21. A DAY WITH THE BEAST
Chapter twenty-one
A DAY WITH THE BEAST
Emeriel was assigned the task of cleaning the floors of the annex.
It was a monotonous job, but he was grateful nonetheless. It was far preferable to spending his time at the tavern.
After completing the first and second floors, Emeriel found himself on the third floor.
Having not yet familiarized himself with all the corridors and their destinations, he was taken aback when he discovered where the floor he was cleaning led to.
He recognized the familiar paintings and the foreboding hallways.
The fourth wing.
The forbidden chambers lay within that second hallway. Goosebumps prickled his arms.
Just clean that hallway as quickly as possible and be done with it. The sooner, the better.
Emeriel tightly grasped his broom crafted from bundled twigs and resumed his work. The bristles swept across the cold stones, stirring up clouds of dust. As he progressed, he used pieces of clothing to dust and clean as he went along.
Upon reaching the forbidden chambers, he halted, noticing the absence of soldiers and trays of untouched food strewn across the floor.
Why is this place so deserted? It was morning, and Grand Lord Vladya was in court, so there was no reason for the soldiers to be absent.
Perhaps the beast had been relocated?
Emeriel couldn't resist. His legs moved instinctively until he arrived at the imposing metal gates. A gasp escaped him, and he took two steps back.
The oak door stood wide open, and behind it, the beast's eyes locked onto Emeriel.
"I could leave," he whispered aloud. "I could depart from this hall and pretend I had already completed my cleaning."
Shaking his head, he surveyed his surroundings. Any hope of leaving vanished.
The two paintings hanging on the walls were coated in dust, and the stone wall required thorough wiping. The lion head at the end of the hallway appeared equally neglected. And the floor itself...
He nervously bit his lip, stealing another glance at the beast.
It remained motionless, but its gaze was still on him. Its once-lazy yellow eyes were now wide open.
Emeriel waited and waited . But when it became evident that the beast would not attack him, he started to relax and commenced his cleaning.
He intermittently stole glances at the beast. Apart from those piercing yellow eyes tracking his every move, there was no other movement.
It reached a point where Emeriel nearly forgot about the ferocious creature behind the gates, becoming so engrossed in his work. The swishing of brooms and the occasional clink of metal against stone filled the air.
"What are you doing here, slave? Do you have a death wish?"
Emeriel's head snapped up to a Urekai soldier standing before him, glaring. "I was assigned to clean this hall."
“Foolish humans wanting to die,” the soldier muttered under his breath. "Fine. But be quick and leave immediately."
Not a problem, you fool. "Understood. What are these plates for?"
"Food for the grand king. Orders from the third ruler. Once he is finished in court, he will come to attend to it. Do not touch any of it."
Grand Lord Vladya feeds the beast ?
"Why does he have to be present for the beast to eat? Can't the food be taken in and let the creature devour it?" Emeriel was certain there was raw meat among the offerings it could enjoy.
"Sometimes the feral refuses to eat. A few soldiers have perished attempting to get it to feed." The soldier stared at Emeriel with authority. "Disregard the trays and focus on your duties, slave."
"As you command." Emeriel inclined his head, then resumed his cleaning as the soldier muttered, walking away.
As the hours passed, the beast made no move to attack Emeriel while he cleaned, and by the time he was done, his fear had somewhat abated.
Perhaps the creature had some sort of routine, a specific time or day when its instincts demanded certain needs.... Perhaps today was not the day it became horny.
It made sense, in a way. It would explain why Aekeira was not sent in all the time and why his bloodhost only visited occasionally. The thought was oddly soothing and calmed the last of his fears.
Exhausted, Emeriel decided to take a brief respite.
And what better place to find safety and tranquility than a spot both slaves and masters avoided like the plague?
Emeriel settled on the floor in front of the imposing metal gates, his legs folded under him, leaving some distance between himself and the gate.
"It's not as if you would understand a word I say, right? Sometimes, it's simply hard to believe you were once the great grand king," he spoke aloud. "You probably have even more reason to hate humans than Grand Lord Vladya does."
The feral creature laid down, its jaw resting on the floor, still watching Emeriel.
"I bet you don't even recall what you did to me. Why did you do it? Why me?" Emeriel shook his head. "I don't understand. But what baffles me the most are the strange things that have begun to happen to me since that night. I do not like any of it, Grand King.”
Whispering those words made them all too real, causing goosebumps to break out on his arms. “Why does my body react to you? Why do I see you in my dreams? Why do I think about you all the time? Why does my body... why does my body crave more of you?"
Emeriel's attention shifted to the food nearby.
It was meat, but not as raw as the one next to it. Rising to his feet, he carefully took a plate from the tray. The aroma wafted up, tantalizing his senses.
"I could eat this, right?" he asked aloud, still eyeing the steak.
