My nerves began to take over as Karina led me through the winding corridors of the castle. I longed for Egon's touch to ease my anxiety.
I shook my head, quickly forcing myself to think of something else. I slowly began to feel strange whenever Egon crossed my mind. Instead of the usual sensation of bliss, my thoughts about him made it feel like my stomach was in knots. It left me feeling nauseous, and oddly, it brought forth an unexpected wave of sadness.
"Throughout the day, the staff rotate between various tasks," Karina started to explain, interrupting my thoughts. "The kitchen staff begins preparing breakfast, while the maids tidy up the common areas of the castle."
Her tone was cheerful, a stark contrast to the intimidating atmosphere of the castle. The flickering torches created an eerie glow along the walls making our shadows dance in a haunting pattern. However, Karina appeared oblivious to it all, skipping almost cheerfully through the corridors.
"As Mrs Percy has just informed you, your primary responsibility will be attending to Lady Blackbridge's needs," Karina continued. "But if she doesn't require your assistance, you'll be helping the rest of the humans."
Suddenly, Karina turned to me, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Speaking of, it's quite unusual to have a human join us omega's, how did you end up working for the Alpha King?" she questioned.
"My father fell ill, and the Alpha King arranged for his transfer to his kingdom for medical treatment. In return, I agreed to serve him," I explained, my voice slightly strained as I repeated the same words I shared with Nadine.
Karina listened attentively, nodding in understanding. "Well, I must say, I'm rather excited to have you join us."
Her kindness brought a smile to my face, perhaps my stay at the castle wouldn't be as bad as I had anticipated.
With a creak, Karina pushed open a door, revealing the gardens I had been in earlier. "Behold, the greenhouses," Karina announced dramatically as she gestured towards the circular structure, entirely made of glass.
I chuckled at her playful demeanour. She started to remind me of Nadine, they'd hit it off for sure.
"Here's where we gather all the fruits, vegetables and herbs for everyone in the castle," Karina explained as we stepped inside.
I was captivated by the diversity of plants, my focus was especially drawn to the variety of flowers and herbs, their intoxicating aromas filling the air. I've never seen so many different plants in one place. I could only dream of owning a greenhouse like this one someday.
"Let's keep going, there's still so much more I need to show you," Karina declared, grasping my hand and leading the way.
Exploring more of the castle grounds, Karina brought me to the stables where dozens of horses and carriages were being stationed. The gardens we encountered next were beautiful, adorned with large fountains that sprayed water in elegant patterns. The area was alive with activity as gardeners tended to the plants, some sculpting hedges into complex designs while others watered the vibrant flowers.
Upon returning indoors, Karina guided me through various chambers. Primarily, they functioned as parlours, but we also encountered a compact library, an armoury, and a chapel.
We proceeded through a narrow tower, descending the staircase towards the kitchens. I had to lift my skirts to avoid tripping over the slippery steps.
"The Alpha King must be quite pleased to have you on his staff," Karina remarked unexpectedly.
I turned to her with a puzzled expression. "How so?"
"Rumour has it, he's been trying to recruit humans for years, but to no avail," Karina replied. "But then again, it's not all that surprising," she continued. "The Alpha King can be quite intimidating. Even for me, a werewolf, his presence is overwhelming. When he's around, I can't help but lower my gaze. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like for you humans."
I remembered what Egon had told me when we were resting in the woods, and given what Karina just said, it seemed true that almost everyone, humans and shifters alike, had a universal reaction whenever they were in Egon's presence, displaying immediate submission or even fear.
However, I didn't feel the same overwhelming sense of power from Egon as she described. Perhaps it was because of the mate bond we shared.
Suddenly we stopped in front of a bustling kitchen. The staff moved around as they busied themselves with what seemed to be preparations for dinner.
People were washing massive piles of dirty dishes, while others polished dozens of crystal glasses until they sparkled. Some were chopping through a mountain of vegetables, swiftly adding them to a cauldron of boiling water. In the centre of it all, a hefty pig rotated on a spit over an open fire.
A few people glanced up as we stepped into the kitchen. Most of them went back to their duties without sparing us another glance, however, I couldn't help but notice that a few were sending hostile looks in our direction, as though we were intruders.
"This is the kitchen," Karina explained, unfazed by the stares. "If we're needed here, it'll mostly be for washing dishes."
I nodded, taking in the lively atmosphere of the room. Suddenly, Karina's attention was drawn to a girl struggling with a heavy sack of potatoes, attempting to hoist it onto the counter. Without hesitation, Karina rushed over to assist her.
"Do you need a hand?" she asked as she effortlessly lifted the sack onto the counter.
I watched in shock as Karina handled the heavy load with ease. It made me doubt Egon's words about Omegas possessing human strength. It seemed he had overestimated the capabilities of the humans.
Suddenly, a whisper sounded from behind me. "A human in the Alpha King's court."
I turned around to find an older woman in a simple brown dress, its fabric soiled with stains from food and grease. "I hope more of our kind infiltrate his court," she continued in a sneering tone as she cast a disdainful glance at Karina, who was still lifting bags onto the counter. "This castle shouldn't be tainted with their kind."
