THE LYCAN PRINCE AND THE SLAVE

Chapter 2

"Here. Wash all those dishes."

Lizzy stood in shock, staring at what appeared to be mountain of dirty dishes. How on earth was a single person expected to do all these dishes? Certainly not her! Lizzy scoffed and looked at the plump woman, who had too much fat on stuck to her skin, she could afford to give out an extra.

"Hurry now. Breakfast has to be ready before day break."

Now, Lizzy was annoyed. It wasn't enough that this woman had the nerve to wake her up from her uncomfortable sleep, in the middle of the night, give her thousands of dishes to clean but also command her to hurry up?

Lizzy sighed before turning to wall away. Even though she was only given a dry mat and a sorry excuse of a blanket, she still needed to lay down. She wasn't having any of these.

"Get back here young lady." The plump woman commanded. Now, she looked as though fire would come out of her much too large nostrils. But Lizzy wasn't deterred. Once she set her mind to something, she executed it.

"No." Lizzy whispered in a bored tone. This wasn't even worth it. She clearly couldn't fight with a mere human. This woman is a human. She wouldn't waste her lycan being on her. She had much better things to do.

"I said..

"And I said no. You can't make me do it. One look at you is enough to know you're a mere human..except you are a witch that is..and if you are one, cast a spell or something to get the plates washed." Lizzy retorted back in a dangerous tone.

In this place, it was be strong or be killed. She chose to be strong.

The woman studied Lizzy as she bounced on her toes from time to time before nodding.

"You're Elizabeth. Elizabeth Jonathan."

Lizzy's eyebrows shot to the roof of her head. How did this woman know her identity? She suddenly thanked the heavens that this was at midnight and not daytime. Lord knows she couldn't risk anyone hearing that, especially the Prince.

But the question remains, how did she know her name?

Lizzy kept mute. She knew in these type of scenario, it was best to watch and wait. Not to be too fast to admit, neither too slow to talk. She studied the woman's soft features for a second, trying to read anything from it but she found none. If anything, there was a soft smile on her face.

"I used to work for Lycan Jonathan before. It's the reason why I know your identity. I know you don't remember me, but I remember you. You are still strong willed and feisty just like you were as a child."

Lizzy still kept mute. She listened to the calm beats of the woman in front of her. Her heart was steady. She speaks the truth, she noted.

"I am Cassandra, the Head of this palace's sanitation and cook. I'm sure you've met my sister, Judith, yesterday as she prepared you all in readiness of the Prince's harem."

Cassandra..

The name was definetly not familiar. For some reason, her heart calmed down by ten folds. This woman was no threat to her.

"Cassandra?" Lizzy asked. She couldn't certainly remember a Cassandra. Maybe the woman was mistaken. What was she even trying to get at?

The woman smiled. Her plump lips thinning as a result the dim lit torch didn't fail to hide.

"Remember a Cassy?"

Lizzy squeezed her eyes as she heard a tiny voice from her memories call out the name 'Cassy'. Cassy, her governess? Surely it couldn't be! Uncle Jonathan told her she kicked the bucket years ago. She was just so little when Cassy left. Why couldn't she remember her? She couldn't place a face to the memories of her governess but she certainly did miss a presence. After years, she made inquiries about her but it led nowhere.

Lizzy creased her brows. "Is this a joke?" Her nose flaring up. How dare she manipulate her mind?

Cassy looked taken aback, clearly surprised from the reaction she was blessed with.

"Elizabeth, I'm no joker."

Cassy sighed before she continued. "Look, I don't expect you to remember me. I understand the fact that you can't. But you have to trust me. "

"Trust you? How.."

"Listen! Do what you must, to gain favour of the throne. You have to. Because once the Prince finds out who you are, he will have you executed!"

Did this woman genuinely care for her?

"Not if I kill him first."

Cassy's eyes widened in alarm before placing her fat hand on Lizzy's lips, preventing her from making absurd statements.

"Oh hush! Except you desire a hanging. "

Cassy waited waited for her to come down before speaking again. "Listen you have to trust me. This is no place for you. Stay lowkey, and do what I ask before the slaves will reveal your identity.Because they will, sooner or later. No slave shall resist gaining favours, especially now that they are on thesame level as you. Don't trust them. "

Lizzy sighed before nodding. She understood what Cassy was trying to say. She knew for a fact that if Prince Nathan found out about her linkage with Lycan Jonathan, he would surely behead her.

" Why are you helping me?" Lizzy asked. She still didn't get why this woman was helping her. She believed what she was saying, but she needed more than what the woman was offering.

Cassandra smiled before taking two steps forward, stretching her hands for Lizzy to take. Lizzy looked at the woman, wondering if Cassy knew her abilities.

"Search for yourself in my memories. Anything you need to trust me."

Lizzy knew the answer before she even touched Cassy's hands. Immediately she did, her mind spaced into Cassy's memories, searching what she needed. She travelled the distance of time, to view what she needed to see.

And she did. She almost gasped when she saw the little version of herself, tugging on Cassy's full skirt, asking for biscuits. Another memory resurfaced and another. Lizzy viewed almost a thousand memories of herself with Cassy before Cassy slowly withdrew her hands from Lizzy's warm embrace.

