The girl with the scar on her face tries to pull me up by my arm and I rip out of her grasp and raise the back of my hand to her in a hitting motion. She cowers slightly under me in fear, whimpering softly, and I felt my heart break. I heard her crying gently, like a whipped little whipped dog and I lowered my hand, immediately feeling ashamed of myself. I looked closely at her and in the sunlight coming through the window I could see that she had much more than just a scar going diagonally across her face. It was deep and wide, as if someone had taken a red-hot pipe to her, the scarring reaching from her scalp to her neck. She looked up at me, only catching my gaze as one of the other girls lifted her to her feet. I saw that one of her eyes had been partially burned closed, her eyeball was white and cloudy beneath her eyelid. I recoiled as I saw her deformation and felt my heart sink; I may have to be a monster to them, but only in front of my guard, I promised myself. I would not lower myself to their standards, to allow them to turn me into a monster because, I too was scared. I would not let that happen to me, if I was going to come out of this strange new land alive, not only had to keep up appearances, but also had to remain what I was; human.
I extended a hand to the young girl and helped the other girl steady her to her feet. Holding each other, they left the room almost crying.
The other two girls remained in the room with me. The taller one came over and removed the dirty blanket from my shoulder and handed it to the other girl, who scurried out the door and down the hallway in the same direction of the other slaves. With her head lowered, she took me by my hand and lead me up to the bathtub. I looked down into the water and inhaled the sweet air, that smelled of spices and lavender. I looked down into the dark tub and saw a tincture of herbs floating in the water, their scent was a symphony. I lifted my dirty foot and eased it into the hotness; it was just the right temperature; the exact temperature I would have made the water back at home. The only difference being that this water didn’t come out of dirty pipes that clanged in the winter. This water looked clear and sparkling, almost as if it had come out of a fresh spring itself.
I eased my leg to the bottom of the tub as I steadied my hand against the girl. The warmth sent soothing waves up my aching joint. I brought my other leg up and slipped it in and eased my entire body in the hot pool. I felt waves of relaxation come cascading over my body as I relaxed deep into the water and wondered if this is how those rich women on TV had felt when they went to a salon to get pampered over the weekend. I, in my earthly life, had never experienced such luxuries. The only luxuries I had been able to afford was my small bathtub, a cheap bottle of wine and cable TV. I let my head slip completely under, letting a small amount of the water seep through my lips, it tasted like unsweetened tea I had gotten once around Christmas time in the city; sweet and spicy.
I wanted to remain under the water, listen to the quiet hum of nothingness, tasting my sweet bath water and letting the warmth wash off all of my sins of the day. I wanted to let everything fade into the background, pretend for a moment that this was truly where I had belonged my entire life. I felt the air in my lungs begin to grow thin as I held by breath, not wanting to resurface. I felt the patter of the slave girl’s feet leave my side and heard the door closed.
Finally, alone, I thought to myself.
I held my breath until I was sure my lungs would burst then resurface to the top, gasping for air. I took a few deep breaths and the relaxed my head against the metal of the tub. My joints tingled and my senses burned. I leaned my head back and took in deep the air around me.
I didn’t know what this place was, but they sure do know how to make a girl feel happy! I thought to myself with a smirk.
Chapter 5
“Enjoying Yourself?” A voice asked from the corner of the room.
I jumped up in surprise, suddenly being pulled from my ecstasy.
I looked around the room as I wiped the water from my eyes and my hair out of my face. Then, I saw him; a towering man standing in the corner. He looked like one of the guards, but better, regal, and much, much bigger. I stared at his long cloak that dragged on the stone floor and made my eyes slowly over his body and up to his un masked face, his head topped with a tall leather crown.
I was shocked at what I saw; he looked like…like a man! Though his features were bigger, his eyes wider and his shoulders broader underneath his leather uniform. He sat himself atop a wooden table in the corner, his feet sitting on the chair I had just been in. I stared at him in awe, stumbling over my words, trying to find the right ones, but remained in silence.
I knew this was not my guard, he was much bigger, and stood much prouder, making the room seem tiny around him. I wiped more of the water from my eyes and got a better look at him.
He was the most beautiful man-not just man-thing I had ever seen in my life. His shoulder length filthy blond hair caressed his angular cheeks, his soft lips came together in a crooked smirk. His pale blue eyes danced in the candlelight of the room. He looked every inch a warrior man, looking tired and toughened by the battle.
“I said, are you enjoying yourself, young girl?” He said again, his English was almost perfect.
I nodded, still at a loss for words.
He got up as the table creaked beneath him and nearly floated across the floor. He was huge, yet his body seemed almost absolutely weightless.
“I hope you are,” he said, producing a small washcloth from underneath his cloak.
“Those are some of the finest herbs in all of Azure, I’m sure you’ve noticed their rather pungent scent, haven’t you my dear?”
I nodded nervously. He knelt down to the side of the bath tub and removed one of his massive leather gloves and threw it on the floor next to him. He leaned in over me, his massive body casting a shadow over me. He closed his eyes in inhaled deeply with his nostrils, taking in the scent of the herbs.
