Mundahlia (The Mundahlian Era, #1) (35 page)

Soon.

Rini

34

It was the time of day when the guards brought us our rations.

They threw open the door and set the large dirty bowl of food on the ground. The Enthiduans—paired up in twos—all formed a single file line and were handed their rations by the men. Yesterday, it was a piece of the purple fruit I’d seen one of the old woman eating when I’d first arrived. It was bitter like a lime, but tasted almost like a combination of sour cherries and watermelon. The day before was bones, with just a little bit of meat left on them. Angela taught me how to crack them just right so that I could pull out the marrow from inside incase I was still hungry—like pulling out a chunk of meat from a crab leg. Today, the rations were small pockets of nearly burnt to black bread with a mixed meat filling. Of what, I didn’t bring myself to ask. Neither did Angela, as she took painful bites and swallowed once we’d returned to our corner.

Angela and I overheard the extra guards behind the servers chatting to each other about a celebratory ceremony to be held later on today before they send the troops and the King at sundown to the council hall at the farthest end of the nation to get word on wether or not they can progress to my world and begin the war. Immediately, my parents, Celeste, George, Sarah, and the other humans I knew popped into my head. They wouldn’t stand a chance. They’d be ripped apart limb by limb and I couldn’t do a thing about it. Things have definitely turned on me. Everything was perfect, but now it was far from that. Very far.

“What’s on your mind?” Angela asked, finished with the last of her food and looking grossed out. Before the guards left, they set a new barrel of water in the center. “May we go for some water?” she pointed.

“My family. My friends,” I said, getting up and following her to the barrel one foot at a time. We had to walk in a specific way to keep from tripping or stumbling. It took a few tries at the beginning, but now we got the hang of it.

“I’m sure they will be fine,” she soothed. She took the metal ladle hanging from the brim and scooped up some water to sip.

“I hope so.” I’d become quite attached to Angela. She reminded me of Sarah, only with a rich, eloquent articulation, and pale skin tone.

This was not the place for them to be. The kind angels who’d been condemned for sticking up for themselves. It was inhumane. Even so, I admired Angela. No matter how much she was into her depression, she always held her head up high and kept a promising smile wide on her face. Using her optimism to mask her sadness.

The guards were right about the ceremony. We could hear the muffled sounds of music and cheers blaring from behind the thick stone walls. It had to have been about two hours after our early supper. Various instruments united, as if greeting one another in the air and deciding to ban together into a pleasant melody.

“What do you think will happen?” I asked Angela, bothered about what is to unfold on my people.

“It is hard to say. My guess is that the King and his army will murder many of your people and enslave the others. Using them for labor and for their sole purpose to be pleasing the Mundahlian race.”

A warm tear slid down my face and I thudded the back of my head against the wall. “Why is this happening? This is only supposed to exist in fairy tales.”

“Fairies tell the humans their tales?” Angela asked, suddenly interested. As though I’d just said something she couldn’t believe.

“No. I mean stories about mythical beings that aren’t supposed to exist.”

“Well, to
you
this may be a ‘
faerie’s tale
’ but to us this is part of our daily lives. It is normal.
You
are the mythical being who isn’t supposed to exist.” She verbally pointed to me. “I guess what I am trying to say, is that what those stories failed to include, was reality. This is what
really
happens when fairy tales exist. There is nothing magical or enchanting about it, my dear.” I was desensitized from reality. I didn’t know what was real and what was fictitious anymore. Right now, I’d believe that a unicorn smells like apples and pixies barfed glitter. Angela saw my discomfort. “Look. There are far more beings in this one planet than you can imagine. It’s just that your ancestors many centuries ago decided to rid their land from the filth of those they deemed unacceptable to live in their ‘
clean and peaceful’
land. But, I have a gut wrenching feeling that this battle will bring all the creatures that have been hidden from sight, out in the open.”

“What are you saying?”

“There is not much I can foresee. But from this battle, I
can
say that you will gain allies—as well as enemies.”

