Chapter Five
Tori’s POV
I haven’t been able to sleep well since I have been in this room. Every little sound makes my body jolt. Even the quiet feels loud.
I keep thinking sothing bad will happen if I were to let my guard down for even one second.
I wasn’t safe being alone in this room. Not in this place that feels like a cage dressed like a palace, and where won are being told to fight against each other.
The image of the lady who appeared to last night wouldn’t leave my head. No matter how many tis I tried to distract myself, her face kept flashing in my mind.
I secretly prayed she’d appear again, there were a lot of questions I needed to ask her. How long was this going to take and all.
I just needed to survive here. If I survived, maybe my body would be fine wherever it was. But the thought that scared the most was the ti. How long was I supposed to stay here? Days? Months? Years?
My fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly as that thought settled in. My knuckles turned pale but I didn’t loosen my hold. Letting go felt like losing control.
The door knob suddenly moved.
My heart jumped to my throat imdiately. My body shot up from the bed before I could even think. My legs felt weak but I still forced myself to stand, eyes glued to the door as if staring hard enough could stop whoever was coming in.
The door opened slowly.
A lady appeared. She looked around the sa age as . Her face didn’t hold any hostility and that alone made my chest ease a little.
My shoulders, which had risen stiffly, slowly went down. My nerves cald just a bit when two other ladies followed behind her.
They were holding a tray filled with clothes in their hands, and they were neatly arranged which made things more suspicious.
The door closed softly behind them the mont they stepped in. The sound still made flinch.
"Hello miss. We were told to dress you up. Kindly co with us for your bath." one of them ntioned.
My breath left my lips slowly. I didn’t even realize how badly I needed that. I have been feeling like shit ever since I got here. A bath suddenly sounded like the only good thing in this hell
We got to a room with a huge wooden bath tub. My steps slowed down as my eyes moved around the place. The tub was big enough to fit a lot of people.
Different questions crossed my mind. Why were they doing this? What was the purpose exactly? Was this kindness or just another way to control ?
I swallowed before asking, "Are you guys like too?"
The lady who started scrubbing my arm paused slightly before continuing. I stepped into the cold water filled wooden tub and gasped softly at the sudden chill. My shoulders tensed imdiately but I forced myself to stay still.
She chuckled slightly, a small smile forming on her face. "I’d say that you are better than us. We are considered weak and dirty and they will never bat an eye at us. We work as maids and clean up after their ss." she explained calmly.
My brows pulled together. That answer didn’t sit right with at all. I’d definitely be happy if those stupid fools didn’t bat an eye at .
"Safe to say you all are ogas too?" I asked again, my fingers curling under the water.
She shook her head lightly. "We will never be considered as one. I can assure you that we are worse than the ogas." She kept saying with that sa small smile, but I could see the dullness in her eyes.
That smile wasn’t real. It was the type people wore when they had accepted their fate.
My chest tightened at that realization. This treatnt was really unfair. Disgusting even.
I clenched my jaw slightly. I am really weak right now to make them regret acting this way towards won like them. Towards won like .
"Is there anything happening today?" I asked, curiosity mixing with unease. She had been really nice with the way she replied to . Too nice for soone living in such a cruel place.
She paused, then shook her head gently. "I’m afraid I will not be able to give you much details." Her tone was polite but firm. Like she knew more but couldn’t say it.
A strange feeling settled in my stomach. Sothing was definitely going to happen.
*********
My leg movents were not stable as I walked. Each step felt heavier than the last. My heart raced faster with each step I took.
My hands were held firmly by two guards standing beside , their grip strong enough to remind that I had no control here.
They walked like I was so dangerous criminal, yet my eyes were blindfolded.
The darkness behind the cloth made my other senses sharper, I could hear footsteps and sll different fragrances in the air, and listen to faint murmurs of voices too.
I stepped into a room and imdiately felt it. The air was different.
Anxiety filled my entire body knowing the kind of outfit I was putting on. The corset squeezed my waist tightly, making every breath feel shallow.
It felt like my lungs were being pierced each ti I inhaled. I shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable but it only made it worse. I’d normally put on my pants and my shirt in my world.
The blindfold fell off suddenly.
My eyes squinted imdiately at the sudden light. I blinked repeatedly until everything beca clear.
That was it.
Old n were seated on both my right and left side. Their eyes were fixed on like I was so object on display, or maybe I was?
My fist clenched tightly at the side of my dress. I could feel my toes curling painfully inside the shoes I was forced to wear.
Kael
He was sitting on a huge throne-like chair at the front. Looking down at everyone like he owned the entire world. He was far away from , yet his presence still felt suffocating.
