“Princess, no handcuffs. No guards. Just you and I, talKing.” His tone still sounded oily to her.
“Talk of what pray tell, General?”
“Your future.” He said simply.
Those words got her thinKing. She hadn't been thinKing about her future in the same way he had. She had been in survival mode for a while now.
“Come.” He commanded and began to leave her room.
She followed him out her room, down the hall and winding stairs, and into the grand meeting hall. It was a room her mother had utilized only for social and political gatherings with other Royalty. Everything inside of the large beautifully decorated room was covered in white linens.
No matter what, she had to endure. No matter how long, she had to wait for the right moment. She would avenge the death of her mother and Marlon.She nodded her head ‘yes’“Answer me.”“I wish to live, General.” She said quietly.She saw how he looked at her mouth. She realized Marlon had had the same look on his face when she would want him to kiss her, and in this moment she realized he had desired her, just as she had desired him.Her heart ached more for him.“Then you will do exactly as I say. Do you understand Princess?”She nodded her head when she spoke, “Yes.”
“Good ! Shall we go to your stepfather, Princess?” He jerked her chains and half dragged her out of the room and into the throne room.Flossina’s mother had only let her watch court proceedings a handful of times and her mother had always been kind and generous to her people, making sure her diplomacy and fair justice reigned supreme. Now, she was inside the throne room and it looked drastically different than she recalled. The banners were no longer brightly coloured they were all dark purples, grays and blacks. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces. Courtesans walked around freely. She was shocked. She couldn’t see her stepfather. She saw the looks of the men.When they saw the General enter the sea of people parted and he pushed her in front of him. She refused to ho
“Please, Your Grace, I ask for your forgiveness.” She said it loud enough for everyone at court to hear. She could feel the General’s gaze on her back.“Why did you escape if you had nothing to hide?” He shot back loudly.There was a small uproar in the room. Her stepfather held up his hand and the crowd ceased.She hated lying, hated not being able to tell the truth, or to expose both of these men for the evil men they were. She stood there under the scrutiny of the the people of Zuff. She took a deep breath and recited what the General had told her.“I was taken, Your Majesty. By a man. He…” She paused. Thoughts of Marlon caressing her cold cheek when she was unconscious came to her. She didn't think she coul
“Please, Your Grace, I ask for your forgiveness.” She said it loud enough for everyone at court to hear. She could feel the General’s gaze on her back.“Why did you escape if you had nothing to hide?” He shot back loudly.There was a small uproar in the room. Her stepfather held up his hand and the crowd ceased.She hated lying, hated not being able to tell the truth, or to expose both of these men for the evil men they were. She stood there under the scrutiny of the the people of Zuff. She took a deep breath and recited what the General had told her.“I was taken, Your Majesty. By a man. He…” She paused. Thoughts of Marlon caressing her cold cheek when she was unconscious came to her. She didn't think she coul
“You two shall be married at once. A wedding will brighten this Kingdom’s spirits and bring some hope back to our land.”The people clapped at his announcement and he once again stood up. The two courtesans were again by his side. The crowd parted once more and the King exited the throne room. All but a few were left from the crowd that had filled this room seconds earlier. The General took her by her left arm and escorted out of the room. They walked down a hidden hall the servants used. She felt low. This man walKing beside her was evil. This had been his plan all along. To make himself look like a hero and then marry her. Her stepfather fell for it all. He had fell right in agreement with the General and she felt forsaken.“That w
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flashing light. It startled her and she stopped crying and looked in the direction of it.It was Khepri. Flossina was so happy to her. Khepri was still as she remembered, beautiful. She was wearing a gold ostrich feather floor length gown with matching gold feather bracelets. Gold cuffs with scarabs carved into them were adorned on her wrists and upper arms. She was still beautifully bald and her eyes were outlined in the dark black eyeliner and cobalt blue eyeshadow. Her sun kissed caramel skin seemed to be glowing in the gloomy castle. Flossina hadn't seen any sign of Khepri since she had had her assistance leaving Marlon's home, which succinctly got her captured and rescued. Khepri walked over to her, kneeled down in front of her and held her face in her hands. She wore a sympathetic look on her face.
Flossina closed her eyes at the motherly gesture. When she opened them she was alone yet again in her room. Seconds later the door opened and in walked her lady’s maid Alexis Carrying a large white box. Princess Flossina immediately stood up and wiped away her tears. She then went over to help Alexi set the large box onto the foot of her bed.“Evening, Flossina.”“Evening, Alexi.”“What’s in the box?”“This is your wedding dress, ma'am.”She still couldn’t get use to hearing the word wedding in conjunction to her.“Is it?” She asked, hoping she sounded interested in it.
Marlon stood on the desert sand dune surveying the desolate land. It was low mountains and golden sand as far as the eye could see. The hot breeze blew, but he did not feel it touch his bare arms. He looked down and noticed he still held the book inside of his left hand. He wore brown leather boots with a matching brown leather kilt. A leather face mask hung loosely around his neck. There had been no time to gather his wits. He had passed the first trial and was immediately sent here. Where was here? He wondered what he would have to do to pass this one. He steadied his footing and walked down the dune. The sun seemed to become hotter with each step he descended. He wanted to think that it was odd, but seeing as he had awoke in the afterlife for royalty, the temperature changing in conjunction to his movements didn’t seem so far fetched. He