I was taken aback by the woman's cold tone and my gaze shifted to Karina, who remained occupied with aiding the girl. Considering her refined senses as a werewolf, I knew she must have heard the woman's spiteful words. It saddened me to think that Karina might be hurt by her words, especially since she had been nothing but welcoming.
"I think she is very kind," I replied, redirecting my attention back to the woman.
The woman shot me a look of disdain. "Ah, you're one of those, a traitor who welcomes those beasts," she replied before turning away, murmuring to herself.
I was shocked by the woman's prejudiced words, as they didn't match Karina's character at all.
However, with a jolt of realization, I suddenly wondered if I was any different. Did I not often let my own prejudices guide me as well? With a furrowed brow, I pondered over my actions. I had promised myself to open up to Egon's world, but too often the fear of shifters still gripped me. Was this fair of me? Hadn't I been treated well by most shifters so far?
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Karina returned. "Thank you," she whispered softly as she escorted me out of the kitchen.
"I was being honest" I replied to her, offering her a smile.
Karina linked her arm with mine as we continued walking through the castle. "I've never had a human friend before. Will you be mine?"
Her straightforward question caught me off guard, but as I thought about it, her question didn't seem so crazy after all. She was nice and helpful. Besides, I wanted to overcome my fears towards the shifters. I had to take the first step at some point.
"Of course," I answered, my smile widening. "You will be my first shifter friend too."
"How exciting!" Karina exclaimed with enthusiasm. "However, as my first task as your friend I should warn you about Lady Blackbridge," she added, lowering her voice. "I've heard rumours about her. Many girls have left in tears due to her strict demands. It's best if you're prepared."
I nodded in silence, fearing the consequences if I failed. What would Egon and I do if I couldn't remain here?
Karina and I stopped before a grand, ornate door. "These are Lady Blackbridge's chambers," Karina explained in a hushed tone. " I'm not often in this area of the castle, so I can't offer much of a tour, but she's likely in her bedroom." With that, she motioned for me to follow as she led the way.
With a gentle push, Karina opened the bedroom door and cleared her throat softly to announce our presence to the young woman lounging on the sofa.
The woman turned to face us, and I couldn't help but marvel at her beauty. Her long blonde, almost white hair cascaded down her back, each strand seemingly gleaming with care and attention. Her icy blue eyes sparkled, framed by delicate lashes. She wore an exquisite deep blue gown adorned with pearls, her attire clearly designed for luxury rather than functionality.
Her expression shifted suddenly, and she regarded Karina and me with furrowed brows. "Ah, my new maid. Splendid." Without another word, she turned away dismissively.
Karina glanced at me apologetically, mouthing 'good luck' before departing.
Left uncertain of what to do, I hesitated in the doorway.
"Well, shouldn't you be doing something? Perhaps brushing my hair or summoning the seamstress for an additional gown?!" The young woman suddenly snapped at me without even bothering to look in my direction.
Taken aback by her tone, I wondered why she would make such odd requests in the middle of the day, especially when her hair was already so flawlessly arranged.
But glancing around hastily, I spotted a vanity table to my right. Hastening over, I retrieved a brush from the drawer and approached her silently.
She lifted her gaze as I approached and rolled her eyes when she noticed the brush in my hand. "Are all the maids my father hires this foolish? My hair is already perfect, isn't it?"
Caught off guard, I stammered, "But I thought you said—"
Lady Blackbridge sighed irritably. "I know what I said," she murmured and an awkward silence followed. "You can fetch me some tea," she suddenly commanded, her voice sounding tired.
I nodded quickly and hurried out of the room, back through the corridors towards the kitchens.
As I turned the corner, I suddenly ran into a hard wall. I looked up as I rubbed my aching nose and saw Maliah's kind face looking down at me, her expression brightened with surprise when she noticed me. "Esmara! How are you?"
Her gaze swept over my dress and recognition could be seen in her eyes. "Ah yes, I heard you've joined the Alpha King's staff," she said as she pointed towards the closed door behind her.
From her gesture, I realized Egon must be behind that door. "Is he in there?" I asked her with a hoarse voice, my heart pounded rapidly in my chest.
"Yes, we just finished with the meeting. I've recently been appointed as Delta in his pack. It's been my dream to join the Royal Guards as a warrior," Maliah replied with excitement.
"Congratulations, Maliah! That's truly amazing," I exlaimed, feeling a surge of sincere happiness for her achievement. I hadn't been aware of the existence of Royal Guards, but it wasn't surprising given Egon position in their world. Once again, I realized how little I truly knew about his world and I felt a growing desire to change that.
Nonetheless, dwelling on that would have to wait, as Maliah might be able to provide answers to the questions that had been consuming me all day. "Have you heard anything about the situations with the skinners?" I asked her, hoping she could shed some light on the matter.
"Oh yes, the Alpha King mentioned you were there too," Maliah exclaimed with widened eyes, then her expression shifted and she looked at me apologetically. "However, I'm afraid I can't say anything about it. I'm sorry."
