Chapter 5
The kingdom of Urial was more extravagant than I could imagine. The castle towered into the sky from the top of a mountain. Waterfalls, coming out of the top of the castle ledges poured out of each corner into a crystal-clear lake at the base of the city. There were five tall towers capped in gold. The palace was made of white and gray stone. Balconies were seen from every point. Gorgeous gardens and plants saturated the landscape with more colors than I knew existed. It was the most beautiful prison I had ever laid eyes on.
Across the surrounding territory, grain fields and orchards were scattered on the outskirts of the rolling hills and flat plains. Human workers tended the crops, working under the watchful eyes of their alfar overlords. Males and females greeted the six alfar warriors as we entered the main road. Shops, markets, and beautiful entertainment littered the perfectly paved streets. Alfar women danced barefoot throughout the alleyways as music filled the sweet-smelling air.
Fruits and vegetables were abundant lining every table. Alfar exited the shops covered in beautiful fabrics and fashions I had never seen before. A bit revealing for humans, but I guess if you looked the way they did, why cover it up? Small alfar children laughed and played in a nearby fountain as we continued to the large castle up ahead.
The wagon came to a halt at one of the palace’s arched entrances. The alfar males dismounted without even looking back at the wagon. An older human woman came to the back and instructed us to follow her. We made our way through the back halls of the palace. Humans scattered the narrow corridors, rushing around as they tended to their daily work. The rooms that I could see into were plain with scant furniture. Only the basic; chairs, tables, and a few armoires for clothing.
The older woman finally stopped at the entrance of a washroom. She flagged a young human male over to her and whispered something in his ear. The man took the three boys from the wagon with him as they moved to another part of the castle.
“Everyone in the room,” demanded the old woman.
We pushed into the small bathroom. There were four tubs, three sinks, and a wall of mirrors. The scent was crisp and smelled of eucalyptus. There were no windows to let in natural light and the lighting that came from the candles was dim. She set out clean yellow dresses with white lace trim for each of us.
“Are these our uniforms?” asked one of the other girls.
“No. One of you will be chosen to tend to the needs of the next king,” she said, running hot water into the small tubs.
“The needs?” asked another girl hesitantly.
“Did I stutter? Yes, needs. Laundry, cleaning his room, mending his clothes, and keeping his bed warm, if he desires you, that is,” she snapped.
“I—I didn’t sign up for this,” said one of the girls from my town. She backed away from the group. The old woman reached out her hand, aggressively wrapping her grip around the girl’s forearm.
“This is your life now, girl. Adapt or die, the choice is yours. Now, you all will wash and clean yourselves thoroughly. Place the oils along your neck when you are clean and then dress and be ready in thirty minutes. The court awaits your presence.” She stopped and looked at me before leaving. “And take that thing off your head,” she said, looking directly at me. “They will want to see as much of you as possible. Including your hair.”
I bit the side of my lip nervously. Thankfully my ears didn’t stand out far from my head like most of the other alfar. The tips were noticeable, but I could hide them well enough in my thick dark curly hair. The older woman left, and we all slowly began to undress as the reality of our current situation sank in. I dipped down into the hot bath, not remembering the last time I properly washed. I cleaned every inch of myself twice, including my hair.
I dried my thick mane and dressed in the soft yellow dress the woman laid out for us. Two of the other girls were now crying at the thought of being enslaved and raped by the future king of the light court. I focused on my goals and kept my mind on Lily. My hair sprung into curls around my face and stretched down the length of my back. The hair acted as a shield for my ears, as I knew it would. I never wore my hair down. I almost didn’t even recognize myself. I was so used to putting it up in a bun to hide it under my scarves and hats.
The dress was baggy on me. I barely had any fat on my body which included my breasts. Starving will do that to a person, I guess. My skin was golden from the summer sun which made my eyes pop. Even cleaned and properly dressed, I still stuck out from the other girls. They had fairer skin, with shades of lighter hair and their figures didn’t resemble a skeleton.
The door opened without warning. The older woman appeared at the threshold and signaled for us to follow her. We created a line and walked with our heads down in silence. As we made it to the upper level, the alfar we passed didn’t even look at us. We were nothing more than a placeholder, not important enough for their acknowledgment.
Bowls of fresh fruit and pitchers of wine lined every table. The smell of oils and incense filled the halls. Grand arches created walk spaces between each room. Two large pillars stood on either side of each arch, reaching thirty feet into the air. The walls were lined with masterful paintings and murals, creating the most captivating views. Tapestries hung from the inner walls, and windows cut into the ceiling of the castle allowed natural light to illuminate their beautiful craftsmanship.
