"scarlet!" screeched a voice down the hallway of the manor, my whole body cringed in response. i really hated when she screeched my name like that, it was a good sign of a punishment on the horizon. tears welled in my eyes as i attempted to lift myself from my bed my bandages falling off my shoulder and revealing a large deep glaring red gash. it was one of many upon my back for my disobedience. i grit my teeth and stood trying not to cry. as the blood dripped down my skin as i lifted my arms to put on my shirt.
my friend Merida, seeing me struggle sighed heavily as she had been woken by our current Luna yelling down the hallway to the slave quarters. " she shouldn't even be calling on you today. you have a wolf, which means your eligible for tonight's events. "
i rolled my eyes at Merida i truly did love her, she was my best friend. when i was young i knew nobody and the others were told not to speak with me because i was from an enime pack with no sense of loyalty" no, i am not eligible. you forget, i am here because my pack were traitors. they left me alive only for the purpose of atoning for their sins. also, the lashings i received after training yesterday will not be acceptable with formal attire. " she said the last part a little mockingly.
the corners of meridas mouth twitched in a hint of a smile. she knew how much i hated it here. " besides, even if i am eligible you can only mate if you have merged with your wolf. odette and i have never shifted successfully, so even if i wanted to i cant"
merdidas brow furrowed as i caught the slightest glint of rage in her eyes at my statement " you know damn well some packs shift at different times not all of us shift at 17. the blood-shadow pack before it was exiled they could only shift at sunrise of their 15th birthday. some only shift when they find their mate. it just depends on your bloodline."
i pursed my lips and gave her a look under my lashes " if i only knew, i have no idea who my pack was i dont recall anything about them i was only 2 when i was brought here. i am the child of a lowly slave they pitied in a treasonous pack. also, why should i go? they have their arranged marriages if they don't find their mate being paraded around to every pack in the 16 districts. " i said with a bit of sarcasm at the end. it was true though,every time a new alpha came to power they had to visit all 16 packs to find a mate among the current female pack members. all those who could shift that is. if they weren't successful they had arrangements for pack treaty's for marriage.
"well if you change your mind, you know where to find me." merida responded softly.
i swiftly pulled up my black skirt tucking in the white shirt i had put on and tied the skirt around my waist. i ran out of my quarters the bottoms of my feet slapping against the floor as i hopped on my way to put the flat bottomed shoes on my feet. i gripped the side of the skirt to keep myself from tripping as i quickly made my way up the stairs to the catwalk of the second floor. i slid to a stop at the madams door seeing her slip a grey dress over her body.
I entered her room taking a deep breath as i bowed keeping my eyes to the floor. the madam was the alphas wife, thus she was owed the same level of respect. " you requested me ma'mm" i said politely waiting for the venomous response that always managed to ooze out of her mouth when it came to me.
" where have you been! i called on you 5 minutes ago you are late!" she yelled her face red with fury, there was nothing madam Thelma hated more than tardiness other then disrespect.
i gulped the saliva that had been in my mouth biting back my wolfs snarky response. " forgive me madam, i had to adjust my bandages." i said calmly even though i was sure she Didn't care about my excuses. i kept my gaze to the cherry wood floors and folded my hands behind my back.
she turned to me with rage filled eyes " you're here on my mercy, you would do well to remember that next time you try to be so selfish." she placed her hand on my injured shoulder causing my body to slightly twitch. i knew better then to flinch or show any sign of being hurt as it didn't matter to them. i should just be grateful they spared my life for my insolence.
" but-" my attempt at a protest was greeted by a hand cascading across my face. my eye welled up with the stinging pain that now inhabited my left cheek. " i dont care for your excuses scarlet! when i say jump you say how high. when i say to be here immediately i mean immediately." the rage she felt toward me pratically seethed from every pore in her flawless skin.
" yes, ma'mm" i said biting my tongue bowing again for my mistakes. every bone in my body burned as i bowed to her, it was as if it was wrong but i was sure it was her status above me that forced me to obey.
