Chapter 15 Chapter 15
Sloane
I stayed in bed for a long time.
Not sleeping, just laying there and wallowing in my self misery.
I missed home, something I never thought was possible. I missed the hateful stares of the villagers who had always thought I was a freak , I missed my neighbour and most of all I missed my baby brother.
I wondered if he was ok? Was he missing me as much as I was him?
I would give anything to see him again, even to rock him back to sleep in the middle of the night.
Even my fathers face swam in my vision.
I was making myself crazy , so after what seemed like an eternity I got up and explored the room again. I didn’t touch the dead girl's things. I left them exactly where they were.
Shrines to poor human girls that had given their lives to try and break a curse that wasn’t their fault.
Time seemed to drag on and on. The sun rose to its highest and then slipped behind the mountains that surrounded us.
I watched from the high window as the light disappeared and with it seemed to go any hope I had.
“I have food here for you?” I small voice said quietly from behind the closed door.
“Thank you.” I didn’t even turn around. “But I’m not hungry.”
In fact food was the last thing on my mind. Which was strange because I should have been ravenous.
“The lords have ordered you to eat.” The girls voice said again. “If you invite me inside then I can-“
“I said.” I snapped and my voice rose. “I am not hungry. You can take it away.”
The she- wolf on the other side of the door sighed loudly. “The lords won’t be happy so I will just leave it outside the door. Please try and eat. Humans are so fragile-“
Fragile? I wanted to scream, throwing open the door I lashed out, smashing the silver tray from her hands so the food and drink went all over her.
“I am fragile , I am human.” I screamed. Letting all of my anger and frustration out. “But I won’t be fattened up like a prize pig for the slaughter. You can tell them-“
She was tiny. Much smaller than the other female wolves I had encountered since being here and she looked terrified
Guilt opened up a pit in my stomach. “I’m sorry,” I muttered, quickly looking away. “I didn’t mean-“ stuttering as I looked at the mess I had made of the house keeping uniform. But I had to look away when I saw where the soup had blistered her hands raw.
“I am so sorry.”
She smiled sadly. “It’s fine, Miss. No real harm done. I have had a lot worse believe me.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. But then I recognised the look in her eyes because it was one I saw looking back in the mirror.
She was broken, and desperately trying to keep fighting back without making it worse for herself.
“My name is Sloane-“
She flashed me a smile. “I know Miss.”
“What is your name?”
The smile slipped from her face, a line appeared between her eyebrows as she frowned. And for a second she looked completely confused.
“I’m an omega. I work in the castle because-“
“But what is your name?” I prompted. “You do have one don’t you.”
“Not one that is used inside the castle.” She admitted with a grimace. “Omegas are the lowest of the low. The others just call me-“
Reaching out I touched her arm. “What would you like me to call you?”
Surprise flickered over her face. “My parents called me Grace.”
“Grace is a beautiful name.” I nodded my head. “I am sorry for taking my temper out on you. It won’t happen again. I was just scared.”
Not that was any excuse.
“It’s ok, but I should clean this up. If the masters see-“
In the distance a howl went up, slashing through the air like a knife and goosebumps erupted all over my body.
“What is that-“ my voice shook but it was nothing compared to the absolute terror on her face. Dropping to her knees she began to scoop soup and vegetables back into its bowl.
I dropped to mine so I could help her.
“It’s the master. This close to the full moon he finds it hard to control -“
“What is going on here?” An animalistic growl filled the corridor and she dropped face first onto the flagstone floor.
“I accidentally-“ it was hard to meet his eyes but I knew it was Eirian. The nice brother, although he didn’t look nice now.
He looked like a mad man.
Vibrating with energy , that seemed to flow from him in waves. The hair all over my body stood up on end and I quickly lowered my eyes to the mess on the floor.
“Not what I was asking.” He stalked toward; “I don’t care if you threw it at her stupid face. I want to know why you are on your knees when it’s her job to serve you.”
Towering over the prone woman, he lifted a fist and made a weird motion in the air. She screamed, her smooth young face twisting, as she writhed on the floor.
And it sounded like she was dying, her body contorting , bones cracking.
He was forcing her into a shift. So she would be a wolf. Only she didn’t change.
“Wolf less scum.” He spat, his fist tightening.
I didn’t know one damn thing about wolf politics but I knew this was cruel.
Lashing out, I grabbed a hold of his bicep. Swinging from it as I tried to force his hand down. “Stop it, you are hurting her.”
His eyes flicked his eyes to me, anger making them burn red. “Hurting her?” Eirian whispered. “Would you take her punishment for her then Sloane?”
From the floor the woman shook her head sobbing. “No miss. You don’t need to do that.”
Standing I straightened my shoulders and forced myself to meet his eyes. “Yes. I’ll take her punishment.”
An excited gleam lit up his eyes from within. Using his much bigger body he urged me backwards into my room.
My heart slammed into my chest.
This was going to be bad, I could already tell but I wasn’t going to let poor Grace take the punishment for me.
Not when I was the one who made the mess.
Eirian kicked the door shut behind him.