Chapter 7 Tongue lashed

Chapter 7: Scarlett

"Bee?" Confusion clouded my mind as I stared at the boy, trying to decide if this was a joke or not, but before he could reply, the cook, came to with a basket full of ingredients.

"I am Bantu, the head maid and just like Bee said, we are all at your service too."

My thoughts left the strange new boy and I smiled at Bantu. I collected the basket from him and resumed cooking. More maids joined us and together, we made the food even faster. Not just chicken soup was made, other delicacies like potato puree, baked rice and so many types of salad was done.

At the end, we had a table full of food. It was truly a feast.

They were all giggling to themselves and for a second their joy made me forget about my ordeal. I became more concerned with seeing them happy. I was still lost in their picture they were painting before me when Bantu's voice pulled me out of it.

"My queen, this is a lot. The entire palace can't eat it all. What do we do?"

I moved away from the counter and smiled at him, but before I could speak, Bee beat me to it with his bubbling spirit: "We can always pack them and store in the cooling room. I am sure no one would mind eating chicken soup and some extra rice tomorrow. The guards won't mind." He suggested but I shook my head, I had an even better plan.

"Do you think the people outside would mind eating this?" I asked as I approached the baskets and trays of food.

"No ma'am, they will be thrilled. How many queens have done this for us?" one of the maids asked and other chorused, supporting her opinion, which only added to my conviction.

I clapped my hands and beamed at all of them. "Then, we shall share this food with them. Bring plastic plates," I suddenly requested and as they were brought to the counter, I took the lead and started dishing them out into plates.

Somebody started playing music somewhere and I was sure more than half the palace could hear us. Their excitement was surprising as I knew there was always food in the store -from the look of it-yet they seemed so happy to eat this. Was it just because I joined them or was there an order for them not to eat or touch it?

Looking at them, I didn't want to ask a question that would ruin the moment, rather, I made a mental note to question them later. I packed more than half of the food and placed them in baskets, then handed them to Bee.

"Take this to the people outside the palace. I am sure we have some of them that are hungry or just low on food. Come on."

His face lit up with excitement and some other people volunteered to help with the task.

As they were leaving, I spread my arms and turned to Bantu; "We can then eat the rest."

The kitchen erupted with roars of excitement as everyone started taking out their potions to eat. They didn't even have to thank me; I saw it in their eyes. The shock and appreciation as they ate to their fill. But all the joy came to a standstill as the door burst open.

"What is going on here?" Asher's dark voice suddenly filled the kitchen. He stepped in and I saw Luciano and Stella behind him.

A negative aura filled the entire space as everyone froze in fear not knowing what to do as Asher came towards me with fire in his eyes. But I wasn't moved. I was prepared for everything.

The room was so silent, even a pin dropped could be heard and the closer he got, my heart started racing but I refused to be intimidated. We were in public, I had already won his people's heart over, whatever he did now, was going to play against him. All I had to do was the act the victim.

As he got closer, he grabbed me roughly by the arm and pulled me towards him with rage in his eyes, he growled: "I asked you a question, Scarlett. What the hell is going on here?"

The room went even more silent, and I held back. The eviler he portrayed in front of his people, the better it was going to be for me, I thought. But the silence was suddenly broken, as Stella fell to the ground and cried out.

"My king, I told her to stay in her room, but she refused to listen to me."

As her voice echoed in the heavy bubble of negativity that had filled the kitchen and I couldn't help but turn an arched brow to her. She had her head bowed and even though I couldn't remember her telling me this, I decided to let it go. She was probably too scared to even face Asher and this wasn't her fault, so she had to lie.

"Shut up, Stella! I didn't ask for your opinion." Asher growled and I saw Stella visibly shivering under the intensity of his aura.

"Asher, can we please talk in private. You are scaring your people-" I tried to whisper to him but his hold on me tightened and I was forced to swallow back my words at the pain.

"Do not tell me what to do!" He growled, but I didn't flinch. He was only ruining his own image which was good for me.

His eyes moved over my face like fire, almost like he needed them to burn me, but I stayed strong. As if that triggered him, he dropped my hand and returned his focus to the rest of the kitchen.

"And you!" he growled, heading to the counter where Bantu stood like a lone plant in a dessert not knowing which direction to sway to. "You let her come into my kitchen. Cook for my people and give it to them! Did you for once think that it could have been poisoned?"

My brows furrowed at his petty thoughts, and I was going to defend myself when a crashing sound shook the whole kitchen.

"I do not want any of you eating what she makes! I do not even want her near this kitchen or anywhere near my people!" he hissed, kicking off the rest of the food that survived his first ambush.

I was shocked by his brutal action, but I wasn't surprised. He had lost his mind. He was becoming desperate, and it was a pity he wasn't even seeing it.

Bantu, just like Stella, suddenly fell to the ground and everyone else except Luciano and me, joined him. "Forgive me my king... It would never happen again. Please," Bantu whispered, his voice shaking with fear.

As if that little act appeased Asher, he returned his gaze to me, ignoring the maids: "And you!" he hissed as he came to me.

I didn't speak. I didn't move. I just stood there, waiting for him to reach me. And when he eventually did, he grabbed my arm again but this time, he pulled me out of the kitchen, his breath fuming like a mad wolf as he charged for my room.

He kicked the door open and threw my body roughly to the ground.

"I thought I made it clear to you that your purpose was to give me a damn child, Scarlett! What did you think you were doing outside with my people?" He snarled his finger pointing dangerously at me.

I slowly pulled myself to my feet, dusted my dress and faced him: "If I am to stay in this room until I give you a child, then it means my work here is more of a breeder and not a queen-"

"You are not my queen!" He hissed, cutting off my words before they could even leave my lips. "A child of Talon can never be my queen."

Hearing him say it again, tore my heart all over again but I stood my ground.

"Then I am afraid your evil plan would be ruined even before it even begins, Asher. Because you arranged with my family. You married me as your mate, luna and queen."

Each word I spat out made his face turn bright red and I could almost smell the lava of anger growing through him. But I didn't stop.

"For a man hungry for revenge, you are not very smart. If you insist on reducing me to nothing more than a breeder, then the news would travel faster than you think, and my brother will find out about it-"

The words were barely out of my mouth when he roughly came towards me and pushed me to the wall with all his might: "How dare you speak back to me, Scarlett? Who do you think you are?"

My back was burning but so was my heart.

"I am Lycan Princess and until my last breath I won't let you make mockery of our kind."

His eyes glowed, twisting even darker as the words left my mouth. Time froze and I saw his hand raise to hit me as he yelled my name.