by Lauren Wood
The crossing took several harsh days, and there were many times when the wind was up, and the boat would toss and tilt in the squall so much that Nera feared she would never see dry land again. When not killing themselves with work to keep the boat afloat the crew used all of their time into adapting us to the reversed routine that we would now be living. It wasn’t hard to stay awake with the level of fearful adrenaline that ran through all of the women’s veins, but there were severe punishments meted out for those who did not sleep when the sun could be seen through the boards above us. One woman was thrown overboard as a lesson to the rest of them, but Nera thought this act had the hallmarks of something planned and staged- that they had brought one extra woman on board just so as to make an example of her to scare the rest of them.
They were fed decently enough and were given plenty to drink and twice a day, or should that be night, they were all paraded around the deck to get both exercise for their stiffened limbs and muscles and for some fresh air. They were, after all, going to the Harem of the Crown Prince and had to be in the best condition possible for this position.
Finally land was reached. Those who were asleep were woken by the bustling cacophony of the dock they had arrived at. There was a market just inland, and they could hear the hawkers yelling and the general bustling sounds of barter and trade. They could see that the sun was shining outside, and its heat seemed to permeate the wood around them, and they all ached to stand up and be allowed to walk on dry land once more. It was a wish that was to go unfulfilled as it soon became apparent that they would not be leaving the ship until night fall.
“You should all be sleeping now!” the lead guard roared at us from the door above them. Nera went to the hull and looked out through the cracks at the town. It was not a big place, but it was very busy- the people must come from the surrounding areas to use the market here she thought. That could be to her advantage if she were to escape, there would be many people travelling the roads at the end of the market and it would give her more opportunity to escape. She could only hope she would be able to undo her binds in time. She set about this task and all afternoon she sweated in her labours as she ground the ropes against the edge of the wooden ribs of the hull. It was very slow progress, and she seemed to be doing more damage to the wood than to the rope but by evening fall she could feel a slight loosening at her wrists and she knew her work had not been in vain.
When it was full dark, the lead guard appeared with some minions who lighted the lamps about the hold. The sounds of horses and carts being readied filtered in from the land.
“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” the guard said, “And I know all the tricks so it would be in your best interest not to try to pull anything.” He looked about him menacingly. “Tie them all up with fresh rope!” he called out to his men, and he laughed heartily. Nera’s head sank with the wasted effort of her afternoon, and her spirits sank to their lowest ebb yet. She looked quickly around the room, and she saw that there was no way she was going to be able to escape with all the guards around and the layout of the boat was against her too. She sat resignedly as she was retied; she would have to escape at some other time.
They walked through the dark in a single file of five caged carts with five guards around each carriage and some men both fore and aft of the convoy. Nera looked up to the high mountains where they headed, the blue night and the light of the moon made everything seems so clear and sharp. They could see the Royal Palace for many hours before they finally came to a magnificent stone bridge that held high over a deep chasm. At the end of the bridge was the rough, thick wood of the drawbridge that was open to their arrival.
Despite her misgivings and abject fury at her abduction, even Nera could not help but be impressed with the high towers and walls of the palace. It was like nothing she had ever seen, or even dreamed of before. She could only imagine how amazing it must look in daylight. She looked down deep below and saw that without the drawbridge been down there was absolutely no means of either entry or escape. This was going to be even more difficult than she imagined.
A guard walking along beside her pointed to the highest tower from which light emitted even at this very late hour and said,
“That will be your new home.” He smiled with a sneering twist on his face as she looked up at it. She didn’t have long to look up, however, as the ear shattering creak of the drawbridge being pulled back up called all of their attention to them. Nera looked through the gap as it dwindled and wondered would she ever see the outside world again.
The cages came to a halt inside a great hall that was well lit and had comfortable looking cushions and sofas all the way around the four walls. The walls themselves were draped with woven images of war and the victories of the Sultan. It was an impressive room, and there was the pleasant smell of food coming from somewhere very nearby.
As the women were looking about the room they all failed to notice that the guards had not entered this room and were now gone, the doors closed behind them. A woman appeared from a side door and came up and looked over the cages. She was not old but not young either, and she had a regal air though it was clear she was not part of the Royal House. She clapped her hands loudly and five young women came scurrying in and opened the locks of the cages. None of the women in cages dared to move, but Nera was very interested in this new development. She fancied herself in a fight with a man and now that there were only women to contend with here she felt her confidence grow once more.
“Don’t be shy girls,” the woman said, “This is your new home, come out and enjoy the sofas and the hot food we have prepared for you.” She was smiling as she spoke, but it seemed pasted on and none of the women moved. “I know that you have not had a pleasant journey here,” she spoke up again, “But, that is over now, and you will be looked after here well from now on. We must have you in the best possible condition for meeting His Highness.” She clapped her hands again and more girls came out with small tables and set them with steaming dishes of various hot foods and drinks. The sight and smell of these things did at last being to draw the women out of the cages, but Nera was last leave, using her time in there to see as much of the room and the people who worked there as possible.
