Chapter 9 Chapter 8
Evelyn.
I stopped in my tracks, my jaw clenched in suppressed anger. The title cut like a knife but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me react. Taking a deep breath, I calmed my rattling nerves, turning around and with an icy expression, asked, "What do you want?"
There she stood, like a specter from my darkest nightmares, waiting in the shadows. Morticia, the Alpha King's mistress, the embodiment of all that was vile and treacherous in this palace of secrets. Her lips broke into a smile as she settled her gaze on me and before long she's chuckling and laughing hard. Morticia's laughter rang out, echoing through the corridor with a melody that sent shivers down my spine. She takes a step closer to me, her eyes gleaming with malevolence.
"Oh, nothing..." She drawled, cocking her head to the side as she assessed, her eyes filled with disdain. "Just curious about how your new life is treating you."
My patience wore thin as I glared at her. "As you can see, I'm doing just fine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go back to my crib." I stated and started to turn around but she stopped me just in time.
"Not so fast dear, don't you think we should have a little chat? It's been a while since we last spoken. Long before you even became a slave." She quipped.
Clenching my hands together tightly, I felt rage flare within me but I kept quiet, narrowing my eyes as I pinned my gaze at Morticia. Morticia had been the Alpha king's mistress long before he even found out that Elizabeth was his mate and Luna. And, even after the claiming and marriage, he'd kept her still. Frankly speaking, I still don't know what he sees in her. She had been a slave that was for Alpha keiran's pleasure and somehow worked her way into being his mistress. How she did it, no one knows.
I suspect that she may have a hand in my sister's death but none of the evidence we have found so far has led to her. That will change soon, however. Now that I'm on the case.
"It's really pitiful to see you in this state, really." Morticia's lips curled into a cruel smile, revealing a hint of fangs. "Although I'm surprised the Alpha king didn't end you immediately." She added, pacing around me like a predator, her gaze sinister. "I was expecting him to rip out your head very quickly."
She stopped suddenly, leaning close to me as she pulled a bit of my hair, dragging me to look at her. With a malicious glint in her eyes, Morticia leaned in closer, her voice a sinister whisper. "Well, this is better, I'll have more fun with you this way."
"Let go of me!" I gritted out, pulling away from her but her grip tightened on me, almost causing me to wince in pain.
"Oh no, you don't get to give the orders anymore, princess. You're a slave now, remember? Who knows? I might even convince the Alpha King to make you my personal slave as well. We'll have such a great time together!"
"That can never happen." I growled out, managing to pull free from her grasp and succeeding. Stepping inches away from her, I arranged my hair, pinning her a glare as a sardonic laughter escaped my lips. "Look at you, trying so hard to be luna and queen." My gaze narrowed as I spoke the next words. "It doesn't look good on you." I spat at her, watching as her smile dropped, her eyes grow even darker as rage filled them up.
She advanced towards me quickly, raising her hands and sending a quick hit across my face. My head snapped to the side at the force of the hit, my ears ringing and cheeks burning.
"How dare you talk to me like that!?" She yelled at me, pulling at my hair once more. "Have you forgotten who you are right now?"
Unperturbed, I turned my gaze towards her, laughing softly. "Come on, admit it. You're the one responsible for my sister's death, aren't you?" I taunted, watching as she grows even more agitated, her grip on my hair tightening. "You killed her because you coveted her position, didn't you. You wanted to be Queen, come on admit it!"
Morticia slapped me again, harder than the first time. She let go of my hair, causing me to stumble backwards. I regained my footing however, still glaring at her with all the hatred I could muster.
"Don't you EVER accuse me of killing the Queen ever again! I would never do such a thing. You know, in surprised she even lived that long."
"Oh, please." I murmured, rolling my eyes. "Stop it with the pretense, it's not working. At least to me." With narrowed eyes, I walked towards her once more. "This is my warning to you, Morticia. Keep my sister's name out of your mouth or so help me. By the moon goddess, I will rip out your throat."
Morticia only laughed before hitting and pushing me to the ground. Standing over me, she grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling it without remorse, almost pulling them out from the roots. I winced in pain, biting down the insides of my mouth to keep myself from screaming out loud despite how much it hurts.
No matter how much it itched me to hit her back, I have to control myself, I have to control myself knowing fully well that hitting the Alpha King mistress will do more harm than good and it's precisely what she wants.
"You wouldn't dare." She spat at me, grabbing my face as she glared down at me. "By the time I am done with you, you're the one that will be begging for help from me. Just watch."
I slapped her hands off from my face, watching as she stepped away from me. She cocked her head to the side as she gazed at me on the ground. "Perhaps, I should even assist the King and snuff you out myself. Hmm, that's a thought for another day. I'll see you later, slave."
Tears stung my eyes and I bit my lips till I drew blood. Standing to my feet, I dusted myself off, my scalp burning and my face still stinging. Taking a deep breath, I blinked the tears back before glaring at her.
"Are you done?" I asked but she just glared at me. "If you are, I'll be going to my crib now." I said. With a graceful turn and my head still head high, I continued on my way back to my quarters.
Morticia's laughter followed me as I limped away, my heart heavy with pain and bitterness. With a sniff, I hit a new resolve. I'll find the truth behind my sister's death and the one responsible for it will pay with a fate worse than death.