Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 2 (Afterlife saga Book 7) (4 page)

We walked through long hallways with scalloped arches and down painted tiled steps until reaching the lower levels of the Palace. The woman name
d
Parmida seemed to be leading us deep below the foundations of the palace until soon it was an endless row of pillar after pillar, reminding me of the Duomo cathedral in Milan. I couldn’t help but smile thinking back to being on its rooftop with Draven’s arms around me as we gazed at the beautiful city around us.  Of course, just one look at the narrow stone walkways that were raised above the underground lake and the surrounding crystal blue water that looked as if it had been filtered it was so clean and I knew it was like nothing I had ever seen before.

“This place is incredible,” I muttered as I took a moment to turn and look back at its architectural splendour.

“Come along little lamb, much work to be done!” Parmida said clicking her fingers over her head and Ranka and I exchanged the same look with each other. I don’t know about her thoughts but mine were ‘which one of us is going to slap her first?’.

In the end neither of us did such a thing but instead we continued to follow her along the marble walkway and to the huge double doors at the end which looked big enough to fit Ragnar carrying Sigurd on his shoulders through without needing to duck. The thought actually made me chuckle and the sound echoed through the massive space making me cover my mouth quickly.

“What? I giggle when I’m nervous,” I told Ranka who shot me a disapproving look. Then I just shrugged my shoulders and continued on, wondering if we were going to get to the Emerald city before my Dorothy legs gave up on me. It was true that I wasn’t looking forward to this but more a case of being anxious in getting it over with, which was good because when we finally arrived at the massive doors I was more than ready to walk through them.

Two guards opened the doors and the sight of pure opulence and beauty was everywhere to be seen and not just in the women.

“Come, come now!” Parmida shouted, clapping her hands as she walked in first and some of the girls who were lounging around hurried away from her. I took this as a sign that this woman most likely had a heavy hand when it came to preparing her girls, which didn’t look good for me.

The next thing I knew servants wearing grey tunics hurried towards her and she quickly started barking orders at them. I decided to take this opportunity to check the place out, so I let my eyes wander around the room. In doing so I quickly established that there was a definite divide between the girls. On one side there were those who were definitely shy and timid and I wondered if these girls hadn’t been here as long as the others. Because on the other side, lounging on luxurious cushions and relaxing by the side of the huge pool in the centre of the room were those who looked as though this was home to them.

The room was massive, which wasn’t surprising given the height of the doors we had just walked through. It was split up on different levels, some with seating areas sunken into the ground but all of them surrounded the luxurious circular pool at the centre. Extravagant furnishings decorated the room along with painted panels on the walls depicting exotic views of distant lands. And positioned throughout all of this sensuous setting were half naked beauties from all around the world. I could see every ethnicity I could think of and I had to wonder where they had all come from.

“What do you mean he doesn’t wish to see me?” Suddenly a shrieking voice cut through the peaceful room and what quickly followed was the sound of a large gold dish hitting the stone floor after some angry brunette had slapped one of the servants across the face.

“You must be wrong, go and ask again!” she shouted down at the poor girl who was now picking up the scattered fruit.

“Yes
,
Stateira,” she said bowing her head over and over. I hated bullies with a vengeance and as a result was fighting with myself not to go over there and see how she liked being smacked to the floor.

“Idiot! I am surrounded by idiots!” she started ranting to one of the other girls next to her who looked as though she had a bad case of fangirl going on. She obviously had a thing for bitches, clearly.

“And what do we have here, another crow to squawk at the King, in hopes that he will notice her?” she said looking over at me laughing and I wanted to walk over there and start pecking her eyes out, showing just how crow like I could be!

“And what do we have over there, another power bitch wannabe Queen?” I said looking sideways to Ranka. The look of outrage on Stateira’s face made me smile and I felt Ranka’s hand hold me back as she must have been worried I was about to do something stupid. Well there were no worries about that unless she…oops, it looked like I was about to talk too soon because here she came, storming over to mark her territory. I had to wonder if she was also going to cock her leg up and piss over the little posse that followed her.

“What did you say to me!?” she demanded coming to stand before me like some over feathered peacock. I mean really, I thought some of the girls could overdo the makeup in my time but this woman looked as though she had used pig’s blood to dye her lips red!

“I think you heard me the first time, precious.”

“Are you mocking me?!” she snapped, actually stamping her foot like a toddler would. In fact, I had seen Ella behave better than this spoiled brat.

“If the shoes fits,” I said causing her and her friends to look down at her sequined slippers.

“Of course my shoes fit! Are you simple?” I rolled my eyes and muttered,

“Jeez what is it with these people
… Yes, I am mocking you!” I shouted this last part at her face, this time making it perfectly clear what I was doing.

