The Princess's Revenge Chapter 81

Valencia’s POV

We followed the narrow corridor deeper into the basement. The torches on the walls barely gave enough light to see where we were stepping. Water dripped from the ceiling, and I had to duck twice when the stone dipped lower.

"The workshop is just around these two corners," Echo whispered beside me. "It's the worst place in the whole castle."

"How many people work there?" I asked quietly.

"Usually three servants," she said, her voice shaking. "Maya and two others. They rotate shifts, but Maya's been doing double shifts because she's too weak to climb the stairs multiple times."

We turned the first corner. The smell got worse immediately. My eyes started watering from the fumes.

"One guard at the entrance," Echo said. "He's there to make sure the workers don't steal supplies or try to leave during their shifts." Her voice turned bitter. "As if anyone would want to steal lye or animal fat."

We turned the second corner, and I saw him. A broad-shouldered guard leaning against the wall next to a wooden door. The door had iron reinforcements, like they were keeping prisoners instead of workers.

The guard straightened when he saw us approaching. His eyes went straight to my blue silk dress, and for a second, his face showed confusion and fear. He started to bow his head respectfully.

Then he saw my collar.

His expression changed to disgust, then contempt. His hand went to his sword.

"What the fuck is this?" he said, drawing his blade halfway. "A slave playing dress-up?"

Echo pressed herself against my back, trembling.

"Get out," the guard said, pointing his sword at me. "Whatever game you're playing, take it somewhere else."

"I'm not playing any game," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm here to see Maya."

He laughed. It was an ugly sound. "A slave in silk wants to visit the workshop? Did you steal that dress?"

"I didn't steal anything."

"Then whose lady did you rob?" He pulled his sword fully out now. "Get out before I drag you to the dungeons myself."

Echo tugged on my sleeve. "Valencia, maybe we should go," she whispered.

"No," I said firmly, then looked back at the guard. "Alpha Logan sent me to get Maya out of there."

The guard's laugh got louder. "Alpha Logan? You think I'm stupid?"

"What? No..."

"The Alpha doesn't give a shit about workshop servants," he growled, waving his sword dismissively. "And he definitely doesn't send slaves on errands. Even slaves who steal noble clothes."

"I didn't steal—"

"I don't care what lie you've made up," he interrupted, stepping closer. The sword point was aimed at my chest now. "You've got three seconds to turn around and leave."

"Listen to me," I said, my anger rising. "Maya is dying in there. Her hands are destroyed from the lye. She needs help."

"Not my problem." He moved the sword closer. "One."

"The Alpha specifically told me—"

"Two."

Echo was pulling my arm harder now. "Please, Valencia, let's just go."

"I'm not leaving without Maya," I said.

"Three." The guard raised his sword, ready to strike with the flat of the blade.

My hand moved before I could think. I pulled out the sling from my sleeve, already loading one of the paralysis darts. The guard's eyes widened in surprise.

"What the—"

I released the dart. It flew past his head, missing by inches. My hands were shaking too much.

"You little bitch!" He lunged forward with his sword.

I loaded the second dart, stepping back quickly. Echo screamed behind me. The guard's sword swung toward me, and I ducked, feeling the blade whistle over my head.

This time I didn't think. I just aimed and released.

The dart hit him in the neck.

He reached up to pull it out, looking at the small projectile with confusion. "What is this? Some kind of toy?"

He threw the dart aside and advanced on me again, sword raised. "You're going to pay for that."

"Wait," I said, backing up. "Just wait."

"Wait for what?" He took another step, then paused. His face looked confused. "My arm feels..."

The sword wavered in his grip. He tried to lift it higher, but his arm wouldn't respond properly.

"What did you..." His words started slurring. His legs wobbled. "What poison..."

"It's not poison," I said, watching him carefully. "Just wait. Don't fight it."

He tried to take another step toward us, but his knee buckled. He caught himself against the wall, breathing hard. "You... you..."

His other leg gave out. He slid down the wall, the sword clattering from his numb fingers. His eyes were wide with panic as he tried to move his arms, his legs, anything.

"Can't... move..." he gasped.

After another minute, he was completely still on the floor. Only his eyes moved, darting between Echo and me with a mixture of fear and rage. His mouth hung slightly open, but no sound came out.

"Valencia," Echo whispered, her voice full of terror. "What did you do?"

"Paralysis dart," I said, my voice shaking.

"Is he... is he dead?"

"No. Just paralyzed. It'll wear off in a few hours." I hoped that was true. Gareth had said it was temporary, but seeing the guard lying there so still made my stomach turn.

I grabbed Echo's hand. "Come on. We need to get Maya before anyone else comes."

I pushed open the door. The smell hit me like a physical blow - lye, rotting fat. The stench was so overwhelming I had to cover my nose and mouth with my hand.

Echo pressed close behind me, gagging. "Oh god," she whispered through her fingers.

The workshop was darker than the corridor. Only two torches flickered on opposite walls. Water dripped steadily from cracks above, mixing with the chemicals on the floor to create toxic puddles.

Three figures hunched over their work stations. They hadn't looked up when we entered. Their movements were mechanical. Stirring massive iron cauldrons. Pouring lye. Cutting chunks of animal fat.

"Maya?" Echo's voice cracked.

