2. SERAFINA

CHAPTER TWO

SERAFINA

    I took a moment to digest the hard–to–swallow pill my father had forced down my throat. But I choked on it, unable to process it as it made absolutely no sense to me. I couldn't believe my ears, it was like I was hearing things, and I really hoped I was. 

I chuckled sardonically, "You're joking father, aren't you?" I looked to him, expecting a confirmation but he stared at me apologetically and that's when I knew he was being really serious. 

"Serafina dear, just do it for the Kingdom." He said to me, like it was just a simple thing to do, like it was a simple walk to the stream, like it was writing the alphabet.

But in a real sense, I'm going to be slaves to wolves!

"What are you saying, father?" I questioned, rising up from my seat. My eyes scanned the rest of the Kings, they seemed unfazed with the literal fact that my father just offered to sell me off to a beast!

They were in support of it, they knew about this, they've been planning this for only god knows how long and I wasn't aware! My gaze fell on my father again, I stared at him with so much distaste and disgust. How could he do this to me?

"Serafina, you have to understand me please. It's the only way they will stop their attack on us. I remember you telling me a few days ago while treating the injured children that if you knew a way to stop this war, you would do it." My father's unbelievable attempt to reason with me rang repeatedly in my ears, enhancing my anger and disappointment. 

"This is completely outrageous, father! When I said I would do anything to stop the way, I was referring to logical aspects, not being sold off to literal monsters!" 

   I knew I had provoked a nerve in the Lycan with my last statement, the furious snarl on his face was an obvious pointer but I was unapologetic about it. He is a monster! 

"It's only for a few years, it'll be over soon—"

"To hell with it!" I retorted. These were words coming from my father, a man I thought I knew and thought cherished me as his only daughter. 

"You'll have to explain to her." My father said to the Lycan and the beast–bearing monster looked at me, and for a moment I was scared. His gaze bore so much hatred, so much anger and loathe and all those heavy emotions were directed at me. The atonement. 

"I don't want to listen to anything. Because no matter what, I am not getting married to thi—" 

"Silence human!" He seethed angrily at me and it was the first time I heard him yell. His thunderous voice could crumble down a thick wall and its essence flooded my ears, and reverberated, echoing many times and I swallowed the rest of my words.

"I do not have the time to explain anything to your uncouth daughter, you should do that yourself." The Lycan opposed my father then stretched out his hand to one of his soldiers and he quickly brought out a collar from a sac bag and gave it to the Lycan. 

He waved it at me, "You will be the one to bear the punishment for all the humans have done to my people and I. You will wear this and I will bound you in chains, just like they did to me for so many long and agonizing years." 

 His words made a frightful shiver run down my spine, but I kept a fearless front, not wanting him to see how gravely his words affected me. He gave a knowing smirk, like he could somehow sense the fear I was trying to bury and then he advanced to where I stood, each rhythmic step he took resonated with the pace of my heartbeat. 

"Serafina, you will be the price for their sins." 

   My jaw tensed, and my fists balled in response to the anger that surged in my veins. 

I looked him dead in the eye, no longer fearing the fire that burnt in them. "I'd rather die than become a slave to a monster like you." 

He said nothing to me and never broke eye contact, he just continued staring at me with raw rage. After a moment, he stepped away from me and faced my father. 

"I will be back in a few days. I trust that she will be ready." He said and my father quickly nodded in agreement. 

"Definitely." He answered without a second–thought and the Lycan exited the meeting room alongside his soldiers. I didn't know who I was angry at the most, my betraying father or this monster. 

"Please Serafina, do this for the Kingdom. For your people, for the women and children. Please, my daughter." My father began pleading immediately as the door clicked shut. 

I shook my head in naught, "Never." 

    I couldn't even look at his face, it was repulsive and it churned my stomach. I couldn't stay a second longer here, so I stepped out of my seat and made my way to the door but paused for a moment. 

Looking at my father over my shoulders, I said, "I will find another way out of our misery, but I won't be a slave to that beast." 

And with that, I was out. 

-:-

"Here is your tea, my princess." Mildred, my personal maid, curtseyed and offered me my cup of black tea in a tray. 

"Thank you." I picked up the tea and she straightened herself and bowed, then she turned around to leave. 

"Hold on." I said to her and took a sip from the steaming–hot tea. She halted and turned to face me. 

"Are they still outside?" 

She nodded in affirmation, "Yes my princess." 

