Highest form of humiliation

Chapter 11

Highest form of humiliation

SERAPHINA

The sky started to change as night faded into morning. The wind felt cooler on my skin. My arms felt weak, and my legs barely moved. I washed the last plate and wiped it slowly. My fingers stung, and my nails cracked. The water turned brown and greasy.

I still smell of the garbage water Leone had disposed of on me, but it's dried up a little. My skin itches me, and the more I scratch, the more it gets red.

I looked at the heap of clean plates and sighed. Now I had to take them back.

I bent down and picked up the first stack. My back ached, but I didn’t stop. One trip. Two trips. Three. I didn’t count out loud, but I knew when it was ten. I felt each one in my bones.

I walked into the kitchen with the last stack. The maids were there, standing close together. They stopped working when I came in. Their eyes landed on me. I smelled like sweat, soap, and waste water. My feet were bare since I discarded my shoes so I wouldn't trip and break the plates.

Agnes folded her arms. “Look at her,” she said. “Future Luna? She looks like a pig rolled in mud.”

The others laughed.

“She’s even worse than a pig,” one of the maids answered with a sneer. “She’s a dirty dog.”

I kept my head down not because I couldn't bite out at words to them but because I was tired of everything. There was no fight in me anymore.

Agnes stepped forward. “You missed a spot,” she said and rubbed her hand across one of the plates. She showed it to me. “Useless.”

My mouth was dry. My throat felt like it had thorns inside.

Then Philip entered.

“Enough,” he said. “The Alpha has a new work for you.”

I turned, heart heavy. “Please… I just finished…”

“Dog cave,” Philip continued ignoring me. “The Alpha wants it clean now.”

“What?” I whispered.

“You heard me,” he hissed out whilst glaring at me. “Get your ass up and let's move.”

My knees wobbled as I took a step, and my hands shook. “I just washed hundreds of plates,” my hands curled into fists.“And now you’ll clean after animals,” he retorted. “Move.”

My feet got rooted to the spot stubbornly as I refused to do what he demanded. I was tired and needed to rest my aching body. Just then Leone stepped into the kitchen, looking at me like I was a speck on the floor.

I walked forward, slowly. “Leone,” I said softly. “Please. Stop this. I've washed the plates, and I can't clean the dog cave.”

He clicked his tongue and shook his head slowly as if sympathizing with me, but then there's a deadly spark in his gaze. His lips are pressed tightly as he just stares at me.

“I’m tired,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. “Let me rest. I can't do this.”

He looked past me as if I wasn't there. Like he didn't hear me.

I stepped closer, balling my fist. “Fine, I get it. You're mad because I tried escaping, but you’ve punished me enough. I understand. But I’m not a dog to be treated this way.”

His eyes darkened, but he still refused to say a word. Just staring at me with that look, I can comprehend if he's about to manhandle me or just let me be.

I clenched my hands. “Do you hear me? I’m not a dog!”

He raised one brow, his eyes glowing with maniacal brilliance, and a sick smile slid his lips. And with that, something inside me snapped.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you a depraved sick asshole? Do you enjoy getting off at other people's pains? What am I even doing talking and pleading with you to understand me? “ I shook my head and furiously blink my eyes.

"You know what I think? You’re the filthy one,” I spat out. “You’re the monster here, not me.”

His jaw twitched. I met his anger filled eyes with my steady gaze and frowned at me. I was walking on a thin line, and I knew that. If he was going to end up punishing me or forcing me to clean the dog cave, I might as well say a piece of my mind and annoy the hell out of him.

“You enjoy this, don’t you?” I said louder. “Watching people suffer. Hurting me. Making me crawl. You're sick. You’re nothing but a beast in a crown!”

Fury was now swimming in Leone's eyes. He turned to one of the guards and stretched out his hand. The guard handed him a whip. My breath caught.

“Wait…” I stepped back.

He walked forward, arching an eyebrow at me.

“Leone, don’t…”

"First of all, you don't get to address me with my name." He drew as he raised his hand mightily, and the first strike landed on my back. I screamed.

A chill ran down my spine, but before I could recover from it, another one came down heavily on the same spot. Tears blinded my eyes, sliding down my cheek as the pains exploded in a giant torrent. I fell to my knees, balling my quivering hands into my fist by my side.

