SOMEWHERE IN SALEM.
"Get the big bowl, Sally dear." The older woman's voice came from the sitting room.
"Coming, Mrs. Menah." Sally carried the big bowl to the living room, and the older woman took it gratefully.
"Come, join us eat." Mrs. Menah gave her a kind smile.
"In a minute, Mrs. Menah." Sally went back to the kitchen. She sat down on the small chair there, her eyes looking around, taking in her surrounding.
She's been here for a few days over one week. These good old couples she was giving to are the kindest of people. They treat her right as if she's a member of their family when she's only their helping hand.
She's no longer a slave, but a help. Now, she gets paid for the simplest things. This is the best life ever for a girl that was born a slave. She's supposed to be happy.
But she's not. Not at all.
 
The crowd cheered King Phillip on as he announced that he wanted to take Danika first. Danika swallowed down the panic and humiliation she's feeling and tried to detach herself from the present. When the king started playing with the strap of her flimsy top, she wanted to scream 'No' but the words caught on her throat, and couldn't get past it. She took steps backward without knowing that she moved. His displeasure showed on his face. His hand shot out to her chain collar and he dragged her back. "Behave," he commanded curtly. Danika nodded, not wanting more punishment to befall her. He let go of her straps, but instead, he dipped his hand under her short skirt. He caressed her underwear, and Danika felt like vomiting. "Get the clothes outta the way, Phillip. We've got to see." Moreh grunted, t
Danika kept clutching and following him as they walked out of the Royal Court until he got to his chambers and walked into it. Alone with her, he locked the door. Turned and faced her, more formidable than ever. "Thank you so much f---" She began. "To the table. Do not lie on it. Just give me your back." He commanded in a curt voice, his expressionless darker than ever. Danika did what he said, her body shaking with the adrenaline of what almost happened in the court...what he saved her from. She was all too grateful to do what he asked. She held the table with trembling hands and closed her eyes. He came up behind her and worked her finger into her experimentally. He frowned harder because she's not wet, not even from all the erotic plays in the Royal Court. Danika doesn't know where he produce
"Someone wants to see you, Your Highness." Chad announced, coming into Lucien's room. He was tying up the imperial letters he's finished writing. He looked up to Chad, "Who is it?" Chad shifted uncomfortably. "She refused to leave. We've tried everything possible to get the girl to go but she refused, saying she must see the King. She's adamant and very persistent." "Mmh..." Lucien rubbed his jaw in thought and frowned. Then, he got up and took strides towards the door, "Let me see who this girl is." Chad followed him and together, they walked through the big halls of the Royal Palace towards the entrance of it. Servants and maids bowed to him as he passed, and some threw out their greetings respectively. Once he entered the hallway that led to the entrance, he heard the commotion. The guards forcing a girl to leave and the gi
Danika arrived at the King's Chambers at exactly five minutes. She knocked, and at the voiced approval of the King, she entered. As usual, he sat behind the desk scribbling down on a scroll. He didn't spare her a glance when she entered. "Kneel." He inked the tip of his feathers. Danika's knees sank to the ground and her head lowered. "Come here." She walked on her knees towards him. When she got beside him, her knees were hurting a little. But she's determined to be good. He raised the written scroll and dropped it gently aside. He picked up a fresh one, "Strip." Her hands shot out in front of her and she started undoing the buttons of the uniform. She took them one after the other until finally, it all came undone. She lifted the clothes from her head and dropped them to
The night was almost falling. Vetta watched Danika as she drew water from the pit. There was no one there, and Vetta was feeling really angry just staring at her. How can someone in a plain slave uniform, look like royalty even without trying? It angered Vetta really well. She has to work hard in looking like the mistress she is. Sometimes, she looks at the mirror and she sees the slave she's always been. No. She's no longer that girl. She isn't! She watched as Danika carried the pot of water on her head and started walking. As she got closer to Vetta, she came out of the shadows and placed a leg on the path. Danika stumbled on it and fell. The pot broke to pieces and she winced, scrapping her elbow on the ground. Vetta bent down and grabbed hold of her hair. "Watch where you're going, Slave!" She snarled. &nb
