EHI

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Cold hands gripped her neck as she felt her feet leave the ground.

She clamped her fingers around the wrist, trying to pry the hands that were brutally choking the life out of her.

She wheezed as air rushed from her lungs and wetness pooled around her eyes.
Ehi tried to recollect her surroundings, but it was too dark, she couldn't see anything.
"Please stop, she croaked"
"It was you wasn't it?"
"You wench!!!"

A chill ran down her spine at the sound of the voice.
It was him, the man who sold her to misery and murdered One.
A ray of light suddenly reflected on her assailant's face.
It was him, the man who sold her to misery and murdered Ose.

The General's menacing gaze shook her core, fear gripped her as incidents on the ship flashed through her mind.
His grip tightened on her neck as her body struggled to break free, her feet flayed widely as black dots connected her vision.

"I will find you and your whore daughter."
"I will gut you both for killing Marcus"
"Run wench and pray I never find you", the General seethed in anger as she succumbed to the darkness.

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Ehi jolted awake in a pool of sweat, her heart raced frantically as she tried to even her breathing.
Her nightmares were back, she thought.
It's been a while since it happened, but this was different, it looked and felt real.
She desperately reached out for Amen, sighing in relief when she saw her sleeping soundly.

Humming a silent prayer to Osanobwa for their protection, she lulled herself back to sleep.

__________________

The day before the ball came, the guests had started to arrive.
All slaves were appointed several tasks in the master's household.
Duncan had instructed, more like threatened, them to look presentable.

According to him, some nobles frowned upon the ill-treatment of slaves.
"If for any reason a noble regards our master as an oppressor, views him in a bad light, or spreads rumors to tarnish his image, you all will be bearing the consequences. Be on your best behavior and do not even think of escaping", he finished.

Ehi walked alongside Amen as they would both be working at the master's household till the ball.
They both scurried to their tasks for the day.

She stood behind other slaves as they watched the guests arrive in numerous carriages, each one more majestic than the next.
Their horses looked well-bred and trained.

Her mouth gaped in awe as the guests came out of the carriage, their beautiful clothes and hair made her wish for things she couldn't have.
The way the pale-skinned women walked, the poise and strict mannerisms, fascinated her.
The women in colorful gowns and funny-looking hats made them look like royalty.
The men in black coats as they walked proudly with their heads held high.

Her master and his family were there to welcome each guest, as a slave was assigned to them immediately to attend to their needs.
A gigantic carriage was next to arrive as the head guard stepped forward to open the door.
Two young men stepped out from the carriage, and her master gleamed at these particular guest's arrival.

"Lord Phillip! Lord Ben."
"I trust your journey here was pleasant?" her master asked.

The young men all but grumbled an answer, but her master didn't notice their rudeness as he was groveling after them, cheerfully ushering them into his home, leaving his wife to welcome the next set of guests.

Ehi felt wary of the young lords that just arrived.
She whispered a prayer to osanobwa hoping she wouldn't be assigned to them.
Serving such men never ended well for women like her.

Her prayers were answered, and she was assigned to a woman who seemed to be in her late fifties.
The woman was referred to as "Duchess".

Ehi didn't understand why she was called so, but she seemed to be respected by everyone around her.

The duchess spoke calmly, and Ehi didn't fail to notice how nicely the duchess had smiled at her earlier.
This woman wasn't like the rest she had met, she thought. But that didn't matter, as the opinion of a mere slave was next to nothing.

NOTE
Chapter 18 guys 💃
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