Statues and sculptures filled the spaces in between each doorway. Indoor fountains trickled and echoed through the vast mass of halls. Luxurious couches and seating areas were scattered throughout, allowing for social gatherings and resting places for the court. Gold and silver metals littered each surface. Gold goblets, silver plates, gold rings, gold vases. It was clear that the alfar didn’t want for anything. The sun-filled each corridor as we made our way to two large golden doors. Two alfar guards stood on either side of the entrance.
The older woman turned to us. “You do not speak unless spoken to. Even then, keep your responses short. They are allowed to touch you and look wherever and however they please. Do not make direct eye contact with them. Keep your head down and your hands folded in front of you. After the future king has chosen one of you, the others will meet me back here for your work assignments.” She moved out of the way.
The doors opened slowly to the throne room of the castle. Tables and chairs were placed in rows leading to the front of the room. Each surface was adorned with a golden tablecloth. Floral arrangements as large as a person were placed every six feet down the center of each table. Food displays, meat trays, and sweet treats littered the surfaces. Anything you could imagine or crave, the table provided. Doves flew overhead, as the throne room's ceiling did not exist. It was open to the outdoor elements, allowing the fresh air and sunlight to fill the room.
Members of the high houses sat eating and drinking while conversing with one another. At the head of the room was a large platform, covered in white rose petals as if it was one massive carpet. There were three thrones on top of the platform. A male, who I assumed to be the king, sat in the middle. He had long golden hair and a strong and slender face. His eyes appeared kind, though his mouth never turned up to smile. A female who resembled his age was to his left and wore a vibrant blue gown. She was tall and slender with hair as golden as sunlight. She had thin red lips and a small button nose. Her eyes were crystal blue, accentuated by her long lashes. On the king’s right sat a younger female who I figured to be their daughter.
We were being auctioned off to be the princess’s future husband’s whore. The alfar didn’t have the same values as humans when it came to marriage. Since they could live for over a thousand years, I guess the concept of monogamy didn’t appeal to them. Why have just one when you could have them all?
The light court was at least discreet about their affairs. There were rumors that the dark court had monthly orgy parties, where you could have whomever, whenever, however, you’d like. They only married for formality and political matters. I had even heard one rumor that claimed the dark alfar would take slaves right in the middle of the halls in front of everyone.
We walked into the room and formed a line in front of the thrones as we were instructed. I didn’t dare look up to gaze upon the three royals, even though I was tempted by my curiosity. I had to keep my head down and keep a low profile if I would have any chance of escaping to get to Lilian. A small flutter of fear ran through my body as I tightened my eyes together, trying to remain invisible.
The chattering of the room continued as if we weren’t even there. I heard footsteps behind me that treaded to the platform where the three royals sat. I briefly glanced up to see a white-haired male bowing in front of the royals. He stood and made his way over to the princess, taking her hand and kissing it formally.
The princess was stunning. She had long blonde hair and beautiful violet eyes. Her skin seemed to glow as if she had diamonds underneath the first layer. Her nose was long and pointed. Her ears peeked out from behind her hair. She had a long neck and a desirable figure. Why in heavens a male chooses to bed another female if he could have that was beyond me. One of the other girls elbowed me and broke my attention. I dropped my head back to the floor before anyone could notice.
“Lord Atros,” said the king. “As promised, you may choose a human concubine to see to your needs. If you do not desire one from this collection, you may wait until next month.”
“Thank you, King Lysanthier. You are most generous,” said Lord Atros. His voice seemed familiar in a way, but I didn’t dare look up to see if I recognized his face. The Lord made his way over to us. I was farthest from him, hoping one of the others would catch his eye before he got to me. His footsteps were slow as he examined the lot of us. He stopped occasionally, circling one of the girls before moving on.
I kept my eyes down on the floor, not daring to look at him or the other girls. A pair of black leather boots came into focus as the lord’s footsteps stopped in front of me. I furrowed my brow, trying not to shake. He circled me, stopping in the back. I could feel his fingers twirl the tip of my hair at the base of my back. He made his way to my front and then stopped again. His cold hand gently lifted my chin up into the light. I pinched my eyes shut in fear, then slowly opened them to see two familiar yellow eyes looking back at me.
Lord Atros was the same male that led the group of alfar into town to collect us. My eyes widened as I looked at him in shock. His lips curled into a faint smile as if he was amused by my discomfort. I looked behind him to see the princess’s curious gaze tracking his every move.
