HELL LIKE HOME

"Yes, am your lord, Nazarack! if you have a little fear, just a little fear for that name, when I said she shouldn't be touched, she belonged to me, you will do well to obey me, but you dare? you touched her! I care not what you do to others, but not her! For this, you shall meet your death here." He said with so much authority and within a blink of an eye, he raised his sword high and stab him right in the middle.

The man spluttered out blood, it splashed on me and him too but instead, he looked at me, smiled and it was almost predatory, his beautiful eyes belayed danger and brutality.

Surely, he should be feared, the handsome dark lord is nothing but a monster on a leash!

Compilations of tears gathered in my eye socket, my body relayed confessions that were just fear.

He turned towards the other men that were trembling by the sight they witnessed, their look seems so wretched. Vetta and the other girls couldn't be more surprised too.

"Cut off his head, chop his body into pieces and feed them to my dogs!" He stated, cleaning off his sword as he turned his back at me.

"Yes sir..." They stammered in fear.

"One more thing! give her proper clothes to wear, fetch for her water so she will look clean, and also feed her some foods, you know I don't lay with dirty things." That statement spikes up my reasoning.

*He doesn't sleep with dirty things?* I questioned silently with my brows creased in worries, you know that moment when you choose comfort amidst hard realities? this is the time for me. I gulped hard on my throat watching him leave the scene majestically, as his black robe makes him look sophisticated and Noble. Not that am excited about the thought, but I had to admit that my hard times are yet to come...

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The Empire of Ubirea

The royal chamber had Emperor Sebastien in his royal garment and his gold staff at his right hand as he was gracefully seated on his royal seat which was made from the finest gold in the Empire. He was surrounded by beautiful maidens that were almost naked on both sides.

Emperor Sebastien, the only youngest ruler, in the Long history of Ubirea, he's known to be a perfect gentleman that always makes little effort to exchange words with anyone, his actions speak for him. Loved by his people because of how he's been able to solidify the sovereignty of the Empire and how smart he was able to protect the empire from enemies' attacks.

That's what most people know of him, the perfect ruler that loves his people and the only one that understands the people's pain. Although, he's young many believe he's worth being the Emperor because he's no ordinary man. They considered him to be a demigod right after Nazarack. That's why he's found it so easy to tackle any problem that comes his way, that only attribute, a demigod that saves the world.

"The bastard!" Sebastien half yelled with a sly grin. "You said he's almost at the central gate with his troops?" He asked and recomposed himself on his seat.

"If I am right, he should be at the capital now, if he decides to respect you he might come here first, relay the news of his victory and give you almost half of the slaves, that's if he wishes to.. but, then it's just a raid, it's nothing compared to his big conquest..." Maverick said mockingly.

"Am the emperor, if he does not report to me, does that not show his disloyalty? we can frame him for treason! A greedy man that threatens the emperor's power." Sebastien said as if it's his long wish, or maybe it is.

"No! that will take us nowhere, remember he used his soldiers, not yours... Moreover, he has public support, for now, we don't want to invoke his anger and let things get ugly. Let's just watch him for now, I have a little something am planning. He's my little brother after all, if anyone is going to get him? it better be me."

"You never disappoint Maverick, to show my gratitude I have them prepare a very beautiful lady tonight..."

"And?" Maverick rolled his eyes expecting more response.

"And a fine man as well, I specifically made sure they are to your taste." He stopped and gruntled. "But I just hope we can get things done so quickly, his presence horrifies me, I can't even sleep at night anymore." Sebastien expressed himself while touching his gold rings that fit perfectly into his fingers.

"Worry not your majesty, Soon! his downfall is near, he will make the same mistakes he did back then."

*

*

A world completely different from the one I knew, it was enormous, big, and adventurous, have only read about cities, kingdoms, and empires in books have never visited one or lived in one before. But, witnessing it now felt as if am in some fantasy world. My imaginations of an adventure were displayed right in my presence.

The city had marbles floor that was extremely beautiful and enticing, every corner of the street was painted in beautiful colors that had the face of someone that seems so important. The smallest house here is bigger than the village chief's house back home.

My attention soon caught carriage that looks fancier than carts, it had four big wheels and a white horse at the front with a man who seems to be directing the movement of the carriage.

I looked at the other side of the street and noticed children moving in unison towards a particular building, they were dressed in silk and it's so obvious they must be from the ruling class. Everything seems so beautiful and dazzling. The marketplace, the game village I had luckily set my eyes on... it was flattering that I almost thought this might be heaven.

Soon, the cart and the soldiers stopped at the iron gate that surrounded what it seems to be a castle.

*I remember.* My mind suddenly niggled at me, it looks exactly like the castle I had seen in my dream, the only difference is that it looks much more beautiful, gigantic, and towering that I couldn't see the tallest tower.

"Beautiful," I exclaimed silently while noticing the expression on Vetta's face.

"Are you okay? you seem so excited." Vetta asked but I choose not to answer, what explanation would I give to my mysterious dream?

The cart pulled up outside of the castle and the soldiers all bowed down instantly as if respecting the presence of someone so important. And, he is. The Lord got down from his black hefty horse, his two imposing dogs looks peckish and perilous.

"Home. sweet. home." He said at intervals glancing around. Soon, footsteps were marching towards him. They were his guards, dressed in black and each had a sword by their side.

"Welcome back Lord Nazarack!!!" Everyone chorused except for me and the rest of the villagers that knew not how to respond to this situation.

He strides in his heavy steps forward and turned to one of his guards...

"What about Daniela?" He asked.

"Her lady is at her quarter, the news of your arrival should reach her soon." The man replied with his head still down.

"I see... What about Sabrina? she doesn't know am back too?" He asked dauntlessly.

"Seems so my Lord."

"Enough of that, the carriage of there." He stopped pointing towards my direction "I want them in Sabrina's quarter, they are the new set of slaves that I intended to have for myself, particularly that one!" He started pointing at me.

"Yes my Lord, what should I do with the rest?"

"Send them to my minefield we needed more workers, so this served as a plus." He said before walking out from the scene.

"The minefield? do you hear that? my mother, Veronica, and your father too, they are not part of this carriage, they will be sent to the minefield, and that only means death! they will work till death." Vetta lamented with tears shrieking down her cheeks.

"We don't know if your mother or Veronica is alive yet, and we don't know our fate, Sabrina quarter or whatever he calls it might be more dreadful than the minefield, this is not a matter of choice, but survival."

"Do you not care for your father? why do you seem so relaxed? if not anything you seem so excited about this, is there something you are not telling me?" She questioned and I averted her questions and gulped down on my throat.

*

The day was nearing the end, Vetta and I with the remaining girls were escorted to a part of the castle. I guessed that it's Sabrina's quarter. After rounding each corner of the castle, our escort stopped dead at his tracks and pushed us into one of the rooms.

"So, this is the new girls?" We heard a girl say upon entering.

"They look so young and still full of energy." Another said teasingly with a grin.

"And you are?" I questioned distressed

"Well, I am Emily and this is Rodia." The first girl said. "Welcome to the castle of Dillion, the home of the most powerful man in Ubirea. And, also let me welcome you to hell!" She said cheerfully and I felt a heavy thud on my chest.

With their faces and the look of things, what if this is really hell? what if I was just relaxed for nothing. I thought as I stole a glare at Vetta. Are we ever going to survive this?

But then, if this was hell why does it feel like home?!

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