to the right, she saw her granny walking up to her.

"I was loo---what happened to you?" The old granny asked, her voice getting higher by the end of the sentence. Concern was plastered on her face as she stared at the pale face of Sasha.

"D-did you see someone?" Sasha asked, almost breathless.

Granny looked around with concern but soon a frown covered her features. She looked back at Sasha while slowly shaking her head. "No. Did you?" The old granny asked and Sasha shook her head while looking around. "B-But someone was here. I bu-bumped into someone and his hand was on my back but w-when I open my e-eyes, he wasn't t-three." Sasha stammered. Her horrified eyes stared at the path in horror.

"Sasha, my child, please have your medicine." The old lady said and Sasha snapped her eyes down at her. "Do you think I'm crazy? I'm not. I felt it, I b-bumped in-." Her panicked tone that was echoing in the silent corridor was interrupted by the old granny.

"Yes, Yes, I get it." She said and grabbed Sasha's arm, forcing her to walk. Sasha blinked to clear her blurry vision as she silently followed her granny. Another shiver ran down her spine when she felt a strong gaze on her. Looking around, she found no one.

This wasn't the first time she felt like she was being watched. It has happened to her many times before and each time it terrifies her. She could never get used to that sensation, never in a million years.

What was that?

Who was it?

Could it be...

She has been in this castle for two years, alone in her room or walking alone in the corridor. Nothing like this happened to her before here. Then why now?

Wiping the sweat off of her forehead with a handkerchief, the granny pressed the cold metal tip of the spoon on Sasha's lips. It had that syrup that the physician gave her.

Sasha looked up at the granny while sitting on the sofa. "I-I think...it's happening a-again." She stuttered but the granny shook her head and made her drink the syrup.

"Once you become a king's wife, it won't occur." The granny said while putting away the syrup, hiding it somewhere the maids wouldn't find it.

"Is that another reason why you are so frantic for my marriage with Jasper?" Sasha asked, her tone held disbelief.

"Yes." The granny said and Sasha immediately shook her head, her eyes becoming watery.

"No one can stop him. He will get what he wants. Have you forgotten what he is like?" She cried out.

"I-I don't wanna face him again. Even his name brings nightmares for me. Do you think you are the o-only one desperate to get m-me away from him?" She asked. Her tears were almost on the verge of streaming down.

"I can't even k-kill myself i-in order to get a-away from him." Sasha sniffed and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. The old granny looked at her with empathy. She settled herself beside the young lady and patted her back.

"Jasper is not as weak as you think." The granny said softly and put her hair strand behind her ear.

"Sasha, God is not so cruel, my child. He only gives the pain one can handle." She continued.

"You are strong."

"You are strong." The old granny declared while caressing Sasha's arm.

Sasha took a deep breath and shook her head.

"When it comes to him, I'm not." She said and turned back to look out of the window that was behind the sofa. She put her arm on the headrest of the sofa and then her chin on her arm.

"He terrifies me." She whispered to herself, the old granny was unable to hear her words but she heard the girl muttering to herself. Before she could ask what the young princess was saying, the doors of her room were knocked on twice before the doors were opened by the royal guards.

The old granny immediately stood up from the sofa when the surroundings were invaded by the presence of the king. A tall man with black short hair that was a little ruffled stepped into the room. He was modeling in a long black coat with golden lining on the lapel, long black shoes, and inside he was wearing a black suit. Shoulders broad, long legs, a face that had a heroic handsomeness settled on its gentle features.

He was Jasper, the king of the Logon kingdom and Sasha's soon-to-be husband.

"Your Highness." The old granny bowed at him and stepped aside. Sasha, who was busy looking out of the window, immediately stood up on her feet and looked at Jasper, rather surprised to find him here because he rarely comes around here.

"Your Highness," Sasha slightly nodded at him and he frowned, walking up to her, he abruptly grabbed her shoulders almost making her flinch. "You look sick, are you okay?" He asked.

Her eyes lashed towards the old granny before settling back on Jasper. "I'm better than ever. I was thinking about the wedding and that's why I couldn't sleep the whole night. M-Maybe, that's why." She lied and he smiled at her, cupping her cheeks, he squeezed them.

"Of course, why wouldn't you be happy? After all, you're marrying me." He said and she passed him a tight-lipped smile.

"And I'm happy too, to have you as my wife and as the queen of this kingdom." He said. Sasha kept quiet and waited for him to say something further.

She was never very talkative with him.