When he looked up, a gasp escaped him.
The beast stood close, having left its previous spot. It could easily reach out and grab Emeriel.
I shouldn't have come here. I should have listened to the soldier and left.
Fear rooted him in place, no longer was there a point to running. The creature could easily break free and catch him.
They locked eyes, a tense silence enveloping them.
Then, unexpectedly, the beast crouched down on the floor, sitting. Waiting.
A wave of relief washed over Emeriel, but he still moved to leave.
A low rumble from the beast stopped him in his tracks. Helplessly, he remained where he stood, unsure of what to do.
In the end, he cautiously lowered himself back to the floor, watching for any reaction from the creature. To his relief, it did nothing.
That has to be a good sign, right?
"Look, I know I have angered you. I invaded your privacy, but..." Emeriel paused, realizing the beast was staring pointedly at the food in his hands.
Shit. Of course, I shouldn’t have picked up the plate.
Driven by some unknown force, Emeriel stood up, his legs moving on their own accord, carrying him closer to the beast.
"Would you like to eat?" he offered, tossing the steak toward it.
The feral creature eyed the steak, then glanced at Emeriel, before he lowered his head, taking a bite.
Surprised, Emeriel threw another piece of meat. And then another.
The beast devoured them all, and a surge of pleasure shot through Emeriel.
Before he knew it, he was feeding the beast.
"I was beginning to think you had fallen victim to some strange ailment that hinders your ability to attend to court matters," Lord Zaiper remarked, casually withdrawing his dick from the girl lying on the table. Turning her body around, he thrust back inside.
"I have been occupied." Lord Vladya briefly glanced at Zaiper's actions, pursed his lips, shook his head, then proceeded toward his throne. "You are disgusting."
"Don't take your foul mood out on me this fine morning," Zaiper smirked wolfishly. "I was craving something different."
"Do you fuck dead bodies now?"
"She isn't dead. Just drugged into sleep. I've been craving them motionless for a while now. You know, to add a touch of excitement. And I never deny myself what I crave."
"Where is Lord Ottai?"
Zaiper pumped his hips repeatedly and smacked the girl's buttocks, letting out a groan of pleasure. "I have no idea. He is running late. Probably getting some from Morina."
"Don't you tire of sex, Zaiper? Unlike others who occasionally take breaks, you have been incessantly engaging in it for the past four millennia."
Thrust. "One does not grow weary of one of life's greatest pleasures, Lord Vladya.” Thrust. Thrust. “Not when there is such an array of choices available. I can never understand individuals like you who desire bondmates, or those like Ottai who have remained bonded for centuries. I would rather have variety than stick to one."
At that moment, the door swung open and Grand Lord Ottai entered the chamber. "What did I miss?" His gaze fell upon Zaiper, and he scowled. "Too early for these antics, Lord Zaiper. Are you now engaging in necrophilia?"
Zaiper rolled his eyes. After a few more thrusts, he climaxed into the motionless body. He cleaned himself and signaled for one of the guards to remove the slave. Then, he straightened his attire and made his way to his own throne.
"Very well, gentlemen,” Zaiper said. “Now that the tardy ones have joined us, let us commence the day.
"With The Banquet only being three days away, I propose that on that day, we have a presentation of a new slave," declared Grand Lord Zaiper.
"Must there be a presentation? I do not fancy that ceremony at all," Grand Lord Ottai replied, seeking support from the third ruler.
However, Grand Lord Vladya appeared utterly bored, completely uninterested.
"Why? Our people need all the happiness they can get. The Lords love that ritual, and most of them eagerly anticipate it. There is no good reason to forgo that ceremony," Zaiper insisted.
"Lord Vladya, what are your thoughts?" Ottai looked to Lord VLadya.
"I do not care either way." Vladya opened the scroll a soldier had just brought in. Another soldier took it as his cue to approach quickly, carrying an inkpot and quill. Vladya took the quill, dipped it into the open inkpot, and began scribbling on the parchment. "Do as you wish."
"You see, even Lord Vladya is in agreement," Zaiper continued. "I mean, the male needs some downtime and fun. When was the last time he enjoyed himself? With his bloodhost bonded to another and heavy with child, he may not even be indulging in her body."
"Please do not tell me that you still mount Adissa," Ottai reproached Zaiper with a stern look.
“My bloodhost?” Zaiper smirked, crossing his arms. "What do you think?"
"She is bonded to another. She has two offspring." Ottai shook his head.
"And so? There is no law against it. Not like we can help it. It is difficult to be rational when one's body craves desperately," Zaiper drawled. "Besides, she practically begs for it."
"You get her drunk on pheromones; she does not have a choice,” Ottai admonished. “You can choose not to pump her full of your elixir while feeding from her."
"Mmm," Zaiper feigned pondering the idea before another smirk emerged. "And where is the fun in that?"
