The Lycan's Bargain

Chapter 5

My trembling hands reached for the doorknob and I pushed it open, walking into the chambers.

One step in and I had a chilling realization. If I thought the hallways leading to this place was dark, I was dead wrong. It was pitch black in here. Everything had been shut and the air quality was even worse. How was he living in this place!? I bit back the cough building at the back of my throat, closing the door behind me as the darkness consumed me. My body started shaking, my eyes struggling to adjust to the lack of light.

"You summoned me, your majesty." I called out, my voice quieter than I had wanted it to be. But I knew my captor would hear me regardless. He was the Lycan king after all. I stayed pressed against the door, looking around for where he might be with no success.

"Your majesty?" I called out again, my voice lower as I dared to take another step forward. Still, nothing. Wasn't he here at all? Already, my heart had begun to race in my chest, my skin clammy with sweat. Then, I felt his presence beside me, domineering, menacing anddeadly. Screaming, I stumbled backwards, missing a step and falling to the ground with a loud thud.

Curling to myself, the words spilled from my mouth before I had the chance to stop them. "Please, don't kill me. I'm so sorry... " I cried out like a chant, my voice trembling. For a while, I didn't hear him speak, though I could feel his gaze on me.

My pleading subsided, and I managed to peek through my fingers. He was still staring at me, his eyes the only thing glowing in this dark room. Eventually he turned and walked away, settling into something with a low yet tired creak of the furniture. A flicker of surprise travelled through me, my eyes slightly widening.

I uncurled myself from the ground, trailing the direction in which he had gone, my sniffs the only audible thing in the room. "What do you want from me?" I asked when it seemed like he wasn't going to be doing anything.

"I don't know... " Came the roughly spoken, yet tired words. My surprise grew. What!? "You wanted to be my slave so I let you."

The words didn't quite penetrate at first, but when they did, I gasped. "Y-you're not having your way with me?" I stuttered, my shock evident in my voice. He rose from wherever he was seating and pinned me a glare with that sharp gaze of his.

"You're too frail and tiny for that. I wouldn't appreciate you dying beneath me." He stated as a matter of fact.

Now I was dumbstruck. What's going on!? "Then... Why did you summon me?" I found myself asking before I could stop the words.

"How's your mother?" He asked and I stiffened, memories of how I had been cruelly separated from her filling me. My eyes watered but I blinked the tears back.

"She's fine. She's awake now and seems to be on the mend." I said, my voice heavy with emotions. He stared at me for a moment before looking away. Gathering my courage, I managed to ask. "Please, let me go back home."

"No." Came the sharp rebuttal. I flinched.

"W-why?"

"You're my slave now." He answered quickly.

"B-but... You just said you have no use for me."

"Yes. But you're my slave now so I can do whatever I want with you. Whatever that is. And I what I want is for you not to leave." He answered.

I don't understand... Why is he doing this? "Seat up." He ordered, his voice suddenly stern and I did so. A knock came on the door and I turned towards it.

"Your food has been brought your majesty." A guard announced. The door creaked open and they pushed the tray in, a little lamp next to it. Closing it instantly, we were left alone once again.

"Eat." He ordered. I glanced at him, noting the faint outline of his body thanks to the addition of light. I stared at the tray filled with covered food, it's delectable scent rising up in the air. My stomach growled but I had no appetite. Yet, I couldn't disobey him. Dragging the tray closer to me, I opened the coverings and stared at the meals.

Glancing at him, I saw he was still staring at me and I redirected my gaze to the food before. Picking up the spoon provided, I placed it in the food, scooping some of the content and shoving it into my mouth. The food was delicious, but I was in no place to enjoy. Instead, the tears I had been trying so hard to hide came pouring out, the soup feeling like rocks in my mouth.

My thoughts stayed with my mother, her distraught face and how much this will hurt her. And here I was, eating against my will while the Lycan king stared at me, hua gaze almost predatory. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and I gave up.

"I'm done." I whispered, suppressing my sobs. He didn't try to force me. Instead, he laid down, leaving me alone to cry. I did that till I was exhausted, drifting into a listless sleep.

I was awoken by a nightmare much later, my heart racing, looking around, I realized that the lamp had burnt oil, the chambers getting plunged into deep darkness once more. Though, there was no way to tell, it seemed like the night time. The night sounds filtering into the chambers were enough indication for that.

I looked in direction of where the Lycan king was but didn't find him staring at me. Was he asleep, perhaps? There was no way to know. Feeling around me with my hands, I stopped when I felt the door. My heart skipped a beat and a thought took hold. If he was asleep, maybe I should use this moment to run away. No one would care, I didn't think they even liked me here.

Slowly, yet carefully, I stood to my feet, quietly making it to the door and feeling for the doorknob with a bated breath. It took a while but I eventually found it. I let out a soft sigh of relief, swallowing tightly. Turning it slowly, I unlocked it, slowly pulling the door open. Stopping slightly, I turned back, checking if he was awake yet. Still no sign of him being awake yet. I swallowed a sigh, opening it even further till there was enough space for me to slip out. My heart began to pound in anticipattion. Almost there...

"Where are you going?" Kael growled into my ears and I yelped, slamming the door shut, jumping away from him only to realize he had me pinned against the door. My eyes grew wide, panic filling my insides.

When did he get behind me!?