"Maelina, no!" Aldric warned. "He'll rip you to pieces."
"Aldric, we're short on time." Maelina shouted back.
She stepped closer to Zaerk, magic crackling around her wrists.
Zarek roared again, the sound shaking the chamber.
Maelina slammed her palms together, screaming, "DOWN!"
Immediately, Zarek's legs were hit by a burst of force. For a heartbeat, his knees gave way.
"Now!" Maelina screamed again.
Aldric rushed in with the chains, but Zarek's claws tore at him, slashing his arm. Blood spilled to the ground.
He let out a grunt but continued, binding Zarek's leg with the chain, then he locked it.
"Get the other!" a soldier yelled.
Two men grabbed the second chain. Zarek kicked and one flew into the wall and fell unconscious.
Maelina groaned, using more of her magic. "Hurry! I can't hold him!"
Aldric pulled again, securing the second chain. The moment the lock clicked, Zarek collapsed to one knee, snarling and thrashing but he stayed grounded.
Everyone gasped for air.
"How do we move him?" a soldier asked shakily. "He'll break out if we drag him."
"We can't risk carrying him," Aldric said. "One slip and we lose half the palace."
Maelina wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. "Then we teleport."
Aldric stared wide at her. "With him like this? Maelina, that's suicide."
"We don't have another choice," she insisted. "If he breaks free up here, we're all dead."
"He could kill you, you could die. You are already drained!" Aldric countered.
"Yes," she replied. "But the kingdom dies if we don't try."
She turned to the seers. "Everyone, join hands. Pool your strength with mine."
The seers obeyed, shakily linking hands around the thrashing king.
Maelina stepped forward and placed her glowing fingers on Zarek's forehead.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," she whispered.
Light erupted and everyone in the room vanished in a burst of violet flames.
.
.
The waiting chamber was colder than the courtyard outside.
Eliora rubbed her hands together, trying not to shiver.
Dozens of humans huddled together, whispering prayers under their breath, while the beasts stood guard at the doors.
Don't draw attention, Eliora repeated to herself. Stay small. Stay quiet.
After a while, the door creaked open and an older human woman stepped inside. Her grey hair was neatly braided and her clothes were simple but spotless.
Even the beasts moved aside to make room for her.
"That's the head servant," someone whispered.
"She's worked here for decades." Another said.
With keen eyes, the woman looked over them. "Welcome to Volkar, the palace of the Beast King," she said in a clear voice. "I am Mistress Yora. From this moment on, you serve the Crown."
No one dared move. Eliora clutched her scarf tightly around her.
"You will obey the palace rules without question." She continued. "You will follow the palace rules without question. Failure to do so will bring consequences none of you can afford."
A man in the back swallowed audibly.
Yora lifted one finger. "Rule one: No eye contact with the beasts. Look at their hands. Their feet. The floor, but never their eyes."
A few people nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
"Rule two: Do not speak unless spoken to. The palace is not a place for chatter."
A young girl beside Eliora trembled, hugging herself.
"Rule three: Obey every command. Immediately, without hesitation."
Her gaze settled briefly on Eliora, sharp enough to make her heart thump.
"Rule four," Yora said, "Make yourselves invisible. Move silently. Act quickly. Be forgotten. Rule five: You will rise before the second bell each morning. Laziness will not be tolerated."
She paused, looking around.
"You will each share quarters with one other person. The rooms are small. Manage."
Then she began calling out names and job assignments.
Eliora's stomach twisted. Please not something dangerous… please.
Then a roar split the air, echoing so loudly.
Every human in the room flinched. Some cried out and a few dropped to their knees.
The growl shook the floor beneath them, making Eliora's breath catch in her throat.
Mistress Yora stilled for a heartbeat, raising her gaze to the ceiling.
From the hallway, two beasts exchanged worried glances.
"Too soon," one muttered.
"The moon isn't high yet," the other said.
Yora inhaled, collected herself, and carried on as though the world hadn't just been rocked by a roar.
"That sound," she said lightly, "you will hear from time to time. You will not react. You will not ask questions. You will go about your duties."
Eliora tried to swallow but her throat was too tight. Her chest hurt.
Why does it hurt? Why does it feel like someone's claws are inside my ribs? She placed her hand over her heart, confused.
Yora resumed, reading from her scroll.
"Eliora Harley."
Eliora stepped forward, voice barely above a whisper. "Y...yes."
"You are assigned to the King's kitchen."
The humans gasped in horror.
A woman whispered, "The King's kitchen? "
Another muttered, "She'll be near him."
"Poor girl."
Even the beasts guarding the door looked at her in a new way, almost pityful.
Eliora couldn't breathe. "The King?" she whispered.
Behind her, the young girl who had been trembling grabbed her hand. "I'm so sorry. Nobody wants that job."
The walls shook again. Then they heard another growl, but it was shorter this time.
Eliora's eyes stung from an ache she didn't understand.
Why do I feel… sad?
Why does his voice hurt me?
Mistress Yora's voice cut through her thoughts. "Collect yourselves. You will be escorted to your rooms shortly."
Eliora stepped back into the crowd, her heart pounding unevenly.
She had never seen the King. Humans didn't get that privilege. Many beasts didn't either. He was too powerful, too dangerous and too feared. Only few were privileged to meet him.
Yet when he roared, Eliora felt something inside her crack open. Something deep, and she didn't know why.