Xiran’s POV

The stony expressionless countenance of hers was killing my heart slowly, and then she stared directly into my eyes before uttering those heart-wrenching words. My ears couldn’t believe what they heard.

Hair! she told him to cut my hair. They were like my identity, they reminded me of my mother. So she chose emotional torture instead of physical one. She knew where it would hurt the most, she knew my vulnerability and now this girl was using it against me.

As I gazed into her eyes, I couldn’t recognize her anymore. She wasn’t the Aselia I had come to love over the last few months. She would never do that, she would never give such a command, and yet here she was, too consumed with her revenge. How would I ever be able to save her? She was headed for self-destruction.

If she could feel jealous of her fellow hunter for only touching me, I knew this command of hers would emotionally wound her, for I had seen Aselia lovingly handle my hair numerous times.

I closed my eyes as the cruelty of the situation hit me. This was pure humiliation, it was pure agony as the sharpness of metallic blades void me of my hair. That integral part that made me whole was taken from me, and in that instant, I knew a lot of people will be left tattered for they had taken something dear to me.

A tantalizing holler rose in the pits of my stomach but died in my throat for I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken. I was too proud of that, although she had brought me to my knees. How much more misery she had planned for me? I wondered.

Then I heard her gut-wrenching scream and my eyes flew open in search of her. Aselia had doubled over as another agonizing yelp rippled through her trembling body. Her hair fell all around her, entombing her as she writhed in pain, which in turn intensified my agony.

I understood what was wrong with her, it was the same that had happened to her last week. It was the bond we shared, it was hurting her for hurting me. I was sure of it, this had become abundantly clear to me now. She couldn’t hide this from me, not anymore.

No, I didn’t want any harm to come to her. If only I had the strength to break these chains, I would whisk her away and breathe some sense into her. Her deafening screams were submerging me in a sea of misery, this was more torturous than any suffering they had put me through.

I wanted to call her name but no words escaped me, I had become mute, I had become speechless. Yurian carried her away while I watched helplessly, unable to speak, unable to even breathe for she took my oxygen with her.

The barbarous man who had dared lay his filthy hands on me plunged another needle into my neck, filling me with more of their agony-causing serums. The unimaginable contempt rose in my chest and I swore to end his life the first chance I would get.

Leaving me broken and alone they shut the door, surrounded by strands of my fallen hair, I peeked at them, helplessly. Why Aselia? Why my hair? I knew the answer and yet I wanted to question her.

It was laborious to keep my eyes open anymore, they were heavy from all the drugs they had been pumping me with.

I had no sense of time for how long I passed out, but when I woke the feeling of helplessness had returned. Every inch of my body ached in excruciating pain, the discomfort of hanging from these bloody chains was dissolving my resolve. I had to hold on, this was just the beginning of my trials, wondering how many more she will put me through.

"Xiran," I heard Yurian calling me. Laborousily opening my eyes I glanced in his direction. He was holding a food tray and had squatted in front of me. The aroma of fresh food and blood hit me and I couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

"Here, eat something." He held out a sandwich for me, his expression was somber today, and his handsome face was void of any smile.

"How is Aselia?" I questioned him with urgency, my heart quickened its beats within my sore chest, which burnt with anticipation and hurt.

"She is dealing with the consequences of her actions. It will take her some time to heal, emotionally, mentally and physically." This added to my worries, I didn’t want to see her suffer.

"She is in a bad shape?" I inquired in a shaky voice, unable to keep it steady.

"What she did has taken a toll on her. Aldridge sent her to torture you, I don’t think she could bring herself to physically hurt you and see you bleed. That was her way of protecting you somehow." Yurian shook his head, clearly not happy with how the situation was advancing.

"I wished she had physically tortured me. This hurts more." I was feeling exasperated, this was too emotional even for me.

"Eat now, build up your strength. She will come to talk to you. Have it in your heart to forgive her." Yurian almost pleaded with me. His eyes held his worries.

"I need some time to process all this." I took a bite but it was hard for me to swallow. My stomach refused to take in anything, the emotional turmoil was immense. Thoughts of her made my insides retch. We both were being tortured in some strange way, held together by destiny. Not letting us flee from each other.

I could only eat a few bites and told Yurian that was it for me. He understood and didn’t push me any further. Glancing around me I found he had collected my hair and had wrapped them in a cloth.

My heart pricked again at the sight.

I wanted to ask him what he will do with them but knowing he will just throw them away would hurt my soul even more.

Deciding to stay quiet, I just closed my eyes seeking any solace I might find. All I could see was her face, and that brought me only agony. The torment of her actions, the agony of her screams. I wasn’t sure how many more tests I had to pass to prove my love for her, to make her accept me for she had hurt me deeply.

The scar she had inflicted upon me would leave a lasting mark but if she believed I would hate her after this then she was underestimating me. My heart could never bring itself to harm her in any way, let alone hate her.

But her heart was a desert and my love had been unable to quench its thirst so far. Like a sponge, it engulfed my love, my devotion, my whole being, and yet it demanded more and strove for more. How much? I didn’t know.

I lost track of time, I lost track of day and night. Aldridge visited with his minion to inflict another torture session but no voice left my sealed lips, the tortured reminiscence of my body ached for every cell was wounded by them. The totality of how many times they broke my bones, letting them heal to be broken again, was lost on me.

This was not about my father anymore. It had veered to land in my ego and they had no clue how stubborn I could get. The satisfaction of seeing me break down was something I would never grant them.

Getting tired and the night may have fallen, they left me. There was no sleep, only hunger and pain rippling through my damaged form. The desire to punish them was overwhelming me, want to raise their organization to the ground had filled me to the brim. I wouldn’t hurt her but others wouldn’t escape my wrath, this I promised myself.

Sleep finally took me and the next morning I was woken up by another man, a man I had never seen before. His most striking features were coal-black hair and eyes. I couldn’t decide which was darker, while he was observing me with a keen smile. That didn’t reach his eye pits.

"She really brought the son of our biggest rival on his knees. I am so proud of her." He chuckled clasping his hands together. There was something sinister about this man.

The door opened and her scent wafted through my nose making me dizzy and hungrier. She stepped inside, adorned in her white, red and gold hunter uniform, which hugged her curvy body. A sword and gun hung with the belt around her slim waist. Then my gaze went to her face and hair, a shiver jolted my whole frame while my heart plummeted into an infinite pit. What had she done?