by Zella
I gathered all of my courage to speak.
"Why do you have to force me to come here when I'm also planning to come here after my class" I said.
Serafin turned his back and looked at me with his grinning expression. He stared at me from head to toe and then he chuckled.
"You were elegant and beautiful yesterday when you we're introduced as the mate wearing that beautiful and exclusive gown that only the Alpha's mate can wear" Serafin said as he walk towards me.
"What a funny and absurd situation to see that the Queen also happened to be the mate, wow" Serafin said in a very sarcastic tone.
I sighed "I also just learned recently that I am the Alpha's mate, I never meant to betray you--"
"Really huh" Serafin said as he cut what I'm about to say "You never betrayed me?" He added.
He laughed and caressed my hair "Before a mate becomes completely the Alpha's mate, she will have to have sex with the Alpha. You we're already introduced yesterday which means something already happened to you and the Alpha while being the Queen" Serafin said in his bitter tone.
"And that also means that you obviously cheated on me with the Alpha, my Queen" He said as he give me a spine chilling gaze.
After saying that, I was suddenly alarmed because of the thought that I won't be able to come out here alive and that he will definitely punish me because of this.
And then suddenly the king laughed.
"You really are so easy to read, don't worry my Queen because you will still be able to get out of here alive and unharmed. You are already the Alpha's mate which means you're one of the most powerful hybrid in Luna Canidae but you know me my Queen. A mistake and betrayal deserves a punishment--- a grave punishment" Serafin said and again scaring me with his gaze and words.
"You will be able to come out here alive Cassandra but maybe not them, unfortunately" He said and after saying that the door opened.
Rex and the other high rankings rebels entered and they brought with them two tortured ladies and made them kneel.
At first it was not clear to me who they we're but then I was shocked and petrified after seeing who the two ladies are, it was--- it was Lara and Misty and they looked like they went through so many beatings and tortures.
"What kind of bull shit is this, what the hell did you do to them Serafin?!" I screamed in anger. I immediately ran towards Misty and Lara who unfortunately got themselves beaten by the rebels.
"Hands off!!!" I angrily commanded Rex and his men, "I said get your hands off them!!!" I angrily shouted, they first looked at Serafin and then after confirming, they got their hands off Misty and Lara.
I chuckled because of what I just saw "What a joke, what a freaking big joke" I said and looked at Serafin.
"I was stated as the Queen of the Rebellion Empire and in that sense I should have at least the power to command them but they still need to ask confirmation from you so that they can obey me?" I said as I gaze at Serafin.
"Let's be honest here, I am obviously just your puppet Serafin but you're claiming that you got betrayed by me because suddenly I became the mate when in fact you never treated me as your Queen? Between the two of us Serafin, who do you think betrayed first?" I said and after saying that, Serafin immediately came to me and strangled me using both of his hands.
He chuckled "Just because I appointed you as my Queen doesn't mean you can outlaw me. I am the King of my own empire Cassandra and I am the law. My words are the law" He said still strangling me.
"I just gave you a mere title and just because I gave you that fucking title, you are becoming too arrogant and too full of yourself" He said as he remove his hands.
"You know you're already a puppet Queen from the start Cassandra---"
"Then what you're claiming that I fucking betrayed you is nothing but a groundless accusation. An accusation that you just created to catch me by my neck" I said in a very serious manner leveling his aura trying not to be intimidated by his gaze.
"Really" He said and walked towards Misty and Lara.
"You can actually say that but the problem is that it's not how I see it my dear. To me it's very clear that you betrayed me and that's how I see it" He said and pulled Lara's hair. I formed a fist in my hands as I see Lara and Misty suffering right in front of me.
I want to curse Rex for telling Serafin everything about the leader of the hunters and I want to hit Serafin who is showing his dark side right in front of me.
"What do you want?! Just--- just tell me what you want from me" I asked.
Serafin smiled "Now you're getting the point my Queen" Serafin said and walked towards me.
He caressed my hair up to my cheeks. "My Queen who was just a scared cat before has gotten really stronger and braver" He said and gazed at me "You're literally the first lady of Luna Canidae, having the privilege to rule both the Rebels and the Hybrids" He said.
"Just tell me what you want and let's get this done" I said.
He laughed and looked at me "Keep being my spy and my puppet. Stay beside the Alpha and pretend that you are his ally and stay loyal to me" He said asking for loyalty in exchange of my friend's lives.
"You know I can't do that. I am destined to be the Alpha's mate Serafin and I am destined to protect Luna Canidae---"
I was not able to finish what I'm about to say because Serafin pressed both of my jaws using his right hand. "You--- are destined to be loyal to me my Queen" He whispered with his raging eyes and terrifying tone.
"All you have to do is stay loyal and be my puppet and spy" He said as he remove his hands in my face.
"And what if I don't do that? What will you do? You will kill Misty and Lara? Well I'm sorry to spill the cup but I bet you can't. Misty is still the Cardinal in the eyes of the Hybrids and so the Hybrids will do everything to protect her. The same goes with Lara. Lara is the leader of the elite group hunters. They will wage war against your empire once you harm their precious leader" I said challenging Serafin's capabilities with my words.
