Zula rubbed her wrists as she final escaped the shackles that they had locked her in before putting her on the ship. They fell to the floor in a clatter as she moved freely about the cell, a bit disappointed they used mear metal chains then the common electro-magnetic cuffs most prisoners of war wore. She checked for any way out she but found no hidden doors or passages, not even a window was in her cell, only the eerie black door. She then checked herself for any serious injuries that she should be worried about, but found she was ok. She had fought them every step of the way and was pretty proud of herself when she gave one of them a good shiner and kick in the gut. Though he wasn’t very gentle with her afterwards as they boarded. She rubbed her sore side when she was thrown in her cell, landing on the side of the metal frame of the bed; knowing that a bruise would form tomorrow. She searched the small space looking for any way out. It was tiny space with a small bed bolted to the floor and a two way door that looked black to her, but she knew anyone on the other side could see her. She looked up at the dim light above her. The ceiling was too high for her to reach even if she stood on the bed. Her eyes darted back down to the door and she slowly laid her hand on the cool glass surface. Why had they attacked? She didn’t understand? What had they done to be invade? Sure the plant was rich, but they were still rebuilding from their own civil war. Was her father still alive? The youngest daughter of Lord Buurash, a wealth merchant among the high council who was helping rebuild their plant Persiana. Why would they take her? Did they plan on hostaging her for a ransom? Closing her eyes she hoped her nieces and nephews had gotten out safely, she had pushed the young ones into the secret passage before they caught her and was still worried about them. Zula knew that her brothers were strong but as she was dragged out so much blood had been spilt. She let out a long breath and blinked back tears. She couldn’t cry this was no time to cry. She took a moment to harden herself and walked back to the bed. Waiting was her only option, till they landed. Once they did she would execute her plan, but for now she needed to rest. The attack had come late in the night, she was still wearing her silk dress she wore for bed, that didn’t hide the curves of her shapely body. Her father had dotted on her and gave her anything she wanted, and then some which only made others around her see her as spoiled. She was far from it. She gave more then she received, which was always over looked since her father kept most of her charitable work a secret, in fear of people tricking his kind hearted daughter. She didn’t mind, as long as she got to help those in need.
Falling on the bed Zula laid her head and watched the door wondering what laid ahead of her. She had herd dreadful stories of the King Attor and his treatment of women. Her eyes narrowed, well if he thought her to just lay on her back and let him take her, he had another thing coming. She wasn’t going to let some old man get the better of her. Along with her kind nature she also learned how to fight like her brothers. In fact she was the best out of the bunch, at least that is what her instructor had said when she had her older two hundred and so brother yielding under her sword. She stretched her caramel colored arms and legs as she tried to get comfortable, her slip moved showcasing her long legs and her raised arms lifted her well-endowed chest. She slumped back and moved her long hair over one shoulder, the curtain of dark mahogany a contrast to the white sheets of the beneath her. She already miss her home, missed her bed, her mother. Oh Gods please let her mother be safe. Her mother had been sick for as long as she could remember, and she knew the news of her children being killed and captures would send her into the other realm. She swallowed hard, to push back her distress and tried to find something to hang on to, a special memory to get her mind off that fact she was heading miles and light speeds away from the only place she knew. Her mother, as sick as she was would sing to her grandchildren when they snuggled in their beds, she knew the lullaby as her own when she was a child. Holding on to the picture of her mother sitting on her bed petting her hair as she sung pulled at her away from the tiny room she was trapped in.
“Ziba malekeh, Hamra he shah, Ba jaho jalal. Ziba malekeh, Hamra he shah, Miad as rah.” The words were simple and small, but the harmony that her mother would hum was what drifted her and the children to sleep. Once she was in a more comfortable position, she felt her icy blue eyes fluttering close. Sleep was slowly creeping in on her and she couldn’t fight it back any longer, still facing the dark door did she finally close her eyes gripping her chains as a make shift weapon under the blanket.
Zula tossed and turned all night, as if rocks were under her mattress. Her dreams of her brothers and sister screaming as her home was burning, smoke clouded the two silver moons that hung low in the sky. People were running, the children were crying… The children she had to get the children to safety. All of a sudden she was in their room, they were looking at her for direction, to tell them what to do, if everything was going to be okay. In all honesty she didn’t know. But she knew what she had to do. She told them all the hold hands as she scooped the baby in her arms and soothed its heart breaking cries. She peeked out of the room and found it clear as she dragged the line of five bodied behind her. Once they were in the study did she hand the babe to the eldest, Marco. She pulled at a secret lever and the stone floor moved. Pushing it the rest of the way did they revel stairs. She waved them over and helped them down into the darkness. Most of them were scared and wailed not to go.
“Hush! Listen to me, Listen!” They stopped and rubbed their swollen tired eyes.
“I want you to follow this tunnel, look for the round stones, because if you miss them you will get lost in the labyrinth. Once you reach the end I want you to wait till help arrives. Our brothers over the North sea will send help. Look for the symbol of the star and dagger, do you understand.” They all nodded, but Zula was watching Marco as he puffed his chest and tried to be brave.
“You are in charge Marco, you all do as he says and stay together.” She could feel her eyes water as she took one last look at her nieces and nephews, their parents kidnapped or murdered.
“What about you Zuzu?” She smiled and swallowed the lump in her throat,
“Zuzu has to make sure they don’t find you.” Hugging them all she pushed them to go and closed the stone back in place. Marco was smart, his father, had taught him how to survive, to find drinking water, food and how to make fire, they had all learned when they were younger.