“Smells just decadent, does it not?” He said exhaling.
I nodded.
He dipped the washcloth in the tub and swirled around the floating herbs with his other hand.
“Well, turn around,” he chirped, motioning with the washcloth.
I hesitated for a moment, then moved my back towards him, exposing my shoulders. He began to softly wash my back with the cloth, dipping it into the water whenever it got cold. His touch was amazing. He seemed to almost be massaging me in circular motions. On my shoulders, down my back, up to my neck and chest, just caressing my bosom. I inhaled to try to expose my naked breast, eager for this new one’s touch, but he simply ignored my motioning and lifted up my arm.
“I see my favorite guard has taken some likening to you, hasn’t he?”
I said nothing as he moved the washcloth up and down my arm.
“Come now, no need to be shy, its ok to talk my dear,” He cooed in my ear as he turned my body around to face him. He lifted my other arm and continued to wash.
“A little shy are we, don’t tell me you’re as meek as one of the girls who brought you in here?”
“N-N-NO SIR,” I almost yelled, not wanting to be associated with one of them.
He laughed, dipping the washcloth and began washing behind my ears.
“Well, that’s what I though! He me told about your little encounter in the woods and was a little bit more than pleased with you, and I like when my guards are pleased. It puts them at ease and makes them work better, makes my job easier.”
He dipped the wash cloth and began washing behind my other ear.
“Besides, what can a King be without his men? Given, my life is much more important than theirs, but I do need them, The Azure needs them, and if he wants you I said he could keep you.” He dipped the cloth back in the water.
King, I thought, what king? Then it hit me like lightening, the long cape, the tall leather crown, the way he said “his guards.” He was the king.
He washed the back of my neck gently.
“Excuse me sir- um Your Highness- but you are the King?” I said in a shudder, I felt tiny w
ith his massive hands moving over me.
“Why yes my dear, that I am.” He chuckled as he threw the washcloth to the floor.
He cupped his two hands together and made them into a bowl-like shape, dipped the into the water and poured it over my head. I wiped the water from my eyes and he laughed, a good hearty laugh that seemed to fill the room. He gently picked the loose herbs off my face and flicked them on the floor.
“Ok, have you had enough bath time for now, or should I have one of your girls come in a top you off with some more fresh water and herbs?” He asked in a firm voice rising to his feet.
I was confused for a second. My girls, they scared ones that had just been scampering around me?
“Excuse me Sir-Sorry-You Highness, but I am a bit confused, what do you mean by ‘My Girls,” I asked looking up at him.
He looked across the room at me through the corner of his eye and smiled shaking his head, it was a smile that said “poor stupid thing, she really doesn’t understand yet does she?” He grabbed the two towels from the table and floated again across the room towards me. He motioned with his huge hands at me to stand up. My knees wobbled at first, I made my way to my feet the herbs dancing in the water around me, exposing my sparklingly clean skin. He moved the towel around my shoulders and began patting me dry, watching every part of me, and was so cautious not to miss a spot.
“My dear girl, you do not think that when one of my guards takes liking to a specimen that we do not think that that shows something about her character?”
I blushed as he talked, I had felt special and safe underneath his hands. He moved the towel down my arms and to my fingers, drying each one individually and checking under my fingernails for dirt. He took me by the arm and lead me out of the tub like royalty, like I was his queen and he was walking me down the aisle at some extravagate event where we would dance all night and drink fine wine under the moon.
I stood up, my body still dripping as moved the towel all over me. He worked his way down my chest, to my stomach and hips. I quivered, waiting him to pause at my vagina, but all he did was continue to work his way down to my feet, and then back up, not missing an inch.
“Now, my girl, if you are going to be seen with one of my guards, you will get some special treatment, but you will still have to work, and the work here can be hard,” he threw the towel to the floor and grabbed the other one off the table.
He turned me around and wrapped the towel around my body, gently. Its warm fabric felt smooth against my clean skin, I turned back to the king as he began to speak.
“If a guard of mine has indeed taken a liking to you, you have a duty to act with more dignity than just one of the common slave girls. You will have more rights than they yes-” he grabbed my cheeks hard and stared into my eyes. I winced as huge hands squeezed my face, his eyes turning from warm to ice cold.
“But do not forget who you are, you are a human, and you are below us, and if you fall out of good graces with us you will end up like the rest of them; cowering and pitiful. Would you like that?” He asked, squeezing my face even tighter.
I shook my head furiously, scared me was going to cave my face in if he squeezed any harder.
“Now, that’s what I thought,” He said, the light coming back into his eyes as he jerked his massive paws away from my cheeks, almost sending me spinning like a top to the floor.
“Now,” He continued as he sat himself again on the wooden table, making the strong wood bend as if it may have broken beneath him at any second.” I said you shall have duties, did I not?”
I nodded.
“That’s my girl, and your duty, given in light of my guard’s adoration of you, is that you are to be made head slave girl. Your job is to make sure that all of mine, and my guards needs are met with the upmost diligence. You will have to have a fine eye for detail, and pay attention to the behavior and action of the girls that I have placed you, and SOLEY YOU, in charge of. We run a tight ship and we must have zero room for error. If mistakes are made, you will be held solely responsible and punishment will fit the crime that has been committed. This is my kingdom, and I allow for zero marginal error. Do you understand what I’ve said to you?”