The middle figure froze. Slowly, she turned. Even in the dim light, I could see the damage. Her hands were raw, bleeding in places. Patches of her hair were gone, leaving angry red scalp visible. Her face was gaunt, eyes sunken.

"Echo?" Maya's voice was barely a whisper.

Then she saw me. The blue silk dress caught what little light there was. Her eyes went wide with terror.

"My lady!" Maya dropped to her knees immediately, pressing her forehead to the filthy floor. "Forgive us! We didn't know you were coming!"

The other two servants - a boy who couldn't be more than fourteen and an older woman - immediately followed suit. They threw themselves down, trembling.

"Please forgive us," the woman whimpered. "We would have cleaned if we'd known."

"We're working, my lady," the boy added frantically. "We haven't stopped. Please don't punish us."

My chest tightened painfully. They were all so thin. The boy's arms were like sticks. The woman's dress hung off her frame like a sack. Maya was the worst - I could count her ribs through the threadbare fabric.

"Stand up," I said. "All of you, please stand up."

They didn't move. If anything, they pressed themselves lower.

"Maya, it's me. Valencia." I stepped closer, but she flinched away. "I'm here to get you out."

"We can't leave," the woman said, still face-down. "Our shift isn't over until sunset."

"I don't care about your shift."

"But the overseer will check," the boy said, his voice muffled against the floor. "If we're not here, we'll be whipped."

"No one's getting whipped," I said firmly. "I'm taking all three of you out of here. Right now."

Maya finally lifted her head slightly. Her eyes were red from the fumes, tears tracking through the grime on her face. "Valencia? Is it really you?"

"It's me." I knelt beside her, not caring the dress touched the filthy floor. "Echo told me everything. I'm so sorry it took me this long."

"But you're dressed like..." Maya's eyes traveled over the silk again. "Are you..."

"I'm going to be Luna," I said. The words felt strange in my mouth. "Alpha Logan is announcing it tonight."

All three of them stared at me in shock.

"Luna?" the woman breathed. "Are you a slave?" she pointed the collar.

"Not for much longer," I tried hard not to appear embarrassed as I spoke. "Get up. We're leaving."

"We can't," the boy said, finally sitting up but still not standing. "If we leave our posts, they'll hunt us down. Beat us. Maybe kill us."

"Who will?" I asked.

"The supervisors. The guards. Everyone." His voice shook. "We're assigned here. We can't just leave."

"Yes, you can. Because I'm telling you to."

"But you're still wearing a collar," the woman pointed out, her voice barely audible. "You're still a slave yourself."

Oh God... Her words hit me like a slap. She was right. The iron collar was still heavy around my neck. A voice in my head whispered: You're nothing. You're the lowest of the low. Who are you to save anyone?

My hands started shaking. For a moment, I wanted to run. To apologize for disturbing them and flee back upstairs.

But no. I forced myself to look at Maya's destroyed hands, at the boy's skeletal frame. They needed help. My help. My own fears didn't matter right now.

"We can't leave," the woman dull voice cut off my thought. "This is our life."

"Your life?" Something hot flared in my chest. Anger. "Look at yourselves! Your hands are bleeding. Your hair is falling out. You can barely stand!"

She just stared at the floor.

"And you," I turned to the boy. "When did you last eat a full meal? You're skin and bones!"

He shrugged. "This is how it is."

Their resignation made me furious. "You're all going to die down here! Is that what you want?"

"At least we know what to expect," he said quietly. "Out there... who knows what punishment waits?"

"So you'd rather die slowly in this hell than take a chance at living?" My voice rose. "You'd rather let the chemicals eat your skin, destroy your lungs, until you collapse and they throw your body out like garbage?" I was almost shouting now. "Stay here and die, or come with me and live. That's your choice. Decide!"

Silence fell. They all stared at me, shocked by my outburst.

Echo stepped forward. "Please, Maya," she said softly. "Valencia risked everything to come here. She paralyzed a guard for you. She's trying to save you."

"I'm scared," Maya whispered.

"I know," Echo said, taking her sister's ruined hands gently. "But staying here is scarier. Look what it's done to you already."

"What if the new work is just as bad?" the boy asked.

"It won't be," I said firmly. "I promise you that."

Maya looked at Echo, then at me. "You really paralyzed the guard?"

"Yes."

"For us?"

"For you."

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "No one's ever fought for us before."

"Well, I am now," I said and held out my hand to Maya. "So are you coming or not? Because I'm not leaving without you, but I'd rather not stand here arguing until that guard wakes up."

"I'll come." Maya stared at my hand for a long moment. Then, slowly, she reached out with her damaged fingers and let me pull her up. She swayed on her feet, and Echo rushed to support her other side.

"Maya!" the woman grabbed her arm.

"I hurt everywhere.," Maya said. "I can't breathe properly anymore. If I stay here another week, I'll be dead." She looked at me. "I'll take my chances with Valencia."

The boy stood up too. "If Maya's going, I'm going."

The woman looked between all of us, fear and hope warring on her face. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, I'll come too."

"Let's go." I said, relief flooding through me. "What are your names?"

"I'm Finn," the boy said quietly.

"Greta," the woman added. "Where will we go?"

"First, to your rooms to rest. Then we'll figure out new positions for you. Somewhere that won't destroy your bodies."