"You can't do anything to us Serafin because we are being protected by our own empires" I said gazing at him straight in his eyes.
"Who says I'll harm them?" He said as he looks at Lara and Misty.
He grinned "If I can't harm them using my own empire then I'll harm them using your own empire my Queen. Giving the hybrids the information about the Leader of the hunter's identity will make them crazy. They will definitely hunt the leader of the hunters, and mind you, they will not just hunt the leader of the hunters but they will definitely kill her" He said still not removing the smirk in his face.
"And disguising yourself as a Cardinal when you're not is obviously an act of treason which in return, the punishment is death" He said giving me a huge blow of consequences.
"You're right, I can't hurt you nor them because of your so called empire but your own empire can actually kill them for me the moment I open my mouth" He said still flashing his annoying smirk.
I tighten my grip and gazed at him angrily "You're evil" I murmured. Serafin is more than a devil.
"I'm flattered, I take that as a compliment" He said and again of course showing me his grin.
I sighed and tried to gather all of my courage to be able to face this monstrous devil right in front of me. I formed a fist in my hands and looked at him and with all of my courage, I spoke.
"I will do exactly as you command" I said and looked at Lara and Misty who seemed so weak and tired because of all the tortures that they receive from the King's followers.
"I will be your puppet or your dog or your whatsoever but in return, listen to my words" I said and looked at him.
"Now its your turn to have my words seriously, spare Lara and Misty's lives" I said in a very serious tone as I look at him straight in his eyes.
Serafin smirked and again, he caressed my cheeks. With his mocking eyes, he looked at me "It's not actually that easy to do what you're asking from me my Queen" He said and looked at them.
"Especially to your friend Lara,
she is literally the leader of the hunters. She is the person that we've been looking for all these years. I cannot just let her go without doing anything just because the Queen pleaded me to do so" He said shamelessly.
"Its not only the rebellion empire whose looking for her but also you own empire Cassandra" He said as he grin.
"The chicken is already right in front of me and all I need to do is to jump unto it and eat it deliciously savoring the victory of slaying the leader of the Hunters" He added still flashing his devilish grin.
I bit my lower lip and then the next thing I knew, I am now kneeling down in front of him slowly. I formed a fist in my hands as I completely kneel down to him.
"With your grace and honor my King, I ask for your mercy to spare their lives. I will be your slave and a loyal dog anytime you want just--- just spare them, that's all I ask" I said spitting words that I never imagined I would say. After this humiliating scene, I pledge that I will get my revenge and get back to this devil right in front of me.
After saying that, I heard the King's loud and disgusting laugh.
"That's my Queen, you should have done that earlier. you should have kneeled down and begged for your dear friend's lives in front of me, that way, I would have made your life easier" He said as he pat my head and walked towards Lara and Misty.
"With the Queen's begging, I'm more than willing to spare these lowly human's lives. The fake Cardinal will go back being as the Fake Cardinal as she is" He said and looked at Lara.
"While our little hunter over here will of course go back to being the leader of the hunters but---" He said and flashed his devil smile.
"In return, a new era of hunters will be born because the empire of the hunters will be under the rebellion empire starting from now. We will have to join forces to defeat the Hybrid Empire" He said as he laugh hard.
Now he's showing me his devilish side, the side that I never saw before, the side that is so different from our first encounter. He really is a devil, a real antagonist capable of destroying people and capable of destroying me.
After saying that, he walked towards me and pressed my jaws using his right hand. He smiled as he level his face to mine. "You can't over power me my Queen just because you're the Queen and that Alpha's mate doesn't mean we have the same capabilities. You should always learn where to place yourself" He said and stood up.
For the nth time, he laughed disgustingly like a devil as he, Rex and his followers leave us.
After they left, I immediately ran towards Misty and Lara who can't even say a thing or two and who can't even move because of the tortures that they received from Serafin and his followers.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" I murmured as I help them stand up.
"H-how--- how did they know my identity as the leader of the hunters?" Lara asked me.
"I'm sorry Lara but that day I never thought that Rex is secretly listening to us. He knew that you we're the leader of the hunters. I told him not to tell the king yet because I will be the one who will tell him but this happened" I said as I apologize in front of Lara.
"I'm sorry" I murmured.
"You ruined everything Cassandra and now the empire that I have organized back for many years will have to work under the rebellion empire and this is all because of you" Lara said with all resentment in her voice and I can't say anything but a sorry because I know it really is my fault.
It's the fault of my complicated situation.
"I'm sorry" For the second time, I murmured.
"Sorry?" She said in a questioning tone and then she chuckled "And what do you think can your sorry do? Will it bring back my honor?" She said.
"If I knew that this will be the fancy prize of befriending a Cassandra De Lara then I never should have befriended you from the start" She said as her form a fist in her hands.
"I never have done that, I never have met you from the start" She murmured.
"Instead of blaming her, you should thank her for saving your life and just like you she's also suffering and she will also suffer because of this" Misty said trying to get in between me and Lara.