The madam moved her hand from my shoulder and looked at her hand smearing the blood that had seeped through the thin white material on to my torso " next time, do a better job at cleaning yourself up. your blood is detestable and now has stained me.." the madam took a moment to analyze the damp fabric drenched in my blood...my whole body cringed at her touch.
the madams face twisted in scrutiny as she examined the cloth now soaked in my blood. she would step away from me only to grab a straight razor and slice the fabric from my shirt in to a red swatch. the blade slicing against my skin marring my skin further up my shoulders. she held it up to a servant with a malicious smile " bring this to merida, this color is absolutely radiant. unlike that detestable scarlet color she chose for marie. a detestable name for a color or anything if you ask me. " she said throwing it at the other servant i believed her name to be Nina. Nina would look at me with a look f sympathy as she swiftly made her exit.
the jab at my name should have caused me to be upset, but i really didn't have it in me to get angry over it anymore. i instead stayed quiet as i watched Thelma go back to examining herself in the mirror. the dress she wore fit to the form of her body in a mermaid style. it was a grey to black Ombre with gems littered at the base like starlight. i couldn't help but admire the artistry that must have taken Merida forever to craft. how many late nights had she slaved over that machine to make this dress in the image of our madam.
"zip me." she said snapping me back to reality. i would gently walk behind her and grip the zipper with my nimble fingers allowing her a moment to adjust her long ebony locks over her shoulder as to not get it caught in the zipper. " mmm a thought just came to mind for me.." she said softly. my eyes snapping to the mirror to meet her gaze. i quickly averted my gaze from hers. " madam?" i asked just to be sure she was attempting a conversation with me.
a small smirk played at the corner of her mouth as she stared at me through the mirror. even though my gaze did not meet hers i could feel her animosity burning through me like an inferno. " your eligible to attend tonight's festivity's but i cannot possibly let you attend with those injuries so i suppose you will have to sit it out," she clicked her tongue at me sticking out her bottom lip " what a shame. would have been good for you to attend finding a mate is crucial for advancement." of course it was about status to her...
i shook my head " no madam, it is no shame for me. My pack were traitors, i am alive because of you and the alphas good grace's. if i attend and find a mate among the warriors it would mean leaving those i owe my loyalty and my life." i said self assuredly. It was a lie, but i had become so used to telling them these things through my life here that now the rehearsed statement felt mostly true.
" i am so happy to hear you say that, scarlet. it is just perfect, so to make sure you dont go back on this statement you will be locked in the slave quarters tonight and for the next two weeks of the festivities. " she said with a malicious smile.
my breath caught in my throat...two weeks...why was she so determined to keep me detained for these events every year.." do you disagree? perhaps i can make space in the dungeon if the comfort of the servants quarters isn't ideal for you?" she said giving me a glare that said not to oppose her.
"n..n...no madam" i stuttered out " just shocked is all, i should be there helping to service our guests. i was just shocked that you would grant me the mercy of a vacation." i said softly. i was slightly disappointed though i knew this was going to happen.
" do not stutter scarlet it is unbecoming of you, always such a good obedient little slave you are." she said patting my head with a smile. i smiled keeping my gaze lowered. my blood boiled with anger at her words. i wanted so bad to wriggle out of my skin and allow odette to act on her impulses to kill this woman. i knew it would get me no where but the gnawing feeling in my stomach told me this treatment was not right.
"yes, ma'mm" i said apologetically. i would turn away to take my leave rushing out the door. tears of rage threatened to spill out of my eyes as i trudged my way back to the servant quarters.
The offer that merida extended to me rang in my ears offering their assistance. i turned on my heels at the landing of the stairs and decided to take her offer. i knew the lash marks would be hard to hide but if anyone could it was her.
i knocked upon the large oak door of the sewing room hearing the rapid motor of the sewing machine as it plunged a needle in to fabric binding it together. "yes." she responded with a sigh sounding just a bit annoyed about being bothered during her work.
" im ready." i said clearly as i stood behind her. the corners of her mouth twitched in the hint of a smile as she dropped the pin between her teeth. she turned in her chair meeting my gaze. " ready for what?" she asked even though i could tell a part of her squirmed with excitement.
merida was defined as a half breed due to her human mother. she had short blond hair cut in to a bob and wide brown eyes that hid behind thick glasses to assist her vision. another side affect of her mixed genes, she could see flawlessly in the dark but the moment any form of light entered her boundaries of her sight she was blind as a bat.
her excitement radiated toward me as her lips flashed me a brilliant smile beaming from ear to ear. i sighed and shook my head. of course she was excited i never let anyone dress me up. " to defy the alpha and the madam."
maridas eyes grew wide with shock as she had never expected me to defy them, it was something i never did. defying them would be treason under normal circumstances " i know it is wrong and i know they could execute me for the disobedience. however, if we are being really fair here if they wanted me dead they had many of chances to do it."
marida raised a brow with a crooked grin " how are those lashes healing?"
