I didn't lower my gaze.

I think I wouldn't have been able to even if I wanted to.

Clear amber eyes held mine as if in challenge. And even though I knew what stupidity I was doing, staring him in the eyes when I was a slave and he was a Shifter General, I couldn't help but feel captured with his eyes.

I had felt them on me.

Had felt him observe me and when it got the best of me, I risked eye contact. Clearly, it was a mistake.

A beautiful mistake.

No!

Considering who the owner of the most captivating amber eyes I had seen in my life so far was, I couldn't feel anything towards him but hate. But he had beautiful eyes. Platinum blonde hair sat ruffled atop his head and falling over his forehead. Tanned skin and high cheekbones, a slight scar ran down his neck. He looked fearsome.

Ugh, stop it, Cara!

The knowledge that the person who had been my captor was none other than the Shifter General of the Vampire Army had left me jarred and slightly anxious.

I knew it was him - the man who was dark and dangerously handsome, the one who had left me stupefied in the forest clearing - the second I heard his sensual voice and the manner in which the Queen addressed him. Being in the presence of such a creature of fear and power while you're being presented in front of the freaking Queen for an assessment was enough to make me question my sanity.

I'd also noticed the brief exchange between him and one other man that looked like a snake. They seemed to hate each other. I filed away the information for future use.

When the lines moved ahead, I slowly lowered back my eyes and broke the contact, instead staring at the polished floor beneath my feet.

His eyes, though predatory, seemed like they were a story waiting to be read. And the scary part was, I think I wanted to read him. They just made me so curious. Nothing more.

I think my mind is turning delusional in order to cope with how wrong things ended up being.

General Lucien radiated unchallenged power and authority like the Queen's. I could almost feel it in my bones. Combined with that of the Queen's malicious presence, the air felt stuffy for a whole new reason.

And I had no doubts that breathing was difficult for me because of exactly those reasons.

Despite my better judgement, I couldn't calm my heart down or stop my hands from turning clammy or the unbridled fear from washing over me.

Give them power enough to fool them, but never enough to lose yourself.

I chanted in my mind.

Pointless rage and fear coursed through me. General Lucien had found me and ruined everything! The sudden anger I felt but couldn't express was quickly subdued when I found myself in the front line of the slaves and Queen Kesla looked over.

The line started moving again and I kept my head lowered but a voice stopped every movement and a sudden chill ran up my spine.

"You."

That's all Kesla uttered but somehow I knew it was meant for me, so I froze to the spot. Angst and fear washed over me in waves causing my heart to race like a galloping horse running for his life. I clasped my hands tightly in front of me.

"The rest can leave." The Queen flicked her hand in a dismissive motion and everyone compiled.

No! NO! No! This can't be happening! What did I do?!

Had Lucien informed the queen of my escapade? But how? And why? And why would the queen care if that was indeed the case? Or was it my clothes that called for her attention?

But then again, no one would want to know this story if it wasn't unusual. Though I am yet to know why.

Sweat ran down my temple as I felt both the General's and the Queen's eyes on me.

I wouldn't look up, I wouldn't look up, I wouldn't look up---

The room emptied out and the only people left were me, the queen, one of her her handmaids and the General.

---And I looked up.

I don't really know what I was intending to find, but it wasn't a look resembling something akin to triumph etched onto the Queen's regal looking features. Her dark eyes were trained on me so I lowered my gaze.

"She'll be staying in the stables." Kesla addressed Lucien with a turn of her head even as she kept looking at me. "And Inform Milla she'll be having an addition." She moved her hand and the only handmaiden behind her bowed.

Wait......did she just say......?

The stables?

I'm sorry, I think I'm just confused......and in a hysterical state. Are the stables so special?

I mean, okay, in the stories isn't it something like, give her a room or she'll be the prince's personal maid or something like that? Not that I'm complaining. The horses would be an upgrade as compared to maids sharing a room with me or having to deal with a rotten Prince. I'll have peace to plot my escape. But still, she's degrading me to live in the stables instead of normal maid or slave quarters perhaps, so there has to be a reason.

