Chapter One
Amelia was in her bedroom, sitting on her bed, when Maya, her maid, rushed in with fear written all over her face.
"My lady, the kingdom is under attack. The palace too!" she cried.
Amelia's heart pounded. She jumped up and ran downstairs to find her brother. She searched every room until she found him in his bedroom. She grabbed his hand. She planned to run away with him.
Meanwhile, Gray ordered his soldiers to kill anyone they saw. But things didn't go the way he planned. His soldiers were defeated. The few who survived ran back to the palace to report what had happened. Gray knew deep down that this was the end of his rule and his cruel leadership. Fear gripped him. He turned to escape, but Henderson caught up with him.
"Coward," Henderson said, looking at him with disgust.
"Please, don't kill me," Gray begged.
"Why? Just give me one reason why I shouldn't waste your useless life," Henderson yelled, his voice shaking with rage.
"I'm your servant, My Lord," Gray stammered, knowing that Henderson was more powerful than him.
"Of course you are my servant, Gray," Henderson said, his eyes burning with hate.
"This is for killing my father," he added, then sliced off Gray's right hand.
"I told you your death wouldn't be easy. I sent you so many death messages. But you were too stupid to act fast. I want you to feel the pain I felt. I want you to suffer like I did ten years ago. You came to my kingdom with your soldiers and killed my father!" he screamed and cut off Gray's second hand.
Gray's screams echoed through the palace. People outside could hear them. His blood covered the floor.
"Please spare me, My Lord," Gray cried in pain.
"Spare you?" Henderson barked. "Did you spare the lives of the people you murdered? Did you listen when they begged you? You acted like you couldn't hear. Like you were blind to their tears!"
He shouted again. Gray couldn't speak. His eyes were filled with guilt and tears.
"And this is for my mother, the woman you raped," Henderson said coldly. "Your daughter will be my slave. Not just any slave—a sex slave."
He raised his sword and cut off Gray's head. It rolled to the floor. Henderson stared at his blood-stained hands—the blood of his enemy.
Amelia never got the chance to escape with her brother. Henderson and his soldiers found her. They entered her bedroom. He looked at her with burning hatred, but he didn't lay a hand on her. He gave his orders and left the palace with his men.
"My Lord, we have the princess and her maid," Omega said softly.
"Where are they?" Henderson asked, his voice cold.
"They are still in the car, My Lord," he answered.
"Lock her up. Make sure she doesn't get even a drop of water," Henderson ordered and walked away.
"As you wish, My Lord," Omega said, bowing his head. He left the King's chamber and went to the garage where the cars were parked. He opened the car door and removed the cloth covering Amelia's eyes.
"Where am I?" she asked, looking around the strange place.
"What are you doing? You…" she cried out in pain as Omega grabbed her right arm. He pulled her out and took her to a dark room.
"Let go of me, you idiot! I swear to God, I will kill you and your king. Just wait till I leave this place. I won't spare you!" she screamed and hit his arm with tears in her eyes.
But Omega didn't strike her. He followed the rule of his master—never to harm a woman. He pushed her into the dark room and shut the door. She fell to the floor, crying her eyes out. From one pain to another.
"Open this door!" she shouted, hitting it hard.
"Please don't hurt my brother. He is innocent. Please," she cried louder.
But no one answered her. Her voice became weak. She couldn't speak anymore. She kept crying. Her thoughts wandered to her life, her people—who would now be ruled by a heartless king.
"Oh God, please protect my brother. He hasn't done anything wrong," she prayed softly.
The King dined alone. He was used to it. He was the only one who survived. His father had died protecting the kingdom. Now, he had to carry on from where his father stopped.
Omega looked at Amelia's maid, Maya, and her little brother Richard. The boy wouldn't stop talking about his sister. He loved her very much.
"Maya, when will my sister come back?"
"Don't worry, Richard. She's a brave woman. Nothing will happen to her."
"I want to see her," Richard mumbled.
"I understand how you feel, Your Highness. Please trust me, the princess is fine. She will come see you when she can," Maya replied.
