She motioned me forward, her severe high bun making her face look hard as stone. When I looked over at the younger woman, I found her staring at the floor.
Wonderful.
“Bathe yourself. The water has been drawn. We don’t have much time,” the older woman ordered as she pointed to the small attached washroom. I nodded and followed her commands, my rebellious fire momentarily staunched at the idea of taking a bath.
It sounded divine after two days in the dungeon.
My spark wasn’t gone, though, and I knew the minute that I had eaten something, drank some water, and warmed up, I would be back, looking for a way to get out of here. I considered the possibility of trying again tonight—What did I have to lose?I would face punishment after punishment if it meant proving to myself that I would never again be owned by another.
I eased off my damp, dirty clothing, leaving it on the floor before going to the tub and sinking into it. It was a small metal contraption that usually was filled with cold water, and only enough to get me clean. But right now it was filled high, warm enough that my frozen limbs seared.
Knowing I didn’t have much time, especially not to enjoy a bath, I took the scrub brush and soap, lathering it to wash each of my limbs. Bruises dotted my body from being handled so roughly in the dungeon, and while I hadn’t seen my face yet, I knew that it probably looked pretty bad since I hadn’t been able to sleep, far too hungry to fall into any form of slumber.
Scrubbing my hair, wanting to remove the damp mildew smell of the dungeon, I made sure to work through any heavy knots and matted sections before rinsing it out. After ten minutes of cleaning myself, my body having moderately warmed, I forced myself to stand. I shakily grabbed a threadbare towel and dried myself off before wrapping it around me like a dress, holding it in place underneath my arms.
“Come. Quickly,” the older woman instructed the minute I stepped into the room. I sat on the edge of the bed as the younger maid came behind me and began to yank and pull at my hair. The first maid held a mirror up in front so they could focus on how it framed my face, or whatever it was that they were doing.
I closed my eyes, letting them do their job as I retreated to a place inside of me, warmed by the fire.
I could remember a time, when my aunt and father were still alive, when I’d felt life and passion every day. Now my passion was focused on securing my freedom, but back then, it had burned brightly as I ran through the fields of our family farm, basking in the sunshine.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spent more than ten minutes in the sun. I missed the warmth that infused my body, as if I was directly soaking up its energy, making me radiate from the inside.
“Stay still,” the older woman demanded as she began to apply something to my lips and face.Was she putting makeup on me?Shit, Malakai really wanted to make a point tonight if he was having me dolled up.
He’d threatened that I would be on the menu for the Lords to sample tonight. Would he follow through on that?
“Why are you getting me ready?” I asked.
I trusted Tristan to have told me the truth, but I was curious if they would give anything more away.
Their silence told me everything. Malakai wanted me to be kept in the dark, to see my authentic fear when I was brought downstairs.
I wouldn’t give it to him.
After a few more minutes, they were done. I nearly groaned as I caught my face in the mirror, because somehow they had used the products to make me look like I hadn’t just been freed from a dungeon. My hollowed out cheeks from being malnourished now looked like they were just high and beautiful with the make up, matching the sharp angle of my jaw bone.
Maybe that was the point, though. Maybe Malakai thought others wouldn’t want a bite if I was in such a horrible state…
The maids had me stand, instructing me to get dressed in basic undergarments and a black dress that was tight around the center. It squeezed my ribs but draped to an almost see-through silk against my legs. It was quite inappropriate, the way it clung to my hips and bottom, but I tried to ignore that. I had never worn something like this, and I was far more focused on the anxiety of what this could mean.
He wanted me to look appealing.
When Tristan knocked on the door, he didn’t exchange any words with the maids, instead motioning for me. I walked next to him as we entered the hall, and he turned so that we took another discreet hallway before he came to a stop.
“Here, hurry.” Tristan handed me a sandwich, and my mouth instantly watered. I didn’t think about the fact that I looked like a feral animal as I grabbed it, stuffing it in my mouth and consuming the food in less than a minute. It felt like a rock when it hit my stomach, but it was better than nothing. When he handed me a small pouch of water, I drank as much as possible, tears nearly spilling from my eyes in relief.
“Thank you,” I whispered, knowing that this had been a huge risk for him to take. The repercussions for his kindness were far too high, and yet he still did it.
“Don’t thank me,” he gritted out, shaking his head as his lips thinned. “I’m about to deliver you into a far worse situation.”
I nodded because I was well aware, but it didn’t take away from the kindness he had shown. As he led me downstairs, I began to feel a bit of energy returning. My senses became sharper, the dull fog from lack of sustenance and sleep fading away.
Lifting my chin and pulling my shoulders back, I prepared myself for the inevitable.
An event for Lords and their Thralls… This was going to be bad for me.
ChapterFour
