The Lycan's Bargain

Chapter 4.

Aira.

I cried all the way to the Lycan King's castle, paying little notice to the attention I was gathering. It was the first time in years a human would be brought to the Lycan Kings residence and of course, I attracted a lot of curious onlookers. I had just been cruelly separated from my mother. Why did it feel worse than watching her die?

Please heavens, keep her safe. She's all I have left, I prayed, sniffing. We finally arrived at the huge gates leading to the castle and the soldiers stopped walking dropping me to the ground. I let out a yelp, my entire body hurting. Carrying myself to my feet, I watched as the soldiers spoke with the guards and they opened the gates, letting us in.

It was my first time seeing anything as grand as this, so I was dumbfounded. Despite the Lycan Kings horrible reputation, the castle was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on. A well kept garden adorned the huge land leading the to the doors of the castle, with a splendid water fountain standing right in the middle. Other than the guards who were stationed in their posts, they were very little people moving around. Yet, they still seemed very shocked seeing a human walking into the castle.

We finally at the grand stairs and I stared at the huge doors thet had the head of wolves at its doorknob, my heart palpitating in my chest. A soldier glare forced me to move and I climbed up the stairs, letting out a shaky breath as the door was opened for us.

Inside the castle was much darker and colder than outside. I shivered, wrapping my hands around myself as my gaze darted around, looking for him. The maids who had been walking about froze when they saw me, their mouth open in shock. Why? Is it because I'm human? Uncomfortable, I dropped my gaze to the ground, squeezing my clothes to my dress. Why did I agree to this?

"Has she returned?" A deep voice cut through the silence and I flinched, my fingers growing cold and clammy with sweat. He was here.

"Yes, your majesty." One of the soldiers answered, his voice tinged with fear. I bit my lips, willing my body to stop trembling.

I didn't hear him approach us, but soon I could feel his presence and his piercing gaze on me and I cowered slightly, my heart racing in my chest. When he didn't say anything, I tried to peek a look at him and stopped in my tracks. Maybe because the first time I saw him was in the dead of the night and I was completely disoriented, because I didn't remember him being so huge and... Intimidating.

He looked larger than life, towering above everyone present. Wearing a huge robe that trailed behind him, with his long dark hair falling freely over his shoulders, he was the most handsome yet terrifying man I had ever laid my eyes on.

He caught me staring and I immediately averted my gaze, feeling my cheeks burn. He stood before me for a moment and I became tongue tied, cold sweat breaking out of my body. I noticed that the soldiers who were standing next to me were trembling as well and I shivered. Then he walked past me.

"Please, your majesty... " One of them began to plead as the sound of steel cutting through the air was heard, followed by a low yet forceful thud. Something tumbled to the ground but I was too afraid to check what it was until something warm spayed on my cheeks. Reaching my fingers to touch it, I realized it was blood and I screamed.

Heavens, he's a monster.

"Tighten the security around the walls." He instructed in a bored tone. "I don't want this to repeat itself." He added.

He then turned to me and I stumbled backwards, the adrenaline pulsing through my veins numbing my senses. Grabbing my chin, he forced me to face him and I squirmed, trying to get away from his grip with zero success.

"As for her, have her cleaned and bring her to my chambers" He growled, his yellow eyese boring holes into me. Letting me go, he turned around and left. I watched him go, feeling myself start to hyperventilate.

Oh, I'm going to die. He's going to kill me.

After the Lycan's Kings order, the maids who has been standing on the sidelines immediately swooped in, taking me and dragging me to one of the empty rooms in the chambers. I looked around in a daze, my heart hammering in my chest and body trembling as they brought it a huge tub, filled it with warm water and set up soap, fragrant oils and several clean towels next to it.

When they advanced towards me, attempting to take off my clothes, I wrapped my hands around myself, scrambling away from them.

"Don't touch me!" I growled, my voice weaker than I intended it to be. They wore a bewildered expression at first, then ignored and proceeded to get rid of my dress anyway. I was soon standing n***d before them and the guided me to the warm bath.

"You don't have to bath me, I can do it myself!" I cried out when one picked a sponge and began lathering it up. She just scoffed and proceeded to scrub my back while I watched in horror. All my life, only my mother had bathed me and even she stopped once I was old enough to bathe for myself. So, this made me feel particularly exposed and vulnerable.

I sat through their t*****e, staring at them as they cleaned me till my skin shrunk and my skin turned pink from their rough scrubbing. One of the maids poured a generous amount of fragrant oil into the water, and the scent of jasmine wafted up, filling my senses. But even the pleasant aroma couldn't calm my racing thoughts.

They rinsed off the soap off me and helped me out of the water. My hair was combed and styled, fragrant oils applied on my skin and finally, they handed me a silk dress and prompted me to wear it. The dress was smooth and soft against my skin and after the buttons and ropes had been tightened, it sat on me rather comfortably.

Despite myself, I checked my appearance in the mirror thet was set up in front of me and a soft gasp escaped my lips. I almost didn't recognize myself. My hair looked longer and smoother than I had ever seen it, my skin resplendent. The dress, though simple was incredibly beautiful. Apart from the wound on my shoulders, I looked so many more prettier than I have ever remembered.

Reality came crashing back and I shuddered, realising why this was happening. I was going to the Lycan king. What is he going to do with me!? Turning to the maids who were already cleaning up the place, I mustered up the courage to ask.

"The Lycan king... What does he want from me?" I whispered, my gaze darting amongst them. Most of them ignored me, except one who seemed younger than most. I fixed my gaze on her, silently pleading while she hesitated.

"We also don't know. This is the first time he would be having someone like you in the castle." She finally said, ignoring the glares from her peers. My heart skipped a beat and then began pounding. That doesn't sound good.

"We're all done now. It's time to take you to the king. We must not keep him waiting." Another maid snapped, her voice filled with disdain. I stiffened, sucking in a deep breath and following them.

As was walked along the maze like corridors, my thoughts started to spiral. Is he going to hurt me? brutalize me? Kill me? Why did I do this!?

We arrived at a seperate wing in the castle and the maids stopped behind me. "Only you will be proceeding from here." The one who had answered my question earlier announced. I snapped my head to look at her, my eyes widening in shock. What the...!?

"His chambers is at the end of this hallway. You can't miss it." She added and my mouth fell open, dread pooling at the pit of my stomach.

"Remember, don't keep him waiting." The angry one added a stern warning and they all turned around to leave, leaving me standing there, confused. Looking back at their retreating figures, I turned my gaze back to the long hallway and began to walk.

As I walked, I noticed that this part of the wings looked like it had any visits in a while. Except for the torches flickering and bringing light, the windows were sealed shut and the air felt stale. I arrived at the end of the hallway and there, a huge door stood, dark and ominous.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I inched my fingers towards, gently rapping against it, my nerves all over the place.

"Come in... " A deep voice growled from within and I shivered, goosebumps breaking out of my skin.