Disappointed, I nodded. I'd have to wait until I saw Egon to ask him about it. I could also ask Rolf or Leif, but since I hadn't caught a glimpse of either of them, I began to doubt if they were indeed keeping an eye on me as they promised. Was it even possible for them to keep watch over me here in the castle?
Suddenly, the door behind Maliah swung open and a group of people stepped into the hallway, with Egon emerging last.
His eyes widened slightly as they met mine, and I caught a subtle sparkle in his gaze.
I found myself staring openly at him, a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through me. In my mind, I knew I should look away, show him the same submission as everyone else around him did. But my body seemed unwilling to comply with my thoughts, and I remained frozen, unable to tear my gaze away. The knot that had been forming in my stomach seemed to vanish completely as if it had never been there at all.
"Can you find Leif and ask him to come to my chambers?" Egon suddenly questioned Maliah, breaking the spell I was in. He ignored me entirely, and a pang of sadness washed over me.
Yet, I understood that he played his role and I was grateful for his strength in treating me as if I were unimportant for him. If it were up to my feeble resolve, the entire continent would know of our bond by tomorrow.
"Yes, Alpha King," Maliah responded respectfully before stepping away.
Egon nodded at me and walked off. However, I felt his fingers gently brush against mine as he passed me by, sending a wave of tingles coursing through me and making me feel at ease again.
With a sigh, I hurried towards the kitchens, swiftly collecting everything I required before returning to Lady Blackbridge's chambers. I tried to be as careful as possible in my haste, making sure not to spill any of the hot water on my hands.
"Here's your tea, my Lady," I announced as I stepped back into the bedroom.
"Thank you," Lady Blackbridge responded.
Just as I was about to ask if there was anything else she needed me for, she quickly grabbed an item from the table in front of her and turned towards me.
"Could you deliver this package to this address?" She asked as she handed me a small box along with a note.
I looked at the note in panic, my eyes widening. This morning, I had spent hours asking strangers on the street for help to find an address. Did I have to go through that again?
Lady Blackbridge looked at me thoughtfully, noticing the panic on my face. "What, can't you read or something?" she remarked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
Her expression softened when I remained silent, probably realizing she must be right. "Oh, that's alright," she said gently, softly clearing her throat before continuing. "You need to go to the outskirts of Blackbridge, on the east side of the town," she instructed, the apologetic expression she just had was now gone, however, her demeanour appeared softer than before. "An older woman will be waiting for you there, she has a black ribbon tied around her arm. Tell her I sent you. After that, you can go home. I won't need you for the rest of the day."
I wondered what was in the box, but I nodded silently at her words and hurried back through the castle corridors to head outside.
I followed Lady Blackbridge's instructions as I made my way back to the busy streets of Blackbridge. It seemed that this place was always alive, regardless of the time of day.
The sun was slowly setting when I approached the outskirts of the city, I scanned my surroundings for a woman matching Lady Blackbridge's description. In the distance, I spotted someone with a black ribbon tied around her arm. I quickly darted towards her.
I gently tapped the woman on the shoulder, causing her to turn around with a surprised look on her face.
"Excuse me," I began, "I have something for you on behalf of Lady Blackbridge."
She took the box from my outstretched hand and nodded in gratitude before walking away.
As the woman disappeared into the distance, I slowly looked around, furrowing my eyebrows as I took in the state of my surroundings.
I stood near the entrance of something that looked like a camp. However, the campsite was filled with worn tents. Some were patched together with various fabrics, others torn, with gaping holes revealing the bleak interior.
People were sitting outside the tents, looking sick and exhausted. Some coughed violently, while others sat in silence, their vacant stares fixed on nothing.
In a daze, I entered the camp, my heart breaking with each step as I witnessed the dire conditions around me. Was this the camp Nadine had mentioned earlier?
The sound of babies crying filled the air, their wails echoing mournfully as their mothers looked on helplessly. Children wandered about in tattered clothing, many without shoes, their tiny feet scraping against the sharp stones on the ground.
As I glanced to my left, I noticed a child suddenly started vomiting uncontrollably. His mother looked on in terror, unsure of what to do. Without a second thought, I rushed over to them.
"Turn him onto his side," I instructed urgently, crouching down beside them. "He will choke if you don't."
The mother nodded frantically, her hands trembling as she complied with my instructions. Meanwhile, I gently brushed the sweat-soaked hair away from the child's face, trying to provide some comfort amidst his distress.
After the child had finished vomiting, I carefully turned him onto his side and knelt beside him, concern etched on my face. "What is wrong with him?" I asked the woman, my voice laced with worry.
The woman shook her head, her eyes filled with anguish. "He's been complaining of stomach pain for days," she replied, her voice trembling. "He won't eat anything and his belly... it's so swollen."
My heart sank at her words, dread pooling in the pit of my stomach. "We need to get him help," I said urgently, glancing around the makeshift camp in desperation. "Is there a doctor nearby? Someone who can help?"
"They don't come here for people like us," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut and I looked at the helpless boy in her arms. I couldn't leave the child in such a vulnerable state.
"I'll help him," I vowed, my voice firm with determination as I turned back to the mother. "We can't leave him like this."