Cruel Beauty

Chapter 3

“Her?” Purple eyes narrowed at me in confusion.

“We have to take her with us. I’m not leaving without her.” Riley walks back over to where she was originally, only to slump back against the wall like before. They have been going back and forth like this for a while, although I’ve interjected a few times, telling her that she should leave without me and that I would be fine. She wasn’t having any of it.

“Riley.” Purple eyes, who I have now come to know as Esmeralda (Esme for short), let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, clearly annoyed with her girlfriend. Yes, Riley and Esme were a couple.

Esmeralda was a black woman with shockingly brilliant purple eyes and white hair that was pulled back into a neat bun. She was strapped in black leather from head to toe, with a sword at her waist. Only warriors carry swords, so she must be a warrior.

“I can’t take her with us. She’s not our prisoner.” Esme explained, but Riley refused to see reason.

“But she’s innocent.”

“That’s not up for us to decide. We don’t make the rules here, Ri.” Esme’s voice softened when she said Riley’s nickname.

“It’s not fair.” Riley pouted, folding her hand over her chest like a petulant child who didn’t get their way.

Riley gets up and walks over to whisper something in Esme’s ear, low enough that even with my enhanced hearing I still couldn’t make out what she said. Esme pulled back away from her in shock and hissed something under her breath. This time, I wasn't able to make out what was being said.

“That’s treason.” Esme hissed in disbelief.

“Only if we’re caught.” A sly grin lit up Riley’s face, which told me all I needed to know.

“He will have my head for this if anything goes wrong.” Esme shook her head. Her head swiveled in my direction before she reluctantly agreed.

"Fine. We will take her along with us." She was frowning. She had been frowning since the moment she laid eyes on me.

“You’re the best.” Riley jumps into Esme’s arms, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Esme rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in the way she did it. I felt a pang in my chest watching the pair embrace each other.

“I thought I lost you.” Esme’s voice was low and thick with emotions. “Don’t ever wander off by yourself again.” She chided.

“I won’t. I promise.”

I turned away from the pair to give them privacy, although there wasn’t much of that down here. I took the time to go over their conversation, a sudden burst of hope blossoming in my chest.

It was too soon to feel this way. Nothing was certain. I doubt that they could convince my father to set me free. My father. At the thought of him, my mood suddenly deflated. I knew him better than most people. I knew the side of him that he doesn’t share with the outside world—the monster that hides behind his charming smile.

There was no way he’d let me go—alive. I turned to look at Riley and Esmeralda standing in the hallway, a guard a few steps behind them. Familiar footsteps echo through the hallway, resulting in prisoners scampering to find a hiding place.

The footsteps drew closer and closer to reveal none other than my father. He was clad in a navy blue suit with his silver hair slicked back. His thin lips were pulled into a straight line as he approached my cell.

He stops a few steps away, glances in my direction for a second, then finally settles his attention on Esmeralda. She regarded him with a blank face, stepping in front of Riley.

“Ms. Whitlock. You requested my presence, yes?” He addressed Esmeralda in a calm voice. I saw the slight tick of his jaw, which meant that he wasn’t happy being bossed around.

The fact that he came here in person himself meant that Esmeralda must be someone important or else he would have sent someone else, or just sent someone to fetch her. He wouldn’t have come in person. Also, it was strange the way he seemed slightly uneasy in her presence.

Who was she?

I looked at her in wonder, willing the answer to reveal itself. Of course, nothing happened.

“Beta Daniel, I apologize for asking you to come all the way here.” Esmeralda bowed to show her respect. “I have a formal request to make on behalf of the king.” She said, straightening up to look my father in the eyes.

The king?

“The king?" My father asked, taking a step back as if someone had punched him. “What is it?” he asked a second later, after regaining his cool composure.

“Her.” A long slender finger points in my direction. Both of them slowly turned to look at me, while I sat frozen on the ground in shock.

The king sent for me? That doesn’t make any sense. Nothing about this made any sense. First Riley, now the king—

Oh. Oh. Oh. Ohhhhh. Realization dawned on me at that instant. This was what they were talking about. This was what they were referring to as treason—using the king’s authority to get me out.

Finally catching on to the situation, I decided to play along. They were risking their lives to save me. A nobody. Me. A complete stranger.

At this moment, sitting on the cold, dirty floor of my cell, I was the epitome of confusion and innocence. My father’s gaze hardened on me, but that didn’t faze me. I met his gaze, my brows drawn together in confusion.

Behind the two of them, Riley was giving me a secret thumbs up, careful not to let the guard notice. I must be doing a good job then, pretending like I didn’t have the slightest clue as to what was going on.

“Her?” My father shoots me an accusatory look.

“Yes. Her.” Esmeralda answers.

“Why? What does he want with her?”

“That is for your king to decide.” Esmeralda turned to him, c*****g her head to the side. “Why? Does he need to explain himself to you?” Esmeralda’s voice boomed with authority. She was bluffing. She was good at it, too. I wonder how often she’s had to do that in the past. There was no command given pertaining to me. The king probably didn’t even know I existed.

“No. Of course not.” He stutters, pulling at his shirt collar. “It’s just—”

“I’m leaving with the girl. If you have any objections, take it up with your king.” Esmeralda cuts him off, her words were final and absolute, leaving no room for discussion.