Chapter Two

Marissa

"The King hears our thoughts and reads our minds."

"What?" I almost yelled.

"Yes," she nodded. "We're all an open book before the King." 

The lady spoke as if she just said something natural. I mean, how is it possible for someone to be able to read minds and hear thoughts? 

"No, that can't be true," I shook my head.

"It's true," The lady scoffed. She sounded so sure. 

"I don't understand. How is that even possible." I asked, quite perplexed.

"Aren't you aware that we all have no secrets before the king? Didn't you know that he hears our thoughts? And as a result, we mind what we think when the king is around."

I was dumbfounded. I couldn't utter a word.

"That is not possible. No human can possess such powers."

The woman let out a muffled laugh as she tried to keep it low. "This is why the King calls himself a god, but in reality, he's a demon. Didn't you know all these?" She explained, and I scoffed in disbelief.

"No way," I said quickly, disregarding it as a lie.

I have heard several things about the king since I joined the slave camp but I have never heard all these.

  I wonder why he'd refer to himself as a god when he ruthlessly kills without sparing a glance, not minding whether they were innocent or not. What kind of supreme being would do that?

He is just an evil demon who seeks the demise of poor and innocent souls. He isn't a god nor does he deserve to be a supreme being. He is pure evil. 

"We have to respect our god and be loyal to him," the lady advised.

"Not me!" I spat. "He is not my god!"

The lady covered my mouth and took me aside. "You're going to get yourself killed."

As soon as she removed her hand from my mouth, I let out the bitterness in my heart. 

"What kind of god ends souls whom he created? Tell me." 

The lady stared at me with no answer to my question.

"None, right?" I hissed. "So, you see. The king is simply a vile monster who thinks he is mighty just because he is way above everyone. Just because he kills those innocent  children before they are even born, Is that what makes him god?" I tutted and rolled my eyes. "No, I don't think so. No god should be like that."

The lady waited for me to finish my hateful speech then she pinched me hard on my elbow and I let out a painful moan.

"Ouch! What was that for?" I complained angrily, my eyes narrowly glaring at her.

The lady shook her head and whispered, "You should be meticulous. Your tongue could get you killed one day." She looked around before continuing. "What if I was close to the King and told him all you just said? Do you think you would escape? You will be served to him on a golden platter as part of the meal for the event." 

I was covered in goosebumps at the thought. Does he also feed on flesh?

"You should be glad you met me instead of those blabbermouths." The lady spoke again, snapping me back to the present. "You have to be careful always, okay?" She patted my head as if I was a pet or something. 

"Thanks to your sharp and wordless tongue, we got to talk to each other and I think I like you," She smiled.

I only hummed, nodding my head with my eyes fixed on the ground. I couldn't get over her words and my discovery about the King. 

"It's nice to meet you, by the way. I'm Maria," She suddenly introduced herself, and my gaze went to her. I swallowed hard and nodded.

"I'm Marissa," I whispered, and her smile went broader.

"As I said before, it's a pleasure to meet you," She uttered.

"Same here," I replied and flashed a brief smile.

"I'm twenty-six years old, by the way. What about you?" She asked.

"Hmm… You are quite older than me. I'm nineteen."

She giggled and clapped happily. "Wow. You're so young," her hand brushed through my hair. "And beautiful too."

"Thank you," I blushed. 

It's the first time anyone has said something nice to me since the death of my mother.

"Friends?" Maria whispered slowly and I blinked back the tears brimming in my ears. 

No one has asked to be my friend since I arrived here. They all avoided me like the plague. While others ignored and neglected me, some wanted to befriend me. 

"Yes," I quickly said, nodding my head vehemently. 

"You must be new to the palace isn't it?" She asked, her eyes staring at me from head to toe. "Judging from your words earlier, you seem new here."

"Well, yes…" I nod.

"You are a slave too?" I asked in bewilderment as I noticed her outfit. 

"Yes. Surprised?" She asked.

Nodding, I replied truthfully. "Of course. I'm very surprised. Besides, I have never seen you before.

"Are you new?" I asked.

She laughed and shook her head. "No. Not at all. I have been a slave since I was fifteen."

She didn't seem to mind her status. 

"What? That long? Why haven't we met?"

I wondered why I have never seen her since I became a slave myself. 

"Well, that's because I work here in the palace." She squeezed my hand lovingly as she spoke. "I work as one of the Princess' maids."

"Oh… No wonder," I muttered as I checked out her outfit. It was prettier than ours. 

  "Wait. What?" I exclaimed as her word sunk in. "What did you just say? Princess? Is there a princess?" I asked, flustered.

Maria chuckled and nodded. "Yes. There is. Her name is Vera, and she is the King's only sister," Maria responded, facing me.

"Really?" I never knew the Demon King had a sister," I muttered in surprise. 

"In fact," Maria went on without minding my surprised look. "She is the only one he listens to."