1851 word(s) Published 12 Danika was sleeping but she knew the exact moment when she was no longer alone. She'd locked her door, and only one person has the key to open her lock. Her eyes snapped open and she stared at the door. Lucien stood there, his face as cold and as unreadable as always. Danika felt something different at that moment. A chill went down her spine. The hatred he has for her is back in his eyes. Not that it ever abated, but still. "Get up and strip." He groaned, his voice as always wasn't raised. Adrenaline filled her body. She sat up and raised her nightclothes above her head with trembling hands. Her flimsy underthings followed right after her nightclothes. Naked, she stared at him, a little scared. He looked more terrifying and formidable than always. "Lie on the bed and
Danika fell sick. It took three days before she started getting better. Baski was the person to come to her room the next morning, she found her in the exact position she laid in. The woman had helped her out of bed and helped her to take a bath, she was running high on fever. Afterward, she'd helped her use herbal portions. She explained each one to her. The one that soothes the body, the one that heals wounds. The one that calms the body, the one that drives pain away, the one that takes away fever and so many others. Danika was able to open her mouth to ask a disturbing question. "W-What about...herbal
"Sally!" Danika forgot she was barefoot and took off in a steadier run to meet her former personal maid halfway. Sally stopped suddenly as she reached close to Danika and her knees hit the ground in her usual greeting. "My princess! I'm so glad you're alive and you're well and you're—" But, Danika cut her off when she pulled her to her feet and hugged her tight. "Oh, Sally! I was worried sick about you. I didn't know what happened to y'all and no one was telling me anything!" Sally's eyes filled with tears and she wrapped her hands around Danika. "We're fine. I'm fine and I'm doing good. Oh, I'm so happy you're alright, My Princess." Danika started urging her to her room. "I'm no longer a princess, Sally, you can't
1499 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 3b. Final Excerpt.Hours later, the sun is down. The moon rose high in the sky, glowing beautifully with the stars surrounding it. Anarieveta got down from the carriage, paid the carriage-rider some coins, and watched him drive away.Then, she entered the huge property of the Raskins. Staring at the elegantly decorated big home, she contemplated knocking on that huge door several feet away from her.There's no turning back now. Her baby, Merrily, needs her.With that in mind, she covered the distance and knocked on the door, her heart in her throat. The door swung open.Gedony Raskin stood tall behind the door. The sleepy look fled from his eyes as he saw Anarieveta standing uneasily behind his door.When he sent out that crazy message about Merrily being sick and needing her, he never expected that s
1035 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 3a.She didn't let him.In fact, Anarieveta began avoiding him again. This time, harder than the first time.Two months after their night together, Gedony Raskin has had it with her. He has done everything within his power to see Anarieveta again, but she always evaded him.He's in the school? She's suddenly out of the premises according to her assistant.He's in her office? She's not around.He goes to her home? Everywhere is locked.The next thing he heard is, she has gone to the palace to spend some time with her godson, the little Prince.Their night together lives in his head always, he hasn't been able to forget it. And frankly, it hurt him that she moved on without him. How can she just forget that beautiful intimate moment like it never happened?"Papa, papa,
1433 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 2b.Several hours later, Anarieveta admitted to herself that she's happy again for the first time in a long time. Genuinely, womanly happy.He was right there in the kitchen with her when she was making omelets and he found every reason to make her laugh. At first, it was difficult—she doesn't really have a lot to smile about.But he was always making jokes. And when jokes weren't working much, he told her stories about his children in the past. The stories were so funny, they made her smile. Smile so hard. Laugh.It didn't take long before she was laughing out loud as he told her tales elaborately.They ate together. Went out on a walk together. When they got back, they sat in the wooden chairs in the backyard, talking with each other.It was beautiful. It made Anarieveta so happy
