Moonlight : The bloody hybrid

Chapter 4 : A Web Of Intrigue

Morning arrived, and Ethel’s health had improved significantly. She sat up with a start, her stomach growling with hunger. The two maidens who had tended to her throughout the night smiled warmly as they helped her out of bed. The room, located in the servants' quarters, was simple yet cozy.

A man in his mid-20s entered the room, his short brown hair perfectly messy, and his charming smile disarming. His soft voice was like a gentle breeze, putting Ethel at ease. “Hello, little pup. How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Ethel’s heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, “I’m… okay.” Derick chimed in, his pride evident, “That’s all thanks to Lon and Lin, the most powerful witches in the kingdom. They’ve worked their magic to heal you.”

Derick’s smile was warm and gentle as he introduced himself. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself yesterday. I’m Derick.” Ethel’s gaze met his, her eyes welling up with tears. “I’m Ethel, but everyone calls me Ethy,” she whispered, her voice cracking. She paused, her voice barely audible. “They’re all gone now.”

“Ethel, beautiful name, you do look like an Ethel.” Derick’s words were gentle, but Ethel’s gaze remained downcast, her fingers twiddling nervously as she wiped away tears. “What happened to you was tragic, there’s nothing we can do to change the past.” His tone was empathetic, but his next words were surprisingly cavalier. “That’s all I’ve got. I’m not good at being sentimental. The king sent me to check on you, and now that I’ve done that, I’ll get going.” Ethel’s head jerked up, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had been expecting comfort, solace, something to ease her pain. Instead, Derick’s nonchalance felt like a slap in the face. Her mind reeled as she laughed bitterly, the irony striking her like a cruel joke. She needed comfort so desperately that she had almost turned to the nephew of the very person who had caused her this pain.

“Your fangs haven’t emerged yet, but your scent whispers wolf,” Derick said, his voice laced with curiosity. “No pack markings, no wolf form… it’s as if you’re a puzzle I can’t quite solve.” Derick’s gaze locked onto hers, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. “Fascinating,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth. “Welcome to Fengoria, little pup…” He rose from the chair, his movements fluid and graceful, and strode towards the door, leaving Ethel with more questions than answers.

“Everyone here might just be psychotic,” Ethel thought to herself, her stomach growling loudly in agreement. “Great, and now I’ll probably die of hunger,” she said out loud, her sarcasm evident. Just then, Lin walked in with a tray of food, saving her from certain starvation. “Not on our watch,” Lin said with a smile. “The king’s orders were clear: nurse you back to full strength.” Lon placed the tray on Ethel’s lap, adding with a hint of jealousy, “And he doesn’t do this for just anyone. I think he’s taken a liking to you.”

“The king,” Ethel thought, her mind wandering with curiosity. “What’s his deal, first sending Derick to check on me, and now these two?” She ventured deeper into thought, wondering why she wasn’t locked up like before. “Who’s the king?” she asked aloud, her curiosity getting the better of her. Lin’s eyes glazed over, a dreamy smile spreading across her face. “The wolf king… tall, handsome, strong, with shoulder-length black hair, a smile that could charm the stars, and a scent that…” Lin’s voice trailed off, lost in her fantasy. Lon chuckled, interrupting her friend’s daydream. “Okay, that’s enough, Lin. We know you’re obsessed with the king.” She turned to Ethel, a playful glint in her eye. “The king is every girl’s fantasy in the kingdom. He’s not only charmingly handsome but also kind and just.” Ethel listened, her curiosity piqued, wondering what made this king so special.

His uncle was unhinged, his brother a puzzle she couldn’t solve. Ethel hesitated to trust the king, fearing another disappointment. But as she entered the throne room, her doubts faltered. The king sat majestic on his throne, his dominant presence drawing her in like a magnet. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, and Ethel felt a shiver run down her spine. The council members fell silent as she approached, their eyes fixed on her sleek blue gown, which accentuated her curves. Her porcelain skin and snowy hair, tied in an elegant knot, added to her ethereal beauty. The king’s gaze never wavered, his eyes burning with an intensity that left her breathless.

Ethel’s heart raced with anxiety, uncertain of the fate that awaited her. The council members and guards were entranced by her beauty, their eyes fixed on her with a mixture of awe and admiration. But the king’s gaze remained impassive, his expression unreadable. He studied her with a calculating intensity, his eyes boring into her soul. Ethel felt a shiver run down her spine as he rose from his throne, his movements fluid and graceful. The room fell silent, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. What would be her judgment? Would she be spared or condemned? The king’s words would seal her fate.

Derick stood firmly by the king's side, his eyes fixed on Ethel. The king's gaze bore into her, his voice commanding. "Lift your head up." Ethel obeyed, her eyes still cast downward. "Why do you think we've called you here, little pup?" The king's question echoed, and Ethel's mind raced with frustration. "What's going on here? First, they slaughter my pack, kidnap me, and now they're playing games? The king is as mad as his uncle." She thought, her silence stretching out for a moment.

Derick's voice snapped her back to attention. "Little pup, when the king asks you a question, you respond!" Ethel's words tumbled out in a rush, her anger and confusion boiling over. "I don't know why you've brought me here, your Highness. I don't know why Sedrick, uncle, wanted to torture me. I don't know why any of this is happening!" The room erupted into murmurs and gasps, Derick's hand twitching as if to strike her. But the king's subtle gesture stayed his hand, a small smile playing on his lips. Ethel, still venting, didn't realize she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

The murmurs in the room abruptly stopped as Ethel realized her mistake. "Stupid" she thought, her face burning with embarrassment. But to her surprise, the king's expression changed from stern to intrigued. Mo one dared address him with such candor, except perhaps his family.

The king took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Ethel, and sat back on the throne. He was silent for a moment. "You are to remain in the palace as my personal maiden," he decreed, his voice firm but with a hint of amusement. "Derick, my Beta, will assist you in getting settled."

Ethel's mind reeled in shock. "What is happening...?" She thought, still trying to comprehend the sudden turn of events. She lifted her gaze to find the king smiling at her, a hint of warmth in his eyes. She bowed, her body moving on autopilot, as Derick escorted her out of the throne room.