Survival Of The Cursed

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 2᯾ 𝖀𝖓𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝕲𝖚𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖘

Nobody would consider the chiefs and royalties of Ilé Ife to be strong and wise after witnessing them laugh uncontrollably.

“I’m such a drum! That’s the third drink I’ve spilled today!” One royalty told his friends; then, an enslaved girl took a rag to wipe it off. He teased her with his hand on her body, but the girl endured. Yotifa, who was watching them, tore his gaze from the direction, disgusted.

“Where is Adara?” He asked the girl who came to join him.

“I don’t know.” She replied, her doe-like eyes searched the crowd. “She’s not among those dancing.”

“Stop, you idiots!” The prince of Oyo-Ile raised his eyebrows and grinned. He was also in his young twenties, but he had so much power. Almost as equal as his dad, the king who sat on the throne.

The dancers stopped right away at his command. He signaled they should all leave. Confused about why, the servants thought it might be because of his drunkenness. But that wouldn’t stop them from executing their plan.

“Come here!” He signaled the woman leading the dance. She had brown aso-oke on, which brought out the glow in her chocolate skin. She had four slanty tribal marks on each side of her cheek, but it fitted her so well.

“What’s your name?”

“Asake, my Lord.” Her voice trembled.

“Beautiful. Move closer.” He demanded. His index finger signaled her to step forward.

Walking up to him, he grabbed Asake by the neck and aggressively planted a kiss on her lips. Even though she was older than him in age, the lady dared not to fight. He could have her head cut off the next minute.

Shocked, the leaders and natives of Oyo-Ile, who were of higher status, erupted in laughter. They cheered up their prince. This was something usual.

Disappointment stuck on the faces of the other servants as they watched. He ripped her blouse off with one jerk, tears streamed down her face as she trembled in fear. Unable to withstand any of their trauma, Asa walked towards them with the jug in her hands.

“More wine.” She offered the Prince, and splashed the whole jug of palm wine on his face with the anger burning in her. He staggered, and almost fell on his butt.

Watching her doing this. One of the Prince’s guards, Itile grabbed Asa by the jaw and raised her jaw. He was an enormous man with scattered teeth. Itile gritted his teeth in anger and strangled Asa with his bare hands. She hit his hand while he threw her against the mud-bricked wall.

Asa let out a short cough as she raised her head from the ground. Her hands lingered on her forehead and the next thing she noticed was that blood dripped from her forehead.

“How dare you, careless bitch!” Itile grumbled at her.

The prince inspected her and recognized the fierceness in her honey-brown eyes.

“And who are you?” He asked interestedly.

“Asalewa, daughter of Ayodele Ketu.” She replied boldly.

“I don’t know him.”

She glared at him with a hateful look as they stared at each other.

“I think she’d be great in bed, Your Majesty,” Itile suggested with a bright smile, exposing his scattered teeth.

“Yeah, she would.”

“What about more wines and some meat instead?” Yotifa interrupted the heated conversation.

“Asake, some more meat for the royals.” He demanded.

Asake, whose head wrap had fallen, picked up and placed it on her chest to cover her exposed body. As she walked away, Itile rolled his eyes at her while the prince’s eyes settled on Asa.