Alina

"Hurry!" Mira whispered as she grabbed Alina's arm, both girls dashing out to the courtyard.

The skies were still a deep shade of blue above them and a cold chill filled the air. Alina drew her brown woolen cloak closer around her body as she caught up with Mira.

"There," Mira pointed up the street as they stood right outside the residence gates, "just follow the towers and you'll reach the castle in less than an hour."

Alina squinted through the dark until she could vaguely make out the enormous castle towers ahead, rising through fog and blending into hazy skies. She took a deep breath, before she darted off, running up the empty street that sloped uphill. With every soul still fast asleep, she felt like she was running through a city of ghosts, the sound of her heavy panting and the cawing ravens the only sign of life.

"I need to see Lord Tristan!" Alina said, gasping for breath as she stood before the castle gates. She had been running for quite some time, as the skies had now turned into a lighter shade of blue, and a faint red painted the horizon where the sun promised to rise soon.

"Who are you?" asked one of the many guards who stood guarding the gates.

"My name is Alina. I am from Lord Tristan's household. I need to speak with him."

"It's too early, you'll have to wait for a while until –"

"No! It's really urgent. Tell him Klara sent me. It's...it's something to do with his daughter... his daughter Merina." Alina improvised, unable to find any better reason to pull Tristan out of bed and meet her at once.

The guard studied her for a long moment before he gestured for her to follow him inside. Alina sighed in relief and followed him eagerly. It was another long journey inside the castle grounds to reach Lord Tristan's chamber. A vast outer courtyard followed by a number of inner courtyards and halls, and a labyrinth of endless passages, stairs, and corridors. The guard was walking too fast and Alina couldn't fully grasp all the magnificence of the castle as she scurried behind him. The darkness of early dawn wasn't really helping either, yet she could still tell that this was definitely unlike any place she had ever been to.

Another winged guard met them as they finally reached the sleeping quarters. Except that, he was not exactly a guard. He was a beast! A giant with long dark hair, a bushy beard, and a deep scowl. 

"Sir Jared," the first guard greeted the beastlike creature before he leaned in to inform him of Alina's message.

So that was Jared. At that point, Alina started to wonder if it were a good idea coming here after all. Apparently the girls were not exaggerating when they talked about him yesterday. And Kat must really be out of her mind for ever being interested in that thing.

After the first guard left, Jared turned and looked down at Alina with a long silent stare before he gestured for her to follow him. She obeyed silently. Disobeying that creature was definitely something no one in their right senses would try to do.

Alina stood trembling outside what she assumed to be Tristan's room, waiting nervously for Jared to either wake him up or come back to snap off her neck. She hoped Tristan loved his daughter enough to wake up that early at the mention of her name. Just as Alina thought of it, she found the door hurled open.

Tristan stood before her, dressed in a thin nightshirt, his hair a terribly tangled mess, and his eyes sunken within dark circles. But as she looked closer at his face, her heart sank at the raw fear she saw in his black eyes.

"What's wrong with Merina?" he asked, his voice shaking.

Alina was baffled. She had never thought Tristan would be capable of such feelings of fear. Seems he did love his daughter enough. She swallowed hard and tried to force a smile as she fought back the guilt she felt for scaring him that bad.

"She's fine, totally fine!" Alina said, her nervous voice a bit too high, realizing she might get in deep trouble for using his daughter as bait. "In fact, Klara didn't send me, and... and there is absolutely nothing wrong with Merina at all," Alina managed to say, and the horror on Tristan's face turned into confusion, before his eyes started narrowing suspiciously. "Umm, I'm sorry, I couldn't think of a better way to let you come out and see me so early..."

Tristan suddenly grabbed her by both arms, and Alina yelped at the sudden assault.

"How dare you!" Tristan hissed, shaking her hard.

"I'm... sorry! Ow, you're hurting me!" Alina moaned and Tristan released her at once. She looked up at him timidly, but he was still glaring at her. "Please..." she barely whispered, realizing her stupid, stupid mistake.

