The Royal Omega

Chapter 4:

Celia sat on the lush bed for a moment in quiet contemplation, before the scream she had been forcing down tore itself from her lips. Ignoring her body’s protests she slammed her fists down onto the nightstand next to her, knocking down the ornate lamp it held and sending it crashing to the floor. She reveled in the sound of the glass as it shattered and tore through the rest of the room in a fit of untamed rage. The idea of Karns hands touching her body as he marked and mated her fuled her rampage throughout the lavish room, and hot tears fell from her eyes.

She stopped when the sobs racking her body were too much. Collapsing instead onto a chair that sat next to the massive windows and letting the force of her emotions sweep through her. She couldn't help but think that her mother would be ashamed to see her in this state, but was powerless to stop the swell of hopelessness from consuming her.

She gazed out the window while she cried, the warmth of the sun against her skin as it casted bright rays through the glass helping calm her. The guards positioned beneath it stood like statues, only moving their heads as they scanned the area, and she wondered if she could outrun them if she were to throw herself through its ornate glass.

She jumped when the doors behind her creaked open, preparing herself to be beaten for the destruction of the room, but was surprised when she turned to see an elderly omega holding a small tray of food. The old woman's face was full of pity as she took in Celia’s malnourished frame and the bruises covering her skin. She spoke gently, setting the food down as she did.

“Alpha Karn has requested that you eat.” She said while motioning to the food, and Celia noticed the unmistakable mark of fingerprint bruises dotting the old woman's wrist. Celia's eyes locked with the old woman’s a wave of empathy washing over her. The sight of those marks, so similar to her own, a reminder of the shared suffering they endured. For a moment, her own turmoil was eclipsed by concern for this woman before her.

"I'm sorry," Celia managed to whisper, motioning to the room as she did, her voice hoarse from her outburst.

The old woman shook her head slightly, offering Celia a faint, understanding smile. "No need for apologies, dear. We all find ways to cope with our burdens," she said softly, her eyes reflecting years of endured hardships.

Celia's gaze shifted back to the window, her thoughts momentarily drifting away from the room’s destruction and her own despair. "I don’t even know if I can escape," she murmured, more to herself than to the omega, the idea of fleeing through the window lingering in her mind.

The elderly omega followed Celia's gaze, her expression turning thoughtful. “Perhaps we should clean you up before you eat?” She asked, giving Celia a knowing look and leading her to the shower. Celia followed, confused, but too exhausted to argue. She took a step back when the older omega closed the bathroom door and turned on the shower, allowing steam to fill the room.

“When you work in the Alpha house for as long as I have,” she said sweetly, “you learn a thing or two.” She smiled defiantly, the expression bringing some youth to her haggard face. “Alpha Karn has demanded that the guards notify him the moment your first shift begins. What does that tell you?”

Celia’s confusion immediately turned to hope as she whispered her answer, afraid that speaking too loud would jinx it. “He doesn’t know what day my birthday is,” she said, smiling victoriously when the old woman nodded.

“Now,” the elder omega continued, “I’ve heard through the grapevine that you handle pain well. And while awful that you had to endure such things, that skill you've picked up is a blessing. Your first shift will be painful, make no mistake about it, but the shower will hide the cracking of your bones if you can maintain control over your voice.”

Celia’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered her mothers leath form as a panther, even as an omega nothing could match her speed and dexterity as she sped through the forest, hopping through trees and running at mind boggling speed. If she could hide her shift she’d have a real chance at escape, guards be damned.

“Thank you,” she beamed, hugging the woman, as for the first time in years, she dared to dream of a better life.

“Don't mention it dear,” she cooed patting down Celia’s hair, “but now it's best if we get you get cleaned up, otherwise the guards will be curious as to what we were doing in here”

Celia nodded. Carefully removing her ragged clothes and stepping into the steaming shower while the old woman collected her soiled garments and handed her a variety of soaps.

“I’ll bring you some fresh clothes, and we can tackle that hair when I return.” She said, leaving the room before Celia could reply.

She let the hot water cascade over her, the dense steam providing a comforting embrace. It was a rare moment of solitude and relief, a brief escape from the relentless reality of her life. The warmth soothed her aching muscles and offered a momentary reprieve from her constant anxiety.

As she lathered her skin with the soap, the scent of which was mild and pleasant, she found her mind racing with the possibility of escape. The knowledge that Karn did not know the exact date of her shift opened a door of opportunity she hadn't dared to consider before. The thought of reclaiming her freedom, of running through the forests and feeling the wind on her face, was exhilarating. She could almost feel the caress of the crisp air beckoning her towards freedom.

Unaware of the time passing while she was lost in thought, Celia was jolted back to the present when the water began to run cold. She hurriedly finished her shower, the urgency of her situation pressing down on her once more, the moment she shut off the water. She took a deep breath, stepping from the shower, and wrapping one of the plush towels around herself. Greatful the mirror was too fogged to show her reflection.

When the elderly omega returned with fresh clothes and a gentle smile, Celia greeted her with a quiet determination in her eyes. They worked together to dress Celia and tame her tangled hair, restoring a bit of its lost luster. Celia groaned as the brush swept through her hair, she hadn’t realized she missed the feel of the hard bristles massaging her scalp.

The older omega chuckled at her response, and she found herself smiling with her. The fear of becoming Karn’s plaything had all but dissipated, and in its place was determination. She would spend the next few days playing his game while gathering her strength and building her neglected body up until her birthday. For now, she only had to wait.