Chapter 13: Introductions

Katerina awoke when she felt rays of heat settling on her forehead. It was almost noon and she had slept so soundly that she forgot where she was for a moment.

"You're awake." Ezra was flipping through a book as he leaned against the stone pillar on the balcony. The glass panels were open and the sheer curtains let a slow breeze enter the room along with the heat rays from the sun.

She blinked her eyes, noticing a blanket over her body that made her mind wander of where it came from. He wouldn't have been so kind, she thought. Doubting that he had given her the blanket during the night.

Her mouth opened to yawn softly and she felt an itch come from her neck. When she reached to scratch it, the collar blocked her way. She instinctively gripped the collar with both hands, fearful and forgetful that he had placed it on her the night before.

"Stop that." He hissed, closing his book as he stepped back into the room.

"I don't want this on." She stared at him with pleading eyes.

He chuckled and put the book on the nearby table, "That is not your choice, pet." He stepped towards the door. "Come now."

She pulled herself off the bed and followed him, "Where are we going?" She asked him but he ignored her question.

"Forgetting your place?" He glanced at her from the corner of his eye as he led her down the spiraling staircase back to the same small room as when they entered the castle.

A man dressed in black and white tuxedo attire appeared before Ezra. "Good afternoon Prince Ezra." He bowed.

"I need you to get some of the maidens to clean this girl up for me." He commanded.

Without a chance to respond, Ezra began to leave the room. "Then feed her and bring her to the lilbrary." He vanished into a hallway.

Her eyes trailed after him until he disappeared from her sight. Aside from being a brutal, egotistical killer, he was the only one she knew since her parents death. She felt the urge to go after him but the man gently took her arm.

"Come with me, girl." He spoke properly as he led her away into another corridor filled with other maidens and a kitchen-like room. They were dusting, washing and scrubbing floors and objects within the room but stopped in attention to the man.

"His Majesty Ezra wishes this girl to be cleaned up, dressed and fed. Find me once you have finished." The women bowed and two took her arms to bring her into the center of the room. Beginning to pull the ruined rags from her body, Katerina instantly stepped backwards.

"What do you think you're doing?!" She stammered but the ladies only stared at her in awe. They were unaware of this girl being able to speak as they weren't used to pets coming in with such intelligence. Looking at each other, one spoke.

"You must remove your clothing miss." But Katerina shook her head furiously. Even though it was just women, she has never removed her clothing in front of other people.

"Please miss. We must do as we're told." They began to pull again with another maiden joining in to help but it only made Katerina gasp.

She felt humiliated but tried to pull away. Five young maidens were surrounding her now to remove them but she continued to pull and step away until she managed to trip over one of the buckets filled with water. This allowed the maidens to successfully rip all of the clothing from her body.

With tears running down Katerina's face, she frantically covered her bosom and other revealing areas with her arms. She lay on the stone ground nude with only the collar in place.

The young maidens then hoisted the girl up to walk her through an arched opening that was actually to an outside part of the castle.

The sun sizzled against her naked skin and she had closed her eyes. Embarrassed to no end, the maidens suddenly began to pour buckets of cold water over her body. After three pours, they began to scrub her down with a bristled brush causing her fair skin to turn red.

"Here miss." Once they were done they wrapped a soft woven cloth around her body and back inside the castle. A maiden then retrieved a white fitted gown to put over the girls head. She stood there in sadness that a piece of her purity had been taken away.

After pulling the gown down, the ends rested on the top of her knees to reveal a small amount of her thigh. It was fitted against her skin quite tightly with the thin sleeves styled off the shoulders. The maidens then began to brush her long ginger red hair which reached just below the middle of her back.

Her hair began to lift with natural curls and the maidens stepped away from her. "We have made you soup and bread." They led her to a table in the corner of the room which had the slice of bread and bowl of soup sitting there.

Katerina's eyes widened at the food. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she smelled the poorly cooked soup. She sighed in relief and sat down to eat the bread and soup quickly. She wanted more but she didn't dare ask. Instead, the maidens took the empty bowl and asked that she stand up to return to the prince.

The young man from before returned to the room to see the newly transformed girl. He nodded to the maidens and led her through a series of different hallways until they reached a large open archway. Beyond the man, Katerina could see rows of books lining against the wall. She remembered how much she loved to read and that her mother is the one who taught her.

"Prince Ezra, your pet is ready." He stepped away.

Ezra was leaning against a desk in the study, his hand nestled into the thickness of his bright blonde hair. When he rose his eyes, he managed a more genuine smile to see his pet all cleaned up. She looked nicely in the gown he chose for her, as well as the collar.

After shooing the man away, he ushered the girl into the room. He could hear her heartbeat pick up when she entered the room.

"You clean up well. Finer than any other pet." He felt proud of himself for choosing such a specimen.

When she didn't answer, he raised his brow. "No thank you?" His eyes darkened.

Katerina was still astounded by the way she was treated by the maidens. She felt vulnerable and violated as if she was stripped of her innocence.

Hurt and anger filled her eyes, her heart beating loudly this time. "What is the matter with you?" She exclaimed. Her tiny hands curling into fists.

"I was stripped. Forced to stand nude in front of other people." The anger in her voice excited him. He was taken aback by the sudden forwardness in this girl but it also sent his wheels spinning.

To push her further, "You belong to me. This is how you are treated." He narrowed his eyes at her, waiting for her response.

Just as he hoped, she blurted her thoughts. "Treated? How dare you! A prince does not act this way." Her hazel eyes burned right through him.

He closed his eyes and smiled. "Royalty in this land isn't what your fairytale stories tell you, dear flower." He got what he wanted. He wanted to steal a piece of her innocence and she in turn became angry. This might be easier than he thought.

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. She hadn't felt anger like this before, not even with her parents. It's because she was treated fairly, like a lady. She turned away from him.

"You are not a prince.." she murmured.

"Mind your tongue, pet." He reminded her. "Company will be here soon and I expect you to be on your best behavior."