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 something 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 women are being told to fight against each other.
The image of the lady who appeared to me last night wouldn't leave my head. No matter how many times 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 me the most was the time. 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 immediately. 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 same age as me. 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 calmed 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 moment they stepped in. The sound still made me flinch.
"Hello miss. We were told to dress you up. Kindly come with us for your bath." one of them mentioned.
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 three 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 me?
I swallowed before asking, "Are you guys like me 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 immediately 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 mess." she explained calmly.
My brows pulled together. That answer didn't sit right with me at all. I'd definitely be happy if those stupid fools didn't bat an eye at me.
"Safe to say you all are omegas 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 omegas." She kept saying with that same 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 treatment was really unfair. Disgusting even.
I clenched my jaw slightly. I am really weak right now to make them regret acting this way towards women like them. Towards women like me.
"Is there anything happening today?" I asked, curiosity mixing with unease. She had been really nice with the way she replied to me. Too nice for someone 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. Something was definitely going to happen.
*********
My leg movements 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 me, their grip strong enough to remind me that I had no control here.
They walked like I was some dangerous criminal, yet my eyes were blindfolded. The darkness behind the cloth made my other senses sharper. I could hear footsteps. Smell different fragrances in the air. Hear faint murmurs of voices too.
I stepped into a room and immediately 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 time 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 immediately at the sudden light. I blinked repeatedly until everything became clear.
That was it.
Old men were seated on both my right and left side. Their eyes were fixed on me like I was some object on display. 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 me, yet his presence still felt suffocating.
That asshole.
A smirk slowly formed on his face the moment our eyes met.
Anger rushed through my veins immediately. 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.
Disagreeing to this meant I would allow those girls to die. That thought stabbed through my chest. This humiliation was nothing compared to over thirty women dying. I had to sacrifice myself this way no matter how embarrassing it was.
"I wanted to show you all my new toys." 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.
"I want to show you all my new favorite toy." he announced proudly.
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of me. 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 men giggled. Their laughter sounded disgusting in my ears.
His eyes bored into mine before slowly trailing down towards my cleavage. My body stiffened immediately. 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 games. 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 men 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 me.
I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't even push him away. I was too vulnerable here. One wrong move and 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 me picking a lady who isn't assigned by the moon goddess? Remember what happened when I tried to pick one."
"But—"
"Shut the fuck up! Don't you get my point?" His voice thundered through the room.
Silence fell instantly. My heart pounded violently in my chest.
He turned his gaze back to me. "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 men stood up and walked towards me. Another followed. Then another.
My breath became uneven as they surrounded me, their eyes scanning my body like I was some 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 came closer.
"Don't touch her this time around." Kael warned coldly.
The man stopped immediately 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 complimented him.
Stupid me walked into his arms! Unfortunately.
The others kept dropping their comments 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 time around. The competition with other women will still be held but there will not be any form of killing." he announced casually as he stepped away from me. "You all are dismissed."
That was it? He did all of this just to show me off and humiliate me? 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 me.
"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 extremely selfish."
He was speaking from a place of anger. Deep anger. But I had no idea why he was directing all of it at me
.
My chest rose and fell quickly. I wanted to argue. Wanted to scream at him that he was wrong. But the guards standing behind me reminded me 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 me.
My eyes widened immediately. My body stiffened.
What? Competition? That fast?
My stomach dropped as the guards grabbed my arms again, dragging me out while my mind raced with fear and confusion.
I wasn't prepared.