Murtagh looked disgusted at the very though to having Virika as a slave. His lips pulled back from his teeth.
"Why would I want her as a slave? I have plenty already," he said acidly.
Galbatorix glared at him and turned his attention back to Virika. He looked down at the girl who was struggling against his magic that kept her pinned to the floor.
"You," he snapped at her, "Can you sing or dance?"
Virika attempted to turn her head to face him—all she could manage was to stare at the cold marble floor. She considered ignoring his request, saying that no, she couldn't. But then he might assign her a job much, much worse.
"Yes," she murmured.
Murtagh looked at Galbatorix. The King stared down at Virika avoiding Murtagh's look of anger. The girl was pretty and she could sing and dance. Perhaps a nice little slave to pleasure Murtagh. Galbatorix's face lit up in a sinister grin. Yes, that would be the right punishment for the insolent girl.
He turned his attention back to Murtagh. "She'll be your pleasure slave."
A gasp came from Virika from this announcement. A pleasure slave? That didn't sound very promising. In fact, it sounded horribly bad.
Murtagh stared down at Virika a calculating look on his face. He took in her form. She wasn't bad looking, that much was certain. She was prettier than most of his other slaves. If she could entertain him with her songs and dancing—and possibly other things—he wasn't sure he could object any longer.
Looking back at the King, Murtagh finally answered him. "I do need a little entertainment . . ." he trailed off suggestively and smirked when Virika's face became even paler.
Virika's look was one of horror, but inwardly she was planning. Her head was currently going through all kinds of escape possibilities. Her eyes flickered from one end of the hall taking in the scenery. She would not become this man's . . . plaything.
Galbatorix was still watching Virika and his eyes narrowed when he caught her taking in all the exits. She was smart, but not smart enough. He waved his hand and Virika was wrenched upright onto her feet.
She gasped from the force of his magic. He looked straight into her eyes and smiled when he saw blatant fear in them.
"You won't escape," he said.
Virika's voice trembled. "We'll see about that."
The resounding smack echoed in the hall and Virika's hand cupped her cheek where Murtagh had hit her.
"You're a slave now. You will not speak unless either of us requests an answer," Galbatorix said icily, "Do you understand?"
Virika nodded her eyes filled with unshed tears at the pain on her face. She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Galbatorix gave the girl one last icy look and turned to mount the dais and retake his seat in his throne. He gave Murtagh a dismissing wave.
Murtagh glared at Virika making it clear that she was to follow him and then turned to make his was down the long hall and out the exit with Virika following him.
They walked down winding passageways and corridors, up and down stairs for many minutes. Virika got the distinct impression that Murtagh was taking her in circle's to confuse her so that finding her way out of the castle would be impossible. She groaned inwardly. Murtagh finally led her to a single door in a cold, stone hallway. Pushing open the door he grabbed Virika by her dress and threw her through the doorway. Virika fought back the urge to strike him.
The room was tiny and very simple. The walls were the same unforgiving gray stone and a high window about 30 feet above her was just a slit in the wall—there was no way she could escape through it. There was a sleeping pallet against one wall and a chest against the other. That was it.
On top of the chest was a single candle. At least they would be giving her light. She stood in the room awkwardly before looking back at Murtagh who leaned against the doorway.
Virika visibly stiffened when Murtagh's eyes raked over her body. He smirked at her reaction.
"This is your room. You are not to exit it unless I summon you. In that chest," he pointed, "are some clothes that you will wear when I call on you to entertain me. You will call me Master at all times. You will not speak to me unless I speak to you. You will always obey me. Someone will help you dress, bring you your meals and take you to the bathhouse." With those parting words he turned and left.
The door shut with the ominous sound of a door locking and Virika was left in the cold and dreary room. Her eyes searched the room again.
There was nothing here that could be used as a weapon. The chest was pieced together with only wood—no metal. The stone walls couldn't be chipped away with her hands and the sleeping pallet held only straw.
Virika let out a scream of frustration and pounded her fists against a frigid wall. Even with her superhuman strength Virika didn't even dent the stone.
Outside in the hallway Murtagh's lips turned up into a smile as he heard Virika's screech. She would be an interesting slave.
Virika sat on the pallet staring about the room and then down at her hands which were bruised from pounding against the walls or her dark room. It was dark now because the little shaft of sunlight that filtered through her window was gone.
