'You did what?'' Cecilia's voice was raised as she stood up from the bed. The rest of the girls stared at me, as Rachel began to cry again, folding herself into a ball on the floor as she broke down.
' I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.'
'Sorry isn't going to fix anything. Look at her,'' Cecilia let out in a strained voice, pointing at Rachel. 'Don't you think she's suffered enough for you?''
The rest of the girls whispered among themselves as they stared at me with judgy eyes. I looked at Rachael, and I didn't even know where to start.
'This is your fault!'' Riley suddenly said, 'You keep making things worse for her.'
'Please believe me, i didn't mean to.''
'And you went and mouthed off to the Master knowing fully well that Rachel would suffer for you.'' She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she sat on top of the bed.
'I'm sorry. Please, i'm sorry.'' I cried out, feeling guilt choke me. This was not how I expected anything to go.
'We are a family here, and so far, you haven't acted like it.'' Cecilia shouted as she pushed me back. I could feel myself crying and I didn't know how to stop. I was scared and I blamed myself for everything.
' You're always making things worse. Why is it that ever since you came here you're the only person who has had trouble following the Masters instructions?'' she asks and I have nothing to say. How was that even going to defend myself? The man who they called the master was a horrible man. A man who set my heart on fire.
' I didn't know this would happen. I was only trying to defend Rachel.''
'How dare you!!!'' Emily shouted at the top of her voice as he marched over towards me. The second the palm of her hand collided with my face I could hear the gasps from everyone around. I caressed my cheek as I looked at her and then at Rachel who was still crying with her face buried in her hands.
' Emily please.'' I bailed but you wouldn't listen. When she tried to hit me again Cecilia grabbed her hand and gently pushed her back shaking her head. Yet I just wasn't sure whether Cecilia was defending me so that she could hit me herself. I hated myself for what I had done. this had not been my intention to begin with.
' I know that all of you hate me right now but believe me I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I hated that Rachel was punished for my mistake and I was only trying to defend her.''
' Humans.'' Riley cursed under her breath. ' You spend your life among a weaker species and now you think you're better than us?'
The rest of the girls stood up, backing Riley up. I couldn't help but feel as if they were ganging up on me. I didn't know what to say or how to defend myself. what would I even start with?
' My upbringing has nothing to do with…''
' Cecilia told you once, Jessica, and I'm only going to say it again.'' Emily let out through gritted teeth. ' You are a weakling and an outcast.'
She turned her back and went back to Rachel pulling her into her arms and comforting her. Her words sunk into me like a heavy ax into a tree.
I wanted to disagree with her and defend myself. But the more I thought about it the more it made sense.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echo in the corridor and we all turn to look. My heart beats rapidly as I contemplate an escape plan. An exit. but that would become of me. If the guard had come for us, then I couldn't leave Rachel behind. She was suffering because of me
The rest of the girls looked at me with so much disdain. It was as if I only knew what this was. The loud clicking of the door didn't help. When Carlos stepped inside and granted that to all of us it was almost as if he felt remorseful. but that's not possible, right?
' Come on.'' he said, nodding his head in my direction. Goosebumps covered my skin as I felt myself almost paralyzed on the spot. Have a few hours already passed? Was this his way of taunting me? He had his way with mind games and I hated it. I hated him.
' You too.'' Carlos said as he pointed at Cecilia and Rachel. The rest of the girls and I stared in confusion. I could not help but hope that things would be a little better since Cecilia was also summoned. The three of us walked out of the room without another word.
We followed behind Carlos with both Cecilia and Rachel walking hand-in-hand and I behind them.
It did not matter to me how I felt, Rachel felt safe with Cecilia. Like she had a sense of protection. The walk from our chambers down to the castle was not as long as it always was this time. It felt shorter.
I was beginning to hate how at home I felt in this place. While we walked on the grass there were still little drops of blood on the compound. Yet the bodies of people were not there; they had been cleaned out almost instantly. and the horrible men who killed them were nowhere to be seen. I couldn't help but wonder whether the king kept his own killer army private. What had happened here was a massacre and it had happened before my eyes. How could anyone live with that?
How could he himself live with the Guilt of having the deaths of so many innocent people? all just because they disrespected him.
When we walked into the castle there was a looming sense of discomfort and fear hanging in the air. And it wasn't just from us but even the guard wasn't so comfortable. one could almost tell that he was fidgeting. From the start I've been adamant and rude. He took pleasure in scaring us off and watching a server. Yet right now he was the one scared. Scared of something around these walls.
We climbed up the flight of stairs quicker than we usually did. everywhere else was quiet. It was almost as if no one was there. Getting to the top floor wasn't as difficult. They couldn't help but remember the last time I was here. Would I be forgiven again? Will I suffer the consequences of my actions? I could only hope but wish for the latter. because that would mean that no one would suffer for me again.
Once at the top floor, the girls and I stood in front of the door as Carlos acted hesitant. He knocked on the door and this time it wasn't four knocks as usual. It was an excessive amount of knocking while he wiped his sweaty palms against the back of his head. He was visibly sweating, he was livid and scared.
The order to come in sounded from within the room. His voice. It suddenly made me aware that his aura was all around us. He was powerful. All I wanted to do was be on my knees. with my head bowed. I wanted to accord him the amount of respect that he deserves. What was wrong with me?
When we stepped into the room, it was as dark as it always was. Sometimes I even suspected that this room had no lighting other than the natural open windows when the sun would come up. The king loves the darkness and he made it a priority to always keep his room in utter Darkness. He led a sad life. at least in my perspective that's what it seems like. However when we entered the room, he was not in a dark corner somewhere like usual. He was sitting right on top of his bed in the middle of the room and he was smiling. He was smiling. I had never seen that before and I didn't even think he was capable of happiness. but he was and it seemed genuine.
He shook his head and Carlos disappeared from the room that very second, closing the door behind him. We were left there, the three of us standing at the usual spot. He stared at Cecilia and it was almost as if his eyes spoke volumes. panic filled her natural form as she fell to her knees and bowed her head right on the floor. Rachel and I stared at each other confused.
His eyes fell on me and he shook his head, as if an invisible Force was covering me. He's surrounded me so much that it felt as if my skin was on fire if I didn't obey.
I didn't even notice that Rachel had followed Cecilia's action and was bowing her head on the floor with her. I was the only one left standing and it didn't seem good. when I fell to my knees it wasn't out of my own will. There was just something about him. I felt controlled. He had this power within himself to order submission in most of the scenes.
All I wanted to do was obey him. and I wanted to do it proudly with no hesitation. I couldn't help but wonder; is this what the rest of the girls felt? Is this why they were proud to be slaves?