My scream tore through the room, raw and animalistic, as pain erupted everywhere at once. My vision blurred instantly as I tried to fling it away, my entire body shaking uncontrollably.
"Pathetic," one of them sneered.
"She really thought we wanted to help her."
"You deserve this," another voice added coldly. "And we'll make sure you keep suffering as long as you're here."
Their words echoed in my head as everything spun.
A maid rushed in at the sound of my screams, her face going pale as she hurried to help me, brushing away the hive, swatting away the remaining insects. The woman's hands were practiced, efficient, the way all household staff in the Montecarlo compound learned to clean up messes without asking questions.
"What kind of cruelty is this?" she snapped at them, her voice trembling with anger.
"Shut up, maid!" they hissed back in unison.
Alessia turned her gaze to me one last time, her eyes sharp and unforgiving. She went completely motionless, not a blink, not a breath, before she spoke.
"Know your place, Seraphina," she said coldly. "And it's not here."
Then they left.
Just like that.
Leaving me behind.
Broken.
Shaking.
Crawling on the floor like I was nothing.