6. ZAHIR

ZAHIR

The door to the throne room opened and she stepped in, high and mighty with her majestic strides and poise. Hera Castilione, my mistress and chief trainer of the human slaves.

Hera was a werewolf and should be among the other people of the kingdom under my leadership but I have kept her around for years after our escape from the humans. She was one of the few wolves who were lucky enough to escape slavery when the humans first invaded our world.

One would think she had no right to hate them so much since she didn’t go through the same thing most of us did but knowing the deep and intense secret rooted in the darkest parts of her mind, she was entitled to every bit of the hatred that came from her.

And she was mine. Her darkness complimented mine so well. I made sure she was clothed in the best apparels, expensive silk and sequins and a bountiful of golden ornaments and jewelry.

"Your highness. I came as soon as I heard the news of the arrival of the human princess." Hera stated as she came into the room; her plummy voice was strong and clear, depicting an upper class persona and formality—most times, sounding very pompous.

However, her proud smug melted into a sour scowl as she looked very displeased on sighting Serafina, her brows narrowing in loathe, "Is this her?" Her tone edged with disgust and hatred.

"Yes." I simply replied.

Serafina feebly turned around to face Hera and unlike the other female slaves who have come in contact with her, Serafina didn't show any hint of fear nor was she subjected to any form of intimidation.

Her shoulders never slacked, the positioning of head remained upfront as she maintained her royalty; even when she was being humiliated in public, she still maintained it now as well, in front of the most reputable and respected woman in this Kingdom.

Hera sneered, her siren eyes gleaming coldly as she casted a hateful gaze at Serafina. From the very mere looks of things, her unchanging stance deeply angered Hera. I knew how my mistress liked to be in control of things.

Hera crossed her arms, her eyes judgmentally settled on Serafina's battered and injured being and her eyes roamed around her from head to toe.

Then her lips turned up on a mocking smirk.

"Oh? So she still carries herself like a princess. Surely, all that pride of hers would vanish by the time I'm done whipping her a hundred lashes."

"Is that necessary, Hera?" I questioned, now taking note of just how much damage has been inflicted on the girl from the start of the journey to the Kingdom till now.

Not that I cared but If she is subjected to any more injuries, she might not be able to take it and may die—and I don't want her to die.

Not yet.

I harbor deep intentions towards her, and I must exact them just as her people had done unto me. I need to keep her alive to bear the punishment of her people and I will make sure she suffers a torment worse than death.

For that to happen, she needed to be alive.

"Yes it is. A slave should be a slave, she's no longer a princess and she should act like the servant that she is. I will discipline her to be the perfect, doting slave, your highness." Hera's frown slide into a sinister smirk and she eyed Serafina menacingly.

I shook my head in naught, "You will do no such thing. Serafina will be my personal slave. You have no business with her at all." I declared.

Serafina instantly swung around to look at me, her eyes chanting an infinite number of pleads and begging as she obviously knew what being my personal slave entailed. Her apparent fright delighted me.

I didn’t need anyone to tell me she would prefer to be whipped a hundred times by Hera than being punished by me. The fear in her eyes thrilled me.

Hera remained silent, only making a slight noise from her throat as she adopted a sullen look ; obviously, the news of Serafina being my personal slave didn't sit well with her but I am the King, and my orders are final whether they are palatable or not.

The rhythmic clicking of her heels ensued as Hera walked over to Serafina and pushed the girl down to her knees, she fell to the ground looking too weak to even yelp in pain. On the ground, Hera used the edge of her heel to kick Serafina in the gut. She fell heavily to the ground almost like she was spineless.

"You are a slave and you should never be on your feet in the midst of royalty." Hera rebuked curtly, etched to her tone was a hint of irritation and disgust.

“You belong right there on your knees.”

Hera fumed and then turned to look at me as if asking for permission when she has never needed one to teach a mouthy slave her place. I think she got the message when I just turned and proceeded to walk out of the throne room leaving them both in the room together.

A loud slap is the last thing I heard. Followed by gasps of pain I didn’t plan on stopping. Hera can have fun bossing her about for a little while as I attend to other important things.

I entered into my study and sat down at the table, taking out a scroll to begin and then I dipped the pen in ink and began filling up the report. I was in there for a little while working when I heard a knock on the door. I grunted, grumbling to myself wishing that it wasn't Hera at the door about to give me a full lecture on why Serafina shouldn't be my slave and should work with the others on the fields instead.

I mean, I let her have her to herself for the night. That was surely enough, wasn’t it?

"Come in." I replied. The door creaked open and instead of the struts of heels, I heard the gentle tapping of sandals on the floor. It was a slave.

Well, it might not have been Hera now but she would surely come around to complain and go on and on in a bid to persuade me to change my decision, which would never happen.

"Your majesty, I bring you your meal." She stated.

"Drop it on the table next to my bed and be on your way." I said to her without looking away from my work. A few shuffling of feet followed and I heard the tray drop on the table with a small clink and shortly after, the door began to creak shut. Only that it didn't close completely, someone stopped it.

"Your highness, can I come in?" I heard Steven, my second in command, ask at the doorstep.

"Of course." I replied and dropped the pen in the ink jar, mentally suspending my work for later. Steven wouldn't be here if it weren't to discuss something important, the delightful news on the tip of everyone's tongue; the arrival of the Princess Slave.

I rose up from the chair and came over to where Steven stood, he immediately reverenced my presence and bowed. "May you live long your highness." He bestowed accolades and I gave him a pat on the back then he straightened up.

"My King, everyone in the kingdom is overjoyed about the human princess being enslaved. Their lips are incessantly moving as they excitedly talk about what had happened at the Town's Square." Steven exposited and it gladdened my heart, knowing my people are satisfied about the actions I took towards their libration and now, their revenge.

"Beautiful. We will be having a feast to celebrate soon. This is a great victory, and there's more to come." I announced and Steven's smile broadened at that.

"My King, when will we have a piece of her? I'm aching all over to personally whip her till she has no more blood to give out. The rest of the royal council are also requesting a date for her special torment."

There was an underlying meaning in his words. It wasn’t just about the pain they would cause her. It was about the pleasure they could wring dry from her after all, she was said to be the most beautiful princess with black hair that shamed even the darkest raven and skin that brightly contrasted her hair so much.

Of course, everyone wanted a piece of her. Only, it was never going to happen.

No one knew the real reason why she was the price for the sins of her people and no one needed to.

"I'm afraid not, Steven." My statement brought an end to his beaming smile and a small grown settled. "Serafina is my personal slave, mine to have and punish alone as I deem fit. I will personally be the one to make her suffer." Whenever I say these words, make known the intense intentions I have for Serafina, a surge of delight goes up my spine.

"I am sorry to question your decision, your highness, but may I know why? You have never had or opted for a personal slave before and definitely not a human like Serafina, so why the sudden decision My King?' He curiously inquired, apparently disappointed.

I lingered a while before answering and in the end, I decided that no one was entitled to know the reasons for my decision. I am the King, and my dictate stands and no one is permitted to question my reasons.

I shrugged, "I will keep my reasons to myself, Steven. You don't have to worry about it at all. Just know that Serafina will suffer for their sins."

My words were final.