Duncan's Rose (20 page)

Authors: Suzannah Safi

Tags: #Contemporary Erotic Romance

Still, peacefulness and the clash of sea waves about brought her sister in mind wishing she were there with her. The first thing she would do was send a letter to her sister apologizing for the conversation being cut off, and to give her a whole report of her trip. Anna loved knowing about her adventures.

Jewel pulled a notepad and pin from her handbag. She let the dark ink scramble her words along the white pages until she reached the part about the ship’s name, Queen Lillith.

The ship’s speakers announcing boarding time, shook Jewel off her confusing thoughts. She glanced about as she headed up the ship’s stairway.
Funny, I’m the only one boarding
.
Did people wait till the last minute to hump on the ship?
Jewel mused and swayed her head left and right, no sign of anyone following her…
maybe soon?

On the deck, a woman dressed in a long black dress greeted her. Her gothic nail color and makeup confirmed her fear—a gothic party, the Rock and Roll star, Estefan Hernandez probably liked it this way. Definitely she was out of place with her cheerful colored dresses packed for the trip. A sigh exasperated out of her lips as she proceeded to give the woman her ticket and ID.

“Welcome to the journey for life,” the woman’s voice echoed like a far thunderstorm. “Do you have a cell phone or any electronic devises?”

“No, I broke my cell phone in the airport.” Jewel smiled and looked at the tag that hung on the woman’s chest with a code number 247. Funny enough the ticket didn’t mention Jewel’s name and she had a number as well, seemed the crew members and guests were recognized with numbers.

A long black devise in the woman’s hand scanned Jewel’s body and handbag.

“Excellent, we ask you turn them in so it saves you having to surrender it for the duration. My name is Zelda. This way, Ms. Henderson, I’ll show you to your room.”

Zelda signaled for her to follow. Jewel’s insides tightened at the quietness around “Isn’t there a demonstration of a life boat drill representation or something?”

The woman rumbled a laugh that came from her belly. “Later maybe, guests will arrive soon then we’ll make the announcement, but rest assured it’s going to take a while. So, what do you do?”

“I’m a journalist for Zass magazine.” Jewel smiled.

“Oh how exciting. You are going to like the cruise.”

As they entered, Jewel inhaled deeply at the luxurious lobby.
The gold and red color theme surrounded her, and the greenery filled the place as if on a palm island. “I’m sure I will.”

Reaching the elevator the woman pushed the shiny button and turned her back to Jewel. Awkward silence stretched until the beeping sound of the elevator announced its arrival. Mounting inside the luxury space, the elevator bounced softly, continuing its upward journey. It took a few seconds to reach the third deck. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. The corridor stretched in front of her, mimicking the same gold and red color scheme; engraved symbols of flowers and daggers decorated all doors on each side, solid and dark as if they stood on alert
guarding what was inside of them.

Zelda pulled the card key from her pocket, turned to the left facing one of the doors and slid the key into the slot.

“Please, come in.” Zelda’s full lips curved in a smile. Flipping on the inside light, she gestured for Jewel to follow her into the suite.

“I’ll leave you now, relax and I’ll get you when time comes. Sweet stay.”

“Thank you.” Zelda closed the door behind her, then another hard click resounded from the door. Jewel placed her handbag on the cherry wood table and curled her fingers on the doorknob jerking it left and right. Driblets of sweat chilled the surface of her body down to the core of her nerves.

She locked me in.

Chapter Two

“Hey, open the door.” Jewel seethed at the notion of being locked and wondered the reason behind this woman’s action. She banged on the door with an open palm for several minutes. No answer came to her rescue.

She blinked twice, and ogled the solid wooden door. Not knowing how long she had stared at that door, she then swung and examined the luxury suite. Broidered silk taffeta red curtains covered one side from the ceiling to the floor, a king-size bed faced her, and green plants decorated the corners.

She hurried in her steps and snatched the oak drawers, opening them one at a time. After searching the cabinets and the restroom, still no phone on sight. She then picked her handbag and searched for her phone. The devise as she looked at it was of no use—destroyed. What the hell was going on, why would anyone lock her in?

