His Hidden Jewel

Chapter 2

“Well aren’t you a treat.”

I freeze. That's not my masters voice.

It's that dangerous sounding voice from yesterday. Lord Verdinin.

Oh no, he's going to see my horrendous appearance... and more importantly, master is going to be so furious.

“Don’t be shy little one, turn around.” Lord Verdinin commands; his voice surprisingly sounds softer than it did the other day, but it still held the hint of coldness that commands authority.

I swallow dryly, unable to deny his command with my master not around, I turn around, keeping my eyes lowered. From what I could tell, Lord Verdinin is a humuniod creature that is tall, and pale, with long black hair tied in the back. He looks a lot different from master, but still much different from me as well. Something about him seems strong and powerful, just like the same feeling from the other day.

His circles me slowly, I can feel his gaze burning through my skin; he stops in front of me.

Suddenly, I see his nearly snow-white fingers grab a piece of my hair, twirling it playfully.

“My, aren’t you an… interesting development,” he coos with bland curiosity. “Now I see why Bezing has kept you all hush.” My cheeks burn with embarrassment; I know he’s talking about my horrific appearance. I wish a hole would swallow me up right now.

He continues to watch me for a moment, and I shift uncomfortably under his gaze; what does he want from me?

“Come now, let’s go see your master. I’m sure he will love to explain this to me.” His cold hand grips my shoulder, and starts to lead me to my masters office; my stomach drops with nasuea and fear.

It seems like in an instant Lord Verdinin and I were in front of my masters office. I swallow nervously; this could very well be my death sentence, signed by this unknown lord.

“Go ahead, call for your master.” He commands with a falsely soothing tone; after all, how could words soothe the punishment I'm about to recieve from master.

I knock gently, not wanting to knock at all.

“Master, may I enter?”

“… come in.” The moment I open the door, Lord Verdinin is leading me through. I didn’t dare imagine the look of anger that was surely on my masters face. I scrunch my eyes and barely keep from shaking the second my master speaks.

“Lord Verdinin?! I wasn’t expecting you! … what are you doing with my er- servant…”

“Good afternoon Lord Bezing. I felt that our visit was cut too short yesterday, so I thought that I would drop by again. And then I ran into this lovely creature,” Lord Verdinins hand moves from my shoulders to my chin and tilts my face eye-level with the two lords. “And my, what a sweet surprise she is. See Lord Bezing, I’m curious as to why you would hide such a rare, delectable treat.” The way he says the last word sends my stomach plummeting; does he mean as food? Are there be creatures that view my kind as food?

Even if there is, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm just a weak slave with no say or protection. I swallow dryly and ignore my curdling stomach.

“Pardon my lord but I don’t recall needing your approval to employ a servant.” Master remarks with a false bravo that sounds more nervous than confident. I've never seen master be so hesitant, and fearful even; just who is this other lord, just how powerful is he?

“I don't belive I mentioned anything about permission, did I Lord Bezing? No, I don’t care for civilians you employ. However, I figured any smart, common-sense fellow would know to report to their Greatnesses when the servant they hire happens to be a human. And from those violet eyes of hers, she is even rare among her once-extinct species. Now, my lord do you care to explain what your thinking was not reporting her, because I’m quite curious to hear what is was. And I’m sure my uncle would be quite curious as well. Maybe you can come tell him in person.”

The air seems more tense than before. I don't understand Lord Verdinin's threat but whatever it is, it made master terrified. He's not saying a word, not even pretending to be unfazed by Lord Verdinin's threat.

After a moment, master speaks with resignation. “I have no issue explaining the situation to both the Greatnesses. I will... gladly have an audience with Queen Jazma and King Volkari. I’m assuming you would want me to go now?” Despite his words, masters tone gives away that he’s all but pleased to go.

Lord Verdinin turns my head so that my face towards his. It’s so uncomfortable trying to keep my eyes lowered at this angle.

“Oh my, I had no idea you are a mind reader Lord Bezing.” Lord Verdinin mocks. “Yes, we will be leaving now, I’m sure my family will be quite eager to learn of the news.” Verdinin focuses on me; I feel small under his heavy gaze. “As for you, little bunny, of course you’ll be accompanying Lord Bezing and I. But fret not little bunny, I’ll protect you from your masters mind-reading eyes,” he spits out the last part with a cruel and mocking tone. Master tenses.

Lord Verdinin takes a moment to enjoy my masters feat before continuing, “I guess we should stop playing with your master, huh little bunny? Let’s go, after you Lord Bezing,” Lord Verdinin motions to the door. “Take us to your carriage.”

I follow numbly after the lords, resignation hitting me. I'm a monster about to be exposed to the outside world.