I didn’t quite understand, but didn’t question further. It was simple. Creatures I thought to only exist in literature of mythology or other fiction, existed. In the flesh—in front of me. “You know, had I known all this was going to happen, I would of just stayed watching Spanish soap operas
with my aunt!”

“If things do indeed happen, then it was out of your control. One must simply take the days of their lives as they happen. If you spend time worrying over what is to come, which may or may not happen, then you will only be wasting precious days you will wish in the future you could have cherished a bit longer. The world works in mysterious ways. It is living its own life day by day. Never fully knowing of what is to come, or what awaits it on the other side of each rotation. But, even so, it keeps on spinning.” Funny, how morbid it works though.

A few hours had passed. The music had died down and all that was left was small mumbles and foot steps from above as they scurried across the floor. Angela and the others had all breathed sighs of relief when no one came down to select a pair of Enthiduans to be eaten. Now, we were trying to sleep. Well, I was at least. The other’s were sound asleep, recharging themselves after growing dim. But I wasn’t tired. I couldn’t, for the slightest moment, even dare slip into my dreams tonight. Something didn’t feel right. Like a firm heavy hand was perched on my shoulder, as though someone was trying to show mercy and comfort me for what was about to happen.

The doors flung opened, and the titian glow—a clash of a deep red and gold, lit the room. The Enthiduans by the door were startled awake, flashing for a moment, as though their inner-light mimicked the jolt they felt with the sudden rush of panic. The shadows who entered, or rather nearly unhinged the door with their mighty strike, were two men—one familiarly shaped, the other—a stranger, and a woman. Petite and stout, with a slightly hunched back. Their faces were hidden, as was the rest of their bodies. They were nothing more than silhouettes. I watched as they entered the room and for a moment, panned across—as if looking for someone in particular. Then, one of them—the familiarly shaped man, froze. His gaze locked onto me, a missile to its target. He pointed over to me and the trio strode down the wet, dirty floor. The scout walked with a slight limp as though he were intoxicated. I positioned myself up and tried to nudge Angela awake at the nearing shadows.

When they got to us, the one who’d pointed to me let out a sound of accomplishment. As though he’d found the gold amongst the duds. “That one,” he said with a drunken slur, pointing at me again as though I were miles away in the distance and not mere inches from him. “She need
sss
a good lesson on res
pect
and
diss
cipline. And I’m the one that
sss
gonna teach he
rrr.
” I recognized the deep voice, even though it was inebriated and hoarse now. Bane. He was drunk. I could smell the alcohol from where I was sitting. He suddenly burst into laughter as though he’d thought of something hysterical. He pointed at me again but shifted his attention to the taller, buff man beside him who I didn’t recognize at all. His hair was dark and razor cut. He looked in his late twenties, even in the dark—which meant he must only look older in full view. “
Hehe.
Tell her that class is in session.” Bane snickered. “Tell her,” he urged, even though I’d already heard it.

The guy let out a hearty laugh, equally as hysterical as Bane’s.

I looked to the old woman beside him. Her eyes sizing me up as if I were a nice portly pig at an auction and she were crucially thinking of bidding. “Come along,” the woman said. “Let’s get you washed up.” I saw she was dressed in a plain brown frock with a beige apron over it when she turned to the newly appeared guards that had stopped by the door. Was she a servant? Or was she a cook?

“Uh, no thank you,” I replied. “I’m fine right here on the floor.”

Bane leapt at me. Immediately halting from his childish laughter. He was now raging mad—his blood, boiling beneath the confines of his skin. A shift in emotions in the flash of a second. His hand clenched around my jaw, forcing my mouth open. His face touching mine. I groaned as my head hit the wall behind me. Angela finally awoke, as did the rest of the Enthiduans who weren’t already up with their vexatious laughter.

Bane huffed. Exhaling his toxic breath in my face. “What is it you don’t understand!” he clamored. “You don’t have a
damn
choice! Do you understand?!”

I didn’t respond.

He slammed me against the wall again. “
I said
‘do you understand?!’”

“Yes,” I managed to get out. I put my hands around his on my jaw to try to move them, but he shoved them aside—letting go on his own.

