HEART OF AVALON

                  Lyra's POV

A loud banging on my door jolted me awake. My heart began racing. I knew it meant another round of beatings and torture, that's all it ever meant. Dragging my exhausted body off the old mattress, I walked toward the door. Before i could open it, a voice yelled.

"Seems you've forgotten where you are and what you're meant to do, you slave!" a voice yelled.  

My name is Lyra Avalon, the only surviving member of my family. My parents and brother died fighting a war for the wolves.

Yes, the wolves. I'm human, and in this kingdom, humans serve one purpose, to be slaves to the werewolves. But even humans who are meant to get each others back

hates and despises me. The werewolves abuse me more than any other slave in the pack house, while the humans see it as an opportunity to do the same.... And someone turning up to deliver punishment, for whatever reason, was a regular thing for me. I immediately straightened up, fear washing over me as I rushed to the door before my punishment trippled for taking too long. I opened the door and immediately, a heavy slap landed on my face. My eyes instantly welled with tears, but I couldn't cry because it would make it worse, so i held it in.

"Why are you just opening the door?" Ava yelled.

  I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and lowered my head. "I'm sorry....."

  One look at her told me I was doomed, not that I had ever been anything else. The cruel smile on her lips told me exactly what awaited me.

"Keep that disgusting apology to yourself. " she hissed. "Madam Vespera wants you in the kitchen right now....."

 She shot me a look of pure disgust before walking away.

Ava was a human slave just like me, yet she hated me more than the werewolves did. She despised me so much that she seized every chance to make my life worse.

I sighed and headed toward the kitchen.

I wish I could escape this torture one day, even if it meant dying. But they would never allow that.

"Why are you just coming, you disgusting slave?!" Madam Vespera, the head maid and a werewolf, yelled angrily.

She then turned to Ava. "Ava, didn't you go fetch her when i told you to?"

"Of course I did but she insulted me and said you could do your worst." Ava lied.

I rolled my eyes, of course, Ava would blame me. She always did.

"She what?!" Madam Vespera questioned.

Ava nodded her head immediately. "Yes ma she said exactly that."

"No ma I didn't say that." She was the one who slapped me, I never insulted you."

 Madam Vespera's palm collided with my face. It stung worse than the one i received from Ava, so so much that tears threatened to spill from my eyes but no, I won't let them see me cry, I would never cry in front of them.

"You demon, what gave you the nerve to insult me...."Madam Vespera sneered.

  "I...I didn't do that." I whispered.

"Ava, strip her naked." Before I could process what I heard, a bowl of hot ground chilli pepper was poured all over me, Fire exploded across my skin. Fire exploded across my skin. It felt as though thousands of burning needles were driving into every inch of my flesh. I couldn't even scream. My breath caught in my throat as agony swallowed me whole.

 Laughter echoed at every corner of the kitchen, the slaves were giggling and smiling while the guards watched with amusement enjoying every second of my suffering. I couldn't hold back any longer. I burst into tears, sobbing as the pain consumed me. I wiped my tears with trembling hands and returned to work. I had learned long ago that complaining only invited more pain.

" don't just stand there, you filthy thing, clean up this kitchen before breakfast is served." Madam Vespera demanded.

"Yes ma'am!" I said quickly, despite the pain i felt.

 I scrubbed tirelessly, pain seeped through my body but I dared not complain. The aroma of the meal hit my nostrils and I swallowed the saliva gathering in my throat. 

"Madam Vespera... please, may I have some breakfast?"

"Breakfast?" she scoffed. "What breakfast?"

"I... I..didn't...h.. have dinner yesterday." I stammered.

"And how is that my concern?" She didn’t seem the slightest bit bothered."There's nothing for you this morning, now go back to your duty".

"I'm done with the cleaning ma," I whispered.

 "If you are done, go and wash the dirty plates"

. "There's no dirty plate in the sink ma'am! " I replied.

"And who are you again?!" She raised her eyebrows. "Who are you to question me?"

"Go and scrub the kitchen again, you can wash the plate once we are done eating." She dismissed 

I ran back into the kitchen and the tears I have been holding back, started pouring out freely. My stomach growled with hunger. I scanned the kitchen until my eyes landed on a freshly baked loaf of bread resting on the counter. I was so hungry that I had no choice but to steal a bite. 

"What are you doing?" Ava screamed at me."What did you just do?" 

"She's a thief!" Another slave called out.

"Lyra isn't just a demon,She's also a thief." one of the slaves sneered. "

"I'm not a thief!" I whispered.

One of the guards dragged me out of the kitchen and across the cold stone floor of the corridor. Madam Vespera, looked at me with pure hatred and disgust. People stared at me with disgust, not that they had ever looked at me any differently. I should have grown used to such treatment by now, but it still hurt that not a single person saw me as anything other than a monster.

"What right do you have to steal from the royal's kitchen!" Madam Vespera yelled. 

I lowered my head and didn't respond because I knew that nothing I say would save me.

Madam Vespera's eyes darkened with fury as she glared at me, her lips curled into a cruel smile. 

"Go get me a hot iron from the dungeon. I believe you know what I mean?" she said to a guard.

"Of course I do.." A cruel smile spread across his face.

I immediately raised my head up, fear lingering in my eyes. A hard kick landed on my stomach and I unconsciously bowed my head. I struggled to show no hint of pain because satisfying them is the last thing I would ever want to do.

"The iron is ready" 

Vespera's face coiled up in a mocking smile. " get that wretch here, I want to give her a beautiful design on her face." 

I could hear laughter coming from everyone as I was drifting away. So, this is how I'm going to die, parts of me welcomed it, at least I can meet my family in the afterlife. I couldn't help the question: Will I be happy there? Would I be bullied just like here? Will they see me as a curse, What if I bring misfortune to my family in the afterlife? Hot tears slipped down, wetting my cheeks.

Just as the glowing iron neared my face, the air turned unbearably heavy. Every flame in the kitchen flared before shrinking into trembling blue tongues. The laughter vanished. One by one, the guards staggered backward, clutching their chests as though an invisible mountain had crashed down upon them. A terrifying pressure filled the room, forcing everyone to their knees.

"And what do you think you are doing?!"