"You called for me my king ", indiana bowed, her red painted lips thinned seductively.
" You made me wait ", he said coldly, not taking his eyes off the scrolls.
" I'm sorry about that, my king", she drawled, her head inclined apologetically.
He said nothing, his gaze remained fixed on the scrolls.
She walked towards him, rounded his back and started massaging his shoulders.
He stiffened, but she continued anyway.
The king wasn't always comfortable under people's touch, but he learnt to tolerate over the years she had been serving him.
She had been just a woman who helped with his sexual needs and had done that for eight years, now she is his consort.
She doesn't plan on stopping there, she will become his Queen. She plans to achieve that. And she will do anything to get that title.
Time stretched, he didn't say a word, just the flipping pages of the book he was reading filled the air.
Indiana lowered herself, and started pulling off his garment.
" Stop", he ordered.
She halted, staring at him in surprise.
" I didn't call you for that", he said, not sparing her a glance.
" Yes my king", she said and went back to her feet.
" Lady Harriet is in the palace",he announced, now scribbling on the book.
Indiana knows Lady Harriet, he told her.
Damon doesn't trust easily, he hardly gives his trust to people. Indiana is someone who has been with him for years now, and he can't say he fully trusts her but she knows certain things about him. Things she should know, not all.
" She will live in the palace from now on. I gave her the building behind mine. I want you to tend to everything she needs. She isn't comfortable with servants running her errands, make her get used to the palace. And report to me if anything is wrong", he ordered.
He raised his eyes and met her gaze.
Indiana bobbed her head," Yes my king "
" I want her to be comfortable",
" Don't worry your highness. You can trust me with her", she said, a sweet smile plastered on her face.
" Good", he said and returned back to his book.
Indiana stood hesitating whether she should say what was on her mind, Damon is an unpredictable man, she doesn't know how he would take it.
" Do you have anything to say, Indiana?"He asked, not raising his gaze.
She smiled, this is a go ahead for her.
" Yes my king", she replied sweetly.
He said nothing, she went on.
"About the princess your highness", she said and Damon stilled.
She noticed the shift in his mood, she clamped her mouth shut.
" What about her?"He asked, his shoulders tensed .
She blinked, "I'm just curious what would happen to her now? What do your highness plan to do with her ?", She asked.
Damon slowly dropped his ink brush,. raised his gaze to her. His cold eyes pierced through hers. Indiana blinked rapidly, wondering if she had overstepped a boundary.
"Why do you ask Indiana?"He wasn't shouting, but his tone held authority. He doesn't need to shout.
She gulped, suddenly getting nervous. His gaze was cold and deadly.
" I– I'm just curious my king"
Time stretched, their gazes still locked.
"Why are you curious?",he demanded.
" I– I– I'm just worried about your highness.", She said quickly.
" I am no weakling for you to be worried about. I am your king ", he declared, his tone hard and stern.
" No, your highness. No, I will never think of you as such. You are the bravest and strongest man I've ever known. You are ", Indiana stated, and she meant it.
He is the bravest man she's even known. He had waited for decades to get back at his enemy, he had patience. Fighting his demons and going through many adversities just to get to judrith, he really went through hell.
That, she knows so well.
" Don't you ever question me about Sabrina again. I own her, I do what I wish to her. And you Indiana, wil never question me ever again. ", He stated, coldly but calmly. Too calm.
Indiana inclined her head apologetically, "I'm sorry my king"
" Remove your clothes Indiana and get on the bed ", he ordered
_______________________
Lady Harriet walked down the silent hallway, in her hand was a basket full of fruits and vegetables. She hesitated a bit, wondering how she would react. She will be angry, she is very sure of that . And hurt too.
She pushed back her doubts and knocked on the wooden door gently. No response.
" Princess,"she called gently, her way to assure her she was safe with her.
Sabrina kept mute on the other end, her hands clammy, she was nervous.
Is he here again to take her to bed? Then she heard a feminine voice.
He isn't the one, still she was scared to open the door.
" It's lady Harriet" , she heard again
Lady Harriet? She's never met anyone with that name. Did the king send her to hurt her?
No, she won't open the door.
She knocked again, "Open the door. I want us to talk. And I brought you food"
Sabrina hesitated, she can't trust anyone in here. They are all for the king. They all despise her. But she was hungry, the maids came earlier but she was too scared to open the door for them. She can't trust anyone here, when their king is on a mission of revenge, which includes hurting her.
"T–the king sent you", she said, stumbling on her words a bit.
" No, he didn't. " the woman replied '" I promise"
Her stomach grumbled out loudly, reminding how hungry she was.
" Can I trust you?", She furthered. " He– he will hurt me "
" Yes. You can trust me. If you choose to",lady Harriet replied firmly.
She wasn't surprised when the door sprang open, slowly at first then she opened it widely for her to get in. Immediately she got in, she locked the door again from inside.
Now, they stood apart, staring at each other.
" I am lady Harriet"
Sabrina nodded,"You told me that earlier",
Lady Harriet nodded, almost pitying the girl. She looked scared, and tired. She stared at the daughter of the man that killed her husband. She looked so beautiful, more beautiful as people had described her.
Too bad she will bear the wrath of her father's evil deeds. Too bad.
" You should eat first. You look too skinny", she pointed and walked past her to the table.Gently, she laid down the vegetables, fruits and food she brought.
" Come here", she ordered.
Sabrina hesitated, what if one of those were poisoned? Damon hates her that much, her death will mean nothing. She knew from how he treated her that night.
" You think his Highness would kill you this way, he won't. If he would, it will be a painful excruciating death.", She said calmly, her words harsh. She doesn't hate the girl, but she can't help but talk that way.
And it is the truth.
Damon will never give her a painless death.
Sabrina pushed her legs forward, she sat on the chair before her. They sat facing each other.
" Eat "
Sabrina nodded, then she started eating, slowly at first, then she devoured the food. She was too famished to be the sophisticated princess who ate with regality.
Lady Harriet stared at the girl, her face blank but she could not help but pity her. Damon would never spare her, he would break her beyond repair.
This innocent girl doesn't know what was coming for her.