The Slave in the Shadows

“Rina! Wake up! You’re late again!”

The sharp voice made her eyes fly open.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, sitting up. Her back throbbed where the whip had hit her last night. The room was barely lit, save for the moonlight that sometimes served as light.

On some nights, she had insects crawl from under her straw bed on to her clothes. Sometimes, they bit her and left spots.

“You think ‘sorry’ is enough?” the woman snapped. “The feast is tonight. Get moving, rat.”

The door slammed shut.

Rina sat still for a moment, breathing slowly. This was the life she knew. She didn't have to be beautiful. She just needed to keep away from trouble.

Then she touched her head and froze.

Her hair—her long, ginger hair was back.

Rina was more shocked than she was delighted. Since Leah had Started cutting her hair, assuming it was just the hair that made her beautiful, the hair had not ceased to grow back only after a couple of months. This time, she'd woken up to her hair full and back at its former length.

Still very shocked at how this was happening, she whispered, “How?”

A soft voice inside her replied, “The moon goddess has not forgotten you.”

Rina shook her head. “Why would she care about someone like me?”

“Because you were born for more, Rina.”

Tears filled her eyes. “No one sees it. No one wants me here.”

The voice was calm. “But they will.”

Rina wiped her tears and went out to do what was expected of her. She hoped that she would not get into another trouble with Leah, although she never really did anything wrong to her.

The great hall buzzed with music and voices.

Rina stayed low, carrying trays from the kitchen. She kept her head down, hoping no one would see her. But her hope didn’t last long.

“Well, look who’s crawling around.”

Rina turned. Her chest tightened.

Leah stood in a silver-blue gown, holding a glass of wine. Her smile was cruel.

Everytime, Rina found a way to leave her seat to come to wherever Rina was just to torment her.

“Whatever she says, don't let it get to you.” Mel whispered softly to Rina and Rina took a deep breath.

“You just can’t stop showing off, can you?” Leah said.

“I—I didn’t do anything.”

“You think you can walk around here with that hair that keeps mysteriously growing back? You look like you’re trying to be someone.”

“I’m not—”

“Silence,” Leah hissed. “No one wants to hear your rat voice.”

Two of the rich girls from the club Leah belonged had come to stand close to her and they laughed as she spoke. After all, it was the cursed slave girl being addressed.

Rina’s hands began to shake.

“I’m just working,” she said softly.

“Oh, I know. Let me help you work.”

Leah stepped forward and poured her wine all over Rina’s dress.

Gasps filled the room.

Rina stood still, red wine soaking through her gray dress, dripping down her arms. This was the only nice dress she had and she had to wear it on nights like this when there was to be a special dinner or anything of the sort.

Laughter started slowly, then grew louder.

“Perfect,” Leah said. “Now you look how you’re meant to—like filth.”

Someone whispered, “Who is that servant girl?”

“She’s the cursed one,” another replied. “The one born during the invasion.”

Leah turned to the crowd and said loudly, “She belongs in the cellar with the rats.”

Rina lowered her eyes and turned away.

“Don’t forget to mop the floor when you’re done,” Leah called after her.

Hours later, Rina sat on her knees, scrubbing the stone floor.

Her hands were red. Her eyes stung from holding back tears.

“She humiliated me,” she whispered. “In front of everyone.”

“She is afraid,” Mel whispered inside her.

“Afraid? Of what?”

“Of the light inside you.”

“I’m nothing. Just a slave.”

“Even the moon watches from the shadows.”

Rina’s lips trembled. “Then why does it hurt so much?”

“Because you still feel. That is your power.”

Suddenly, the sound of hooves filled the air.

She looked up. Servants rushed toward the gate.

“They’re here!” someone cried.

“Who?” Rina asked.

“The royal twins!” a kitchen boy said. “Prince Kendrick and Prince Rowland!”

Rina stood by the kitchen door and watched.

Two young men stepped out of the black carriage. Tall, dressed in royal coats, with silver pins. One looked serious and strong. The other calm and quiet. They were both tall and looked like the kind of men that girls her age dreamed about.

Because they believed they deserved men like them. Rina didn't consider herself worthy to have one of such men pay her any attention.

As they walked across the yard, Prince Kendrick’s eyes met hers.

He paused.

Rina’s breath caught in her throat. The stare was curious and calm. He looked at her a little longer, his eyes softer than any eyes she'd seen in a while.

Then Prince Rowland looked at her too. But his gaze didn’t move away.

He stared at her with quiet authority, as if he would ask to do something that was expected of a servant like her. His eyes were intimidating.

Rina stepped back quickly into the kitchen.

Her heart pounded.

In the back of the kitchen, a servant girl whispered, “They saw you.”

“No, they didn’t,” Rina said.

“They did. I swear it. Both of them. Especially the quiet one.”

“Stop,” Rina said firmly. “Nothing happened.”

“They’re princes, Rina. You’re… you know.”

“I’m cursed. I know.”

The girl fell silent.

Later that night, Rina sat alone in her tiny room.

She brushed her long hair slowly.

“They saw me,” she whispered.

“Yes.” Mel responded softly

“Why?”

“Because they’re not blind.”

“What happens now? Will they take notice of me? I hope not. Leah would make my life worse than it already is.”

“It's not your fault they saw you,” Mel whispered.

“I don’t want trouble.”

“You’ve lived in pain for years. Let the moon guide what comes next.”