Enslaved to Icarus (The Pariah Book 1)

Chapter 3- Part 1

I'll rope you in like a spider, hide you inside my cocoon. I'll wrap my limbs around your shroud, feed you fear, have you watch as I kill all, but I'll keep you safe inside my cocoon. I'll build you a new reality, I'll make you believe you're in my heaven.

-Icarus

~~

A sigh escaped her lips as she rested her head on the surface of his golden throne's arm where he leisurely laid his hand. The sound of his laughter, deep and, unexpectedly, enthralling pulled her gaze upwards, observing him sprawled out on his magnificent seat. In exchange, he stared down at her from the side of his eyes, and a smirk plastered across his lips. He was enjoying her predicament. Why wouldn't he? She was on the floor like a pet, whereas he basked in the limelight. She sighed again, breaking his gaze and fixing it on the floor of the humongous stage, where she was sat. Her hands, fingers trembling like the dried leaves in the raging wind, reached towards her white dress, that came till her ankles, flowy and soft, while it embraced her tightly around her bust with sleeves covering her arms entirely till her wrists.

She had been confused and embarrassed when his maids conveyed for her to bathe and change into the plain white dress in a stream of emotionless voices. At first, she was surprised that she was given such a beautiful dress to wear, despite her being a captive... a slave, especially when one of the maids had told her that slaves didn't get the privilege to dress in such an expensive piece of clothing. However, a single night with him, or with the corpses for that matter, had been enough for her to comprehend that the man might always have an ulterior motive for everything he did, even if she didn't know what.

Dressed like a bride in the plain, chiffon white gown and her feet encased in red stilletos, minus the veil, she had fidgeted under his piercing gaze as he continued to stare at her with flickering emotions she could not decipher soon enough and wanting to break the tense silence, she had stuttered out, "Why did you dress me up in white?"

His very satanic smile had drawn upon his lips at her question. Taking his time, he made his way towards her and trailing his fingers down the length of her shrouded arms, he had replied, "Because the color of blood never looked as good as it does on white."

Of course, she didn't dare open her mouth again.

Now, as she stared at the bustling crowd outside his castle gates, where the stage was set, she couldn't help but feel herself dozing off to sleep, her night hadn't been too peaceful after all. She noticed the crowd slowly part in two. One of the groups consisted of mostly adults and aged individuals while the ones standing on the right ranged from mere teenagers to old men and women. But the audience itself was a mix of creatures from the ugliest she could have never laid eyes upon, if it were her choice, to the most beautiful ones with angelic faces and bodies, some with normal eyes like that of humans, and others like that of the devil on the gem-stones embellished throne above her.

Something slid over her head, making her frown at the feel of his hand playing with her frosty hair that brought a shiver down her spine: It was the hand that killed her best... her only friend, Lily, and the one that killed dozens of his own subjects and then feasted upon them. An uncontrollable fury washed over her. She jerked her head away from his hold– out of pure instincts, glaring up at him with oceanic eyes, filled with repugnance and loathing. The huge crowd assembled before him that had actually been watching them gasped in utter horror. The hatred from her eyes dissipated too quickly, replaced by the feeling of intense terror, watching his eyes bleed with the familiar dark liquid, stilling her brain cells.

She pulled herself up, fast, tried. Her attempt at getting away from him though failed miserably, "Did I demand you move, slave?"

His voice adopted a dangerous edge, his speech transitioning between a growl and a furious murmur, making her shake viciously on her knees. She lost control of her legs and fell back down with a loud thud. The pain shot through her legs, but that was the least of her concerns right now.

What is he going to do to me? she worried, chewing at her dry and chapped bloody lips.

Dead silence surrounded them. No one dared to breathe, it seemed, they were afraid they'd have their heads ripped off, if they did. She, on the other hand, insisted upon avoiding his predatory gaze, her hands shook as she folded them across her chest.

How could you be so stupid! Her subconscious mind bellowed at her incredulously.

She didn't know why she did what she did. Perhaps, some part of her wanted to fight him, not let him think that she was okay with him touching her so gently as if they were lovers, when clearly, they were not and worse, he was a monster and a killer. But she had regretted her bravery the very next moment for glaring blatantly before his subjects. It'd be kindness if he took her life in a flash for her insolence, but the longer he stayed silent, watching her under his panther-like gaze, the dread gripped her bones like a noose around one's neck.

Growling from the back of his throat, Icarus finally shifted his gaze away from her hunched figure, to let it fall upon his subjects, all the while Agnes made sure to keep hers firmly ahead of her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you may be pleased to have been in my glorious presence today," he began, grasping her attention yet again. His voice had turned back to its smooth flair. Yet, it was more than that. The roaring voice reverberated the entire space with a rumble. It was like thunder, grasping the attention of everything ahead of him. The air felt stagnant under his command. It was alluring but laced with a clear warning that one shall dare not mess with.

On cue, the crowd understood their assignment and cheered stridently by applauding for their king. Pleased, Icarus fetched his drink of champagne from the table by the throne, lifting it up high in the air as the welcome ceremony for the return of their mighty king continued.

Settling back on his throne with wide arms and even wider legs, Icarus directed his attention towards the crowd on his right, and in a dramatic tone, he narrated his tale, "Two centuries ago, I was attacked by my enemy, Kevin Cain..., in the most cowardly way, of course."

Her interest piqued at his words, her ears perking up and focusing on him.

"I was cursed by a witch to never wake up again, but...," he trailed away with another exaggerated sigh.

Agnes felt his eyes fall upon her, causing the memories of her falling upon his tomb and the death of Lily flashed in her mind. It had been her fault, after all. Tears built up in her orbs as she pulled them down to stare at her interwoven hands. She was afraid he would announce her as his rescuer, and she'd then become the object of their hatred. If not all, then definitely most of them, were displeased with Icarus' return as he had put it, at least. She couldn't blame them though. She could see why.

"But it's your love that brought me back to life," said Icarus to the crowd, shifting his gaze "...and I promise to never let you go!"

The last line elicited a furrow between her brows. It didn't seem like it was directed at the crowd.

The crowd smiled nervously in response whereas some bore genuine smiles. Women, especially, were smitten by his handsome features and powerful stance.

"And I know it has been a short notice, so there's only a few of you here, but I believe you're enough to spread the good news to all, especially with this amazing technology at your service," with that he bid adieu to the guests as each one of them came to shake his hand on the stage.

All Icarus did was hold his hand up in the air in blatant boredom, sprawled lazily on his throne. It was when all the guests had left the place that the light in his eyes returned, an evil, sadistic light, Agnes observed ruefully. The fear of what might be his next move on her hovered over like the clouds of death as his gaze swept over her, and he grinned at her with a promising glint.

*****

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