Chapter Two

  Elysian's voice anchored me, preventing my departure. Despite my intense efforts to merge with the darkness, her pleading tones restrained me. Desperation clawed at my resolve; I yearned for an end to everything. Yet, an inexplicable force compelled a fragment of myself to linger—an enduring connection between Elysian and I.

  I wanted to resent her for not letting me go. I could feel myself returning.

  "Neri, come back to me, please." Her voice echoed beside my ear, tears falling on to my cheeks, tracing down to my lips. All anger and frustration dissolved when I opened my eyes and beheld her sorrowful, hollow gaze. She appeared wretched, yet a hint of relief surfaced when she saw me looking up. My body was held tightly against her chest.

  "Why?" I had numerous questions, but settled for this one.

  "I couldn't let you go like this. I would regret it for the rest of my existence. I had forgotten what it was to live until our paths crossed. But I was ready for this for a long time. For my end." I stood in concern.

  "Your end?" It wasn't until then that I realized what was transpiring behind us. I couldn't discern our location. Everything around us blended into blurred colors, as if our surroundings were in rapid motion, frozen in stillness. Only upon focusing my eyes did I notice the movement. I stood close to the colors and almost touched it. "What is this?" I asked, certain it was her doing.

  "This is my last gift for you." She drew me even closer to her chest, but her form felt ethereal, as if she were fading. I turned back harshly ,trying to discern her face but she, too, was merging into the colors surrounding us.

  "You can't leave me! You can't beg me to stay and then be the one to go!" I tried my best to cling to her arms, now as the one desperately trying to holding on.

  "Neri, just promise me to take a different path this time. A path that will lead to your happiness." Her hand rested on mine, cold.

  "But I can't do it without you!" I clutched her arm so desperately .

  "No, Neri, you couldn't do it with me by your side either—" Her voice broke. "Your happiness is something only you can achieve." She was nearly gone, and I couldn't stop my tears.

  "I love you, Neri," were her final words before she vanished completely.

  She was gone, and I couldn't suppress my sobs. This was my fault. I caused this by being selfish and taking the effortless way out. Hurting others and calling it revenge. Killing myself and calling it a sacrifice. Saying I won.

  It really was pathetic.

  I remained on the ground, crying and grasping my body for any semblance of comfort, but there was none.

  Hours must have passed because I had slightly dozed off in exhaustion. When I opened my eyes, I was alone in an all-too-familiar cage. I didn't know what to think or feel. Everything was frightening. I once again felt like the powerless little girl originally confined to this place. I began to hyperventilate, realizing I was once again the little defenseless girl.

  What in the world was this? Was this what Ely was talking about? Her gift? Or was this The King's way to torture me?

  I collected myself and began to examine my body. I felt extremely thin to the bones. I couldn’t exactly tell how much time had passed but when I inspected my body I could tell that despite being covered in scars, there were more significant scars that were missing. It was this that made me confirm what I suspected Ely had done.

  I could tell it was still a year or two before my official introduction but his majesty had already started to call for me once a month religiously. I touched my hair, stopping right at my shoulders. Petra had already started to neglect me, after all she had kept it short to ensure I was insatiable for The King, but I touched my chest, feeling my breasts becoming more pronounced and my hips didn't stay behind; they were also widening making me a worthy woman. It was a consequence of my powerful blood that even with this unhealthy upbringing, I still managed to grow into a body appealing to the male eye and His Majesty didn’t stay behind.

  It was inevitable that the young men from the court would be tempted to destroy my innocence, or at least now I understood why they blamed me for it. I was a young, enslaved girl with no one to care for me and no one to teach me the rules. I had to learn them the hard way—making mistakes and getting hurt repeatedly.

  But there was no way I would go through it all again.

  Petra's knack for appearing whenever her name was mentioned never failed to work; she descended from the stairs.

  “His Highness is calling for you now. Get up." Her way of speaking was different—less angry, less hateful but still envious. At this time, I was still not a threat. I was just a tool. She was not aware of my power, and she wasn't afraid of me like she had been the last time I saw her.

  She walked in front of me, and I followed after her and the knight who would always guide us. I had completely forgotten his existence but he had been kind to me in the past. My feet feeling the ground change from hard, cold, and wet to a cold marble floor adorned with colors and designs. The floor that had been stained with the blood of thousands killed by my hand. I kept my head down as I had been repeatedly instructed before. I followed Petra as closely as possible, knowing she was moving rapidly to avoid falling behind and giving her a reason to scold me. It was dark outside, it always was when he needed me. We reached the front of his door, where only I was allowed to go in.

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  Petra said nothing as she pushed me in. The envy in her eyes was present like it always was.

  I felt his presence on his bed, as potent as ever. I got as close as allowed and curtsied as elegantly as I knew he loved, but nothing like what he had ever seen me do before. My sole thought was to please him the way I used to, like a puppy to its owner. I needed to do this to get out. It didn't matter what was to come because if I could change it all, if I could change my fate, I would kiss his feet if I had to.

  "It has barely been a few months, yet it feels like you've grown years." I could feel him eyeing me up and down. The longer hair made a difference.

  "You flatter me, Your Highness." My voice felt unfamiliar to me too. So young.

  I heard him slightly hold back his breath, surprised I had even responded. With his reaction it was evident that he wasn’t used to my gentleness—if my guess was right—my age was barely fourteen years.

  "What a lovely voice." I kept my head and eyes down in appreciation but I was holding back so much anger.

  "Your hair has gotten longer." Of course, he did not fail to mention it. His strategy was already starting, his way of charming people was extraordinary, and it's no surprise I remained in the palace for decades even after being given many chances to escape.

  "It has. I really like it a lot; thank you for allowing this gift." Calling something like this a gift from him was disgraceful because it was so insignificant for his majestic grace.