She took a few moments to compose herself, but heard a footsteps coming toward her. She narrowed her eyes and dosed the candle that was flicker in it hanging cage and the room fell dark. Her eyes adjusted to the black room and she watched as two men entered. She moved quickly tripping one who hit the iron door and didn’t move. She swiped around to the other solider stealing one of his daggers and cut the muscle behind her knee. He dropped fast and she didn’t waste a moment as her foot she kicked him in the face. He fell soundlessly and she let out a breath she had been holding. Moving to the door she peered out to make sure none had followed, she didn’t see the other solider wake up, the last she remembered was turning and being hit in the head, and then nothing.
Zula awoke as she herd the door to her cell open, her grip on the chains tightened as she relaxed her body as if she were still asleep. Rough hands pulled at her arm and she let out a painful cry, once their grip on her arm loosen did she reach back and punch. The chained wrapped around her hand made contact with her captures face and the sound of bone cracking with the blood that coated her hand made the adrenaline pump in her body. She was free the door open. She took off and was running down a long corridor and was panting as she tried to find any way out. Her feet padded the cool floors, the halls all looked the same as she passed doors and found them locked or needing a card key. Tears of desperation were streaming down her face as she pulled at one door and then another. She stopped and listened as heavy footsteps were coming down the hall toward her. Scared she raced in the opposite direction but crashed into an armored body as two giant arms wrapped around her and lifted her easily off the ground. Swinging and kicking did nothing as she tried to fight back, screaming at the top of her lungs in her native tongue.
“Release me! Release me! I am Lord Buurash daughter, let me go..." All that caused was the man and all around him to laugh. She struggled even more and the man’s iron grip on her tighten his hold, crushed her lungs and ribs. Someone lifted her chin and she saw the guard who she had punched, his face a bloody mess. She wet her lips and kept her chin from quivering and hid the fear in her eyes.
“Your no Lords daughter now. You’re a Kings whore…” More laughter and chants for the King Attor froze Zula’s blood in her veins. Attor, whore… Her brain racked for the memories and faces. Her father had said Attor ruled a planet called Rum, was known to be a powerful and ruthless King. The whisperers she over herd were even worse of what he did to women. She was going to be his sex slave. She felt like she was having an out of body experience, the man threw her over his shoulder, but she didn’t feel the pain of her sore stomach, didn’t hear the routines of the men as they walked down the hall and off the ship, into a dock.
Zula looked around as she saw more and more armored men standing around saluting and cheering as they walked passed. Gripping her nails into the hard leather did the rage start to bubble inside her. Did these men know what they did, who they served? They had destroyed a happy family and a peaceful nation who did nothing to them. The scenery changed and Zula whirled as the dock turned into high ceilings and beautiful walls of art. Soon they were standing at a pair of elaborate set of doors she was set down and Zula was ready to run or fight but was surrounded and locked in chains again, this time behind her back and tighter then before. She growled and glared at the man who held her long chain, the one she had punched in the eye and gut when she was captured. He gave her an evil smirk and she didn’t let it scare her, only fuel her ever growing temper.
The doors opened and a Zula suddenly felt smaller then a grain of sand. Tons of people stood and sat, eating and laughing as music played, and half naked women danced to its sensual tune. She didn’t move as a group of armored men pushed passed to enter and a booming voice welcomes his army. She cringed at the sound, knowing that the power behinf it could only mean one thing. She was pushed from her thoughts, literally, and followed the smooth red carpet to a riser where pillows and bowls of food sat. At the top a golden chair decorated in jewels sat. Women of different colors and costumes lounged, half naked too nude. She let her eyes travel back to the chair as an older man, much older than her father peered down at her.
“And what have we here?” Zula’s anger was reaching its limit, as the King’s eyes racked over her body. The man holding her chain pulled, with his hands on her back, dropping her to her knees. She hissed and fought to stay standing, but the chains were hurting her wrists as she struggled.
“A firey one this one is… Ah! I remember your that Lords daughter… My you have grown…” She didn’t miss the undertone of his voice, or the way he licked his lips as if he were looking at something tasty. She gritted her teeth and fought to stand again pulling at the chains.
“You’re a monster, you all are! How could to defeat a helpless nation, after war! Your nothing but a coward, hiding behind your palace walls, drinking your fine wine, while others suffer. Your no King…” Attors cold eyes narrowed and Zula raised her chin higher to show she wasn’t scared.
“Id be careful slave to how you speak to me, your King.”“Your not my King!” Suddenly there was a loud snap behind her and Zula’s vision hazed and her body slumped forward a bit, the leash holding her most of her weight. Pain traveled up her spine. What? She turned her head slowly and saw the long leather whip. She shuttered, she had never been hit before… never in all her life, till now. Her back were the mark was painful, but she bit through it as she stood and weak legs, facing Attor. His smile was sickening as if he enjoyed it.
“I have no time to waste on trash like you bastard daughter of Lord Buurash, your home is gone your family dead. I feel I have saved you, and yet you show me nothing but disrespect. What ever shall I do with you?” He took a sip of his cup, ignoring her while one of his women fed him and he openly fondled her. Zula turned her head in discussed and anguish, her family, they were gone. She could start to feel something dripping down her back and looked down to see tiny drips of red she detached herself as she watched the spot slowly grow with each drop. Another sharp pain down her back had her screaming. Stars danced in her vision as her face fell forward, tears gathered in her eyes but she wouldn’t let him see them.
“Im talking to you girl, you shall be a new gift to my general for commanding the destruction of you beautiful planet.” Zula couldn’t form an emotion, she was so jumbled inside she couldn’t even form a thought. She bowed her head, too heavy to keep it up any longer. She was all alone now, a being passed off to the man who ruined her perfect and happy life.
"What do you say General? Can you handle a spitfire like her in your bed? Or do we need to invade some amazon planets to sire you some heirs?" Attor smiled over to his commander's direction raising his glass to him.
