Chapter 28

The condemned huddled together, forming a desperate circle around the children, trying to shield them from the monstrosity. Their fear was visible, their faces pale and eyes wide with terror as they awaited the creature’s next move.

Suddenly, With a speed that belied its massive size, the creature charged toward them. There was no time to react, no chance to escape. It slashed through the air with its talons, cutting a woman cleanly in half. Her scream was cut short as her body fell lifelessly to the ground, blood pooling around her in the dirt. The crowd roared with approval, their cheers drowning out the sounds of horror from the arena below.

I felt my knees go weak, my stomach turning as I struggled to comprehend the sheer brutality of what I was witnessing. My voice trembled as I managed to whisper, “ What is… That thing?”

Hezron, who had been watching the carnage with a twisted smile, turned to me, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. “ That,” he said, his voice dripping with malice, “ is a Reaper. One of the finest creations of the dark kingdom. Bred to hunt, to kill, to bring despair to anyone unfortunate enough to face it.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. The Reaper was a creature of pure nightmare, a living weapon designed for nothing but death and destruction. And it was here, in this arena, to make sure that none of the condemned left alive.

The Reaper continued its onslaught, tearing through the huddled group with ruthless efficiency. The people tried to fight back, to protect the children in their midst, but it was hopeless. The creature was too powerful, too fast, too merciless.

I clenched my fists, the chains around my wrists digging into my skin, as I forced myself to watch. I needed to see, to remember. These people, these innocents, were being slaughtered for no reason other than the twisted entertainment of the Dark Kingdom’s rules. I couldn’t forget that. I wouldn’t forget that.

As the last of the condemned fell, the Reaper stood in the center of the arena, its chest heaving with exertion. Blood dripped from its talons, staining the sand beneath it. The crowd erupted into wild cheers; their bloodlust finally sated

Kyrell leaned back in his seat, looking thoroughly pleased with the spectacle. Hezron, too, looking satisfied, his cold smile never leaving his face.

But all I felt was a deep, burning hatred. Hatred for Kyrell, for Hezron, for this entire vile kingdom that thrived on the suffering of others. I knew then that I would do whatever it took to bring them down, to put an end to their reign of terror.

The reaper let out a bone-chilling roar, its eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for its next victim. But its job was done. The arena was silent now, except for the distant echoes of the crowd’s cheers.

When the Harvesting was finished, my chains were tugged again, pulling me away from the horrific scene. I stumbled behind Kyrell and Hezron as they led me to a grand dining hall where all the nobles gathered for a feast in honor of the king. The lavish spread of food and the glittering chandeliers felt like a twisted mockery after the brutal slaughter I had just witnessed.

As we entered, the room buzzed with conversation. One by one, the nobles approached Kyrell, bowing and offering their thanks for yet another “ successful” Harvesting. Their words made me sick. They spoke of the reaping like it was some grand achievement, congratulating Kyrell on the sheer number of lives taken this month. My stomach churned as I listened to their praise, my heart heavy with the weight of so many innocent lives lost.

A fat man with greasy hair and a wide, repulsive grin waddled up to us, his beady eyes settling on me. “ I see you got yourself a new toy,” he said, licking his lips in a way that made my skin crawl.

“ Yes, I have,” Kyrell replied casually, as if I were nothing more than a piece of property. “ But I still have to break this one in.” His words were cruel, and the way he yanked on the chain as we moved towards the dining table made it clear that he viewed me as nothing more than a animal to be tamed.

When we reached the long table set out for the noblemen, I thought I might at least have a chance to sit down, to catch my breath. But just as I moved to take a seat, Kyrell tightened his grip on the chain, pulling me back.

“ Oh, you won’t be sitting on a chair,” he said with an evil smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. I froze, dreading what he might have in mind.

Kyrell lowered himself into the grand throne-like chair in the center of the table, a position that signaled his dominance over everyone in the room. Hezron, meanwhile, slunk off to the side, already preying on the younger women in the room, his lustful gaze making their discomfort all too obvious.

“ Come now,” Kyrell said, his voice dripping with false sweetness as he patted his knee. “ I saved a seat for you, my dear.”

My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. I knew what he wanted, and the very thought of it made my blood run cold. I hesitated, my feet rooted to the ground, but his eyes darkened with impatience.

“ I’m not going to ask you again,” he said, his voice hardening. “ Next time, I won’t be so polite.”

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to move. Each step felt like I was walking toward my own doom. When I finally reached him, I sat down on his lap, my body tense and trembling with fear and disgust. The feeling of his hands gripping my waist, pulling me closer, made my skin crawl.

His evil grin grew wider as he wrapped an arm around me, holding me in place. The nobles around us continued their conversations as if nothing were out of the ordinary, completely unfazed by the sickening display.

After the feast, when everyone’s bellies were full except mine, as I couldn’t eat a single thing after the horror I witnessed today, we returned to the carriage and started our journey back to the dark palace. The ride back was a blur, my mind replaying the terrible events of the day over and over.

It was only when Kyrell opened his side of the carriage door that I snapped out of it.

As we entered the castle, Kyrell didn’t lead me back to my sleeping chambers. Instead, he guided me down a different corridor. A chill ran through my body as a sense of dread washed over me.

We entered a large, imposing sleeping chamber. A massive dark wooden bed with deep red bedding dominated the room. Kyrell began removing my chains, and I clasped my wrists, shocked to see them bruised and discolored.

" I hope you learned from Morgan's display the other night," Kyrell said, his tone laced with warning. He hesitated for a moment before continuing, " I need you to help me come down from the day’s adrenaline."

I felt sick to my stomach. How could he think of pleasure after the horrors we had witnessed today?

Kyrell started undoing his belt, letting his trousers fall to the ground. The sight made my stomach churn.

“ Get on your knees,” he ordered, his voice cold and demanding. I quivered with fear. How was I going to get out of this?

“ Get on your fucking knees and do what you are here for,” he barked, grabbing a fistful of my hair and forcing me down to my knees. I was now face to face with his grey, hardened cock, and I could feel the bile rising in my throat.

He yanked my head closer, his grip tight and painful.

“ No!” I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks as I struggled against him.

“ How dare you say no to your king,” he snarled, his voice dripping with anger.

“ You are not my king, you sick bastard,” I spat out, my bottom lip trembling with fear and defiance.

His eyes darkened with fury. Without a word, he released my hair and slapped me across the face with such force that I fell to the ground, my cheek stinging from the blow. The room spun for a moment, my head pounding as I tried to steady myself.

“ I will teach you what happens to a mistress with a loose tongue,” Kyrell hissed as he stalked closer, his eyes burning with rage.

“ I am not your mistress, nor will I ever be,” I spat back through gritted teeth, my voice shaking but defiant.

His face twisted with anger, and before I could react, he stormed toward me, his fist connecting with my face once again. The pain exploded across my cheek, and I collapsed to the ground, my vision blurring as I tried to catch my breath.