Rude Awakening

Erina

He left me there, and I didn’t know what to do. Should I stay and wait for him to return, or should I leave? But I wouldn’t know how to get back to my room. If that was my room. But the bed was so soft and warm, the pillows so inviting. I was exhausted. Hungry, too. Exhaustion won, and I snuggled under the covers. It didn’t take long for me to pass out.

Someone dragged me out of the bed and threw me to the floor. Out of nowhere, I got a kick in the ribs, which left me gasping. Next thing I know, someone's yanking my hair.  

“What the fuck are you doing in the king’s bed?” My attacker was a woman. A furious woman. And she was angry enough to kill me.

I tried to reach her painful grip on my hair and got a punch in the gut for my effort.

“Answer me! How dare you sleep in his bed!” she screamed like a demon. Her beautiful face wore a mask of hatred. Another one of those beautiful monsters.

“I-I didn’t know… Please, he never said…” There was no use talking to her. She shook me like I was her chew toy. My tears and cries of pain did nothing to stop her. Until he came.

“Elise! What is the meaning of this?” My savior, my tormentor. “Let her go.”

“My king.” The woman dropped me and bowed to him. “This slave was in your bed.”

I rubbed my poor, abused ribs. A few strands of my hair hung from her fingers, which she shook off, looking disgusted.

“Yes, I left her there. What is your problem?” He looked down his nose at me and regarded her with the same coldness, standing there with his arms folded across his broad chest. He wore a fine suit this time.

She sidled up to him, stroking his arm and looking up at him with innocent eyes. “But, my king, you never let your mistresses sleep in your bed. Why this filthy slave?”

He kept staring at me the whole time I was on the floor, trying to keep myself covered. It was humiliating; sitting there naked while they were both dressed in finery. A filthy slave.

Still breathing, Erina. Concentrate on that. You’re still alive.

“Since when do I answer to you, Elise?” Distant thunder in his voice.

At least the woman-Elise-recognized the warning signs. “Oh, no, my king! I didn’t mean…”

“I was in your bed last night, wasn’t it enough? What do you want?” In a heartbeat, he had his hand wrapped around her throat.

So, that is where he went. To sleep with her. I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or shamed. Why should I feel insulted? They were monsters. They deserved each other.

“I-umm… Nothing. I just…” she sounded scared.

He released her. “You may leave,” he told her in that tone that one dared not disobey.

She left in a huff, but not before giving me a hateful stare. This wasn’t over.

“Get up, huntress.” He threw his velvet robe at me. “Cover yourself.”

The robe covered me completely, and it smelled like him. It wasn’t unpleasant.

“Use the bathroom. I will send for clothes for you.” His face was a mask of indifference. My pain didn’t concern him and why would it?

Still, I didn’t expect this from him. Should I thank him?

“T-thank you, Master.” I rushed past him to go to the bathroom.

He was gone by the time I finished up in the bathroom. A neat pile of clothes lay on a chair in front of the fireplace. I removed the robe and wore the simple undergarment and gray dress. There was nothing suggestive or pretty about it. A dress for a slave. Thick woolen socks and black pumps finished the uniform. My hair was a mess, and I had nothing to comb it with. There was nothing for it but to use my fingers to disentangle the mess.

My stomach cramped from hunger. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a proper meal. The mouthfuls of water I drank in the bathroom only amplified the gnawing in my belly. But I didn’t have time to dwell on my discomfort because an elderly woman came to fetch me.

“So, you are the one the pack’s buzzing about?” Her critical eyes assessed me from head to toe. “Hmmph! Don’t look like anything special to me. You’re a hunter?” she shook her head. “A fart could blow you over.”

She looked less threatening, more like a grandmother than a dangerous werewolf. “I am not a threat.”

She cackled at my response. “Let’s get you something to eat. The beast in your belly is loud.” She walked out of the room and when I didn’t follow, she yelled over her shoulder at me. “Well, come on then!”

***

The woman who I learned was called Gisela gave me milk and bread, which I devoured like a starving animal.

“You’ll be cleaning floors. I can’t trust you in the kitchen with all those sharp objects about.” She grinned at me. “Even though you look harmless enough, little mouse.”

Following her through the myriads of corridors, I wondered how I would ever find my way around when she called another girl dressed in the same uniform and about my age.

“This is Sophie. You will work with her from now on.” Gisela turned her sharp gaze on me. “And let me warn you, mouse, don’t cause trouble. You don’t want to get on my bad side.” I saw her eyes change color from blue to yellow. It only took a few seconds, but it was enough to terrify me. “Now that we have that sorted… Be careful, little mouse, there are a lot of cats around that would love to play with you. They don’t like that the king had you in his chambers.” She patted my arm, turned around and left me shaking.