The next two days were spent, as the woman had said, in the comfort of this great room. The woman were taken in twos and bathed and clothed in fine silken garments. They ate well and were promised a good life here once they did anything asked of them by the Crown Prince. Nera went along with everything she was asked to do. She could see through small windows that guards littered the area outside and should she try to escape now that would be as far as she would get. The bathing pools were in a room that was closed in completely, and the only door led back into the great hall. She heard some of the women who had come here with her ask the servant girls if any of the rumours about the Crown Prince were true, but the girls would only laugh as though the women were being ridiculous and continued on with their work. They were still kept to the night time routine, however.
On the morning of the second day, the head woman came to them and said,
“You have all done well here, and I hope that you will be happy. Tonight you will be presented to His Highness so I suggest you all do your level best to sleep as well as you can today so as to be fresh and alert for this great honour.” The women looked to one another nervously, but a couple actually smiled; these were the younger ones who were naïve enough to be indoctrinated in this place already. Nera lay down on her comfortable pillow, she would be well rested, up there was the place where she was going to have to find a way to escape. She had to, or else she would be here forever.
That evening they were all roused and fed a light warm meal and then bathed once more and dressed. Their faces were adorned and made up and their hair put into various styles of ringlets, curls, waves, plats and pony-tails. They were led as one unit across the heavily guarded courtyard and entered the main palace. Nera was surprised as to just how many soldie
rs there were in the compound and she wondered where they all slept. The women were ushered along corridors of cool marble floors and then came to a high stairs that spiralled up and up almost as far as they could see.
“Follow at my pace,” the lead woman said, “We don’t want anyone huffing and puffing when we get up there.” She led them in an agonisingly slow ascent of the stairs that took almost half an hour. At the top of the stairs, there was a small antechamber, and they were told to wait here while the woman went inside. Nera had looked behind them as they came up the stairs and saw that men had been stationed at the bottom of the stairs after them.
The woman came back and told them all to follow her. “Do not look to your right as you enter the Crown Prince’s entertainment room,” She warned them, and her voice was grave enough that she didn’t need to say anything more. The doors opened and music from with started as though this were some great military procession. The women walked in single file into the room, following the lead woman’s steps and gestures as best they could and none of them daring to look at where they all felt the eyes of the Crown Prince on them. None that was until the last woman came in. Nera couldn’t help but turn her eyes slightly to see this person whom they had all come to entertain. He was very white, but also very beautiful and she saw that he wore no shirt, and his body was well muscled and broad. He was hairless and scrupulously clean, and she had never seen a male specimen like him before. She looked away just in time as she felt his eyes fall on her. Her heart raced at the closeness of punishment and also in attraction to him. His face lingered in her minds eye for a moment, and she saw his red lips and blue-grey eyes, the small beard he wore solely on his chin and his shoulder length jet black and shining hair, curled and ruffled looking. She couldn’t help herself from imagining his holding her against his thick chest with his strong arms.
She looked around the rest of the room, and she could see that there were a lot of people there. A band was playing music, and she could see there were jugglers and other kinds of entertainers lying in wait for their turn to impress the Royal. Many women littered the seats and large rugs spread about. Nera noticed that these women looked upon the new ones with great curiosity and, it was odd but, she felt a lustful hunger. Some men sat about in small groups or with women and Nera thought that these must be the Prince’s friends.
The lead woman came to a halt and instructed with her hands for all the women under her charge to stop and face the Prince in a line. Nera was last to stop, and she turned and looked to the handsome Royal once more. He looked them all over but seemed to look at her longer than the others, or was this just in her imagination? He sat back in his chair and nodded to the lead woman. She bowed and then stood in front of the women.
“You have done well,” she said with a smile. “Do whatever any man here asks you,” she went on, “His Highness may be around to talk to you as he chooses.” With that, she turned once more and bowed to the throne and then left the room, by the way, they had come in.
The new woman stood in a huddle in the middle of the room not knowing what to do with themselves. Soon a few of the men came over and began to talk to them as they looked lasciviously over them. When one came over to talk to Nera, the band suddenly stopped, and all eyes turned to the Prince.
“Everyone except the new girls can leave!” he said. It sounded more like a suggestion than an order, but every single person in the room made their way to the door straight away after bowing to him. Nera couldn’t help but be impressed with the total control he had over all of these people.
When the room was finally devoid of everyone save the new women, the Prince stood up and walked towards them. They cowered into a huddle, and Nera felt them all jostle against her. She stood there implacably near the back waiting to see what would happen.
“You do not need to fear me,” he said in a softer than expected voice. “As you have seen this evening I treat my guests in this room well.” He looked at them one at a time; a full body look at this time. “When I look at you tell me your name,” he said. He looked from woman to woman, and they all answered falteringly. Finally, he came eye to eye with Nera.
“I am Susan,” she said. No one else had yet asked her name and if she was going to escape she did not want people looking for her under her real name. His eyes flickered as though in delight when she spoke, and he smiled at her, a wicked smile as though they shared some private joke.