Lord Atros moved his hand slowly from my chin down my neck, stopping at the neckline of my dress. My breathing deepened as I tried not to focus on the cold contact. He saw my discomfort and removed his hand cautiously, not taking his eyes off me.
He leaned forward, bringing his lips closer to my ear. I was on high alert; afraid my true identity would be discovered. I braced myself.
“You don’t really know how to cook, sew, or tend to the fields, do you?” he whispered against my hair.
I licked my lips before responding. “No, your grace,” I said softly.
He chuckled. “You’re a horrible liar. If you’re going to stay alive here, you’ll have to get better at it.”
“Yes, your grace,” I said, dropping my eyes back to the floor.
He backed away from me, still taking me in with his eyes.
“This one,” he said, turning away from me to face the royals. The other five girls exhaled in relief. I looked at them and then back to the royals. No, no, no, I can’t be his mistress. I have to stay out of sight. I have to escape to get to Lilian. This can’t be happening. My chest began to raise and lower quickly as I held back my tears of panic.
“Interesting choice. She is… unusual, yet striking in her own way,” said the king, in a monotone voice. “She is now yours. Take her away.” He waved his hand.
Two guards came up next to me and took me by the arm to escort me out of the throne room.
They led me down the hall before stopping at another set of double doors and pushing them open. I walked through the threshold into what I assumed to be Lord Atros’s bedchamber. The room had a large wooden bed, a sitting area with two chairs, and a couch. A wooden table sat off in the corner, a large armoire by the bathroom, and a balcony overlooked the kingdom.
The doors shut, leaving me alone in my new owner’s personal chamber. I bit my bottom lip, trying to figure a way out of this. My hands fidgeted in front of me as tears uncontrollably began to fall. I collapsed on the floor, holding my face as the emotions of the past twenty-four hours came rushing out of me.
“Oh, come now, my cousin isn’t that bad,” came a male voice from the balcony.
I sprang to my feet, wiping away the loose tears from my cheek. A young alfar stood in front of me. He was tall and lean with white hair neatly parted down the center. He wore blue leather pants and a crisp white shirt. He had soft yellow eyes with thin lips and a strong nose.
“I’m—I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone else was in here,” I said hesitantly. I kept my eyes on the floor, remembering how the old woman told me to act. The stranger came up directly in front of me and began to laugh.
“You can look at me, don’t worry,” he said, tauntingly.
I slowly raised my head to meet his eyes.
He was smiling as he bowed in front of me. “My name is Levos Atros. I am the cousin of Lord Gaelin Atros. I’ve been asked to help you find your way around here for the first couple of days.”
Unsure of how to respond, I stayed silent. I could feel his eyes assessing me. He clicked his tongue.
“Do you have a name, or should I just call you pet?”
Rage slowly began to replace the fear inside of me at the title pet. “Genevieve Autumn,” I said coldly. I was no one's pet.
“Genevieve? That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful human,” he said, circling me slowly. “Hmm, you’re a bit thin. I can see all your bones, Genevieve.”
“Starvation will do that to you,” I snapped back. I shut my mouth quickly, widening my eyes in shock at how rude the comment came out.
He stopped in front of me and smirked. “A human with an attitude. I can work with that.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you or speak out of turn.”
“Enough with the formality. You can speak freely around me, just don’t let the others know I told you that. As long as you make my cousin happy, you’ll have a good life here, Genevieve.”
“And… what does that exactly entail?”
He squinted his eyes in amusement. “The normal daily tasks. Cleaning, washing, and mending his linens. Serving him wine when he requests it. And of course, servicing his… physical needs.”
I dropped my eyes, swallowing hard. The thought of his cold hands on my body made me sick.
Levos started laughing under his breath. “Are you rehearsed in the needs of the opposite sex?”
I shook my head no.
“Not even your own kind?” He asked, with a sarcastic tone.
“No. I still have my maidenhood,” I whispered.
Levos laughed so loud I jumped back. “My cousin sure knows how to pick them. Don’t worry, I will bring you some books that outline the basics of what you should be doing.”
“I—I can’t read,” I admitted.
“Well, it looks like I have my work cut out for me then. Come, we need to get you fitted for some clothes, and then I will show you around the grounds.” He extended his arm to me.
I hesitantly took it, unsure of his intentions. I ran my free hand through my hair to my ears, making sure they were still hidden. “Would it be possible to get a scarf or wrap I could wear in my hair? It’s a fashion I would like to maintain,” I said, trying to divert any suspicion.
“You’ll have to get Gaelin’s permission. He chooses how you look and what you wear from this point on, but he is a reasonable alfar. I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”