Lizzy watched her hands before slowly looking up at Cassy, with recognition. Her heart wanted to stretch out and give the only mother figure she could remember in fragments whilst growing up, but her mind wasn't satisfied. She needed answers.

"Why did you leave? I just couldn't find you one morning. After...After years, I was informed you died."

"Did you eat last night? There's bread and some fruits." Cassandra walked towards the cupboards before bringing out a loaf of bread.

Even though Lizzy was famished, her curiosity couldn't allow her to eat. Not now. Answers first. When it was clear she wasn't going to answer her question, Lizzy followed her and inquired again.

"What happened? Why did you leave?"

"Oh Heavens! Why do you think something happened to make me leave? I left because I wanted to."

The familiar racing heartbeat caught Lizzy's attention. Lies. Cassy clearly was hiding something.

"You lie. I demand the truth." Lizzy commanded. Even though she didn't hold any power over her, she wanted her to know how serious she was.

"Here." Cassy passed a plate to Lizzy. "Eat to your fill and make sure you do wash those plates. And remember, you're on duty today. "

Lizzy watched in silence as Cassy approached the doorway to exit. Just before she left, she turned around and said, "I left because I had to. I found out secrets I shouldn't have found. Now, drop it. There are somethings you shouldn't know and they shall remain like that. Get some rest after You're done with the dishes. Report to the kitchen before sunrise."

......

Lizzy scoffed as she made her way to the kitchen, the walls of the Palace had already become familiar. At least, the servant quarters and the kitchen area was.

The kitchen was busy, as expected. Lizzy quietly made her way inside and stood by a corner. She didn't know what to do. She knew enough that slaves weren't to meddle with the ranked. There were consequences involved. So, she simply bowed her head and waited.

"You there. Come and knead this dough."

Lizzy looked to the old woman first, making sure she was the one being spoken to before walking around the counter, spreading her hands on the dough and kneading the slowly. She thanked the heavens she knew her way around the kitchen. She loved baking because she had a sweet tooth.

She kneaded the dough in no time. For a Baker, she knew what the dough was for as she kneaded it. She made sure it was kneaded perfectly. She was sure the throne would appreciate a soft bread. Immediately after, she proceeded to bake the bread. She knew for a fact that the cooks scrutinised her as she worked, but she concentrated on her work.

She saw herbs and decided to make a tea pot. Cinnamon, mint leaves, lemon grass, some lime to taste, a little bit of ginger and cloves. She inhaled the scent of the tea as she put it inside the ceramic tea pot. It was all set.

"Done." Lizzy spoke as she organised the breakfast tray.

She saw Cassy smile from the corner of her eyes. She was proud.

"Hmmm. Efficient. You may take the first tray to the dinning Hall."

Lizzy's heartbeat accelerated. Take it to the dinning Hall? She thought her duties ended here? She definitely didn't want to meet the Lycan prince again. For reasons she couldn't bring herself to admit.

Lizzy reluctantly nodded before fitting the tray in her arms and walking away. Upon reaching the dinning Hall, the guards opened the giant doors before she proceeded to the Golden table. There were maids already there, organising and making sure everything was perfect. Some maids were the ones from their clan, who simply nodded at her, the rest were the ones they met in this castle.

She simply dropped the tray on the table and in no time, a maid appeared to arrange everything.

Lizzy left as she had no further duties in the dinning room and went back to the kitchen were she was made to wash the remaining dishes that had mounted up. Immediately after, she retired to the servant quarters were she decided to have a bath and rest a bit more.

Even though the place wasn't conducive for her, she had to compromise with what she had for the time being. Bathing with a bucket of cold water wasn't what she was used to. She was used to a hot bath with maids around her, waiting for her every command.

Half way into her bath, another maid appeared by the doorway, directing a message at her. "The Queen requests for your presence."

Lizzy was a bit taken aback. Who was the Queen requesting for? Lizzy turned to look behind her, wondering if they were two people there having a bath but she was all alone.

Immediately the maid delivered the message, she left. Lizzy had to take a second or two to digest the message before before she hurriedly left the bathroom with a wet hair and a half washed body. She searched for one of the cleanest gowns among the ones that were given to them, before dressing up.

She walked in haste, her heartbeat increasing with each step as she wondered which abomination she committed this time. Did the Queen choke on her tea? Or she didn't like the softness of the bread?

As she reached the giant doors of the dinning Hall, she almost turned away and ran back, knowing who she would meet again in the hall. She wouldn't just be meeting the king nor queen, she would be meeting him too. That monster.

Lizzy took a deep breath before walking in, her head low. She remembered what the old lady said about the Prince, how he despised being looked. Other than that, it was not wise to stare at people with higher ranks without spoken to or asked to.

Immediately she walked a considerable distance inside the dinning Hall, she bowed and she did it elegantly, just how she was thought.

"My king, my Queen."

"You may rise. " A sweet feminine voice commanded. Lizzy slowly lifted herself up, but still kept her head down.

"Let your queen see the beautiful face of the blessed hands that prepared this tea. "

Relief and excitement made way for home in Lizzy's heart. But as she lifted her gaze, with the intention of looking at the Queen, her eyes landed on someone else, thou who shall not be looked at without reason.

And now, Lizzy was in trouble.

With the Prince.