Mareena Calore

Is this what it feels like

I wake up, there is only the phantom of a headache. There is a healer right by me and Elara reads in the corner. I'm in a night shift and there's a cool compress in my forehead. The same servant from before who handed me the glass stands by Elara's side. She's almost the mirror image of me. I must be seeing things. I tense up out of fear. It's unsettling to see a red appear so much like me. "Mareena dear! You're finally awake!" I sit up and nod my head towards my queen. "This here is Gisa. She is a red servant from the close by town commonly called the stilts. She gave us valuable information regarding the scarlet guard and it turns out she's a marvelous seamstress who worked under a lady at court. This would be how she gained access to the palace. However what we don't know is why she bothered you with some note. Seeing as she is talented with her hands and we can't trust her to be out and about on her own. I've taken the liberty of removing her ability to write aswell as her tongue." I feel my face drain and my eyes widen. " my queen, if she's a pest of the red rats scarlet guard, why are you allowing her to live under these conditions?" Queen Elera looks to me as if she has wonderful news. " because dear, I saw her talent. She sews beautifully and I've ended her ability to air the scarlet guard. She may even draw them to us in an attempt of rescue. I decided to leave her alive. She's to become your personal seamstress. Should she fail you in anyway, let me know immediately. I'll have a word with her." I look to the servant girl and see tears streaming down her face. She has a determined jaw but I see she is breaking on the inside. " my queen, must she be my servant? She unsettles me. She looks very much like I do and she has an aura I don't like" Elara looks to me with a smile she'd give a child " my dear, we can alter her appearance. But to do that we'd have to break her and repair her differently, you should see the alterations we gave you before you make that decision." I'm shocked. I don't feel different. The skin healer hands me a mirror and I see someone different then the girl I've known. My cheeks are higher, like queen Elaras. My eyes seem wider and my face paler, my lips are larger and fuller. "When you passed out you fell and shattered every bone in your face. We took it upon ourselves to make some improvement. After all, the queen must have an appearance almost godly. You just gave us the perfect chance." At first I feel angry to not have had an opinion in this. But all that fades away to an accepting bliss " see, I knew you'd feel the same way" Queen Elara hums as she glides away. The servant falls to her knees and begins to weep. Once I look past her weeping figure I notice the chain connecting her to the wall. There is a table with so many fabrics I can't begin to count and lavish accessories for the fabrics. I begin to realize this poor girl will never again see the world outside the room.
I look to the servant girl and wonder why she'd join such a cause. She had talent. She had work. She had decent pay and a just king, why betray her nation? Our kingdom is fair to the inferior. They're fed and entertained and given purpose by those of us greater than them.
"Lady Skonos, if you would I'd like a moment of privacy. I'll call if I require anything else." With one last wave over of her healing hands lady skonos leaves my side to aid where she's needed. The ones remaining here are me and this red. "Gisa, this is quite a strange scenario. Normally I wouldn't have a specific maid. Reds just blend in to the background here. None have a name. However our queen is quite gracious. Allowing you to live after betraying our nation. I wouldn't have. So expect harsher repercussions from me." The little red girl curls in to herself and I see something break in her. She almost seems to pity me. I won't take pity from a red. "If you think you pity me think again. Come here." I feel truly powerful. My words fill the room and the red girl rushes forward as if she has no their choice. In the whole scheme of things, she doesn't. "Bring me those scissors rat!" I command. She rushes back to the table and scurries like those before her. " I am the future queen of this country. I am the future ruler of you! Do not disrespect me with your look of pity. You're a rat. Red. Nothing." With each accusation I slash the girls cheek. Her blood drips to the floor and I feel nothing. Queen Elara would be proud. My pity is gone. I no longer sympathize these rats.
The scissors crash to the floor and the girl weeps. She looks truly confused. "Rat, get up clean your mess. You're filth and you've messed my floor." I turn away and leave the crying girl behind. A knock booms on my door, a sentinel walks in, "Lady Titanos, the king is requesting permission to enter" I stare at the sentinel "we'll let him in, the king never need ask. I have nothing hidden from him" the sentinel steps back and maven walks in. The door closes sharply behind him and he instantly heats the room. "My dear! How delightful you've come!" He exams over me, that's when I notice my shift covered in the red girls blood.
