Chapter 56 A Friend In Need
Chapter 56 A Friend In Need
Taya's POV
I take several deep breaths in preparation for walking into the slaughter hall. I should have gotten used to the grotesque sights of death by now, but my heart refuses to accept the world as it is. I imagine that there will never come a time that Emperor Namon and I will be on the same page.
I stride into the bloody hall and immediately pinch my nose to block the heavy stench of waste and blood. As usual, there are several people bound to the wall with chains and pieces of dead ones the floor.
"You actually came," Castas comments from the other end of the hall.
I have to let go of my nose and inhale the stench in order to talk.
"It is still as bad as ever before. I wish I did not have to come," I say.
He drags one of the heavy basins across the floor and dumps it close to the pile of meat a few steps away from me.
"M'lady, what has made you so desperate again?" he finally asks.
I dig into the pockets of my dress and take out the expensive jewelry.
"This is yours. My gratitude for saving my life by finding someone to buy me," I say, striding forward to give him the jewelry.
"You have a rare heart. You really think I am worthy of these?" he smiles while taking the jewelry.
"I would not have them if you did not help me leave this place. Yes, I am sure you deserve them. You can finally quit this filthy job and buy a farm," I answer.
"What! No. I am thankful for the gift, but I am not quiting my job," he says.
"Why not? It's not like Emperor Namon would take your head for getting tired of this cruelty and filth," I question.
He simply stares at me like he feels sorry for me instead of for himself.
"Have you considered that I actually like this job?"
What! He must be joking.
"You like slaughtering people?"
"I hate people. I hate their evils and slaughtering them is quite enjoyable. You should try it sometime," he answers.
Shock makes my whole body shiver. But there is no way he is serious.
"Why did you save me if you loathe people so much?" I ask.
"Surely you must know by now that you're not like other people. I would have ensured your death if you were like the other women," he answers.
How did I even convince myself that he saved me out of kindness when he slaughters over a dozen people everyday? Sadly, the most evil, royals who kill humans for entertainment, never get the punishment of being brought here. It is an unfair world.
"You definitely did not come back to this place to only give me your jewelry. Tell me, how can I be of more help, M'lady?" he inquires.
"You said that you had read a lot about gods. I am looking for my father and need some knowledge of gods that Emperor's Namon's mother may be hiding from me," I request.
"Tell me what you know so far," Castas says.
I tell him Harom's and Feya's stories about my father. And about his mission to this world.
"Sounds like your father's love for your human mother outweighed his love for the power of the crown of gods. Maybe he did not want to leave her alone in this horrible world," Castas suggests.
No. My father would have gone back to the home of gods if only his envious brother had not sought ways to get rid of him. I am sure he only wanted to spend sometime with my mother, whoever she was.
"If that were the case he would have stayed with my mother and me, not disappeared," I point.
Castas nods in agreement. He then takes a long moment to think while putting the jewelry I gave him around his wrists and neck.
"There are no chains or bars of steal that could hold your father. He was simply too powerful. Unless . . . " he trails off as if dismissing his thought.
"Unless what?" I press.
"Sinfell."
"Who is that?" I question.
"It's a special prison for powerful beings like your father, located in a world farthest from the home of gods. But there is no way your father could have ended up there," he answers.
"Why?"
"Because only Tiran can send anyone there. It is his powers that hold the people there prisoner," he explains.
Of course my grandfather would not have sent his favourite son to a prison. For what sin? My father had passed his every test to prove that he was the best of the other gods, which made Harom obsessed with getting rid of him.
What other things could cause a powerful god to go missing? A loss of memory?
"Your mother must have a clue of what happened to your father. Why are you not interested in finding her? If she is not dead," Castas questions.
"I know less about her than I know about my father. No one has ever told me her name. She might be dead or alive," I answer.
"Or she has been hiding . . . "Castas trails off, his gaze shifting towards the door.
I turn my head to look back and see Princess Rana walking in, her eyes focused on us.
One would have expected her to be shocked by the sight of limps, fresh and blood on the floor, but she walks forward fast, watching us suspiciously. Her eyes move from my face to the jewelry around Castas's neck and back again. She is stupid to think what she is thinking.