Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Celestina's POV

The woman's palms are connected in front of her that makes her more strict. She is just too formal to the point that I can't even smile at her. I don't know how to react about her greetings but she seems not waiting for my response. But just to be polite, I know that I have to say anything. And I need to think fast.

"Thank you. But please drop the ‘Miss’. You can call me Celestina. Much more appreciated," I tell her and I don't think if she will follow what I just said because it looks like she doesn't hear anything. I just find Miss Celestina very formal and it will be hard for me to have a conversation with her.

"I'm Aurora," she introduces herself. And these are Amelia, Elsa and Rebecca. They will accompany and they will assist you in your whole stay here in this castle." Three women came from the group of servants still lining up. And they all bow again when they reached me. And I find it really awkward seeing people bowing at you. I think they are on my age as I look at them. But I also notice that their hands and lips trembling. And I don't know why they are like this.

"Let's go inside, Miss Celestina. Rule is waiting already," Neil said and we both started walking. And true enough, servants only stood straight when we passed them by. And I feel a little guilt because I should have passed by immediately. But if there is something I have noticed while passing them, it is the fact they breathe heavily. And I know that it is not normal.

"We need to walk faster, Miss Celestina," Neil said and it makes me confused. But I didn't bother to ask him and I stay quietly the whole time we walk. I stayed quiet until we reached the bridge that was made of wood. And while crossing the wooden bridge, I can't help but be amazed with the huge and tall castle I am seeing. This is surely the castle of King Zen. "The Rule's inside. Continue walking." After saying those words, Neil and I enter the castle. And everything you see inside this castle is just so mesmerizing. The color black, white and gray are dominating and it just effortlessly ornamenting the whole castle. The elegance of this place is no joke.

I just had few minutes in this castle but I'm starting to love this place. The only thing I don't like here was the silence. It's just too quiet here to the point that you would even feel embarrassed when you breathe because everyone might hear you.

Because of the silence and the calmness, I easily heard the footstep of someone who's walking down the staircase. And wasn't hesitant to look up to him. Even though he is just wearing a tight jeans, black leather jacket and a boots, he still screams power. His presence can tell you already that he's the king of this world.

He's look like he has been a king all his life and being a king looks just so natural to him even though he is not wearing any crown like a typical king we all know. He is looking down at me while walking down slowly. And I don't know what to do so I just simply bow my head.

"I have picked her already, Rule. Like what you've ordered, safe and sound," Neil stated so I look up again with the king without even knowing if I'm already allow to stand straight. But the king just nodded. He is too serious. Does he even know how to smile?

"Celestina..." he calls my name and my heart skips a beat. He is now currently on the first step of the stair. And I hope he has no plan of going near me. But what if he has? What should I do? Run? No. They have vampire speed and I sure as hell I could not run away. I was so petrified and I could not think straight of what should I answer.

Yow?

What's up?

How are you, man?

Or could it be a greeting gesture?

"King Zen!" I tried to smile and I can say that my smile is obviously awkward. I place my fist in front of him for a supposed to be fist bump. But his forehead wrinkled while looking down at my fist. He is obviously confused and I think I did a wrong move. I heard Neil's soft laugh.

"Are you trying to hit me?" he asks seriously with a threat in his tone so I immediately put down my hand beside me.

"That's what you call fist bump, Rule. Way of greeting of mortals." Neil explains because obviously, King Zen did not get my gesture. But Rule did not mind Neil's explanation. Instead, he looks at me again.

"Where are your servants?" he asks and I know he is mind. But I don't think he is mad at me. He is mad because of the fact that he can't see those he said ‘servants’.

"My what? Servants?" I asked because I don't know what exactly he was talking about? Oh, yea, I think those three girls that Miss Minchin told me a while ago.

"Your servants?" he repeats, mad.

"I will call them right away," I said and about to turn my back on him to call the girls but I was stopped when the king speaks again.

"No need. Let me deal with them," he says casually and look at Neil. "You know what to do with them," he tells him and Neil nods. Neil hurriedly run and I was left alone with King Zen. I wonder where Neil will go. The king did not mention anything but Neil seemed to know whay did the Kinv meant. He must be the king's right hand man for quite long so he already know every gesture and ever word the king meant.

"I'll show you your room," the king said and he started walking back upstairs. At first, I was just following him behind. Until I run so I could reach him.

"How long should I stay here?" I asked him when I reach him and now I'm walking with him.

"Until I say so." That'd just what he answered and it did not give any answer to my question. I wasn't able to ask him for details because he stops already in front of a door. "This will be your room." He opens the door for me. Wow! The king really opened the door for me? I never knew he coulr be this gentleman, aye? That's far from the ruthless King that everyone fears.

He just literally drop me off because he immediately left after saying those words. I enter my room and run to my bed. This best is just to soft. I literally jump over it like a kid.

But why do I have this spacious room? I don't think this is how they treat a slave. But that will be my life here, right? A slave. King Zen will enslave me as a p*****t for all of my father's debt. I took a deep breath and release it. I think I should be thankful that King Zen is treating me nicely. This isfar from what I expected. I think Rule is somehow nice...or is is just me?

—

I don't know how long I have been sleeping but I don't to get up yet. The bed wherr I am lying is just so comfortable and very inviting to fall back to sleep. The softness of my bed today is so unusual. I feel like I'm not in my room and the ambiance is infamiliar. But where would I be if not in my room? I shudder the thought because it is impossible for me to wake up in someone else's bed.

