The Imperial Kings Series 1: Enslaved by the King
Author
Kimi L. Davis
Reads
1.3M
Chapters
37
Chapter 1
SABINA
I was fanning myself, watching the townsfolk go about their business. I had no idea what time it was, and I wished someone would tell me. But knowing the people here, I knew that was unlikely. So, I just kept fanning myself, hoping the heat would let up.
Before I could voice my thoughts, a little boy, about seven, came running over. He was dressed in a frock suit, and I couldnât help but wonder how he wasnât melting in the heat.
âExcuse me, how much for these apples?â he asked, looking up at me with wide eyes.
âThree coins,â I answered, giving him a warm smile.
He reached into a velvet pouch and pulled out three copper coins. I dropped a few apples into his bag and held out my hand for the coins. He was just about to hand them over when a womanâs voice rang out.
âArthur! Get away from that witch!â A woman, probably in her early thirties, stormed over and yanked the boy away, shooting me a nasty glare.
âStay away from my son!â she spat, snatching the bag of apples from my hand and dragging her son away.
Her words stung. Even though everyone in this town had some nasty name for me, and I shouldâve been used to it by now, it never got easier. The pain was always there, and no matter what I did, my past was always right behind me.
âItâs okay, Sabina. She was just talking nonsense,â Beth said, coming up behind me.
I shook my head, forcing a smile onto my face. âIt doesnât matter. We have the money now. We can buy food.â I handed the three coins to her and turned my attention back to the bustling market.
It seemed to be around midday, judging by the number of people. Men were pushing wheelbarrows full of fresh produce, and women were busy shopping. Everywhere I looked, people were manning stalls, and only a few ventured over to where I was, selling fresh fruits.
âYouâre right. Weâve made enough for dinner tonight,â Beth said, slipping the coins into her worn cloth pouch.
I looked at Beth, the woman who had taken me in when no one else would. She was the mother I never had. She believed in me when no one else did. She comforted me when I needed it most. She helped me get back on my feet, and I could never repay her for everything sheâd done.
Even now, at sixty, she worked as hard as someone half her age. I kept telling her she didnât need to help me, but she never listened. Her eyes always sparkled with a strange kind of joy, making her blue eyes shine even brighter.
âBeth?â I asked, watching the crowd thin out with a sinking feeling. Beth was too good to have saved someone like me.
âYes?â
âI think you should hire someone else to run your business. With me here, we barely make enough for one meal,â I said.
Beth frowned. âThatâs nonsense, Sabina! Itâs this town, Wilsden, and its people that are bad for business, not you.â
âNo, Beth. People are always good for business, but no one wants to buy from a witch.â It hurt to say those words, but I knew they were true.
Beth narrowed her eyes at me, and I knew she was upset. âHow many times do I have to tell you? Itâs all lies! Youâre not a witch! Youâre a good woman, and people should appreciate you!â she scolded.
âIâm sorry, Beth. Please forgive me.â
âNo, dear. I understand why you feel that way, but you have to be strong. These people are just spreading lies. They just want something to gossip about.â She patted my cheek gently.
âWhat do you want for supper?â I asked, changing the subject.
âLetâs go home and decide. I donât think weâll get any more customers today.â
The word home made my heart skip a beat. Even though Beth told me her cottage was my home now, it still felt strange. Home had been a foreign concept for so long that even after eight years, the word still had the power to shake me to my core.
âLet me just pack up.â
I was about to head back into the tent when the sound of screams and horse hooves filled the air. Beth came running over, her face pale with fear. The look on her face sent my heart into overdrive. Whatâs going on?
âBeth, what is it?â I asked.
âWe need to hide. The kingâs men are here, and theyâre taking women for the kingâs harem,â she said.
She grabbed the cloth we used to cover the fruits and pulled me under it with her.
My heart pounded in my chest. The kingâs men were here, and they were looking for women for the kingâs harem. This happened often, but the fear it caused never lessened. They only took unmarried women, virgins, and dragged them to the castle to become the princeâs concubines.
âBeth!â I gripped her hand tightly. I might not have been a respected woman in this town, but I didnât want to live as a whore.
âQuiet, Sabina!â Beth hissed, squeezing my hand. I could see the fear in her eyes. She was worried for me.
âWhat if theyââ
âShh! Nothing will happen to you,â she whispered harshly.
The cries of women pleading and screaming only grew louder. The kingâs men laughed, their amusement mingling with the helpless cries of the women, amplifying my fear. God, please keep me safe from the kingâs men.
Suddenly, the sound of splintering wood filled my ears. My heart jumped as I heard our wooden crates being smashed, followed by the heavy thud of boots.
Before I could process what was happening, the sheet hiding us was yanked away, revealing us to the kingâs men.
There were four of them, all dressed in the royal attire of the kingâs most trusted men. Their faces were lit with triumph, which only heightened my fear. I knew I had to escape.
âGrab her. We need to get back. The king didnât give us much time,â one of them commanded.
Beth shoved me back, trying to shield me from the men, but I knew she couldnât protect me. These men were here for me, and they wouldnât leave without me.