  "My King, I wanted to apologize—" I finally looked up to stare into his blue eyes, engaging in an intense eye contact to which I succumbed. He sat up on the bed, looking at me with curiosity. "For how difficult I've made this for you, for being a fool and going against you." The only thing I felt sorry for was myself—for having to say such things.

  "What has changed?" he asked in a tone that I had once loved. He knew how to make himself seem safe but his entire aura betrayed him. Had he really been a kind man, he’d remind me of my own father whose face I’ve long forgotten.

  "I was just—" I took a break and let my tears fall. "I was so scared of being alone, of having no one love me, but I've decided that the only person I need is you, Your Highness, because as long as you need me, there's nowhere else I belong. I am all yours, My King." I kneeled to the floor and bowed down to him.

  I didn't know what to expect. I thought I was done for until I heard him get up from his bed. I could feel his steps coming closer and closer, until I felt his hand on my head.

  I looked up, and there he was, staring down at me, trying to find my sincerity. I was so scared he wouldn't find it, but I couldn't look away. Instead, I kept eye contact and let my tears keep falling. It looked as if I worshipped him.

  "Stand," he said as he held my arms while I stood.

  "As you've given me something so precious, I will also give you something of the same value. My Dear, I will hold you close to my heart and give you my love, and that is something only a few have. Do you promise to stay with me until the end of times?" This went differently than the first time around. I remember being at his feet, begging to be brought out, actually believing the words I said. A child craving the attention she didn't get when she spent endless hours surrounded by the same four walls for years. Trusting no one but him even when he hurt me over and over again. I remember clinging to his legs, crying and bleeding to stay by his side. I know he loved it—being so dependent on only him. So, this was nothing for both him and I. It was nothing compared to the past, but I would never let him see that ever again.

  "I do!" I said in faked desperation. It came out much louder than I intended, but I needed him to see me as someone with no one else, someone latching onto all he could give me.

  I reached out to him, thinking he wouldn't touch me, but he pulled me into his chest, and I felt his chin lean down onto my head. The hug lasted a while, but when he pulled back with one hand around my waist and the other caressing my face, he pulled up my chin and gave me a chaste kiss on the lips. It felt like the first time all over again. My breathing increased, and I knew he could see, feel, and hear how my heartbeat started accelerating. The smile on his face assured me he felt pleased he had such an impact on me. I wanted to wipe my mouth and wash off his disgusting touch.

  "You have made my mood improve greatly; I will show you how much I appreciate this, and we shall change our meeting for tomorrow. I will have things change now that you've accepted me." I smiled sheepishly and pulled into his arms again. I could hear his heart.

  "Rav," he called out his name, and with no warning, I felt a presence get closer to the door until he came in with his eyes to the ground, not daring to look up, like a dog being scolded.

  "Yes, Your Highness?" His voice was deep, and his appearance matched it perfectly. Dressed in all black, the cloak covered most of him, making it hard to inspect him thoroughly. Rav was someone who had been similar to me—taken as a child and forced to stay here. Yet our destinies were different. He grew to become a patriotic commander willing to give his body and soul for The King, while my destiny was to end him. He was a great foolish man who gave up everything for a man who would have him replaced in a blink of an eye.

  "Assign her the Obsidian Chambers and make sure she is treated like an important guest. We will work on the details tomorrow in the day, but for now, just take her there and have them clean her up." He said, staring deeply into my eyes. I swear it was destiny that had us linked because there was no doubt a connection between us. Not a romantic one nor a friendly one. Just a connection that made him want to possess me. It made me shiver.

  My King, I will pray that night and day pass by swiftly so the time for us to meet comes up as soon as possible." He chuckled, loving the way I was kissing up his ego. He leaned into me, and I felt his breath tickle my neck.

  "I too shall pray, My Child." With a kiss on my forehead, he hurried Rav to take me away, and so he did.

  We walked out, and I immediately dropped the mask I had on my face I know I was pale, I could feel the blood leaving my face. Petra followed, looking confused as I was being guided elsewhere by a man she didn't know The knight who brought us stayed behind.

  The grandeur of the palace halls enveloped us, adorned with intricate tapestries that whispered tales of ancient nobility. She followed behind, not missing a step and being smart enough not to question anything yet.

  The further we walked from His Highness's chambers, the calmer my heart felt, but the shivers continued going down my spine as I replayed the entire occurrence in my head. The dim light from the ornate chandeliers above cast a mysterious glow on the marble floors, and the portraits of past monarchs lining the walls seemed to scrutinize every step we took.

  The Obsidian Chamber was in the north wing of the palace, and I appreciated the fact that he preferred to keep me away. In the past, I was taken to the maids' chambers to learn the life of work. I stayed there for some time until I complied more and more with His Highnesses desires and eventually my blood grew stronger and as did his need for it so I was moved to a higher rank.

  Petra closed the doors behind her, the heavy oak panels echoing in the vast corridor. Ravi, who had led us, stepped out and left without a word. The air in the north wing carried a distinct chill, a stark contrast to the warmth that enveloped the central chambers. Petra filled the silence with endless questions about how I had managed to gain so much.

  "What did you do? Is this his way of saying he'll have you killed?" It wasn’t concern in her voice. She wanted me locked up but keeping enemies closer gives a better view of how things are going. Especially an enemy so easy to manipulate.

  "I did this for us, Petra. I made him happy, and now you don't have to go down for me! I will live here!" I held her hands in mine, the way a child would its mother. This was easy. The look in her eyes went red but then seemed to find a benefit to my stay here. It was obvious her mistreatments would take a pause while I was a useful kid. She didn't even question sudden my eloquence.

  "We must clean you up!" I had never seen Petra smile so brightly at me. How pathetic.

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