The King's Fifth Mistress

My eyes slowly blinked open but I groaned immediately feeling an agonizing pain in my head. My back was on a cold flat surface with my face pointing towards a ceiling like wall. I tried to stand but I was pulled back to the floor by the chains on my wrists.

The chains were so heavy, tight and strong that it gave me deep red marks on my skin.

I closed my eyes and opened them again, looking around and wondering where I was.

It looked like a dungeon. It was a dungeon! It iron bars looked old and rusty with some fading auburn substance on them.

The cell wasn't tall, my head would almost touch the ceiling if I stood but the ceiling was cemented and the cell had no window. I couldn't see clearly as the only light and air available where coming from the vacuum between the bars.

Worst still, the cell had an horrid odour. It smelt of urine, poo, blood and some other things I couldn't figure out.

I gagged, feeling nauseous.

I tried to remember how I got here and who placed me here but then all the memories from last night came gushing out.

Mabel, the war, the bodies, the enemies and then mother! Oh my Goodness!

Fright overwhelmed me as I laid frozen for a while, trying to think but it seemed my mind was frozen also.

Was mother alright?

I asked myself but I wasn't so sure.

I tried to stand again but the chains drew me back. I scowled and though, still uncertain but yet scared, I tried to call for help.

 "Help me please! Anyone?!" Even tho my mouth felt sour and my throat sore, I wanted to do what I could to get out of here. I wanted to go to mother and father and make sure they were alright.

I heard no response. My voice just echoes around and then stopped. It gave me a clue that I was the only one here.

Tears burned my eyes, rolling down to my cheeks easily.

I was not only afraid for mother and father but also for myself. Mother had told me how horrible I would be treated when captured. Seemingly, she was right. Though I wondered how much more they would treat me.

Would they k..kill me?

My thoughts were cut short by the sound of a door creaking open. No one was in sight but I could hear the creaks from far away.

Panic swept me and I swallowed my saliva promptly, my eyes bulging.

Were they coming to harm me? Would I die?

I pretended to sleep. I didn't want to be killed, especially not now, so perhaps if sleeping could make them leave me alone, then I would sleep till I get rescued.

It felt like hours before I could hear footsteps approaching me. It was two people walking and chattering. They voices was low but yet echoed around.

 "I heard her call for help. She must be crazy to think anyone would come to her aid." A masculine voice said and laughed loudly.

 "A pity she doesn't realize how despicable she is but she got some pretty skin, might as well skinned it out and turn it to a bedsheet."

I almost gasped as I shivered dreadfully but the two laughed like it was some joke.

One of them hit his sword on the bars, creating a noise to get my attention.

But however, I kept on my pretentious sleep, making it seem as real as possible.

 "Get up! Who are you fooling, you little rat?!"

A sword hit me hard on my legs. I felt an unbearable pain there and without knowing, I winced, tears rising in tremendous amounts to my eyes.

Why were they treating me so brutally? I wanted to ask but I kept shut, trying my best to bear the heavy throbbing pain on my leg

 "Open your eyes!" Another hit to my legs again but this time harder.

Unable to bear any of it, my eyes went opened, staring trepidly at them, my toes curling in much nervousness.

 "I beg you, l..leave me alone." I wanted to beg them to get me out of here but this two didn't look like the kinda people willing to help me, they look like people ready to kill me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, the tears in my eyes slowly falling down.

I felt so timorous for myself.

 "Don't be scared, princess." One of the men with a drab blonde hair spoke but it didn't sound like an encouragement. It was a taunt as he held a smirk on his face.

 "Don't listen to him, you should be affright, because for sure you won't get out of this kingdom alive."

The other laughed and the blonde joined in, laughing their brains out.

 "I want her skin as a cover for my walls."

 "No. I would be the one taking her skin."

 "No. I am."

 "No, I would lay this request before the king and hopes he grants it."

 "You dare not!"

 "Oh, I will."

They argued like they weren't talking about a human skin while I covered my ears, not wanting to listen more to their conversation. It made me more frightened than I already was.

They argued for minutes before the blonde glared at the other.

 "Go inform his highness of the princess's awakening."

 "Don't you dare order me about! I'm not your errand boy or slave." The other frowned, glaring back at him.

