The Different Ones

Chapter 3: Party Thrashers

The ballroom was full of unhappy party guests, most of them were try tying and glaring at the king and queen, sitting for them to make up for this disappoint bent of a party. Prince Colin and I walked in and were under an extreme amount of a scrutiny almost immediately.

"It was you!" King Quelsom shouted across the room. He began to march forward us furiously. "Youruined this party, and you're going to be punished for it!" He was a poisonous snake, King Quelsom. His power was lethal and his words painfully sharp.

"Your Majesty, I don't believe that's entirely true. Your daughter got drunk at her own engagement party, and you set up an arranged marriage! Something you swore the kingdom wouldn't do! I don't see how she is to blame for this," Colin said in my defense.

"Dear you could maybe try-" Queen Marina was interrupted. I rarely saw the queen, she seemed a very quiet and outspoken. She was around my height and looked almost identical to the princess. They had the same brown hair, the rich forest green eyes, and the pale skin, but the queen lacked something that the princess had. You could see it in eyes, I had no idea what it was, but I could see it.

"Be quiet!" the king's voice boomed like a lions roar, shaking anyone who heard it. "So help me God, you will be punished for your crimes! Throw her in the dungeon! She will be thrashed in the morning." Before I could retort I was being restrained. I shouted out of anger. I was being treated like a criminal, when I had done nothing wrong , it was unfair, unjust and there was almost nothing I could do about it.

As I was being dragged away I looked back at the queen and I realized what was missing. It was joy. She lacked joy and happiness, and it was easy to see why. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she kept her head held high.

* * *

The dungeon was much like the servants' halls. It was dark, damp, and foul-smelling and I was stuck here for the night, only to be beaten to a pulp in the morning.

I shouted yet again, piercing the air with the sound. Why? Why must the king hate me? What have I ever done to deserve this? My mind racing with irritation, frustration, and unanswerable questions, I fell asleep.

* * *

Clang! Clang! Clang! I woke up with a jolt. The handle on the door rattled as it was unlocked. A knight walked in and grabbed my right arm.

"You ready for your thrashing, bird-girl?" the knight hissed into my ear. I didn't respond, knowing that one word from me, could mean ten thrashings form the torturer later.

We began to walk towards the front of the castle. I knew exactly where we were going, and I wasn't too happy about it.

The town square was littered with people, apparently the word of a public thrashing had spread pretty quickly. My arms were tied to a stake and my wings were spread and pinned onto the ground. I winced, but I knew that this was only the beginning.

Sir Miton walked into the square. He was cheered on by the crowd. Miton was one of the most popular and well known torturers, known for causing ten times more pain than an average torturer. I felt a pang in my back, even though the thrashings hadn't began.

"30 strikes for disturbing a royal event!" Miton announced to the cheering crowd. He grabbed the whip and began his job.

The whip cracked against my skin. I screamed, finally understanding the pain that my mother endured. The whip came down again, right above my wings. I screamed. The whip came down again and again and again, each time more painful than the last. With every strike I counted the pain seeped deeper into me. By the thirtieth strike I was crying and I could barely feel my limbs.