CHAPTER 6 : THE THREAT

I woke up with a start, the faint sound of a howling dogs sent me reeling out of unconsciousness. I couldn't stand up, a throbbing pain evident all over my body.

The impact of the  beating from the previous night had taken its toll and now my body was nonetheless heavier than a massive tree trunk.

The barking of the dogs was becoming too loud. Curiosity piqued, I managed to drag my numb frame from the bed, my shackled wrists and shackles making my movement cumbersome.

The chain scrapped the floor with a jarring screech as I slowly moved towards the window. It's dusty pane offered a sweeping view of the Castles massive concourse.

Below were a triumvirate of elegant dogs, their leashes, in the firm grasp of a tall, middle -aged woman clad in a dark gossamer gown who stood conversing with one of the Castles personnel.

She was stern-faced and she evoked a certain authority which I thought arose from her position in the Castle.

She tilted her head towards my direction and I noticed that she was the woman lurking behind the blinds the day before.

Maintaining a steely demeanor, my eyes were intently focused on her. Soon, I heard a sound at the door, resembling the latching of a key in its hole.

The door flung open, revealing the obsequious Lorna holding an enamel tray with different plates and cutleries. She stormed the room, looking uneasy. "Please stay clear of the window, Queen Annalise. She doesn't like been watched. I urge you to simply avoid getting on her bad books because it's usually not a good story to tell.”

I turned around to see her, frantic and apprehensive. "Why are you so scared of her?"

"it's a long story." Lorna replied, sidling by me and leading me to the straight-backed chair. "She was rejected by an Alpha of her pack when she wasn't birthing an heir. And while roaming the fringes of Los Angeles and Valléjo, King Sylvester found her and took her as his mate. The rest is history."

"Does she have a heir for King Sylvester?" I inquired, furrowing my eyebrows

Lorna exuded the countenance of a pessimist. "No."

Still engrossed in our conversation, the door swung open.

The woman I earlier witnessed below the window of my secluded area strode in, an air of arrogance belying her failure as a Luna. In her grip were leashes to three dark Horace pitbulls. The three beasts were growling petulantly, baring their hideous fangs.

Lorna squirmed to her feet, her hands shaking. “My Luna.” She took a bow.

The woman exuded a face that had the semblance of a sneer. Her tone was deeply cold and indignant. “Lorna, I usually do not come to this part of the Castle because I find this area is reserved solely for low lives and classless individuals. But I witnessed us having a guest in here and it was only fair I paid a visit accordingly.”

I was still seated on the chair and Lorna winked at me - suggestive of my seeming impudence on sighting the so-called Luna.

The woman's eyes were locked on Lorna, a hint of detestation visible on her countenance: “And why is she still sitting?”

I remained mum, rattling the fetters bound to my wrist and ankles in a subtle protest. Lorna turned to me, contriving a servile look, a gesture hinting that I show some level of respect.

I stood up, revealing a bland face.

“That's much better,” she said,slouching down slowly to pat the three dreadful beasts, bristling in rage. “You see, I am not just any Luna…”

We all know that, I thought. Rejected moron.

“...I have always been a Luna..” she said, her cold voice spiking the fury seething me. “So anyone who exhibits acts of insubordination should be treated as a commoner, a trifling, a complete nonentity.”

I guess she wasn't talking to me, I thought. The fact that I was a teenager should be viewed as a ploy to treat me with such disdain. I remained impassive.

Lorna responded in an emotionally laden voice: “my sincere apologies, Luna. We promise this will not happen again.” She bowed.

I remained calm and unflappable.

“Good for you,” shaking the leashes, prompting the dogs into a wild frenzy as they barked like spooked creatures. The sounds almost driving Lorna and I berserk

She slung the leash and the dogs stopped, resorting to occasional snarls.

“What's your name, young lady?” The woman inquired curtly.

I broke my silence for the first time: “I am Vera Cruise.”

The woman pursed her lip thoughtfully. “Cruise? Your name sounds familiar. But anyway, you can call me Queen Annalise.”

Lorna bowed again. I was beginning to find her demeanor annoying.

A wry grimace crept onto her face seeing my indifference. “You seem to be a wild one, but I would give you the benefit of doubt. But..” She moved closer to me, a hint of aversion evident in her eyes. “Don’t dare me. I could be deadly despite my simplicity. Be warned.”

I was unfazed by the threats and it irked her. Her eyes was laced with scorn before she turned around with her horrible creatures and walked out of the room.

Lorna was livid at me. “What temerity? You address the queen in such a disrespectful manner?”

I lowered on the chair and ignored her babbling while the chains chinked on the floor.

Lorna discerned I was not listening. She set the tray, the food on the platter assailing my nostrils. Surprisingly, she reached for the pocket of her plaid apron and retrieved a set of keys. “At the instruction of the King, he requires your chains be removed.”

I was surprised the King  resorted to granting me a bit of freedom and I savoured it immediately. Wriggling my wrists strained by the shackles, I had my breakfast, attempting to forget the predicament I was faced with.

My thoughts again running wild. How long would I be here? Apart from King Sylvester forcing me to become his mate. What about Queen Annalise? Her threats and unmistakable show of hate added another tricky plot to the intricate situation I was faced with.

As I continued my breakfast, the howling dogs echoed from the concourse below. The memory of Queen Annalise’s menacing visage looming in my head.

As the sound faded, I had a quick bath and returned to the melancholic chamber clad in a simple outfit in anticipation for what would happen next.

The door again opened and two guards walked in. The taller one spoke in a mellifluent voice: “The King requires the presence of Vera at his chamber. He instructs her to be well dressed for the meeting which is expected to hold in the next thirty minutes.”

Lorna nodded dismissing them with the gesture of her arm. She went again to closet and obtained a ceremonial garb for the meeting with King Sylvester.

I wondered what he wished to inform me and how the outcome of this meeting would play a role in my subsequent line of action.

Whether this was good or bad, only the meeting with the Alpha King would unravel this mystery.