Chapter 8: The Castle

Katerina couldn't help but to stare into his deep crimson eyes as if they were trying to search into her soul. In reaction, she attempted to pull herself away from his grasp. His pupils pulsed before letting her go and positioning himself on the other side of the carriage again, enjoying her defiance.

The short journey completed when the carriage stopped and a servant hurried to open the door. "Go." Ezra commanded, holding tightly onto the rope.

She slowly stood up and shuffled to the door and stepped down. The soles of her flat shoes were beginning to tear away and she managed to cut her foot on one of the gravel rocks. Blinking from the slight pain, Ezra stepped out of the carriage to smell her blood.

"You're clumsy, flower." He scolded her and ushered the servants away. Besides from the pain, she couldn't stop staring at the castle they were at.

It was located behind a large four acreage piece of land with a looped gravel path that served as the entrance and exit of the castle. She looked up to see rows of stone wall and open framed windows. Budding flowers, trees and bushes lined the outer walling of the castle with kudzu vines slithering their way up to rest against the stone. It was a phenomenal site to Katerina, given the fact that her and her family lived as lower class humans. She never thought she would be in the presence of a castle.

She wondered who this man was before she felt a slight tug on her wrists. "You look terrible drooling over the castle. Come now." Ezra began to walk up the stone steps and under the arched corridors to stop in a smaller area of the castle. She quickly moved her feet to follow, leaving a drop of blood behind each step.

"Prince Ezra." A voice called out to him, entering the room and bowed.

"Yes?" Ezra questioned as he turned to face him.

Prince? She thought.

"Your mother is asking for you in the library." He stayed bowed until Ezra nodded. The man glanced over to the girl, noticing her appearance. "Shall I take her to clean up for you sir?"

"No." Ezra quickly responded, pulling the rope to where it made her step closer to him. "I'll be there in a moment." The man left the room.

"You're a prince?" Katerina questioned, becoming even more confused.

He looked at her through the corner of his eyes. "You know how to listen." He chuckled. "But you shouldn't speak unless spoken to or given permission." He turned around, towering over her body this time. He looked down at her, awaiting for her response.

She hitched her breathing when he became inches from her body, sending a smile on his face. "I don't understand.." she breathed out.

His fingers slid across her cheek and intertwined themselves into her ginger red locks. She didn't make eye contact with him and kept her body still, afraid of more pain. He tilted his head at her, wondering what she was thinking before he trailed his hand up to the top of her head. He pats it. "You will. And you will soon be my obedient good little flower."

After a moment of silence, he noticed that she had been trailing blood from her feet and shoes into the castle. "You've made a mess in my castle, Katerina." Her name rolling out of his mouth sent a shiver down her spine. His accent was ancient and somewhat Ukrainian. It made her feel uneasy but she had completely disregarded what he had said.

"That's not very polite given that you're a guest in my home.." He pulled her chin up to force her to look at him. "How shall I punish you?" He questioned her but she didn't reply. Her eyes narrowed at him, becoming nervous.

"Not answering only makes it worse for you, pet." He glared at her then let her go. "Come." He began to walk towards a staircase that wound upwards.

"W-where are we going?" She spoke softly, unaware of what she had just gotten herself into.

He continued to walk, a sly smile on his face. "To punish you, of course."