“How dare you! Do you know who I am?!” I couldn’t help it and blurted the first words that came to mind.

“A whore in sparkly pants?” I said looking down at her blue glittering pants that reminded me of something out of an Aladdin Christmas pantomime. It was at this point that her face turned crimson and she stepped forward obviously about to lash out at me. Ranka decided that enough was enough and stepped in between us making her now think twice about her actions.

“You have no authority here, now get out of my way!” she snapped at Ranka.

“No, but the King does and I am the King’s right hand. So I suggest that you back away before I inform his Lordship that you just attacked his next chosen concubine, one I will add
he chose
personally
.” Hearing this from Ranka obviously had its desired affect because she sucked in a sharp breath of disbelief. I gathered it was an unusual custom for the King himself to pick who became his next concubine, as he probably only went as far as picking one from the end of the beauty assembly line for his bed! The thought had me seething once more.

“The King wouldn’t replace me!” she shouted, but that high pitch in her voice didn’t sound as if even she truly believed in what she was saying.

“No? Then I suggest you don’t force his hand and displease him with any unsavoury acts against a fellow concubine whom he chose.” At this she huffed once and before spinning on her heel, she gave me a predictable warning,

“This isn’t over.”

“No? Wow, I’m gutted I truly am because I really thought we would become best of friends.” I said as she walked away.

“Okay so what crawled up her ass and made camp?” I asked Ranka and she choked on a breath at what I just said.

“That is Stateira.”

“So?” I asked looking back at her over my shoulder and curling up my lip in disgust.

“You don’t understand,” she said shaking her head, making her plaited Mohawk shake from side to side.

“Then explain it to me.”

“There is not just hierarchy in royalty or within the Gods of my world but there is also one set up down here.” I frowned and then looked around to see if I could see it for myself. It quickly became apparent that the divide I had seen when I first walked in was now screamingly obvious as to the cause. The highest and most luxurious section was where bitch face sat and was currently being fanned by one of her adoring fans. And on the other side were those who weren’t as expensively dressed, looking awkward, timid and most likely afraid of one of those bratty outbursts being directed at them. I had to wonder if these girls were just waiting on the side-lines like substitutes hoping to be picked for their chance to play in the game.

“And let me guess, she is the boss,” I said in an unsurprised tone.

“After Parmida, yes she is the boss.”

“And I know I am going to hate this answer but just to be clear, who exactly is the crazy fool that gave her that title?” I closed my eyes and braced myself,

“She is head concubine because she is a known favourite of the King’s.” Ranka said softly trying to minimise that particular blow for me. But I decided to torture myself with the truth once more and say the words I myself needed to hear being said aloud, even if it did come out as a whisper,

“So Draven picked her.”
I saw Ranka nod her head and then add the next bombshell, which was something she thankfully thought I needed to know,

“It is said that she will soon become…” she paused a second as if second guessing whether or not she should tell me this, but I gave her pleading eyes and pushed for it.

“Become what…? What Ranka, tell me?” So she took a deep breath and uttered my worst nightmare…

“Queen.” 

Chapter 40

Violated

“He’s lost his mind.” I muttered to no-one in particular, unable to comprehend how Draven could even stand to be around her, let alone consider making her his queen!

“She is also the only other girl who the King has picked personally to be his concubine.” Ah, so Ranka could see why Stateira was so pissed as she obviously thought I was here to replace her. Well, news flash bitch, I was intending to do more than just replace her!

“So that explains the claws then,” I said and when she gave me that look I was getting used to, I meowed and scratched at the air. As you can imagine this didn’t help to remove that look of confusion from her face…quite the opposite actually.

“You have to be careful, that viper is likely to strike without you even knowing it,” Ranka said watching Stateira like a hawk as she swaggered back to her corner.

“I am not worried about defending myself against petty spoilt brats,” I told her but obviously I wasn’t taking this seriously enough, for she gripped my forearm and spun me around to face her.

“I am not talking about her attacking you, I am talking about her stabbing you in the back, poisoning your food or slitting your throat whilst you sleep.” My eyes widened in surprise.

“She wants to kill me?!”
I hissed stepping closer to her.

“Of course she does. In her eyes you stand to take her place as favourite and potentially as queen, for she is not blind,” Ranka said and I frowned, not understanding what she meant. I looked down at myself only to see someone who looked as though I had fought my way through a desert and the desert had mostly won.

“Open your eyes Chosen and tell me what you see,” Ranka said tipping her chin back to the room. I turned around but still couldn’t see what she spoke of.

