Chapter 11: The Party
Lilac
The two men who bought me finally returned for me, and I felt like I might pass out as they examined me and declared me good to go. I had hoped they’d have changed their minds, but that didn’t happen. I was still getting presented to their grand king tonight.
I let out a shaky breath as I walked behind them, trembling a little when the sound of loud music kept increasing with each step forward.
"You’ll sit and remain quiet till you’re addressed. You’ll be presented to the grand king before everyone and you’ll not look into his eyes or dare to speak to him. Are you clear?" The man who had his mask on throughout this afternoon spoke, voice hard. He wasn’t wearing his mask anymore and he looked good looking, even with a thin scar running from his cheek to his chin.
"Yes." I mumbled and they resumed walking till we stopped before a large door; one which completely dwarfed the large doors of ballrooms back in my kingdom. The second man who took his time hours ago to explain what fate awaited me tonight, fished out a device which lit up when he tap it, then he held it against his ear and quietly spoke. I frowned in confusion, wondering why he did that, but moments later, the doors were being thrown open and a gasp caught in my throat as I took in the inside of the large hall. It was so many meters tall and the roof which was decorated with lights unlike anything I’ve ever seen hanging from the roof, like they might fall off any moment- but the people moving around didn’t seem to care about that.
My arm was gripped my one of the two men and I was led into the large hall. People weren’t dancing, most people were seating, wearing clothes i couldn’t recognize. Wasn’t this supposed to be a party? Why wasn’t anyone dancing?
Some people casted me few glances as I was being led through the path in the middle of the large hall, and that was it. They weren’t pointing at me and laughing, a complete different reaction than that of my kingdom. Then I remembered that I was underneath a veil and my face wasn’t visible, perhaps that was why they didn’t seem that interested.
At the front of the crowd, to the left, on a flowing white mat, sat about five girls claded in dresses that were as beautiful as mine. They also had veils on, and I was led to them and made to sit right at the front of them.
Perhaps this was why the people didn’t seem interested? Because this was now a normal thing for them?
My eyes darted over the girls seated behind me. I couldn’t make out their faces but it didn’t take me long to figure out that they were also humans. Were they subjected to the same fate as myself? Are they also gonna be given to someone tonight as a gift? That thought made my heart lurch into my throat.