ODETTE'S POV:
Affection from a stranger was so foreign to me that even though I expected it, I still flinched. You could throw a punch, and I wouldn't move, but hug me and I'm doomed. I melted in Emalea's arms, somehow her hold on me was threatening to open up water gates I wasn't ready for yet. I pulled away from her.
"Okay, let's go deliver a drink to a lady, shall we, friend?"
The girl beamed with light at my use of the word friend. Maybe this -place wouldn't be the worst thing ever and when my father came to free and we kill off all those who helped kidnap me, I'll make sure she lives and receives sanctuary and comfort for her and her family.
"Yes, this way, follow me." Emalea picked up the glasses and carried a plate of sweets out the kitchen door and through the servant's halls.
The corridors were dimly lit and dusty. Honestly kind of scary, I might be the vampire, but they lived like Dracula does in movies.
"Be careful where you step, we don't want you to trip on one of the floor cracks and break the pitcher." Emalea warns.
"That won't happen don't worry. I'm pretty steady and light on my feet." I reassured her.
"Well, it'll be your butt if you break the pitcher." She says.
"Yeah, yeah, just get moving, I'm not trying to spend my free time in the pits of the crypts." I whined.
"Anyone tell you you're kind of funny?" She asked me.
"Maybe a few."
"Hmm…" she muttered.
We continued walking down the corridor, passing door after door. Emalea explained to me who each door belongs too, which would be useful information for when I do find a way to escape.
Finally coming up to a small door, Emalea stops, "This is the door. Your best bet is to try and be invisible, which is probably hard to do in that dress."
"Stealth is my middle name, got cha." I winked at her giving her the okay symbol.
Emalea opened the door quietly and entered in with the grace of a sneaking mouse I followed in her footsteps, but of course with my luck, we're noticed.
"What are you wearing in my presence? And who gave you permission to dress like that in the palace, we are a pack with class." The girl with milk chocolate hair and matching eyes.
She was beautiful, her face flawless, she had an air of nobility that settled around her and she reeked of privilege and pampering. She looked like she's never sweat or lifted a finger a single day in her life, no wonder the people around here such low opinions of highborns and nobles, so by extension, me.
Rude, I crossed my arms and glared at her, leaning on one side of my hip "Clothes, what does it look like?" I snapped.
Emalea looked like her eyes were about to pop right out of her skull.
"Excuse me, but who the hell do you think you are, speaking to me like that? Do you know who I am?" She asked appalled by my attitude. Rising from her seat at her table she stormed over to where I was standing. She wasn't anywhere near as tall as me, I don't know if she thought she was intimidating or what, but she was nothing but a pin cushion to me.
"I am Princess Odette Lira Drakarys, Granddaughter to the Queen of the Damned and Mother of Demons, and what about you?" I knew her title wasn't anywhere as grand as mine, so watching her squirm in discomfort brought me a bit of joy.
But it seemed she quickly recovered because she retorted with, "Well that collar around your neck tells me 'slave', so where is this princess business coming from?"
This smug bitch. I completely forgot about this collar.
"For now, but even with this collar, the blood that runs in my veins is as pure as it comes. You're nothing but a dog in human skin." I clapped back, not realizing who was in the room with me.
A flash of hurt crossed Emalea's face, my words hurt her. I indeed think they're dogs, but not all dogs are bad dogs, they can be fiercely loyal. I'd have to clear this up with her later, I couldn't back down now.
"You dare call me a dog!" She shouted and then I felt the sting of her slap across my face.
I am really getting tired of these fucking slaps.
I ball my fists restraining myself from slamming it into her nose. Oh, goddess how I wanted rip her pretty little face apart.
I can feel my eyes start to glow a dark red, my anger had me seething and right on que as if Emalea could sense the war that was about to happen, stepped in.
"Lady Isabella, we shall excuse ourselves, and ask you to take your grievances up later, now is not the time, the alpha king is expecting her." Emalea bowed her head and tugged me away.
"This isn't over slave." She let the word slave hang heavy in the air.
A slave. Right now. I truly was a slave. I wasn't a princess. My title, it meant nothing here.
Heading back through the corridors, I guess now is as good as time as ever to apologies.
"I'm sorry about what I said back there. I was just mad. She called me a slave, so I called her a dog back. I don't think all shifters are dogs, just the bad ones."
She looked to me and smiled, and casually said "it's fine, dogs are at least loyal; but don't bats bite the hand that feeds them?"
I couldn't help it; I busted out laughing. "Oh, my gods, you crack me up."
Emalea giggled and turned back around walking in a different direction. "So, the alpha king wants to see me? Or was that a clever rouse to get us out of the room?"
"A rouse. Do you want me to get you something to cover up with, I don't know how comfortable you are in the dress, but it gets you a lot of unwanted attention, so figured I might ask." She motions for me to go into a different room.
"Yes, I'd actually love that."
"Good, this is my room, we can get you one of my shawls, so there's at least a little coverage." She led me into her small room, much smaller than the one I was in. Even simpler. Her room servant had nicer living quarters than this.
"Thanks again for this." I was beyond grateful to have something to hide some of my overly exposed skin.
"Great, now onward! To the laundry room." She mocked a soldier's command voice and pointed out of the room.
I couldn't help but laugh even more. This girl was the only bright light in this hell hole I was forced to live in.