"I've got a bad feeling about this." --Star Wars
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Terror surged through me. I stood in front of a large wooden table, the length of it stretching almost from one end of the room to the other. I was going to meet the monster. I wasn't ready for that yet; I still hadn't gotten my bearings in the palace.

I slipped my hand in the small pocket of my dress, a pocket concealed by the many folds of the skirt. A hard surface met my fingers. The knife I pocketed earlier was still there. My heart jumped at the thought of killing somebody.

I wish I didn't have too. I wish I had refused the deal with the king.

Now, it is too late.

Unconsciously, I fiddled with my necklace. I saw Raul across the room. I looked at him and mouthed "What now?" 

He just shrugged.

Some help that is.

Raul's eyes widened when he saw my necklace out and he quickly dragged his fingers across his throat, telling me to tuck it back in. I remembered his warning from earlier in the day of not letting the master of the castle see it. Quickly, I tucked it under my dress.

"Are you just going to stand there all night, or will you do yourself a favor and sit down?"

I jumped, sucking in my breath. The voice seemed like it was coming from behind me. Whirling around, I looked, but no one was there.

"Where are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

I can't be afraid. I need to suck it up.

Deal with it, Zara.

The voice growled from the other side of the room. I turned again.

"Do not search for me. I'll show myself to you when I wish. Now sit," he demanded.

My heart pounded. "I'm fine standing, thank you." Sitting was the last thing on my mind.

I'd rather face him standing up.

"That wasn't a question. Sit." Warning laced the speaker's words.

I grabbed the chair next to me, yanked it out, then sat, throwing both my arms in the air as I did so.

Stubborn. Then again, so am I.

"I'm sitting now. Feel like coming out so I can see you?"

A noise that one might think was a chuckle came from behind me.

"So you do have some spunk to you."

I started to look, but a hand grabbed the back of my head, forcing me to keep still.

If I could have thrown up my heart, I would've.

"Do not turn around." Then, added as an afterthought, "Close your eyes."

"Not planning on killing me, I hope." I was surprised at my nerve. A few minutes before, I never would have spoken like that.

 I guess the fear of death makes people do stupid things.

"No." The word was soft, as if trying to make my guard come down. I took a deep breath, then very slowly my eyes closed. I heard a rustle and the hand moved from the back of my head. A few clinks of metal followed, then the voice spoke again, "You can open them."

My eyes fluttered open. I gasped, unable to believe what was in front of me. The table, which originally had nothing on it but a black tablecloth, was filled with plates piled high with food.

There is no way possible that this was done so quickly.

I tore my eyes from the food and found a shape sitting at the other end. The candles that lit the dim space didn't give enough light to see everything, but I could make out a definite shape of a man. He was the biggest man I've ever seen, though. He wore black and a shadow seemed to unfold around him, the way his cloak was positioned. Draped across his broad shoulders was an animal skin of a large mammal, like a bear or a wolf. He almost seemed to swallow the chair he was sitting in. Then, my eyes flicked up to his face.

His eyes looked black to me from where I was sitting, and his face almost stark white. The bottom half of his face was covered by a silver mask with fangs that made him look very much like the type of animal hanging across his shoulder.

The man turned his head to the side, his stringy blond hair falling from behind his ear. "Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"Let's not start off by lying to each other. You've been fed little these past few days in comparison to your castle food, and for that, I apologize. You now have a feast fit for your welcome. Now eat."

Castle food?

Does he think that I lived in the castle?

Honestly, the food I had gotten before was amazing. It was more food that I had ever dreamed of having before to myself. I sighed a little, then took a plate and piled some chicken and bread rolls onto it. I looked down at it sadly.

There was no way possible I can eat all of this.

I picked up a chicken leg and bit into it. After I chewed, I noticed he hadn't gotten anything yet.

"Please don't tell me you're fattening me up for slaughter."

He shook his head. I put down my food.

"Why aren't you eating anything then?"

"It's pretty difficult to eat with a mask on, don't you think?" I heard the annoyance in his voice, laced under a fake calmness.

I fell silent. I grabbed some more of the food and happily chewed on a bread roll. When I couldn't eat anymore, I sat back.

"Where did all the food come from? The only other people I've seen in this castle are you and Raul, no others. How is the castle taken care of?"

Silence followed my question. I could practically hear the gears turning in his head, mulling over what to tell me.

"I have servants," was the simple answer, spoken shortly. I watched him get out of his chair and start to come toward me, twirling his long cane in his hands. I grasped the knife handle in my hand.

Let him get behind me. Just wait.

"Do you have any family?" he asked when he stood behind my seat.

Why should he care? I'm locked up here because of him.

That one question lit the match to my anger. "Don't talk about my family, " I said curtly, pushing my chair backward. "Thank you for the meal. I'm going to my room."

"Sit. Back. Down."

I gulped and slowly sat back down in the chair.

He spoke again. "So, I wonder what you did for your family to hate you so much that they sent you here. Or did you make a deal with the king?" 

I was silent. Apparently, my silence answered his question.

He let out a mocking laugh. "Stupid girl. The king can give you nothing. Is there a prince that you wish to marry? Money? Riches?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. Please don't talk about this. I don't want to get into this conversation.

"I made a deal with the king. He offered me safety."

"But sent you here?" He laughed. "Some 'safety' deal."

I've got to do it. Oh, God, please forgive me.

"I'm sorry." I apologized, voice shaking.

I felt him pause behind me. 

"For what?"

I turned to face him. My head came to the center of his chest. 

Oh wow. This guy is huge.

I looked upward to his black mask, but was unable to make myself look into his eyes. Guilt weighed down on me like a ton of bricks.

"For this."

 And I reached up and drove my knife through his heart.

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Discussion Starter: Well, that looks like it's the end. Do you think it's that easy?