The King's Fifth Mistress

There was a dense silence once the guards left. It was so dense that it made me feel discomfort and uneasy. I bit my lips, wondering what to say. I wanted to yell at him for killing my people and harming my family but the only words I spurted out were;

 "Where is my mother?" My tone was laced with heavy curiosity and impatience.

He didn't speak. His glare only hardened, a smirk adorning his lips. It made him look so devilishly attractive, that for a moment, my fears returned but the next it was gone.

 "You don't question me." He spat out, raw irritation in his tone. It could have shut me up but I was hell bent on knowing about mother.

The last memory I had of her was of her stiff body on my arms and I tremendously desired to know if she was actually okay... Or not?

 "Where is she?" I yelled, gripping the iron bars tightly.

The chains burned my wrists and I let out an inaudible hiss, trying to bore with the pains.

I had to know about mother.

 "Dead." He simply replied impassively, without an iota of concern.

I gasped, shaking my head as I threw a scowl at him.

 "How can you say such sensitive thing? Do you even have a heart?!" I snarled, infuriated. Hatred for this man overwhelmed me to the brim and I badly, if opportune, wanted to dig a knife into his chest.

 "Your family battered that out years ago."

 "You lier!"

Tears blinded my eyes. I could feel my heart itch. I clasped my hand onto my pounding heart.

 "Tell me where my mother is. She has to be alive and safe, you have no right to touch her!"

 "No right?" He sniggered. "Do I need to have a right before killing anyone?"

His eyes reflected his intensive cruelty. Deep down, I could tell he wasn't lying. He didn't seem like someone who would lie just to taunt me.

I shivered noticeably.

Memories of mother's eyes, amort and wide open, her still body and her not responding to her name flooded my head.

I was flustered, dizzy as tears kept falling like raindrops moistening my already pale face.

Was this true? Was mother really dead?

 "You killed her!" I hollered, weeping mightily. I couldn't wrap my head around this, I wanted this all to be a dream, it was too hard for me to swallow this reality.

 "I didn't, my soldiers did."

 "That doesn't change anything. They worked on your orders!"

He grabbed my chin hard, forcing me to face him.

His eyes locked on mine, making me feel fright and intimidation.

 "Calm yourself or you'd be next."

He was threatening me and he made that clear.

I whimpered, even as he dropped my face, forcing it to hit the iron bars.

He left while I drowned in my tears, sinking in the fact that I had lost everything and was doomed for death sooner or later.

~~~

He didn't want to leave. Hearing the princess cry pleased his utmost being... It made him feel a wave of pure satisfaction. He had longed wanted to feel this feeling... Satisfaction.

He smirked. His personal guards immediately went to him once he was out of the prison cell. They had been patiently waiting for him.

 "Your highness." His top guard, Orson spoke. "What do you think of her?" He added with a distasteful look.

Orson was not only his top personal guard but was also his adviser and chief guard of the kingdom. Just like him, he also shared an amble amount of hatred with the Perstons.

His mind retreated back to the recent encounter he had with the princess. She was very vulnerable but acted tough. He suddenly had a urge to break her into unrecognizable bits until she tumbles amort at his feet.

 "She is extremely pathetic."

Orson was bemused at his words, but didn't speak of it. "Would you kill her, your highness?" He instead asked.

 "Patience Orson, patience. She wouldn't die now."

 "My Lord..."

The king rose his palm on the air, indicating a stop to the conversation.

Orson wasn't pleased, he yearned for her death but however respected any decision the King does take.

They reached another side of the dungeon, faraway from where the princess was kept. Here was reasonably quiet, more squalor and very much air polluted.

Orson and the rest of the personal guards covered their noses due to the extreme suffocating odour but the king showed no sign of covering his... He didn't even look like he was smelling anything offensive.

 "Wait here." He commanded the rest of the guards while he and Orson approached deeper into some cell which was utterly miniature and much smelly.

In the cell was a man, stark naked with blood and deep wounds on his body. His head was roughly shaven, leaving him to look more infirm than he already was.

Chains, tight were fastened to his arms, feet and neck. No one could miss the look of anguish in his eyes. He looked rather despaired and in pains.

The king smiled wickedly. He was satisfied but urged for more blood.

 "Rupert." He called to the man. The man was the princess's father. "I hope you find this place comfy."

The man glared at him in anger and contempt.

 "You'll pay for this, with your wretched life, you son of a bastard. You'll regret this, Luther!"

Luther scowled, hating the man's audacity. After everything he had done!

Unlocking the cell entry, he went in and stroke a blow to Rupert's face.

Blood gushed out of his mouth, with three tooth unhooked from their gums.

Rupert drew a hard breath laboriously, his cheek mightily bruised and blood continually spilling from his mouth and nostrils.

Luther smirked.

What a scenic sight! One he had longed to see.

 "Listen." He throttled him firmly, his eyes red and full of jumbo hate. "I had survived with the intention to see you die and I will make sure of that. Your loved ones and your despicable self must suffer for the hurts you have caused me and my people.... Orson!"

He called.

Orson instantly responded. "Your highness...."

 "Command for the amputation of his toes and fingers. Have his face and skin peeled off if even. I do not want to recognize him the next time I see him."

 "Yes, my Lord." Orson bowed.

Leaving the dungeon, he made his way to the palace and to his chamber. He felt slightly weary but was enormously glad that everything was going the way he had longed planned.

After seven years of excruciating pain and taste for blood, he finally got the revenge and vengeance he was seeking for.

He took off his dirtied boots and called for Ruth.

 "Your majesty." A young girl came in. She was his personally assigned private handmaid.

 "What can I help you with?" She added, with a very polite voice.

 "Call my mistresses. I want them all here." He said.

~~~

I opened my eyes the next morning but was it really morning? I wasn't sure but the air and light rays in the room felt somewhat warm and cozy.

I yawned tiredly but quickly shut my mouth when I felt some heavy discomforting pain in my stomach. I groaned loudly, remembering I haven't eaten since I got here and I've been here for four days.

Trying to withstand the pain, the thought of my mother came to mind but I shut my thoughts, not wanting to get badly emotional again.

I had cried my eyes out to sleep yesterday, I didn't want to feel that grief now.

I had to be strong for father and hope he was okay. Though I wasn't so sure he was okay... The cruel king must be torturing him so mercilessly now.

I felt myself slightly shake. I felt so helpless, I wanted to save father, he was the only family I was sure was still alive.

The sound of the faraway door creaking open snapped me away from my thoughts.

Otto appeared before me after, a scowl plastered on his face. He seemed to hate me so much and I wondered why.

Why did everyone in this kingdom have a hate boner for me? What had I done wrong?

 "His majesty wants you to know that your father would be beheaded tomorrow and you would grace the occasion." He submitted coldly and walked away, leaving me to drown in shock.

Tears blinded my eyes and feeling so despondent, I let them fall to the floor in drops.