âDonât touch her! Leave her alone!â Beth demanded, her eyes blazing at the men.
I screamed when one of the men drew a sword and held it to Bethâs throat. I tried to push Beth away, but she wouldnât budge.
âPlease donât. Please donât hurt her. Iâll do anything, please,â I begged, tears welling in my eyes.
Two of the men grabbed my arms and yanked me up, dragging me out of the tent, the remaining two following behind.
The sun hit my face, but the terror coursing through me made me oblivious to the heat. I didnât want to be a whore.
The men dragged me for what felt like forever before stopping in front of a large carriage. With four horses ready to pull, the carriage was painted red and looked big enough to seat at least ten women.
I shouldâve been impressed by the carriage, but it only made me want to run even further away. This carriage would take me to the castle. This carriage would seal my fate as a whore.
âOh, the townâs witch. I think the king will enjoy this one,â one of the men standing next to the carriage said, leering at me.
âI agree. The women we picked today will satisfy the kingâs needs,â the other concurred.
When the door of the carriage swung open, fear took over, and I began to struggle against the menâs grip. I pushed. I punched. I scratched. I screamed for help.
But there were four of them and only one of me. They had me subdued in just a few minutes.
One of the men tore the front of my dress, exposing my bare chest to the rest of them. That act of humiliation drained all my fight, and I gave up, clutching the front of my dress with my hand.
The men roughly tossed me inside the carriage before slamming the door shut and locking it from the outside. I tried to wipe my tears, but I had to keep a firm hold on my dress.
Through my tear-blurred vision, I saw six other women, all with tears in their eyes. Some were shaking, some were clutching the fronts of their dresses, and others were whimpering.
When I heard the crack of a whip in the air, followed by the startled cries of the horses, I knew my freedom was gone. My fate was sealed. I was nothing more than the kingâs whore.
âI wa-want to g-go ho-home,â one of the girls whimpered.
âForget about home. The castle dungeons will be our new home,â another one replied bitterly.
The first girl burst into fresh tears, setting off a chain reaction among the others. None of us knew why the king was like this, why he wanted the townâs women as whores.
But we were powerless against the kingâs authority.
âWhatâs your name?â I asked the woman sitting beside me. She had dark hair and teary green eyes, her cheeks streaked with tears.
âMa-Mary,â she hiccupped.
âIâm Sabina,â I told her. Introducing ourselves seemed pointless, but I didnât know how else to distract myself from the looming castle.
âDoâdonât talk to me. Yoâyouâre not a good woman,â she declared.
In that moment, I wished the king would kill me, because if he didnât, the harsh words of these people would.
I hadnât done anything to deserve the townâs people treating me so cruelly. I hadnât done anything wrong. I was just friends with someone I shouldnât have been.
The carriage continued its journey, the driver oblivious to the cries and whimpers of the women inside.
Whenever the carriage slowed, the driver would whip the horses into a faster pace, taking us further away from the safety of our homes.
âThe castle is magnificent. I wonder which room weâll be in,â a woman spoke up, drawing our attention.
âIâve only seen the castle a few times,â the one sitting in the corner said.
When the carriage slowed this time, it came to a complete stop. My heart pounded as the carriage door was opened, and two men dragged all of us out.
When I was roughly pulled out of the carriage, the men tied my hands behind my back, causing the front of my dress to fall down, and this time it wasnât just a few men, it was a crowd.
âBring them in! The king is getting impatient!â one of the royal guards standing by the gate shouted. The kingâs men grabbed each of us and dragged us inside.
My eyes widened as I entered the castle, taking in its grandeur.
The castle was made up of numerous towers and turrets, with cannons lining the tops of the walls. Guards were everywhere, swords safely tucked in their sheaths.
I didnât get much time to admire the castle as the men dragged us all inside. I tried my best not to look at anyone since my chest was exposed, and making eye contact with a guard in this state might send the wrong message.
The inside of the castle was like stepping into another world. A red carpet led all the way to the kingâs throne. Guards stood on either side of the carpet, as still as statues.
I wanted to take a moment to admire the opulence and take in the interior of the castle, but the man holding me pulled me forward.
As I walked, I glanced left and right at the guards, who were standing still, noticing how each of them was spaced an equal distance apart.
The guards didnât even look at me, their eyes fixed on the guard standing in front of them.
Relief washed over me as the number of eyes on my bare chest dwindled. I was guided towards the king, who sat regally on his throne. But when I dared to lift my gaze to meet his, my heart froze.
No. This canât be. How is this even possible? Heâs the king?!
My eyes locked with icy, black ones, and a shiver of fear ran through me. There, on the throne, ruling this kingdom, was my past. After eight years, he was now the king of Quopia.
His face was flawlessly carved, his jawline sharp, and his eyes held a power that could drain your soul. The king sat, scrutinizing us as we were paraded before him.
I wished it was all a dream. I wished some witch had cast a spell on me, causing me to hallucinate, but that wasnât the case.
Reality was staring me in the face. My past was staring me in the face. And despite my best efforts, the name that haunted my dreams slipped from my lips.
âAbiloft.â
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