i rolled my eyes " of course, she so graciously cut a swatch of my shirt off for you, though the marks she inflicted are healed and the lashings well they are almost healed another day or so and they should be scaring over. "
"what a bitch." Merida responded then sighed. " alright, but let me finish these last few hems. its the last of my work for these dresses and then i will be done."
i nodded and stepped over to the window as she went back to work. the drumming of the machine falling at a steady speed and rhythm. the sun was beginning to set. behind the treeline casting shadows over the manner. others were beginning to arrive i could hear the vehicles pulling up in the front. things would begin at moon high after the ceremony.
merida finished what she had been doing and smiled at me. " you ready?" i gritted my teeth with a half sure grin as i nodded. "eeeek" she squealed pulling me in to her sewing closet which she had converted for tailoring. " no one will find you in here. so we can make one hell of an entrance, and with my skills baby girl no one will know. first night is masquerade, if mated you will know who one another is through the bond.
i could not bare to change my mind seeing merida so happy. she was usually quite the pessimist. i sat in her chair as she moved behind me to pull up my shirt and examine the injurys. " i can fix this up easy from here.." she said softly i was curious what she meant as i turned to her with a raised brow.
she glared at me over the rim of her thick glasses " i may be a half breed but it has its benefits. for instance, your wolf has healed you quite well, but my blood is better with healing." she grabbed a pocket knife from her skirt and sliced her hand dripping it over my back. it burned so badly i wanted to scream as i felt my skin start to tug and knit itself back together. " it will still scar but it will be passable tonight with the way you will glow up" merida would smile and grab her wet wipes cleaning up my back as her blood burned its way through my flesh healing me. i had no idea half-breeds had abilitys like this...is this why they spared marida??
it was common knowledge that the pack didnt except her nor approve of her because of what she was...but it seemed like others she proved to be useful to them. that always seemed the case with this pack, your useful or your not. which would make you a rogue...it wasnt a bad thing exactly, it just meant you belong to no pack and had given yourself over to your wolf. a rogue was still capable of shifting but life seemed so much easier to them to live as an animal...i couldn't imagine living so alone...
marida finished what she was doing and clasped her hands together and squealed jumping a bit as she released my long hair from its twisted bun. i felt the long mess of curls fall loosely to my waist hearing a gasp escape from meridas mouth... i never had my hair down other then for bathing.
" its so long, and gorgeous....i have to brush it out of course but your hair....its so gold.." she said analyzing the color in the light.
"you knew i was a blond. what is so shocking?" i asked laughing a little at the question.
merida pursed her lips together and shook her head making eye contact in the large mirror in front of me " no not blond, it starts that way but...i suppose the bun must obscure it....ive only ever seen this color once...but for the life of me i cannot recall where. either way it is absolutely flawless"
her compliment of my hair made me grin, she was the first person to see my hair down in almost 17 yrs it was nice to have someone notice it. " perhaps before you came here you met one of my parents. or they came with their alpha to your pack as personal servants it is very possiable.
"that is true, i have very little memorie from that time. like you i was young then, so out of the alphas coming tonight...anyone interest you in particular?"
" well, its going to sound so stupid...hes betrothed to the madams eldest...but Adrian from the shadow paw clan is an absolute heart throb...or so i have heard..." i could feel the heat rush to my cheeks as they flushed with a rosy color.
" he is the strongest alpha in over a century, but from what i heard celeste is only an option if he doesn't find who he is looking for or at least that is the rumor going around...also i heard he is quite the heart breaker. " merida said as she dug around in her drawers for her combs and pins.
"who he is looking for? what does that mean?" i asked utterly confused, if he was already looking for a specific person then why come here for a mating cycle.
merida set her things down and glanced at me from the mirror " i over heard a few of the warriors in passing talking about him they were shocked he was making an appearance, but during the wars when the blood-tide, grey-mane, stone claw packs where annihilated for their treason with their 24 allies children went missing. among the missing was a Luna from blood-tide. he is looking for her...she was meant to be his"
my heart skipped a beat at his devotion for this girl...a missing luna. that was a serious crime, the alphas first born was more valuable then any treasures or secrets their pack could have hidden. If our alpha had came across such a prize he would have eliminated the threat to wipe out a line to prevent a treasonous line to continue. " that poor girl, i hope he finds her."
" she is probably a rogue if she survived scarlet...few escaped with their lives, i doubt she is still alive at that. our alpa has to many allies, he would've killed her rather then let the child of an enemy live"
i nodded, she was right. my heart ached for xander knowing he would never find his mate.
ns 15.158.61.17da2
