Chapter 2 CAST OUT

DESDEMONA.

I woke up from the creaked opening of the door, I was still naked lying on the floor and the maid was walking all over me as if I was not in the room.

I picked the fresh new garment placed beside me, and wore it.

“Here is your food,” Celeste said as she put the food on the floor. She is one of the maids assigned to me, but I am more like a maid myself, so she looked down on me.

“Thank you,” I said faintly as I take the food and start eating, I am already staring, and my body aches from from yesterday beating 

The porridge was cold, and tasteless. It tasted more terrible than the one I used to have. I am sure that it is the food from yesterday. Despite knowing that I still forced it down. My stomach growled from the pain of staving, so I didn’t have the right to complain and gulped it all down without hesitating. Every bite makes it more terrible, even dogs shouldn't be given this kind of food.

Celeste scoffed, crossing her arm as she leaned on the wall. “You really think you belong here, don’t you? Pretending to be a daughter of this household. You should be grateful they even let you eat.”

Her words cut deeper than the bruises on my skin. I lowered my head, swallowing food and shame together. Maybe she was right, I am nothing more than their slave, even a slave is treated better than me, at least they get to eat good food, and fresh silk cloth.

I touched my swollen lip gently. My ribs ached when I moved slightly away from my previous position.

“Ahh…..” I groaned, but I kept eating. I would faint before the day ended if I didn't eat. I am already weak as it is, so I can't afford to faint again.

I could still feel the pain from yesterday, the servants dragging me by my hair, and beating me up to a pulp, while Selene watched, with a satisfying smile on her face, she did not even care to hide it. They called me a thief, a liar and a disgrace, but no one cared to hear me out. Why would they? I was the unwanted one.

When I finished, I placed the empty bowl carefully by the door, where I always did. My hands trembled, as I hugged my knees, wishing the floor would swallow me.

I heard voices outside, harsh, loud whispers. They are talking about me. Yet again, I know I should have gotten used to it, but no one can get used to being badly spoken about.

“They’re casting her out today.”

“Yes… she is going to cast an evil eye on all of us if she is not cast out soon.”

“The Alpha will take her. Maybe that will finally rid us of the bad omen she brings.”

My chest tightened. My hands grew cold. Cast out. Sacrifice. The words spun around me like knives.

So it was true. Selene wasn’t only mocking me yesterday. She had warned me, but with twisted delight.

Today… Today I will be gone.

Celeste rolled her eyes and picked up the bowl. “You should come and work today at Lady Selene's wedding, you should at least help with the chores, but don't show yourself, work in the corner,” she warned before walking away.

I knew what she meant by work in the corner. I wasn’t allowed to be seen. I was a bad omen, a curse. They only kept me around as a slave, I should not be seen. Especially not on days like this, on Selene’s wedding day.

If anyone caught sight of me, stepping too close to the celebration hall only God knows what would happen to me again.

My body still ached from the pain, but I knew I had no choice, if I didn’t show up to work, they would drag me out by the hair and make me do harder work.

I lowered my head, like I always do, whispering to myself “Endure, Desdemona… just endure.” Yes, that's what I have been doing. Enduring.

The wedding hall was full of laughter, and the sweet smell of roasted meat. 

Selene looked like the beautiful goddess they always said she was, her silky white gown and pearl make her stand out, her smile brighter than it used to be. People cheered and clapped for her. She looked perfect, flawless, everything I could never be.

I stood far away in the corner, where I belong, half of my body hidden behind the pillar with a tray in my hand. I bow my head low, my eyes on the floor, I dared not to look at her for too long, I don't want to cast bad omen on her.

I know I didn't belong here, I have never belonged anywhere, and I wanted to disappear before anyone remembered I existed.

Even in the noise, I caught the whispers from the guest present.

“That cursed girl shouldn’t be here.”

“She’s bad luck. If she’s seen, she will be a misfortune for Selene's wedding.”

I swallowed hard, pressing myself deeper into the corner, praying I could vanish.

The celebration dragged on until the moon rose high, and the sun fell into the night. And when it was over, when Selene was carried away to her new husband, my heart almost loosened with relief. I thought maybe I had gone unnoticed. Maybe I would be spared this time.

I was wrong.

A rough hand gripped my arms from behind. I gasped, dropping the empty tray as I was yanked into the open. The music had already faded, but the voices of the villagers rose again—this time sharper, crueler.

“There she is!”

“Dragging her bad luck into a holy union!”

“Get her out before she curses us all!”

The seer stepped forward. “She must be cast out today, to wear off all the bad omen.”

“Please…..” my voice cracked and came out almost as a whisper.

“The cursed mark on Desdemona has awakened and fate demands that she be given to the Alpha of the Northern Wolves as a peace offering,” the seer said, not listening to my pleading voice.

They pulled me by the hair, the stones scraping my knees as I fell. My eyes searched for my mother, she was in the crowd smirking, as if she had been waiting for this day all my life. I know she has been.

 Celeste tried to shield me, but they shoved her aside, and dragged along with me. my tears mixing with dust, my body weak from yesterday’s beating.

Torches lit the path as the crowd roared, spitting, hurling words. “Take her to the wolves! Let the beasts feast on her blood! That’s where a curse belongs!”

“Take her away!” 

I glanced at my mother for the last time as I was being dragged away by the crowd.

“Please…..stop!” Celeste covered me with her small body. crying out, begging them to stop, but no one listened. 

The gates of the village opened steadily, to the dark forest, the territory of the werewolf pack, no one dares to go there, it is a forbidden place, yet I am being casted out there.

They threw me into the dark as if I were nothing but waste. Celeste rushed to my side, holding me.

“Someone like her should not be allowed to stay here, cast her away!!”

“Yes, send her away, she does not belong here,” I heard another growling voice in the crowd.

“Stop!!” 

My eyes lit up, in a glimmer of hope.