She was once too talkative and nice with a certain someone and now she was nothing but a trampled and pitiful princess. She thought Jasper would fix her...but he just couldn't.

He moved back and turned towards the door.

"There is a guest I want you to meet." He said and gestured to the guard standing near the door. After a few seconds, someone stepped in and both Granny and Sasha were left speechless.

It was a woman.

A beautiful blonde woman with big doe-like eyes walked in. She had big blue orbs and freckles were resting on her nose and cheeks. She was extremely pale and was tall and thin with perfect curves.

Sasha was awestruck by her beauty but at the same time, her insecurity doubled.

She didn't stand against her beauty at all.

No wonder, why people thought of her as average. They must have seen beauty like these. Though Sasha never felt average or this insecure before but ever since she became his fiance, these things have started to claw her inside.

"This is Princess Fiona of the Kastron Kingdom, Younger sister of King Ragnar." He introduced her and Sasha's eyes almost went wide.

Kastron kingdom was one of the biggest kingdoms with one of the strongest lineages.

He was marrying Sasha because she was beautiful and had a strong lineage.

After Fiona's introduction, Sasha felt even more insecure. This woman was everything beyond what she was.

And he came here all the way to introduce her to Sasha.

He already fancies her.

Sasha knew this day would come but not this early.

"Fiona, as you know this is Princess Sasha Walton, my bride." He said and both the ladies nodded at each other elegantly with soft smiles adorning both of their faces. Sasha didn't let her expressions waver.

"I've heard a lot about you," Fiona said, stepping forward and Sasha smiled, lowering her gaze to the floor before looking up at her again.

"I hope it's good." She said and Fiona chuckled lowly.

"No, it's too good that it scares me." She said and the room fell into silence, none of them got what she said. Jasper even had a frown on his face.

"Huh? Pardon my awful hearing, could you please repeat yourself?" Sasha asked politely in an apologetic tone and Fiona shook her head while smiling. "Pardon me, I should have come clear." Fiona said and all of them understood that she didn't want to repeat herself. Maybe, she said it out as a farce but no one got it.

"Sasha, Fiona wanted you to show her around," Jasper said and Sasha raised her brows while nodding. "Then, shall we?" Sasha asked Fiona, and the girl nodded rather excitedly. She looked childish and immature but then again, she couldn't trust anyone.

Both the girls along with Jasper walked out of the room, they went on another path and Jasper took another path with his guards following him closely behind.

"So, Fiona, did you come alone?" Sasha asked, both of them slowly walking down the stony lane. "No, my big brother, King Ragnar also came along with me," Fiona said and Sasha passed her a little surprised look.

"Oh, I see," Sasha said and showed her a little around.

"And we also have this huge library that I oft---" Before Sasha could complete her sentence, an excited Fiona clung onto her out of nowhere. "Library? I want to see the library." She said happily and Sasha chuckled.

"I see, you like reading," Sasha said and began to guide the girl to the library. She herself wasn't too familiar with the paths since she rarely left her room but she knew where the library was since she often went there. She wasn't a reader but since she had nothing to do, she read.

"What do you like to do?" The girl asked and Sasha's smile slowly vanished.

'I liked swords.'

"Nothing much," Sasha said and gestured to the guards to open the library doors. The guards bowed at her and obliged. Once the two royals stepped inside, the guards closed the door behind them.

Fiona was awestruck.

"It's huge just like mine. Can I look around?" She asked and Sasha immediately nodded at her. "Please do as you please," Sasha said and the girl hopped away. The castle was filled with guests, she thought she would find some people there but the library was empty as always.

Sasha watched the girl hop upstairs and lowered her gaze.

She couldn't believe it.

She had become so negative.

She thought bad about her.

With a sigh, she walked further into the library and started to look around to find something interesting for herself. While she was looking around, she spotted a very interesting book. It had that maroon velvety cover with golden lining on it. She wondered what it was about.

She moved forward and stood on her toes in order to get the book but she was unable to even touch it. She tried harder and stretched her arm further to the point where it started hurting. She gave up and was about to get down on her feet when all of a sudden a tall shadow came behind her out of nowhere making her flinch badly. She felt someone behind her, too close to her. Her breath was stifled and goosebumps started to rise on her skin.

She saw his hand moving forward towards the book. The hand was big and long, actually too big even for a man. He was wearing a black glove that didn't cover all of his fingers. Sasha swallowed thickly and abruptly turned around to look at him but what she felt next was a too-familiar presence that terrified her to the core like a zap of current.