"You do not use my daughter to get to me!" He growled, pointing his finger at her. "Do you fucking understand? Don't you dare do that again."

"I'm really sorry, Tristan."

"It's Lord Tristan!" he roared, his raw voice echoing through the corridor.

"L... Lord Tristan..."

"And what did you fucking want? Shouldn't you be heading with Klara to the Slaves Square now?"

"Well, that's exactly why I came to see you," Alina tried to smile, but she was shaking too much and tears started to rise in her eyes at the possibility that Tristan might not grant her what she wanted. Of course he wouldn't. Especially after using Merina to get to him. "I...I changed my mind," she said, anyway. "I don't want to leave."

Tristan narrowed his eyes further while his chest still heaved with fury.

"Please forgive me," she whispered and lowered her head.

"Forgive you, eh?"

"Please. I will do whatever you want. I will not cause any more trouble. I will listen to Klara. I will... I will do anything to... please you, my Lord."

Alina winced as she spoke those words. She sounded so desperate and slave-like. She couldn't bear the humiliation, but it was still better than standing naked in the middle of the Slaves Square and getting sold off to some sick pervert.

When Tristan did not say anything for a long time, she raised her head slightly to catch his eyes. He was still mad, his jaw clenched and his nostrils flaring. Her lips quivered as she realized he would probably not forgive her. Please...

"Does Klara know you're here?" he asked, his voice still laden with anger. Alina shook her head timidly.

"I cannot hear you," Tristan said.

"No, my Lord. She does not know."

Tristan gave out a sigh of exasperation.

"Wait here," he commanded before he turned and went inside his room, banging the door shut in her face.

Jared stood before her with a bulk of crossed arms and a terrifying frown of disapproval. She looked away at once. Only a few moments later, the door flew open again and Tristan stood before her, fully dressed in a dark riding suit along with a long black cloak and black boots.

"Follow me," he ordered and she scurried behind him, almost running to catch up with his long strides. Jared followed them too, his loud thudding footsteps echoing through the castle.

Once out in the courtyard, a young boy came out of the stables, leading a big black stallion. The skies had grown much brighter now, the first sunrays already peeking from behind the massive castle walls.

Alina gasped as Tristan suddenly pulled her towards the wingless black horse. She frowned for a moment as she tried to understand what was going on, but next, she found herself being grabbed by the waist and swept off the ground. She gave out a short scream, and the next thing she knew, she was straddling the horse, while Tristan leapt and mounted behind her. What in the heavens...

Tristan nudged his black beast once before it broke off galloping out through the castle gates, while Jared flew behind them without a ride. Of course, if Jared ever rode any horse or Pegasus, he would probably break its back. Thank heavens he wasn't interested in women.

The stallion's hoofs clattered against the cobbled street while Jared's massive wings flapped behind them. Alina was still nervous, but she was not sure why anymore. Was it because Tristan sat too close behind her, his hard chest pressed against her back, and his big arms caging her as he held the reins? Or was it because she still didn't know if he had forgiven her? She realized that he had not said anything to assure her. He was simply taking her back to the residence. What if he meant to hand her in to Klara in order to take her to the Slavers Square after all?

She longed to ask him, but she dreaded his response. Well, it wouldn't be long before she found out anyway, for she could already see the residence gates in the distance.

***

"How dare you!" Klara snapped, and her palm fell across Alina's face with a sharp slap. Most of the residents and servants were awake now, hiding behind pillars as they watched the exciting scene taking place in the great hall.

"Klara!" Tristan interjected. "What is wrong with you?"

"Forgive me my Lord," Klara said while Alina rubbed her assaulted cheek with resent.

"Please, how many times do I have to say, we do not hit slaves?"

"But what she did is unforgivable," Klara argued.

"It's alright," Tristan said. "I'm giving her one last chance."

