Chapter 20 Twenty.
“I heard the ripper ghost will be participating in this year's Dance of the Dead,” I hear Kane, a guard and my supervisor, say as I'm bent over scrubbing the floor of the guillotine platform. There's been another execution this morning at the palace square, and this time it was a huge bulky man - a serial killer, and as obligated I'm cleaning it. “Some say he shouldn't be allowed, considering the terror he unleashed in the Kingdom of Nyxara.”
“I get goosebumps anytime I remember what he did,” another guard replies. There's an unlit stick of cigarette between his lips as he flips a lighter.
“I heard he's one of the fastest vampires alive. He can tear one's heart out within the blink of an eye. He also hunted down some of our kind,” a third one, a bald man, adds. “I bet he'd win this decade's battle, undoubtedly. I pity anyone else that would be entering.”
“And if he kills again?”
“Back to prison he goes.”
I stop listening to their conversation as I concentrate on what I'm doing. The Dance of the Dead. Linnet had told me about it, and she did mention she'll be participating. Though something is really bothering me about it. The ripper ghost. There's no one across all kingdoms that haven't heard of that name. He's a serial killer, sometimes hired by powerful men for assassination jobs too. He'd been imprisoned for almost twelve years now. Against him I know Linnet stands no chance of winning the competition… unless she has an arsenal up her sleeve. Which I hope she does.
“Hey, you.” Kane’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I drop the rag into murky water and stand. He’s the shortest of them, but his glare cuts deepest. “Yes?”
“Will you be participating in this year's Dead of the Dead?” He asks, raising a brow at me. His eyes are just like the others that look at me in the palace, filled with nothing but hatred and disgust. Isadora and King Sven are the only exceptions.
I wipe my wet hands against my cloth as I give the question some thought. A week ago Linnet had also asked me the same thing, but then I couldn't give her a response. Dance Of The Dead, a deathmatch with opponents such as the ripper ghost and Linnet. It's a tempting offer. Especially since I get the opportunity to ask for anything I want from king Sven if I win. I can even ask for my… “I'm not sure.”
The three guards laugh at my response, and I don't even know what's funny.
“Advice?” The cigarette guy smirks. “Do not. I know you'd want to ask for your freedom, but in there you’d beg for death in a minute. And with no Fae energy? Pathetic.”
The bald guard laughs. “Minutes? She'd be dead in a second. I won't mind seeing her get thrown around though. It would be a fun sight to see the ripper ghost turn her inside out.”
“Indeed,” Kane adds, bringing his gaze back to me. “Now get back to work.”
I kneel again, scrubbing harder. The others leave, but Kane lingers. I don't mind him as I continue what I'm doing. I'm almost done. And when I'm done here I'll have to go clean the guards toilet. After that I'll be free to return to my room, free from all the scornful looks thrown at me.
“You've got such a nice ass, you know?” Kane asks after a moment.
I stop cleaning as I whip my head so fast I can hear it crack. “What do you mean by that?”
The look of disgust is now gone from his eyes as he closes the distance between us and crouches right at my front. “Don't play innocent. You're not a kid, are you?”
Kane's words tick a nerve in me as I glare at him. I know what he's suggesting. To him, I might be a Fae but I'm still a vulnerable woman. “Whatever you're thinking, forget it. It's not going to happen,” I say sternly as I return to my cleaning.
Just then, his hand grabs my backside, yanking me against him, and his erection presses into me.
I see red.
Before I think, I’m on my feet, my wet palm cracking across his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Kane slowly turns his head to me as he stands up. “You slapped me,” he says as if in disbelief. “You foolish Fae. I was simply trying to help you have some relief. Or don't you think I see those seductive eyes you pass over and how you willingly push out your buttocks when you're cleaning?”
I frown. “When did I ever do that? Just stay away from me.”
“You think I should?” There's a taunting smirk on his face as he moves forward and slaps me back. Twice. On each side of my face.
Both my cheeks burn as I slowly bring my gaze back to him. Now, we've gotten the attention of some of the guards walking around.
“Come and see, everyone!” Kane yells as he summons some of the nearby guards to our presence.
“What the hell happened?” One of the guards asks.
“This Fae here tried to seduce me, and when I didn't fall for her tactics she slapped me. I returned the slap, and she's still trying to use some Fae magic on me even while I resist,” Kane lies.
I feel my heart plummet as most of the guards begin to crowd me. “It's a lie. That's not what happened,” I try to defend myself. “I don't even have magic. I haven't awakened, and you all know that.”
But of course, none of them believe me.
“I should have known she'd try to seduce you. Fae’s can never be trusted. It's a mystery as to why our king still keeps her around,” a guard says as he kicks my legs, completely immobilising me as I fall to the ground.
Before I know it, another guard kicks me in my side while I'm on the floor. Another hits my head, and I quickly try to protect it but someone's foot finds my right hand and steps on it. I close my eyes as I let out a deafening scream from the pain. I'm sure they've broken my fingers.
The insults and blows and kicks rains down on me. I try to defend myself, but I'm crowded and overpowered. It goes on and on and on.
“The witch isn't even begging,” one of them says, and I feel someone's boot on my right hand again.
Another scream rips through me as I open my eyes. I scramble to the platform’s edge, clutching my ruined hand. Blood drips from my nose. I won’t cry. Won’t give them the satisfaction.
The guards still don't want to let me go as they begin to crowd over me again…
“Okay. That's enough. Let the witch go,” Kane says, dismissing them. “I am sure she's learnt her lessons now.”
“Just let us know if she does anything stupid again,” one guard says as they all begin to leave, leaving me alone with Kane who now has a victorious smile on his face as I glare at him. Try to at least.
“This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't refused me. Next time I come on to you again, just let me,” Kane says with a smug smile as he picks up the ragged cloth and throws it to my face. “Get back to cleaning. You still have those toilets to clean.”