CHAPTER 16:
It's been a week since that faithful night and his feeding sessions have gotten even worse.
Every night he comes up with one new way or another to make sure I shed tears.
And I'm not the only one who's going through hell.
Prince Xander is sucking the life out of Eri.
No matter what she does, he:ll look for a way to punish her.
Every night she comes back with a new mark and she's becoming skin and bones.
We both were.
Nadia was the only one who wasn't having a tough time but seeing us that way isn't exactly making her happy.
We can't keep living like this.
At this rate me and Eri are going to die and Nadia is most likely going to go insane or get herself killed.
There has to be an alternative.
We were all gathered outside in the courtyard.
Ms. Melody wanted to address us on the guest we were about to have.
"as you all know we will be receiving a guest today. She is the king's future bride to be and we are all going to treat her with respect. She will be staying her as long as she sees fit so she's basically going to be a royal. Now I must warn you; Lady Hellen isn't known for being forgiving or merciful. It's not in her nature so try your possible best not to upset her because you'll land up in the dungeons. She has also requested for a personal slave and-"
Out of the blues I heard Sam walking towards us.
His footsteps were loud so I guess everyone else noticed it too...
Even Ms. Melody.
"seeing our latecomer, he will be her personal slave. So wait behind. Also, all personal slaves are off duty until Lady Hellen arrives. Dismissed" and everyone went back to their duties.
I actually felt sorry for him.
If there's one thing Sam was scared of, it was being a personal slave and worse of all, he was given to the Lady indefinitely.
But I guess he's off duty as well.
Me, Nadia and Eri went back to our rooms without uttering a word to each other.
I guess we were too tired and Nadia too scared for us.
"what do you think we should do now?" Eri sat on her bed quietly.
"I think it's better if we all rest. We don't know when the Lady would be here so we need our energy"
Without arguing, we all climbed our beds and went to sleep....
I was in the void again.
The hooded lady wants to speak to me.
"I can sense your distress young Lyra and I know what the problem is" she stood by my side.
I nearly broke down to tears.
"I know I barely ask you for advice but I really need your help. My friends and I are suffering and we're most likely going to die soon. We have to find a way to escape this nightmare. Please help us"
She was silent for a while and I was desperate for an answer.
"I can only come to one conclusion"...
Whatever it was, I'm willing to do it.
"you go to the lost city of Noie"
"you can't be serious!" I spoke. Of all the places why does it have to be that imaginary land?
"do you want to survive or not?" if I'm being honest, it's not like I have much choice.
"but how will we get there? I don't even have a map and even if I did, I don't think it's there"
"I know where it is and I will guide you. All you need are your loved ones, food and water and horses. If you go on foot, you'll get caught easily"
"but how am I going to tell them?" I suddenly felt a huge weight upon me.
"you're a smart girl...figure it out. And one more thing; don't forget the necklace your me-maw gave you" I was about to ask how she knew about it but she smiled and faded away.
And then, I woke up.
The hooded lady had given me an idea on how I'm going to escape this nightmare with my friends.
Just then, Ms. Melody walked in and told us we had to get ready.
"Eri do you think you can work?" she asked looking worried.
"it's not like I have a choice" Eri responded weakly and anyone could tell Ms. Melody felt sorry for her but there's nothing she could do.
"I'll leave you to it then" she said awkwardly and closed the door.
"we can't keep this up, at this rate, Eri's going to die and you might me next" Nadia almost began to cry.
"I have a plan but I'm going to need you guys and Sam" Sam felt like one of us in this short time we've been together and I couldn't drop him.
"that'll be after we've received Lady Hellen" Nadia assisted Eri in getting dressed.
.......................
We all gathered in the grand dining awaiting the Lady.
Personal slaves were asked to stand aside since those serving needed all the hands they could get.
It wasn't going to be only the Lady we were serving; the King and Princes and the rest of the royal family.
Sam looked so scared as he stood with us.
He looked like he would never smile again.
Male slave uniforms were just like that if females if you exclude the dress part.
I had to use this opportunity to tell him about the plan I had; if time permits me.
"hey; Sam?" I whispered and he leaned closer towards me.
"meet us in the garden by 9:30 have some important news to share"
"don't you think this would be better during breakfast tomorrow?" his voice was a bit strained.
Though he had a point but the guards would be watching us by that time.
Then again, the Lady might need him tonight.
I wouldn't want him to get into trouble because from her description, she didn't sound nice.
"but if you're not busy meet us there ok?"
He nodded and smiled before looking straight ahead.
"Eri? How're you holding up" she looked slightly better because of the nap she had and the little food she ate.
"I think I can manage if I don't run into any troubles with the prince" her voice was more quiet than usual.
"and if anything should happen, I'm right by her side" Nadia smiled while giving her sister a small pat on the back.
"won't your master need you?" I didn't want prince Alex to get mad with her and escalate the amount of fear everyone had.
"no he won't; I know he won't, I trust him" and I could have sworn I saw a blush creep on her cheek.
Maybe it was just a figment of my imagination.
I didn't have anything to say after that; all I had to do now was to obey the instruction given to me.
'ALL PERSONAL SLAVES SHOULD SERVE ONLY THEIR MASTERS'
I couldn't afford to slip up here with everyone watching and it would be weird to say the lady seems more frightening than the king himself.
At least I know what the king is capable of doing; the Lady is a totally new predator...
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XOXO...