The Emerald Virgin (Gem Apocalypse Book 1) (3 page)

The royal guards broke through the lock on the door. One guard kept a pistol on Sophia, the other searched the house finding the emerald girl hidden in the closet. Dragging Aria by the arm, the guard with the gun on Sophia shot her in the head. Her body collapsed to the floor in a heap. Aria screamed in horror and tried to fight back. What little strength she had within her, echoed inside the cabin. One guard lifted her over his shoulder as she tried to fight him off, kicking and screaming. The murdering bastards took her mother just as they'd taken her father, and now they had her.

"Your guards murdered my mother, dragged and drugged me from my home. Anything else you wish to know?" Aria asked, short-tempered.

James stepped close enough to feel his breath against her cheek. "I can see your reluctance to be here, but I assure you no harm will come to you, Aria."

It was hard to believe him given the circumstances. Aria crossed her arms defensively. She didn't say a word. There was nothing to say that would please him and make her happy. She wouldn't lie or pretend to care about him when anger ebbed away at her and boiled in her blood. Not when he made Aria think of her mother and asked her about what happened, as if he pretended to care. Unlike the other women here looking for something, she just wanted her freedom returned. Pretending eluded her.

"You will join me for dessert," he said and took her arm, leading her out of the room and away from the prying eyes of his other courtesans.

Aria walked alongside of him, but she wasn't pleased with the situation. She tolerated it and him. He hadn't asked her to do anything inappropriate yet and she felt capable to handle dessert. Her stomach grumbled just thinking of food, so long as that was all to be expected of their encounter.

James ignored the rumbling noises coming from her stomach. He took her arm as they walked. She didn't pull away. What good would it do? "I do hope you will like it here in Brayleigh. I know it isn't your home, but I do hope one day you might think of it like that."

Did he quickly forget that his guards murdered her mother? She didn't have a choice. Aria couldn't leave, and she desperately wanted to. She didn't answer him. What could she say to please him and be honest?

James led Aria outside through the back doors. Quick on her feet, the pavers were warm under her bare skin. Why did they not provide them with shoes? Were they afraid they would use them and run away?

Aria stared at the ever-present wall knowing she could never escape. Had he led her outside to toy with her or remind her that she was his prisoner? "I thought you might like some sun," he said.

"Seriously?"

"Yes," James said. He frowned, not quite seeing what was wrong. Could he truly be so oblivious?

The prince led Aria to a small table on the patio, made of metal with a glass top and seated no more than two. Why have something so mundane in a palace so grand? One might have expected a table the size of a king's mattress or perhaps larger. Of course it did look old and had to be a relic from an earlier era. There were very few new goods on the market.

"Have a seat," he said and pulled out the chair for Aria to sit down.

Aria obliged, she had no other choice. As she sat, her body relaxed. At least she had her clothes on, unlike an hour ago.

"Sadie!" he said, calling to one of the servants. "Bring us some croissants and cookies. I'd like to impress my new friend."

Sadie smiled. Aria couldn't tell if Sadie enjoyed serving James or felt it necessary, the smile looked real. She scurried inside and James dragged his chair closer, intending to sit beside Aria.

He opened his mouth but Aria spoke faster, interrupting him.

"Why me?" Aria asked. "Of all the young women you could have chosen from. Why me?" She may have been the oldest, but she doubted that had anything to do with his decision.

"You were honest with me," James said. He leaned back in the chair, making himself comfortable. "Didn't you hear the responses the other women gave? They were telling me what they thought I wanted to hear. I like it when a woman's honest."

Aria wanted to believe him, but her stomach ached telling her otherwise. "Well, you know I'm not happy to be here." She made it no secret that she resented every bit of the crown and royal crest.

James sighed and leaned forward. He clasped his hands in his lap. "Don't you get it? My father would have had you executed had one of my brothers not chosen you as a courtesan. Vent your frustration with me all you want, but my father, the King of Brayleigh, won't be so lenient should he hear you speak ill of his kingdom. I'm trying to help you, Aria, but I can't unless you watch your mouth," he warned.

