Visha

The day practically flew by, I was riddled with worry I could barely focus or even do my tasks. And it didn't help that everyone was talking about the maid that was going on trial and would no doubt be killed tomorrow. Even the masters were talking about it, and while I did my best to look like I wasn't eavesdropping I could only hold myself together for so long.

By the end of the day I flopped down on the bed, no longer able to hold myself up. I debated with myself foe a moment deciding whether or not to go down into the dungeon and visit Sky.

I jolted up and immediately headed down the several flights of stairs that led down into the dungeon.

As I walked past the guard and further down, I could see Sky just up ahead sitting on the dirty floor looking off into space. Panic and despair were plastered all over her face, as I walked closer to her, she slowly stood up and tried to fake a smile.

"So what have you learned?" Sky asks, her hands reaching out through the bars to hold mine. Her hands were freezing cold, and she was slightly shaking telling me she was far more terrified than she was showing.

"You're dead." I deadpanned.

"But I'm too young to die!" She dramatically sighs.

"You had a good life," I choke out trying desperately to lighten the mood.

"Okay but seriously, what's going to happen to me?"

"From what I've heard, nothing good apparently. You're trial begins promptly tomorrow at noon, and your punishment's twill be followed shortly." I tell her the honest truth, not wanting to hide anything for her benefit.

"Think they'll go easy on me?" She asked hope clear in her voice.

I couldn't vocalize my thought, so I just slowly shook my head 'no'.
"I love you Genesis, but I don't know what gonna happen and I'm so sorry and so afraid for you." I slowly said, silent tears dripping down my cheeks.

"Its gonna be okay, it has to be.." She says crying herself, and I didn't know if she was talking to me or to herself.

I don't know how long I stayed down their with her, but what I do know is that when I woke up I was still sitting next to Sky. Each of us on either side of the bars, and I knew that after today nothing was going to be the same. And I was afraid for both me and Sky.

I reached through the bars, and slowly Tata sky on the cheek, trying my best to wake her up. Truth be told I didn't really want to. She should enjoy her last few hours and I know I was only happiest when I was asleep.

"Wh-what do you want?" She groggily asks, even though she was normally a morning person she definitely wasn't today. But who could blame her?

"It's morning, and unfortunately, it's the day of your trial." I whisper to her, trying not to alert the guards to our conversation. I don't think I was supposed to be down here, but I really didn't care. I just didn't want her punishment to be any worse than it was going to be.

We spent the last few hours together, talking about everything and nothing at all. Sky was one of my best friends, she had been ever since she picked me out of that field when I was younger.

I honestly don't know where I would be without her.

When the guards came to take her away, all I could do is sit back and watch. I followed closely behind them into this massive room, filled with rows of chairs. It seems like everyone was there, all the maids, all the masters gathered around watching as if we were in a zoo.
And there is poor Sky, all alone handcuffed to the floor like some animal.

It hurt my heart to see her that way, but I didn't know what else I could do. I sat down in the back with the rest of the maids, as we all watched in horror.

I don't I took a few minutes before the emperor came out, the masters, and made all collectively bowing and respect for him. I can only stare at him nothing but pure anger and hatred. I hated him for what he was about to do hated myself for not being better. I hated that I had to come here in the first place that this is what we were reduced to.

"The mortal on trial today has willingly and maliciously gone against our great emperors orders. By purposely sneaking out of the castle, in which a king has graciously allowed her employment, and therefore trying to return, knowing that the punishment would be none other than death is caught. What does our king sentence?"

"Death." He calmly says no other words leave his mouth, a deafening scream is her throughout the quart room. And it takes me a moment to realize that I am the one screaming, Brea trying her best to comfort and calm me more importantly, trying to get me to be quiet.

"Please! I'll do anything! You can't do this to her!" I scream out petrified and incomplete hysterics.
The court room goes deadly silent. All eyes are either staring me down with hatred and bemusement or looking up at the emperor wondering what he will do next. I wondered that too.

He slowly looked over at me, intrigue filling up his facial features. And I gulped.

"And what would you do to save her?" The Emperor asks and the way he phrases the question makes regret saying it in the first place.

"Anything..." I whisper out but knowing he could hear me all too well.

He seems to debate for a moment before ultimately, coming to some conclusion. He not, but seemingly only to himself before responding. "Very well, you shall join my harem in exchange for her life. Court dismissed!"

Two masters walked up to the sky and released her she turned around and immediately met my eyes and rushed up to me, fully engulfing me and a hug. It took me a moment to come out of my frozen shocked state, but I finally hugged her back.

"I can't believe you did that!" Sky shouted out in pure shock.

"I can't believe I did that either, what did I just do?" I whispered, horrified know what I had just done.

It saved Sky at the price of my own life which I don't regret, but I wished he would've just kills me. And I will be forced to be with that monster...

Me and sky headed back to our room soon after I embrace we had so much to talk about. What could this new development mean for us? It could either be quite beneficial, or extremely detrimental to our plans.

We only had two more weeks until the party, the big event. But perhaps me being closer to the emperor would actually benefit us. I just had to think of it that way otherwise I might gouge my eyes out or stab myself to end my misery.

"Oh sweet bed how I've missed you!" She exclaims before flopping down on her bed, and I turn to walk over to my own so we could talk when a harsh knock interrupts my train of thought. "Who could that be?" She asked.

"Not sure, but with my luck its probably the Emperor," I grumble out.

I slam open the door with quite a bit of force, "Who the hell are you?" I ask more brazen than I usually would've, especially when talking to a Master, but I'm fed up with these monsters and in desperate need of some sleep.

"Oh aren't you a delight, I'm Reginald one of the Emperors advisors I'm here to inform you of what's to come," Reginald explains as if this was way below his pay grade.

"Okay Rufus what's going to happen to me?" I challenge I was in no mood for this and he was gonna know.

"Reginald. And aren't you going to invite me in?" He asked clearly offended that I hadn't done so already.

"No. Go on," I deadpan.

"Fine. In two days time you'll be moved into the Emperors private wing. And you'll be officially induced into his harem, and then he can do as he pleases with you. Understood?"

"Okay Ryan, is that all?" I sarcastically ask wanting him to go away so I could talk to Sky alone.

"Reginald, and yes now be ready, the Emperor doesn't like to wait. Good night." Reginald practically growls out, even for a master he wasn't all that scary and It didn't help him that were were almost at eye level.

"I hate my life!"