"What's wrong love? Are you hurt? I came as soon as mother left?" He scans my body looking for something. "Maven! Stop, I'm not hurt, this is t my blood, don't worry. How could this be my blood. Do you see me bleeding? I've just taught the little rat a lesson" maven exhales a breath of relief. And then looks surprised. "I didn't think she would.." He mumbles. "Maven what are you saying? Who? What?" Maven jumps slightly "oh! Nothing! No no don't worry. What did you want to talk about?" Mavens hands dance across my back and his warmth heats my core. "Oh that's right! I had the strangest sensation.. let me change out of this shift.. it's quite.. well" no worries love, I'll wait in the drawing room." I look at Maven "please stay, I'm afraid if you go someone will need you.." mavens eyes grow large "it-it's hardly proper if I stay" He starts to fidget with his gloves. "Maven, stay here. No one will know. The rats won't dare speak of it. Stay." Maven looks me over and gives in. "Alright.. but! One condition?" I smile at him and I feel my lips rise more. My smile is weird to me now, foreign, seductive almost. "Yes, my king?" My voice sounded so raspy.  "You'll join me for dinner privately this evening" He raises his eyebrows and smirks. "As you wish" Maven crosses his legs and calls for servants to pick my clothes and dress me. My back feels weird and abnormal. Almost painful. The servants dress me facing the mirror this time. I see every change made to my body now.
Fuller lips, higher cheeks, larger eyes, a bigger bossom, a trim waist. Dainty hands. They were very very busy. I do however still recognize myself. I glow naturally. As the servant removes my clothes I look to the reflection of maven and I see him inhale sharply. There is a hunger in his eyes. Almost crazed. I enjoy every second of it. I'm completely exposed for him to see and I feel safe in his gaze. I look down waiting for the servants to bring the dress over my head. But nothing happens. I look up to the mirror and see that they're gone. Replaced by Maven. He stands behind me almost like a ghost, a shadow even. His hands hover but don't touch. "I- I can't believe you're mine. You chose me. You.. you chose me." He nuzzles his head to my neck and presses to me. "You chose me. The first to ever choose me, you saw his flaws and chose me." I inhale as his hands wander over my body. " Maven. I'll always choose you, I love you." He grabs my chin and turns my face to his and kisses me. For the first time in ages I feel alive. The room heats up rapidly and my body shudders with energy. Maven bites my lips and tongue lightly. Never hurting me, gently caressing me. He walks us over to my bed and lays me down. Settling into a comfortable position above me, he begins tracing his hands over me. Leaving burning hot trails behind. On my collar bone I feel blistering heat. But I won't scream. I feel it trace out a shape. "Save you'll love me forever no matter what" He breathes in my ear. " the searing pain vanished replaced by an even hotter want "Maven Calore, I Mareena of house Titanos loves you unconditionally. I'll always choose you, I belong to and with you." Maven bites my collar bone and my back arches. "Mare, I need you. You keep me whole. Never leave my side" my body hitches. Sore and relaxed at the same time. "Maven, I'll never leave your side." I wrap my arms over his shoulders and my bare skin brushes his rough uniform. Maven flinches like he forgot something and pulls back immediately. "Mare. We're supposed to be dressing you not undressing me" I'm instantly embarrassed by my desires and feel the blood rush to my face.
We jump off the bed and I immediately rush to throw on a basic dress. He helps my lace it up on the back whilst gently kissing my back and shoulders.
"Maven I remember what it was I wanted to talk about.. can we walk the garden?" Maven takes my hand and brushes a kiss in my palm, closing my hand around it. In a romantic way forcing me to accept it. " of course love." We leave the room with the sentinels falling in place, as the door to my room shuts I hear chains and the sound of breaking glass. I'll have to punish that rat again today. But for now, I must speak with maven.