Solena

I was led to a mighty door made of gold that shined like a diamond. I guessed this place was meant only for the royal family. The presence surrounding it was different; it spoke volumes. I wondered what awaited me inside.

The very thought that, from here on, my fate would be decided by strangers in a strange and magical land where hate was the only thing I had felt since arriving was terrifying.

The door opened, and what welcomed me was a massive hall with three thrones. The man who claimed to be my father sat on the middle throne. On one of the other thrones sat a woman whose presence commanded respect. She was dressed in fine clothing and adorned herself with all sorts of jewelry: diamonds, gold, silver, rubies, and every other gem you could think of.

“The human, my King,Sentinel announced.”

“You may go now, Sentinel. But stay nearby in case you’re needed,” the woman spoke this time.

“Yes, my Queen,” he said with a bow before exiting.

I couldn’t stop trembling, knowing that whatever happened here would now depend on these two people who already looked at me like I was a threat. But why the hell was I getting that feeling? Just by looking at them, it was obvious they had everything they could ever want. So what did they want from someone like me?

“Is that how you greet your King, you filthy human?” the woman suddenly roared.

“I... I’m sorry, ma. I don’t know how this works. Where I come from, there’s nothing like this,” I said, barely able to control my fear.

“Then you will learn. You are not in your world, young lady. You are in the presence of King Marcus, ruler of the Western Kingdom of Velmoura, the greatest kingdom in history.”

“Let her be, my Queen. She’ll learn to respect our traditions. If not for that damn Seer, she wouldn't even be here. I would've had her executed by now,” the King said coldly.

None of this made sense. All I wanted was to go home to my mum. I had started regaining my memory, but I still wasn’t sure how I got here in the first place. I hoped, in time, it would all come back to me.

“Now you wretch,” the Queen snapped, “you will do exactly as we say. I am Queen Beth, wife of the great King Marcus, your stepmother and honey, just know you’re here for a treat.”

Her words pierced my heart like a sword.

“You will live as a maid and obey my every command. No questions, and no stupid attempts to run. I promise you, little thing, you won't get far. And in case you're wondering why you’re here, I’ll keep it simple: you have something I want. And I won't let you go until I get it... even if it costs you your sorry little life.”

By now, she was standing beside me, gripping my jaw with sharp fingers. But the pain from her touch was nothing compared to what her gaze did. It was like she was prying open my mind and stabbing it from the inside. Just as I tried to pull away from her, the door suddenly burst open.

“What the hell is this rumor about a human girl who is Father’s child, Mother?” a voice shrieked in horror.

Her features were similar to the Queen’s, only younger and less intimidating.

“Tasha! How dare you enter the King’s hall without being summoned?” Queen Beth snapped.

“That doesn’t answer my question, Mother. Father. I demand an explanation!”

Just when her father opened his mouth to speak, she turned sharply in my direction, eyeing me with disgust.

“Is she the illegitimate human child?” she asked, studying me like a puzzle she needed to solve.

“Yes, Tasha. And you don’t need to worry about her,” the Queen replied. “Trust your father I have everything under control.”

“Oh, please. She looks harmless,” Tasha said with a smirk. “I want her. Knowing Mother, she probably planned to make her a maid anyway. So send her to my court. Kairos will put her through.”

She turned to leave but paused to glance back at me.

“You’ll regret coming here, little bunny.”

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. I looked toward my supposed father, hoping for some hint of support but all I saw were empty eyes. No pity. No love. I was completely alone.

“Do you think it’s wise to send her to Tasha?” the King asked, his eyes showing a flicker of concern.

“What the hell do you mean by that? My daughter can handle this little thing. And I’ve already told you as long as she isn’t exposed to the stone, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Now you,” Queen Beth growled, turning to me, “make sure you follow every instruction and never give my daughter any trouble... or I will have your head.”

The cold floor scraped against my heels as they dragged me down the dim hallway. My arms ached, tied behind my back, and I stumbled once, twice, but neither of the guards holding me so much as flinched. Their grip was like iron, silent and unmoving.

