||Chapter Seven||
An Opportunity or a Curse||
T A L I A ||
God, I am a good child.
I work, I don't necessarily miss a lot of Sundays.
So please please please may this beautiful creature let me go in peace!
Why does this always happen to me?!
I blinked twice staring into those two Sapphire blue eyes.
'I'll punish this little one'
What the hell did that mean?
Whatever it was I didn't want to find out.
His eyes twinkled in mirth and mischief.
Only god knows what he'd be up to.
Without another word he grabbed me by my arm and stormed out of the kitchen. I tried yanking my hands out of his grasp but he wouldn't budge. Sparks crackled under his touch which only amplified my fear.
What the hell were those forsaken things?!!
However, as much as I hate to admit it, and perhaps I'd never say so out loud I was more exited than terrified which honestly makes me retarded really.
There was nothing exiting about being punished.
But here I was, admiring just how broad his back was as his shirt showed me no mercy to hide the muscles of his back which clenched with every step he took.
I did well to close my mouth once realizing that it was opened as I was ogling him.
I wanted to ask what my punishment was, but I knew better than to speak.
He will never hear my voice ever again.
I hate him, I hate, him I hate him!
He slammed the door shut to what seemed like a music room, then pinned me to the wall and trapped me within his huge and muscular body.
His shadow swallowed my body whole.
"You are just a magnet for trouble aren't you?" He mused.
I rolled my eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me" He said. His voice silvered with a slight venom.
I was not a stupid person. Not really no, clumsy maybe but I was never one to make bad decisions.
But there was something about him that made me want to defy his every word, just to see to what ends he'd go to to get me to submit.
Like the idiot I was I stared at him, dead in the eyes, he stared right back, eager to see what I'd do next.
My lips lift into a small smirk He rose one perfect eyebrow.
"Careful sweetheart..." he warned.
With a tiny smile of my own I gave him the biggest eye roll in slow motion.
I don't know where I got all this self confidence from. I knew good and well that this man could hurt me and get away with it yet for some reason I knew that he just couldn't.
Which was stupid really because what could prove that?
I needed to get off my high horse before I fell and had my every bone cracked, fractured and broken.
I then looked at him to see him biting his lip. His Sapphire blue eyes twinkling.
In Lust?...
My heartbeat sped up just by the sight of him. "Maybe I should punish such a daring girl like you hm?" He murmured.
My body began to heat up.
Sweating.
My breaths slowly turned to pants.
Suddenly the room was hot.
He leaned his head onto the crane of my neck. "You know-" He said, his minty breath fanning against my skin. I bit my tongue hard enough to taste the metallic taste of blood, but I swallowed anyway trying not to make a sound.
"You keep whispering my name between these walls. But yet I haven't ever heard of yours"
My eyes widened.
All this time he had heard me-
My cheeks began to flame up as I dropped my head down, my hair covering my face.
Wait a minute...
He never knew my name...
I could use that to my advantage.
He placed a finger underneath my chin lifting it up to face him. Leaving me no choice but to to meet with those gorgeous eyes.
"Your name" He said.
"No..." I repeated.
His eyes darkened as a small smile graced his lips. Seemingly amused at my defiance.
I stared like a girl bewitched.
I took notice of his broad shoulders... His biceps were huge. His arms alone looked like they could move mountains. So huge he could crush me with just one squeeze. His dark blue eyes scorched through mine awaiting for my answer as I continued to stare at him dumbfounded.
How could one be so physically unflawed?
"N...no" I said again... but this time with lesser certainty.
He grinned at the change of my tone and I wanted to kick myself for showing him that tiny weakness.
"My my... where did all that confidence go?..." He murmured cupping my chin in his hand before moving it to a side... he lets his head fall into my neck. Inhaling the scent as though it were the most magnificent thing he'd ever come across.
"Your name." He said but this time he had a serious edge to his tone. His nose brushed again my cheek."Say it"
I was losing myself... my self control hung in a single thread which he could so easily cut.
"No"
Damonous licked around my earlobe and bit it. "You know-" He said kissing down my neck.
