A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 46: Supper of Royalty

My stomach grumbles. I've been wandering the corridors for a while, trying to find the Banquet Hall, but everything looks the same here. It's hard to tell where exactly anything is, let alone where I'm going. It's like I'm walking through a maze.

My ankle hurts every time I put pressure on it, the alien symbol carved into my flesh embedded into me forever. I hate it. I hate that it marks me, marks me as his prisoner, as helpless, as a human that could've stayed away, but most of all, I hate how it marks me as weak. I can feel the weight of it below the gown, always; the dress constantly brushes against it. I wish I had my own clothes. But above all else, I try to assure myself I did the right thing. I stopped him from casted the charm on Ella. Now, whether that's the same charm, is another question, but for now that's all that matters. She doesn't bear the scar.

Eventually, I meet Setrákus Ra, Five, and Ella at the Banquet table, walking in as briskly as I can. It's bright, like before, and stars sparkle out the window; it still hurts to know how far away I am.

Ella's sitting at one of the ends; Setrákus sits across from her. I wonder if she chose that seat or if he made her sit there. Five, of course, sits at his right, his back facing me; he doesn't turn.

"Welcome Emily," Setrákus greets, and Ella spins to meet my gaze though says nothing. Frankly, neither do I. "Come. Sit wherever you like." I hate how lightly he's taking this. It's like this is normal, as normal as a family dinner and that thought is almost enough to make me gag.

I sit at Ella's right. She barely looks up, just stares down at her place settings, the place settings of shimmering silver that's heavier than anything I've used: a fork, knife, spoon, and another knife beside the other; a plate with a metal serving dish covering it; a glass of water. I keep my eyes rooted on Ella more than my fine dining cutlery.

She briefly looks up at me then him, and I catch a ripple of fear emanating from her. I wonder what her time has been like here. I wonder if being his heir meant constantly being by his side. I was lucky enough to get my own room and time alone, away from him. Be it, I was monitored by cameras, but I wasn't in his presence every second; did Ella have to be? Did she even get her own room? Did she have to share a room with Five or Setrákus Ra? I shudder at the latter and put a hand on her knee. We'll be okay, I assure her, giving her my most reassuring smile. I won't let anything happen to you, promise.

It's not me I'm worried about, she thinks back before our serving dishes rise without touch.

It's horrendous—the food. I almost gag. I can't even tell what it's supposed to be. It looks nothing like the food served on Earth, nothing like pasta or baked chicken or greens, but rather some kind of fish that wasn't prepared properly—or maybe it was, but on a shitty stovetop. Either way, it still looks alive. Its eyes stare up at me as if it's pleading for me to put it out of its misery. I want to barf. It's foul and vulgar, and its pungent scent burns my nostrils. It smells rotten, decaying, and grey. Suddenly, it's like whatever hunger pang was inside me sinks further down, like it's trying to retreat from the sight and smell of such a thing. I wonder if it's even human, or is he feeding us some kind of—alien poison?

I drop the fork and push it away. "I'm not eating that."

"I know it isn't what you're used to, but it's the best the Anubis can offer," he explains. I say nothing, risking a glance towards Five—he's eating it! "I assure you; once we take Earth, our meals will improve."

My stomach twists for the second time and suddenly, my disgust is wiped away. "We?" I mutter, the thought of being trapped up here watching him destroy my home making my stomach churn.

"Yes, child," he says, raising a brow. "You know why you're here. You will be a beacon of light for Mogadorian Progress, and for your people as well."

"What's that supposed to mean?"