Lyan
As soon as dad said begin all the demons that had been looking from the sides slowly filed out and went away, leaving the whole room empty except for us and the candidates.
Through the corner of my eye I kept checking on my guys, making sure they were still there and weren't just an hallucination, because as much as I wanted them to be safe at home I also wanted them right by my side, and if I was been honest I really liked the idea that they had come to enemy territory just for me.
My guys were also looking at me, watching my every movement with intent eyes.
" Follow me" All of the sudden dad got up and extended his hand towards me.
I looked one last time at my guys and finally took his hand.
" Who were you looking at all the time?" Dad asked as soon as we exited the throne room and began walking towards God's knew where.
Fuck, I hadn't thought that far ahead. I made an hmmm sound as I thought. What could I say that would get dad to back off and not kill my guys?
" Because they're handsome?" I half asked, half asserted.
" Which ones do you think are handsome?" The gleam in dad's eyes told me all I needed to know. There was no way in hell I was answering that question. I really, really didn't want my guys to become dog's food.
" None in particular"
" Hmmm" Dad looked at me as if he didn't believe me, but let the topic drop. I had noticed that dad tended to drop a lot of topics if I lied, never confronting me directly. I was definitely going to exploit the hell out of the system.
" What is that about servants and trials?" I asked, wanting to divert his attention even though I knew he wasn't going to call me on my lie.
" I thought you would want someone your age to be your servant" Dad looked me in the eyes like a hurt puppy, as if I had thrown all his hard work down the drain. What had I said to make him like that?
" Why do I need servants? I don't want them!" I screamed. I felt bad playing with dad's emotions to get what I wanted, but I really didn't want to deal with having another person looking at me all the time, and if that meant throwing a tantrum, so be it.
" Of course you need them. You're a princess"
" Is there no way of not having servants?" I pouted, making my best sad face. I was getting really good at pretending. Maybe when I got back I should become an actress.
" Of course not." Dad said as we took yet another turn in the endless castle. My strategy had failed. I clenched my teeth, why couldn't he just conceded like always?" My princess will never have to do anything at all if she doesn't want to"
" What exactly do servants do?" I asked, confused by his answer.
" Clean, mostly" That I could get behind. I didn't specially liked cleaning. I liked a clean space, but didn't want to be the one with a mop, and much less in a room as big as mine's. In that sense having a servant wouldn't be so bad. Maybe I had overreacted?
Before I knew it we were outside the castle and in the desert. Didn't the main door lead to the city? I was confused.
" It's the back door" Dad said, answering my unasked question. I was really beginning to wonder if he couldn't read minds after all.
" What exactly are we doing here?" I asked instead, sweat trickling down my spine and forehead, the heat from the two suns getting to me us soon as we left the cool shadow of the castle.
" The trials" Dad answered matter of factly.
Just what kind of trial needed the desert? Wouldn't the trials just be about who could clean the fastest or fetch the best food?
" What are the trials about?"
Dad immediately turned to look at me with a smile on his face that said he was up to no good.
" Strength, of course. Your servant must be the strongest in order to protect you"
" Didn't you just say that the servants only clean?"
" Yes, they mostly do that, but anyone that's serving my daughter must be strong enough to protect her"
" So what exactly are the trials about?"
Dad smiled deviously as he looked into the far away desert, where I could see something moving under the sand.
" That's easy. Just survive" What the fuck did he mean just survive? Just want was he planning to make my guys do?
I listened with dread as dad turned around to face the contestants and started speaking.
" This trial will be easy" He said, opening his arms " survive in the desert for the night and you'll pass to the next trial"
That didn't seem so hard. I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the trial. It was doable. My guys wouldn't be hurt.
" That's all we have to do?" A blue haired demon from the front asked.
I could see my guys pale when my dad just smiled, showing all his teeth, in a diabolical grin.
" That's all" That wasn't all. I was sure, and judging by how everyone fidgeted they knew too.
" Let the trials begin " Dad said just as the suns set on the horizon and the moon came into view.
I sent my guys one last glance, begging them with my eyes to be safe, as dad teleported us out of the desert and into my room, where a new tray filled with food was waiting for me on my bed.
