Ruthless

Queen Rhea

My hands begun to get blisters from so much cleaning. They hurt almost as much as my memories do. One thing I knew was that Rhea liked her palace crystal clear. Her clothes always at its best perfectly straight without a single hair on them or wrinkle. If you didn't do things as asked. Punishments would fall on your back.

Some consisted on food deprivation, others of outside chores without sleep for two days to the point slaves would pass out or died from exhaustion. Others more severe consisted on torturous deaths or whips tied on a wooden pole. Not one punishment was fair or not hard enough.

Some said getting whipped was better than food deprivation. The hunger kills you slowly, but the whips only last ten minutes. Even when the cuts can take up to months to heal.

I haven't seen the queen for a few days. Which is rather great. A young servant was by my side scrubbing the floors as well.

"Everyone talks about you. They don't know whether you are brave or stupid enough to go against queen Rhea."

"Maybe the latter." I answered. She only flashed a weak smile.

"How long have you been here for?" I asked.

"Tomorrow it will be two years."

I looked at her sadly. How can one survive as much.

"Others have been here for many years. For example Matilda and Helen. I believe they have been here for almost seventy years." I dropped my brush on the bucket filled with bubbles.

"How old is queen Rhea?" The young servant didn't do any gestures.

"No one really knows how old she is. She appears to be in her early twenties but she has been that way for over seven decades already. The servants speak, only assumptions of course. Rhea isn't a demon like everyone believes."

"But she's a succubus. How can she not?"

"Some say she was one of the fallen angels. First ones to arrive when the war was about to take place."

"How do you know Helen and Matilda were here?"

"They came here as children. Over sixty years ago. Sisters with no family left. Rhea was here already. No one knows the history. The elder sisters say that the queen wasn't as cruel back then." I nodded. A fallen angel with hell inside of her. It suited her well.

"Keep scrubbing." A guard spoke with dark eyes.

When he left I spoke again.

"I don't remember what happened my first night here. I passed out after she took my energy."

"Guards took you to the servants room across the royal tower."

"How do you know?" Her light eyes showed confliction in them.

"People talk." Was all she said.

"She didn't abuse me.." I spoke in a whisper manner. More to myself than to the young woman beside me.

"Your stay has still been early." She spoke. After that my mind was clouded not giving enough time to speak. I did my chores as expected. Once everything was put to order was I allowed to have a meal and head back to my dormitory. It sucked to know I wouldn't be sharing a room with the people I knew a bit better. Instead I was in a crowded room with twelve other girls.

The kitchen wasn't crowded instead loud unpleasant sounds came from it. It didn't take a genius to put together the pieces. Rhea has been out of the house, but now she is back and a young maiden paid the price. Being at the wrong place at the wrong hour. Her body laid on the kitchen counter as the queen let it fell limb on it. Feeding off the poor girl.