Chapter 13: GAMES

The darkness in Decreash during nightfall brought about silence. It was said that the king was capable of hanging anyone who disturbed his sleep. He was like a sleeping lion in a deep slumber; if disturbed, he would eat his prey alive.

The castle was a very huge building; it was designed by one of the best architects in the capital. The gold lingering on the pillars and the water fountains in the gardens. As the water rushed down, swayed by the cool night breeze, night insects chirped.

Every detail was perfunctory, the marvelous chandeliers glowing in the dark night and the rushing of the water from the golden statue of Ragaleon. It was a fountain designed to his exquisite taste. Such wealth, such glory simply couldn't be matched up by any kingdom in the capitals.

The hallways in the castle were long and complicated, but those who knew their way around it made good use of it.

“Rogues, please stop; we might get caught.” Rosa said, looking frightened. But Rouges inched closer and wrapped his hands around her waist. Rosa was Queen Racheal’s personal handmaid.

“You are afraid of nothing; your knight in shining armor will protect you.” He whispered into her ear, and she blushed while tugging a string of hair behind her ear.

“Why me? There are other beautiful maids in the palace; what's so special about me? She asked, wanting to know. She loved this man; she had fallen for his charming features and was enthralled by his handsomeness.

“Your eyes, they are like the crescent moons in the sky, so bright, so pure.” He started off grazing her lips with his thumb. She blushed, her cheeks red from blushing too hard. What she didn't know was that this man in front of her was playing with her feelings.

The words he said, he had long recited over and over again; he knew how to spoil women with charming words.

Rosa was one of the innocent people he was yet to try it on; he has had his way with other maids and dumped them. He would charm them with his sugarcoated words and then languidly find his way into their heart.

Everything always ended on the bed; after having multiple sexual escapades with them, he would suddenly tell them he was no longer interested and dump them.

Rosa was new to this; she had never felt this way before. She thought he really did love her.

“Let me make you my woman, Rosa.” He said, breathing against her necklace. Rosa gently pushed him away…

“I will see you another time, Rogues.” She said, walking away as fast as her legs could carry her, she was flattered by his moves and wanted to escape before she ended up doing something stupid.

As she walked away speedily, another maid came out through another hallway connected to the main lobby. She too was on night duty; she tried to walk past Rouges, but he snatched her by the wrist and pulled her towards himself. “Look who we have here.”

He grinned widely as his hands trailed along the face of the pretty damsel in front of him. She was Linn, Jazell's personal maid; she was one of the people Rouges had played, and she wanted nothing to do with him.

Linn slapped his hands away in disgust.

“Don't touch me! Her voice was firm but low. She knew the rules: no waking up the sleeping lion. She was trying to keep her voice down.

“Why? Why shouldn't I touch you? Rouges questioned bringing his mouth to her earlobes.

“Remembered how you used to scream my name; you always craved for my touch.” A cunning smile tugged at his lips.

Linn felt disgusted; she regretted ever doing such a thing with him. He ruined her dignity; he was absolutely shameless! She tried to push her way out of his grip, but he pinned her to the wall.

“You are going nowhere.” His voice dripped with evil, his gaze filled with ominous desires.

“Let go of me.” Linn's voice was calm but firm.

“Your eyes, they are beautiful like the crescent moon.” He said, gazing into her teary eyes.

“I am sure that is what you have told the other girls you have manipulated! Linn spat at his face; her eyes were filled with tears as she struggled to break free from his tight grip.

Rouge's gaze darkened; he wiped away the spit from his face, grabbing Linn by her waist, he swiftly pushed her into an empty room and jammed the door.

Linn wanted to run, but there was no place to go; she looked around and saw that she was in the throne room.

Rogues gazed at her with plain desires; he was going to be quick and brutal so that he could get back to his duty post.

With a single strip he tore Linn's dress, and she shrieked in fear, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Please don't do this.” She begged him, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. He smiled wickedly and pushed her to the wall. “Next time, don't reject me, pretty face…..”

Those were the last words Linn heard before she fell unconscious due to the pressure she was facing; when she woke up, she saw that she had been defiled. He raped her!

Linn broke down in tears and cried as she gathered the remnant of her clothes on the floor, which were in pieces; she sobbed silently in the cold night.

She felt used; she felt betrayed. She held her dress to her chest and quickly made her way to her mistress's room.

Queen Jazell was seated on a swing at the balcony of her room. From here she could view the whole town; her room was located high up in the castle. The twirling of smoke coming from the hemp she was smoking dwindled away in thin air.

The moon radiated on her face, her fair skin came to light, and she had a firm countenance on her face. As she puffed out another smoke from her pink lips.

Fondly known as the queen of tactics, Queen Jazell, the second queen of Decreash, had formed a habit of smoking. It was recently; she never used to smoke. She was elegant and demure.

But things had changed, and she changed too;she felt she needed to clear her mind or think, she came out onto her balcony and smoked Indian hemp.