As her gaze searched the suite again, Jewel wondered why Margaret would book such an expensive room. No, this was a mistake. No matter how well the magazine was profiting they wouldn’t offer her such luxury—there must be a mistake. “Oh God, what’s happening?”

Jewel threw her bag on the beige carpet and rushed to the window, pulling the curtains to the sides. Sunrays eased into the suite. Jewel searched for an opening but the window was sealed from all sides. Backing to the center of the suite, she blinked at the breathtaking view of the ocean. Normally she would cherish such a view, but an icy chill crawled its fingers along her spine. She was scared. Trapped.

Her feet backed one step, two steps until her behind hit a round chair. Her body sank into its soft folds, but her back stiffened. Mind rolling with dark possibilities, eyes roaming the room but nothing came into her brain for a rescue. Fifteen minutes passed…more searches and nothing changed. Even her screams once in a while didn’t attract a soul.

Jewel pulled a chair to face the door and sat like a statue, swearing the first thing she would do was complain to the manager or the captain of this ship. A tear escaped.

What makes you so sure there is a captain, Jewel
.

Muteness surrounded her, the kind that would drive anyone crazy. No footsteps, or whispers, as if she were thrown into the desert.

Alone, not knowing if the ship moved or not. Robot-like, she trudged to the window and her question was answered—they were moving away from the port.

The whole thing didn’t make any sense to her; she wasn’t a daughter of a rich, famous business man, or celebrity. She was nobody really for anyone to think of kidnapping her. She didn’t even consider herself one of the stunning sexy women that anyone would think of using as a sex-sl…
oh crap, that’s not possible.
Throughout the three years as a journalist, she’d read about the daily kidnappings of girls slaving them for sex, as many as fifty thousand to one hundred thousand women kidnapped yearly and deported to islands and other countries. All the articles she had read were aiming at kidnapping from a street, a corner, or a club. In her case, Jewel couldn’t name what happened to her—maybe it was early for her to go to that extreme; maybe the woman closed the door by mistake or…or…hell, her brain cells were fried and not one comforting answer poked its head at her.

The sun sank into the horizon. Sounds of footsteps and soft giggles wafted from the outside of her suite. She held her breath, her gaze locked on the door.

Click…click.

The door opened slightly. Zelda, in her gothic black dress, appeared in the full open door, a half smile painted her sharp features. “Come.” She motioned with her finger for Jewel to follow.

“I think you have an explanation to do, don’t you think?” Jewel swallowed hard, her mouth and tongue felt like sand paper.

“You shall soon know.” The woman motioned for her to follow then commanded with a harsh tone. “Come.”

“What’s goin’ on? What you’re doing is against the law.”

“Come,” the woman repeated, her dark eyes getting glassier by the minute.

“Damn it, do you know another word?”

“Yes, come or be forced.” With a tight grip, Zelda pulled her forward.

As Jewel yanked herself free, a searing pain shot through her arm. “What the hell you think you’re doing?” A trickle of warm liquid slid on Jewel’s arm. Anger rose as she examined a crimson scratch trailing to her elbow. “I’m reporting you to the Captain.”

Obviously, this woman was ordered by someone to get her out of her room. The sooner she goes with her, the faster she would get answers, then the whole issue would be solved. She was on the wrong ship for sure, and she would correct the confusion.

This time, the elevator trip was upward. Zelda pushed the sixth floor button.
Must be to the captain’s deck, good.
As the elevator softly bounced, the doors slid open. Another corridor stretched, but this time the space was larger than the one on the third floor. Sounds of enigma music floated and reached her nerves—people talking and laughing.
Why would she take her to a party?

* * * *

End of Sampler.
Insatiable Hunger
is available at MuseItUp Publishing and all online reputable vendors.

Duncan’s Rose
© 2013 by Suzannah Safi

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

MuseItUp Publishing

14878 James, Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada, H9H 1P5

Edited by Lea Schizas

Layout and Book Production by Lea Schizas

eBook ISBN: 978-1-77127-444-9

First eBook Edition *November 2013