King of Anything

02

I wake up to that hand, and a soothing voice.

"We're here, little girl. Wake up."

I'm alive? He's probably taking me to his lair, to butcher me. This should be interesting. I've never been butchered before.

I take his hand, as he pulls me out of the car.

I look around, wondering where here is. A house. A big one. Smaller than my old house, but almost the same size.

He lets my hand go, as he walks up the stairs, expecting me to follow. I do. What a nice place to be butchered.

"Is anyone following you," He asked lowly.

"Maybe. Maybe not."

He nods. His hair shines as he opened the double doors to the house, waiting for me to walk through them.

It's gorgeous, and so white.

He glanced at my clothes, spattered in blood.

"Come, I'll take you to get clean."

I follow him, through the house, into a room. It's just like my old room. White. Bare. Unlived in.

There's a bed, a lamp, a bathroom.

Nothing especially fancy.

"Everything you need in the bathroom. There's clothes in the closet."

I turn to him, observing him under the light. He meets my eye blankly.

"You're beautiful," I whisper. It's the truth. He's gorgeous. It's almost unfair.

He shows no reaction to my words.

"I'll leave you to it," Is his low response.

"Wait! What's your name?"

He paused, turning around. I give up on his name, figuring he won't tell me.

His voice rumbles from his chest deeply.

"Scar. Come down when you've dressed."

Oh well. He's an excellent host, even if he is going to butcher me. I shower, relishing in the warm water on my skin.

I brush my teeth, fight with my hair for twenty minutes. If it's one thing he doesn't have, it's the proper hair products to tame my massive curls.

I throw it in a bun. It looks ridiculous, but I'm going to die anyway, so...fuck it. I'm a Queen.

I am beautiful.

I go into the closet, finding ball gowns. Gorgeous shoes, and accessories.

I'm used to it all, so I select my favorite, an soft orange gown. It looks like my body is bathed in the soft glow of a fire.

I put some shoes on, black, high heels. They're gorgeous, my favourite brand too.

I put on some pearls, feeling at home in the luxury. I don't know what feels more right—the luxury or the blood.

Maybe both.

I walk downstairs, where he waits for me at the bottom of the stairs like a prince, dressed in a tuxedo. He doesn't look astounded at the sight of me.

He just looks me over, nodding once.

"Excellent choices," He commends me lowly, offering his hand. I take it. I've been doing that a lot lately.

"Thank you," I say softly. "This is nice, but when are you going to kill me?"

He places my arm on his elbow, a true gentleman of society.

"You're not here for me to kill."

"So you aren't going to kill me?" Oh...well. that's a little disappointing.

"I didn't say that either," He says. "I want you to do something for me. Tonight, I will see if you can."

"And if I can't?"

He glanced at me. "Then you may find your end as quickly as you'd hoped."

"So what do you want me to do?"

He takes me to a ballroom, just like the ones I was used to. It's brimming with people, some I recognize.

"Right now? I want you, to be you."

"I'm a Queen," I say.

"So you've said," He replied. "But we will see if that's true, little girl."

"My name is—"

"It doesn't matter. You are Katya Rhodes. That's who you are here. Do not forget it."

I swallow, looking at the people. Will they recognize me.

He lets go of my arm at the beginning of the room.

"This is where we part ways, little girl."

I look at him. He's looking straight ahead.

"What do I do?"

"If you are a Queen like you claim, you should know."

I look ahead, the sudden feeling taking over me. Like my life is about to change.

He extends his hand, silently urging me toward the room.

"Go on, Katya. Your Kingdom awaits."

I take a deep breath, and follow that hand, into the light, feeling his eyes on my back as I enter the room.