Chapter 2

Cassia’s Pov

If I had thought that witnessing a decapitation was traumatizing enough, I was sorely mistaken. It’s been almost a week since I arrived here, assigned to the kitchen with Sienna, and the things I’ve encountered have been horrifying.

On the day we arrived at the palace, we were herded in a new direction when a girl clearly hadn’t seen the guards gesturing for her to move left. The next thing I knew, one of them was in her face, shouting and pulling her hair. “How dare you disrespect me? You want to be stubborn, huh? I’ll show you.” He dragged her off by her hair to a corner, not far from the rest of us, and from her pleas and screams, we knew what was happening.

Fear and helplessness gripped me like never before, especially as other guards continued ushering us in as if nothing was occurring.

Her screams eventually stopped, and I feared she was dead. But a few days later, she, Diane was assigned to the kitchen with us, and we learned she had passed out and couldn’t remember most of what happened. I sensed it was a lie; she had to protect herself somehow—either by lying to herself or others to avoid judgment and pity.

Just yesterday, we were forced to watch as one of the slave boys was flogged to death for stealing food from the plate meant for the king’s right-hand man. The sadistic laughter of the soldiers who carried out the sentence was engraved in my mind, and I loathed it.

“I told you it’s not just rumors! The king’s siblings and cousins are here. I hear his aunt is too,” Sienna whispered urgently in my ear.

“Really?” I stopped chopping the carrots and turned to face her.

A few days ago, something shocking had circulated. One of the king’s brothers, Prince Samyl, was dead—not just any death, but a gruesome one. Despite this region being a hybrid territory, there are no more than ten full hybrids, and all of them are the current royal family.

To give birth to one, both parents must be hybrids, except for the rare case of King Karl’s parents, who were a full hybrid and a female shapeshifter, managing to produce four full hybrid children. It’s difficult to birth a full hybrid and extremely challenging to kill one.

No surprise the full house is around now, and since the incident, the king has been silent. His silence has led some of us to believe that the rumors weren’t true, and because none of the princes or princesses lives here, we can’t tell from their expression.

“Of course,” Sienna replied, her eyes sparkling. “They’re surely too busy governing their territories to come over unannounced for family bonding.”

Each region has states: high-class states, normal ones, poor states, and of course, human settlements. The king’s brothers and brother-in-law are in charge of states in their regions. Traveling all the way here speaks volumes.

“You seem so happy about this news, Enna. Why?” I asked her.

“Why not?” She glanced around before lowering her voice even further. “Someone or something can finally kill a hybrid. They’re not so untouchable.”

“Careful girl.” I scolded her in a hushed voice. We are surrounded by vampires and shapeshifters, so whispering can be futile if they’re nearby.

Every supernatural has a weakness, and they aren’t exactly immortal, though they live for ages. Vampires can be killed by decapitation or by a blade forged from a piece of a fallen star. Some say it’s just a rock cursed by a witch, but it can inflict serious, even lethal harm. Shapeshifters—or werewolves, might succumb to silver poisoning if exposed to large amounts or if silver is introduced directly into their bloodstream, also through decapitation.

But all this knowledge means nothing to humans, as we lack the funds to acquire the materials or the strength to inflict even a scratch. As for hybrids, they have no known weakness. Like other supernaturals, they can die of old age, but that’s a rarity, as their lifespans can stretch for centuries. Even the king’s parents are still alive.

Before I could say more to Sienna, the head of the kitchen maids and slaves, Madam Care, called our attention. She was the one who filled us in on the palace hierarchy, courtesy rules, and the regulations governing the lives of maids and slaves.

She was a human with an important position—rare and shocking. Very few humans were considered elite, like physicians, cooks, or those in crucial roles. They were needed for tasks the supernaturals couldn’t or wouldn’t perform, making them the ‘elite’ humans. They enjoyed a good life and were well protected by the law in all regions. You could identify them by their attire and their homes, likely near the palace or in high-class states. Few and fortunate generations.

“…and you with the thick hair!” Madam Care pointed at me. “You’re on serving duty too.” She turned to the others she had indicated. “Don’t mess it up, ladies! The king might be there, and any slip up may cost your lives.”

I thought only mature slaves or maids served the royals! Sienna shrugged when I looked at her, questions in my eyes and worry in hers.

“Try not to show your fear. Rumors say they can smell it, and their predatory senses will go wild.” She whispered to me, helping me prepare a plate.

“That’s vampires, Sienna. We don’t know anything about hybrids,” I replied, balancing a golden tray with a red liquid in a delicate and pretty transparent kettle. They called it blood tea, and I didn’t want to know where—or from whom—they sourced the blood.

Diane passed us, her tiny voice advising, “If vampires can smell fear, hybrids can taste it. They’re part vampire and part shapeshifter. Be careful.”

That did nothing to soothe my nerves.

“Well, I guess it’s good we’re aware now, right?” Sienna said, though it didn’t sound like she was asking me.