"But, my Lord!" Klara protested, her face dark with disapproval.

"She will apologize to you. And she will never disobey you again. That is my only condition for forgiving her," Tristan said before he turned to Alina with a stern gaze. "I believe you clearly understand that?"

Alina nodded timidly.

"I cannot hear you."

"Yes, my Lord," Alina mumbled. And a long moment of silence followed.

"What are you waiting for?" Tristan asked, his eyes still cold as he silently gestured in Klara's direction.

Alina clenched her fists. I really have to apologize to Klara? She took in a deep breath and raised her head high, before she turned to a sneering Klara.

"Forgive me, Miss Klara," Alina said with what pride and confidence she could muster, before she curtsied elegantly. "I promise I will not disobey you again." And then she turned to Lord Tristan to see if he approved.

His face was no longer angry, and she could even tell that his lips twitched with amusement, as if he was trying to hold himself from laughing.

"Very well," he said before he turned to Klara, looking all serious once more, "if she fails to keep her promise, don't think twice about sending her to the Slavers Square. And don't even bother asking me first."

"Of course, my Lord. Thank you," Klara smirked.

And Alina knew at that moment, that her life in here was not going to be easy anymore.

***

It was late in the evening, and Alina was the last to return to the servants' chamber, her bones crushed and her back on fire. Of course, as she expected, Klara was not going to give her a break. With the vengeance of a bitter old woman, Klara made sure that Alina did not rest until she had finished every single task assigned to her. And of course, she was given the most laborious and unpleasant tasks, picked especially for her by the smirking old hag. And that was just the beginning...

"Alina, are you alright?" Mira asked in concern as Alina crumpled into bed.

"I'm dead tired," Alina sighed with exhaustion. "Why is Klara such a bitch?"

"Hey, don't say that now," Mira whispered as she shot a wary look towards Maggie's coven huddling together at the opposite side of the chamber.

Alina followed Mira's gaze, and she smirked in satisfaction as she saw Maggie's sour face, covered in thin red marks all over, the result of yesterday's fight. Alina stifled a chuckle as she admired her handiwork. And by the silent bitter stares she received from Maggie and her girls, Alina was assured that it would be a long while before Maggie dared provoke her again.

"Don't worry about them," Alina waved dismissively as she stretched in bed and moaned.

"So, how did you convince Lord Tristan to forgive you?" Mira asked a little excitedly.

"Well, I have my own ways," Alina smiled while she peeked across the room to see Maggie's seething face turning a deep shade of red.

"Oh, isn't he the best?" Mira sighed.

"The best my ass," Alina frowned. "He put me completely under Klara's mercy."

"You should be grateful that he actually forgave you at all." Mira reproached. "It could have been much worse!"

"She's right," Kat confirmed.

Alina remained silent, and turned her face away in shame. Well, as much as she resented Tristan for forcing her to apologize to Klara, moreover throwing her under Klara's complete command, she knew deep inside her that Mira and Kat were right. Alina should be grateful. Any other Lord would have kicked her out from day one. And now as she thought of it, she wondered why Lord Tristan had allowed her to stay after all.

Every single encounter she had with him, ever since the very first time they met, she had been nothing but trouble. Yet every time, he had answered her disrespect and defiance with forgiveness.

Alina could finally see why all the girls were so obsessed with him. Despite his angry scowls and his foul temper, Lord Tristan was a kind man. Very kind. And at the same time, he still commanded fear and respect. His kindness was the type that gave him strength, not weakness. Because he did not need to be cruel to prove his power.

Lord Tristan...

It was difficult not to like him after all...

Like him? Alina shook her head at the absurd turn of her thoughts. Well, she was tried and drained, and apparently her mind started drifting into weird directions. She placed her pillow over her head to block out any light or sound, and she closed her eyes, longing for a peaceful sleep.

Only to find deep black eyes haunting her in her dreams...

****************

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