Two

Zoraya

"Who is that?"

I sat in my room outside the gate and watched as the guests came in. It was Elena's birthday and a party had been thrown to celebrate her coming of age.

Everyone kept looking at the cubicle where I had come to call my room. Even though there were several rooms in the house, that cubicle was the place I knew as my room.

I spent my whole life sleeping in the cubicle alongside our dog, Zara.

Even though, I always wondered why I was made to stay in the cubicle with Zara when I have the same qualities as everyone that stays in the main house.

However, I couldn't dare ask.

Besides, no one understands me in the house. Every time, I speak, they say that I'm barking. I always wonder why they say so.

The only person who understands me is Zara. She does everything I say without hesitating and when she speaks, I understand too.

I looked at the faces of the guests as they saw me feeding on my plate, the same one I shared with Zara.

They wrinkled their nose in disgust and kept muttering words I couldn't understand.

Ignoring them, I continued eating as I knew that it was a one-time opportunity to be fed so heavily. Even though the food was leftover from the party, it felt nice to eat something delicious.

I cracked the bones happily as I danced with joy of eating such delicacies.

"So disgusting!"

"Will you look at that?"

"How did the Graysons come across such crap?"

The guests kept saying all kinds of things but it was of no concern to me as I'm used to such treatment and words.

I continued eating as I knew that it was a privilege that didn't come every day.

'Do you want some more?' Zara asked in our invented language.

I call it our invented language since only Zara and I understand the language.

Zara is heavily pregnant yet she never ceases to care for me. She gives me half of her food every time.

'I do,' I replied swiftly.

The food was so delicious that I couldn't get enough of it.

'You can have it,' Zara passed her food to me.

The only affection I have ever received in my whole life was from Zara. She's the only one who has always treated me like I was something special.

'Thank you,' I muttered joyfully.

'Anything for you, my dear.'

If there's anyone who has stood as a mother to me, then it's Zara. All my life she has always been there for me. Giving me all the care and love that I need.

"Julius, lock the Pen!"

That voice belonged to none other than the lady of the house. The Mistress of the Manor, Estrella Grayson.

Estrella ma'am is a beautiful woman with a strong and commanding demeanour. Her grey eyes give her an innocent and sweet look that people would often mistake her for an angel.

But Estrella is no angel.

She is the devil in a woman's body.

Her cruelty is like no other. She ruled the house after the sudden disappearance of the master, and everyone was forced to obey her.

Julius, Estrella's lap dog closed the door of the cubicle as ordered, locking me and Zara inside.

We already knew that we weren't welcome at the party, they didn't have to make it so obvious.

How could we be welcomed? We have always been treated like animals and this party was thrown to celebrate, Elena, the young mistress of the Manor.

Elena is Master Felix and Estrella's only daughter.

She was treated like a princess and everything she wanted was given to her on a golden platter.

Sometimes, I wish I get half the treatment that is given to Elena, but I know that it is just my wishful thinking. A dream that can never come true.

I mean how can I be treated half as a princess? I am just a... I do not even know what I am. I only know that I exist.

"You should be on your best behaviour, we have guests around," Julius muttered as he locked the pen.

'Haven't we always been in our best behaviour?' I asked, but I got a knock on my head instead.

"Don't you bark at me, you animal!" Julius yelled as he rained several knocks on my head. "I just asked you to behave and you're misbehaving, do you want to get punished?"

'Let him be,' Zara warned.

I mellowed at her warning.

I mean, we both knew how harsh Julius could be when he decided to punish us. Me, especially. He flogs me with a thick plank while he pulls hard at my ear.

'Okay,' I laid down quietly and succumbed to fate.

What could we do anyway?

The harder we fight, the more punishment we get.

Julius would do anything to get into Estrella's good book. He could kill for her without batting an eyelid.

How can I expect mercy from such a man?

Zara licked my hair as I lay down. She did this to soothe my bleeding heart; her way of consoling me.

I grumbled my appreciation. I was glad to have her by my side.

Suddenly, I felt strange.

My body convulsed and I couldn't breathe. I felt itchy at the same time. I rubbed my body on the floor itching my skin against the walls of the cubicle.

'What is wrong?' Zara asked worriedly.

'I feel strange,' I explained as I continued to itch my body.

'Help!' Zara screamed. Her voice was laced with worry as she screamed. 'Please help my child!' She screamed out loud.

Did she just call me her child?

My eyes were immediately laced with tears. I couldn't explain how I felt. I was happy to hear someone claim ownership over me.

"Didn't I just ask you both to behave?" Julius was back again, now furious. He pointed at Zara with rage. "And here I thought you were gentle."

'She needs help,' Zara rounded me as she explained.

"You won't stop, right?" Julius didn't care to listen to Zara or try to understand what she was saying.

He took the plank and flogged her, continuously. I couldn't stand it anymore.

How could he beat her so mercilessly?

I jumped and attacked Julius who threw me carelessly across the wall. My body jerked and I felt my head spin.

'Don't hurt her,' I begged as I tried to go to Zara who was now bleeding.

I was weak from the fall, but I managed to crawl back to Zara. She needed me now more than ever.

"You better behave or you'll get more of that," he started bolting the cubicle.

He didn't even look at Zara who was now bleeding.

'Please help her,' I tried to speak to him, making sure that my voice was low to avoid bringing more punishment upon us.

"Excuse me," I heard a strange yet interesting voice say from a little far away.

I liked the voice.

I wonder who it was that sounded so lovely.

The voice became louder as he seemed to be getting closer to the cubicle. Accompanying the voice was an amazing scent. I have never smelled anything like it before.

It smelled like sandalwood and mint.

Temporarily forgetting my plight, I looked up quickly, hoping to see the one who bore such an amazing scent.

I was met with two lovely sets of amber eyes as soon as I raised my head. The man looked so cute in his outfit and his haircut completed his beauty.

'Help please,' I muttered.

I didn't know why I thought he could help us, but something in me urged me to speak to him.

His eyes stared at me as I spoke and he flinched in shock. My heart sank as he moved backwards.

He is just like the others.

He also doesn't understand me.