Chapter 5 DINNER WITH THE KING

I found a new beautiful dress laid out for me on the bed as soon as I got out from the bath. The prince had a large bath area installed in his room which was different from my home. I had to leave my room to get cleaned up.

I dried my hair with a thick woolly cloth and my whole body as well. There were sweet smelling ointments in a different set of bottles left on a small stool which I also applied on my body.

I did not see the person who brought the dress. In fact, I did not see much of anyone as I covered myself with my dress. It was a sapphire-coloured dress that clung to my curves and had shiny frills at the helm. Peach tinted glass shoes that fitted me perfectly covered my feet.

I was a bit surprised that anyone knew the size of my feet. When I saw that I looked presentable enough, I nervously sat patiently at the edge of the bed and waited for the prince. I had no idea when the dinner was going to begin or even where.

I was a stranger in a strange palace. I could not tell how long I waited but I was getting bored. I had looked at all the nook and cranny in prince Styx's chamber and locked up every detail in my memory. He was a very vain prince according to the extravagant things in his room.

There was a head of a white bear up in a mantle by his fire place. The face of the bear was etched with one last desperate roar before its head had been cut off. It was a show of how powerful and how adept a hunter he was.

All of a sudden, I wanted to see more of the palace, despite the fact that it was night. Back home, my movement had been strictly restricted so I did not want to take any chances. Maybe I could get a few good looks around before I was locked up. My curiosity was getting the best of me.

I got up from the bed and gingerly walked to the large twin door. I gently pushed it open but found out that it was very heavy. I pushed with a lot of effort before the doors parted. I left the room panting in semi darkness as I turned to my left.

I heard the door closing with a loud clack behind me as I walked through the quiet hall way. It was too quiet and the only sound that came to my ears was the gentle passing winds that blew the pitchers of fire.

The walls were mesmerizing. The shone with exquisite carvings and paintings that told stories. Large men and women on horses, even larger werewolves, Lycans. Was that truly how enormous they were?

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand and I whirled around suddenly. Someone was watching me. I knew because something was stirring me, something that had never stirred before. My wolf.

I had been used to being alone for a long time so I could eerily tell when I was not alone. I knew with certainty that someone was watching.

I peered into the shadows where the lights of the fires could not reach and watched closely. I could not see anything. I called on my wolf sight but still I could see nothing. However, my senses could detect someone lurking in the dark. Why could I not see them? Even with my enhanced eye sight.

I heard angry footsteps behind me and I turned sharply to see who it was.

"Who said you could leave my room?!" Prince Styx demanded. "Do not wander about like you know your way around here." He scolded me in harsh tone.

"I am sorry, I thought I heard someone..."

"Save your sorry excuses," he cut me off. "Follow me." He commanded coldly and turned away, his red cloak swishing behind him.

I obeyed and began to walk but turned my head to peer into the corners of the shadows. I was certain that something was there.

I followed Prince Styx to a large dining hall were the king and his wife with their children were seated. Servants were walking about placing assortments of delicacies on the smoothened large oval decorated table.

The sheer force of power I felt in this dining hall alone was enough to knock me off my feet.

Here sat a family of Lycans.

"Remember what I told you," Styx whispered as we neared the table.

The king glanced at me as I approached the table. "Princess Cassandra of Abalus, welcome to the house of Helios," he said and pointed to a seat beside him. I bowed very low in response.

"Thank you for having me, my king, I am honoured," I replied, still in bowing position.

"Seat," he said and I obeyed.

"I am King Aidoneus," the king said in a proud tone of voice. "Together with my very beautiful wife, Queen Helena, we rule the kingdom of Eldar."

The queen watched me with the same bored curiosity as she picked up a golden goblet of wine.

"I am sure you have acquainted yourself fairly well with my first-born son and prince, Styx," king Aidoneus continued.

I had more than acquainted myself, I knew that he was going to die a very gruesome death. I could feel Styx's eye burning a hole at the side of my head.

"The handsome young lad sitting over there is my second son, Adonis," king Aidoneus said nodding to Adonis who gave me a kind smile but it was insincere.

"And my two beautiful daughters, Elvira the first and Erica the second," King Aidoneus indicated.

Elvira had striking red hair with cold grey eyes like her father, while Erica had chestnut hair with blues eyes like the queen. They both regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and hostility. I knew immediately that they were both going to make my stay here hell.

"Now that the proper introductions have been made, let us feast," King Aidoneus said and everyone dug in. everyone except me.

I looked down at my plate of food and saw how large it was, a well-made steak brimming with smoke and oil.

"Is there something wrong with our food, Cassandra?" Elvira asked, I could hear the mockery in her tone. "Perhaps it is not as good as what you used to have back home?"

"Table manners, dearest daughter, not in front of the guest," queen Helena said gently but I could tell she was in full support of her daughter.

"Nothing is wrong, Princess Elvira," I said politely. "I have not had dinner with people present before."

A shocked silence took over the table.

"She is kept under lock at all times back in her kingdom, it is rather strange," Styx said with a playful smile as he drank from his own cup.

Queen Helena's eyes widened and I knew that she wanted to know more. "Why would your own family lock you away?" She asked as she watched me closely.

I glanced nervously at Styx. There was no way I could answer that question without it leading back to what happened between us on the journey.

"King Priam was keeping her for us," Styx answered a little bit abruptly.

Adonis burst into laughter. "Why in the gods name would he do that?"

"He was owing too much to this kingdom," I replied nervously hoping my explanation would be enough to stop the question. "And he knew that he could not possibly pay you back on time, so he kept me locked up as a collateral should the prince come for payment."

"That is so sad," Erica said with a sneer. It stung me the way she said it.

Adonis shook his head humorously. "Poor kingdoms never cease to amuse me." he chuckled as he spoke.

"Cassandra," King Aidoneus called me. "You may eat."

I nodded thankfully and was greatly surprised by how good it tasted. I did not realize how famished I was until I was almost done. I looked up the disdainful glares from the queen and her daughters.

"Apparently they did not teach you the proper etiquettes of eating too," Elvira muttered with a shake of her head. I knew I was going to get used to the verbal abuse sooner or later, so ignored her and continued eating.

I glimpse at a lone empty chair at the far end of the table and wondered why no one was sitting there.

Queen Helena caught me looking and I looked back down at my food.

Who did the seat belong to?

"That seat is meant for my third son," queen Helena said as if reading my mind.

"Why is he not joining us for dinner?" I dared to ask.

"Because like you, he keeps himself locked away and never comes outs." Styx replied coldly.