I slightly glanced at Lucien who seemed to be bringing out the rebel within me to the surface and I saw him wearing an odd look. Almost like he felt.......surprised.

So....

I'm guessing I'm in trouble? This definitely doesn't happen regularly.

"What's your name?"

The question straight from the Queen caught me off-kilter and my eyes turned to look at Kesla. With a calculatedly calm voice, I replied: "Cara."

She smiled slightly as if reminiscing something then turned to the handmaiden, "Get her a maid uniform. Take her with you and bring her back. Lucien will take over from there."

Her words didn't only seem to have surprised me, Lucien blinked and his eyebrows rose slightly before he locked eyes with me again.

Something........something I couldn't put my finger on, fogged those clear amber eyes and I gulped.

I couldn't ponder anymore before the handmaid was by my side and leading me out of the Hall. I felt dazed as she took us to a room and within a few minutes of moving and gathering stuff in the vast closet type room, handed me some clothes in shades of blue and burgundy. The maid uniform, I suppose.

I slightly frowned. If I remember correctly, those were the colors in the Celeran crest of the burgundy cape and the streak of blue lightning in the middle.

"Those should fit." The mousy haired tall girl (I'm guessing she's a half vampire) gave me a small smile and I blinked at the gesture.

I opened my mouth but no words came out and I struggled to remember why I was even bothering to say something because no matter how nice the person might seem, I clearly abided by the rule that what meets the eye isn't always the truth in this world.

With that, she placed a pair of burgundy colored pumps onto the bundle of clothes in my hands as well and just like that we were back in front of the doors of the Great Hall before I could process much of what just happened.

The handmaid seemed to have vanished by the time I lifted my eyes off the newly acquired clothes.

I looked at the closed door.

What the hell were Lucien and the Queen discussing? Is it just me or does something seem pretty off?

Like the beginning of something dreadful......

And just then, the door opened and out walked the General. I pursed my lips and held his amber eyes despite knowing the weight of my action.

"Follow me."

Lucien seemed amused for some reason and I didn't like it. Not one bit.

He walked ahead and I bit my inner cheek, following him, trying to stop myself from saying or doing something I would regret because the more I looked at him, the more my urge to yell and simply hit him upside the head increased.

He is so bringing out the buried rebel within me.

I don't want him to meet that side of me just so I can die. Hell, I don't even want to be here! I was supposed to be in one of Adalda's safe havens by now! My blood boiled.

Suddenly he stopped. "Oh, and...." He looked over his shoulder at me wearing an amused smirk. "You can keep this."

I frowned, confused before he held my bejeweled dagger over his shoulder for me to take. I blinked and scurried to take it because whatever suspicions this behavior might be raising for me, I wasn't going to turn down my weapon. In this place, I needed everything I could get my hands on in order to survive.

But....why and what the hell?

Is he in his right mind though? Who would be stupid enough to give a slave - especially one you caught escaping - a weapon that could stab him in the back?

No, seriously.

I feel more than just infuriated and angry and confused and...I'm being sent to live in the stables for god's sake! I'm crazy for trying to find humor in this situation

And just because I was confused and turning delusional and sarcastic me wanted to take a jab at my captor any way I could, I blurted out. I already regret the audacious words my mind just cooked up because--

"What the hell is wrong with you, Lucien?"

Ooops.

Did I just solidify my death? I thought I was planning on laying low, right? Right? I'm just a simple slave, aren't I?

Could you please put orchids on my grave? Those are my favorites!

Where the hell did my voice of reason vanish off to when I needed its reasoning the most???

•○•

AN~

If you think the chapters are short, don't worry they will keep getting longer lol.

Thanks 4 reading so far hope you keep up! Vote, comment and follow!

~Skyler