I nodded, as I suddenly began feeling weak as he said the words ‘crime’, ‘punishment’, and ‘error’, as if I had already failed. I wondered in the back of my head how harsh his punishments could be? He seemed so caring, so gentle underneath his rough exterior. I could already feel myself growing fond of him, his candor and grace so much more soothing than that of my rough guard, who mumbled and bumbled like he had never even spoken before.
“Good then,” He said standing and opened the large wooden door.
The slave girl with the large scar across her face scampered into the room and placed folded clothing on the table next to the king, then turned to leave with her head held down. The king grabbed at her dress and she let out a small whimper.
“STAY HERE GIRL! HOLD STILL!” He barked at her, his voice nearly sending her off of her feet.
“My dear,” He said to me, soothingly and motioned for me to come over to him with his hands.
I walk towards him, the girl was hiding behind her hair and cowering at the Kings waist, her one good eye filled with terror.
“Take this, will you?” He reached for the lantern and handed it to me.
He held the girls face in his hands and pushed her hair back, reveling her mutilated face. Her one good eye dashed around the room frantically as the blind one stared off into a cloudy nothingness.
“Bring the lamp closer my dear,” he grabbed for my hand and pulled me closer to the girl’s poor face, the giant scar nearly seeming to cut her face in two.
“Would you like to tell your new mistress what happened to you?” He asked the girl.
She shook he head frantically, trying to search for the right words. I felt terrible for her.
“SPEAK, GIRL!” He boomed, his voice shook the room.
He grabbed the girls face even tighter as the poor thing stuttered. He threw her to the floor, she landed hard, I heard the breath get knocked out of her.
“OUT!” GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!” He bellowed.
The girl scrambled to he feet and ran out of the room, holding the scar on her face. My heart broke for her.
The king reached over and slammed the door behind him. He sat back down on the table, wiping his hands off on his cape as if he had just touched something disgusting, something impure.
“That, my dear girl, that is what happens when you go behind the back of the king.”
“W-W-W-hat did she do?” I stuttered, still holding the lamp in my shaking hand.
“She used to be head slave girl. She was a fine servant, very loyal, always precise with everything she did. Then one day she just got it into her head to steal one of my favorite steeds from the stable and ride off into the night. We searched for her for many days all around the Azure until we found her, huddled in a cave around a fire like and animal. As we rode up she tried to flee, but the thing was too pathetic to get away. I ordered your guard to hold her, I picked up the biggest burning branch in the fire she had made, and held it to her face until I smelled burning flesh.”
He leaned back against the wall and stared at me, almost as if he was looking for validation.
“She hasn’t spoken since, nor should she. She lost all of whatever humanly right we had been kind enough to give her the night she rode off and betrayed The Azure.”
The king stood up and walked over to me, his feet were now heavy on the floor, intimidating and loud. He took the lamp from my hand and placed it on the table and turned back to me, placing both of his hands on my shoulders.
“Now, do you understand the weight of your duties and the consequences that come along with them my darling?” He asked, looking deep into my eyes.
I nodded.
“Good, well then, I’m sure you will get along just fine here along as you obey the rules.” He grabbed the folded clothing off the tab
le and held it out to me.
Chapter 6
It was a black linen dress, finer than the other girls and had more weight to it. I dropped my towel and pulled it over my head. It smelled clean and felt soft against my skin, the long skirt of it barley dragging on the floor. He extended to me a pair of white knitted sock that I quickly pulled over my still- aching feet. He then pushed the chair towards me and motioned for me to sit down. I sat down, feeling relieved to finally having clothing on my back, regardless of the circumstances. He knelt down before me and picked up one of my legs, examining it in the dim light. It had since grown pitch back out, and the light from the lantern danced on the walls looking like firefly’s.
He reached behind him and pulled out a pair of short, brown leather boots with a wooden heel. Regardless of how bad he had treated the one girl, I felt happy and safe again, knowing that I was in his good graces.
He slipped the boot on my foot, making me feel as though I was some kind of Cinderella. He laced it up and put on the other once with the same grace and laced that one as well, then he stood there with my leg in his hand. He began to slowly caress my kneecap with his fingertips, working them in the same circular motion he had done when I was in the bath tub.
“I have to say,” he muttered not bringing his eyes from my legs, “For a human, my guard did choose quite a specimen.”
He leaned in closer bringing his large head to my knee cap, just brushing the tips of his whiskers and his soft lips to my skin. He grazed his lips along my kneecaps and in towards my inner thigh. I felt my body begin to shake with excitement, tensing and releasing with his every move. He brought up my other foot to his knee and placed himself between my legs. He caressed my other thigh with his hand. I felt my body begin to go wild with his touch. I reached up and stroked his head that was inching its way towards my most sensitive parts. He glances up at me, his grey eyes sparkling against the light of the lantern.
Romance: Zach (A College Bad Boy Romance) Page 17
