Sea of Deception

Emilia

Branded

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Jab. Side step. Sliding kick. Stab. Repeat. Again, and again, Emilia repeated this sequence. Every until the mayor walked into the musty room. She stood up straight on the mated floor and sheathed her sword. The men that trained her stood behind her, and, just like she, they stood tall. Their padding was ripped from the years of hard training undergone against them and their faces were covered with sweat and dirt from the uneven ground below them. Emilia slowed her breathing, which had gotten a bit excessive, and stood tall in front of the mayor, awaiting her orders.

His frame stood small, at five-foot-six, compared to Emilias five-foot-nine build; he stood the smallest in the room. His stomach, rather large for his small body, stuck out from his hip while his suit jacket barely buttoned in the front. His hair was brushed to the right and from his nonexistent neck hung a golden watch. His shiny black shoes clicked on the hardwood surrounding the mat. Emilia looked straight into his green eyes and waited for him to speak.

Do you remember when I saved you from the orphanage? You only had that filthy sword on you. The mayor said. Emilia could only nod. She remembered when he ripped her from her friends. Her life was normal before he stepped into the building. She straightened her posture and shook her head to the side, which sent her tied long hair behind her back.

Almost ten years exactly the mayor came for her. Emilia had just turned ten and she was celebrating with her friends when they heard his footsteps near the house. The rain hit the old windows with a lot of force. They mayor walked through the front door with his two bodyguards and closed his umbrella. The water droplets fell on the floor around his shoes. He looked up at his surroundings and walked towards the wardens office.

Meanwhile, the orphans were lined up, sitting at the dining table, eating their evening meals. The table was unsteady because of all of the children sitting in each chair. But the oldest had enough space to do as they pleased. The youngest had to share. There were seven older orphans, but they had their own group of friends. Emilia sat at the head of the table, with Oliver at her right and Ashton at her left. They were her best friends.

Emilia, how does it feel to be ten? Ashton asked. She laughed at his question and threw a grape at him. There wasnt much on their plate, but they had a piece of stale bread, grapes, and chicken caught by the three of them.

The same as you did when you turned ten, Ashton. Emilia replied. The three of them laughed and Oliver looked up from his food. His eyes went wide and he swallowed hard. He whispered, Emilia, the mayor is right behind you. And with that, she turned in her seat and looked up towards the fat man. He grabbed her by the collar and snatched her from the chair. With a startled scream, Emilia fell on the floor, looked petrified at the man. Although she was nearly as tall, he still terrified her with the two large men behind him.

Now, Ms. Jones, who is in most need of a lesson? He smirked at the children whom he had just gained attention to.

I believe that all of them could use a little love tap from our mayor, she replied. His guards pulled Ashton out of his seat. He squirmed in their grip, trying to escape, but they held on too tight. He was the tallest and strongest at the orphanage and to them he was nothing more than a stick. The mayor hit Ashtons left temple with his ringed fingers, causing him to cry out in pain.

Let me take it! Emilia cried out. She got everyones attention. She froze at her place on the floor, not knowing what to do. She knew she had to lie, but she salted it with a bit of truth. She spoke again after a breath, Let me take it! These children dont need your abuse! If anyone does, I do. Because I can tell you this once Im old enough, Ill make sure to rip you from your nest. And thatll only be the beginning. Ill be your worst nightmare. There was a long pause, no one said a word. All of the orphans smiled at her. They had never seen her so brave.