Khala no longer recognized herself as Khala; she had become Leonara, a puppet fashioned by the hands of her captors. Her once dark hair, now washed relentlessly, curled and styled to conform to their desires. Her face, scrubbed raw until it felt as if a new layer of skin had been revealed, bore the marks of their meticulous grooming. Every stray hair had been plucked and every imperfection waxed away without regard for her comfort. Lips painted red and eyes shrouded in darkness, she wore the classic attire of a Bene Gesserit, a symbol of who she was to be showed to any glances to her way.
Silent and compliant, Khala stood as one of the servants admired their handiwork. She dared not speak, fearful of the repercussions should she overstep the invisible boundaries that bound her.
Right on cue, a curt knock signaled Feyd's arrival. His approving gaze swept over her.
"Let's go," he said, taking her hand. Khala tensed at his touch, though he remained unaware.
As he led her away, she couldn't help but marvel at the juxtaposition of familiarity and strangeness within the confines of her once-familiar surroundings.
In the dining room, stripped of its former wedding decorations, a voice greeted her with a chill. Khala froze at the sight of the Baron, a man she had hoped never to see again.
His presence filled her with a visceral revulsion, a stark contrast to her muted anticipation of Feyd's arrival.
"Bow," Feyd whispered, and she complied with a slight inclination of her head. Her gaze flickered to the others in the room—Piter and...
"Reverend Mother," she acknowledged with a deeper bow. The scrutiny in the Reverend Mother's eyes unsettled her.
"Shall we sit down, uncle?" Feyd asked, breaking the tension. The Baron nodded, and they took their seats.
"So, Leonara, I'm sure Feyd Rautha has filled you in on our little arrangement," the Baron began, his grin predatory.
"I fail to see what arrangement benefits me," Khala replied stiffly.
The Baron's grin widened. "Why, your continued existence, of course." Khala's jaw clenched at his words, but she held her tongue. The insolence of this man grated on her nerves. She could barely stop from lashing out, the only thing holding her back being Feyd. He knew where her sietch was, she could not do anything other than obey him.
She breathed heavily, reining in her emotions.
"Of course," she said, barely masking her disdain. The Baron picked up on it, his eyes piercing hers.
"I expect you to stand beside Feyd at public events without incident," the Baron continued, his gaze piercing. Khala nodded in silent acquiescence, her thoughts swirling with suppressed fury.
"Tonight, there is a function. You will do as I tell you."
Khala nodded. The rest of the dinner past in silence, with Khala staring at her plate, unwanting to consume more food.
"It's time."
As Khala and Feyd made their way through the lobby, Khala couldn't shake the feeling of being on display, paraded around like a prized possession for all to see.
Whispers trailed in their wake, the murmurs of the crowd mingling with the pounding of her own heart. Feyd's grip on her hand remained firm, reminding her once again of the power he held over her.
She glanced at him, searching for any sign of remorse or hesitation in his expression, but found only a mask of indifference. Their footsteps echoed on the marble floor, each sound a stark reminder of the weight of their deception.
YOU ARE READING
Promise //Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen// Dune
Fanfiction"Promise you'll stay?" "I promise." or She offered her heart to him. Onto his shaky hands, she gave her full trust, and she let him consume it entirely. And when the time finally came when he offered her the tattered pieces left of his, she glued th...
