The Vale

Chapter Six

Darkness surrounded me, it swallowed me up like a blanket keeping me safe and warm, only I didn’t feel safe and warm. I felt scared. After the incident in the cell a bag was placed over my head and I was marched to a mysterious destination, forced to sit in a chair and threated not to move. My dress was in tatters, but I tried to keep my modesty by covering up as much as I could with my hands. It was hard considering my wrists were still bound in chains. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and chills ran down my spine. I could feel the presence of several people, but everything was completely silent. I could feel their eyes on me, watching, waiting for something.  I desperately wanted to rip the bag from my head, to find out where I was and why I was here, but I dared not move. I could feel myself shake but I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the fear that was welling up inside of me.

“ Carlisle, why have you summoned us here?” a raspy voice boomed through the darkness causing me to practically jump out of my seat and a squeal to leave my lips. “ I believe my lords that I have found the lost prophecy” I recognised the voice that spoke up behind me, how could I forget, he was the one who brought me here. The Boss.

Gasps and whispering erupted around me “ Are you sure Carlisle? Because you know the penalty for lying?” “ Of course im sure! Take a look for your self!” the sound of boots stopping towards me alerted me to his presence before the bag was aggressively ripped from my head. My eyes squinted shut at the blinding light. “ Where did you find her ?” I slowly opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the bright light. “ she was found with a runaway slave on the other side of the river” once my eyes were adjusted i took the opportunity to look around me. This time it was my turn to gasp. Over a dozen different coloured eyes were staring at me, some were scrutinizing me, others where curious. The only thing they had in common was that they were all men.

“ Show us “ My head snapped to the man in the middle, he had the greyest eyes I had ever seen and he had long black hair to match. His emerald green robes screamed power and His eyes were on me.  Show him? Show him what? What did he want from me? The man in green glared at me like I did something wrong then he nodded to someone behind me. A few seconds later The boss came into my view, his soulless eyes were on me. His hands reached out and grabbed mine trying to tug them away but I resisted. That seemed to anger him. He bent down to my level and whispered loud enough for me to hear “ I suggest you lower your hands otherwise I will have to do it by force and trust me, you wont like what happens. “ His breath fanned over me, and his voice sent shivers down my spine. What he said scared me to my core, so I meekly lowered my hands into my lap. He nodded in approval. And then pulled the torn fabric aside showing the top of my breasts. “ There!” He pointed to my birthmark “ She bears the mark”

I looked down at my heart shaped birth mark, and then back up again. Really? All this for a birth mark? The room erupted in gasps once again and people started shouting “ Lies!” “ Inform the king!” “ Fake “ Were some of the things I heard. I took this moment to cover myself back up not wanting to be exposed any longer.  And that’s when I felt it, a presence so strong it caused the whole room to turn silent. I slowly turned to look and instantly regretted it. A tall, dark haired man dressed in a suit that cost more than my house stood at the back of the room. He radiated power. I instantly averted my gaze not wanting to draw any attention to me.

“ Your Majesty “ a voice sounded across the room, “ What are you doing here?” wait…what? Tall dark and scary was a king? I snuck another glance towards him to find him staring at me. Black eyes bore into mine and I physically shivered. “ I came to see if the rumours that were spreading around my kingdom were true. “ His eyes never left mine as they spoke “ And it seems they are “ finally he turned to look at the man standing behind me, Carlisle. “ Have the maids wash and properly present her to my chambers “ he turned to leave but someone objected, it was the man in green “ Your majesty, I apologise but we haven’t done the proper tests yet, for all we know she could be a fake..” the Kings black eyes turned a slight red as he glared at the man in green “ Are you questioning me Lucas?” his face turned even whiter and he visibly swallowed before answering “ N-no, your Majesty “ “ Good” and with that Tall Dark and scary walked out the room leaving everyone opened mouthed and shocked.

The one known as Carlisle dragged me down a hallway, my small bicep clutched in his giant hand. I tried to break free several times but to no avail, he was far stronger than I was. “ Where are you taking me?!” that was the fourth time I had asked and each time I got the same response. Silence. I tried to memorise the paths of the hallways so I could escape later but everything looked the same, it was like a maze.  “ Please just let me go, I promise I wont tell anyone, ill forget this place ever exists, you’ll never see my face here again!” I tried to plead with him, tears had started to fall down my cheeks, the events of the last twenty-four hours finally dawning on me.

A sigh escaped his lips and he stopped causing me to slam into his body. He steadied me and stared into my eyes “ I cant let you go, you belong to the king now and that is something you will have to accept “ I stare at him in disbelief ,” Accept it?! Are you freaking crazy? I don’t belong to anyone and Im not going to accept being a slave to a guy that is obviously insane “he looked at me for a few seconds, staring into my eyes searching for something “Then you are going to find it very difficult here “ and with those words still fresh in my mind he continued to drag me down the hallway.