OooooooooooO

The carriage ride is long and tiring, I start to feel sick halfway through. I blame the motion. It’s my first time riding in a carriage, it was my first time seeing and meeting the carriage boy too, who looked at me like I was the scariest thing he ever saw. The freak show has already begun and it’s just getting started. The curtains on the carriage is closed so no one on the outside can see me yet but many will soon.

I’m seated next to Lord Verdinin, with master across from us. Lord Verdinin occasionally tries to pull master into small talk while also making a witty remark to me, but neither master or I say anything. Though I don't understand why he even tries with me, I thought being the hideous monster that I am he wouldn't even want to breathe the same air as me.

Lord Verdinin doesn’t seem to care that we don’t respond, if he's above master in power, he probably looks down on both of us.

But I don't really care, I'm used to being looked down upon. My mind instead is filled with anxiety, knowing that there are some big changes that are about to happen to my life and I can’t help but worry about it. Master is surely furious with me but I’m not sure if I should even care at this point. It seems we both are probably going to be punished.

“Girl,” I stiffen at Lord Verdinin's voice. “I realize I have yet to learn of your name. What’s your name, girl?” He asks.

I'm in shock that he asked that; why would he care what my name is? Master rarely even uses my name, he often just calls me "slave" or "girl."

I lick my dry lips, feeling a little awkward. “It’s Charity, my lord.”

Verdinin chuckles coldly, his laugh sounding more angry that humourous; my cheeks warm in embarrassment. I don't understand why he responded that way, but I feel like I should be embarassed by it.

He hums. “Charity, seriously Bezing? Hmm… I like Bunny better, it suits you more, because you seem like a little, delectable bunny.”

Bunny? I frown.

“Ah we’re here,” Lord Verdinin announces, interrupting my thoughts.

A rush of anxiety waves over me as we step out of the carriage. I see the largest manor I have ever seen; it's ten times larger than masters manor. There are creatures of all types standing along the steps to the giant manor, dressed in protective metal. When I dare a look to the creatures guarding the front, I immediately regret it. They’re all watching me, all with that same horrified expressions on their faces. It sickens me that I make them feel that way. I'm suddenly sickly aware of myself.

“Tell my uncle I request an audience with him immediately, it’s of most importance.” Verdinin orders to what I assume to be servant. The servant bows and hurry’s off. Lord Verdinin speaks with a guard for a second before motioning for master and I to follow.

Verdinin leads master and I through the giant manor and even though the journey feels long, it goes by too fast for my liking. We're soon in front a large door gaurded by two gaurds.

“Your Greatness,” the guard nods to Lord Verdinin. “Are you here for an audience with King Volkari?”

Lord Verdinin nods, and the gaurd lets us in.

I feel as if I'm heading to my death.

There are a few guards on the side and there are two people seated in the middle of the room in icicle-looking thrones, the whole room itself a pure black. The two people, a female and male, look a lot like Lord Verdinin with their pale skin.

Once the pair notice us the male gets up from his throne. “Marcel, welcome home son! And is that… what I think it is,” I feel their gazes on me. He looks a lot more like Lord Verdinin or Marcel, than the female does with his matching long black hair.

“Yes uncle, while I was visting Lord Bezing, I came across a human. Not simply just a human, but a rare human.” Lord Verdinin replies stoically. I can feel master tensing next to me.

“Where did you find her?” The male asks.

“I believe Lord Bezing can fill that part in, for it was his manor that I found her in.” A cruel smile curls at Lord Verdinins lips.

“My Greatnesses, King Volkari Verdinin and Queen Jazma Verdinin, may I just say that I have always been the kingdoms faithful servant and I never done anything with cruel intention towards your Greatnesses.” Master bows lowly.

"Save it Lord Bezing, all I want to hear is how you came across this human," the male, King Volkari, snarls. I hear master swallow dryly.

“All I know is that before the Crimson Wars, my grandparents secretly kept some humans as slaves, some normal, some rare. During the Crimson Wars, when humans were being exterminated, my grand parents kept two pairs of rare human slaves, and turned in the rest to hide from questioning. My grandfather might have thought the government wouldn’t care that they weren’t turned over because they were going to be enslaved anyways. Each pair had a child, and those two had my slave here today. From my understanding, she’s the only human left; her parents died years ago and they never had any other children.

“Your Greatnesses I swear to you, I am telling the full truth. I never meant to keep this from you in any way to hurt the kingdom or target your rule. I simply never made the slave girl public because I figured it wouldn't matter if I had a human slave or a regular servant." Master pleads, but his words aren't even convincing me, I doubt they're convincing the other creatures in the room. "It wasn’t because of any plan to harm anything or anyone, I swear.”

