42.MERCY

AUTHOR’S POV 

Shivnya gestured sharply to her men, and within moments, Veronica's wrists and legs were freed from the cold, biting restraints. She stood trembling in the center of the room, her body barely able to support her under the weight of fear. The cold air of the dungeon wrapped around her like a cruel embrace, chilling her to the bone. Her wide eyes, filled with terror, flickered toward Shivnya, hoping-pleading-for a sliver of mercy.

But Shivnya, seated in her sleek black leather chair, radiated nothing but icy indifference. Her posture was impeccable, legs elegantly crossed, hands resting casually on the armrests. Her lips curled into a slow, predatory smile as she watched Veronica with cold amusement, knowing the dance was merely a prelude to the real torment she had planned.

The room was thick with tension as Veronica struggled to breathe, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her pride fought against the wave of humiliation crashing over her, but it was a losing battle. She knew there was no escape, no way out of Shivnya's grasp. The terror of what Shivnya could do far outweighed her shame. With a shaky breath, she prepared herself.

A cruel gesture from Shivnya sent one of her men toward the sound system. The soft, haunting melody of "Aa Zara" filled the room. Veronica froze as the song's first notes echoed through the dungeon. It was the same song in which veronica was trying to dance with her husband.

"Really?" Shivnya's voice was soft but laced with venomous amusement. "How poetic. The same song you thought you could use to steal a moment with my husband."

Veronica's heart sank, her limbs frozen with dread. She hesitated, her body stiff, each movement reluctant. But there was no mercy in Shivnya's eyes.

"I said dance," Shivnya hissed, her voice sharp as a blade. "Not stumble around like a lost puppy, you little mistress." The insult hung in the air, cutting deeper than any whip.

Veronica flinched, a surge of defiance breaking through her fear. "I'm not a mistress-I'm a dancer," she shouted, her voice trembling but filled with desperation.

The room went deathly silent as Shivnya's gaze darkened. Without a word, she stood, her movements slow and deliberate as she pulled a whip from her side. She cracked it against the stone floor, the sound reverberating through the dungeon like thunder. Veronica recoiled, terror surging through her.

"Keep your voice down, you little Annabella," Shivnya said in a voice so cold it made Veronica's skin crawl. Her words were clipped, each one sharper than the last. "I don't think you truly understand who I am-who Shivnya Abhimanyu Singh Rathore is. Don't force me to make you find out sooner than necessary."

Veronica's breath hitched, her defiance crumbling under the oppressive weight of Shivnya's gaze. Trembling, she forced herself to keep moving, each step feeling like it was draining the last remnants of her pride. Shivnya, now back in her chair, whip in hand, watched with the same cold detachment, a twisted satisfaction brewing in her cruel smile. Veronica knew her body was no longer her own; it was nothing more than a puppet for Shivnya's dark amusement.

As Veronica's movements faltered, her limbs heavy with fear, Shivnya tilted her head, her face twisting into a mask of disdain. "Is this what you call talent?" Her voice was laced with venom, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Pathetic. Even a bar dancer could do better than you."

Her words sliced through Veronica's fragile confidence, the humiliation thickening the air. Shivnya wasn't merely trying to break her-she wanted to obliterate her very spirit.

The echo of Shivnya's heels clicked sharply against the cold stone floor as she stood, uncrossing her legs with deliberate grace. She stalked toward Veronica, her steps slow and measured, like a predator closing in on its prey. Veronica's body instinctively recoiled, though she dared not stop dancing.

Shivnya stopped just inches from her, a wicked smile curling her lips. "Last night, you danced like your life depended on it," she whispered, her voice low and dangerous. "Because you thought that pathetic body of yours could seduce my husband." Shivnya leaned in closer, her breath hot against Veronica's trembling skin. "So show me. Dance for me now, the way you danced for him."

Veronica's heart thudded painfully in her chest, her mind screaming to escape, but she forced her body to keep moving, every step more fluid than the last, desperate to avoid Shivnya's wrath. Yet no matter how hard she tried, the fear in her eyes was impossible to mask. Her movements might have been smoother now, but they lacked the passion, the control that Shivnya craved. She was a marionette, strings pulled tight with fear, moving not for herself but for survival.