“Stop!” I cried.

But he didn't stop. The whip cracked again and again on my body, and I could feel my skin burning. My voice broke as I wailed. This was the worst humiliation of my life—getting whipped in front of everyone like I was a nobody. Of course I was a nobody, but no? What happened to being his wife?

“Clean it!” he roared. “Clean the cave!”

I cried out helplessly. “I’ll do it! Please—I’ll clean it!”

He threw the whip at the floor and turned. “Philip.”

“Yes, my king.”“Take her to the cave.”

Philip grabbed my arm. I couldn’t walk straight. My back stung. I held onto the wall as he dragged me out of the kitchen.

The dog cave was far away. The guards we passed looked at me with pure disdain. I could hear their giggles and whispers as we passed them.

When we got there, the smell hit me first. Rotten waste. Piss. Wet fur.

Philip unlocked the cage. “Get in,” he said.

I stepped in. The ground was messy. There was poop everywhere, and flies buzzed. My hands flew to my nose in an attempt to block off the heavy smell cloaking the cave.

“No covering,” he said and yanked my hand away. “Clean everything.”

He tossed me a small shovel and a rag.

“Are you serious?” I bit my lips to quit quivering.

“Dead serious,” he replied and leaned on the wall. “Start.”

I bent down and started scooping. The poop was thick and wet. My stomach turned. I gagged whilst trying to joke it down. All I did was scoop again and again.

The dogs barked from the other side of the gate. Their eyes stared at me with pure hate. Does everything in this palace hate me?

Philip chuckled. “Looks like you belong here.”

I didn’t reply.

The heat inside the cage worsened it. Sweat ran down my back, mixing with the whip marks. I winced every time I moved.

“You’re too slow,” Philip sneered. “Faster.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.”

He kicked a pile toward me. It splattered on my foot. I jumped up, but it was too late; the poops were resting on my feet. I shut my eyes. My chest heaves “Are you going to cry?” he asked.

“No,” I whisper, holding onto my silly pride.

“Good. Save the tears for when Leone calls again.”

I cleaned for hours. Time dragged. The sun was fully up now. My body wanted to collapse. My hands trembled. Every time I tried to pause, Philip would bang the gate or throw something inside. I kept going. I lost count of how many piles I cleared. The smell clung to my skin.

When I was finally done, I crawled out. My knees were stained. My dress stuck to me. My hands were covered in dirt. I looked up at Philip.

“Done,” I whispered.

He sniffed. “Smells like you missed a few.”

I didn’t have the strength to argue.

He walked me back to the palace. The guards watched me. Some whispered. Some laughed. Agnes was in the hallway. She stepped back when she saw me.

“Ugh,” she said. “You stink worse than the dogs.”

Philip nodded. “That’s because she is one.”

I ignored them, not desiring a fight. I want a clean bath, a change of clothes, and the bed to sleep on.

Then a guard approached us.

“The King wants her,” he nodded at me.

“Now?” Philip asked.

“Yes. In his room.”

Philip smirked. “Guess your day’s not over yet.”

I walked behind the guard. My feet dragged. My eyes burned. Every step hurts.

We reached his door. The guard opened it and pushed me inside.

Leone stood by the window, shirtless. His back to me. He was in his room while I had to clean his dog poops? I stood there, waiting.

He turned slowly, eyes reviewing me.

“You’re a mess,” he clicked his tongue, his voice icing over as he studied me with rapt fascination.

"Oh yeah, what were you expecting?" I hurl at him.

He stepped forward, grinning. “You really did it.”

“I did.” I missed shaking my head.

What do I think I'm doing by answering him in this manner? Haven't I learned enough lessons for today? Maybe I enjoy being in trouble? Or maybe I love crawling all over his skin.

He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face. I flinched as I stepped back.

“You smell like shit,” he said, smiling.

“You don't have to remind me.”

He moved closer. I tensed, expecting him to backhand me.“Get into the bathroom,” he demands, startling me.

I blinked. “What?”

He arched an eyebrow at me and looked over his shoulder to the open bathroom. "What does it look like I'm doing?" He smirked wider. “I want to make my little wolf clean.”