“Good. Now get up!” he ordered. “And you
too
,” He kicked Angela, who’d been staring up at him in confusion. She let out a small whimper.

I did as told. Angela did as well. I didn’t want to see what he would do if I disobeyed again.

Bane looked at her and huffed. “Don’t expec
ttt
me to say—” He burped. “—so
rrrr
y. I’m not!”

The old lady left after putting Angela and I in a deep white tub, filled to the brim with nearly scalding hot water. We were given a dirty bar of what used to be white soap to clean ourselves. She didn’t have to worry about us trying to escape. This room had no windows and only one door. The one I’m sure she was standing on the other side of.

“It’s been too long since I’ve felt what it was like to be clean,” Angela said, raising a cupped hand of water to wash her chest. “I never realized how much I’d miss it.” The chains were still wrapped around our feet under the cloudy water.

“Yeah,” I said, lathering my wet hair with soap. The bath felt good. Something that grounded me with a glimmer of hope at returning to reality.

“What do you think they are going to do?” I asked her. Asking a question I’m sure was set heavy on both our minds.

She raised another cupped hand of water to her arms. “Like I’ve said, live your life as it happens, not for what may or may not come.” I couldn’t ignore the undeniable masked worrisome in her voice.

I washed away the soapy suds from my body and hair, feeling it soft and silky with a pleasant clean scent now instead of the dusty and smelly hair I had picked up from being confined to the chambers. I had grown nearly senile and insane after only spending a few days locked up and underfed. I couldn’t bare to imagine what the Enthiduans must feel like being trapped in there for months—years at a time. The door opened again. “Enough!” The lady said, pulling the cork to release the water from the basin. “Step out, now!”

We did as followed one set of feet at a time so that we wouldn’t risk tumbling to the floor. The old woman dried us both off with a towel. She was rough, like sanding away layers and layers of my skin. She tossed Angela an old white frock. I, however, got nothing.

“What do I get?” I asked the woman, covering myself with my hands.

“Nothing, but talk to me like that again you ungrateful little twit, and I’ll give you a pop in the mouth!” She pointed her boney finger at me. “You don’t need to wear much clothing, so here!” She tossed me the damp towel.
What does she mean ‘I don’t have to wear much clothing?’
I wrapped it around my body, wanting to get covered as soon as possible from the chilly air as well as exposure. I didn’t like being naked or being so exposed. I don’t know why—I just don’t like it.

We stepped out of the bathroom and into the dark, cold room we had entered before stepping into the bathroom. There was a bed, a living area, and a large desk—all well-used. However, like the bathroom, there was only one door and no windows.

One of the large axe wielding guards I’d seen at court, was standing by the doorway—axe drawn. The old woman spaced Angela and I apart and I couldn’t help but flash a look of worry over to my new friend. She did the same.

Swack!

In an instant, the man cut the chain binding us together. The pressure from the stretched chain fell limp. The woman then drew a key from her apron and unlocked the metal cuffs around our feet. It felt great to have that part of skin feel the air again. Like resurfacing after sinking in a body of water.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Francine, you may go,” A now almost-sober—but still raspy voice, ordered from the darkness. I hadn’t even noticed the silhouetted character sprawled across the bed until now. All that appeared in the little light there was from the bathroom, were his dark pants and socks, and a slice of the peach-colored skin on his arm and hand—decorated with a large square silver ring with a purple jewel in the center. A fairly new ring—shiny and polished. Royal looking.

The old woman bowed and made her way out of the room. The axe man, however, locked the door behind her and returned, nearing Angela. His face told of a secret he was withholding.
What could it be?

“Rini,” the sinister voice called again from the bed. “Come sit next to me.” The hand of the figure patted the area next to him. Neither I nor Angela moved. I knew from the second time I’d heard him speak that it was Bane—again. He’d been waiting for us to get cleaned.

