The Emerald Virgin (Gem Apocalypse Book 1) (2 page)

"Aria, how old are you?"

She shifted on her feet, not wanting to answer but not having a choice either. "Twenty-three."

His jaw tightened and his brow furrowed. He reached for her arm and examined its blank slate. "Why did you not come here shortly after your eighteenth birthday?" he asked.

"I did not wish to be a courtesan."

Prince James looked conflicted, and Aria didn't blame him. He probably thought nothing of this life that he lived, where women line up naked and awaited their future. Who wouldn't want to bed a prince? Aria didn't imagine he considered any other side to the debate, and who was she to change his mind or the way the world was ruled?

"So you wish for death instead?" Prince James asked.

"Nothing of the sort. Your men murdered my mother in my home and dragged me to court to face you, naked and quivering. I wish to be branded and set free. I'm not interested in entertaining you or your brothers."

James's eyes narrowed. "That is not your decision to make, Aria."

Aria despised the way he said her name, as if he had some claim over her.

He stepped closer and she held her breath. She could feel the heat radiating off his body and onto hers. His cheeks burned red. Had she inadvertently aroused him? She may have lived a sheltered life but she knew what a woman could do to a man and vice versa. At that moment, Aria finally understood why her mother sheltered her from the outside world. It had been for Aria's own protection.

"Aria, welcome to my court and home. You will be a courtesan in my chambers," Prince James said. He turned and raised a hand, snapping his fingers. "Clara, bring Aria to my chambers. Have her dressed and ready within the hour."

"Of course, Prince James," Clara said. She rushed toward Aria at once, pulling her from the line and down the hall for the double doors. Her smile wide, she looked quite pleased with the accomplishment. Did she not think Aria would be chosen?

Once out of the hallway, Clara lead Aria through another set of doors to an enormous waiting area outside of the bathroom. A rack of gowns sat lonely waiting for them. "You will wear green," Clara said. "James prefers his women wear gowns the color of their eyes."

Aria knew she would stand out among them even more. She had hoped to blend in, avoid contact as best as possible with the prince.

Clara provided Aria with matching panties and a bra and then handed the young woman the single gown that hung from the rack.

"Get dressed. I'll be back to check on you in five minutes."

Aria wasn't sure why Clara afforded her any privacy after already seeing her naked. Unless she tended to the other young women that were chosen by the princes as courtesans. Aria quickly put on the new attire and stood around waiting for Clara to return.

Clara didn't bother knocking as she walked right in. "Good. You're done. Come with me," she said and led Aria through the door, down another hallway and into a large chamber. Nearly a dozen women lounged around the room. Eight of the women were in pale blue gowns. One wore an amber gown and two others were in brown. Aria didn't have to approach them to know it was the color of their eyes.

Aria grabbed Clara's arm, wanting to ask her a question. "Are all the princes fixated on eye color?" Did Prince James prefer exotic women, much like his brother Henry?

Clara smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about that, Aria. You need to focus on making Prince James happy, because if you don't, in a month's time you'll be one of the first to go."

"Go? Go where?" Aria asked.

"For heaven's sake! What do you think happens to the girls that leave the palace? King Gideon allows his sons to keep twelve women for the twelve months of the year. They may bring in new courtesans as they see fit, but the number is always twelve. So in order for you to join the royal harem, one must be sent away."

Clara still hasn't answered her question. She'd only given Aria more to ponder about the palace. "Sent away where?" she asked, trying one final time to get the answer from Clara. Unsure which of these women she could trust, Aria eyed them all suspiciously. The women in blue gowns were all significantly younger than her. They were the most replaceable to the prince and far too common.

"Women that don't fulfill the desires of the prince or fight away his temptations will be sold into slavery. Focus on making Prince James happy, and you have nothing to worry about."

"Great," Aria muttered under her breath, and stepped further into the room. She felt as though she'd been tossed into a room with starving wolves ready to attack their prey. "Am I the only new girl?" Aria asked, hoping Prince James took another girl as well today.

"He only gave up one spot this morning, which leaves room for you. Don't disappoint him for sending Mandy away, she was one of his favorites."

Why would he send a favorite courtesan away? If he cared for the women, why send any away at all. Was King Gideon behind it?

Clara stepped out the door before Aria could ask her another question.

The oldest girl, perhaps Aria's age, stalked up to her and looked her over. Wearing an amber gown, it matched her golden irises. Why would Prince James choose Aria when he had her, bustier, taller, with gorgeous hair and thick eyelashes?

"Adalyn," she said and held out her hand, introducing herself.

"Aria." She forced a smile.

"You definitely don't look eighteen," Adalyn said, glancing Aria up and down in the green gown.

"I'm not." Aria shifted on her bare feet, unwilling to divulge her age. She didn't know if she could trust Adalyn.

"I've seen a girl like you before, with brown eyes and two years past her date to attend court. Prince James swept in to protect her from death, but she wasn't cut out for it here."

Did Adalyn lie to Aria or had she been intending to scare her? "What happened to her?"

Aria hid the fear as it crept into the pit of her stomach.

"Poor Aurora was spared here for a month before Prince James sold her into slavery. Decided if she wouldn't share his bed, he wouldn't share his wealth and fortunes with her. There's no room here for jealousy. There will always be twelve of us serving the prince."

Aria nodded her head in understanding. "Of course. I've got no reason to be jealous." She didn't even want to be here, but Aria also didn't like the idea of being sold into slavery. There were much worse people out there that would like to get their hands on a girl of breeding age with green eyes. Aria knew her value on the open market. Another reason her mother hid the emerald child from the world.

