I go in a small internal panic. Then Shepherd pulls back before taking my hand. He turns to the direction of the council.

"Thank you all for your efforts into helping the search for my wife. But as you can see, she has been through much and her and our child needs rest."

I almost sprint back to the direction of the gates. 'Our child?'

So, they all think this is Shepherd's child? His hand squeezes me tighter in an almost crushing grip. I fight the wince and the tears.

I am going out of my mind. I am so confused. Is that why everyone is so welcoming? They think I left when I was pregnant.

"We completely understand, King Shepherd. The queen should rest, we have plenty of time for the investigation." One of the council members says and I drop my head as my eyes widen.

What investigation?

I need to calm down. Remember how to play this game, Aria. I lift my eyes, ready with my queen Aria face. I take them in, and I look at them in their eyes.

"It is great to have you back, queen. Your absence left us cold and alone." The minister of education informs me, and I sense...sincerity in his words. This is all so confusing. I thought news was that I ran away because I had an affair.

How is it that it seems I have supporters? I am alive longer than I thought I would be. I thought I would be on a parade through the city in chains by now. But it seems something else is at play here.

Shepherd turns his gaze to me, then he squeezes my hand further. I clear my throat to cover the sob that is bubbling under. He narrows his eyes. I need to say something.

"Thank you all for welcoming me, and for all your prayers. Like my husband mentions, my journey has been long, and I would like some rest." I keep my voice soft and vulnerable, but clear.

"Of course, queen. Take your time and recover. You must have gone through a lot at the hands of that beast." One of the council members says and my eyes widen. New terror travels inside me, even as I try to not show it.

So, they all know about Igor? What do they know? Did they catch up to him?

"Come, my love." Shepherd looks at me with the fake adoration he would display sometimes in front of people. I give him my own fake smile that I perfected over the years.

We walk to our wing and memories flood back to me. If I thought seeing the palace again was dreadful, it is nothing compared to walking these halls I walked on for years miserable. It also feels like I am taking a step to my death. But I keep walking hand in hand with him.

The staff members follow us. I don't know what's worse; being in all their scrutinizing presence or being with Shepherd alone. On one end the fear that they will know all my truths is real but on another the torment that awaits me when Shepherd and I alone is something I can't imagine.

Though I don't fear him for reasons I used to before when I was desperate for his attention, now I fear him for new reasons. My child and the man that I love.

It is clear though that I need to gather as much information as I can about what everyone knows, and I need to do that before I am called to the investigation. I don't know who to trust, who I can ask, and they will give me the answers.

We come to the view of our wing, and I try to pull my hand away from him when the urge to flight sinks in my stomach. Shepherd, of course, notices this but he just holds me tighter. I see a small smirk in his face. And as we near, I see familiar faces.

I see Hannah, but she...she has scars on her face. What happened to her? Did my disappearance have anything to do with how she looks? My heart sinks for her. I wish I could be alone with her so I can ask.

"Queen Aria." She and another servant girl on either side of the doors to Shepherd's chambers greet in unison.

"Good to see you."

I look at Hannah's direction and she winces a little. That's strange.

The door is open. I wonder why I'm not taken to my old room. The doors close behind us, and Shepherd lets go of my hand like it has thorns. He walks away from me, back still turned and the sole of his shoe slides on the carpet.

I wrap my arms around myself, needing to feel safe because I know right now I am not safe. When he is in the middle of the room he turns, slowly, like he is trying to amplify the fear he is inflicting.

His blue eyes are dark, he is seething. "Hello, Aria."

I don't know why but tears blur him. I want to run out of here. I take a step back.

"Don't even think it. I got you now, you disgusting whore."

"Shepherd, you don't have to do this. You can let me go. I will never come back."

He exhales a breath that feel like it would be venomous if I came close. "But you already squandered that opportunity."

I shake my head. "I...I wasn't coming back. I swear."

"You were supposed to be dead." The amount of blackness in his aura as he says it is intense.

My mouth opens to talk, to tell him I can still disappear but nothing, but a strange noise comes out. His gaze lowers to my belly and on instinct I cover it with my hands. It's silly to hope it will shield my child from him, but it is all I can do. He nears me and I stay frozen where I am.

"You are carrying a demon in there, an abomination." I hear and feel his ill intentions to my child. He stands next to me facing the door like he's on his way out.

"They are innocent, Shepherd." My voice comes out strong.

"We'll see." That's all he says before he opens the door, and he leaves.

I almost cough the breath I was holding. I try to bring myself back to equilibrium.

My suffering is definitely in his plans. I really wish Shepherd took me to my room. But he probably brought me here so he can torment me to the fullest.

I jump when a knock rings in my ears.

"Queen Aria." The voice of Hannah comes from the other side. I look down at myself, I haven't even moved since Shepherd left. I wonder how long I was standing there like a fool.

Even now, it feels strange moving around here. If it were up to me, I wouldn't take any space in this room. It feels like I'm touching the man himself if I do.

"Queen Aria."

Frack, I haven't answered.

"Yes, Hannah."

"May we come in?"

I take a few steps further into the room so they don't find me standing at the door.

"Yes, come in."

The two girls walk in with bowed heads. It squeezes my heart again to see Hannah in this state.

They close the door behind themselves then they bow to me. "We are here to help you get comfortable queen and the king ordered that we help you with your bath." The other one says.

"You do know that I can bath myself, right?" I know that is how things are and I used to endure it before, but after all the time away with Igor, I am a different person now. And I am a little apprehensive with anyone seeing my body who isn't Igor.

Besides the fact that – fading as they are - I have his marks all over my body and it just feels like my body is now sacred to him and me only. Let alone the fact that I am carrying my lovechild and it is only for my love's eyes.

The girls don't answer. Instead, they move to the bathroom, and they go on and they open the faucet and prepare my bath water. They get robes out for me. My old robes. They place my shoes in front of me. I move to the bathroom when I see I don't have room to refuse.

They reach to take off my clothes and I sigh. If they are here to spy for Shepherd, then there was going to be no way out of it anyway. I'm sure the security is even tighter than last time I was here, and with Shepherd determined to make me suffer, the less I resist the little tortures, the better for me.

I am still clinging to the hope that I can try and get all the information I can to survive and hopefully escape again.

They lather my hair with the oils and my skin. They cover me from head to toe. The water also has herbs in it, but by the smell it's just normal herbs I used to have with my baths. I step in the water, and they wash my body. I am glad servants don't really express their opinions outwardly. Their sole focus is on the job at hand.

"So, what were you told about me?" I decide going direct is the best way.

Hannah stiffens a little, but she is back to her neutral expression as she continues working like she has no thoughts of her own and she's just a ghoul. I bear the bath and the oiling of my body.

When I am finished, they tidy up the place. The other girl is leaving but I hold Hannah's hand and she tenses. But I'm not letting her go yet. The girl exits and closes the door, reading the room.

"Hannah, what's going on?"

"We are not supposed to speak to you, queen. I apologize." Then she pulls her hand from mine, and she sprints to the door and she is out like I said I was going to harm her.

So, they were told to not talk. Classic Shepherd. What a donkey's behind.

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