“Leo.” Bane snapped his fingers. I placed the name to the third figure who’d came to get us with Bane and the old woman. The axe man’s massive hand groped tightly around my arm. And with a forceful jerk, he threw me toward Bane. My hands fell at his feet, and I propped myself up on my knees. “Ah, now there’s a sight. You—on your knees, below me.” Angela made a sound of discomfort as the other man took her into his arms, keeping her from moving. I could smell the alcohol—still prominent, on Bane’s putrid breath. “Get up,” he ordered. A voice so frigid it could turn a puddle into ice.

“Why?”

There was a sigh from the darkness. His hands—like talons, clasped the sides of my face again like he’d done earlier. “
Why
must you be
so
disobedient?” he asked, bringing me up to his eye level. The alcohol vaporing from his mouth pierced my nostrils. It was strong—foul. “
I
am the man!
I
am the alpha! You do as
I
say! Now,
sit!
” He forcefully sat me on the bed next to him.

“What do you want?” I asked him. I watched as the axe man moved a hand down Angela’s leg as he moved his nose to the side of her neck and inhaled. She winced, trying to get her hands free and remove his traveling hands.

“It’s really simple, Rini,” Bane said. “You see, I haven’t forgiven you for giving me that blow to the face, and—while it didn’t hurt, it was definitely uncalled for. And since my father was lenient with you, I feel you owe me a—
favor
.”

“What the hell do you mean favor? I don’t
owe
you a damn thing!” I sat up.

His arms circled my waist and he shoved me back onto the bed. I felt the feeling of nervousness and fear as he climbed on top of me—his hands keeping mine down. “Oh, I think you do.” He tried to lean in for a kiss, but I turned my cheek.

“Get off of me!” I screamed. I tried to struggle my hands free from his to push him off, but with each attempt his grip grew tighter. In the background there was a shuffle of noises, and a small whimper. Angela.

“Bring her friend over here!” Bane said to the man named Leo, and then turned back to me. “Think of it as more of a celebratory gift you’re going to give me.”

“What do you mean
celebratory gift
?” I struggled.

He fought back, pinning me down again. “If things play out according to my plan, I shall soon be the new ruler of Mundahlia and finally get the crown I deserve.”

“What plan?”

“Oh please, do you think I would’ve actually let you live if I didn’t plan on using you for something
far
more creative?” He snorted.

“What do you mean?”

I stopped fidgeting for a moment and heard him explain through the darkness. A low voice hovering over me. “My father’s days are numbered. You’ve seen him. He can barely stand a few fragile seconds before withering down and having to sit. Mundahlia is in need of a new king. One that is full of youth. Someone like—me. Someone who will stop at nothing until Mundahlians are the superior beings on this dreaded planet.”

“What makes you think you’ll be the one to take over the kingdom?”

“Ah. I see you like to state your opinion before listening to the rest of the story.”

“And
I
see you like to state what could or could not happen before it actually happens. Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘don’t count your chickens before they hatch?’”

He grinned. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘you’re under the arms of a man who could kill you in the blink of an eye, so the best thing to do to stay alive is to not test him?!’”

“Nope. Can’t say that I have. Either way, I don’t have to worry about you killing me—yet. Like you said, you need me for something.”

His grip tightened and he leant in closer, “Can I finish now? Or are you going to further prove to me why immediately after I get the crown, your life will be ended in a manner both
slow
and
sadistic
.” He pronounced the last few words in a way that made me shiver under his massive weight.

I nodded, unable to say anything.

“When I first saw you with Jett at the lake,” Bane explained. “I saw the look on his face. He appeared as though he’d found a diamond in the rough. A gem, if you will. He looked at you with a
repulsive
amorous gaze. That’s when
you
entered my plan.” He looked down to me. “My original strategy was to kill them all and bring their lifeless bodies back here. But, it was too plain and simple. Not nearly as dramatic or cinematic as I’d liked it to be. But then, once I saw you—I knew I could do far worse.”

“Like?”

