~Viola~
I woke up to the distant drip of water from somewhere deep within the room I was in, and it was dripping on my face. The air in here was thick and heavy with the scent of dampness and decay.
I wiped them off and looked around me, I remembered I was thrown in here, but I didn’t know where this place was, now with the gruesome walls that are made of rough-cut stone, and the floors that are damp and slippery, covered in a layer of moss and grime.
The only light comes from small, narrow slits in the ceiling, which barely allow any light to filter through.
The instruments of torture are cruel and barbaric, including whips, chains, and spiked devices to inflict maximum pain and suffering.
I was in his dungeon.
The King’s dungeon.
I don’t even know his name yet.
I curled further into the wall with my back pressed against it. My throat felt sore, my eyes were blurry and I was hungry and cold.
I wish he could let me out already.
I promised not to go against him or talk back at him.
I’m going to be the docile mate.
I’m tired of it all.
“Did he leave us to die?” Lana countered and I heaved a sigh, leaning my head on the wall.
“It was something he could do.”
He was scary and intimidating, I never dreamed of having such a man as my mate.
I do not know what will become of me, while I was with Cranon I could easily figure out what he would do to me and plan my escape but not in here, there’s no place to run to.
“What if Cranon comes to take us back?” I shook my head at Lana’s words.
“Cranon can’t do that, the king has so much superior over him, Cranon is afraid...”
“Hey, slave!” A voice hollered across the room. I flinched and stare at the iron bars, there was a tall, muscular man behind it.
“Can’t you talk!”
“I’m right here,” I stated fearfully, slowly rising to my feet.
“The king wants you out, you’ve to clean his harem immediately, he will be heading there now!” He hissed at me, he didn’t hide the disgust he had on his face.
What?!
What was he saying?
He’s letting me out.
“What are you standing there for? Walk you fool! Come on, get out of there. Now!” He yelled at me, I shuddered at the sound of his way.
“If you know how the king is, you’ll never delay. Not even a minute, get out!” He barked, I cringe and nodded several at him.
“I’m sorry.” I bowed, I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was of a bigger rank. I wonder what position he held that makes him scream at me.
“You’ll be doomed if he gets there before you, you’re the King’s slave from henceforth and you must act like one, get out and start moving!”
“This isn’t the pack you came from, and you’re nothing but a slave. Let’s that stick!” He whacked me on the head and pushed me out of the dungeon.
I wanted to argue, and I wanted to scream at him, not to hurt me but I won’t dare. I couldn’t find words because I’d come to accept that I was nothing.
“Yes.” I took my lips in and walked behind him out of the dungeon. My stomach grumbles noisily, I placed a hand over it.
He held it and spun around to face with a scowl on his face.
“You’ll eat when you’re done serving the king.”
I nodded at him and bite the side of my lips.
At least, there was hope that I won’t go the entire day on an empty stomach.
“Would the king accepts to see me this way, I stink,” I muttered quietly. He angrily stamped his feet on the ground.
“He’s not gonna see you, fool! Just clean up his Harem, and leaves.” He looked at me and ruffled his hair.
“We can’t waste any more time, the king doesn’t sleep, he’s always awake, always watching. He knows if you’re a minute or seconds late, now...” he took a long stride toward me. I cowered backward.
“You’ll do as you’re told, do not ask anything. I’ll get killed because of you.” He growled at the last word.
I gulped down fearfully and brought my head down to his feet.
“I’m sorry.”
“Get going.”
I nodded at his words and hasten up with my feet, he was standing behind him, I could feel his eyes on me. I blinked my tears away, with my hands clenched on my dress.
We got out of the dungeon, and I was walking behind him with my head down. I didn’t want to draw too much attention to myself.
“Gemma Royce.” Someone called and I looked up. He was the Gemma, that was why he was so angry at me.
He hated me, like everyone else.
The man who approached us smiled at him, but Royce’s face was stoic.
“A smile would do Roland.” He placed a hand on his shoulders.
“What do you want Lucas?” We stopped walking, Lucas caught my stare and he smiled at me.
I averted my gaze away from his face immediately.
“I guess, she’s the one. Damien’s slave.”
Damien, that was his name.
He left Roland’s side and came to me. His eyes ran over my body, I felt ashamed because I was over in rags and there were a lot of scars on my body.
“I’m Lucas, the Beta.”
I stared at his outstretched hand, confused.
Why wasn’t he acting like the others?
“Come!” Roland yelled at me.
“C’mon, we need to leave.” Roland pulled me along before I could say a word.
“Roland, meet me immediately after you’re done, there’s an emergency!” He yelled from behind us. “...and I’ll see you around, Isabelle!” I was tempted to look back but I know I shouldn’t.
That’s not even my name.
“Get to work,” Roland grumbled inaudibly and left me at the Harem. This wasn’t how I pictured a harem to be, it was almost empty.
I looked around and didn’t know where to start.
”...maybe the rumors are true.” I heard the voice in the room, a woman was standing beside the bed, she had a single shirt on.
“He killed his mate, Bee?” The lady beside her asked, she had red-brown hair.
“Hasn’t he shown you enough evidence? Have you forgotten, he’s the beast as rumored.” Bee seems to have more to say but her eyes were reluctant.
“How many of us are left in here, where are the others?” Bee asked.
“I’m scared, he’s coming, what if we can’t satisfy him? I don’t want to think of what happened the last time.” She sheered the images off her head like it was some bad memories.
“He only inflicts pains on us...wait.” I was caught but I did not care at the moment.
My knees suddenly felt weak, I couldn’t move from where I was.
Did he kill his mate?
My mate might be much older than I thought.
How long has he lived?
There was so much I didn’t know, that I wanted to find out.
Who was this mysterious Lycan king I was mated to?
He already had a mate, and he killed her?
Why?
“...who are you?” When I looked up, they were beside me.
“I was asked to clean...” my voice was quavering, I was holding back the tears from breaking out.
“I said who are you?” Bee pushed me on the shoulders. I staggered backward and hits my back on the wall.
“A spy?!” She is half yelled.
I shook my head, with my eyes clouded with tears.
“No!”
“...I’m the King’s Slave.”