Ottai sighed deeply, resigned. "You are beyond redemption, Zaiper. You think only of yourself."
Zaiper dismissed him with a wave. "As for the upcoming presentation, we shall be holding two sessions. The first will take place at the banquet. It’s possible we won't be able to introduce all the slaves on that particular day. Therefore, the second introduction is scheduled to take place four nights after the initial presentation.”
Ottai shook his head. "Every year, we lose what remains of our soul. We, the grand lords, should be striving to unite our people, to set them on the right path again instead of remaining in the depths of our despair. Daemonikai will not be pleased with what has become of us."
Vladya's elegant hand, moving rhythmically against the scroll, paused. He did not look up or acknowledge Ottai's statement, but his hand remained still for several long seconds before he resumed his scribbling.
Meanwhile, Zaiper waved Ottai's concerns away. "Well, it is unfortunate the grand king is dead, but the living must move on. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our lives now. This is the way our people were always meant to live.”
Ottai stared at him.
“The humans are not only evil; they are beneath us. They will serve us for all eternity.” He smirked. “I eagerly anticipate this presentation." Grand Lord Zaiper's eyes gleamed. "There is a particular slave I am interested in."
"Let me guess, the human royals we brought in? The siblings?" Ottai questioned.
"You guessed right, Ottai. The boy is quite attractive, but the girl... she is a sight to behold when she is unclothed."
Vladya stiffened, anger coursing through him at the remark. "Not the girl," he blurted out, regretting his words the instant they left his lips.
Ottai and Zaiper looked surprised, but they were not half as shocked as Vladya himself.
"You are interested in the human girl? You?" Ottai exclaimed.
"I am not," Vladya stated calmly, relieved that his voice remained composed. He resumed his scribbling. "She belongs to the feral."
"Nonsense. Matters like that do not concern you. I have had nearly every slave, every maiden you have been with, and you have never batted an eyelash." Zaiper's gaze grew more penetrating, suspicious. "Is this girl different? Do you want her?"
Vladya would sooner sever his own arm.
He signaled to the soldier, who stepped forward and took the scroll from him. Rising from his throne, he approached Zaiper and stopped in front of him. "If you ever speak of this again, you will not like the way I respond."
The second ruler's face turned wary, clearing his throat. "There is no need to get so serious. Fine, you do not have an interest in the girl. That's a good thing for me, as I am considering having either her or the boy. So, let's not dwell on it. No need to get all... like that."
Ottai stared at Vladya, puzzled, but Vladya ignored him, returning to his throne and lowering himself onto it once more.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
"Anyway, let us discuss the preparations," Lord Ottai finally broke the tension.
After the meeting, Grand Lord Vladya's mood grew darker as he made his way to the forbidden chambers. Turning the corner into the corridor, his legs abruptly halted. Trays filled with empty plates lined the wall, meticulously arranged.
His brows furrowed as he cautiously approached. Daemonikai was crouched in his usual posture behind the barricade, but the beast was sound asleep. A deep slumber that always followed a well-fed belly.
Someone had managed to get the beast to eat. Judging by the placement of the empty plates in the hallway instead of the room, this person had not only succeeded in feeding the beast but had also hand-fed it.
Grand Lord Vladya was too stunned to speak.
"Yaz," he finally managed to utter when he found his voice.
His trusted soldier emerged from the corner. "Yes, Your Highness?"
"Did all the guards on duty leave when you gave the command for them to vacate the premises?"
"Yes, my lord. I was the last to leave."
Vladya's gaze wandered, taking in other details. The surroundings appeared cleaner. The paintings looked freshly acquired. The walls gleamed as if they were new, and even the sculpted lion head sparkled. "They assigned a slave to work here."
"Seems like it,” Yaz confirmed. “This place looks astonishing. Almost like the old days..." He trailed off abruptly, no doubt realizing the inadvisability of his words. No one with wisdom would dare speak of the old days, especially not to Grand Lord Vladya. "I beg your forgiveness for my wayward tongue, my lord."
Lord Vladya waved him off, his mind preoccupied. He had personally dismissed all the slaves who used to tend to the Abyss land, not because he enjoyed the accumulation of dust but because, for some inexplicable reason, Daemonikai's beast would grow highly agitated in their presence.
The feral creature had broken free on numerous occasions, tearing several slaves apart. Since then, he had decided it was best to cease any work in this area. Though it had been several years—three or four, he had lost track.
He was utterly baffled. Someone had labored here for hours, thoroughly cleaning, and had managed to avoid being torn apart by the beast. And the creature had accepted food from this person.
"I want to know the identity of the slave who worked here. Gather all the necessary information on this slave and bring it to me. I desire the details upon my return from the hunting trip."
"Yes, my Lord."
With a mix of astonishment and relief, Vladya departed, his mood somewhat improved.