That asshole.
A smirk slowly ford on his face the mont our eyes t.
Anger rushed through my veins imdiately. My fist tightened more and my nails dug into my palm.
Tears gathered in my eyes but I quickly lifted my head, refusing to let them fall. I would not cry in front of him. Not in front of all these people who were staring.
Disagreeing to this ant I would allow those girls to die and I might die too. That thought stabbed through my chest. This humiliation was nothing compared to over fourty won dying.
I had to sacrifice myself this way no matter how embarrassing it was.
"I wanted to show you all my new toy." Kael stood up slowly, confidently.
He was only wearing his pants. His scar-filled chest was exposed, including the one I had given him. My eyes flickered to it for a second before I looked away, jaw tightening.
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of . The sudden rush of wind made my tied hair loosen and fall down my back instantly. My breath hitched at how fast he moved.
The old n giggled. Their laughter sounded disgusting in my ears.
His eyes bored into mine before slowly trailing down towards my cleavage. I felt mh body stiffening imdiately.
Every muscle locked in place. This was a public ritual humiliation and he was enjoying every second of it.
"Seems like my little princess wants to cry. This is little compared to what I have for you."
His hand cupped my cheek suddenly. My body flinched but I forced myself not to pull away.
He tucked my hair behind my ear slowly as he whispered those words. My stomach twisted in disgust.
"We need a real luna. We are tired of all these gas. We need an heir and none of you are interested in ruling. The heir should be from you who is willing to rule." one of the old n muttered impatiently.
The smile on Kael’s face faded slowly.
His grip on my cheeks tightened painfully. My breath caught as pressure shot through my jaw. He was clearly angry, but instead of directing it at them, he pressed it into .
I couldn’t move and I was unable to speak, I couldn’t even push him away too. I was too vulnerable here, and one wrong move I could die on the spot.
"You love to ruin the fun. Do you know how annoying that can be? What’d be the benefit of picking a lady who isn’t assigned by the moon goddess? Rember what happened when I tried to pick one."
"But, the curse—"
"Shut the fuck up! Don’t you get my point?" His voice thundered through the room.
Silence fell instantly while heart pounded violently in my chest. What curse?
He turned his gaze back to . "Now what do you think about our new favorite toy?"
I winced slightly. The pain in my cheeks was starting to burn.
"Am I hurting you?" he asked softly, loosening his grip slowly.
Before I could even react, his hand slid down towards my cleavage. My entire body froze. My fingers trembled slightly at my side but I forced them to stay still.
"You are all mine princess. Let’s have fun while we can."
One of the old n stood up and walked towards . Another followed. Then another.
My breath beca uneven as they surrounded , their eyes scanning my body like I was so sort of artifact being inspected. My skin crawled under their gaze.
One of them reached for my hair. My eyes flickered nervously and my breath hitched as his hand ca closer.
"Don’t touch her this ti around." Kael warned coldly.
The man stopped imdiately and stepped back.
"Perfect. She is way perfect than most of the ladies you have shown to us. How the hell were you able to get her? Your skills need to be studied." one of them complinted him.
Stupid walked into his arms, Unfortunately.
The others kept dropping their comnts one after another. Each word felt like dirt being thrown on my skin.
I thought those shows I had watched in the past were exaggerated and I just got to discover that this was worse.
No human deserved to be treated this way. They all needed to learn their lessons in the most painful ways possible.
"Let’s see how long I will last with her this ti around. The competition with other won will still be held but there will not be any form of killing." he announced casually as he stepped away from . "You all are dismissed."
That was it? He did all of this just to show off and humiliate ? Rage bubbled inside my chest, hot and uncontrollable.
"Why?" The word slipped out before I could stop myself.
He paused. Slowly turned back to look at .
"Why are you doing all of these?" My voice was low but shaky. My fingers curled tightly into my dress as I stared at him. "It pays you nothing to be kind."
His eyes darkened instantly.
"I detest low lives." he said coldly. "You are the most selfish and inhumane set of people to exist. Rather than to work, you all will do the most despicable things just to live. Isn’t that pathetic? Even if you are given everything, you will still be extrely selfish."
He was speaking from a place of anger. Deep anger, but I had no idea why he was directing all of it at or probably us!
My chest rose and fell quickly. I wanted to argue and scream at him that he was wrong. But the guards standing behind reminded that I didn’t have that freedom.
"Take her to her room. Get ready for the first competition tomorrow." he said, already walking away from .
My eyes widened imdiately. My body stiffened.
What? Competition? That fast?
My stomach dropped as the guards grabbed my arms again, dragging out while my mind raced with fear and confusion.
I wasn’t prepared.
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