"Do you really think this pitiful display is going to save you, Veronica?" Shivnya's voice came from behind her now, each word soaked in cruel mockery. She gripped Veronica's arm, her nails biting into her skin, a warning of the power Shivnya held over her. "Do you think this pathetic attempt will make me go easy on you?"

Veronica bit her lip, suppressing a sob as Shivnya's grip tightened, making it painfully clear who was in control. Her chest heaved with the effort of keeping her composure, but her body moved on autopilot, each motion more desperate than the last.

"Dance," Shivnya hissed, her voice sharp and unforgiving. "Dance, or you'll regret it."

Veronica's heart pounded as she moved faster, her body obeying out of sheer terror. Her legs ached, her arms grew heavy, but she didn't dare stop. Still, she could feel Shivnya's disappointment like a suffocating weight pressing down on her, mocking her every effort. Every flick of her wrist, every step was scrutinized, judged, and dismissed as worthless.

Suddenly, with a swift motion, Shivnya grabbed a glass bottle from the table beside her and smashed it against the stone floor. Shards of glass scattered across the ground, glittering ominously under the dim lights.

"Now, let's see how well you dance on this," Shivnya said, her voice dripping with malice. She stepped back, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips as she watched Veronica hesitate, her eyes widening in horror.

Veronica's feet faltered as she looked down at the broken glass littering the floor, the sharp edges catching the faint light. But before she could plead or protest, Shivnya's voice cut through the air again.

"Dance!" Shivnya barked, her tone colder, more threatening than before.

Veronica swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes as she resumed moving, her bare feet now gliding over the sharp shards of glass. Each step sent searing pain through her, but she kept going, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood, anything to keep from crying out. The glass sliced into her skin, and she could feel the warm trickle of blood mixing with the icy cold air of the dungeon.

Shivnya watched with twisted pleasure, her eyes gleaming as Veronica struggled to maintain her balance, her feet bleeding with every desperate movement. "That's it, Veronica," she cooed mockingly, her voice soft but cruel. "Now that's the kind of dance I was expecting."

Veronica's vision blurred with tears, her body trembling from the pain and fear, but she kept going. She knew she had no choice. The humiliation, the agony, the degradation-it was all Shivnya's game, and she was trapped in it, helpless to escape. With every step, her spirit shattered further, leaving only a hollow shell behind, dancing for the twisted pleasure of the queen who owned her.

Shivnya smiled, leaning back in her chair as she watched the scene unfold before her with a sadistic sense of satisfaction. "Good girl," she whispered darkly, the whip still resting in her hand as a reminder of what could come next. "Now let's see how long you can keep this up."

And so, Veronica movements became frantic, her desperation growing as she tried to appease Shivnya's insatiable cruelty. Tears streamed down her face as she spun and twirled, her body moving on autopilot, her mind screaming for an end. But Shivnya only watched, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of her lips , her body bleeding and broken, but there was no escape. No end in sight. Only Shivnya's cold, unfeeling eyes watching her every move, waiting for her to fall.

Veronica's body spun like a puppet on broken strings, her once graceful movements reduced to desperate, erratic jerks. Her hair whipped around her tear-streaked face, sticking to her damp skin. Every stumble, every gasp, echoed in the cold, suffocating air of the dungeon. She could barely keep herself upright, her feet soaked in blood from the jagged glass shards that shredded her skin with every painful step.

Shivnya sat back, her legs elegantly crossed, a malicious smile curving her lips as she watched the pitiful display before her. Her whip rested lazily in her hand, the crack of it against the stone floor still fresh in Veronica's mind, driving her to keep moving. But despite her best efforts, Veronica's movements were slow, clumsy, and filled with agony.

A soft, cruel laugh slipped from Shivnya's lips, making Veronica's heart pound faster. "Look at you," Shivnya cooed, her voice deceptively sweet, yet venomous. "Dancing like a broken doll. Is this all you have left? Pride? Dignity? Stripped away by a few threats?" Her fingers brushed over Veronica's cheek, sending a chill down her spine. "You're nothing now. Less than nothing."