1403 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 2a."You're right. So, let's talk about the present." His arms wrapped around her back, successfully caging her in his arms so she wouldn't escape, "Why have you been avoiding me?""I'm been too busy. I wasn't avoiding you.""If you're going to lie, at least look me in the eyes while doing that, will you?" He sounded amused."Alright. There was nothing to talk about. Mr. Odin makes sure any problem concerning the kids are solved." Shifting uncomfortably in his arms, her eyes darted to the door behind him longingly."What about the problem between us?""Mr. Raskin—"He kissed her. Gently. Passionately. Intensely. His lips molded with her perfectly, licking and tasting hers so thoroughly that a moan tore through Anarieveta's throat.Her body
857 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 1b.Note: There are only three excerpts...********In the early evening, Gedoni Raskin stood inside her living room with his daughter plastered to his body, his broad shoulder cushioning her head, her small arms wrapped around him."Why are you sick, Pumpkin? Don't be sick, you know Papa doesn't like that." He said, tenderly."I know, Papa. You get sad when we get sick." Merrily mumbled against his shoulder, her eyes closed."Yeah. Papa loves you two so much, he gets sad when you're not happy.""I am happy, Papa. Miss Ana gave me food and bitter herbs and sang to me. I don't feel so bad anymore.""Oh, guess we have Miss Ana to thank for that," his eyes found her across the living room and held."Yes, Papa. Miss Ana likes me, and I like M
981 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 1a.FIVE YEARS AFTER MOMBANA'S WAR.Anarieveta entered her Bed Chambers, her eyes darted to the fire pit which produced heated light into the bedroom, and felt satisfied that the fire hadn't burned out in her absence.A small figure occupied her king-size bed, the figure moving her body to glance at the door when she entered. Anarieveta smiled at the little girl, walking towards the bed, she lowered herself on it."I've seen Aiden off. Your father will be here very soon to take you home, okay?" She reassured the little girl.The sad lines on Merrily Raskin's small oval face disappeared immediately after her teacher appeared at her doorway. She isn't feeling so good, but her good teacher tells her that everything will be alright. So, everything will be alright."Alright, Miss Ana." She whispered, her br
1037 word(s)PublishedEpilogue...EPILOGUE.Five years later....It is a happy day in the Palace of Kingdom Avalon, as Kamara and Declan celebrate the birth of their second child, Princess Ainaa.A huge feast is held in the Court, a lot of people attended too. Sally and her family sat at one side of the round table, a huge smile on her face as she tries to feed solid food to her own second whose her youngest.Baski, Remeta, and her best friend Corna sat at one side, laughing and talking. Beside them; Haydara, Corna's mother, and her husband Gunther are trying to wipe the oil Raira, Corna's little sister, poured on her clothes.King Lucien has tried to hold Prince Nikolai repeatedly so he'll stay in his seat on the round table, but the Prince isn't having any of that. Instead, he has snuck out again with Princess Auroria, h
1392 word(s)Published296: Final Chapter 2.Name: KING LUCIEN AND QUEEN DANIKA'S FOREVER.....In the next three months, a lot happened.After the war and the birth of the Prince, the people of Mombana practically begged King Lucien to marry their Queen and keep ruling them. The Ministers were most in support of it after they saw the way the King protected their Kingdom, saw the intense love the King and their Queen has for each other, and heard the rumors of the heavy rain in Salem at the birth of the Prince.They wanted the King and the Prince in any way they can get them. In fact, they practically begged the King to merge their Kingdoms back together again and marry their Queen, if it means that he will keep ruling Mombana.Of course, the King agreed to it. The Queen was in support of it wholeheartedly.
1338 word(s) Published 295: Final Chapter 1. As Prince Nikolai nursed, that was when the King gave the Queen the good news of Vetta's survival. Danika was so happy. Tears of joy returned to her eyes again. So much joy, it was contagious. She kept thanking the heavens over and over again and immediately she was done breastfeeding, she insisted on going to see Vetta. No matter how Baski and the others tried to discourage her because of her vulnerable state, she refused adamantly. In the end, the King instructed Chad to carry her to Vetta's bedroom while he stayed with their sleeping baby. Vetta teared up at the sight of Danika. They were hugging immediately Danika's body touched the bed. They were crying together too. Vetta was thanking her for saving her life while the Queen is thanking her for being alive. Today has