"Move it peasants!" A buff looking man said, pushing a frail looking woman with paint smeared all over her clothes forward.
We were in still in front of the gate, but now it was opened wide, letting us see the inside. As predicted, there was a red themed mansion-like one story structure that expanded up to the ends of the royal grounds, which is as vast as the sky if you ask me. Before the palace its self is a spacious green field with a concrete pathway in the middle decorated with bushes of blossoming white roses on the side. If you look to both the far right and left side of the palace, you'll also see another pathway but unlike the one on the middle that was brightly lit and obviously led to the entrance, the left and right route led to a dark and narrow path that leads towards an unknown destination.
I'm thinking maybe towards a dungeon? Or maybe a torture chamber? Where we will soon be brought and skinned alive? Maybe even chopped to death? I can already imagine the horrible stench coming from the dead bodies that must be residing there owned by the former prisoners. I felt goosebumps rise on my skin at the thought of that. I shook my head trying to forget the terrible things running in my mind and just diverted my attention towards the line of chained people near the gate. Now there were also chains clasped around their ankles, and I just know that they were heavy and cold. Some were being pushed around while others were being beaten. I don't know why until now I'm unscathed but I don't like it. It makes me feel suspicious. Are they preserving me for last? So they can enjoy beating me up? Must be, but that doesn't explain why I'm still on the horse.
I'm just waiting for someone to come and untie me and drag me to the ground like the others but nothing. Out of all the soldiers scattered around, probably reaching hundreds in numbers, not one of them came to me. Although most of them gave me lingering gazes, none bothered to free me from being bounded to the rope. And so because of this, my heartbeat became erratic. Beads of sweat started forming on my skin as millions of thoughts came stirring in my mind. My worry grew even stronger when I saw the chained people being forced to walk towards the right pathway while I was still tied to this horse.
What's happening? What about me? A feeling of unease washed over me as I watched the people walk away from me. I wanted to speak, to ask what was in store for me but my nervousness rendered me speechless. For about five minutes I watched their figures drip away from my sight, their backs disappearing into the dark path together with the men escorting them. By the time I snapped back to the present, I was already untied. Four men, two servants and two soldiers, were looking at me expectantly. Urging me to come down from the horse with their eyes. When I didn't move, one of the soldiers rolled his eyes and held my arm tightly before pulling me down harshly. A small yelp slipped from my throat as I landed hard on my back. Groaning, I tried standing up using my elbows as support but before I could even stand I was then again pulled harshly. This time by my hair. I yelled in pain, feeling as if my scalp was about to get ripped off.
"Move it bitch!" The soldier said sadistically. He pushed me forward, telling me to follow the servants in front of me. Afraid that I might get hurt again, I immediately obliged. I started moving my legs, trailing behind the servants towards the palace's entrance as the two soldiers followed behind me.
When we reached the threshold of the palace, I noticed lines of royal guards standing still on either side of the opened door whilst carrying sharp weapons. I looked around in amazement, the walls were a deep red while the floors were white. The linings on the sliding window were gold while the lanterns were black. The moment we stepped inside the door, a long corridor was the first thing that greeted me. Paintings were hanging on the wall together with expensive looking vases.
We walked quietly along the lengthy hallway, only the sounds of our footsteps to be heard with the loud thumping on the ground imitating the rapid beating of my heart. Behind the back of my mind, hundreds of questions awaited, wanting an immediate answer which I couldn't give. We took turns after turns after turns on the dimly lit hallways. Every door we passed by were closed. The entire place seemed deserted, Aside from me, the servants and the soldiers, I couldn't see anyone else. Why am I here? Am I not supposed to be with the others?
After what seemed like forever in a maze of corridors, we finally stopped in front of a closed door at the end of a hallway. The door was big, and just the look of it makes me feel intimidated, it was dark red in colour and unlike the other doors we passed by, this one didn't have a single golden hue on it, but rather black. And for some unknown reason, something about it feels off.
"His majesty is going to enjoy this little beauty." One of the soldier said to his comrade in an extremely low voice. My head snapped towards them, my eyes wide in shock.
"Wh-what do y-you mean?" I asked stuttering, the first time I actually spoke since we got here. The soldier smirked creepily before saying "Oh you'll see." and nudged me forward. The servants knocked on the door and when I tried to look them in the eyes they looked down.
The door opened with a creaking sound, making me step back unknowingly. I looked behind into the long path we came through, contemplating whether I should run or stay, but before I could even decide, I was pushed inside the now opened door. I landed on my knees with my hands flat on the floor then I heard the door slam behind me. With trembling legs and heavy breaths, I stood up. What I saw in front of me scared but at the same time shocked the life out of me.
There was a man. A man unlike any other. He was sitting on a throne, several naked women surrounding him. Feeding him, touching him . . . serving him. The women possessed the finest beauty I have ever seen and the sight before me enabled me from speaking. My lips parted, mouth gaping in sheer disbelief as my eyes grew wider the longer I watched the scenes unfold right before my eyes.
This, this is . . . madness.
"Come forward." A low, deep and hoarse voice commanded. My knees almost buckled at the sound. It was alluringly seductive but I had to fight the urge to do so. I remained standing.
"I said come forward!" The voice repeated, louder but still the same. Still, I remained rooted to my place. "A disobedient little thing I see." He said to himself after a moment. I couldn't explain the nervousness inside me. It was different, as if someone was rearranging my guts.
Probably growing tired, the man stood up, pushing a woman off his lap as he waved his right hand in a dismissive manner. The women grunted, but chose to leave without bothering to put on their clothes. Then the man started descending from his throne and I squinted my eyes for better view. The light in the room was so low, that I couldn't see clearly, including the face of this man inching towards in a slow pace, as if he was a predator ready to pounce on his prey.
Finally, light illuminated his face . . . but what I saw next stunned me like never before.
"You're Majesty." I whispered.
I was facing a God.