CHAPTER SIX

Christine regains her consciousness gradually. She could feel the hopeless state in her body. The restlessness in every joint. A severe backache that harnessed her ability to control mobility. She felt strangled to death on her neck. She hardly had a breath nor a joule to propel raising her head. Glad her brain would access every sense. The death tolled her life and gave her some time to repent if she had to do. She tried to scream but only opened her mouth, she could master to. Her body was in a numb state. It would take decades to lift her legs though she could feel they were spread apart. Her hands and eyelids were too heavy for her. Only tears welled out of her eyes soaking her ears for she lay on her back.

 

Her hope had been killed. Her life had been dismantled and now she lay like a stormed building. Her chance of life survival depended on the creator just as a stormed house depended on the radioactive energy of the bomb. Christine's revival of her memory contemplated her situation worse. The figure turned out to be her sister, Laura. Her existence in her world made her feel like she had joined the world of spirits. Where am I? The question wrangled her brain severally.

 

 

Arduously her brain cooperated. A ride. She could see herself on the horse for the first time. The ride gave her pleasure between her thighs. A rhythmical touch that brought a sensitive feeling to her. The splashes of water that sprinted from cold waters as the horse crossed a river and landed on her  smooth skin. She enjoyed the moment.

 

The horse sprinted through the dark valley with tall trees that towered above everything that inclined with its serene, making it look like an ant. She made it to the plains. On the east, the red clouds paved way for the sunrise to torment the dark that befell the land of Ura. The horse slowed its speed as the grass along the path brushed its legs. The dew on its leaves shone under the sun's rays bringing the land under the captivity of twinkling like several brittle broken pieces of mirror scattered as she surpassed them.

 

The horse almost rams into a rambler who strolled by the path. The woman waves back to Christine running after the horse. “Maybe it’s a rescue or a resuscitation she needs.” Christine said to herself . as if the hoarse heard the statement it halted, Christine’s eyes on her right shoulder. The woman's visage sympathized with her as she snares the point the horse stood feeling tired. The woman extends her hand of kindness to her. “ My dau… daughter, wrap your t… temple” The woman said vehemently regaining her normal breathing rate as she hands Christine a sheet.

 

This makes Christine embarrassed and timid after looking at herself and realizing all that time her body was bare. She helps Christine to climb down the horse. Christine hugs her so dearly. “Glad I met you.” She thanked her for playing a role as a mother. Unable to restrain her eyes from the woman’s, the woman helped Christine to cover her beauty. This, makes her even sink her eyes to the ground.

 

“You don’t have to, I just believe you can make a change next time.” the woman comforted her.

“ where to?”

 “ As long as the horse can ride me, I will be pleased.” Christine answered.

 “ Requesting if you can fall under my arms of protection if you don’t have a place to call home?”

“No, I feel I have one. But thanks for the offer.”

“Just take care my daughter.” 

“Ok, I will please.” Christine concludes as she climbs up back to the horse. They all waved in unison as smiles appeared on their face.

 

After a few strides, Christine becomes bewildered by the thought of coming back and taking the opportunity. The horse was on its heels just to purport what was intended to happen. She tried to make the horse come to a halt but it only slowed its sprinting speed. The thought only deemed by any stride that the horse made. “Maybe it’s better a devil you know than an angel you don’t know.” she concluded giving hope to her sojourned journey to the unknown land.

 

“But she saw only what belongs to Adrian, my life.” Christine smote her lips severally. “I think I love this guy. Do I? Maybe I’m obsessed.” A thick rampart of the castle evokes her attention from the fantasy of her boyfriend Adrian. An austere wall, towered by a watching tower of different strategic points ridiculously criticized her bosom as they wavily moved up and down on her chest as she drew closer. This rouses the amorous of the castle posing the top palace building on her visage. The building had been gold crowned on the tallest pillar. The crown structure had scarlet beads around it, both at the centre and at the top pointing structure. At the arch of the crown, a person stood in a white robe. The other two pillars purported the palace with ethnic of beauty. Full of flowers and shiny objects.

