Bound by Blood

Sacrifices

"How much for all of them?" The prince asked, staring at the terrified Rowena.

What unsettled the lady more was the prince's nonchalance, even after taking a life. He spoke and wiped his dagger so casually, she almost doubted he just killed a person.

"Two... two thousand gold coins your highness." Lady Rowena replied, her eyes still wide with shock.

When the prince continued to stare at her, she lowered her head, unable to bear his gaze. She was also scared that he might find it offensive and kill her off as well.

"Two thousand gold coins." He repeated, and lady Rowena hoped that he didn't think it was too much. Clearly, he could afford it.

The prince suddenly walked away, leaving Lady Rowena and the girls confused.

When he was out of sight, she moved to address the girls.

"You disappoint me. None of you could manage to charm him. What are you women for?" She scolded, her voice laced with disappointment. "You all will be punished."

Luciana already expected this outcome, yet she couldn't resist a dismissive eye roll, which didn't go unnoticed by lady Rowena.

She walked to Luciana, staring down at her with disdain and condescension.

"I will not tolerate any more disrespect from you, Luciana. All the girls are relieved of their duties today, and you would be left to do them all. Maybe a day of hard labour would teach you some manners." She sounded frustrated, and Luciana knew that it was only because she didn't make any sale to the prince. "You are of no use to me anyway."

"It's nobody's fault that no one was bought by the prince. He clearly wasn't interested." She stated out of irritation, not a bit bothered by the punishment that she had been given.

Lady Rowena raised her hand to slap her, but a stronger one quickly caught hers. She turned to see the prince, and she stumbled back in shock.

He glared down at her icily, and she felt a shiver ran down her spine.

"No one touches what is mine." He declared, his voice a low possessive growl. He gave her a look of warning, before dropping her hand. "The girls are mine now." He stated before giving her a black pouch full of coins.

A smile brightened her lips. He seemed to had given more than she asked for. "Thank you, your highness. You are very generous."

"I would like to go with them now."

Lady Rowena looked and saw carriages approaching.

The girls were led to enter the carriages. Any one that got filled would ride away.

Luciana and Annalise entered the last carriage, leaving the prince behind.

"Why do you think the prince bought us all?" Annalise whispered to Luciana as soon as they were seated. There were two other girls in the carriage, and she didn't want them listening to their conversation.

"It is a hobby for him. So I heard." Luciana answered, her voice not dropping one bit.

"Be careful. Don't speak ill of him." Annalise warned. "I don't know what he is, but I am sure he isn't human. He might hear you."

A few hours later, they arrived at the kingdom of Durville, the most powerful kingdom in their country.

Luciana's looked through the glass of the carriage, her eyes scanning the new place. The only good thing about coming here was that she could easily get tools for the experiment she wanted to conduct.

"Luciana, do you think the prince needs us as slaves or whores?" Annalise asked again, her voice shaky. The closer they got to the castle, the more nervous she became.

"I don't know. I would have guessed whores, but he bought us all. So I think slaves make more sense." She shrugged one shoulder. "Or maybe he just like having so many whores. He might also want to share us with his friends. So many possibilities."

"Does it not scare you?" Annalise asked her. She was really surprised at how relaxed Luciana was. One of the girls sitting close to them was already bawling her eyes away.

"We were already treated as slaves in the inn." Luciana reminded her.

"We have heard so much rumours about this prince. We even saw him kill that guard today. You should at least be afraid."

"This isn't enough reason." She stated.

"That isn't enough reason? You are unbelievable Luciana!"

Not too long after, they arrived the castle. The carriages soon stopped, and the girls were asked to step out. The prince was no where in sight.

A knight then came to guide them to the place they would be staying, before they learn the purpose they were to serve for the prince.

The place he took them to was like the inn they came from, but much bigger, neater and luxuriously looking. There was a lady standing in front of the door.

"This is Rebecca. She will tell you everything you need to know staying here." The knight told them politely, before he turned to leave.

