True Words 1
The worn plush of the throne sank as King Rawthorn sat down.
The room was incredibly hollow and cold. Only small slits of white light entered the room, illuminating half of the kings face. The marbled floor sent chills up his spine as he stood up, his bare feet padding across it gracefully like an experienced dancer. He now stood mere inches away from where the girl was bent over on her knees, her lips skimming the floor as the solid foot holding her neck down pressed harder.
"Leave us." The king ordered, since seeing the girl helpless on the floor, his voice had accuired a new type slyness to it. An evil that he could no longer supress. The weight from her neck was removed as the two guards bowed low and turned quickly in sync and walked to the bottom oak doors before slipping out leaving a resounding bang as the heavy doors closed.
The smell of damp and mold shifted above them in the air as Ahmaia bent low to whisper in the girls ear. Her eyes widened as she tried to concentrate on his voice, staring at the cracked solid marble beneath her, fogging up with the close proximity of her breath.
He'd asked her if she wished to be spared.
Did she? She felt too weak now. It had been weeks that she had spent stuck down in the cellars of the castle, daylight was something that she hadnt seen for so long, to be spared, would she see it again?
"Look at me," He commanded. That was a command that was never to be acted on. To look into his eyes would be staring into your death. But it was hard not to be compelled by the order in his tone. So, she met his hard eyes with her innocent gaze, her chin only centimetres off the cold floor.
She would look strong, - or hopefully try and look strong. She didnt want to be another of those skinny girls who would break down infront of him with torrents of tears and begging, to then meet their deaths anyway.
He stepped back, pleased. Her soft grey eyes sat well in her dark skin as she stared up at him. "You know why you're here?" He asked, his voice cold.
"Commiting treason against the royal monarch is very much ilegal in this world. Why did you do it?"
He was asking for a reason? She blinked slowly, still not moving from her kneeled position on the floor. Should she tell him the truth? "I'm waiting." He said stonily.
"I had no choice," She whispered.
"Beg me."
She had to startle a choke. Beg? Now he wanted her to beg? Beg for her life?
"No." Firmly said, she waited for his reaction. His back was to her and it tensed, "What?"
He was shocked. Everyone begged for their life to be spared. Did this woman not know what was to come? A frown set in place, he turned back to her, trying was now futile to hide his curiosity. "You want to die?" Now she frowned, Did she?
"I dont understand," Her thoughts were accidently voiced on her lips.
"Neither do I," The king muttered. This was nothing like what he was used to! He expected her to weep and kiss his feet in ordered to be spared.
A leap of courage escaped her mouth and she raised her body to sit upright, something which would have given her a quick death, but the king just stood there, a frown present on his face. "Why do you do this? Sending us to our death, torment us? You expect to be loved yet you just throw us around!" Not quite sure what she was saying, she carried on, "You wonder why no one loves you? Just look at yourself! How can you be so-so ignorant!" Her words echoed in the air around them, for too long.
King Rawthorn spun round, snatching her chin in his hand. From behind him the gates of Hell opened. His big black looming wings spread wide in a show of power. "Say it again." He whispered, his eyes wide and cold. She frowned, she was terrified, what had she said? But, being as stubborn as she was, she wouldnt let her eyes weep in terror.
"Say it again!" This time he said it louder.
"Say what!?" Her voice trembled but she refused to look at the wings protruding from his back.
"Say, Say that, no one loves me." She blinked, was this it? Would she finally meet her demise? By the hands of the dead?
"N-no one loves you..." Her whisper was barely audiable but he heard.
"What is your name?" He asked, dropping her chin harshly. She ground her teeth together in frustration, how long would this go on for? Was he just toying with her? "Your name!" He yelled causing her to flinch. His back was too her again, heaving with each ragged breath.
"My name..."
"Your name?"
"My name is Zara Tainly..."
"Zara Tainly." He murmured, testing out her name on his tounge. She expected to find it dirty coming from his voice, like a curse, yet the sound of her name was more like a caress of her cheek. "Zara Tainly, Why does no one love me?" He said, turning to look at her, only a few feet away.
"Y-you're ignorant..." There were so many other words to describe him; Impossible, Pathetic, Cruel-
"Why?"
She glanced at him, "Y-you jus-st are?" She silently cussed herself for stuttering.
"Why dont you beg for your life? I know you do not wish to die." She blinked.
"I-I want better." She mumbled, not sure what she meant. "Better?" He questioned her words. She simply nodded, not elaborating.
He stepped back, "Guards! Get Miss Tainly accomadation ready! She will staying in my quarters from now on." The shouted order wa loud and caused Zara to flinch, looking up she stared at him dubiously. He looked down at her, his wings coming back into his body.
"You will love me."
