Louisa's POV
"Wake up!" I heard someone shouting and the clashing sound of iron.
I opened my eyes and saw some soldiers standing in front of me.
Darren woke up as well. He pulled up the cape to cover my body, holding me in his arms. I knew he was trying to block me behind his body.
He looked so thin. He needed to eat something, or else the wounds wouldn't heal.
Then, Lucian walked into the cell.
He was wearing a white casual suit, looking radiant in the dim ray of sunlight.
He threw some clothes at me and said, "Stand up and put on these clothes."
I didn't move.
He glanced at me and commanded, "Move. You're needed for having breakfast with Alpha."
I buried my head in Darren's arms.
"Do you need me to give you a hand?" Lucian asked. He didn't sound very patient.
"I won't go anywhere without Darren," I said in a muffled voice.
I didn't know what those soldiers would do to him when I left.
After a brief pause, I heard Lucian's voice -
"What are you waiting for? Stand up and come with us."
I lifted my head and saw the reluctance and fear in Darren's eyes.
"Yes, Beta." Darren struggled to get up.
I sat there while staring at those soldiers.
Lucian waved his hands, and they quickly withdrew.
Darren helped me to put on clothes and wrapped the cape around himself.
Then, we held each other's arms and walked out of the dungeon with Lucian.
"Did you have a good sleep last night, Miss Louisa?" Lucian asked, looking at me.
"It's none of your business. Don't pretend that you care." I said.
"You've got a bad temper after the transformation." Lucian looked at me and said, "I guess changing into a vampire erases the fairer part of you."
I turned away my head and didn't want to talk to him.
"She's not talking to me. How about you? Did you have a good sleep last night, warlock?" Lucian asked Darren.
"Beta, I'm sorry. I wouldn't dare to bother you with my existence." Darren said quietly.
I could tell that he was really afraid of Lucian. I wouldn't want to imagine what he had done to Darren before. He might look like a gentleman, but sometimes he was even worse than Lucas.
Some maids were walking past with some trays of clean laundry. As soon as they saw us, they stopped and kneeled on the ground.
Lucian took a shirt from a tray and handed it to Darren.
Darren took it and held it in his hands. It seemed that he wasn't sure what to do with it.
"Put it on," Lucian instructed. "He can't see you like this."
"Yes, Beta." He quickly put it on, covering the bandage and bruise on his torso.
I helped him to arrange the collar a bit while looking at him.
He stepped back a bit to avoid my hands.
The wounds on his face looked much better than last night, but he still looked very pale.
I could tell that he was very nervous.
"Are you OK?" I asked him in a soft voice.
He didn't say anything, lowered his head, and bit his lips.
"Where are we going?" I asked Lucian. I noticed that we weren't heading to the main tent.
"Alpha Lucas will enjoy his breakfast in his tent along with Alpha Zackery," Lucian said.
I didn't want to meet Alpha Zackery. He was such a formidable person.
I could still remember what he had done to me in the box of that auction house.
It would be really awkward to see him again.
As soon as I walked into Lucas' tent, I saw Josphine sitting on Lucas' lap and feeding him some grapes.
Her plump bosoms were pressing against Lucas' chest. And Lucas' eyes didn't take off her cleavage revealed from the deep V-neck of her tight dress when I walked in front of him.
"Ah, that preposterous maid's here," Josephine exclaimed dramatically while twisting her arms and waist on Lucas' lap. "I've heard she really made such a scene during yesterday's auction. Everyone in the Kingdom is talking about her ridiculous behavior this morning."
Lucas lifted his eyes and saw Darren and me standing in front of him.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Lucas asked Darren.
"I'm sorry, Master," Darren immediately said. Then, he lowered his head and tried to walk off.
Lucas grinned and stopped him, "Don't go away. Stay here. It's good to have you here for some entertainment. Tell me, did you do what I asked you to do last night?"
I was shocked to hear what Lucas said. I wasn't sure if I got exactly what he meant.
I turned my head to look at Darren and saw his head getting even lower.
"Yes, Master. I served Miss Louisa for her pleasure last night." He replied mechanically.
I felt like I was hit by a bolt of lightning. I couldn't believe what I had just heard.
Last night...
What he did to me last night...
It was all... required service arranged by Lucas?!
"Good. By the glow of light on Miss Louisa's face, I could tell that she's very happy about your service." Lucas smirked while looking at me.
I stepped backward while shaking my head.
"No... That can't be it..." I murmured.
Then, I must have tripped over something and fallen on the ground.
Nobody tried to help me stand up again.
Josephine roared with sinister laughter.
"Look how clumsy she is! I thought she only falls all over the place when she's in heels!" she said.
Lucas didn't pay attention to her comments. Instead, he pushed her aside and stood up, walking towards Darren.
As he was walking, Darren immediately got on his knees.
"You did a great job last night and you should be rewarded. What should I do to reward you?" Lucas gloated.
"Master, your acknowledgment is the best reward for me," Darren replied in a quiet voice.
Lucas stood in front of him and looked down at him, "You look underfed, skinny as a dog. Are you hungry?"
Darren didn't dare to say a word.
"I'm fucking talking to you," Lucas said.
"Yes, Master. I'm hungry." Darren replied in a trembling voice.
"Come, dine with your Master," Lucas said and walked back to his seat, with Darren crawling behind him like a dog.
I covered my mouth to stop myself from screaming out.
What has he been doing to Darren?!
Lucas took his seat and threw some leftovers into a dog food bowl next to his feet.
Then, he kicked the bowl toward Darren and said, "Don't be shy. Eat. Show Alpha Zackery and Miss Louisa here how you dine with your Master every day."
Darren bent down, lowered his head, and started eating the leftovers in the bowl.
Lucas stroked the back of his head and smiled sadistically, "That's a good boy. Do you like the food?"
"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master," Darren replied in a low voice.
I saw a few drops tears quickly dripping from his eyes and disappeared into the bowl.
"No... Darren... Don't do this..." I whispered.
Lucas looked up, locked his eyes at me, and said, "And you, Miss Louisa. Are you hungry or have you already been well-fed?"