AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Like the filth we favored.
I dug my nails into my thighs, my eyes watering. I tried but failed to control the vomit that inched up my throat, spewing everything I’d eaten onto the ground next to me.
My body violently rejected everything I’d consumed.
The cackle of the king’s laugh raddled around inside my skull as I wiped my mouth. I didn’t know if I was going to throw up again or pass out as I sat up, my head throbbing with each movement. No one else seemed to notice—they were too absorbed, still stuffing their faces.
If they could only see what they were truly eating.
He had tricked us. Lured us here under false pretenses, only for it to be another trial. My limbs went numb as the realization slammed into me like a bag of bricks.
Gluttony: the fourth deadly sin.
“It’s a trick,” I croaked—my voice hoarse from vomiting. “A trick. It’s a trick. Look.” I cringed as I pointed to the cobbler Kelvin was eating, averting my eyes as tiny roaches crawled between the crust.
His brow furrowed as he inspected the spoon and shrugged, dumping it into his mouth. I gagged, pleading for him to stop, but he wouldn’t. He was consumed with hunger.
As if possessed, my hand reached for the fork, gripping the cold metal between my fingers, and stabbed a piece of molded turkey. I looked to the king, who drooled with anticipation as my hand inched toward my mouth.
I refused to open. Refused to willingly eat any more of the spoiled food.
But it didn’t matter. The fork pushed against my lower lip, but try as I might, I couldn’t turn my head. The magic working against me was too strong.
“In many cultures, Elowyn, it’s a sign of disrespect to refuse the food that’s been prepared for you,” the king said as the prince turned red from silent laughter. “I insist you keep eating until everyone is finished.”
Tears stung my eyes as I challenged him, but my lips parted for the rotten meat despite it, unable to refuse the magic any longer.
I gagged as I chewed—the thick slime coated my mouth.
What was the point of this? To make us sick?
Bile mixed with the rotten meat, and tears rolled down my cheeks. There was no way I could keep eating until everyone was finished.
Forcing my hand back to the table, I dug my nails into the wood. The king’s magic wrapped around my arms like vines. Or puppet strings.
Calandra went to reach for her wine, but I kicked her under the table, and she startled.
“It’s not wine!” I pleaded.
She pulled her arm away and rolled her eyes, taking a sip regardless.
I clenched my jaw. “Please, just taste it!”
She swished it around in her mouth as my hand reached for the browned salad, terror licking the back of my neck.
“Stars, truly taste it!” I yelled again.
She grimaced in response, but I could tell she was trying.
“Yes. Yes! That salty flavor? That metallic tang?” I pushed, watching her expression, “Blood. It’s blood, Calandra, and this food’s spoiled! Come on, snap out of it. Please.”
The wine glass dropped from her hand when it clicked, and she slapped it over her mouth. I couldn’t provide any more comfort though as one by one my fingers wrapped around the stainless-steel spoon, and involuntarily scooped up another helping of salad. Dead flies were mixed in like grapes, and my throat tightened. I couldn’t eat anymore. I couldn’t.
A sharp pain clawed inside my stomach as if it was trying to escape.
“Don’t you see this is an illusion?” I screamed across the table to Kelvin, who deliriously kept eating. “I know you guys are animals, but honestly, when have you ever been this hungry?”
Prince Bowen bit his lip, a vile eagerness stretched across his features as I chewed the salad. He and the king beamed with delight, and it made me simmer with rage. How King Harkin sat on that throne and said they were a kind and forgiving species with a straight face was beyond me. This was nefarious.
