Chapter 3 The Pit #2
Meredith visibly paled, and I smiled when her fear finally drifted toward me. I savored the bitter, acid scent, letting it soak into the void where my soul used to be.
Felix passed the woman off to my other guard, and the audience grew utterly silent when he cranked the stone lever attached to one of the tunnels leading into the Pit. The metal gears groaned as one of the two iron gates rose to release my feared beast.
Even the traitor’s mother ceased her sobbing, her mouth dangling open in horror.
I hummed, immensely satisfied that the only smell wafting from the crowd was fear, all traces of hope demolished.
The ground shook from the vicious hiss ricocheting up from the depths of the Pit. The guard holding Meredith shoved her toward the very edge. Her throat bobbed while she did her best not to peek down at the monster that was about to feast on her flesh and bones.
Getting to my feet, I leaned over the stone balcony. “Oh, Vesper,” I sang. “I’ve brought you a little treat.”
The railing I leaned against forcefully quaked as Vesper thrashed his tail in excitement against the walls of the Pit.
The rattle was enough to make Meredith lose her balance, one foot slipping over the stone edge.
Quickly, she crouched, trying to stabilize herself as she yanked her foot back onto solid ground.
Although the shaking ceased, Meredith remained trembling while she finally looked over the edge.
Her fear suffocated my lungs, making shivers of pleasure slither down my spine from the bitter scent.
I followed her gaze into the darkness. Vesper’s midnight black body blended into the endless shadows, but we all knew what his massive form looked like.
When I gained possession of the beast—thanks to my bargain—I presented him to my people before permanently keeping him in the underground tunnels beneath my palace.
Everyone knew Vesper was my most blood-thirsty serpent. After all, he was a beast of nightmares—he particularly enjoyed savoring his victim’s eyeballs before moving on to devour the rest of their flesh and bones.
My beast’s daunting blood-red eyes and sharp white fangs were the only things illuminated within the dimness.
“Take your time with this one,” I drawled to the vicious serpent, and his red tongue darted out in a thrilled hiss.
I leveled one last glare at Meredith, and she must have sensed my gaze because her fearful eyes raised to mine. I was seconds away from commanding my guard to kick her into the pit, but a man yelling from the audience had my jaw snapping closed.
“All hail the Serpent King! He would never allow such cruelty to fall upon us!” The man threw his right fist into the air as he descended the stone stairs leading to the Pit.
A roar of shocked gasps fluttered through the audience, but the only look of surprise I allowed to shine through was the arch of a brow and pinch of my lips. With a sharp inhale, I quickly was able to detect the reek of charred leather permeating off him.
Pure hatred.
The man descended to the base of the rafters, but Felix seized him the moment he tried to shove his way toward the pit and to Meredith.
A flash of blood-red caught my attention, dragging my gaze away from the man and to my bodyguard powerfully striding toward the commotion.
His jaw was clenched and his eyes were like sharp steel as he assessed the new threat.
I was so distracted by how wonderful my signature color stretched across Landon’s glorious muscles I nearly forgot I was in the middle of a show.
Turning my focus back to the spectacle playing out below me, I wickedly smiled at the woman teetering on the edge of death.
“Well, what do we have here? A lover of yours, Meredith?” I purred, causing an anguished growl to tear from the traitor’s lips while she thrashed against my guard’s iron-clad grip.
Landon helped Felix detain the man who resumed his annoying chatter. “You don’t deserve to sit on the mortal’s throne, for you are not one of us.”
I looked down my nose at the stocky man, who had hatred blazing within his dark eyes. My snakes violently hissed atop my head, ready to defend me at my command.
I’ve got this, I said down our bond, slowly pacing the balcony. My heels clacking were the only sound filling the tense arena.
“It is rather interesting that you think the Serpent King is less cruel than me.” I hummed, giving the man a once-over. “The fact you believe such a statement proves your high level of sheer ignorance . . . and stupidity.” I chuckled, making the man roar with fury.
The traitor puffed his chest, trying once again to break free, but, unfortunately for him, I employed the strongest men in all the human lands to be my guards.
I glanced at Landon, and a charged electricity passed between us when our eyes locked.
Correction, I had the strongest guards in all the lands and the most handsome.
I leveled a cold look at the crowd, letting my mask fall back into place.
“May this be a reminder to you all. Although I am an immortal, I was once like you. I earned my place as the first woman to rule this queendom, and I bet not one of you could survive the things I’ve endured in order to be sitting here today. ”
I sat, taking my rightful place atop the throne, no longer entertained by tonight’s execution. I was ready to be done with these ungrateful peasants and soak in my tub till my skin pruned.
“Guards, bring him to join the woman.” I barely spared them another glance.
I knew my guards did as I commanded when I heard shoes scuff against stone. It was useless, but the traitor fought my men every step of the way, roaring like a caged animal.
I was cradling my head in my hand, utterly bored, when I smelt something new filling the air around me. I perked up, inhaling his fear like one consumed air to survive.
A crack tore through the brisk coliseum when Landon slammed the man to his knees at the edge of the pit beside Meredith, and I nodded down at him in approval. A vicious hiss rattled below, signaling Vesper was aware his next meal had doubled in size in only a matter of minutes.
This happened from time to time, where two lovers would insist on dying together.
Some considered it romantic, but I found it utterly foolish.
Love made people weak, and this was yet another reminder why I refused to love ever again.
The man gazed into the Pit, then his eyes rose to meet mine, raising his voice for all to hear.
“You might excel at making your people live in a constant state of fear, but it won’t stop more from rebelling.
We refuse to bow at the feet of a monster.
You will never be as strong as the Serpent King, nor any man for that matter. ”
My vision blurred, red flooding my sight as I tried to act nonchalant from the slew of hate being tossed my way.
I cocked my head, pouting my lips. It was easier to pretend everything was fine, acting as if his words didn’t slice through my gut like a razor-sharp blade.
Instead, a sinful smile slithered across my lips, stretching so wide I felt it kiss the edges of my eyes. “Looks like I am stronger than at least one man.”
My remark brought a storm of anger back into the weak, pathetic man’s eyes, and I dramatically yawned, patting my hand against my mouth.
“This conversation bores me. Guards, execute them.” With a dismissive wave, I looked away from the traitors and set my sights on the audience.
My favorite moment of my weekly entertainment was about to commence.
My guards kicked the two traitors into the Pit, making blood-curdling screams reverberate off the walls and echo throughout the arena.
Yet, I did not drop my gaze from the crowd as I assessed their reactions to what the man said moments before.
Fear seemed to be etched upon most of their faces, while the sound of crunching bones trickled from the Pit.
Yet, a handful of my people appeared angry, some even had their mouths parted in a perpetual state of shock.
My attention snagged on one man with onyx black hair, whose piercing green eyes were shrouded with a gleam of disappointment.
His eyes weren’t trained on the Pit, like the rest of the audience—they were fixed on me.
That stare reminded me so much of . . .
I slammed my eyes shut, not able to withstand another torturous moment looking at the man who reminded me so much of my past. I inhaled, zoning in on the overall feeling from the crowd, preparing to delight in the bitter cloud of their fear.
However, my eyes flew open, my mouth tugging into a frown as that awfully sweet scent surrounded me once more . . .
Hope.