Chapter 003

Seraphina

I woke up, my breath ragged, chest heaving as sweat covered my face. I sat up on the narrow mattress, my hands trembling as I pressed them together.

The golden-eyed wolf… the word it said vividly in my head.

Mate.

Oh God, it was this place. This was what was affecting me. I was in the wolves’ territory that would explain this kind of dream, because witches don't get mates.

I was lost in thoughts, trying to give meaning to the dream I had, when a knock on the door shifted my attention. It wasn't the trembling or rude servant.

It was a young girl. She looked probably my age or younger. She had sandy hair and wide, fearful eyes.

“His Majesty requests for you,” she said quickly. “Now.”

I didn't ask why, didn’t argue.

I rose from the bed, smoothing the dull gray dress over my body, and followed shortly behind her. The hallway was quiet as usual.

The further we walked, the harder my heart drummed against my chest.

We stopped in front of a door I wasn't sure I'd passed before. “Whatever you do, do not speak out of tone with her”, the young maid warned with fear in her tone, before she quickly walked away.

I knocked on the door before pushing it open and entering one of the most luxurious rooms I'd ever seen in my life. It looked glorious.

She sat on the bed, dressed in a black ball gown which spoke only of elegance.

“Don't you know how to bow?” she barked.

“I’m... I’m sorry, Your... Majesty... I mean, my Queen.”

She didn't say anything for a moment, just studied me with my head bowed.

My stomach growled loud enough that it echoed through the whole room.

“Oh, looks like someone is hungry,” she said nonchalantly.

“When was the last time you ate…” she said, but I knew she didn't care if I starved to death.

“It’s been days.”

“Oh, that's so sad. But in here, you have to work before you eat.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

“Since the king hasn't found a good use for you, I think I know something you will be perfect for.” A sinister smile crawled to her lips.

She got up and started pacing around me. “You know, Seraphina, I wasn't there on the day you were brought into the palace. But I heard everything that transpired how you refused to bow to your king. That was a very big mistake, and you need to be punished for that.”

My eyes widened in fear. “You will sleep in the dungeon from now henceforth, because slaves don't get to stay in little cozy rooms.”

I didn't get the chance to speak. Her eyes glinted with cruelty as she snapped her fingers, and two guards stepped in, each one looming over me, dressed in black armor.

Their faces were unreadable, but I could feel the pity—or was it disgust? behind their cold gazes.

“Take her,” her voice was as calm as ever, as if this was a normal routine for her. “Make sure she sees what happens when someone disrespects the Lycan king.”

The guard grabbed me roughly by the arm. I didn't fight back. I was already too weak, and it wouldn't make any difference.

“Wait!” I cried suddenly, desperate, my voice shaky. “Please… I didn’t know I didn’t mean to disrespect him. I was scared. I'm sorry.”

The queen tilted her head slightly, almost amused. “Oh, it doesn't matter now.”

Her laughter followed me as I was dragged out of the room.

Some of the maids in the hallway just stared. I lost everything. Now this humiliation, what did I do to deserve such?

The deeper we went, the more suffocating it became. The walls seemed to close in, and the scent of mold and blood filled my nose.

I wasn't sure how we got here, if I had passed out on the way, but the dungeon wasn't exactly what I had thought. It was worse.

Dark. Wet. Silent… except for the occasional dripping of water or the far-off sound of chains rattling.

A cell door creaked open, iron scraping against iron. One of the guards shoved me inside, and I stumbled onto the cold, damp floor. Before I could turn, the door slammed shut behind me with a finality that made my heart lurch.

I crawled to a corner, trying to make myself small. The stone walls were slick with moisture, and something sticky clung to the ground beneath me. I didn’t want to know what it was.

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn't fight it this time I just let them fall.

A whisper echoed faintly from the next cell. A female voice. Weak. “Stop crying. Some of us are trying to sleep.”

The words terrified me. I quickly placed a hand over my mouth to stop myself from screaming. How did my life become this? I used to be the daughter of the High Witch of the Noir Coven.

One of the strongest witch covens in all of theronox and now I was reduced to nothing. A mere slave trapped in this horrible place.

Suddenly, I felt something crawl, and as it touched my leg I screamed before quickly moving. The entire cell echoed.

“Shut up!”

“Can you keep it down?”

I heard people complaining from different corners.

“It’s just a cockroach,” the person from the other cell said casually. “Get used to it.”

I sat close to the iron bars, not wanting to go any closer. The darkness horrified me.

Slowly, I began hearing footsteps. I quickly got up and looked out the iron bars, but I couldn't see anything, and everywhere was really dark.

“Seraphina... Seraphina...” I heard someone whispering my name.

“I'm over here!” I yelled.

The person came in front of my cell, and even then I still couldn't tell who it was.

“Are you okay?” she asked, and I recognized that voice was the same as the young maid who had come to call me earlier.

“I brought you bread and water.” She pushed it through the opening in the iron bars, and I reached for it quickly, pushing it down my throat. I wasn't sure I was even chewing anymore.

“Why are you helping me?” I asked, but she didn't answer. Just stayed quiet.

“The king is out of the kingdom. That’s why Veronica is doing all this. He’ll be back in a couple of days and I’m sure he’ll set you free.”

I almost laughed. “And how are you sure about that?”

“I’m not,” the words came out and I felt every thread of hope I had, gone.

“I have to go,” she said as she started to walk away. “Wait... wait what’s your name?”

“Lilian... Noir,” she said before walking away.