Chapter 2

“Rule number 2,” the woman continued, ignoring the sheer horror etched on our faces. “You are not allowed to step out of this room for any reason, unless you are summoned. His majesty dislikes strangers crowding his space.”

“Three. Do not — don’t even dare try to escape. You will be killed before you even make it past those doors.”

“Four. When summoned, avoid eye contact with the king, even if he looks at you. Keep. Your. Head. Down.”

“Five. Do not speak, unless you are spoken to.

“Six. Your status, or whatever you were before, ended the moment you walked through those gates. In here, you are nothing but sacrifices for the king, and you will serve your purpose.”

She paused, her eyes cutting through the silence.

“Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” we managed to respond through ragged, terrified breaths.

“Good. Now, you will strip and shower properly. Wash off every disgusting scent from your bodies, because every single part of you now belongs to the king.” She gestured toward and adjacent door at the very end of the room. “The bathroom is over there, you have twenty minutes. Move! Don’t make me repeat myself,” she snapped.

Frightened by the monstrous woman standing before us, we all scurried toward the door. The bathroom was massive and lavishly designed. I quickly stripped out of my drenched, filthy clothes and stepped under one of the showers, twisting the knob.

The warm water hit my body, sending a wave of relief through my bruised skin. I picked up a sponge, I lathered it with soap and scrubbed myself, washing away the dirt until my skin flushed red. Then I leaned back, letting the spray rinse away the tension.

As the water flows down, I slowly unbraided my hair, letting the dark strands fall all the way to my hips. I do not intend to stay here, I thought fiercely. I had managed to map out the road during the drive over. I would find a way to escape this hellhole. I refused to let some monster of a king take my life.

When we stepped back into the main room, fresh clothes had been laid out on each of the beds. They were skimpy, revealing nightgowns— but they were better than nothing. On the opposite side of the room stood a long marble table piled high with exquisite dishes. I immediately put on the nightwear, grateful to cover my naked, bruised body.

“Get dressed and eat. One of you will be summoned tonight,” the woman announced. With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

A guard immediately rushed inside, dragged the body of the dead girl by her ankles, and slammed the door shut. I let out asharp, shaky breath I never realized I’ve been holding in. What kind of monsters lived here? Were we expected to just sit and wait until the king decided to end us?

I looked back at the table filled with food. What if it’s poisoned? Or sedated?

My stomach growled in response. I rubbed my stomach gently. Having gone without food or water for two days, my body was dangerously weak. But they wouldn’t poison us. They wanted us healthy enough to serve their king.

Slowly, I got up from the bed, walked to the table, and pulled out a chair. Sinking into it, I decided to eat a little.

After filling my stomach, I stood up to return to my bed, only to meet the piercing, judgmental of the other girls locked onto me.

“You really have guts to eat?” one of them whispered, her voice trembling. “One of us was just murdered, and you’re actually sitting there enjoying a meal?”

I looked at her, my brows furrowing in exhaustion. “What am I supposed to do? Cry? We are all facing death here. I’d rather eat and save up my strength for when the king tries to squeeze life out of me.”

Rolling my eyes, I walked back to my bed and lay down, curling up into a ball and hugging the single pillow. Within moments, I heard the rustling of footsteps. Peeking over the edge of the pillow, I saw the other girls quietly making their way to the table to eat.

I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes, trying to rest, even if it’s just for a split second. But the sudden sound of heavy doors flinging open stole every ounce of sleep from my body. The strange woman had returned. Her expression seemed sharper and colder.

“Get up!” she hissed. Walking deeper into the room. She scanned our faces like a predator sizing up prey before stopping directly in front of one of the girls. She grabbed the girl’s hand, lifting it to sniff her wrist. “You. Follow me.”

Without waiting for a response, the woman turned and walked out. The chosen girl broke into sobs, her feet dragged heavily against the floor as she followed the woman toward the door — and toward her death.

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Helion’s POV

A deep sigh escaped my throat as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes tracking the intricate flower tattoo that had tormented me for centuries. I had been cursed by her for a crime I did not commit. A curse specifically designed to ruin me.

A new set of girls had been brought into the palace. We have been repeating this process for years, yet I couldn’t find her — the supposed witch who held the power to break my affliction.

No woman had ever survived my bed. The encounter always ended with a pile of dead bodies. The monster residing within me is ravenous, always clawing for blood. No matter how much I fed it, it was never satisfied, always craving more.

I walked over to the side table and picked up a crystal decanter, pouring a generous amount of amber liquid into a glass. Moving to the open window, I let the cool night air wash over my face as I took a sip.

The heavy doors to my chambers cracked open, I noticed the intrusion, but I didn’t bother to turn around.

“My king.”

“What is it, peter?” I asked, keeping my gaze on the dark horizon.

“Lady Adeline has arrived with the woman for tonight, Sire,” he explained calmly.

A bitter scoff escaped my throat. Just another soul for the beast to devour.

“Send her away, peter” I muttered, walking toward the center of the room. I sank into the leather couch , setting my glass down on the marble table with a sharp, echoing clink.

Peter lets out a heavy, frustrated sigh. “It is almost time, Sire. If you do no—“

“I know, Peter,” i snapped, cutting him off as I finally looked up at him. “I am simply not in the mood.”

“You must Sire… at least until we find the one,” he insisted, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the floor.

As much as I hate to admit it, his words made sense. I had to endure this, even if it went entirely against my wishes.

“Fine,” I growled, gritting my teeth in frustration. “Send her in.”

Peter bowed and slipped out of the room, returning a few moments later with a girl. He nudged her inside before exiting and slamming the door shut behind him.

My gaze shifted to the offering. She had short blonde hair, an average height, and pale skin. True to Adeline’s rules, her eyes remained glued to the floor. The suffocating scent of fear radiating off her filled the room in seconds.

“Strip” I ordered coldly, my predatory instincts already piercing through the thin gown before she even she even shed them.

She nodded quickly, her trembling hands slowly peeled off every piece of clothing. Once bare, she stepped forward and stood before me. I could feel the familiar dark urge stirring heavily between my legs, the beast demanding to be unleashed.

Standing up from the couch, my towering frame overshadowed her small form. My silk robe slid from my shoulders to the floor, exposing my body. I caught the glimpse of her eyes, darting toward me, a thick, choking lump settling in her throat as she realized the sheer size of me.

“Open your mouth” I commanded, my voice dropping into a low, dangerous purr.

Slowly , she sank to her knees, opening her mouth wide. Her hands shook violently as she reached out to touch me, attempting to perform the task for which she was sent here. The moment she tried to accommodate my size, she choked, gasping for air and failing completely.

An angry growl tore from my chest. Frustrated by her incompetence, I reached down and grabbed a fistfuls of her blonde hair, yanking her hair back and forcing her to look at me.

“What do you think you are doing?” I snarled down at her. “You were offered to me, so I expect perfection.”

“I… I am sorry,” she stammered, her entire body shaking like a leaf. “It… it simply won’t fit. Please, forgive me.”

Disgusted and unsatisfied, I shoved her away roughly. My chest heaved with a mix of hunger and fury. The terrifying aura I radiated was too much for her fragile body to handle. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the floor with a dull thud, unconscious from undiluted terror.