Alpha's Healer

11

Melissa Spatiatis.

House of stewardship hall.

Servants dungeon.

I exhale, losing every fibre of strength in my body. I can hardly move my legs, my hands or feel my own heartbeat. My back is resting against the cold, ceramic walls of the dungeons as I make shallow breaths. Just outside, I can hear servants having conversations so I’m not afraid. If I were taken to the underground dungeons where fugitives, traitors and the treasonous are held—then, I would be freaking out because there is usually no hope of returning.

However, I’m still in the castle. I’m in the stewardship hall and I wonder if Elizabeth has relayed everything to the king. It has been eight hours. Eight weak hours of thirst, hunger and anger. I am aware of the hours that are passed because of the giant clock in the castle that makes a sound at every hour. For what seems like I was forgotten, the iron door of the dungeon open and my eyes flicker with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Elizabeth walks in, two female servants behind her and I look up at them.

“Get up. The king will issue your judgment and will punish you for your wickedness!” She lashes at me and I inhale, my lips quivering in sadness. My body trembles with the effort as I try to rise on my weakened legs.

“Pick this b***h up!” Elizabeth yells and the servants walk up to me. Roughly, they pull me up, their hands are firm and unyielding with harsh force. Their faces show no sympathy, only the cold efficiency of their actions. At this turn, I know that not a single person will say the truth about what truly happened in the kitchen. So, I protest, trying to stand on my own. I rather fall than be held by people who cannot wait to throw me into the fire.

Elizabeth’s face contorts with fury and she raises her hand, delivering a stinging slap across my cheek. I recoil, almost falling back onto the floor but the servants are behind me.

“Prepare your body, I will make sure that I count every lash that falls and tears your skin.” She seethes and they drag me out of the prison. As we walk past the halls, it already dark outside and there are more guards than servants at this hour. The throne room door opens and I am ushered in.

Bulbs of light illuminates the dim space and I am brought to my knees before the throne. However, I cannot find the man who is supposed to be seated there. Moonlight filters through the glass panes and I see him in a nightshirt, the fabric of his shirt moves softly as wind wafts from the window. I lift my head, noticing three maids at the left side. And on the right, it’s the bastard I got into a fight with.

My hands squeeze the hem of my gown for I can see that my fate has been decided already. Is this the judgment phase? The stage where I will be lashed to bits?

“Wolfen, stand. I have not found you guilty yet until these witnesses over here tell me exactly what happened in the kitchen.” The king says.

With the bits of strength left in me, I rise from the ground and I keep my eyes down.

“Angelo, speak to me. How did it occur that your body got simmered with hot water by a wolfen?” The king’s voice is as rich as velvet and as he poses the question, each word is carrying weight and authority.

“Your majesty…the wolfen came into the kitchen to take food and that was the moment I saw her. I was quite stunned by her blue eyes and I simply wanted to ask some questions about where she’s from. Everyone is aware that having relations with a non-wolf is unseen in the kingdom. Therefore, I posed these questions to her and she blew up at me.”

“I tried to calm her down but before I could say anything…she reached for the pot of hot water and she threw it at me. Please, my king, render justice to me.” He says and I scrunch my fist, saying nothing but keeping my eyes narrow.

If there is anyone who needs justice, that would be me. I need justice from this kingdom, from the king, and from his servants.

“And you are speaking the truth, nothing but the plain truth?” King Dimitrio asks. He is walking amongst us, and as he speaks, he make subtle motions with his hands.

“Yes, my king.”

“And our witnesses…” The king says and I turn to look at the servant girls. There are three girls in uniforms.

“Yes, Angelo is right. That is exactly what happened.”

“Yes, your majesty. It is exactly what happened.”

Two of the servants say and the third one steps out of the line.

“It’s not true, your majesty.” She says and my heart sinks when I hear that.

“What!” Elizabeth says, she is standing in front of them and her face is disconcerted.

“What is not true?” Dimitrio asks, walking towards her and she bows before he can even get closer.

“The wolfen didn’t start a fight. The head of kitchen Angelo is the one who attacked her first….”

“You are in front of the king, speak the truth!” Elizabeth yells. Due to the rise of her voice, it’s sounds like she is afraid that the king will find out she misinterpreted the case.

“Quiet, Elizabeth!” Dimitrio hisses at her.

“I’m not lying, your majesty. Angelo didn’t allow the wolfen take any food. He grabbed her by the hair and threw her into the plates. He begun to chase her and that was when she defended herself. The servants are afraid to say the anything because Angelo bullies us regularly. He made us lie to Madam Elizabeth that it was all the wolfen’s doing.” The servant girl says and I continue to look at her.

I cannot believe that there is someone who is standing up for me. Tears flows from my eyes because it is a breath of fresh air. It doesn’t matter if no one other than her believes.

“I will ask one more time and if I fail to get the truth, you will be begging for forgiveness in a place where you will never see the sun. Who is telling the truth here?” Dimitrio asks and the remaining servant crash onto their knees. From where I stand, I can hear their hearts beating and they begin to stutter.

“The wolfen---your majesty…the wolfen defended herself.”

“Yes, Angelo is at fault! Please, forgive me for lying. Angelo threatened us!”

“Your…your majesty!” Angelo yells, crashing onto his knees with a thud. I turn my eyes to look at him and I watch as his entire being is trembling like a leaf caught in a fierce wind. His hands clutched at the hem of his garment, knuckles white to show the intensity of his fear. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead and he doesn’t dare to lift his face.

“Guards, take this fool and lash him a hundred times. I don’t ever want to see him in my walls.” Dimitrio says. Angelo is quickly dragged out like a bag of dirt; the guards muffle his mouth to keep him from saying a word.

“Out.” Dimitrio adds and the servants run out of the throne room, including Elizabeth. At his command, I want to believe he is talking to me too. So, I turn to walk away but then, without warning, my legs are too heavy to take the next step. I crumple to the ground in a heap.

When I open my eyes, I am aware that my head is resting against a pillow and from the scrunch of my fist, I can feel fabric. It is still night. There are lit bulbs in the room but it’s only a few. The room is dim; therefore, that allows me know that its night time. I lift myself from the bed to see a dark figure, seated in front of me.

I scream. My eyes widen in terror and I clutch at my pearls.

His form is shrouded in the shadows as he reclines on a chair carved from the darkest wood, the flickering bulbs casts a play of light and shadow upon his features, and I know who it is. I know that intense gaze from a mile away. It is the king of Gethmorn.

How long has he been watching me? How long have I been sleeping?