"I could tear you apart-" His trail of kisses stopped once he reached to a perfect spot between my ear and neck. I bit my lip trying not to moan. "Right here and right now" He said. I'll admit, he sounded like such a psychopathic freak and the threat should have scared me honestly.
But like I said. It should of.
It didn't.
To my complete and utter confusion all it made me feel was excitement. I was so deviously and shamelessly aroused...
Why was it so hard to push him away and slap him and sue him? Why was it so hard to walk away from him right now and stay away from him? Why was it so difficult when that was exactly what I should do?
From my first day here I was captivated.
From my very first day here even when I didn't know who he was I was looking for him desperately.
"Listen here cub..."
I gasped. My eyes flew open. His voice lowered. Drastically. As if it were a monster within speaking.
How? Was this normal? Was I in danger? So dangerously low, but a beautiful sound.
"Tell-" My eyes fluttered shut as his lips traced my jaw.
"Me-" his lips traced up my ear.
"Your-" My jaw....
"Name." My heartbeat accelerated.
My eyes locked with his.
I couldn't breathe. All I could see was his beautiful Sapphire eyes. His lip was in the corner of my lip. He smirked as his eyes locked to mine but his lips never moved from it's place. He looked at me like how a child would if he broke a vase.
But knew that no one could punish him.
A smug look. I just stared back.
"If I tell you-" I said cursing myself mentally for not controlling how vulnerable it sounded.
"Will you let me go?" I asked.
His lips moved from the corner of my lips, brushing against my cheek.
"Deal." He murmured.
I stared at him in hesitation...
"I don't lie, princess" He tells me. Something within his eyes held so much sincerity amongst the sea of mischief and lust.
"Talia" I revealed.
Damonous's lips left my skin making me feel so disappointed at the loss of contact.
Wait. What?!
But something in Damonous' eyes changed. They twinkled. Like an electric spark.
"Talia" He said.
The way my name rolled out of his tongue was dangerous. My eyes fluttered as I butterfly wings flutter within my stomach. I bit my lip and his eyes darkened at the sight.
"I'm so sorry-" He said.
I rose my eyebrows. Surprised that a prince was apologizing to me...
"For wha-"
Before I could finish Damonous slammed his lips to mine.
Oh.
My.
God!
No no no no this wasn't supposed to happen!
NO NO NO NOOO!
My heart was beating so horrendously fast. As if they were jumping on a trampoline. Flipping in the air. His hands roamed down to my waist gripping me from their holding me into place.
Just in case I ran.
'Oh but we're not going anywhere...'
What and where was that voice coming from!
This was no ordinary sweet kiss you'd usually see in those damned devil brain washing romantic movies I never watched.
This was fire. Passion. Need and lust. It was as if our souls were waiting to meet for centuries and decades. Whatever this man was doing to me was going to be the end of me.
I promised myself that.
His lip brushed my lower lip practically begging for entrance.
I refused.
His hand wandered to my back. I knew what he was doing. His hand crept lower and lower until they were above my behind. He squeezed it but still no answer from me.
He growled.
What the hell, he actually growled!
Once his hand left the sinful place I almost sighed out of relief only for my eyes to widen once his large hand cupped my breast. I couldn't hold in my gasp. I felt the one corner of his lips raise inn victory at the sound and added pressure forcing a moan out of my mouth.
"You lied-" I said in-between his kisses.
He chuckled.
"I know" He said.
"You said you don't lie" I mumbled. He stared into my eyes. Staring with so many emotions dancing within him like the ocean's thunderous waves under an angry storm.
"I thought I didn't" He said.
His lips pressed against my forehead.
"But for you..."
"I could become anything and everything" He leaned to my ear and whispered.
"Even a liar."
I ran my hands up to his chest. Tracing every perfect muscle, every perfect peck. I heard the surprise hitch in his breath. The frustratingly beautiful sound only pushed me closer to the wall behind me as he pushed himself closer. The only thing that kept our skins apart were our clothes.
The smallest of things he did affected me.
The small hitch in his breath, the vibrations in his chest as he spoke, the dominance in his voice and the power he held with each and every step he took.
My hands didn't even seem to be mine to control anymore... they crept lower and lower down his shirt until they reached to the hem. His entire body tensed once my hand touched the bare skin under his shirt. A small gasp escaped his lips as I watch his hands ball into fists from the wall behind me.
