Chapter 2 THE SELECTION

My eyes scanned the hall, watching the other maids race into the hall. We didn't have to wait long when we heard the familiar footsteps of the head maid walking into the hall, but she wasn't alone. She walked in with two massive men and a lady. The three of them stood behind her while her eyes peered around the room.

Taking her time, she carefully inspected each and every one of us, occasionally nodding her head, and the lady behind her would jot down something on a piece of paper without any of them uttering a word.

That was one of their gifts; they were able to communicate through their minds. You might be wondering how I knew this. It was all thanks to Tatiana. I had no clue how she was able to know so much about them, but she did. It was like she was watching every move of theirs.

I kept my head down like the rest of the maids. You could smell the tension in the air since none of the beasts were saying anything.

"Heads up," Madam Perrine ordered, and we complied, lifting our heads up. " Like I told you yesterday, there will be a routine change done today." She starts, her cold eyes scanning us as she paces up and down. In front of us, both hands are put at her back.

" Some of you would remain working here, going back to your old jobs. While the lucky few would be sent to the King's Palace."

Lucky few!

She can't be serious, right?

How is being sent to the King's Palace an act of luck or any form of privilege? It was a death sentence to us humans because only a few make it past the first day before they end up being killed or killed themselves.

So how could she stand there spitting those words in our face, like we should be grateful and grovel at their feet?

Yet again, here I was screaming inwardly. My hand formed a fist behind my back and my jaw clenched.

I looked back towards the head maid and found her glancing at me. Her eyes stayed on me for some time, and I was sure I had ceased breathing.

I could feel my palm being too sweaty, and I unclutched it, resisting the urge to rub it on my dress.

She snapped her gaze away from me, looking back to the centre of the room, and she cleared her throat, preparing to speak again.

"We are yet to decide who will be going and who is to stay, but hopefully the decision will be made before the end of the day." There was a small pause. " Carry on with your work, and you will be called back when it's time for the announcement to be made. You are all dismissed."

Just as she had come into the room, she left with the three beasts trailing behind her. The moment they were out of sight, there was another outbreak of conversion among the maids, and just like yesterday, I was left alone by myself.

I stood there rooted in my spot, watching as the rest of the maids communicated with each other, expressing their fear of being chosen as a maid in the King's Palace.

Deciding it was best to have breakfast and start the day's work instead of pondering about where I would be assigned to or not.

There were up to a thousand human maids in the palace in general, so the chance of me getting picked would be 0.0001 per cent.

I have been here since Bath, and I never got picked, so I doubt I would now.

The kitchen, like the hall room, was filled with chatter. The maids made guesses among themselves about who was likely to get selected and who wasn't.

Like usual, I stayed out of it, not joining in their chatter while devouring the bread and tea given to us. Breakfast went by faster, so I carried on with my task for the day, not bothered about the routine. I am confident I won't get selected.

I was tasked with helping out in the kitchen for the day, which meant I was in charge of doing the dishes. I did the dishes while those in charge of cooking prepared food for the royal, consisting mostly of meat.

By the time I was done washing the plates, the cooks began making lunch, yet the talk about the King's Palace still carried on.

" I don't think I would mind being taken to the King's Palace." One of the maids says, cutting the vegetables. " Carrie's cousin's friend's sister was assigned to the King's Palace. Two years ago, and she won't stop gushing to Carrie about how handsome the king was; he had not only his kind but also the female humans swooning after him, trying to get him to notice them."

" I would be quiet if I were you." The maid beside her says, nudging her shoulders. She points towards Saoirse, who was clearly listening in on their conversation. Her lips pursed down in a frown, a dead glare sent to the maid who had been talking.

I rolled my eyes, looking at how dramatic and equally stupid she was being right now. It was obvious she was making a claim on the devil king when she wasn't even certain if she would get selected or not.

Not that I mind. At least if she does get chosen, then we wouldn't have to worry about seeing her again.

