The Grave of Souls

∵Chapter 2∵

Everything's still the same as I entered the palace kitchen. I left earlier this morning seeing Old ginny cooking, and now I'm back and she's still cooking.

"When would you just stop and rest, old lady?" I jokingly scolded as I placed the basket on top of the counter.

A woman of late years looked over her shoulder and said "Never in a thousand years, you little wench!"

I snickered "Wench, really?"

"Well, it was the first one that came to mind." She shrugged and went back to chopping her greens.

I smiled and shook my head. Old ginny always keeps up with my way of words. In some way, regarding each other with bad names is a form of affection. That would appear quite unrespectful, but it's just the way it is between her and I and I wouldn't change it for a bit.

Old ginny, despite her age, looks like she can wrestle anyone with her huge arms and big hands. She's quite intimidating. What with her piercing eyes and high brows. I wouldn't even forget her lips that she keeps in a thin line whenever she's displeased and tasted something badly cooked. Which is most of time ever since the newly appointed cooks and helpers arrived just a few weeks ago. 

She is wearing her worn out apron as usual and I can see beads of sweat forming on her forehead that were common to anyone working in the kitchen due to the ovens. I'm even starting to sweat. I sighed. I instanly missed the fresh air back at the hills.

I pulled my hair up and tied it with lace, forming a knot. Then I went to the sink and washed my hands and dried them after. I started preparing the current queen's dessert. Now that everythings's ready, I silently hoped that I wouldn't get punished for the way the food was set. The previous morning, the queen was furious when I presented her the tray. She said it was not arranged delicately. There was a slight pressure mark on the cookie and it caused me to have a beating.

Clutching the tray with both hands, I carefully made my way to her chambers.

As I reached her door, I timidly knocked and stated my purpose. I frowned when she answered in a breathy tone that I can come in. She must be having visitors. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

It wasn't a secret that the queen had many nightly visitors. I heard that the king knows about queen Janise's encounters. He's downright mad when this happens which leads them both geting into bloody fights. However, the queen never stopped being her usual whore-y self.

I masked my face as I entered through her thick wooden doors. I held the tray close to my chest and stepped towards her bed, my eyes never leaving the floor.

Despite my respectful act to ignore the queen and her visitor, I can still hear the slapping sounds of skin and the creaking sound of the bed. Moans and groans keep coming from them both as well as the smell of arousal and intimacy in the air.

Why am I so unlucky that they'd have to be doing this during my time to serve.

I waited patiently as they finished their business and waited for the queen to recognize my presence.

Finally, after a few minutes the queen finally found out that I'm here.

"Peasant... I forgot about you." She haughtily said. She giggled for whatever reason and whispered something to her visitor. It was just an act of girly secrecy that she did so. We all know that we are weres and we can hear even a pin drop.

"She must have been envious of how you make me feel, Darius." She giggled again.

I mentally snorted. That was entirely not true. I can't seem to think anything about feelings right now. What I am is counting the seconds as to when I could run the hell out of this suffocating smell of fluids.

With a louder voice, the queen ordered, "Lay the tray near the end of the bed and leave."

I immediately did what I was told. Carefully, doing so incase I messed up and crumbs of cookie scatters to the porcelains. She's that way. Looking into every miniscule detail. Anything out of perfect and I'll be getting punished.

With everything in place, I bowed and slowly moved to the door.

As I almost reach the knob, a guard suddenly opens the door and what he said were the dreadful news that I could never forget. Because it was in that moment that I felt something break in me. A feeling of a tightly pulled rope that was instantly cut in half.

"Someone is challenging the king at this moment. He looks like he'll never stand a chance, my queen. Any minute, I believe he'll die."

And he did.

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Author's Note:
Hello everyone! I know this chapter is short. But I promise that once I get into the flow of the story, I would make them more lengthy. I also know that the story went fast. I'll work on giving more detailed content I promise. Every chapter I made so far are spurs of the moment. A fun way of diverting my attention away from responsibilities. So please bear with me.

Thank you so much for reading!