Chapter Ninety Five
So many questions clouded my mind–questions about Trian. I always thought he was mysterious, but perhaps I underexaggerated it all. He left me with so many unanswered questions. How had he escaped the Pit? How had he gotten into my room? And how in the hell did he disappear into thin air?
He had asked if I trusted him. I did–more than anyone in my life, though there weren’t many to begin with. He said he would come back for me; he also told me what I would have to do. I didn’t know his plans, but I had no choice but to trust him blindly.
Two days passed. I knew Julia would be visiting anytime from now, but this time I was ready.
The door was pulled open, and she walked in with the biggest smile on her face and a tray of food in her hands. I wasn’t very hungry; two days without food was no big deal to me, and Trian had made sure I was well fed. I knew what I had to do.
“I brought you some food. But as I have told you before, it all comes with a price.” She said, “It’s just one simple task, and this torment–it would be all over, your sins forgotten. That’s not too much to ask, is it? On the contrary, it’s fair…”
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“You are right.” I said, cutting her off and enjoying the surprise on her face; she hadn’t expected me to give in. “I have sinned, I have blasphemed, and I want to be clean again. I was the fool; I should have listened to you, and I am ready to make amendments if you will let me.”
Slowly the look of shock on her face was overcome by the wide smile. “You finally understand. It wasn’t that hard, was it?”
“No. I needed time to realize my mistake. I thank you, Empress, for helping me see just how deeply I had been tainted by sin.”
Her smile broadened even wider if that was possible. “You need to eat; you are weak, and then you will make your confessions.”
“Thank you, Empress.” I said, accepting the food with shaky hands–that was also an act, and I could tell she was falling so miserably for it; it took everything in me to hide my smile. I felt like the queen in a chess game, while every other person in this castle–empresses and regents alike–were merely pawns in my game.
I ate the food like a starved animal, and when I was done, Julia led me to the washroom.
“Clean up and get dressed; I will be back to pick you up in an hour.” She said,
An hour–that was more than enough time. I spent thirty minutes in the bathtub, lost in thoughts of Trian and how enticing of a man he was. Another ten minutes replaying every word he had spoken to me in the room, lingering on the promises he made. The last twenty minutes were spent getting dressed.
In exactly one hour, Julia walked in, seemingly happy to see me all dressed and ready.
“Shall we?” she asked, and I opened my mouth to give a sweet response, but I wonder if overdoing it will bring about suspicion, so I shut my mouth and issued a nod. “Great! They are all waiting.” She announced.
By ‘they‘ she meant the Empress and High Regent. She led me out of my room, down the corridor, and finally into
a hall.
The large circular hall had about fifteen seats arranged on the platform, encircling the center. They all sat, staring down at me–some with disgust, others with curiosity. I lowered my gaze, letting them believe I was submitting
to their will.
+25 BONUS
C