Veronica's legs trembled violently, her entire body betraying her. Every step was a battle against her exhaustion, her breath coming in ragged, shallow gasps. Her feet-now drenched in blood-barely kept pace with the rhythm she once knew so well. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the sweat that clung to her skin, but she dared not stop. She knew stopping would mean something far worse than the humiliation she was already enduring.

Shivnya circled her, the sound of her heels clicking against the stone floor echoing in Veronica's ears like a death knell. "Faster," she commanded, her voice calm but laced with a sharp undercurrent of malice. Veronica's body jerked forward, moving faster, but her movements were wild and out of control, every step a desperate attempt to avoid Shivnya's next outburst.

Shivnya's patience snapped like the crack of a whip. In an instant, she lunged forward, grabbing Veronica by the wrist and yanking her forcefully toward the center of the room, dragging her over the shattered glass. Veronica screamed, the jagged shards biting deeper into her flesh. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed into a heap, her blood smearing across the cold stone floor.

"You're not dancing anymore," Shivnya hissed, her face inches from Veronica's. Her eyes, cold and devoid of mercy, locked onto Veronica's tear-filled ones. "You're pathetic."

Veronica's lips trembled violently as she lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, her body convulsing with sobs. Blood and tears mixed as she pressed her forehead to the ground, her spirit shattered beyond recognition. She looked up at Shivnya through her tear-blurred vision, hoping-begging-for some shred of compassion, but all she found in those dark eyes was cold, unfeeling hatred.

Shivnya crouched down, grabbing Veronica's chin with her icy fingers, forcing her to look up. The grip was sharp, painful, as if Shivnya wanted her to feel the strength of her control. "You call that dancing?" she spat, her tone dripping with scorn. "I told you, darling. If you didn't entertain me, you'd face the consequences."

Veronica whimpered, her voice hoarse from crying. "P-please," she choked, barely able to speak through her sobs. "I tried, I-"

Smack! The slap was swift and merciless, the sound reverberating through the dungeon. Veronica's head snapped to the side, her sobs catching in her throat as her face stung from the impact. She lay there, too exhausted to move, too broken to resist.

"Get up," Shivnya ordered coldly, standing tall once more. Her voice was commanding, filled with dark authority. Veronica struggled to her feet, her legs trembling so violently she could barely stay upright. Her entire body felt like it was on fire, pain radiating from every muscle, every joint.

She dared to speak once more, hoping to appeal to Shivnya's mercy. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't know he was married to you," Veronica stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shivnya's eyes flickered, but she didn't bother looking at her. "That's none of my concern," she replied in a flat, emotionless tone. Veronica's heart sank, and panic surged through her veins. She tried again, her voice trembling with desperation.

"Please... have mercy. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to-"

Shivnya smiled, an evil glint dancing in her eyes as she stood up, her hands slipping into her pockets. "You want me to leave you?" she asked, her voice dripping with mockery. A flicker of hope ignited in Veronica's chest, fragile but growing.

"Yes, please," Veronica said frantically, clutching onto that tiny spark of hope as if her life depended on it.

Shivnya smirked, tilting her head. "Very well," she said slowly, savoring each word. "I'll leave you." Veronica's heart leapt in relief-finally, it was over.

But then Shivnya's smile twisted, darkening as she added in a chilling whisper, "I meant I'll leave you from this dance. Not from the rest of what's coming."

Veronica froze, her stomach dropping like a stone. She stared at Shivnya in horror, her voice shaking. "W-what do you mean?"

Before she could process it, Shivnya barked an order, "Tie her to the stretcher."

Veronica's eyes widened in terror as Shivnya's men grabbed her, dragging her toward the metal stretcher. She screamed, thrashing wildly in their grip, her voice filled with raw panic. "No! No, please, stop! What are you going to do?" Her cries echoed off the dungeon walls, but the men didn't hesitate, their hands tightening around her arms as they forced her down, tying her wrists and ankles to the stretcher.

Shivnya approached slowly, like a predator closing in on its prey. She stood over Veronica, her shadow looming large as she gripped a handful of Veronica's hair and tugged her head back so their eyes met. Veronica winced in pain, her breath coming in shallow, panicked bursts. "You threw this hair around my husband," Shivnya spat, her voice dripping with venom. "You thought you could use it to seduce him? I'll make sure you never try that again."

