"Octavia..." She felt something in her vibrate as his tone seemed to send cold shivers down her spine.
"M.. Master?" She answered nervously, her head bowed to the floor.
Another seconds of silence passed and slowly, Khalid turned around to look at her.
Smoke was emitting from his tobacco pipe as he walked closer to her and furrowed his brows.
"You haven't taken your bath?" He asked with a little frown and she shook her head.
She almost had to cough due to the smoke coming from his pipe.
She heard him made a grunt as he stepped away from her.
"Hurry to the bathroom and clean yourself up" he said conclusively and walked away, going out to stand in the
balcony.
Octavia was a little surprised. Hurry to the bathroom? His bathroom?
He wanted her to make use of his bathroom? For real?
She watched him as he walked out and stood in front of the balcony.
Few seconds passed and she finally decided to do as he said so she doesn't get into more trouble.
She walked towards the bathroom, opened the door and an amazing sight greeted her.
Wow!
She glanced back at the room, then stepped into the bathroom finally.
The entire place was beaming blue and if not for her current situation, she'd have preferred sleeping there.
She sniffed and pulled down her skirt and panties, then washed her sticky thighs.
In a giffy, she was done and left the bathroom immediately.
Khalid was still at the balcony and she
wondered if she was to go over and meet him, or wait for him there in the room.
She stood by and watched him for sometime, unable to make a decision.
But finally, he turned and glanced at her, and urged her to come over. And she did.
Her steps were almost faltering as she
walked towards him, feeling so so anxious.
What would he do to her? Or say to her?
What would his decision be?
Oh! She was so scared.
She got to the balcony and stood behind him, feeling so scared to stay by his side.
Khalid knew her fears and didn't say a word or try to make her stand beside him. So, he just let her be.
"Why did you do it, Octavia?"
He asked after a very long while of silence which was beginning to make Octavia panic.
She gulped hard and glued her eyes to the floor, her hands interlocked in front of her.
Well, this was it. And she had no reason
to lie anymore.
"Octavia..." Khalid called and she could notice the impatience in his voice.
He might get angry anytime soon.
"I'm sorry Master" her voice wavered at last.
She sniffed and moved a step.
"My father.." She began in a timid voice.
"He sold me out t...to Master Zack. He... He sold me without my consent and I didn't like the idea. I didn't want to be sold to anyone or forced to stay with anyone. So, I... I tried to escape Master Zack, but he caught me several times and beat me up. And in my last attempt,.I accidentally killed two of his men one of which was his brother".
She paused and sniffed again.
"I'm sorry, I.... I didn't want to do it. I mean, they were attacking me and using my survivor's instinct, I.. I tried to fight them off. I... I thought I was only making them unconscious. I had no idea it was going to kill them. I didn't want to kill anyone. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I never wanted...any of this".
She paused and sniffed again and that was when she realized she was weeping profusely.
Thank goodness she was standing behind him because she wouldn't know what to do if he was staring into her face at the moment.
"I'm really sorry..." She added whimperingly.
Silence descended for a long time and it gave Octavia enough time to control her tears.
Khalid exhaled deeply and held onto the metals of the balcony, leaning forward.
If Octavia wasn't mistaken, it should be upto 5 minutes before Khalid finally spoke up.
"You should get ready" he said.
"You'll be transferred to his clan later in the evening".
Her heart jumped out of her chest, and flew into her mouth.
Goodness! No. No.
Her eyes dilated in shock as she looked at him, the tears she had tried so hard to stop came running down.
"Master... " Her voice wavered.
"Please..I don't wanna go there"
And that was the first time she was genuinely asking him for something.
"Please. I... promise to do whatever you want, anything at all. Just save me from him... Please". She wept more.
She actually never thought she'd ever beg him this way form something - never.
For a second, Khalid was tempted to turn around and glance at her, but he didn't.
His grip tightned around the metal and in an icy voice, he said:
"What should happen would happen, Octavia. Return to your room". More tears.
Octavia turned around with a shattered
heart and sauntered out of the room.
The guard was already waiting for her at
the door and as soon as she was out, he escorted her to her room.
She was doomed; her life was shattered.
How does she survive this huh? What does she do?
Oh! Damn her father! Damn him for putting her in this mess! Damn him for selling her off to the Master just to get some money for her step mother's hospital bills.
Damn him!!
She wept more until they finally got to
the room and when she got in, she met
Mica there, her eyes looking swollen.
Octavia. She called breathlessly and
the weeping lady fell into her arms.
**
**
**
"I'm sorry, he's not in the room" the guard said to Becca as she stood outside Khalid's room.
"Huh? But where did he go?'' she asked,
actually surprised because she was sure
he didn't drive out of the premises.
"I don't know, ma'am. He didn't tell either of us". The guard replied.
Well, she wasn't entirely satisfied with his reply and to be sure, she opened the door and went into the room to have a look for herself
"Khalid..." She called, but there was no
reply.
She looked around, checked the balcony,
the bathroom, his inner room, but he
wasn't in any of them. So, where was he?
She sighed and left the room.
As soon as he's back, let him know I
was here", she said to the guard at the
door before walking away.
**
**
**
Khalid was alone in the hall, having a
cold drink when Draco showed up.
"Sorry to disturb, Master. But I just received news that Becca's looking for you" he said after a slight bow.
"I told you, Draco. I need some quiet time" he replied tiredly and Draco bowed and turned to leave.
"Draco.." Khalid called and he turned back to look at him.
"Master..?"
There was a little hesitancy as Khalid
emptied the drink in his glass and
poured in more from the bottle.
"I want you to send a message to Zack"
he spoke calmly, adding some ice cubes
into the glass.
"Tell him I'm not handing Octavia to him".
*
*
*
To be continued!