A girl with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes approached. She barely looked a day over eighteen. "I'm Lucie," she said, introducing herself.

Aria shook her hand, trying to be polite. "Aria."

"It's nice to meet you. I was the new girl last month and let me say, it takes some getting used to having so much attention bestowed upon you. If you like it, you'll fit right in. Just whatever you do, don't disobey Prince James."

"Why not?" Aside from the fact he sent his courtesans into slavery, was there anything worse to worry about?

"He likes to take us over his knee and give us a good spanking until we submit."

"Oh?" The mere thought sent a pulse like lightening down between her thighs. Aria shifted uncomfortably at the thought. The panties clung to her tightly, hugging every curve trapping the wetness against her pussy. She knew she should hate the idea of being spanked, however, his level of authority stirred her deep to the core.

"And whatever you do, don't disobey King Gideon."

"Of course." Aria hoped she didn't have too many dealings with the king. She knew he was Prince James's father, but he also saw her naked and pinned her against the wall. She would do everything in her power never to repeat that incident.

The door groaned and Prince James walked into the room. His shoes clomped against the marble floor. "Lady Aria," he said, taking Aria's hand and kissing the back of it.

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, but she couldn't be happy to see him or elated to be here. "It is an honor to have you as one of my courtesans," James said.

She pretended to be happy. Maybe if she forced away any doubt and suspicion she could find a way to get out of the royal harem and run. Though she didn't know where she'd go, anywhere else seemed safer.

"Thank you for choosing me," Aria said.

"Of course." James nodded and stared at her, unable to tear his gaze from her emerald eyes. "Tell me about your mother. What happened today that brought you to my court?"

It was technically his father's court, but Aria didn't correct him. Why did he care what happened to her mother? Did he think she'd be so forgiving if he dried her tears and rocked her to sleep? She wasn't a baby.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Aria asked. They couldn't go back. Once she divulged the details of the brutality, none could forget it. She mentioned it already once before he chose her to be one of his twelve courtesans. The specifics had been left out. It hadn't been the time or place. No one else would have cared. Why did he seem to take an interest in it now?

The other women were sitting quietly, intent on listening to their conversation. They too were probably just as curious about what happened as James.

His voice was even, firm. "I've asked, now tell me the truth."

Aria shut her eyes, reliving the event once again.

The cool breeze tickled her skin as she sat perched on the ledge of the window, staring out at the boy across the river. Mom sat at the table, busy sewing a new dress after the last one Aria had ruined in the river.

After the war, the world started over, like a blank slate. A cease fire had been called only after the governments had fallen. It wasn't a war between two nations. It had been a war between all the countries. Even those neutral, had found themselves on the brink of destruction, all over one single trait: eye color.

Blues were supposed to be the smartest people, most thought provoking with a curiosity for learning. Greens were hungry for power and money. They were the first to be eliminated. Brown eyes, what was once most common had been tied to the destruction of the planet. For those with brown eyes were inconsiderate, insensitive, and unable to accept change. Amber, a rare eye color was just as quickly eradicated with the basis of being impure and untrustworthy. For if someone had amber eyes they were thought to be a constant liar. Hazel eyes were a mixture of greed and insensitivity, they too were destroyed. All that were to remain were blues.

It wasn't the first genocide to sweep through the world. It had been the most prominent, murdering billions of people, known years later as the Gem Apocalypse.

Born near the end of the war, Aria grew up in the height of fear and oppression. Her family had found a small plot of land from the farthest city and settled on it, building a cottage for themselves.

In the early days they were forced to scavenge for food. Her mother would watch over her and Aria's father would take to the streets, traveling days on foot.

There were some vehicles that remained, the ones that used solar power. They were not so lucky to have access to one. Wind turbines produced electricity to the royal palace and guard towers, but where Aria lived, everything was primitive.

They gathered firewood and burned it for light in the evening. In the summer months, the fires were outside offering a calming atmosphere before climbing into the cottage.

Living on the outskirts of town kept them out of harm's way. The black market and trading centers were in the hub of what had once been a heavily populated city.

They had the river to provide food. They filtered the water, which made it possible for the two of them to survive. Her father died near the war. His green eyes were what got him killed.

After the war, King Gideon and his four sons pledged to protect the nation. With an army falling behind him and growing in power, The Kingdom of Brayleigh, named for ray of hope, was born. The castle, situated far north out of dangerous territory and surrounded by stone walls towered several stories.

Aria didn't dare venture toward Brayleigh for fear if they discovered her truth, that she had green eyes, what it would mean. She never had to go far to ensure her survival. When things got tough, they'd venture across the river to their nearest neighbors. That's how she met Ethan, plunging knee-deep in the river and sneaking across to see what all the fuss was about with a boy just a few years older. To her surprise, he had brown eyes. They shared a secret. Though boys had less to concern themselves with, now that the war ended.

Occasionally she would see him splashing in the river to get clean. Her curiosity got the best of her and she dared venture over to tackle him in the water just a day ago.

Staring out the window at Ethan, she watched as he stayed busy in the fertile soil, planting seeds to grow for the summer crops. Lost in thought, her mother said something but her words were drowned out.

In the distance a van raced for the small village. Were they searching all homes or just theirs?

By the time she realized the danger, the van approached. She slammed the window shut and raced for her bedroom.