“I don’t under…”

“Look at the girls,” she told me and I did as she suggested. They were all beautiful and most were exotic without even trying to be. With their long dark locks smoothed to a high shine or pinned red curls over flowing floaty veils or…wait, why was there no…

“Blondes
…there are no blondes,” I said frowning at the room before facing Ranka once more in complete shock.

“No, there are none and those girls know it too. You are the first golden haired girl to be chosen and by the King himself, when in the past he has strictly forbidden girls to be chosen with this hair colour by Parmida… now can you see why you hold such a threat?” Ranka said and I looked back seeing that all eyes were on me which only managed to strengthen Ranka’s words of warning. I couldn’t answer her but I didn’t need to as my look said it all.

“Great, so I have been thrown to the wolves dressed in silk veils…
perfect.”
  I think I could officially say my situation had just got worse. So just to recap, I was in a foreign country, over two thousand years in the past, without my friends, where Draven had no clue who I was and somehow I had to get him to break one of the biggest supernatural rules and sleep with a human in hopes that he will knock me up so that I could save the world back in my time.

Oh and let’s not forget now trying to survive getting lynched by a room full of jealous beauties. Beauties who probably had vials of poison stashed away in their cleavages and knives sewn under their tasselled pillows! Great, well no pressure Keira, I thought mentally shaking my head.

It was at that point I would have liked to retire from the position of Electus, move to the Swiss Alps and become a goat herder…surely those guys had a peaceful life…right? Well it must be better than watching yourself being surrounded by a group of ancient beauticians who looked as though they could also beat up a rugby team because that was what was happening to me now.

“We have a lot of work to do but I want her stripped and bathed so I can see what damage I am working with!” Parmida said circling around me like a vulture that was interested in dressing my meat not eating it.

“I want her separated from the rest, Parmida,” Ranka warned, only Parmida just waved a hand around and said,

“Yes, yes.” But thankfully this wasn’t good enough for Ranka so she took her by the arm and forced her to listen to her final warning.

“Heed my words odalik, for in the eyes of the King she cannot be replaced
but you can
. Do you understand me now?
”
Parmida paled slightly and then nodded, telling me that she finally understood.

“Good, then do as I ask and keep her guarded day and night. I will be back every day to check on her progress as the King is anxious to see his prize, so I suggest not to keep him waiting too long before he can claim it,” Ranka said and I knew she was only playing her part but I had to say that I was getting tired of being treated like a new toy that needed polishing.

“You think in pleasing the King I will be rewarded?” Parmida asked quietly and I couldn’t help but snort, which only earned me a dirty look from my new headmistress.

“I do indeed,” Ranka said grinning and I had to say it was an unnerving sight. Ranka was killer first and foremost, that was clear for all to see. It wasn’t just the way she looked, like some warrior who could mount a horse in one swift movement or draw a bow quicker than taking a breath, but it was also in her eyes. It was that dangerous glint that told a person she didn’t even need to think about her next move but could kill them quicker than thinking about it.

But then I had to wonder how many people had ever got to witness the softer side to her as I had. It may have been brief but for someone who obviously cared a great deal for my husband, then she had shown nothing but kindness to me. She’d tried to comfort me in her own way and even now she was doing everything to try and ensure my safety. I knew one thing for sure and that was I was definitely lucky to have her on my side in all of this.

“I want a word with the girl.” Ranka ordered as one of the servants tried to drag me away by the arms.

“Very well but if urgency is as you say then do not take long for I have much to do and no time in which to do it,” Parmida warned. I looked down at their hands as if silently telling them to let go of me but it was only when they received a nod from their mistress that they complied. I then walked back to my only friend in all this to no doubt hear her last few words of wisdom and if I was going to survive being in the harem, then I would need all the advice I could get.

“I must now leave you here and go and report to the King.” Just at the mention of him my heart rate spiked.

“What will you say?”

“I will answer whatever he asks of me,” she replied, giving nothing away.

“Yeah, but what is he likely to ask?”

“Knowing the King, he will want to question me further about when I found you. He will ask if I trust you and also most likely want to know my judgement on making you his next concubine.”

“What will you tell him?” I asked excited and nervous at the same time at the thought of him asking about me. She raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘well what do you think’.

“I will be as honest as I can be but I will also explain my concerns about your safety down here and hope he will agree with my recommendation of moving you to safer quarters.”

“Oh yes, that would be good, I like that idea.” I told her, even more grateful to have her at my back.

“I thought you would. But until something can be done you need to be careful and consider all in here your enemy.” I looked around seeing that all eyes were still on me and some looked on with outright hatred, but there were also those who looked on with pity, which had me wondering, could she be right, would everyone here be my enemy?

