To His Hell and Back
Chapter 73: On Hidden Agenda

Chapter 73: On Hidden Agenda

It wasn’t long after Iliza had fought with Arabella that she began to fret about her future. Unlike Arabella, she felt extremely unlucky. She had been born to a very young girl in the village and was cast aside as a daughter without a father. Her mother had been too young when she became pregnant, and the father had never been found. Upon Iliza’s birth, she and her mother had been kicked out of the village.

Her mother wasn’t particularly bright, and because of her youth, she took any work available to survive. The easiest way for a woman like her to make money was through brothels. From a young age, Iliza was determined not to follow in her mother’s footsteps, she refused to become so dirty and used. She was ashamed of her mother, vowing to walk a different path. Eventually, she secured a suitor, a young man from a wealthy family.

What she had not expected, however, was that her lover’s father had once slept with her mother. Upon learning of this, his mother became consumed with rage and jealousy. When she discovered that her son had also been seduced by Iliza, her anger turned into manipulation. She tricked Iliza into stealing, but Iliza would never admit to the crime.

When her mother found out about this, the poor woman was heartbroken. She couldn’t pay off the debts, and eventually, she was forced to watch as Iliza was dragged away to the slave traders. But Iliza was determined; she would survive, no matter what.

However, time was not on her side. There was a hunt coming up. She didn’t know what it was at first, but she heard from Donna that it was no ordinary hunt. It was something that nobles participated in, but this time, it wouldn’t be wild animals that were hunted. It would be humans. Iliza’s blood turned cold. She couldn’t die like an animal! She had to survive... but how?

It was then that she learned that Arabella had caught the fancy of Cassius, the Crown Prince. Arabella had even been exempted from the dungeon and now lived a life similar to the other nobles. Iliza’s jealousy flared... how could this be?

Nothing in her life had been fair.

Arabella, a woman who had so little, now had everything that Iliza desired. And yet, Iliza couldn’t understand why Arabella had been chosen. She was smarter, cleverer, and in her eyes, she was prettier. Arabella’s curves were nothing compared to her own slender figure, something far more desirable in the eyes of those in the castle. So, why?

Desperation flooded Iliza’s thoughts. She couldn’t let herself die like an animal in that hunt. She had to do something. She would use her charm, her beauty, and her wit. So, she began seducing the guards, promising them anything in exchange for an "accidental" release into the hallways of the castle.

However, her plan backfired. She had unknowingly crossed paths with the worst man she could have encountered, the minister, Rueben. He was in a foul mood, and Iliza, in her desperation, had been completely unaware of the danger she was walking into. His anger was a perfect outlet, and he took it out on her.

Iliza had stared at him too long, and when she foolishly asked if he would like to take her as a pet, Rueben became enraged. He struck her hard, the blow sending a stinging pain across her cheek.

Before she could react, Arabella appeared, her eyes full of concern. She rushed to her side, helping her up, though Iliza didn’t appreciate it. Her gaze was sharp as she glared at Arabella, bitterness swirling in her chest. Arabella, with all her nobility and grace, seemed so out of place in this dirty world. And yet here she was, pitying her.

Who does she think she is? Iliza demanded in her head, brushing Arabella off as if the act of kindness was some sort of betrayal. You think you’re better than me? You think you’re so special because of what? Cassius? His affection won’t last forever, you know. It’s a fleeting thing, just like everything else in this place. Just like her suitor, who had cast her aside when he considered about losing all his family’s wealth if he came to help her.

Arabella’s expression had faltered when she managed to trick the girl into thinking she was an evil person no different than the vampires. A mix of shock and hurt flickered across her face, unsure how to respond to such venom, and the trouble on Arabella’s face only made her happier. Iliza didn’t care. Seeing Arabella so shocked, so heartbroken, made her feel a twisted sense of satisfaction.

"Don’t look at me with those eyes," Iliza added coldly, her voice low. She whispered those words to Bella before she left, smiling as she knew that this would haunt Bella’s head for a long time. "You don’t deserve any of this. You’re just another pawn. And in time, you’ll see it too."

Arabella stood there for a moment, silent, as Iliza’s words sank in. She turned and walked away, leaving Iliza to stew in her own anger and bitterness.

With a twisted smile, Iliza ventured deeper into the castle, her eyes narrowing with renewed determination. She had a new plan now. If she couldn’t seduce her way out, she would find another way to survive. She would outlast Arabella and everyone else, no matter what it took.

This night, she had decided to venture around the castle again. This time, she was allowed as a noble vampire who came to visit the castle had asked for humans to accompany him. As she was chosen, she went ahead to leave the group, briefly stepping away from the line and walking to search for Cassius’s room. Her plan was clear: to steal Arabella’s position and become Cassius’s slave.

Yet now she was shoved aside by a mere maid who seemed upset. Feeling unfair, Iliza had stopped the bold maid, reaching out her hand to her shoulders to demand an apology, not knowing that the said maid was also a vampire.

Nora was unhappy and she had caught her wrists tight, twisting it around, "What do you think you’re doing, whore?!"

Shocked, Iliza was stunned someone had called her a whore, something she used to hear people yelling at her mother. Anger rose to her throat, and she yelled back despite yelping in pain,

"You wretched—! Let me go!" Iliza hissed, struggling against Nora’s iron grip. The pain in her twisted wrist was sharp, but the humiliation burned even deeper. No one, no one, had dared call her that in years. It was a word that belonged to her past, to her mother’s shame, not to her.

Nora sneered, her fangs just barely visible as she tightened her grip. "You’re just like all the others, thinking you can claw your way up by spreading your legs. You disgust me."

Iliza’s breath hitched, rage flaring in her eyes. "And you think you’re better? You’re just a maid!" she spat, her voice trembling, not just with fury but with something else: fear. The realization was settling in now. Nora wasn’t just any maid. She was a vampire. A predator.

Nora leaned in closer, her lips curling into something cruel. "Yes, I am," she whispered, her voice like silk laced with poison. "And unlike you, I don’t need to beg for survival."

Iliza’s pulse pounded in her ears. She had spent her whole life learning how to manipulate, how to seduce, how to talk her way out of anything. But now, none of those things would save her. Not against someone like this.

Still, she refused to break. Not in front of a maid. Not again.

"You don’t scare me," she forced out, her chin lifting stubbornly even as her wrist throbbed.

Nora chuckled darkly. "Oh, sweetheart, you should be scared." Then, just as suddenly as she had grabbed her, she released Iliza’s wrist with a shove, sending her stumbling back.

Iliza clutched her arm, her pride bruised more than her body. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but all she could do was glare as Nora turned away, muttering under her breath, "Stay out of my way, or next time, I won’t be so kind."

Iliza stood frozen for a moment, her heart hammering, her hands trembling.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Before she could pick herself back up, a hand had reached out to her, and lifting her head slowly, she was met with brown human eyes, an eyecatching face that wasn’t too handsome but, regardless, charming. The man had smiled, dressed in a satin tunic, smiled. He came from a noble family, and unlike the other nobles, he had reached out his hand, allowing her to take it.

Though at first she was suspicious, how could Iliza deny the help?

She was smarter than the rest of the women who only knew how to cry in the dungeon, and she wasn’t foolish to keep her pride like Donna, who refused to serve the noble vampire today and remain in that cold, disgusting dungeon. She knew that to survive, she needed a man’s help, especially a wealthy one.

"Are you alright?" The young man’s voice rang to her ears as she saw his tender smile. However, she failed to notice that this kindness wasn’t something truly genuine...

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