"She should be, of course she should save us, she's the reason why we're here anyway. We are just traps made by that lousy king to get Cassandra here" Lara said raising her voice.
I sighed "I would appreciate it if we don't fight here, besides we still need to heal your wounds. You can't show up in the public looking like that" I said and just as I wished, they kept quiet.
"Thank you" I said and looked at their wounds.
With Lara and Misty's wounds because of all the tortures and beatings that they received from the king, they need to isolate themselves for how many days. The people should not see their wounds and bruises because if they do, it will create a huge mess. They are public figures anyway.
......................................
I came back to the Hybrid mansion before it gets dark not to raise any suspicions from any of the Hybrids especially to the Alpha. As I enter the mansion, Mr. Jackson, my favorite driver approached me.
As he approach me, he bowed down to me while trying not to look directly in my eyes "Madame, you should have called me if you're coming home, I would have come immediately. Did you perhaps took a public transportation on your way here?" Mr. Jackson asked.
I smiled "As if you don't know, I always commute Mr. Jackson, don't worry nothing bad will happen to me" I said as I smile assuring him that I'm fine.
"But still, even if you are used to commuting Madame, your life is already different from before. You should start being extra careful right now because you are already the Alpha's mate. The Rebels might come to you to kill you especially that everyone knows that the Alpha's mate studies in LCU" Mr. Jackson said, I chuckled hearing him exaggerate things.
"But I arrived home safe and sound didn't I Mr. Jackson" I said smiling trying to annoy him. Mr. Jackson is already like my second guardian, he's already like a father because aside from the Delta and Misty, he's my closest friend in Hybrid mansion.
"Don't worry Mr. Jackson. Nothing bad will happen to me I assure you that and please, stop exaggerating things" I said and walked to get inside the mansion.
"But next time Madame, please call me if you are coming home or if you need to go somewhere. I'll be more than glad to escort you, you are already the Alpha's mate and expect that your life will be more complicated starting from now" Mr. Jackson said raising his concern.
"I smiled to assure Mr. Jackson "Yup I will, don't worry Mr. Jackson" I said and entered the mansion.
As I enter, I saw the usual guards whom I always annoy because they are like statues standing tall that they don't even blink an eye nor move an inch.
"Hey boys, has the Alpha arrive yet?" I asked one of the guards.
"Not yet Madame, it seems like he will come home late today" He said. I nod and went to the kitchen. "Okay, thanks and oh do the both of you don't get tired from standing all day doing nothing?" I asked.
"No Madame because this is our job" He said, I chuckled.
"Whoa, what's with you guys? You're answering my question suddenly" I said "Before, you don't even care about my existence and you don't give a damn if I ask you something" I said.
"We apologize for our harsh behavior Madame" They said bowing down to me making me laugh so hard.
"Why would you even say sorry?? I'm just messing up with you guys. Don't take it seriously" I said laughing. I can't believe their apologizing just because of that when I just say that to joke around them.
"We apologize Madame" They said, still bowing down to me with their serious faces.
"I told you not say sorry" I said as I sigh "Yeah, I should better go to the kitchen" I said and went straight to the kitchen.
I was expecting to see an empty kitchen but I was wrong, I was startled because of what I have seen. What I saw are the servants that I also saw the day I was presented as a mate. I was confused for a while after seeing the servants because I never saw any servants around the mansion when I
was still serving as the servant for the Alpha.
After seeing me, they immediately bowed down to me "You came Madame" They said in unison.
"Ahm? What are you doing here?" I asked the girls as I paint a confused look in my face.
They looked at each other and then for the second time they bowed down to me "Madame, we are the servants of the Alpha couple and it's our duty to serve both you and the Alpha. We're still unsure of what kind of food you usually eat that's why we needed to wait for you to confirm what you want us to cook for you" One of them said still bowing down to me.
"We apologize for our incompetence" The woman added as they try not to look at me in the eyes.
I looked at them and then suddenly I chuckled, no, more like I laughed. They should have seen their faces trying hard to explain themselves.
They looked at me as I laugh hard and their confused face made me laugh so hard.
"Sorry, its just that I find you guys funny and oh by the way. About my food and the Alpha, I will be the one who will cook our food from now on, you don't really need to cook for us" I said as I smile.
"But Madame we're tasked to cook food for the Alpha couple and this is our job" They said.
"And its also my job to cook my mate's own food right. Don't worry, I have tasks for you girls" I said smiling while they're left confused.
"What is the task that we can do for you Madame?" One of them said.
"You can help me chop vegetables and meats, that's the thing that I hated the most when I was still a servant here" I said and opened the fridge.
"Perfect, there's three of you. One of you chop the meat while the other two should chop the vegetable. We will cook a lot tonight" I said as I excite myself because I know I'm not already alone in cooking the Alpha's meal.
As they help me cook the Alpha's meal, I looked at them who seemed so serious with the task I gave them.
"By the way? Are you girls humans? Or hybrids?" I asked.
They looked at each other "Since the Alpha's mate is a human, the Alpha chose humans as your servants. We are all humans Madame" One of them said. I nod.