QUEEN OF BABYLON - BOOK ONE

50- QUEEN OF BABYLON

Babylon and all its vast subject were under great turmoil and confusion as the great king was poisoned and has not woken up.

Gloom and grief hung in the air as everyone walked around with their head hung low, they could only whispers, the street was barren as everyone stayed indoor not daring to walk about out of fear. No one knew for certain if the king was alive or dead only his inner circle were allowed in.

Still in the position she has been for three days nephrite knelt beside the king's bed crying and praying that he returns back to her.

She pleaded with all gods that she knew or even thought off. No amount of plea by the khan,Sybil or even her servant would make her leave the king.

"You can't die my Liege"she whispers"you can't leave Babylon this way. You can't leave me this way please"she cried.

The priestess warnings just keep repeating in her head about the deaths that were bound to happen.

Nephrite was still crying as her servant alias ran In crying. "Your highess!!Your highness!!!"alias cried.

"What is it??? What is it??"nephrite questions shaking the girl who knelt dumbstruck.

"In the open coliseum your highess please!!!"Alias cried more. Not waiting to hear nephrite gathered her Saree and ran out of the palace down to the coliseum.

She was out of breathe when she arrived, beads of sweat on her forehead, hair loose blowing in the wind. The coliseum was filled to the brim with people. Loud drums were being played as the iron gates cracked open.

"What is happening?"she ask no one.

A figure was been dragged in without eyes. Chained like a wild beast, the villagers threw stones and sticks at this living dead that was suffering to walk.

Stop stop she screamed in her head but watch Melanie encourage the evil happening.

Tomatoes, fruits, stones,sticks flew from every corner on this figure. Failed attempt to block it the figure tried but it kept coming. What can a blind man do??.

Asjink??? In shock Nephrite found herself running towards this figure. Everywhere became quiet as no one dared stone her or else die. "Asjink??"hot tears fell her eyes.

The man kneeling search for the princess, nephrite took his eyes crying she wiped his soiled face with her clothes.

"Am sorry please forgive me"she cried. This man saved her life.

"Mmmyyy princcceeess is thatttt yyyooouuu??"the man asked frantically looking for her face.

"Oh Asjink!"she cry harder.

"Bless the heavens i met you. Taoflat did this, my princess he means you harm. The King......"his voice trails off.

"What about the king? Answer me asjink. Please"she cry. "Protect him, be his guide. He is in grave danger. They don't mean him well"Asjink says spitting up bhorror

"Princess Nephrite!!!!"Melanie calls in a loud warning voice. Nephrite ignored her and held unto the man. "Forrgive mee. Asjink i should save you"she say sadly.

"No my princess. It's my destiny. But promise me that you will find my daughters. Please take this"he push a necklace in her hand.

"Find them and train them as your own. Promise me your highness!"he begged.

"I promise"she promised as Sigma and Alias pull her away gently.

"Nooooooo!!!!!". Before her very own eyes nephrite watch as they burn asjink throat with hot coal, cut off his ears and fed him with it.

She watched in horror unable to stop them. Tears streamed down her face like fountain. A hulk of a man approached him with a long whip that has nails all around.

Asjink screamed as the whips descended on his plain back. Blood gushed out in mass, asjink tried to run only to be whipped harder by other guards.

Nephrite sank on the floor in anguish, she despised them all of them and she promise to end them, make them suffer what asjink was suffering now.

She glance at the prime minister and vizier as they click their goblets in joy, Melanie laugh till her eyes watered.

Hatred filled nephrite soul as she watched what happened. When it looked like it won't stop asjink was left alone. "Release the vultures!!!!!!!"Taoflat shouted.

Asjink was thrown in a cage and vultures flew down in masses and feasted on his wasted body.

Everyone roared in laughter enjoying the sight. The more he screamed the more they laughed and cheered.

Nephrite broke out of her servants grasp, with a sword in her hand she waved the swords around the man, the people gasped in awe at what they saw.

Asjink in pain pull the princess out of the cage, he knew surely she will avenge his death. Once again sigma and Alias pull the princess again, her screams were lost with asjink dying screams.

The vultures fed on the man and all, the nobles laughed but the peasant watched in shock.

Finally the birds flew back to their abode. Asjink remains was dragged out, nephrite eye grew wide at what she saw, the man was unrecognizable, he was like a skeleton with flesh hanging out his body. He had been thorn up limb by limb.

Princess Nephrite watch in horror as the caricature of a human was dragged out. His blood all over the hard floor.

The innocent advisor has been killed in cold bloods. A man of substance being dragged out as a dog. A man who once had the king's favors was been spat on and cursed.

Nephrite heart hardened. She must mount that throne, become queen and avenge the death of this man who saved her life.

She vowed to the gods to see the end of Taoflat the prime minister of Babylon.

It would be either he dies or she dies, never in her twenty years of living has she seen what just happened now. She look at Taoflat rejoicing. "Well played Taoflat, one day it will be your own body that will be dragged, torn from limbs to limbs. You won't be buried but burnt to death. One day Taoflat just one day"Nephrite swore.

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