𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐍

four

My eyes were closed

But I could still hear their screams
As much as I wanted to move,
to reach out,
I couldn't do such a thing.
I felt blood pool around me
knowing it wasn't mine.
I wanted to see,
but I knew if I dared to open my eyes
I would suffer the same fate as my family,
who were fighting to keep the light in their eyes.

My eyes open. Light beamed down on my face as the truck rattled down the gravel streets of the city.

"Where are we going, Anubis?"

We were in Ede. I could tell by the bright colored clothes and jewelry that adorned the people. I lived in Ede but on the outskirts. I never came this far into the city without an urgent reason. I hated how close everyone was. I hated how happy everyone was. I didn't experience the loving embrace of my culture long enough to remember it so I've grown to live without it.

"Bad dream?" He looked over at me momentarily. Visibly drinking in my disheveled appearance, "You were moving around and talking a lot. You good?"

"I'm fine." My favorite lie to tell apparently. "Why are we so deep in the city?"

"We're going to the castle."

I turn to him as confusion filled me to the brim.

"Why are we going there?"

I've never traveled this far into Ede for a reason, I didn't want to be around the King. I was stripped of my dignity, my pride, my life at the hands of a royal, and I didn't want to be in the vicinity of one.

"You where chosen Akeelah," his matter of fact tone seeped through his words, yet I still don't see the importance they hold.

"Okay, and?"

"Every chosen must go to the King and pledge their loyalty. If not it's considered treason and you will be killed."

Anubis showed up to my house last night. He looked at me and automatically knew something had changed. I can't exactly pin point what happened when he realized what exactly took place but I felt a shift in the air. I feel it in the way he talks to me, there is something bitter hidden beneath our supposed casual conversation.

I sat back in my seat thousands of possibilities running through my head. I didn't want to go to the castle. I didn't want to take the risk of looking into his eyes and seeing the man that stood by as my village burned to ashes.

"I don't want to do this Anubis."

"You have no choice. We are already here."

I started to panic as we rode up to the castle. It towered over us as if it was looking down on our very existence.

"Anubis, I don't want to be here."

"Well, fortunately, you don't get to choose," his orange eyes flared at my comment. Perplexed at his response, I look at him.

He sighed adverting his eyes back to the path, "You have a habit...you want to do things when they are convenient to you not thinking about others. Jahir is busy Akeelah, you can't just show up when it's only okay for you."

My response was silence. I knew I never told him about what happened to my family only what I had to do because I was alone. I sat back in my chair anticipating the moment I would have to meet the King. Anubis easily got through the many clearances to reach the castle.

It wasn't long before the truck came to a stop and I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe.

My door opened and I mindlessly followed Anubis in the entrance. Trying to focus on my breathing. The hallways were filled with artifacts of different tribes, on display like trophies.

It wasn't until we stopped in front of this stain-glassed door did an artifact pique my interest. It was a trident-like staff. The handle was broken clean off. And I could see it through the clear glass of the door.

I internally wince at the thought of greedy hands ripping the ancient relic from my peoples hands. All to spare their own life. Seeing that only intensified my want to leave this godforsaken castle.

"Anubis?"

I suddenly startled by a unfamiliar voice as I got lost in my thoughts. I turn my head in the direction of the door to come eye tot eye with man himself, the King.

"Sorry that I am meeting you so informally."
His words are clearly directed towards Anubis yet here he was, staring at me with same ferocity I was staring at him with.

"Who is your friend?"
His words twirled around his tongue playfully. Making me even more infuriated. He wants to play a game of tug of war, a game I don't feel like partaking in.

"This is Akeelah. She was chosen last night."

For the first time since he layed eyes on me he actually pays attention to what my eyes look like and not my body.
"I see."

Even though I hold a face that screams "don't approach me", I feel as if this man is staring into me. Like he can see every little thing that makes me anxious. He so comfortably trained his eyes on me as if he already knew my deepest secret.

"How are you...Akeelah."
He playfully remarks to me.

"I'm here because I was chosen and if I didn't come to you it would be considered treason."

The words slip out of my mouth before I can register that I was still talking to the King. I shudder as I can feel Anubis burning holes into the side of my head. For some odd reason I knew exactly what he is thinking, that I'm going to get myself killed.
And ironically, that I can live with.

"That's it?" Jahir studied me. I'm trying to hold my composure, I wouldn't dare let him see me break. But with one wrong move, he would see right through me.

"That's it."

He nodded his head at my response, "Follow me."

I slowly followed behind him as I silently wished to get out of here, sooner rather than later.

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Akeelah finally met Jahir!! How do you think
their relationship will progress?

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story!