Chapter 8 I'm here

I felt the coldness of the hard floor beneath my body, I slowly opened my eyes and the first thing I noticed was the wooden ceiling, I squint my eyes before getting used to the little brightness, it was a tiny old room.

Where am I? Where's Swift? What happened?

I finally noticed the little gate by the left, i quickly crawled to it and held onto the gate, trying to see if it will open but it didn't.

"Hello, is anybody there?!" I shouted

There came no response.

I managed to stand up and started shaking the gate

"Help!

Somebody help!

Anybody there?

Help!" I continued shouting for help on top of my lungs, I finally heard some footsteps, which made me to calm down.

Someone is finally coming, who dare to keep me in this tiny old space, they don't know me, the fearless Carissa, I'm going to show them what I can do...

A Royal guard soon came into view, he looked at me with menacingly eyes. A guard?

Am I in the Castle?

"You are awake" he said, he dipped his hands in his pocket and brought out a bundle of keys.

"Why am I here?" I asked nervously.

"I should be asking you that, you are going to explain to the king, why you are here?" He Said and finally opened the gate.

Finally! Should I hit his head or should I just run away from here?

"Follow me" he commanded like a boss, it's not like he's the king.

I rolled my eyes but had no choice but to obey.

After all, hitting his head would only get me in trouble with the king and I'm going to get caught, if I try running away.

We walked passed numerous little rooms, that looked like the one I just came out from.

I could see one to three persons in each room, malnourished and stressed.

This is probably where people are thrown, when they wrong the king, they were all avoiding to make eye contact, I wonder what they have been through.

I didn't realize we were standing in front of another big black gate until he pulled the keys and opened it, we crossed over and he locked the gate securely.

We took a narrow passage then another bigger passage, with every angle that came into view the light became brighter, and then a graceful Courtyard came into view.

It was so magnificent, it had in it's garden, the most beautiful and colourful flowers I have ever seen, the water fountain had an uninterrupted water supply, the sunlight illuminated this beautiful Courtyard.

We passed the magnificent coutyard, took a left turn and finally stopped at a door, two Royal guards was outside and allowed us in without any hesitation.

"Your highness, she is here" the menacing guard said and I looked up to see a man on a blue royal mantle, sitting on the throne and a woman on his lap, she must be one of his Courtesans, his features was striking, I must confess, the king is the most handsome man, i have ever seen.

"Adeline" he called gently and leaned on her neck giving her soft kisses, Adeline chuckled and turned to face him, he immediately kissed her, the woman got off his lap immediately, straightening her dress and walking away, she got to the door, winked at him and left closing the door.

The king got up and started taking gentle strides towards me.

He finally stopped and stood dangerously closed.

"You dare to kill my courtesan" he said, staring daggers at me

I looked at him, surprised.

I wasn't the one that killed her, what's he talking about and what damn thing happened, after I was hit and passed out?

"your majesty, I have nothing to do with it, I do not know what you are taking about" I said

He looked at me and scoffed

"Eunuch Harbona, Come in" he shouted, his eyes still fixed at me.