Here was the thing. He was a large big and muscular man. If he wanted to he could have easily pushed me right through the wall into the other room, or broke my hands for touching him so senselessly.
Our difference in ranks gave him the right to do that.
But he let me touch him.
I hear the heaviness of his breathing, as though an anchor had been kept over his chest making him struggle for air. I felt the tenseness of his body as it subconsciously came closer to mine. I listened to the rapidness of his heartbeats.
Did I effect him with the littlest of things too?...
However one thought brought me back to my senses.
Mom...
Quickly I pushed him away. Panting and ashamed. I looked at my reflection from the open lid of the black, smooth and clean piano behind him. My hair was a mess and my lips were swollen red.
"Whatever this is-" I said panting. Not daring to look him in the eyes. "I-It should stop."
I manuvered around him since he was too heavy and large to push away.
"Talia-"
I cut him off by leaving the room and slamming the door shut behind me. I rushed but not one tear fell down my cheek.
I held it in.
I held it all in.
I walked out in quick steps slamming the door behind me ignoring him as he called out my name. I'm surprised he even remembered my name.
After all, I was only a maid here right? I rushed out ignoring his protest until I flinched hard once a hand held my wrist. "Talia-" He warned. I turned and glared at him. "What!" I hissed. "What! What do you want?! What do all of you want!" I snarled.
My usual bad habit of crying whenever I was mad washed over me making tears escape my eyes. I wiped them away with the back of my wrist. This was getting ridiculous. Have they no respect?
No not them. Have I no respect? I was turning into a cheap hooker!
It was then I realized that we were back in the kitchen. I stared at the broken fragments of glass from the coffee I had spilled. Feeling his hard to ignore stare I walked over to the glass picking up the shards with my bare hands. "Bloody hell-" He hissed as he quickly grabbed my hands at a speed I couldn't even comprehend or question.
So I just glared at him.
"Stupid girl! Do you not know how pathetically delicate you humans are? Or how sensitive your little human paws are?" He seethed.
My eyebrows furrowed, paws?
Do I look like-
I rolled my eyes. My glare intensifying with every passing second.
"Your human too, but since you don't seem to understand then I shall explain that I don't care if I bleed to death. Not when my mother is standing only days away from death!" I cried.
Realizing what I've just said a tear trickled down my cheek.
Damonous reached out to wipe it away before we heard someone come in.
"Talia is it?"
I jumped at the voice realizing that my hands were still held by Damonous.
Feeling somewhat...
Comforted.
I mentally cursed to myself before snatching my hands back. I stood up wiping my hands on my maid outfit. "Yes sir?" I said wiping my tears away, cursing myself for having them let out in the first place.
"May I talk to you for a moment?" He said his eyes trailing warily to Damonous.
My eyebrows furrowed. They looked so deadly. Both so symmetrically the same. The only difference was that 'Daivat', or at least I think his name was, looked older with the stubble on his jaw.
Still despite his age he looked good and well-built. He must be the one who owned this house.
House?
What house?
House was too small of a word to describe a place like this.
Power practically radiated around the people that lived here. Daivat had perfectly neat and combed hair.
His skin was a few shades darker than the infuriating man who stood next to me, and despite the older man's impressive height Damonous still seemed a bit taller.
Good god these people are giants...
Looking into the mans eyes I noticed that they so dark, so brown. However once he took a step closer to us the light from outside shone on his face making me notice that his eyes were not brown... but red.
Wait.
Red eyes?-
"Y-Yes Sir" I gulped quickly realizing that I was staring for far too long.
Damonous glared at me. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He didn't say a word before he angrily stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Geez, talk about temper tantrums-
The pain in my stomach awakened making me grunt. I closed my eyes as my lips quivered.
And I shivered once feeling the sudden decrease in temperature to the room.
Remembering that Daivat was still standing there and was watching my every move and reaction I quickly regained my posture.
"Sir?"
He smiled kindly to me before gesturing for me to follow him.
I trailed behind him without any disobedience.
I didn't need another enemy.
