01

1

CLEOPATRA

My ears kept ringing with every echo of their discussions that I heard. My uncle, Aldo, stood at a far distance away from the man who had a seemingly dark look.

My breath hitched when my uncle blurted out in a cracked voice, “You can take me niece. It would be just for two years and I promise I will pay back."

My knees buckled. I stumbled forward, pushing the door slightly. The gentle creak of the door drew their attention to the door.

"Who is there?” My uncle rattled, throttling towards the door. I opened the door widely before he could get to the door and put up an innocent, sweet smile.

"Uncle, I'm sorry. I was being careless…"

His glare turned deadly. His lips pursed in annoyance.

“Good thing you are here. Come in," He said and spun around without sparing me a second glance.

Swallowing hard, I strode in with my head lowered and avoiding the eyes of the man in my uncle's study.

“Here she is," My uncle pointed out and reclined low on his chair.

I intertwined my fingers, letting my gaze linger on the floor. I realized there were tiny slobs of ink which I didn't clean off earlier when I was cleaning uncle's study.

"Fine. She is coming with me,” That one voice drove chills down my spine. My pulse accelerated.

Coming with him? To where?

I jerked my head up, "What is going on?” I stuttered when two heavily built men flanked my sides each wearing strict frowns.

My gaze drifted from my uncle who pinched his fingers together underneath his chin and watched with hooded eyes to the man whose eyes I have been avoiding.

In his eyes were swirls of violence and evil. I shuddered.

"Uncle, I don't want to go with him,” I cried out in defiance, falling down to my knees.

Uncle Aldo let out a deep breath, "This is for the family, Cleopatra. You have to go," He scuttled around with his back against me.

The man added nothing to our conversation. He rose to full length. He was at least 5” 3 tall, muscular and well built. He casted one long last glance my way as he left the office.

"Uncle please, Tell me what is going on? Who is the…”

I couldn't finish my sentence when he cut in with a raise of his hands.

“Take her away."

The men grabbed my arms and began to cart me away like I was some kind of commodity. My gut twisted in betrayal and hurt. I was shattered. Just like that, I have been sold out by the only family I have ever had since my parents death ten years old.

Tears clouded my vision. I was losing strength. From my peripheral vision, I could see my aunt and little nephew. Their eyes were wet with tears. Aunt tried to reach out to me but the soldiers yanked me out of the building — out of the place I called home.

***

I was totally drained and unable to move a muscle. I laid on the bed taking deep mental counts before I set myself up from the bed. A small creak of the door made me hypersensitive and I had to open my eyes quickly to catch the moving frame of a tall and huge body.

“You are awake?" He asked, not sparing me a glance as he rummaged through the closet.

“Wh… Who…are you?" My fingers sank deep into the duvet, my chest racing wildly.

He chuckled. I noticed he stopped moving and stood at ease. His hands slided down to his sides.

I found myself swallowing hard as I watched his every action.

“Your new owner."

Those three words pierced through me. It made me feel less of myself. I was now a commodity, to be owned, sold and bought.

The acrid taste of metal in my tongue brought me back to my senses.

He chuckled and swerved around, wearing a lopsided smile and having a red dress hanging from his arm.

“And henceforth, You will only follow my orders and do as I say."

His words flowed with ease but it sounded like a threat gripping me hard around the neck.

“Any questions?"

My lips stuttered to utter words but his glaring eyes made me withhold every question I had.

"Fine. Get dressed," He tossed the dress on the couch and gave a friendly smile that didn't reach his eyes. A smile that smelt like a stern warning.

He walked out of the room, the sound of the door echoed continually blaring into my thoughts. My throat tightened. I grabbed my hair in my hands, gritting hard as tears once more rolled down my face.

A few hours later, I heard a knock on the door. I sat on the bed completely ignoring the incessant banging on the door.

"I don't think she is in there,” a voice mumbled.

I could hear them clearly but I bluntly refused to open up the door. My eyes are trained on the pretty dress sprawled on the couch. Its gold stones shimmered when struck by the sun rays. It was an elegant dress that stopped above my thighs.

It hugged my skin perfectly, giving me that curve that could make all heads turn. But it isn't what I need right now. I need to wake up from this nightmare.

I heard a smash on the door. Heavy bangs followed each other as they kept smashing the door. Finally, they broke it open.

The soldiers scurried in, their eyes wary and on alert. When they found me, perched at the edge of the bed I heard them release exhales of relief.

“She is right here, boss," One of them uttered and prostrated slightly.

I heard someone snarl, a hand grabbed my arm. The tips of his finger dug into my flesh. I bit back the wince throbbing at the base of my throat. I looked up to him, masking my fear with courage.

"Little girl, What are you waiting for? Why aren't you dressed?” He kissed his teeth, eyes boring into mine.

"I don't want to.”

He growled, swung his hand across my face. His heavy metal ring struck the right side of my face. I felt pain around there. I palmed my face.

"You don't get to say what you want to do. You belong to me. I own you, control and order you,” He spoke through his teeth.

"I am not your property!!” I flared up, standing to my feet. Tears clogged my vision. I could see his face fall into a scowl through my hazy vision.

"It isn't up for questions.” He held my arm again, "Get dressed right now.”

I didn't move an inch. I sized him up. His glare heavier and mightier than mine threatened me to cower in fear. But I do the opposite.

"Get dressed. Right. Now,” He ordered, his voice punctuated with deep breaths.

I wasn't bulging. He stretched his hand, and one of the soldiers placed a knife on his palm. He gave a wicked smirk.

He freed my arm and advanced towards me while showing off the sharp blades of the knife. I scuttled backwards and tripped on the bed. The dress which I have been wearing since the other day flared up leaving my thighs bare to his view.

He lowered his bloodthirsty eyes to my thighs. I cowered backwards.

He flattened his hands on my thighs keeping me in place. My skin burned at the spot where his hands touched.

Slowly, he lowered the blade to my skin. He maintained eye contact with me as he kept driving the blade through my soft skin.

At the first draw of blood, a sob tore from my lips.

“I will do it," I said quickly.

He grinned triumphantly, “Good girl. Now, You will do it here in my presence."

He moved away from me and handed the knife to the soldier who wiped it clean with a white towel.

He dismissed the soldiers with a wave.

My breath shuddered as I watched blood form a thin line rolling down my thighs. I look up to meet his menacing stare.

I rose to my feet.

“Strip!!" He barked an order. The hair at the back of the neck rose at its ends.