iv

CHAPTER 4

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MARIAH

I blush and look down, so embarrassed that he heard that. He growls again, but it isn’t a threatening one. No, this one sounds almost teasing... playful even. I look up to see him already staring with a soft look in his eyes."Are you enjoying that?" He questions as I take in spoonful after spoonful without complaint. I lick my lips and nod my head, not as scared of him as when I first saw him in his tea room.

"Good, little one. I want you to eat all of it for me. Okay?" He said before handing me the bowl and what is left of its contents. I took it with a sulky face not really feeling like eating anymore. I would never admit, but I enjoyed the feeling I got when he fed me.He stood staring and waiting for a 2 from me. I looked up at him, still unsure but agreed nonetheless "Okay, your majesty" I said but as soon as I glanced at the porridge I didn't feel hungry at all, if felt like I had already eaten my fill.

But I couldn't do anything about it now. His highness has already left and the maid have left me alone with a glass of milk set on the pedestal.I reach for it and too slow careful sips as I look around for something to do and I find it almost instantly as I see the large bookshelf in the corner of the room.The left over porridge is long forgotten .

I had my nose so deep in the old books that took up a whole wall of the room that I didn't even notice when maids walked in. They brought lunch then they  brought a snack at around late afternoon, but they just sat on the table, losing heat. I took no notice of the food and just told the maids to keep leaving it there because they refused to take it away but I wasn't even hungry. I was so used to eating once or twice a day, and usually in small portions, so in my mind I had eaten enough to last me until the next day.

The room door opened and I heard someone walk in, I assumed it was just another maid so I didn't bother looking up."You can leave it on the table next to the other. I promise I'll eat it in a few" I said, absent minded. These books were so unusual, talking about times as if humans were slaves to a more powerful creature. It was the history of a night creature that held the power of illusion. There only weakness, emotion.

The people of the time called it a beast. It was a curse given to the first born son of the Rossetti family. In every generation, the first born was always a son , and they were always cursed. Emotion was there weakness. Anger, love, resentment. These emotions all caused the sons of the family to shift into a creature with blood red eyes and extended fangs, they hunted humans as their prey and sometime even wiped out entire villages in the night.

The sound if someone clearing there throat broke me out if my trance and I shot up to see the king staring at me, anger evident in his eyes."What is this?" He asked gesturing to the sandwiches I had for lunch and the peaches that were brought for me to snack on. I paled as he only seemed to get angrier the longer I took to respond. I dropped to my knees pressing my head to the floor. "Forgive me Y-your majesty, I didn't realise the time." I said as he placed down what seemed to be chicken pasta, the smell of the pasta alone was enough to make my mouth water, but I didn't dare look up to take a peek.

"Arise" he said taking long strides across the room toward me. He stopped in front of me and cupped my face, his blue eyes seeming to change colour as squeezed my cheeks. I didn't realise I was crying until he wiped away my tears with his thumbs. "Its okay". And with that he let go of my face and turned around to sit at the table. I stared at him unsure if he was being truthful or not. "I-it is?" I asked fearfully, stuttering from the thought of him suddenly turning around and snapping my neck.

He looked at me and gave me an unexpected smile. I almost believed it was real. "It is, do you want to know why it's okay? he asked as he moved the plate with the sandwiches  toward me.I nodded me head, standing by the table with my arms wrapped round myself.He stood up and pulled the chair out for me, before placing his hand in the small of my back and guiding me to be seated. I sat down and looked at the sandwich placed before me. It had lettuce and tomato and what looked to be chicken strips and had some type of sauce as well.

I found my mouth watering again as I looked up at the king unsurely."Its okay, because you are now going to sit here until every drop speck of food laid before you is finished and whatever you waste, whatever you don't finish. " he said his voice dropping an octave and suddenly becoming threatening as he grabbed my hair with his hands forcing my head back to look at him " will be shoved down your throat and if you dare throw up, even once, you will be punished for disobedience. Is that understood?"

My eyes went wide with fear as I nodded my head vigorously. He gave me another smile before letting go of my hair and patting it."Good, you may begin." He said before sitting down on the table across from me and beginning to read through what seemed to be important documents.Hesitantly I began to eat the sandwich gobbling it's down as quickly as possible before washing it down with a glass of water.

It tasted amazing and made me groan from pleasure. The bread was soft and whole and the chicken was tender. It was probably the nest meal I had even had in my life.After that came the peaches, I hesitated as I glanced up at the king. He was watching me intensely making me scared to even speak to him. I reached for the chicken pasta instead and moaned even louder than before. It tasted so creamy and delicious and the noodles were so yummy, I even opted when I realized it was finished, but was too full to move anymore.

I looked up at the king to see him already staring at me. "Eat it, Mariah" be ordered darkly and I was too afraid to decline. Tears came to my eyes as I shook my head."No, your majesty, please understand. I can't eat it because I-" but that was all I could say before I was slammed on the bed, his hand in tight grip around my throat."YOU DARE DEFY A DIRECT ORDER. I told you to eat it" he roared prying open my mouth to try and force the peach inside, I turned my head my body suddenly in fight or flight mode as I writhed beneath him. He growled in displeasure turning me around and forcing me to the bed and ripping my dress up my legs.

I screamed in fear my face wet with tears as I turned to fight him off. The first slap descended on my rear among me squeal.What the hell?I turned to look at him with big eyes as my face suddenly turned red."Don't fight me, Mariah" he growled as he spanked me again making me whimper with pain.He kept going hitting my panty clad rear over and over again.My face was red both from embarrassment and exhaustion from trying to fight him off.

"PLEASE, YOUR HIGHNESS. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND " I said my voice thick from crying. My chest heaved with sobs as he suddenly stopped and looked at me with sad eyes."Oh... come one now. Don't cry. I know I didn't hurt you" the king said wiping my face clean. I whimpered as he forced me to turn around and face him. He pushed me down onto the bed and yanked my jaw, forcing my mouth open. He grabbed the peach and took a bite smiling at me as I shook my head furiously, but it was too late he forced the sweet and sour fruit into my mouth  making me swallow it.

It didn't even take a minute before my airways were closing and I began coughing in distress. His face changed from one of anger to worry in seconds as he realized something wasn't right, but it was too late. The damage bad been done and I was left heaving and coughing for even a little breath.