Veronica's heart hammered in her chest as realization dawned on her. "No... no, please, not that," she begged, tears streaming down her face. "Not my hair, please!"

But Shivnya's smile only widened as she called out, "Bring the scissors."

Veronica's body shook with sobs as she watched the gleaming metal of the scissors being placed into Shivnya's hand. "Please, no! I'm begging you!" Her voice cracked with sheer desperation, her mind screaming for escape, but there was none. Shivnya's grip on her hair tightened as she pulled a thick strand taut.

"You don't deserve this hair," Shivnya hissed, raising the scissors to Veronica's scalp. The cold metal gleamed ominously in the dim light.

"No! Please!" Veronica screamed, her voice breaking. But Shivnya's expression was cold, unyielding. With a vicious snip, the first lock of hair fell to the floor.

Veronica sobbed uncontrollably, her body convulsing with each brutal snip as Shivnya hacked away at her hair, each cut more uneven and savage than the last. Her long, beautiful locks-once a symbol of her pride-now lay scattered across the floor like broken dreams. With each snip, Shivnya destroyed more than just Veronica's hair; she destroyed her spirit, her identity.

Shivnya stood back, admiring her handiwork. Veronica's once-elegant hair was now butchered, uneven, jagged, leaving her looking like a madwoman. Shivnya grinned, pleased with the result. "Now look at you," she whispered, her voice filled with satisfaction. "You really do look like nothing now."

Veronica lay on the stretcher, her body shaking with sobs, her hair reduced to a mess of jagged, uneven tufts. There was nothing left of her but humiliation and pain. Shivnya stood tall, her presence dominating the room, a cold smile still on her lips as she gazed down at her broken victim, they released her from there and again tied her with the pole on the floor.

Shivnya's eyes gleamed with malevolent satisfaction, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths of anticipation. The room had grown unbearably tense, the air thick with dread, as Shivnya stood over Veronica, whip dangling lazily from her hand. Her lips twisted into a smile that promised nothing but pain. "Now," Shivnya said slowly, her voice dripping with venom, "it's time to chop off your fingers. The ones you dared to touch him with."

Veronica's heart stopped, her eyes widening in horror as she felt the blood drain from her face. "What?" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper, her mind struggling to comprehend the enormity of what Shivnya was saying. "You... you can't mean that. Please, no, not my hands!"

Shivnya's grin only widened, her eyes dark with sadistic amusement. "Oh, I mean it," she replied, voice smooth as silk, laced with the promise of cruelty. "And more." She stepped closer, her heels clicking sharply against the cold stone floor, each step a countdown to Veronica's nightmare.

Veronica's body trembled violently, her limbs weak, barely able to support her weight as the reality of Shivnya's words sank in. "Please," she sobbed, tears spilling from her eyes, her voice breaking into pitiful, desperate gasps. "Please, have mercy, I beg you!"

But Shivnya's patience was gone, her amusement growing the more Veronica pleaded. "Shut up, Annabelle," she spat, her tone sharp and cutting. The words stung, but the cruelty in her eyes was what really struck fear deep into Veronica's soul. She shook her head frantically, the pain of humiliation only making her more desperate.

"When my father finds out... he'll make sure you regret this," Veronica stammered, clinging to the last thread of hope she had. Her voice wavered, a shaky promise more to herself than Shivnya. But Shivnya's cold laughter echoed through the dungeon, reverberating against the walls with a cruel finality.

"Your father?" Shivnya sneered, her voice thick with mockery. "If I leave you alive long enough for him to care, perhaps. But we both know that won't happen, don't we?" Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper, each word dripping with cold certainty.

Veronica's breath hitched in her throat, her vision swimming as the words wrapped around her like a noose. Alive? What did she mean? The question froze on her lips as Shivnya reached into her pocket, pulling out a gleaming knife. The blade caught the dim light, reflecting a flash of steel that made Veronica's stomach churn.

"No... what are you going to do?" Veronica's voice was a broken whimper, her body trembling as Shivnya knelt beside her, gripping her right hand-the hand she had used to touch Abhimanyu. She could feel the coldness of Shivnya's grip, fingers like iron shackles around her wrist.

"These fingers..."

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:

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