Chapter 33

I have a quick shower and dress in a gray bodycon dress. I apply makeup the same as I did in the morning, and let my curls hang loosely over my shoulders.
Lillian steps into the room. Her face is paler than usual if that’s possible. Without warning, screams echo down the hallway. Cries of pain and desperation. The kind of scream that makes your blood run cold. Tears brim my eyes and my heart cries out for the poor souls. No one deserves to be beaten to the brink of death. The screams get louder, tearing through me like a great shard of glass. My eyes grow larger, and my pulse quickens. My heart thuds like a rock rattling in a box. The screams come again, desperate, terrified. I block out the noise for fear of breaking down in tears. I compose myself before facing Lillian.
"Is everything alright?" I ask, glancing in the mirror as I try my best to act casual and block out the haunting cries. The keys in her hand rattle around the cold stone room.
"Yes, yes," she replies. I get the feeling she is reassuring herself more than me. Shrugging, I walk to the door. When I was first brought to the castle, I tried to talk to her. Okay, I asked her way too many questions. She ignored every word and walked around like it was normal for a young girl to be thrown into a room and the door locked, keeping her caged. I can now sense her fear. I know why she keeps her distance. The king is an evil twisted man who thrives on fear and pain.
We walk through the halls of the castle in silence. The tapping of our shoes on the floor is the only sound. I nod my head and smile at the servants that cross our path. When we pass the men from Lucifer’s army, I keep my eyes glued straight ahead. The men are as mean and calculating as the king.
***
I paint what I hope is a convincing smile on my face as I walk into the dining room and take my seat. I am running out of time, each day that passes brings us closer to the wedding. I must play the game.
I give the king a little bow of the head. “Good evening,” I say while placing a napkin on my lap. I give Cole a shy smile and say softly, "Good evening, Cole." Addressing Cole in this way will hopefully get me on the king’s good side and keep his suspicions at bay. Besides, Cole is not as bad as I first thought.
Cole gets angry, and his eyes flare up, however, yet, he has not intentionally hurt me. He has more or less ignored me.
I smile at the king. "I had a lovely walk this morning, thank you for suggesting it." Cole eyes me warily. In fact, I’d say he looks slightly panicked.
"Excellent, and where did my son take you?"
The color drains from Cole’s face. I shrug. “A rather long stroll over the grounds. We walked to a pond where I insisted, I needed to take a rest. Have you ever walked for miles in heels on damp ground?” I giggle when I realize how silly that must sound. “Of course, you haven't, you would look rather silly in heels, like a drag queen. “Cole spurts water out of his mouth all over the table as a deep guttural laugh escapes his mouth. If looks could kill, his fathers would have slain him on the spot.
The king turned to me with a smile on his face, but those familiar dark eyes said something else. “I am glad you enjoyed your outing, Kayla." A sharp pain erupted in my head and my eyesight blurred. “But please, don't refer to me wearing any kind of woman's clothing. Do I make myself clear? “All I can do is nod. The pain vanishes as quickly as it came, leaving a dull headache in its place. I am getting too confident and need to pull myself back a bit. Simple yes or no answers do well with the king.
"Good, now, let’s eat."
I bow my head and nibble on the luxurious fare the servants have placed before us. I take a sip from the glass of wine that is present at every meal. The liquid burns as it trickles down my gullet. I take another large sip. It doesn’t burn so much this time, but goes straight to my head, making me feel dizzy. I’ve never been one to drink at parties, or anywhere for that matter. But on this occasion, I want to numb the self-doubt building up inside me. Every time I think I’ve got the king on my side; he sends me reeling back.
"Kayla, I would like you to join us in the den this evening. I have a few guests I would like you to meet. It only seems fair, seeing as you will soon be part of this family." Family? That’s a laugh, he wouldn’t know what family meant if it came up and slapped him in the face.
The king rises, as do I and Cole, and offers me his arm. My heart rate picks up as I loop my arm around his and we make for the entrance. Cole’s heavy footsteps follow. We walk down a narrow corridor much like the one from my room until we reach the last door at the end.
We step into a large room with multiple black leather sofas and deep red rugs. The stone walls are still bare and gray, with just a few single candles illuminating the dark space. It is depressing. I miss the sun and the feel of its warm rays kissing my skin.
I realize we’re not alone. Dozens of men in black business suits swarm the room. Wait. No, they’re not men. I find this out when one of them fixes me with a pair of yellow eyes. I shrink back from him. His face is burned, all crinkly and raw. Pointed ears poke out of his messy black hair, and a pair of horns protrude from the top of the forehead.
"Come now, Kayla, we must meet and greet our guests." The king drags me forward to shake hands with one grotesque figure after another. Each time a feeling of repulsion springs into my stomach. I’m introduced as his soon to be daughter in law, which installs new waves of fear in me. The men coo over me as if I’m a baby. I am half expecting them to pinch my cheeks like a grandma would.