She flinched and attached herself back to the bookshelf. He was tall, very tall, a lot taller than Jasper. She had to crane her neck to look up at him and what she witnessed next, almost made her legs go weak.

Though, there was no resemblance yet there was so much resemblance. The man before her had long shiny dark silver hair and dark gray eyes. The one she knew had black hair but the aura was extremely familiar. His face was hidden by a black mask, only his eyes could be seen.

He grabbed the book and brought it down, forwarding it towards her. She stared down at the book in horror. Her complexion went pale as sweat started to coat her body.

Was it really him?

If...if it was him, he wouldn't show up in disguise.

His entrance would be rather bold.

She was exaggerating every other thing.

That man has left his imprint on her and now she sees nothing but fear when even a little thing resembles him or makes her aware of his presence.

Maybe she needs to go to the physician again.

With her trembling hands, she grabbed the book. Trying to stop her body from shaking but it was useless.

The man said nothing so she hesitantly raised her head and her heart almost lurked to her mouth when she found him peering down at her.

When they made eye contact.

His eyes...they were also familiar.

Sasha was terrified.

Before she could turn and run, Fiona's voice startled her.

"Princess Sasha, I was looking for you." Fiona said while walking up to her with a book in her hand but her pace slowed down once she saw the huge man standing in front of her.

"Oh, brother?" Fiona stared at the man in front of her, calling him 'brother'.

Sasha's eyes slightly widened when she realized who this man was and why he was covering his face.

He was King Ragnar, the king in disguise. He didn't show his face to others. Only his people and family knew what he looked like. People had their own theories about him. Some said he was too handsome that's why he hid his face, some said it could be a disgusting scar that he was hiding and some said that he was not that handsome and only his hidden appearance was extraordinary.

He doesn't seem to care about these things at all.

Sasha relaxed a little but she was tense as ever.

Fiona smiled and walked up to them, she wrapped her arm around her brother's arm and looked at Sasha while smiling. "Oh my, did my brother scare you?" She asked, her smile dropping instantly after seeing Sasha. The girl was a wreck this morning. This many jumpscares never come to her before. Sasha passed a glance at her brother and he was still staring at her, so she immediately dropped her gaze back to Fiona while shaking her head, a fake smile plastered on her face.

"Oh, that's a relief. People usually get scared due to his huge appearance." Fiona said.

"Anyways, brother, this is Princess Sasha Walton, the bride."

"And Princess Sasha, this is my brother, King Ragnar."

Fiona introduced them to each other. Both of them passed each other with a slight nod. She should be saying something, a whole damn king was standing in front of her but words wouldn't leave her mouth.

She was just uncomfortable.

She wanted to leave immediately.

The monster she knew was known by no one and this was King Ragnar, one of the greatest kings in his lineage. Kings of all kings.

She really needed to say something here but instead of that, she excused herself and trekked away.

Embarrassing herself.

Entering her room, the first thing she did was drink a lot of water.

This happened three times today.

She flinched so much as well.

And someone stood before her who resembled him.

Him...

Her terror.

Her destroyer.

The wedding must happen.

"I will come for you, my butterfly." His words rang in her mind with the exact tone he spoke with.

"No, No, No...the wedding must take place a week before." She thought while pacing around the room.

When his fear fell upon her, the wedding she thought couldn't save her was suddenly her only desperate option.

There was nothing else to save herself from him.

To be exact, not even this wedding.

"What? In two days?" Jasper asked, who was sitting on his master chair busy with some paperwork, and was left stunned for a second by Sasha's words.

She rarely came around here and rarely demanded anything.

But now when she came to him and demanded that the wedding happen earlier than before, he didn't know what to do.

Leaning back against the master chair, he took a deep breath.

"May I know the reason for that?" He asked, looking at her. His eyes moved down to her body and paused on her chest which was abnormally moving up and down, indicating that she was running not long ago. He looked back up at her.

"Ahh, you see I'm afraid something might happen before that, it could delay the wedding. I'm just not having a good feeling about that." She said while fidgeting with her fingers. Her eyes moved up to his face and there were lots of questions hidden in his expressions. Before he could ask something, she immediately continued.

"I don't want any wedding present. I just want the wedding to happen in two days." She said and he lowered his gaze as if thinking hard. She thought he wouldn't agree but when he nodded his head, she felt a great sense of relief washing over her.

