3

ISLA

When I walked into the kitchen, the first thing that hit me was the flurry of activities. To my left and right, there was a collection of kitchen staff, all with different duties aimed at feeding the crowd of rich snobs the Alpha King had invited. 

Beyond the large kitchen doors that blocked the Kitchen were delegates and Alphas and everybody that the King deemed worthy enough to dine with. Most of them came with at least three delegates so there were over a hundred guests in the banquet hall. 

The kitchen was through a hallway and down the right of the banquet hall. Some of the staff were moving in and out through the double doors holding trays packed with plates either filled with food or emptied out. In the hurried events, no one noticed me standing there and I was sharp for that. I could. I can't wait for this to be over so I can just go to my room and lay in bed. 

I heard someone shout in the distance, “Wine! We need more red wine on this table.”

“More wine? Okay. Where’s…you!”

It took a beat to realize that the Matron who had responded to the request was talking to me. I was the only one not busy with any other thing. I turned to see her finger pointed at me and I nearly shrunk back into the door behind me, wishing I had teleportation powers. I would really be anywhere else but here. 

“I’m talking to you, girl; quit cowering over there and come get the keys to the cellar,” Myrtle, the Matron, spoke roughly.

With a sigh, I walked over to her and took the keys from her outstretched hand. By the time I descended the stairs that led to the basement where the cellar was, my body ached from tiredness. I was out of air and the stuffy room downstairs didn’t do anything to help my lungs. 

I barely made it into the cellar itself where, to my chagrin, I found the red wine was located on the top shelf. Could this day truly get any worse? I pulled an empty crate to the shelf and that zapped the remaining strength from my body. The last thing I remember was collapsing onto the tiled floor.

Whip! Whip! Whip!

It wasn’t the pain that woke me up any more than the sound of Riana’s yelling. 

“You must feel at home right here on the floor huh?!” Riana cackled again, in that way that had my insides curling. “I bet your poor father couldn’t afford all this?! Speak up, bitch!”

I struggled to get up, but I was too weak to move and it only pushed Riana to more wickedness. She struck me several times till I finally stood up and ran out of the cellar. The thought of getting whipped pulled me up the stairs till I reached the kitchen where I was quickly grabbed by the Matron.

“Where’s the wine?” Myrtle asked, and as I was about to answer, she saw Riana walk into the kitchen, still brandishing the whip. “Never mind. I need you to wear this.”

She thrust a set of white clothes into my hand, and my confusion was apparent. She answered my unasked question while she unlocked my chains.

“One of the maids suddenly fell ill, and we need you to take her place.”

She had to be kidding me. 

“You can’t possibly be serious…” I started to argue, but Myrtle pointed at my chains to indicate that, for that moment, I was free. “I’ve had no food in the last two days. I’m too weak…”

“Save it,” the rude head maid cut into my plea. “You’re the most decent-looking of our remaining options, and I cannot have some ugly mug serving royalty. Now, get dressed, quit whining, and grab a tray. You’re not the only one having a bad day.”

Bereft, I did as I was told.

Inside the banquet hall, with all its lavish decorations and even better-looking guests, I felt so small and invisible. I could smell the riches in the air and the food that I was not allowed to taste. I swallowed the dry saliva in my mouth and I couldn't help but lust after the variety of dishes displayed on the table. It made me uncomfortable, but I did my job moving from table to table —serving guests and retrieving used dishes.

As I approached the table where the Alpha King, clad in his finest robes and jewelry, I heard him saying to the surrounding Alphas that the vampires were going to suffer under their reign. Everything in me wanted to plunge the knife in front of him deep into his throat and watch his blood seep through my hands. He sat there wining and dining with the other evil-doers he called friends like he hadn't just killed an innocent man.  

He rose to his feet and someone somewhere rang a bell. 

“So my friends, let us toast to the alliance against the vampires!” King Nathan raised the golden goblet in his left hand. “To demonstrate my sincerity, I have already executed the Alpha Nicholas who had dealings with the vampires.”

There were a few gasps as a shock went around the hall at the announcement. My father had been revered by many…or so I thought. I was very sure that most of the people seated here were the same people who ganged up against him and killed him. 

“In fact, as we speak, his ashes are being thrown across the forest. I burnt him along with whatever plan he had against the pack.”

That statement is like a blow to my gut. 

The men cheered King Nathan’s ruthlessness and my body boiled from the rising anger. Tears dropped from my eyes, hearing and watching him celebrate his demise. After everything, my father did for the king and the kingdom. The Alpha King had quickly forgotten how close the both of them had been. The most painful part was that they were friends and they had even grown up together. Even in his death, King Nathan could not give my father the peace he deserved. He was still trying to turn everyone against him!

I didn’t realize I was visibly shaking from the anger coursing through my veins. My legs momentarily gave out and someone caught me around the waist.

I heard the King’s voice far off.

 “What’s going on over there? Bruce? You like that maid? Then I shall give her to you as a gift!”

What the hell? Just like that? I tried to open my eyes but for some reason, I couldn't. 

“Of course,” Bruce laughed, running his hand over the skin on my face. “Thank you, Alpha King. I like her very much! I hope she is still a virgin?”

Goosebumps rose on my skin as the person who was holding me touched me. That question was enough to make me open my eyes and I saw the most unpleasant person ever. That disgusting leech, Bruce stood over me with his irritating goatee, smiling at me with a very creepy smile. 

“Of course! At least, I think she is. I mean, with her father being a traitor, there’s no telling what kind of a whore his daughter would be.”

The maids put their hands over my mouth to keep me from crying out as they dragged me out of the hall. 

I was about to be given off to the most disgusting man to ever grace the plater and I couldn't do anything about it.