Seriously it was like I was walking around with a big sign on my forehead that said 'HATE ME' in bold and red.
He walked me to what seemed like another living room. Black with navy blue leather couches and silver frames and black marble floors. He sat down as he casually crossed his legs in a masculine way.
"Oh do sit down child" he said.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
What game was he playing at?
He chuckled at my response. "Don't worry the couch won't eat you alive" He joked trying to ease my fear.
Well that failed.
"I...I erm.." I fumbled with my words.
"I don't think I'm allowed to-"
"I'm the one who makes the rules here little girl" He said. It was then I noticed the heavy french accent to his voice. I blinked twice before hurriedly sitting down.
The sooner I sit the sooner I could leave.
"So-" He started as I shifted awkwardly on my seat.
"I'm just going straight to the point" He said sternly. All joking manners evaporating from him.
"Are my family treating you right?" He asked.
I gulped.
"I- Yes, Yes they are, sir" I lied. He sighed in annoyance. He leaned forward.
"One rule here sweetheart"
"This is a Medici House-hold. Medici's never lie. So we expect the maids to follow. Or whoever else steps foot in here" He said.
I bite my tongue to hold in my laughter at the irony.
"When it comes to you I could do anything and everything"
I remembered how close he had leaned to my ear...
"Even a liar."
My face went warm. My hands clutched onto my dress which was still wet from that coffee accident this morning, the pain of that burn crawled back to me. "So tell me dear child, how are they treating you?" He pressed.
What was I supposed to say?
Your wife mocked me for not knowing what 'Influenza Flu' meant, your son Zayn played mind games with me and had me search the entire palace to find him, your daughter Elisé used me like a human mop to wipe blood on the floors,
Which can't not spill apparently,
And oh yeah and Damonous kissed me minutes before I came here and for some reason I turn into a cheap hooker whenever I am around him.
But hey! Here still I am holding and keeping my crap together for the sake of my mother who lays in a hospital bed!
I tried not to laugh.
But then tried not to cry.
Damn it Talia get your shit together! Even a hormonal pregnant woman doesn't have mood swings like this!
"They are good people sir-" I said my voice stern and emotionless as I tried so hard not to cry.
"But they have their moments" I said vaguely.
He stared at me sympathetically before then saying "I'm sorry" He said as if understanding everything. I bit my lip harder balling my hands to fists in my lap and pressing my legs together and stared at the marble floors I had to clean later.
"You do know that Elisé has been punished?" He asked. My eyes widened as I snapped my head to face him.
"What?!" I say in complete shock.
I seemed to have forgotten who the hell I was talking to. I mumbled out a quick apology before staring at my small feet.
Punished? Elisé was punished? The Princess Elisé??
I then remembered... She wasn't sitting at the table of when I served breakfast.
I should have felt good, satisfied even. However as strange as it may have sounded I didn't. Okay maybe a little satisfaction I admit I am no saint. However there was a guilt that weighed over my shoulders.
"She was sent to the dungeons. For two days for what she had caused" He says. I lift my head only to see him staring at me in curiosity. I felt uncomfortable. I pushed myself against the leather chair I sat on, wishing for it to swallow me whole.
"If I may ask sir... who punished her?"
He tilts his head to the side. The same way Damonous did. There was a flicker of mischief in his garnet red eyes.
"I'm afraid that is for you to find out my dear" He said.
My heart fluttered against my chest.
Could it be him?
Could it have been Damonous?
I pushed those silly thoughts away. Why would he? This was Damonous, he could have even praised her for what she had done to me. He was no better than her. They were just as bad as each other, all of them were, maybe even this man before me.
"Have you heard of Forest Hills school?" he asked. I stared at him in confusion at the random question. "Yes sir?" I said.
It was a school built for the wealthy. Even some of the rich couldn't afford it.
"I want you to attend there." He said.
I blinked.
"Sir, I can't pay for that" I tell him and he chuckled.
"I'll pay for your tuition"
I stared at him blankly.
"I can't let you do that Sir" I said surprisingly not stuttering as I spoke.
He stared at me for a moment of silence.
"My wife told me about your mother's state and why you are here. She's worked hard for us for years. I'm sorry." He said.