Rebecca's eyes scanned the girls, before asking them to come in. She first took them to a very large dining room that seemed to be in the middle of the house. They met three girls seated there already.

"As you all know, I am Lady Rebecca. And these three here are Rosaline, Matilda and Isabella. They are just like you, bought by the prince." That was all she said, before walking away.

"You can have your seats." Matilda said with a smile, when she noticed that they were still standing. "Excuse Rebecca's manners. She's very snobbish, and she likes to think herself a lady."

Isabella and Rosaline chuckled.

The girls sat around the table. Soon after, some women came in bringing food.

"This food smells yummy." Annalise said to Luciana even before the food got to her. She inhaled deeply. "Maybe we would get to eat nice food here."

"The food here is really nice." Isabella agreed. "The only thing that seems unbearable here is that Rebecca is in charge." She shook her head.

Soon enough, the food was served, and true to what Isabella said, it tasted delicious. Unlike the inn where they used to stay, there was more than enough to eat. Annalise couldn't stop herself from smiling, as she tried different delicacies. She then looked over at Luciana, and was surprised that she was struggling to eat.

"You should eat more, Luciana." She encouraged.

"I just can't." Luciana stated, staring blankly at the food.

Luciana had the habit of eating very little or not eating at all. Annalise thought it was only because of the bad food they were given at the inn they came from.

When Luciana noticed that Annalise kept staring at her, she forced herself to eat a little.

"How often do the prince come here?" One of the girls asked Matilda.

"Not too often. He does visit a few times though. He would pick a few girls and go away with them." She explained.

"Away? They don't come back?" Another girl asked, completely frightened.

"They don't." Rosaline confirmed.

"What do you think they are used as?" Annalise asked, as her interest was pulled towards the discussion.

"I don't know." Rosaline answered honestly.

"It should be slavery. He can't have these many girls just to keep him company." Another girl thought out loud.

"What if they were used for sacrifices?" Luciana suddenly asked, making everyone turn to her. "It is no news that some of these powerful rulers usually pay some kind of sacrifices, mostly humans, to sustain their powers." She explained, scaring them all. "It makes perfect sense to me."

There was absolute terrifying silence in the dining table as the girls thought about it. There was indeed sense in what she said. Monica got up and ran away, crying.

"Look what you've caused Luciana." A girl sitting close to her scolded.

"I only shared my thoughts like everyone else."

Rebecca came back after dinner to show them to their rooms. Annalise, Luciana, and two other girls, Agnes and Ester shared a room.

Annalise swirled as soon as she entered. "This is much bigger than our old room where we all had to share one." She moved to the bed. "And the mattresses here are comfortable." She stood up, while checking out other parts of the room. "We even have beautiful dresses here."

Luciana went to sit on the bed, not minding Annalise and the other girls who were busy checking out the room.

Not long after, the door was pushed open, and Rebecca stepped in.

"You, come here." She ordered, pointing at Luciana. Luciana sighed tiredly before going to meet her.

"What did you tell the girls? You accused the prince of sacrificing them?" She was livid, and Luciana knew that she had entered her black list just like with Lady Rowena.

"I shared my thoughts." Luciana deadpanned.

"You know what? You are absolutely right. And I will make sure you will be the one he would sacrifice next." Rebecca threatened, hoping to scare the red haired girl, but she was only met with a blank stare.

"You look healthier than me. You'd make a better sacrifice." Luciana said to her, making Rebecca's blood boil in anger. She lifted her hand to slap her, but she suddenly stopped. Luciana followed the motion of her hand as she dropped it back down.

"Something tells me that you are not allowed to touch us." Luciana said with a faint smile. "We belong to the prince."

"He won't protect you forever. And remember that you are only human." Rebecca said as she opened her mouth to reveal her elongated fangs, and the colour of her eyes turned a golden yellow.

"You are a werewolf. The last werewolf I saw died with a small dagger to his throat." Luciana stated.

"This werewolf will bring you death."