Enslaved to Icarus (The Pariah Book 1)

Prologue

I'm not the monster under your bed, for that is beneath me. I'm not your Prince Charming, for I reek of blood. I'm not the monster in your closet that's too afraid to step out into the light. I'm the Pariah, the ruler of all that you're afraid. You will witness true power, a power that you could never possess.

-Icarus

Lights startled the asleep castle in their wake. In the middle of the night, it signaled an unforeseen warning of a danger, foreboding and fast approaching like the feet of the servant, clad in worn shoes, that padded against the pristine floors of the ruler's den. The pounding of the feet against the marble steps of the stairs echoed around the halls, screaming of chaos with its every strife. Panting breaths, eyes wide, trembling limbs. The time had come for the downfall of the man, cocooned in the warmth of his quilt, in a deep slumber.

Furious knocks rapping against the huge oak doors wrenched the master off of his sleep, evoking a similar emotion to corrupt in his veins, fury, for the intruder must certainly crave his death to dare to disturb his sleep, the master conjectured.

Growling out, in his dazed state, he snapped his fingers in the air, adorned with razor-edged nails as the doors parted open with a rage and in fell the intruder with a petrified gaze, staring up at his master as he gradually pulled himself out of his bed, strolling towards him in his untied night robe, revealing his chiseled chest and abs, until he reached the servant who remained in a stance of partial prostration. The servant appeared scared, struggling to speak, as if his mouth did not dare to utter the words he was bound to say, letting his master assume it was because of his reign. With a smirk, the master forced his face upwards, holding his jaw in his palm, ready to crush it with the force of his strength.

"You dare to disturb my sleep."

His lips twitched up in a sadistic smile as he applied the slightest pressure on his servant's jaw, making him wince out in incredible pain.

"It better be the matter of life and death... or it'll be the case for you..."

"M-Ma-Master Kevin..." The man hummed in response with no sense of urgency in his tone until the servant finished, "He...He's back. The K-Ki-King is...is back!"

The servant lost consciousness, falling slack in his grasp, just as the smile disappeared from Kevin's face, amusement nowhere to be seen in his dark green orbs. His heart fell to his stomach before racing thunderously against his ribs as sweat marred his once flawless face. His face turned white and blood froze in his veins. Fear, prominent and veritable rushed his face. Then, there was anger and rage as he threw the man away in his rage, hearing him pounce against the wall, and relished in the cracking of his bones when he hit the floor before his heartbeats came to an end. He let his eyes skim around the room in wistfulness. He knew. He just knew, though he hoped not, it'd probably be the last time he'd see his chambers, or even breathe as he stepped out of his room, fetching the sword on his way out that once hung carelessly on the wall.

Commotion welcomed him from the folks surrounding the extravagant halls as he reached the last steps of his precious castle. The slaves and the others put a halt to their hushed whispers, letting their gazes fall to the floor, taking them away from the beautiful walls of the castle, where their current King stood. After this night, no one knew how many of them would be lucky to see the light of the day; perhaps, it was better to die, but even that was not in their hands, not now, not ever.

"Where is he?!" Kevin barked out in obvious rage. He was alone but he wasn't scared, he couldn't let on his fears, he decided, as the slaves that once looked at him with fear and very little respect, had their eyes filled with admiration of their ruler.