"Though, I didn't quite get your reason but I will fulfill this demand of yours." He said and a wide smile kissed her features making his eyes go double in size. She was smiling and it was a happy smile and a genuine smile. Something he had never witnessed in these whole two years.

All of a sudden he stood up and slowly walked up to her. Her smile dropped with each step he took closer to her. He paused in front of her and she just silently stared at him until he put his fingers under her chin, raising her face.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked nervously and he smiled at her. "Nothing, I liked the way you smile." He said and her pupils slightly dilated.

'I like the way you cry...so beautiful.'

His words rang in her head and something known as fear clutched her heart in its vicious grip until Jasper brought her back to the present by kissing her lips.

Her eyes widened when she felt his lips on hers. 

She stilled for a second and didn't know what to do or how to react. This was the first time they kissed. As a princess, she was always taught not to get intimate with a man before marriage. Not to fall in love with anyone unless he was a royal.

However, the things she learned were of no use and the man kissing her wasn't her first kiss either.

She was torn off from all of these the day the beast decided to show itself two years back.

The way he held her and did things to her all to his liking, she realized that all of those teachings were of no use against a man's desire.

He was a beast.

She still remembers how he held her and viciously kissed her, the feeling of helplessness, fear, and terror were marked over her six senses forever. 

She put her hands on Jasper's chest and shut her eyes when he licked her lips, asking for entrance. When she didn't open her lips, he harshly bit on her lower lip making her hiss as she abruptly stepped back from him while covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Oh, pardon me." He said, looking a bit surprised as he wasn't expecting this reaction from her. "I-Its fine." She said, lowering her hand and he noticed the little bruise on her lower lip caused by him.

"I will take my leave now." She said, turned around and immediately left. As soon as she left, his expression turned bitter. "How boring." He said with an eye roll.

If it wasn't for the great wealth of the fallen Kingdom she inherited, he wouldn't even look at her. 

.......

At night.

With a mirror in her hand, Sasha stared at the mark on her lower lip.

It made her remember the time he kissed her, and left her lips bruised and swollen. For some reason, every other thing these days makes her remember him and makes her feel that fear all over again.

Maybe she needed to continue on her medicine.

Keeping the mirror on the dressing table, she closed the window and the door, locking them before walking up to the bed. She doesn't lock her door usually but when his memories claw her senses, she locks herself away. 

Once she settled on the bed, she took her medicine. Though, this medicine doesn't help her with her nightmares but it may help her to stop hallucinating.

But, was she really hallucinating?

Because of him, she's fighting here. Pondering if she was mentally ill or not.

Lying on the bed and covering herself with a duvet, she closed her eyes and blocked her mind from thinking. Hoping not to get any nightmares just like every other night, she drifted off to sleep.

........

The room was warm when she drifted off to sleep but in the middle of the night when the castle was indulged in darkness and the paths were vacant, the rooms were locked and the warmth was there, but something was peculiar with her surroundings.

She felt extremely cold.

Her lips shivered as she curled her body in a ball and covered herself properly with the duvet. Her eyes were closed and she was half asleep. She didn't bother getting up because she remembered very well that she locked everything.

She tried to doze off until she felt a zap of current run down her spine like lightning, making her eyes snap open as those hazel orbs stared up in horror.

Her orbs dilated and hazel looked like an outline, it was all due to sheer fear that engulfed her whole upon witnessing the man on top of her.

His face, she couldn't see it but his huge body on top of her, she could see it. Her orbs throbbed in terror when she noticed those big pale hands holding her waist down.

She couldn't see his face, but she could see his huge body hovering over her, feel his extreme aura, and feel his touch. She realized that she wasn't in a ball, she was lying straight with no duvet covering her. His one hand was holding her waist while his other hand had her wrists easily locked above her head.

Her orbs continued to throb in terror as tears began to roll down her temple. 

It was him.

Her terror.

Her nightmare.

She couldn't move...she tried to but she couldn't.

It was obviously just one of the worst nightmares.

Fortunately, she couldn't see his face otherwise she would've died from a heart attack.

She had never seen his face in her dreams. It was just those evil eyes and his words that haunted her.

This one felt too realistic to be a nightmare but it was one.

She knew no medicine could cure her. His fear was permanently imprinted on all of her six senses.

He had corrupted her whole.

It was as if she was hypnotized.

His hand that was on her waist slowly started to travel up, a soundless gasp escaped her lips when that big huge hand of his cupped her right Bosom twice before moving up. She wanted to scream for help but words were sealed in her mouth, she could only hear her muffled cries. 