I didn’t know where I was being taken, but every step farther from that storage room filled my chest with growing dread. The palace walls felt like a maze too big, too grand, too terrifying. The corridors were lined with high arched windows that let in soft gray light, casting long, eerie shadows on the stone floors. I tried to keep my eyes down, tried not to meet the glares of servants we passed, their whispers biting into my skin like cold wind.

“She’s the one, right?”

“The human girl.”

“They say she’s cursed.”

I swallowed, hard.

Eventually, we stopped in front of a tall, ornate double door carved wood, glinting gold, the handles shaped like twin snakes. A guard knocked once, then pushed it open. The door creaked with slow reluctance, and the sharp scent of incense filled my nose.

They shoved me inside.

The room was enormous, lavish and warm-toned, lined with flowing curtains and delicate cushions scattered across the marble floor. It was too extravagant to feel real, like something from a dream. But the silence in it? That felt real. Heavy. Watching.

Several girls stood near the far end, court ladies in their robes. Their laughter died the moment they saw me.

I stood there, out of breath, filthy, wrists bound, and face bruised and every single one of them looked at me like I’d tracked mud through a holy temple.

“Well, well,” one of them sneered, stepping closer. She was tall and willowy with hair pinned high in a golden crown of braids. “So this is the rat they dragged in from the dungeon.”

The other girls giggled.

“I thought she’d have two heads or glowing eyes or something,” another mocked. “Doesn’t even look like she belongs in a barn, let alone here.”

“She probably smells like one.”

Their laughter echoed again. My hands clenched behind my back, fingers digging into my skin. I wanted to shrink, to disappear, to claw my way back through that door.

But then I noticed one girl in the corner quiet, not laughing. She was petite, with dark waves pinned back from her soft face. Her eyes were a calm gray, the only pair not filled with disdain.

She took a step forward, then another, gently brushing past the others. Her voice was soft but clear.

“Princess Tasha will be here shortly,” she said, ignoring the snickers. “Let’s get her cleaned up.”

One of the girls scoffed. “She’s not worth the effort.”

“She’s not here to impress anyone,” the quiet girl replied coolly, then looked straight at me. “Come. I’ll help you.”

I hesitated. For a moment, I expected it to be a trick, a setup for more humiliation. But her expression held no cruelty, just... understanding.

She reached for the rope around my wrists. “May I?”

I gave a small nod.

As soon as the knot loosened, I winced. The blood rushed back into my hands, tingling, burning. She helped me rub circulation back into my fingers while the others rolled their eyes.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

She gave a small smile. “I’m Kairos.”

Before I could respond, the door slammed open.

The tension in the room tripled.

And then I saw Princess Tasha.

She strutted in as if the air itself parted for her. Her gown shimmered with every movement, jewels glittering at her throat, her lips painted a deep crimson. But it was her eyes that made my breath catch sharp, icy, and already narrowed at me like I was a stain on her rug.

“So,” she drawled, stopping just a few steps away. “This is the stray.”

Nobody spoke.

Tasha circled me slowly, her perfume heavy and sweet, her voice louder now, mocking. “You brought this... thing into my chambers? I said I wanted a slave, not a sewer rat.”

The girls laughed again. All but Kairos.

“I don’t want to see her face unless she’s on the floor scrubbing it.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” someone said quickly.

I stood there, rooted in place. Rage bubbled beneath the fear but I bit down hard on it. This wasn’t the time.

Tasha stopped directly in front of me, eyes narrowing. She leaned in, almost nose to nose.

“There’s something familiar about you,” she said, voice low. “But don’t get any ideas. You’re nothing here.”

She turned and walked off without another glance.

My hands trembled. My knees felt weak. But I stood tall.

Kairos came up beside me again, her tone softer now. “She’s like that with everyone,” she said under her breath

“Try not to let her get to you.”

“Too late.”

She gave me a sympathetic look and reached for a folded cloth from the corner. “Let’s start with your face. I’ll show you where you’ll be staying after.”

I didn’t respond.

But for the first time since I’d woken up in this nightmare, I felt something other than fear.

I felt… a flicker of hope.