Chapter 248
~ NYSSA
My brows knitted in confusion. “Why the hell would I agree to do that p>
“I don’t think he cares about your agreement. He’ll have the dinner, even if he has to send his men to drag you out of here and trust me, it’s never nice when he does that.” She took another step towards me. “Just… please p>
“I’m not doing shit p>
I hopped back over to the bed and managed to sit down. The position was uncomfortable with my hands tied behind my back and my legs still bound, but I kept my chin straight. The king could do whatever he damn well pleased, but he’d be surprised to learn that I wasn’t one of his whores.
“At least let me help you into a dress,” she whispered softly. “Or touch up your hair, or help you with a shower. Just… something p>
She reached out for me but I snarled. “If you touch me, I’ll bite your fucking hand off p>
She glanced out the window, her hands shaking violently. “Please, he asked me to do this. I have to get you ready. It’s not going to take long, I swear. We only have a few more minutes before they come knocking. Don’t you want to get out of those ropes? All you have to do is promise you won’t try to run p>
I snorted.
She seemed like a sweet girl, but she had to be fucking naïve if she thought this shit was going down without a fight. I couldn’t beat the entire palace filled with vampires, but I could hold my own and give them a run for their money until Rowan managed to find me.
The seconds ticked by suspiciously slow, and with each passing minute, she tried numerous ways to try to convince me, but she must have realized it wasn’t working because she swore and tried to open the door but it wouldn’t budge.
I understood her panic. After all, she had been taught that punishment would come if I didn’t do as I was asked, but I’d deal with the punishment. I’d take death over turning into one of their puppets.
After what felt like hours, I heard a lock click and the door opened.
A massive male walked in. he wore black pants and a loose shirt that did nothing to hide his bulging muscles. He looked between me and the girl with a frown.
“It is time for dinner,” he said coldly, his expression blank. “Come p>
“Make me,” I spat.
The girl gasped and stepped back, her spine rigid as if silently bracing for something but the guard did not move. He only smiled, a cruel, cold tilt of his lips that promised cruelty.
He walked over to me slowly and I braced myself for the sting of his palm on my cheek but to my surprise, it never came. He grabbed me by the arm harshly and pulled me to my feet, tugging me unceremoniously out of the room.
“You, come with!” he snapped at the girl.
I was tugged like a fucking ragdoll through the halls and down the stairs.
The male did not stop to see how I was faring and did not slow each time my feet slammed into the steps. He ignored my curses too and there was little I could do in terms of freeing myself seeing as I was still bound.
He led me towards a pair of massive double doors and pushed them open with his free hand.
The room revealed a long black dining table with more chairs than anyone could possibly need. The room was dark, the only light was a soft orange glow that came from candles.
At the head of the table sat the King. He was dressed in some kind of regal robe.
I was shoved into a seat a few chairs down from him.
“Thank you for bringing her,” the king said slowly. He looked up at me then turned to the maid. “Why isn’t she dressed p>
“She wouldn’t let me!” the girl was quick to answer. “I tried everything but she snarled at me. She didn’t want to be p>
“Shhh,” he cooed, rising to his feet. “She can be stubborn, I know p>
The girl nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. “I swear I tried. She said she would run and I warned her about the punishments but she didn’t care p>
“She won’t be punished, don’t worry. I have far greater plans for her that don’t include punishment p>
I fought back a smile.
I knew he wouldn’t try punishing me. He already broke multiple rules by taking me. Obviously he wouldn’t risk fucking up more by giving me to his guards. That would solidify his death and only make it slower… and crueler.
The maid was sniffling as he stepped in front of her.
He reached out, stroking her cheek with the back of his palm. “You did so well and I know you did your best p>
“Thank you p>
“Unfortunately, she needs to learn p>
He moved so fast that I didn’t even get to process it. One minute, he was stroking her cheek, and the next, he had his hands around her throat and he tugged.
Blood spurted everywhere—on his clothes, on my face and in my hair— as he completely decapitated her.
Her body fell limp to the ground and all I could do was fucking sit there as I watched her lifeless head roll to my feet.
A tight knot formed in my throat as her wide eyes stared up at me and my entire body trembled.
“Take her away,” he said coldly to the guard. “And get another maid to wait in her room p>
The guard didn’t even flinch at the blood. He just picked up the body and walked out.
“I know enough to know that you don’t care what happens to you,” the king began as he grabbed a napkin from the table and began wiping his hands. “But for every order you refuse, another of your maids will be executed p>
He grabbed a knife from the table and stood in front of me. With one flick, the ties around my wrists fell to the ground.
“Now, are you ready for dinner p>