" I'll call for you tomorrow morning. It may be early, but I want you by my side when I choose your attendant"
Getting up early was going to be annoying, but I could at least do that for my guys.
" Aren't we going to watch the show?" I asked. Hopefully dad would cave and I would be able to secretly help them out.
" No"
" Why not?"
" Because then it wouldn't be fair" Dad said, the same smile he had shown during the presentation back on his lips.
" How so?" I asked, dreading the answer.
" Because the beasts won't go near me" Dad said as he kissed my forehead and disappeared.
Did he just say beasts? I began to panic, sweat trickling down my spine. Surely my guys wouldn't get hurt, right? Even as I tried to gaslight myself I saw the sand shifting under their feet and then getting eaten by it, or a giant beast devouring them. I shivered with fear. I had to find a way to help my guys.
I walked through my room like a cornered animal, fidgeting and wanting to scream. I was useless, again. The training with dad had made me stronger, but that didn't do jack shit if I couldn't even open the door to go to where Jack, Oscar and Orus wete be fighting for their lives, all because of me.
Just when I was thinking about how to break the wall it suddenly opened. I wouldn't question my good luck. I was just going to gracefully accept it.
Without even touching my food I ran out, before whatever had opened the door disappeared and closed it back again, trapping me inside with no way out.
Outside Ruan was leaning against a wall, waiting for me, but I didn't have time to deal with him, my guys were in danger right now!, so I just ignored him as I took a turn at random, hoping my luck wouldn't change, and run.
" Where are you going?" Ruan grabbed me by the sleeve as I ran and made me turn, making me face him.
" I'm busy" I said, trying to get out of his hold, thrashing around.
" Yes you are " Ruan conceded. I stopped thrashing and looked at him. Did he know what I was trying to do? Was he on my side? " You're busy with our deal"
I looked at him, confused. What did he mean I was busy with our deal?
" Our deal to spy on your dad? He has gone on a date with Els. I want you to spy on them"
So this was what it was all about. I admitted that I hadn't really tried very hard or had even tried to spy on dad at all during these days, but still Ruan couldn't just order me around, right?
" I'm really busy right now. I'll do it later" I said, pulling on my sleeve, trying to get free.
" Are you trying to break the deal?" Ruan asked in a dark and deep voice.
The moment he uttered those words my heart constrained and I fell to the floor, pain all over my heart. I clutched my chest and held it tight, but no matter what I did the pain wouldn't go away.
" What....what have you done?" I stammered.
" It's the bond " Ruan said from above me, concern written all over his face " it hurts if you try to avoid it. Just say you'll do it and it'll go away"
" I'll.... I'll do it" I said in a low voice, still clutching my chest.
The moment I said those words the pain dimmed until it disappeared. I'd never say I wouldn't spy on dad again, lesson learned.
" Where are they ?!" I asked, giving up on checking on my guys for now because: first I would never know how to get to the desert, and second I really didn't want to feel that pain again.
" I'll take you there" Ruan said, offering me his hand.
I ignored it and got up on my own, my legs wobbly and shaking.
" Okay, but after I'm done you leave me alone " I glared at Ruan. He could've told me what would happen if I tried to escape, but he never had. I just hoped there was nothing else that he had conveniently forgotten about.
" You'll escape later" Ruan said, patting my back.
He thought I was mad because he had destroyed my escape attempt? I snorted, I wasn't mad because of that.
" I'll go, but in exchange do me a favor"
" I told you, I'll help you escape. It's part of the deal"
" No, not that. Another favor" I looked him in the eye, judging his reaction. He just looked mildly curious.
" Okay, what is it?"
" Make sure three participants survive the attendant test"
" Why?" He asked, way more curious now, but no matter how much he asked I wasn't going to give him that information. I didn't trust that he wouldn't tattle to dad and I didn't even trust him that much. We were just reluctant allies, a little bit of friends at best.
" That doesn't matter" I crossed my arms.
Ruan looked at my eyes for a while and then nodded. Good, now he wouldn't ask anymone.
" Who are they?" He asked instead.
I smiled. I might just be able to protect my guys after all.