“Well, you see, the goal of the game, which I’m sure you’ve heard about by now, was to simply lure the traitors back to our land to be tried and executed. But then it dawned to me again, once I spotted you alone on the dock, trying to reason with yourself whether you
had
seen something in the bush.
This is far too simple. And even so, it just further heightens my chances of getting the throne next. I need something that will guarantee that I am the next in line.
So I devised up another devilish plan. Step one—forge the murder. The Mundahlians have been waiting for the moment a human kills one of our kind for centuries. As my father said, ‘the human era has gone on long enough’ blah, blah, blah. Sure he may be power hungry, but he and the council still honor the agreement because they knew that the stupid humans wouldn’t last long until one of their own killed a member of our kingdom.
So
. When the Floradelias that I needed for the next steps, arrived, Paul’s nephew—the deliveryman at the time, posing as my second guard—unfortunately got swept into my plan as well. It was I who told him to feast on the young woman who’d I’d purposely killed just moments before. To hide the evidence and cover up for my ‘mistake’ before the humans found out and started attacking us. He was so naive and believed it. Poor idiot.”

I felt sick. He didn’t have any remorse for killing one of his own. “You’re a monster.”

“Thank you.” He continued, “So then, when your lover-boy did the deed, step one was complete. Now, I needed to create a diversion. Step two. Stir things up a bit, and drive a wedge between you two. Then, here came the twit with wild colored hair who even
I
thought was ill-mannered. But nothing, not even her charm or looks, could lead Jett astray from you in such a small amount of time. I needed something powerful, yet unexpected. I’d drained the blood from three floradelias and given her the vials, specifically ordering her to put them in something Jett would consume, but the idiot called me and told me she’d broken one of them, leaving her with only one after she’d slipped the first vile into a cup of coffee. So, I packed up the rest and sent them to you. I knew Jett would sweep in to save his
damsel in distress
—always feeling the need to be high and mighty
that one
.” He said. “And I knew that when he grabbed one of them, the little bitches would jab at his hands—forcing the only other option in those few crucial seconds to be biting. Can’t blame him, it is his animal instinct, after all. Then finally, the twit topped him off the next day at the restaurant and your Jett was gone, leaving behind a new man who’d been persuaded that you were nothing but disposable. Bye, bye love. Hello heartbreak.”

“What did the floradelia blood do to him?” I asked. I knew there was something else that had made him act that way. He
did
love me, he was just under a trance.

“Isn’t it obvious? Would you honestly think
your
Jett would ever treat you that way on his own?” he scoffed. “I only wish I’d seen his face as he saw your cabin burning. Thinking that you were inside. And then watching him mope around thinking that he’d pushed you away and that somehow your death was his fault.” He laughed. “Oh what I’d give—”

“Why do you hate Jett so much?”

“Why do I hate him?” Bane leant in closer again after thinking for a few moments. “Hate is an understatement,
sweetheart
. Our story goes back to
many
years before you were born.” A drop of saliva hit my cheek. “That ungrateful boy was all my father ever talked about when he was born. Jethro this, Jethro that. He’s even named after our grandfather! I never got any attention when he came around. It was all Jett, Jett, Jett! I made my father reinstate the bounty on their heads after he’d made an agreement to that
woman
!
I’m
the one who told the council about them fleeing, I did what I had to do.” He saw me looking doubtful as to how he managed to persuade his father. “Let’s just say, I’ve had practice using floradelia blood before, sweetheart. I learned quite a few things from the chemists at the far end of the islands when I was just a young and ignored little cub.” I knew it. He had poisoned his own father as well and turned him into the man he was now.

“Then what am I still alive for?”

“Aside from Jett’s mother getting soft on you and begging my father not to kill you right then and there, you are still part of my plan.”

“What do you have planned next?”

He smiled. “I left a clue at the scene. And If I’m correct your Jett and a few of his family members are on their way to get you now. So, let’s count down the reasons why I am sure to be king, shall we? One—I got the mundahlians what they’ve been waiting for. A broken pact. Two—I single-handedly caught the human that broke the pact as well as put an end to an interspecies relationship. Three—I lured the traitors back to Mundahlia. And now onto number four, a necessary requirement to become ruler immediately after being dubbed the next in line—an heir.”