She flinched badly and her heart lurked up to her mouth when she heard his all too familiar voice. It was deep and held excitement in the tone, a menacingly calm excitement. 

"He kissed you?" He asked, his cold thumb caressing her lightly bruised lower lip. She felt like her heart would come out of her mouth anytime soon. 

He knew it.

He knows everything.

There was no way she could hide from him.

"You dare let him touch you? Have you already forgotten who your master is?" He asked, his thumb pad roughly caressing her lower lip, bruising her already bruised lip even more.

"What did I tell you last time?" He asked, she wanted to close her eyes shut but she couldn't even do that. Tears were continuously rolling down her temple even when all he did was talk.

What did he tell her last time?

'I will destroy the one you seek for in order to get away from me.' 

She put Jasper and his kingdom at stake just to get away from this monster when she knew very well that there was no way out.

"How disobedient you are." He said, she jolted when she felt his hand in her hair, he was caressing her silky hair strands ever so slowly.

"But don't worry, even my most ruthless demon can't afford to harm you. My butterfly is so fragile, I'm afraid I'll break it." Her eyes widened when she heard him whispering all of this right next to her ear, she could even feel his hot breath hitting her ear.

It was just too realistic to be a dream.

Her heart was wildly slamming against her ribcage and her body was trembling like a leaf.

He was a sharp vicious knife dipped in honey for her.

"Remember one thing, even if you get married as early as possible, nothing can really take you away from me. Not even you and not even your God." 

"Because I am your Master."

Sasha's breath was knocked out of her system when she felt something cold on her lips. 

And just like that everything went blurry and her eyes snapped open. 

Drenched in sweat, and gasping for air, the duvet, bedsheet, and the robe she was wearing were all in disheveled condition. Her wide eyes stared up at the fancy stone-carved ceiling as her chest heaved up and down aggressively. She was stiff like a board and her whole body was aching painfully.

A light was peeking through the slick of the curtain indicating that it was morning already.

Though she was sleeping all this time it felt like she didn't sleep a blink. 

It was another nightmare.

Worse than ever.

She slowly sat up straight and frowned soon after when she realized that her face was wet. Even the pillow was drenched because of her tears. She raised her hand and wiped the tears away. She could still feel his touch, his breath, and the fear for him.

While she was wiping her tears, she noticed something on her wrist and it was as if the world stilled around her. Her horrified gaze was fixated on her bruised wrist.

The heartbeat that calmed down eventually fastened again in fear.

She looked at her other wrist and it was also bruised. His hold wasn't tight but it left such bruises...no why does she have them? Wasn't she having a nightmare? 

Her lower lip also felt weird.

Slowly getting off the bed, she stood up on her shaky legs and walked up to the dressing table, almost losing her balance on the way. With her trembling hands, she grabbed the mirror and focused it on her lips. 

And the next moment, the mirror fell down from her hand and on the cold floor, shattering into tiny pieces. Sasha stumbled back and fell on the floor, harshly landing on her butt as a sob raked through her body. 

Her lips were swollen and the bruise on her lower lip was even worse. It was as if he was here to remove Jasper's touch from her. But why? How? She locked everything. How did he get in? Or perhaps, he was already hiding in here but his huge presence couldn't be hidden anywhere here.

Everything that happened was real.

He was here.

He was watching her.

He was also planning something.

He could clearly stop the wedding before it happened but he was waiting for something. What? Could it be that he was here to destroy Jasper's kingdom?

She had so many things on her mind.

Tears wouldn't stop rolling down her eyes.

She stood up on her trembling legs but fell down again, so she took the support of the bed and stood up while crying. She checked the door and it was still locked but the window that she clearly remembers locking was unlocked and there was nothing beneath there to land on, just rugged ground that was so far, a normal person wouldn't survive if he jumped out of here.

How did he manage to get in? 

Was he already inside? Watching her all the time? 

A shudder ran down her spine and she covered her mouth to stop the loud sobs that were escaping her lips.

She couldn't digest the fact that he was actually here.

He was here...to get her.

He was here to destroy humanity once again.

He was here to cage her forever.

What could she even do to escape him?

His intentions felt like he was here to destroy Jasper's kingdom so even if she didn't marry Jasper, that monster would destroy it.

She rubbed a hand down her face.

There was no way she could escape that monster.

But where was he at the moment?