 

The destiny had been drawn for Christine. She was sure of the wrath that awaited her ahead. Though this belittled her mood she never gave up on the amusement of the ambience that pounced her sight. It was her first day ever creeping into the castle of Mark Slater. The two lands fortified a gap between them was a river, Thagana. The regime of Mark Slater renounced its vast ability to commute on infrastructure on the soil. The soil that Christine stood on made her feel alive on another planet.

 

The horse had now reduced its speed and strolled along the wall of the castle. No one kept an eye on the castle’s watching towers, sounding feasibility for Christine to maneuver at ease across the great features of the land. The horse leads her to the main gate. This was an entrance for the soldiers after returning from a mission. The horse Christine rode was among the white royal horses which rode the chariot of Mark Slater. It had good terrain knowledge.

 

The thick iron gate flung open. Behind them, four heavily built soldiers pulled apart the doors. Others arranged themselves in a V-shape across the entrance with their bows and arrows at their chest aiming at the intruder. They were well armored with their casual lorica segmentata attire. Christine makes the horse halt. She climbs the horse. Her stance on the ground makes every soldier step a foot back. Her blurring look full of confidence deceived every soldier of her capability of taking their life with just a sniff of her breath. “ It’s the passing star, Laura! The great lord of the land of Ura.” One soldier exclaimed aloud. This statement sent them into a feeble of fear. The return of the horse with her alone acknowledged their defeat.

 

A somber tune from a flute 

arose from behind her that sent soldiers to mourning. This caught Christine unaware cutting her nervous transmission of information. She almost faints. Her knee creaked but a rekindle of energy and courage completely amassed her upon looking at the back. The sight that killed the cat’s curiosity, averts her body in disbelief of the eye catchy sight that made her glow. Her struggles and war had been tormented and drawn into the dark world. “At least my destiny is auspicious now. Limelight has shown at the end of the tunnel. My sister’s dream is resuscitated,” Christine mumbles words to herself as she sighs at the end.

 

Her pulchritude glowed in every depth of smile that was entrusted on her baby face. She could not control her happiness any longer for she felt weak in front of an aufait handsome face. Torrential tears rolled down her smooth cheeks and flared by the cool breeze of air that surfed across the land making her shoulders drenched. Her heart twerked full of joy still trying to confine a little of her emotion. Feeling like being tickled yet holding a peal of laughter for she saw the person played a cheeky behaviour for being too uneasy and too serious. She could feel her brain sending several stimuli to her legs and arms as they had a burp severally aborting the stimuli of running and hugging the man in front of her, so tightly that their body could ossify. 

 

One thing kept holding her back from contemplating an action. The person in front of her was in Mark Slater’s soldier attire. Well reloaded with a machete, bow, and arrows that hung on her shoulders. Onto his hands a flute that he was well skilled to play every tune. But his face deceived Christine. Other soldiers were amused by the drama that puzzled the castle.

 

“Adrian! My love! What a surprise you have!” Christine bewildered exclaimed as she frantically eloped her joules, running helplessly towards him. The man gets a stance and designates the arrow on his bow and aims at her. This puzzles Christine who was sprawling in the air. The arrow is released paving its way through the air in pursuit of the dark order of escorting Christine into the spiritual world. Christine’s legs antagonize making her body comfortably be ruled by gravity force for losing balance. Her hair flipped and scattered in the air as the arrow passed through them.

 

Two people land on the earth's surface helplessly. Christine and one of the soldiers who was struck by the arrow on his chest. Surging pain harness their bodies as they wrangled in deep pain and agony. Christine clenched her teeth together to withstand the pain. Her curved hips never left the urge of the soldiers as they seductively swayed from side to side. Her beefy thighs that were five-inch exposed befuddled every male living organism that inclined with the ambience of that situation and roused their amorous. 

