Page 16 of Veil of Dreams
I nod shakily, feeling a knot form in my stomach. When he makes no move to leave, I clear my throat anxiously. "Can you please give me some privacy to change?" I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
His eyes flash with an anger I've only seen in my nightmares. For a moment, I think he'll refuse. But then he spins abruptly on his heel and stomps out, slamming the door behind him.
My shaking knees give out and I fall onto the bed. Something is wrong, I tell myself as I pull my nightgown on. Something is wrong and this time… this time I'm not dreaming it up.
14
CASSIA
"Master?" I ask tentatively as he escorts me from the servant's quarters. "Might I ask… well, what is this task you would have me do?"
The Master simply takes me down the hall to a drawing room, where a group of wealthy-looking dark elf nobles are waiting. Their eyes rake over me, and I feel like a piece of meat on display. They make me stand on a stool in the center of the room while they begin to circle me, inspecting me.
I can't help but feel completely repulsed by their behavior. "This is incredibly poor taste," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Know your place," the Master snaps.
My heart starts pounding violently in my chest. "I am a maid, sir," I say, trying to remind him of my position in the household.
A maid. Not a toy for pleasure.
He sneers at me. "You will be whatever I tell you to be."
I feel a cold shiver run down my spine. My dreams seem to be blurring into my reality, and I'm terrified of what that means.
One of the nobles steps forward and runs a finger down my cheek. I flinch away from his touch, but he only laughs. "She's feisty," he says to the others. "I like that."
I've heard that before. In my nightmares.
I can feel the panic rising in my chest. I don't know what's going to happen to me, but I know I can't let these men do whatever they want with me. I have to find a way to escape.
I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. I need to think clearly if I'm going to get out of this situation. I look around the room, trying to find something I can use to my advantage.
I stand there, frozen in terror as the dark elves discuss me like I'm a piece of property to be traded. "She's a good souvenir," one of them says, and I feel my stomach churn.
"The Naga prince will be pleased with this human as a bribe," another adds, and I can't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. What do they mean by "bribe"? And what kind of creature is a Naga?
"We'll take her," the first one says, and I feel a hand on my arm, pulling me towards the door. "Please have her washed, scented, and prepared first so that he can deposit his eggs inside of her."
Eggs? What the fuck is going on?
"Wait," I say, trying to pull away from their grasp. "What do you mean by 'eggs'? What is a Naga?"
The dark elves exchange a look, and then one of them turns to me with a sneer. "You don't need to know," he says. "Just do as you're told."
I feel a surge of anger rise up within me. I won't be treated like this, I think, determination coursing through my veins. I have to find a way out of here. But this time, there is no dream orc to come to my rescue.
I bolt towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. The dark elves call out furiously behind me, but I don't stop. I can't stop. I have to get out of here.
"You promised she was obedient!" one of them shouts to the Master.
"She's been lively as of late," he snaps back.
I don't have time to process their words. I'm too focused on getting away. I race through the halls, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor. I've never been off the manor property before, but I don't let that stop me. I'm determined to be free.
As I run, I can't help but think of Gorthak. He's the only person who's ever shown me kindness. And if he's anything more than just a figment of my imagination, I'm going to find him.
I finally reach the front door and throw it open. The cool night air hits me like a wave, and I take a deep breath. I don't know where I'm going, but I know I can't stay here.