Her short hair grazed her shoulders as she reclined on the swing; just then she heard the door to her chamber slowly creak open. She paused her smoking, puffing out the smoke she had just inhaled from her small round lips… …. “Who's there?

“My lady, it is me.” Linn said, walking up to the balcony where her mistress was. Then she fell on her knees, clutching to the edge of Jazell's nightgown, and she cried uncontrollably.

“My lady, I have come to seek justice.” Her voice quivered with pain as she sniffed; she was weak but managed to crawl her way to Jazell's room.

Jazell dropped the hemp she was smoking on a glass table beside her. Linn was aware that her mistress smoked, but she never told anyone.

She was under an oath and would be put to death if she uttered a word against Jazell. She had vowed to serve her with her blood; her loyalty was compulsory.

Jazell glanced down at Linn and saw some marks on her fair skin. “Who did this to you? She questioned tentatively, shifting her gaze to the golden cup filled with wine on the table; she picked it up and sipped from it.

“Rogues are guards in the palace; he raped me! Linn cried bitterly; she could still feel some pains between her legs and needed some medical attention.

“Why should I help you? Jazell questioned, calmly gazing into the dark sky, the moon reflected in her eyeballs.

“My lady, if you don't help me, then I will kill myself.” It wasn't a threat; Linn did feel like taking her life away right at that moment. Where was the reason to live? All she wanted at that moment was justice, and if Jazell couldn't give it to her, she was as good as dead.

Jazell struck her across the face, and she staggered backwards, caressing her cheeks.

“You fool, do you think death is an option? It doesn't solve anything.” She glared at Linn angrily. She hated cowards; those who committed suicide just for the fun of it didn't deserve a chance to live in the first place.

“You are well aware committing suicide is not in my dictionary.” Jazell said, puffing in some smoke from the hemp.

“I hate weaklings. You are my personal maid; you have to learn to stand up for yourself and show others that you are different. You work for me; you should learn from me! Her voice was firm. Linn was quaking uncontrollably and curled in the corner while gazing at Jazell in fear.

“I am sorry, my lady; it was a foolish thing to say. Forgive me.” Linn quivered, her breath etched.

Linn has always been afraid of her mistress; other queens got along with their personal maid just fine, but Jazsll was different. She was always reticent; her calm disposition left people puzzled. She was a deep thinker, always calculating, always scheming behind closed doors. Even with this, Linn still had great respect for Jazell.

Jazell was silent for a while; her pair of crystal eyes seemed distant as she gazed at nothing in particular. Smoke continued to dwindle into thin air as she puffed them out slowly.

There was silence; Linn's mind suddenly drifted to how she met Jazell.

Linn was a nobody; she was a beggar on the streets, and her family was on the verge of death. Linn had met Jazell by coincidence on a market day in Decreash; there was a festival going on, and celebration was in the air.

Jazell had come to buy some jewelry; it was a plain excuse for her to leave the kingdom and get some fresh air.

But intrigued by a pair of diamond earrings she spotted while strolling through the crowds of people, she decided to actually buy something.

Just then a young lady in rags, with disheveled hair and her face smeared with dirt, bumped into her.

Jazell was wearing a black cloak and was putting on the dress meant for commoners. Not many people have seen the royal family, so she was sure that she wouldn't be recognized.

However, the young lady was able to recognize her.

“Queen Jazell! The young lady, who happened to be Linn, was in a daze. She had seen the picture of Jazell in a book she had come across.

“How did you recognize me? Jazell questioned, stunned. There were guards positioned at strategic distances. When they saw a beggar bothering their queen, they wanted to make their way to where Jazell was, but she raised her hand to signify for them to stay put.

“My lady, it is an honor to meet you. I have seen your face in one of the books I read.” She said and bowed. Jazell creased her brows.

”Don't expect too much after meeting royalty.” She was aware that people like Linn would immediately begin to beg for food; she had no time for such people, and she wasn't running a charity business.

“Do you really think I am intrigued by your wealth? I am a beggar, but I have my ways.” Linn said, snatching an apple from a basket of fruit a woman was holding. The woman was simply walking past them, but Linn was swift in her movement; nobody except Jazell saw her.

“Come with me.” Jazell simply said and led her to her royal carriage, which was parked in a hidden alley.

Linn was brought to the royal palace; she was so grateful that she fell on her knees.

“What shall I do in return for this favor you granted me, my queen?” She had said, and Jazell gazed at her profoundly.

“Swear that you will serve me with your blood, with loyalty still your last breath.” Jazell had said it, and Linn swore it. Ever since that day Linn had worked for Jazell, following her every command.

“What did you say his name was again? Jazell sipped from her cup of wine. Linn suddenly jolted back to reality.

Linn hesitated… … ”Rogues,” she managed to say.

Jazell’s eyes suddenly had a glint of untold darkness, deep with mystery.

“You may take your leave, Linn; consider Rouges dead.”