I held my breath as to not cry.
"She is a good woman your mother. Has worked here for as long as I can remember"
STOP TALKING OLD MAN I'M TRYING HERE!
"You have a heart of gold and you deserve a good future" He said. "I'll help you reach to that. Good hearted people like you deserve things like these" He said. "Starting from tomorrow I'll have your uniform escorted to you. You shall go to school and work hard. I've heard of your homeschooling. One with such a gifted mind shouldn't learn within four walls." He said.
How could he have known I was a good person? This man only had known me for what? Less than five minutes? I could be a two faced bitch or a murderer. Or even both!
I bit my lip harder. "You may leave" He said.
"But-"
"I've already made my decision. Your going to that school." He said his eyes daring me to disobey. I gulped.
You know, I'm an idiot to a whole lot of things, but disobeying this man? I wasn't suicidal.
Yet.
"Y-Yes Sir" I said. He nodded his head once. "You may leave now" He said. I bowed my head down then scurried out closing the door shut behind me, wondering one thing.
Was this an opportunity? Or was this a curse?
N A R R A T I V E ||
Talia walked towards the slave quarters.
As she walked within the palace halls she felt so small, like a child as she had never felt so out of place in all her life.
She sighed before she pushed the heavy door and walked inside to accompany the other maids.
"Talia dear, you must be here for your lunch break" The head maid which befriended Talia had said. Her name was Mary Anne, Talia had learned that she had worked within these palace walls loyally for sixteen years. She was rather old of age however her youth radiated out of her.
"Leave that and get the poor girl a warm meal, after all she did work all day" She ordered one of the maids who was currently doing the laundry.
'Not really, it's quite the opposite actually' Talia thought to herself.
However she forced herself to smile as she watches another one of the maids walk towards her holding a warm bowl of hot broth. "Thank you" She had said before she turned to leave.
"Where are you going dear?" Asks Mary Anne.
"I will eat outside, I need some fresh air" Talia smiles.
Mary Anne nods in understanding.
After thanking her one last time Talia leaves the maid chambers holding her hot bowl. Ready to walk to the dungeons...
She had spent hours looking for it before she sighed leaning towards the pillar, the broth in her hands no longer warm. However just before she could explore again, she felt a dark presence behind her.
She felt watched.
Slowly she turned around only to see nothing within those palace halls. Feeling a chill of fear creep up her spine she turned to leave only to feel a gust of wind pass by her. She quickly turned to walk the other way only to bump into a hard wall.
However once Talia looked above her she had come to notice that this was no wall...
She watches two dark red eyes staring back at her, old of age however still attractive. Talia felt uncomfortable and disgusted... not pleasured as she could only stare back at Damonous' father.
"Looking for something Miss Talia?" He asks.
Talia bit her tongue in order to not blurt out something she would very much regret. The bowl of broth in her hands were not for her, but were in fact for the young princess who had attacked her. She couldn't help but feel the pestering guilt eat her alive as she thought of Elisé all hungry and cold in that dungeons.
She blamed herself.
Talia knew that she could never find the dungeons on her own, and she highly doubted the head maid Mary Anne would let her step foot into such a place. Gulping down her disgust Talia finally spoke.
"You told me Miss Elisé was in the dungeons" Talia said. The rather old Alpha rose an eyebrow his lips pulled up in mirth urging her to continue. "I want to see her" Talia had said.
Silence engulfed the hall, and within every passing second Talia felt all the more uncomfortable as the man before her stared her down in an amused stare.
"Are you going to mock her?" The Alpha asked.
"What? Of course not!" The girl said in a rather defensive tone. Her eyes widened at her outburst and she glued her gaze to the floor. "S-Sorry sir I just thought she was hungry" The girl said mentally cursing herself for stuttering.
Another wave of silence rang through the halls. It felt like hours until the Alpha quickly spoke.
"Take two lefts then one right, you will find a door, follow down the stairs" Was all he said before he turned and walked away with a smirk on his lips. Talia stood frozen for a moment before she sighed and followed the directions that were given to her.
Little did she know the reason of the Alpha's hurried leave was because of the fear that had engulfed him once feeling his eldest son's Darkness coming close...