He stepped back from the women and faced away from them looking around the room.
“You may have heard things about me,” he said in a louder voice, “Things that you may have even been afraid of,” he said this part with a slight chuckle, “But,” he held a finger in the air, “Everlasting life is nothing to be frightened of!” he said. He turned swiftly back to them, and they saw that his features had changed and hardened, and there were ridges on his face that were not there before. His teeth had become elongated and sharpened, and he smiled a malicious smile at them. The women screamed, even Nera, and he feinted towards them and sent them scurrying in all directions.
Nera watched in horror as the women around her tried the door and looked to climb out windows but to no avail. The door was locked, and she already knew that they were far too high up for a speedy escape through a window. The Prince skulked about laughing as he watched his terrified and flitted prey and then he moved with great speed after them.
One by one he took hold of them in his strong arms and bit deep into their throats with those two long teeth. Shrieks of fear and pain rang out and when he pulled away from them and let the lifeless bodies of them fall to the floor there would be flecks of blood from both his mouth and their wounds that splattered on the stone slabbed floor. Some of the women fainted and made his task all the easier.
Nera waited until he had his back to her and was plunging into another woman and then fled to a balcony that stood out from the tower and looked out over the tops of the nearby mountains. She knew that she was not going to be able to get out of the tower from there, but she saw it as the only chance for a place to hide. She came out into the warm night, and she hid from the sight of the room inside. She looked around, but there was nowhere to go. It was a flat outcropping and a sheer drop of a few hundred feet below. All she could do was stand there and hope that he would have forgotten about her by the time he was through with everyone else.
The last of the crying and screams died down, and no more feet slapped and skittered across the stone floor within the tower. She stood there and listened. All she could hear was the howling of the wind in the great chasm below her. She looked down, and it was so far that she couldn’t see the bottom. There was nothing in sight she could jump to, and only the curved flatness of the tower walls offered themselves to scale. She dared not even breathe.
A long time passed, and there was no more noise. How long could she stay out here? The idea came to her that he would not be able to come out here once the sun began to rise- if that old legend was true; for there was no doubt now that the vampire stories had been true.
“You should come in from there,” his voice said, “You’ll catch a cold with so few clothes on.” She froze in terror. She looked down once more, but there was no escape; even if it water all the way down there it was still far enough down to kill her if she tried to jump. She waited for a few moments and then walked calmly back inside. “Susan,” he said with a smile. He was back to his normal handsome face again, and to look at him you would have no idea of what he had just done to all of the prone bodies that lay about the room. Nera looked at them; she felt like weeping, but she didn’t want him to see this. “Don’t worry about them,” he said, “They will all wake up much happier than they were before.”
“So they will be like you now?” she asked. She had heard all of this stuff about vampires for years but when you don’t know if the things actually exist you also don’t know how much of the folklore is real either. He nodded.
“You should join us,” he smiled at her, she saw hi
m look her body over appreciatively. “It is a good life.” She saw her way to stay human, to not have to fear the light of day, and though it repulsed her, she had no choice. She took a step closer to him.
“I can offer you more as a hot body than a cold one,” she said and reaching up she undid the clasp at the back of her neck and let the flowing gown she wore drop the floor at her feet. She stood there naked before him. She knew how good her body looked; she had always had men after her all her life, since puberty, and this was why she had thought herself to fight. She had large but firm breasts, and her abdomen was toned but not lined with muscle. Her pubic hair was in a tidy triangle, and her legs were tanned and smooth and shiny. He looked at her, and she saw his penis come to life in his loose pants and against her better morals she knew that she wanted it, to touch it, to feel it within her body.
“You make a compelling case,” he smiled taking another step closer to her. The look of lust in his eyes was like nothing she had ever seen; it was like all his sexual cravings and intentions were reflected in them, and she knew what he wanted her to do. She knelt down and put her palms to the cold floor and crawled over to him seductively like an animal. When she got to his feet, she ran a hand up his leg and brushed against his thick member. He looked down and smiled at her. She went higher and rubbed her hands over his rippled abdomen and onto his chest. She had never felt a body like this before; it was like he had been hewn from stone. She planted light kisses on his abdomen, and she felt his hand run through her hair. Despite herself she found that she was attracted to him, and it was like this was a voluntary action on her part and not something she was doing purely to save her life.
She pulled herself up to her feet and pushed her lips roughly to his. His kiss was soft and his lips full; there was no thought in her mind that this mouth had been recently filled with the blood of those women strewn about them. She felt his hands on her hips, and his grip was tender yet firm. He lightly ran up over the hips and held her waist. With a sudden and silent lift, she was in the air, and he carried her across the room to one of the large cushions that were spread around the great tower. He lifted her as though she weighed nothing, and his arms did not tremble even in the slightest. She had never known a man with such strength, and it stirred something deep and tribal within her that she was unaware had even been there. It was as she was suddenly intoxicated by him, and she pressed her lips all the more firmly against his.
