The stolen soul

Chapter Five

The maids at the door bowed, making Laurine eager to see who was visiting her. Could it be the crown prince? Not possible. He never did such a thing. Why would he care about anyone but himself? As expected, it wasn't him. It was Dila. She looked worried, for someone who could see through her like Laurine did. But she still held herself elegantly. Laurine was surprised though, to see her come into the maid's quarters.

"Your highness." She stood and bowed. Dila merely nodded looking around. You could clearly see that she wasn't comfortable with the place she was in. But she had to be there. "What brings you here, princess? It is very unusual to see you come around here." "Yes. That is because this place disgusts me." "Then you shouldn't be here." Dila threw an eye on her. "Mind your words, Court lady Luarine. You may have the prince who backs you up. But I have a whole lot of people who do just that. It would be better if you don't anger me."

Lady Luarine just smiled. "You already look angered just coming here. I believe what brought you here has angered you more. Please ask anything." Dila sighed. "I will. I want to know why exactly the prince brought that child to the palace and why the king has not thrown her out. I believe you must know." Lady Luarine bowed respectfully. "I do not know your highness. I am just a maid after all." "Do not lie to me!" Dila sneered grabbing her jaw tightly.

Laurine remained calm. "I cannot lie to her highness, can I? I most certainly do not know. It would be better if you asked him yourself. You wouldn't have to come here then." Dila tightened her grip but the woman was still calm. Was she trying to test her patience?

Dila smiled and released her. "I heard you will die very soon." She said bluntly, rubbing her palms together. "That is very true." "So, do you perhaps, not want to see your children before death?" If Laurine hadn't prepared her mind,then this was a big temptation. But her years in the palace had taught her one thing; they never let you go. Even if she went to see her children, she'd still be killed and would have to die in front of them. Something she was trying to avoid.

Smiling politely, she spoke. "You may think I would fall at your feet if you mentioned my children. But you forget that you instigated the king to make us cut all ties with our families once we came here. Even if I go now, they'd never accept me." "So you were prepared?" "Should I not be? Who ruins who's life? You should know better, your highness. Besides, the answer that you seek would never come from me."

"What do you think I want to know?" "If the prince is in love with the girl. You feel most insecure because you opened so many doors with your many mistakes and now you think the throne is the only way. But I'll tell you one thing, no matter what you do, kaliya has come to stay. Either in the prince's life or the palace. I'll make sure of it."

Dila smiled. "You have such guts. No wonder mother despised you. And now I do too,or even more. I would let you go, after all, you have such little days left. Why should I bother?" She turned to leave, laughing dryly. "You'll watch your whole life being snatched from you, and you'll have nothing to do about it. But then I'll just be laughing in my grave." Dila couldn't take it anymore. She bounced out of the room.

Once alone, Laurine fell to the ground, spitting blood from her mouth. A few hand maids rushed to her. She'd been holding herself, not wanting to go weak in front of Dila. But now her condition worsened. She probably had fewer days than she thought. She immediately sent for Kaliya.

Meanwhile, Dila walked out, seeing Kaliya with a pot struggling to reach the room. The girl was so focused on the load she didn't notice someone coming. Dila took the chance. She walked right into her, causing them both to fall with the pot's content spilling. "Aahh!!" Kaliya yelped. Her leg was hurt badly and Dila didn't move from it. Not until she pushed her away.

That was it! Kaliya was now in big trouble. She'd not only broken the pot to make the king's perfume, but also spilled the content and also touched the princess. "You..!" Dila yelled, standing up and cleaning her body. "How dare you?" Kaliya was hurt, but she didn't forget to stand and bow. Laurine had been taking her time to teach her the ways of the palace. It was very important to be in the wrong always. Even now though Dila had done it on purpose.

"Forgive me, your highness. I didn't mean to..." The slap landing her face made her heart boil, but she bowed again. "Forgive you? How dare you tell me what to do? You spill oils on me and ask me to forgive you?" "I'm sorry." "Quiet!" Dila thought no other time would be perfect to show the maid her place. She grabbed her gown and pulled her.

"You can see she didn't mean to." Lady Luarine stood before them. Kaliya noticed she'd become paler than usual. Freeing from Dila's grip she rushed to her. "Lady, are you ok? You look terrible." "I'm fine kaliya." She wasn't tearing her eyes off Dila. Dila couldn't believe it. Such high disrespect. The girl freed herself from her grip? She was surely going to punish her.

She grabbed her and started to drag her away. This time, kaliya would've fought, but she was hurt. Her leg was still bleeding. Dila reached the punishment ground and ordered to tie her up. The maids quickly tied her up and brought the whip. Laurine felt helpless, watching the girl get whipped. She had no choice but to send for the prince earlier. But where was he?

Dila was merciless in her whipping. She wanted kaliya to cry,weep and beg her. To beg for her life, but the girl just glared at her continuously. Kaliya had never wished to cry as much as she did now. She just watched a miracle to happen. For tears to fall from her eyes. But no, her skin was tearing with the whipping,wet with blood, but her eyes were much more dry than a desert well.

She stopped breathing, hoping to die. But she didn't die instead she felt the whipping stop and her hands be untied. She fell into someone's arms. "Kaliya! Kaliya?" It sounded like the court lady. It felt like... She didn't know who held her. But she heard another order. "Tie her up!" Was it her again? Another round? Was the whip broken? Probably. But she couldn't move. She couldn't open her eyes. She was laid down, but everything vanished after that.

Damien was kneeling in front of the king. He still had to explain why he didn't want the throne and what to do with it if the king died. But the sudden noise outside the court room made him go to check. There was a maid trying to reach out to the door but the guards were holding her away. "What is going on?" He asked. "Your highness she wanted to go in at all costs." "Why? What is the matter?"

The lady quickly fell at his feet. "Lady Luarine is deeply worried. Kaliya is in danger." "What!" "The princesses took her. She may be whipped to death." Damien felt the blood rise to his face. How dare she? He would never forgive her this time. He rushed out. If he'd been heart broken before,then the state he found kaliya shattered him to pieces.

Was this real? She, covered in blood? He wanted to explode. "Stop! Stop right now!" Dila had been pouring her pain out whipping her and just realized how far she'd gone. But did she regret it? She didn't think so. She probably would do more if she had the chance. Or if Damien let her alive. She suddenly shivered. Would he kill her? His eyes were blood shot as he looked at her, sending cold chills down her spine.

She was going to die, no doubt.