" What appears to be amusing, Micaela?" Saoirse's cold tone brought me out of my thoughts. I didn't realise my lips were raised in a smirk, with the rest of the maids staring at me.

" No.....nothing." I stuttered out, keeping my head down.

That was who I was, a coward. I couldn't stand up to myself, except to rant about it in my head.

" Thought so," she scoffed, sending the maid one last glare before storming out of the kitchen.

"Ugh.... Do I hate her?" One of the maids says, looking at the door. " Who does she think she is? I think she needs a reality check to know she is just a human and nothing more."

" You know she sleeps with them willingly, having some guards wrapped around her fingers." Another voiced out, siding with the first maid.

" I think it's best we all get back to work instead of discussing what Saoirse does and doesn't do." An elderly maid says, butting in on the conversation. " You do know we have a deadline to meet."

Her words put an end to the conversation, with the rest of the maids carrying on with their work.

When we were done with our respective works, we were called back into the hall where Madam Perrine was going to give us the final decision about the routine change.

We stayed in lines, waiting for her to come into the hall for the second time that day. Like in the morning, we didn't have to wait long before she walked with the same trio trailing behind her.

"Heads up." She commands. " The decision has been made concerning the routine change. Prior to my announcement earlier today, a selected few have been chosen to work in the King's, while some of you get a new task given to you."

"The list would be placed on the table over there." She points to a small table at the side of the entrance of the hall. " You are expected to check where you have been assigned to and be prepared the next morning. That's all for today." The head maid gave us one distasteful look and then left the hall with her entourage following behind her as the female among them placed a paper on the table, walking out.

We all moved in line to the table, checking out the list. I kept my focus on the table, my heart beating faster with each step I took.

I sighed when it got to my turn, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I never knew I would be this scared to check my name on the list.

Slowly I peeled my eyes open, looking down at the list. My finger traced down the name, and I gulped when I got to mine.

Micaela Whitlock.

I traced my name, moving my finger to the right side.

The King's Palace.

No,

Please, no.

This can't be real.

I can't be assigned to the King's Palace; this was all a dream. A bad dream.

I could feel my heart beating rapidly along with the panic that sat at the back of my throat.

"Can you move out of the way so that the rest of us can check the list? Instead of standing there being dramatic." Saoirse, venomous voice, spat behind me.

I didn't get the time to move out of the way since the queen bee thought it was funny to push me aside, catching me off guard. Losing my footing, I fell flat down on the floor, my butt hitting the floor hard.

A loud groan escaped my lips. I stayed seated on the floor, trying to ease the pain, knowing for sure that it would bruise.

After managing to lift my body up a little, a loud shriek filled the room, and I was pushed back down with more force than before.

My teeth clenched tightly together, holding back a groan. I felt a figure tower over me, causing me to lift my head up, coming face to face with Saoirse's pissed-off face.

" I don't get it. Why would they pick you when clearly I'm a better fit than you? Why, why, why......." She screamed, straight in my face.

" Do you think I wanted to get picked?" I whispered, looking at her dead in the face. " I prefer enduring whatever tutelage given to me here rather than being on the other side of the palace."

She scoffed, folding her hands to her chest. " I guess you won't be pleased. I guess it's best to say your last prayer. There is no way you are going to make it through the day." She smirked cockily. " Good luck, not."

Saoirse rolled her eyes, walking out of the hall with Roselani following behind her.

The other maids passed by me; some gave me a cold smirk while others held pity.

I got up from the floor and dragged my legs out of the hall, down the stairs, going back to my room.

There was no way I would have any appetite to eat – not after the list. I walked to the bed, lying on it without getting out of my uniform.

My body was cooped up like a foetus, my hands hugged my body, and I lay there thinking about what my fate might be.

Numbness filled my body; my mind refused to work. I didn't know if it was due to confusion, fear, denial, or the three put together.

Saoirse was right; there was no way I could last a day.

I was going to die.

I guess my time was up; maybe it won't be such a bad idea. Now, I can finally join my family and Tatiana in paradise, if there was one.