"Hmm, I see. Quite an unrelenting lot, isn't it?" I stood up from my chair and went up to the adjacent window and stared out of it. I saw them in their numbers, outside the gates of the palace. Protesting. 

Protesting against their princess. 

    It's been two weeks since the Lycan King's visit—I came to know about his status after the meeting, and that his name was King Zahir Lazlo. That's why he sounded so familiar, I've heard about his deeds. 

Today was day five of the townspeople standing at the gates, crying and begging in mourning sackcloth. They were begging for me to save them. 

"How long have they been here today?" I faced Mildred and asked. 

"Since dawn, my princess." 

   I nodded and went back to focusing on the window. I took another sip from my tea and examined the crowd. I was put in a dilemma, a hot spot. On second thoughts, it wasn't a dilemma—it was a do it or die type of situation. If I don't succumb to Zahir's requests, these people would be killed like sick chickens, we would all be killed! A painful step to take but what has to be done, has to be done. 

-:-

"Father, I wish to see you."

    I tendered a knock on the door, and then another one when the first knock was unanswered. 

"Come in, Serafina." He finally responded from inside the room and I opened the door and then stepped in. 

"Good Evening, your majesty." I curtseyed. 

"Greetings, my child." He responded. 

He was at his reading table, documenting in scrolls. He seemed to have a lot on his table, maybe I came at the wrong time. 

"Oh, I can see you're very busy father. I can come back la—" 

"Don't worry, I was about rounding up anyways. And I'll always have time for you, my dear." He said and closed the ink pen in its bottle and began arranging his scrolls. 

A hint of a smile played on my lips. It was the first time we were speaking since the meeting with the Lycan, I couldn't bring myself to ever talk to him again after what had happened. I saw him as selfish, cruel, and a betrayer. 

 But this was the same father that has showered me with immense love ever since I was born, he cherished me and cared for me deeply. I've started to accept the fact that what he was asking me to do was a decision taken by factors beyond his control, and he simply couldn't stop it. 

  When he was done, he stood up and faced me, a small smile on his lips and you could see that the smile was half baked, most of its essence was punctured by guilt and hurt. It was written in his eyes, the fact that if he had a way to make things different, he would. 

And deep down, I knew it too. 

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, for my outburst two weeks ago at the meeting hall. I was…quite shaken by the sudden news and I know there were better ways to handle it. Please pardon my behavior, father." I bowed my head as I sought his forgiveness. 

"I am not angry with you. I completely understand how hurt you felt and you acted just as anyone else in your shoes would." He replied and I looked up at him with a bit of surprise. How wasn't he angry? I yelled at him, disrespected him, and walked out of the presence of him and the other Great Kings. 

"But father, I—" 

He shook his head, "I am not angry, Serafina. And I should be the one apologizing. I never knew things would come to this and I tried everything I could to stop it, but Zahir refused to accept. It's you he wants. You know I can never willingly let you be enslaved to that man, you're my priceless Jewel, my angel and I love you so much, Serafina. Please forgive me, I'm so sorry." 

   My hands were already wrapped around my father in a hug by the time he was done with his statement. I could tell he had much more to say, but it didn't matter now because I have forgiven him and I also perfectly understand why he was doing this. As a king, your priority is your people and you have to satisfy them dutily, he was just performing his role as a good king. 

He hugged me back, gently patting my back and I heard him sniffle. I was also crying as well and had to rub the tears away with the back of my hand. We stayed there for a while, in the father–and–daughter embrace. 

"Father, I accept it. I will be Zahir's slave. You and the rest of the people don't have to worry anymore, I will gladly give up my freedom so there can be peace and happiness again. I no longer care if I have to be the catalyst to ensure peace, I would be the sacrifice. As a princess, it's the least I can do." My voice croaked up due to the fact that I was speaking amidst my tears. 

My father hugged me tighter, "You are a brave girl, Serafina. My brave girl. I'm so sorry it had to come to this, you don't deserve any of it. My strong princess, you're exceptional. I love you." 

My heart cracked open into a million broken shards and my tears intensified. I was going to be losing my crown, my title, my freedom, and my father, I might never be allowed to see him ever again. Hell, Zahir may even kill me once I get there. 

But it doesn't matter, I accept all of it. 

I heaved a heavy sigh, "I love you too, father." 

    From a princess to a slave, my life story doesn't sound flattering at all.