I want to go back to sleep but I already hearda soft know on my door. I growl lowly but did not answer and hope that she be gone if I didn't give any response. But the knocking continues and I groan.

"5 minutes!" I scream but can sense the raspiness in my voice. I'm pretty much sure that it is Maiah and she will just remind me to eat dinner already. But I'm not hungry yet and not in the mood to get off from my bed. I will eat dinner whenever I feel hungry.

"Celestina!" The drowsiness in me see disappears when I heard King Zen's deep voice and the impatience in his tone was very evident. I hurriedly run towards the door. I need to get there as fast as I could even though I almost trip. I opened the door and saw King Zen's face.

"Sorry, I thought I was still in my house," I tell him as I knuckle rub my eyes to wipe the possible gounds in me. It would be shameful if King Zen would see me with those. He didn't mind my apology, he instead lean against the frame of the door and he continue watching me rub my eyes. He crosses his arms over his chest in boredom as if he is asking me how long will I take.

"Dinner," he said it nonchalantly but full of authority. I really could not deny the power he is holding. But there is one thing I am not sure of that makes me hesitate to accept his invitation. Was it even an invite or and order? I don't know. What's only clear is he wants me to have dinner...maybe with him? Oh, wait. Maybe he was just informing me that it's dinner time so I could serve them.

"Hmm...do you eat normal foods? You know, foods that mortal like me prefers to eat?" I said, worried. Well, he can't blame me if I refuse to eat their foods. I can buy my own food outside this castle. Only if he allows me, of course. But if not, I'd rather starve myself to death that to eat fresh blood. So gross!

"Normal food? We have fresh blood from young mortals. Is that enough for you?" he says and I don't know if he's serious or just trying to throw jokes with me. But there's no sign of blabbering in his face and I know he was serious about. But still, the hope in me that he was just kidding did not leave ne. I still manage to laugh, awkwardly.

"I didn't know you know how to throw jokes too," I said but the seriousness in his face remains. His forehead wrinkles as if he's saying what the hell I'm talking about.

So...he was really serious about it. They will make me eat and drink fresh blood. And there's no way in this world they can make me eat it. I will never do it.

"Do I have my own choice? Don't you have menu?" I asked full of hope. But then again, he wrinkles his forehead. At first, he obviously doesn't get what I'm saying. But then he realized everything in the end and I thank God for that.

"Just say what you want! I don't know what a human wants," he says, pissed.

"Maybe an Adobo is enough for me? Or even fried dish isn't that bad. You know, something like that. I will eat anything on the table except fresh blood," I said and he nods. But I thought it is fine with him until I heard him murmurs ‘What a picky.’ I did not mind it as long as he follows my request. I can let it slide.

The three girls from a while ago appears from somewhere. And who are they again? Oh, yea. My servants. And what I am? A royalty? I'm not their freakin' majesty.

"Hi Mara, Hi Cara, Hi Lara!" I greeted them without knowing their names. Yes, they were introduced by Miss Minchin, but my bad, I wasn't able to remember their names. And I'm pretty sure that it is not the names I have mentioned.

"I'm Amelia, Miss Celestina," the one I called Mara said.

"And I am Elsa," the one I called Cara utters.

"While me, I am Rebecca, Miss Celestina," Lars said and I don't get why do they need to correct me. That's why I hit Lara on her shoulder as if we have been friends for quite long.

"That's just fine, Lara. What important is that it still ends with letter A," I said and I don't think they get my logic. They all forced a smile. I was about to tell them more stories but I heard King Zen speak again.

"Okay, that's enough," he said to stop me from talking so I look at him. "Help her get ready and I will ask someone to cook for her foods." The three girls nodded and Zen headed his way out of my room. The three girls asked for my permission to enter my room because they will assist me. And so I let them in. I go to my bathroom to take a quick shower since I took a bath already this morning. But I was stopped from walking when I noticed that they are following me.

"Hey, wait!" I said in schocked when Mara tried to zip down the dress I'm wearing.

"But you need to take a shower now, Miss Celestina," she says. And when she's about to touch me again, I jerk her hand off and step a back close to the bathtub.

"I can have shower on my own. You don't have to do this. Just wait me outside, please," I tell her but she's obviously doesn't like the idea of it

"We can't do that, Miss Celestina," Cara said and I don't get why. It was just as easy as one, two, three. All they have to do is to leave me alone here in the bathroom

"But—"

"You need to take a bath now, Miss Celestina. We can't leave you right now because King Zen might put the blame on us again if you will be late in your dinner with him," Lara said fiercely and I don't like the tone she used towards me. But again, I stay quiet.

But what? Putting the blame on them? I can't help but stare at them and I just realized that they all have bruises in their faces and body. Did King Zen cause that to them?

"Did Zen—"

"King Zen, Miss Celestina," Lara corrected me. All I ever did was pouted and let them do what they want to do with me. They undressed me and help me taking a bath. It was supposedly a quick shower but they did rituals in me while I was submerging myself in a bathtub. And guess what? I'm literally submerging in a milk.

And when I'm done with bathing, my clothes a are ready so I wear it immediately.

"Let's fix your hair, Miss Celestina," Cara said after zipping up my dress. And just like what she offered, I let her do my hair. And after being prepared for more than an hour, they tell me that we can now go downstairs. And so we did.