“The King waits for no man!” Parmida said clapping her hands to tell us that our time was up. Ranka frowned over my head and before the servants could drag me away again, she grabbed my arm and said,  

“Remember, Chosen…
trust no one.”
  I nodded and before I knew it I was being dragged away and the only reason I let this happen was because I knew all that Ranka had done to get me here. She truly believed this was the only way to get close to the King and whilst I wasn’t exactly in the safest place, at least it gave Ranka the time to find my friends like she said she would.

She had also made some pretty dire threats to the one in charge so fingers crossed my chances at survival had just gone up significantly…or at least one could hope. And whilst I was hoping, I also included Draven taking Ranka’s advice and moving me from this place sooner rather than later. I was in half a mind to ask if they didn’t have a tower around here they could lock me in until Draven asked for me. Well he had always joked about locking me in a tower, so maybe this would be his only opportunity to do so. I smiled at the thought of fun times with Draven, whom I was missing as if someone had chopped off a limb.

They took me down some steps into a separate room and I looked back over my shoulder to Ranka until I was pulled out of sight. I would never forget the look on Ranka’s face…she was obviously worried. Meanwhile my heart was beating wildly as I was quickly surrounded by so many slaves I couldn’t count them all for all the movement that was going on around me. From what I could see of the room it appeared to be a tiled treatment room for it had a sunken bath to one side and a stone table at the other. It had a vaulted ceiling and as I looked up I started to feel dizzy as all the paintings seemed to be merging into one.   

“Hey, easy there,” I said as one of the brutish women tried to undress me, getting frustrated with the button on my jeans and bringing me back to my situation.

“Wait, just stop!” I shouted to another woman as she pulled at my T shirt as if she was trying to rip it from me.

“Get off me!”

“Now listen to me, girl!” Parmida suddenly came up in front of my face and shouted down at me as she was taller by a good few inches.

“This body no longer belongs to you it belongs to the King! And as the King’s property it has been entrusted to my care to see that it is fit for him to bed. Now I will do that anyway I can with or without your consent. But this will go a lot quicker and easier if you do not fight my slaves, for know this, we will do this by force if that is the way it is to be. Do you understand?” I took a deep breath and knew what she was saying was right. In their world I was no longer my own person but just another body to warm the King’s bed and being in this world I now had to act the part. So as much as it pained me to do so, I nodded my acceptance and let my hands drop.

“Very good. With an attitude like that you will make it far in this harem and you never know, one day you may find yourself head concubine,” Parmida said grinning, showing me a full set of yellowed teeth and when she took out a long wooden pipe to smoke I knew why.

“Okay but, but…
just let me do it.”
I told her pushing the slave’s hands away from my private girl parts. I just knew this was going to feel like one violating moment after another and that I had no choice but to let it all happen. The slave looked towards Parmida and she only let go of me when her mistress nodded. So slowly I began to undress under too many watchful eyes to count. It was one of the most humiliating things I had ever done in my life and because of it I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking.

I couldn’t look at the others as I started to pull each item of clothing off my body and when I was just down to my underwear I heard Parmida cluck her tongue, telling me she wanted it all off. I reached around to my back and unclipped my bra letting it fall on the pile next to my feet. Then I slipped my briefs from my legs and added them to what was left of my time.

“Good. Very good, now into the bath with you!” she said clapping twice. I did as I was told and was at least thankful to find it warm as I slipped my leg under the water, followed by the rest of my reluctant body. I let my head fall back against the side as the flurry of hands started working around me.

“Add the salts and oils. You two work on the legs, you two on the arms and you and Mika on her hair, bring that bucket! And oils, where are my oils?” Parmida started barking her orders around me whilst I tried to drown it all out by looking up at the ceiling. Whereas the images had once merged into one when I was standing, now they were starting to tell a story.

I would wince and jump when my limbs were stretched out to be washed by hands I didn’t know. The feeling made me feel sick to my stomach and the only way to get past it was to concentrate on those pictures above me. It took me a while to decipher exactly what I was looking at and as soon as I did I decided it was better to just close my eyes and start my mantra of ‘there’s no place like home’. It was that or look at the Persian version of porn painted on the ceiling.

“You must be wrong, get out of my way and let me see!” Hearing Parmida’s agitated voice made me open my eyes to see everyone was suddenly backing away from me.

“Now show me!” she snapped at the servant next to her but looking down at me.

“There see, she has no hair on her legs or under her arms and she has hardly any hair between her legs.” The servant said holding out one of my legs and I had to squash down the urge to kick out with my other one. Seriously, could this get any more embarrassing? I almost wished I hadn’t shaved ready for my wedding now. Which made me wonder, if they didn’t have razors then by the time I got back I could end up having legs and pits like Chewbacca! That wasn’t a sexy thought at all.