My mind focuses on one word from masters story: “exterminated.” All my people were hunted down and killed. I just can’t be the very last of my kind. I can’t be… sadness waves over me hearing I was the last of my kind but quickly smother it down when my brain reminds me that I’m surrounded by enemies.

“Hm, well Lord Bezing I must say that I’m very disappointed in you, and your ancestors as well if you story is accurate. If. You’ll still be put through a proper trial to make certain that your story clears through and to make certain that you had no plan of using the human girl in any way harmful to the government or the people of Silvonya.” King Volkari determines.

“Your Greatness-“

“Yes, yes we heard it already, you believe you’re innocent,” Queen Jazma cuts in sternly, which contrasts her soft voice. She sounds bored.

“Yes, just as my lovely wife just said, we’ve heard your pleas already Bezing. And while I applaud you for being upfront, I must say even if your story checks out, it’s not going to save you from punishment,” The king threatens coolly, circling my master like a predator circles prey. Oh how the tables have turned, a slave watching her master being treated like prey, being treated exactly how she was treated by him.

“You see,” Volkari continues, “I can understand being young and unsure of the world of nobility and the loyalty with it. I can understand being unsure of your parents intentions and actions, and unsure whether to expose them to the government you would eventually devote your life to. However, you, as full grown adult noble, choose to keep a secret from Silvonya, a secret all to protect your family and ensure you get your free labor. It’s blatantly obvious to all of us that when it comes down to it, trivial things matter more to you than a bright future for Silvonya. You have made your choice, now we need to make ours.”

Master visibly cowers and bows to the royals. “I understand my lord, I apologize.”

Volkari doesn’t respond, instead he turns from master and suddenly focuses on me. I tense up under his gaze. “I can see now why you came as soon as you did, nephew. A human, and not only that, but a rare type. This is... extraordinary, I haven’t heard of one in centuries.” His face gets closer to mine and, weirdly, sniffs my cheek. It takes all my willpower not to flinch.

King Volkari calls in a gaurd, and they drag away my master. The one person I've ever known all my life is being taken away from me this very moment. There were many times in the past where I wished someone would whisk my away from master's cruelness, but I quickly gave up on those dreams, knowing no one would want to be around a hideous monster like me. Now I'm getting what I wanted all those years ago, though not in the way I imagined, and all I feel is scared and lonely.

“She smells just as sweet as the stories would say, but it her smell isn't as strong as the history books claim." Queen Jazma softly inputs, standing gracefully from her throne and pushing her long blonde tresses over her shoulder.

Everything about Queen Jazma seems so soft, and elegant, but there's also this power about her, like she's a hurricane waiting to happen. She is both intimidating and alluring.

“Yes, her smell is also heavily masked, but not by a scent eraser though; it’s different.” King Volkari agrees.

“I realized that too dear Aunt,” Lord Verdinin says. “Considering I’m sure I’m not the only vampire to visit Lord Bezings estate, I was at first curious at how he was able to keep a human under our noses for so long since we can tell the difference between a smell eraser and ones true smell. But Lord Bezing here sells gogiki berries, which affects the smell of the grower if a lot of time is spent around them. I’m sure the lord had the human growing the berries, which masked her smell over time.”

“Slave girl,” King Volkari demands, I bow my head. “Did your master have you grow any fruit for him? And if so what were they?”

Should I answer him? Master will be so furious... but at this point, I doubt I'll see master ever again.

"Slave girl, answer the question," King Volkari snarls.

“Yes your Greatness, I grew fruit while under my master. The types of fruit I grew were bobomellons and… gogiki.”

“Hmph, figures. Lord Bezing probably knew that too... Now, what shall I do with you,” Volkari says in regards to me. “Hm, nephew?”

“Yes uncle?”

“Would you fancy a human slave? Think of her as an early coronation present for when you take over the throne after your aunt and I.”

“My lord, what about the law?” Jazma asks gently.

“The law was created after humans were believed to be extinct so they are not a creature listed under protection of the law. Technically, the only law still in place regarding humans is to kill them upon finding. s*****y is much kinder path to give her than death don't you think my dear? Besides, the people would be uneasy knowing a monstrous human was walking around freely.” Volkari explains. “If she lives she must be a slave or she must die. So nephew, will you take her?”

Slavery or death? Is there really no other life for me?

“I’ll take the little human.” I can hear the smirk in his tone as he walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. He is going to be my new master? I wasn’t sure what to think about him, he’s different than my master- or rather my old master now. My old master was all about anger and outbursts, but this lord seems to jump between aloof and to cruel teasing.

I will adapt, I have no choice.