 

“Save !” a voice is heard from one of the troupes of soldiers. This divides their attention from Christine to Billy. The poison had fibrously spread through his veins. He could see the gate of purgatory. They hastily brought a hammock and sedulously placed Billy on it. Just a few yards as they rushed him to the medicine man, one soldier snaps out the arrow. His face is splashed by spurts of warm blood that slowed the other soldiers. He enforced his hand onto the flesh to stop bleeding but Billy gave a last sigh of breath.

” You killed Billy!” one contorted the one with the arrow. 

“No! Scott did it, he had the arrow seared with poison from grandfather.” the soldier replied. “No! You made him lose too much blood.” Another soldier confronted him. The soldier looks at him fiercely but able to control his temper and looks away in disregard of the statement. 

“ I will be responsible for Billy’s death.” Scott concludes the affliction. 

 

Christine blubbed in deep pain. She could only see soldiers surround her but their intention is amputated by the entry of Randolph’s army who was so ruthless to every creature. They spread like sparks of red hot charcoal as they entered the castle. They felt desperate for the loss in the mission but upon Randolph setting his eyes on Christine, it renounced a full triumph for Mark Slater's regime. Randolph helps Christine to stand up and stealth her to Ariana the maiden of the ruler.

” Make her clean and relaxed.” Randolph stated. 

“Ok sir.” Ariana replied.

 

Ariana felt pity for her. She nursed her with hot water linen with bitter herbs. She fed her reviving the quest for good health. Inducted her some tips that guide the work at the castle. Ariana did an impressive code of work that bound them into a friendship relationship. They chanted and gossiped. For the first time, Christine felt at home. Ariana replaced the space her sister Laura had left. She was too charming. Randolph later full of enthusiasm enters the room the two despotic ladies relieved each other of what they held back for a long time. Release it.

 

“ Two birds, one stone to kill.” He mumbles these words as he locks the door behind him. His gaze at them showed an interest.

 “My lovely daughters, you are adorable.” He looked aged just as a father would be to his children. He sits beside Christine and severally stole glances at her beauty. He rests one of his hands on Christine’s shoulders and tries to pull her closer to him. This 

alarms his deep intention. “I usually admire the courage in you and the beauty that the creator bestowed on you at every edge of your body.” Randolph complements her. Ariana still bewildered and in piles of thoughts. “No. I'm engaged.” Christine expressed in disguise. “In addition, you are the age of our grandfather just look for a grandma out there.” Ariana expounded. He extends his hand and detaches an epaulette from his coat and hands to Christine. She refutes his grievances.

 

 

The last thing she remembered was being on a dine with Mark Slater. She poured herself a glass of sweet poison and she enjoyed the three gulps. “ I think the wine was dislulated with barbiturate,” Christine thought.

 

Christine masters a complexion of loosely attached energy. At that point, she could visualize. She could feel herself on wet bedding. Her bones rattled as she urged her body to cooperate. She supported herself with one elbow and raises her head merely.

 

An outrageous sight reflected on her pupils. Her body was naked. Her legs spread apart and her body lazily rested in a pool of blood. She blinked severally to affirm her sight sense. Now it dawned on her. Her hymen had been ripped off. Her waist had a surging pain that couldn’t withstand the pressure and weight of scrupulous greedy desires of a person at that time. She fell on her back.

 

“ what day is today? I think I lost consciousness in the evening hours but now it seems to be at noon. Does the world on this land have a reversal time? If yes then, where could be Ariana who could be of much help to me? Is she a deserter or a woman’s sweet poison lips? Who did this to me? And why even spare my life? How will I explain this to Adrian? what wrong did I do to the world to deserve this cruel treatment? Christine muttered to herself though in a struggling low tone. She blubbed bitterly.

 

 

Christine slides her legs slowly off the bed. Her body had regained back potential. Her feet get inclined with a soft curvy and spongy-like material. She rubs her feet. “A corpse!” she exclaims. She bends her back to get a view of the spongy material. On diligent scrutinizing, she got amused by the body that lay along the bed. “Ariana!” She was shocked. The body of Ariana lay helplessly on the red carpet barely naked too. Just a few yards Mark Slater’s body refurbished the wall.