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1036 Words
ARIA.
I woke up with a start. At first, when my eyes fluttered open, all I could see were blinding lights. I squinted and turned my head away as I tried to make out my surroundings.
I was in a large hall filled with paintings and I lay on the floor, helpless.
It was dawn when I looked back outside, through the bay window.
Where the hell was I?
A splitting headache divided my head and I groaned in pain before falling back to the floor and grabbing my head. Slowly, memories from last night returned and I remembered how I had been accosted by Palace guards, requesting that I follow them.
It meant I was in a palace. I could tell from the painted ceilings and carvings around me. But this place was dirty, not fit to be a palace. It looked like a lower-class large room for people.
Then I looked around me to realize that there were beds lining the large room. This was the servants' quarters and it was empty.
The sound of a door creaking as it swung open made me turn to see a lady walking in with a laundry basket in her hand.
She was tall. Far taller than I was with flaxen hair, almost like gold. They fell in long, wavy tresses behind her back. She had a slender frame, one any man would admire and when she drew close, I noticed she had piercing sapphire blue eyes.
She hadn't seen me yet because she walked over to one of the beds and dumped the basket on it.
"You're awake." She said when she finally saw me. Her voice was soft and graceful like she knew how to speak many languages. "My name is Daneesha. I am one of the Alpha King's slaves."
I nodded and pushed to my feet. "What am I doing here, please?"
She frowned slightly. "You don't know?"
I shook my head. "What is there to know?"
She sighed. "Not much. I was just guessing you might have had an idea of why you were here but now that I think about it, you don't."
"What are you talking about?"
"You were brought in here last night. I knew you were unconscious but I thought it was just me sleeping." She shrugged. "Then this morning, I overheard the guards talking about you."
"And what did they say?"
"That you were bought by the Alpha King."
My eyes widened in horror as I tried to sink into what I had just heard. "Bought?!"
A look crept into her eyes, like she regretted telling me anything but it was gone as soon as it came and she nodded. "Yes. Your father sold you to him."
"He is not my father!" I cried, staggering backwards as I tried to take in all she had just told me. I couldn't believe this. It had to be a dream.
Tears burned at the back of my eyes and even before I could blink, it streamed down my cheeks. I immediately turned away from her to hide my tears.
I had no idea where this was. It definitely wasn't the Palace I was used to. This place was different.
I turned to Daneesha, eyes wide and my fists clenched. "So where am I?"
"Silver Water Pack."
Time stopped. I blinked. More surprises. Words failed me. Even when I tried to speak, I was unable to.
"Silver Water?"
She nodded. "Yes. You were brought in last night."
"No!" I cried and fell to the ground, hitting a bed behind me as I closed my eyes in sheer horror. "This can't be possible? It definitely can't!"
"Uhm, I'd take a leave now," Daneesha said before she left the room.
I remained on the floor, sobbing heavily as reality hit me. Silver Water, is one of the strongest Packs to ever emerge in the world. From the tales I had heard, their Alpha King was strong and ruthless. A beast in his prime, dauntless and conquering cities like he drank water.
How was my stepfather able to see me to him? How was that possible?!
I had been sold to the devil.
I remained on the floor for a long time before Daneesha came back with a few more maids following behind her.
My eyes were red and puffy but I saw when she asked the maids to wait. She walked over to the bed I was seated on and placed neatly folded clothes on the bed.
"I got these from the laundry for you. Your clothes are dirty and torn. You don't want to wear it while working."
I looked down at the dress and picked it up. Even with the confusion that still stirred within me, I knew I had to move on. I knew I had to find my way around the whole truth because I definitely wasn't buying what Daneesha told me.
"Thank you, Daneesha."
"I don't know your name." She said with a soft smile.
I knew she wanted to get close to me but I was honestly not interested in making any friends right now. All that filled my head was a way to escape or a way to find out the truth or else, I was going to be completely restless.
"Aria. That's my name."
Damhwwaha beamed at me and grabbed my hand. "I'm pleased to meet you. You're really beautiful."
I immediately pulled away at the sudden contact, feeling uncomfortable. She frowned slightly before smiling.
"Thank you, Daneesha. Where can I get changed, please?"
"Here. It's just us women here," Then she turned to the other maids. "Right?"
They looked at me but didn't say anything at all. Daneesha sighed and turned to me. "Pay them no need. They think they are better than everybody else because they've been here for a long time. I don't know how we manage to be classicists even as slaves."
I gave her no reply. As I changed, all I could think of were several questions I needed answers to.
"Alpha King Lyall has arrived!" Someone cried from the hallway and the faces of the other slaves were suddenly filled with fear.
Daneesha grabbed my hand. "We must go!"
- Writer