 "Stop this, Otto. Why can't you listen to simple instructions without arising unnecessary arguments?"

 "Don't act like you have obeyed any of my instructions either, besides we are both guards with same rank. You have no authority to command me...."

 "I'm older than you!"

 "With one month. Don't brag about it, it makes you seem stupid."

 "Fine! You see, when I get promoted to a Palace guard instead of being a prison guard, I will make sure you regret being a pest to my existence."

 "Let's see about that."

The blonde frowned and without another word, went away.

I sighed, not knowing what to do. I felt so tired, hungry and thirsty. My stomach was growling loudly and my throat felt so itchy, sore and dry.

I let out a bitter cough that sounded like an earthquake. It even made me feel more weak and shaky.

Glancing at Otto who was mumbling out words angrily, I made to speak but let out a sigh, noticing how sour and dryer my mouth had become.

 "Wa...ater." I muttered, hoping he hears me. I felt I hadn't taken in anything for weeks... How long had I been sleeping?

Otto glared at me, looking disturbed and irritated. He frowned and gripped the bars, shaking it heavily to let out some terrifying noise.

 "You are going to die very soon. Maybe you can get that as your last pre-death request, if you are that lucky."

With the frown still centered on his face, he made to leave but I called out to him, stopping him.

 "How long have I been sleeping?" I asked. Though I wanted to ask a lot of questions but somehow this spilled out of my tongue first.

 "Two days." He surprisingly answered, sniggering. "You slept like a pig. His Majesty was horribly displeased."

He left and I scowled, hating the disrespect I was given. I had never been disrespected before, I had always, since birth received tons of respect and admiration whether I liked it or not, so being called names and ridiculed didn't go well with me.

Besides what Majesty were they talking about? Who was their king and why did he imprison me ? What did my parents do to him? What did my people do to him that made him so heartless to kill hundreds of my people?

I wept, my heart pounding hard.

Images of my subject's bodies on the ground made me feel so sick and Mabel...? Was she okay?

I hoped she was and I felt some regret for not running away with her.

Mother was right. I was such a disobedient and stubborn child, which indeed caused my captivity.

I sniffed, wiping my tears away. My back was badly aching and my feet and legs felt all cramped up. I tried to stand again but fell back to the floor, accidentally bruising my knee.

 "Ouch!" I exclaimed lowly, feeling blood move around the knee.

Gritting my teeth, I stretched out my leg to allow air to penetrate the bruises.

Just then, I heard the creek of the door opening again. I remembered the blonde chap went to call their king and I gulped nervously wondering if he was here. How would he treat me? Would he command them to kill me?

I felt antsy and fondled with the hem of my dress which was all scruffy.

I remembered I was wearing a nightwear which was a bit short and a little revealing.

Feeling slightly vulnerable, I took my knees to my chest and brushed my long hair to cover my knees 

Abruptly four men came into the room. Three of them behind a man who was in front.

The front man's dark eyes pierced into mine and without knowing, I gasped, astounded by his outstanding appearance.

His eye lens were so dark it was almost impossible to see my reflection in it... Or perhaps could it be because of how dim the room was?

His hair was quite curly and jet black, that for a second I got jealous of the maids opportune to run their fingers through it.

His face was oval, his nose so perfect and well shaped, his lips so alluring and orange and then his body...

An obvious hunk he was.

Oh heavens! Was this their king?

He wore a kingly regalia, made out of the finest fabrics and materials I had ever seen. A golden crown adorned with glittering pearls and diamond deco laid gloriously on his head but in all, a scowl adorned his face as he glared at me.

Oh no, he was glaring at me.

For a second, I trembled but the next, I felt anger surfaced through my body.

I couldn't believe I was checking out a man who had waged a sudden war on my people and killed my family.

I felt so irritated and riled with myself. How shameless could I be?

 "This is her, your highness. What do we do with her?" One of the three men around him spoke in disgust. They all seem to be his personal guards.

 "Leave us alone, all of you." He spoke and I couldn't help admiring how biased and frightening his voice was.

I frowned at myself. I shouldn't be this way towards him. He had killed my people, captured my father and harmed my mother!

His guards threw malicious looks at me and without a word, left me alone with the devil himself.