"Are you sure, Maya?" he asked again.
"Yes, Your Highness," she replied with a fake smile. Deep down, she knew the King was heartless and wouldn't spare the princess.
"I'm hungry," Richard said, rubbing his belly. Maya looked at him. She didn't know what to do. There was no food, and he was just a little boy. He couldn't go hungry for long. She pressed her lips together and stood up. She went to knock on the door, but before she could, someone opened it. She bowed her head and greeted him.
The man handed her a tray of food.
"Where's my sister? Where's the princess?" Richard asked Omega.
"I hope she's fine, little man," Omega muttered.
"Now get inside before the King comes here," he said. They quickly stepped inside. He locked the door and walked away with the keys.
"Maya…" Richard called softly.
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"Where is this place? Why are we here?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I can't say anything," Maya said, crying.
"Did he kidnap us?" Richard asked. "He took my sister!" he added.
Maya nodded her head, tears falling.
"Oh God, please help my sister. I pray he doesn't hurt her. She hasn't done anything wrong."
"I pray so, Your Highness," Maya whispered.
"I hope I see her in the morning," she added with a small, sad smile.
"Me too. I hope I'll see her pretty face again," he said, then lay on her lap. He couldn't eat after hearing everything that had happened to his sister.
Amelia was still in the dark room. She crawled to the door and started hitting it. Though it was late, she was scared—scared of everything, even if she didn't know exactly why.
"Is anyone there?"
"Please open the door!"
"Anybody, please give me water," she begged weakly. But no one came. She grew more tired and weak. She collapsed onto the floor, crying. She wished morning would come quickly so she could at least see light.
She cried and cried. A princess who once slept on a beautiful bed, decorated with flowers and sweet smells, was now lying on the cold, hard floor. Not by choice. But because a heartless king had ruined her life.
"My Lord," Omega greeted politely, bowing.
"What is it?" Henderson asked.
"It's the princess, Your Majesty."
"What about her?" Henderson asked, glancing at him, then turning back to his wine and cigarettes.
"She hasn't slept yet, My Lord," Omega mumbled. Henderson glanced at him again. Omega became scared. He knew he shouldn't have said anything.
"How is that your business?" Henderson asked coldly.
"I'm sorry, My Lord… I just thought…"
"Omega," Henderson said, cutting him off.
"She is now my slave. Don't concern yourself with her. She is paying for her father's sins. She belongs to me now. She is my property."
"I'm sorry, My Lord. Please forgive me," Omega said, bowing deeply. Henderson nodded and placed his hands behind his back.
"Send Saanvi to my room," Henderson ordered.
"Alright, My Lord," Omega said and left.
Saanvi had been his mistress for years. She was the only one who could calm him down when he was angry. She had been by his side after the war. She had always hoped the King would marry her one day.
Saanvi entered the King's room, dressed in a red robe. It was thin and see-through. Every part of her body was visible. She walked slowly to him, smiling. She gently placed her hands on his bare chest and winked.
"Your Majesty…" she said with a soft smile.
"Strip and lie on the bed," he said coldly.
"Your Majesty… I thought we could talk a little before—"
"Strip," he said loudly, cutting her off.
She didn't argue. She stripped quietly and lay on the bed. He climbed on top of her. He didn't want love. He took what he wanted, then left for the bathroom. He had a cold shower and smiled to himself. He had finally killed Grayson—the heartless man who killed his father and mother. That man had turned him into the monster he was now.
But Henderson wasn't satisfied. Not yet. Not until Amelia suffered the way his mother did. He wouldn't stop until she begged for mercy.
"I won't let you go, Amelia. I'll make you suffer. I'll make you feel the pain my mother felt in the hands of your heartless father," he shouted. He could still remember the night it happened. A night he would never forget.
He left the bathroom and returned to his room. Saanvi was gone. That was the rule. She was never allowed to spend the night in his bed. Even though he paid her monthly, no woman was allowed to sleep beside him until morning.