It has become clear to me at this point that none of us were safe. And more than anyone else here, I was in more danger. Everyone was on the lookout and anxiety was going through the roof. We were wondering who was going to be picked to be part of the blood bank. Some were already frantic about the possibility of being chosen, claiming it would raise their statuses if they were to be favoured by the King. Others were more down to earth about the whole thing. Why would they want to be in a position where they can lose their lives and not even earn the favour of the King.
One part of me hoped I wasn't the one but another also made me feel like I would be happy if I was the one, he was feeding from. As quickly as I felt it, I want to get rid of the thought. We woke up one morning to the one of the king's mistress telling us to line up for the selection. Slaves started fidgeting everywhere around the hall as she made a first scan of the list.
The mistress who was a second favourite to the king. Mistress Aine stood tall in front of us, with her shoulders squared and her head raised high in that pompous yet regal manner. I couldn't help but awe at her beauty as she watched us with distaste's was stunning. Her golden locks framed a face in delicate curls and dropped over her shoulder and her back like a drapery elegantly laid out.
After she was certain we were all present and waiting she finally took a seat in chair laid out for her by her personal lady in wait. My eyes followed her movement as she slowly sat as her dress was being rearranged. The slit on the side of her leg, shifted to give a brief view of her gorgeous legs and I swallowed. She made me nervous and she intrigued me as well. I was afraid of her but at the same time I wondered what it would be like for me to be acknowledged by her. She exuded so much power and grace it got me thinking how she compared to the first favourite of the King.
"As you know by now, the King has been having trouble with his meals for some time now and I want to rearrange his meal schedule and source." she paused to look around as if searching for a reaction she didn't seem pleased with then she lifted the left corner of her lips in a thin and barely noticeable smile.
"I have decided to pick a few of you, preferably girls for him to feed from. I would be replacing the 4 males we lost with 4 new male slaves and 6 girls. I would give you the opportunity to step forward if you want to offer yourself" she said and trailed her blood red nails along the arms of her chair. Once she said that, some slaves started looking around. Even before a minute passed it seemed like some people made up their minds to be fed on when I couldn't even stop my heart from racing at her offer.
Three girls and two guys stepped out, the same set who had been talking about being eager to be chosen before we got here. They had a lot of ambition I thought to myself. The temperature of the air seemed to dropped even lower than it was once they stepped out and I could almost taste the dread in the air from their simple leap. Mistress Aine looked at them with a bright smile as if congratulating them and mocking them at the same time but I don't think they realized it. It was as if we all standing behind them knew they had made a mistake but they didn't realize that. I felt sorry for them.
She walked in front of them as if to inspect them. Trailing her fingers over their chin and turning their heads to the lift then to the right as if checking for any blemishes on their faces. A sinister smile grew on her kip as she took her hands off them then a second later two loud snaps were head and their bodies dropped to heaps of the floor before us. She looked up at us, smile growing and said "power hungry slaves wishes to gain the favour of the King" I gulped and heard the others shifting around unable to accept what just happened in the blink of an eye. I was more scared than before and wondered if this was the reason, she was one of his favourite mistresses. She was beauty and truly deserving to be his with the amount of mercy she just showed to those who now lay dead at our feet and turning blue by the minute.
" Anyone else interested in serving the king?"
"No one?" she probed again when no one answered or stepped out as if testing the waters to figure out if there were more stupid power-hungry slaves to dispose of. She went back to her seat and then started pointing out whoever she wanted to be on the food schedule. Two blond girls were called out, then three dark hard guys as well, lastly, she decided to go with another ginger guy a brunette girl and three milky chocolate skin girls like me. I was happy, they were being chosen and not me. I didn't want to be in the same position as food like I witnessed him do to the other girl. A red-haired girl was called forward as well then, the rest of us dispersed to go and continue our duties as the slaves we were bought to be.
As quickly as we gathered there, we scrambled and got to our stations ready to do our duties for the day. I went about to my area, being careful not to run into anyone of the people of the castle. I had high hopes for my day even if I just saw people die In Front of me. They asked for it, I felt sorry for them but there was nothing I could do but make sure I didn't end up like them.