It was blue and gray light that was in the room. Virika didn't mind. Living with the elves for her entire life had given her the ability to see in the dark like a cat. It wasn't as strong as other's but in this dull light the details of her little cell were clearly visible.
Shifting so that she leaned against the pallet she pulled a blanket that she had found in the chest up around her body. Virika shut her eyes and breathing slowly and deeply helped her relax.
Golden shafts of sunlight filtered through the green canopy as Virika giggled. She was hidden behind a mammoth of a tree—hiding.
Virika was eight years old. She giggled again as she thought of how she had found the perfect hiding place. Her ears were just beginning to come to a point and her head swiveled at the sound of a soft footstep.
She held perfectly still, even holding her breath for fear of being found. After a few moments she didn't hear anything and let all her air out in a resounding whoosh.
A hand clapped down on her shoulder causing Virika to yelp.
The sound of a trickling brook reached her ears and she turned to see her best friend laughing at her. Virika smiled widely.
"Tanlin! Don't scare me like that!"
The elf named Tanlin, towered over the little human. His long raven locks brushed her shoulders as he leaned down to face her. The little human girl was entertaining.
"If you had hidden better, Rika, then I wouldn't have found you." He said in a stern voice but his deep blue eyes twinkled.
The child laughed and bounded away from him her curls whipping around her face in the sudden wind. Virika turned to face Tanlin.
"You would have found me! You're the best at hide and seek! No one can out seek you!"
The man leaned against the tree that Virika had been hiding behind. His arms were folded across his chest and his gaze was calculating.
"That's true," he smiled, "but how would you like to learn to be the best?"
The child's uneven eyes lit up. He couldn't get over those eyes. Something about them was mysterious—he wanted to figure them out. Tanlin looked over at the only human he had ever met, this child. She was bright and happy. And yet—yet there was something about her . . .
"Teach me! Teach me!" the little girl shrieked dancing around clapping her hands together.
Tanlin laughed at the child's antics. He moved from his post towards her. Kneeling before her so that his face was level he started to explain to the child.
"Pay attention, Rika, this is important to winning . . ."
The sound of the lock being pulled lulled Virika from her sleep. She shook her head to rid herself of the strange memory. Why it would come to her at a time like this was beyond her.
There were more pressing matters at hand however. Like who was coming into her room.
The door flew open and a figure stood in the doorway. Virika blinked rapidly trying to decipher who the person could be. It was male that was for certain.
Stepping into the room the person came into focus. He was dressed richly like a noble man would be. His hair was a light brown and he smirked showing a dimple in his right cheek.
Virika glared at this intruder.
"So," the man said loudly, "this is your new slave, huh?" He reached out and yanked Virika up to her feet. She hissed at the man and pulled herself out of his grip. This caused the man to laugh.
"Nice. She's got spirit. And a pretty face, nice body too . . ." The man trailed as his gaze ran up and down Virika's figure. She glared at the man affronted by his brazen talk of her.
Someone else leaned against the doorway now.
"Yes well, it wouldn't do to have an ugly slave, now would it?" Murtagh drawled from the door.
The man turned around to look at him. "I agree," he turned his attention back to Virika who stood with her eyes narrowed and fists clenched in fury. "Think I can have a go at her once your finished?" He asked cocking his head.
The man didn't even have time to dodge before Virika's fist smashed into his face. The man stumbled backwards his hands clutching the side of his face Virika had hit.
"Don't you dare talk about me like that!" She screeched her eyes blazing in anger.
Murtagh gave a lazy wave of his hand and muttered something under his breath. Virika let out a cry of pain as the anklet started to burn her flesh. She dropped to her knees because the pain was so sharp.
"Sorry about that, Rhys," Murtagh said with a sneer, "but you are correct about that spirit."
Rhys stood up straight and looked down at where Virika was on the floor. Her hands frantically ripping at the gold band.
"She's got good aim. I didn't even see her move before she hit me," his voice was one of admiration. "I like a fighter." He smiled widely.
Virika growled from her position on the floor. Her eyes were flooded with tears because of the burning pain but she refused to let them flow. Murtagh mumbled another word and the pain ceased. Virika slumped in exhaustion.
"Don't hit my guests," Murtagh said as Rhys left the room. "Or next time I may just give you over to him."
The door shut with a slam leaving Virika in the darkness again.
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Whew. I finished chapter 2! Reviews are welcome. In fact, I kinda sorta love them. Tell me what you think about my story okay?