LARA’S POV
“I am sorry, Chamlar, I didn’t get you,” I said with a bow.
She repeated. “I have ordered for some slaves to be captured, and the warriors would be returning with them today. I need you to go over the captives and pick the best out of them for me” she said word for word.
I was astonished. I had almost thought that I had not heard her clearly the first time but I was wrong, she meant every bit of what she had said. She was lying down on her bed while Mia was applying some ointment on her legs. I sat on the stool beside her listening to her instructions.
“How… how many are you… my Chamlar expecting?” I stuttered
not knowing if it was in my place to ask such a question.
“A hundred of them” she replied nonchalantly.
I gasped, is she been serious? The Scarlet that I know, the one that I lived my whole life with would never succumb to the idea of owning a slave. And all along I had believed that this whole thing about the slaves was a big joke, one the Scarlet would never mention. For months no one had mentioned it and I was silently grateful for that.
“Okay, Chamlar” I murmured and began to look around not knowing if to move forward or backward, but then I have to wait for her direction.
“You will be in charge of them,” she announced.
“Huh… sorry, Chamlar” I stuttered in discomfort.
“What is wrong with you, Lara?’ she finally looked up at me from the bed.
“I am sorry, my queen” I apologized.
“I place you in charge of my slaves. And who else would do that anyway, you are my right hand…” she paused. “You and Rich are my right-hand men”
I blushed. “Thanks, Chamlar. But I was…” I stopped.
“Go ahead, Lara” she ordered without looking up.
“I am sorry, Chamlar, but I was wondering if you really need them, I mean the slaves?” I asked.
She looked at me and smiled. “There is a whole lot you need to learn, Lara”.
She raised her head. “So answer me, what were you at the Mansion?” she asked.
I was wondering what she was getting at, and I hesitated a little. “Ehm… a servant, your servant… personal maid of course”
She laughed briefly. “Were we any different from slaves?” she looked at me for an answer and when she got none, she continued. “It was just a matter of nomenclature, Lara, we were worse than slaves”
I inhaled deeply as all we went through at the mansion flashed through my face. All we had to bore, the pains we had to go through, days of endless torture, the fear mixed with uncertainties. They all came back to me in the form of a heavy hurt.
I felt the hurt ravage my stomach and then made its way to my chest. And gradually, it felt as if the hurt was trying to force its way down my throat and I immediately longed for water to quench the complete dryness in my throat.
“Excuse me, Chamlar” I requested with a coarse voice.
she smiled and gave me a nod.
With the quest for water getting outrageous, I curtsied before her and hurried away.
*
SCARLET’S POV
I was having a meeting with Chamlee and some of the elders at the inner hall when one of our warriors entered, staggering and trying to restrain the blood that was gushing out from the side of his ribs.
I stopped the meeting immediately I saw him and stood up from my chair.
“Chamlar, Chamlar…” he called.
I could tell that he was one of the warriors that were sent to the battle with the Titans. He must have returned with some news, some not too good news. I could tell from the way he appeared that our armies are slowly defeated. Rage built up in me, all I hungered for was to bring the blood of the enemies to the vampires.
I maintained my calm. “Stop him and bring him here” I ordered at the guards. “Get the doctor immediately”
Two guards ran to the wounded warrior who was finding it difficult to hold himself up and they carefully brought him over to me.
“You are one of the warriors that have gone to fight, right?” I inquired.
“Yes…Chamlar” he was breathing hard and fast.
“Tell me, what happened?” I asked.
I had to hear from him first. My actions would be informed from whatever he says.
“The Titans, Chamlar, they came in their numbers. We are retreating… sorry but I don’t think… that we are any match for them” he talked with all he had.
“Are there any casualties, and Rich…?” I asked.
I was trying my best to appear calm and collected. Stake was already ravaging inside of me, and could not wait to rip those bloody Titans to pieces. The fight has been for just three days and all these have happened.
“No, we are too strong to die… but most of us are lying… helpless on the battlefield, with… not enough blood to bring them… home” he replied, fighting to keep his eyes open. “Rich and Landon are fighting furiously… but… it is getting difficult”
The doctor already arrived and I turned to Chamlee, who immediately said. “I will go there at once, the Titans deserves no mercy”
I sighed. “You go and gather enough re-enforcement immediately. I will go to the field now, you will meet me there”
I turned to the elders and said. “My marriage to the Chamlee will go on if I return victorious”
Without waiting for even an extra second, Stake immediately took over and ran out of the hall, heading straight to the field, and as she ran with all she had, her paws could hardly feel the ground beneath them.
Stake ran faster, pulled faster, forcing the muscle of her legs to their limits, making them burn and stretch.
The lives of her warriors were at the mercy of the Titans, and this was the thought that ravaged her soul. We must go and win this war.