Aria nodded, knowing he spoke the truth. "My apologies," she said, though she didn't mean a word of it. How could he expect her to?

Sadie returned with a tray of desserts and placed it on the glass table. She retreated without a word or a glance at the prince. The tension had been undeniable. Had he slept with Sadie too?

Once out of earshot, he leaned closer. "I understand your resentment and frustration, Aria. If I had it my way, things would be different, but I'm not next in line for the throne." James had been the third son in line to the throne. King Gideon had four boys of age to wed, and four more that were mere children. Aria suspected the king would conceive more children by the way he responded earlier this morning in the hall.

"You don't have to be king to change the way things are run. How can you keep women here against their will and think it's okay?" Aria asked. Her eyes narrowed, challenging him.

"Do you want to leave? Is that it? I'll let you go. March you right out the front door. You can return home to your cottage and loveless life."

He knew nothing about her life or her. "Yes, I do." Aria stood. "Show me the door."

James muttered under his breath. Apparently Aria didn't give him the reaction he'd been looking for. "Sit down." His eyes were cast down on the ground. He looked embarrassed. Did Aria just humiliate a prince?

Aria did as instructed only because she knew he couldn't let her go. Even if he did help her escape, they'd probably drag her back a day or two later if she returned to the cottage. Aria would have to slip from the castle and leave the kingdom. How far could she get before finding more trouble? What had once been the United States was now Brayleigh. To venture from this kingdom, she'd have to journey by boat across the ocean. Were there survivors among their allies and enemies? The war may have ended, but it didn't mean she'd be safe over there. Aria couldn't hide her emerald eyes. Not like back in the day when contacts could change the color and make you appear however you wished. That was before the attack and the first riots. She'd only heard of such things in old battered magazines lying around the cottage.

"You are a handful. I should have known that's why Henry walked right on by without so much as a second glance. For a brother that likes gems, he must have known the trouble one would cause."

Aria sneered at James. "Tell me you don't believe it." Emeralds, people with green eyes, are known to be power and money hungry. Does James think that about her? It's not true. No part of the belief system created to destroy the world in genocide was true. How could James think of her like that? She may not be easy or pleasant at times, but she wasn't what the enemy said.

James shifted in his seat. "Of course not, but you are trouble. I can see it in you, the rebellious streak. My father will beat it out of you."

"So what? I'm supposed to pretend it doesn't bother me that he ordered the execution of my mother and dragged me from my home, drugged me, stripped me naked, and stole my freedom? No part of what you and your father are doing is okay."

James grimaced. "I am sorry about your mother. I can't change our world, but I can protect you here."

Aria stood. The longer she spent time with James the faster he seemed to be growing on her nerves. "I don't need your protection." She thought August or Henry would have been a poor choice to be paired with as a courtesan, but James seemed to be the winner in pissing her off.

"Where are you going?" James asked. He stood and followed after her as she headed inside.

"Back to my room. Which is where?" Aria asked, feeling turned around. Aria hadn't learned the halls of the palace.

James reached for her arm and she elbowed him away, forcefully. She didn't want him touching her, not without him asking permission.

A maid carrying a basket of laundry looked stricken. "I have no choice," he hissed at Aria under his breath. Grabbing the nearest seat on a bench, he grabbed Aria by the waist and tossed her over his knee as he sat down.

James lifted her dress over her hips revealing the white cotton panties for the world to see. She screamed, kicking and flailing in protest.

"Quiet down or you'll get a bigger audience," he said as a warning.

Prince James pulled her panties down to her knees and spanked her hard on her cheeks. She felt the initial sting and winced. Her eyes burned with tears of humiliation and pain. Why punish her? The maid stood there, watching the entire event, unable to move. Or perhaps unwilling to? Did she enjoy watching?

Aria let her eyes lock on the floor, unwilling to meet the maid's stare. However, Aria could see her shoes and knew that she hadn't budged from her position on the marble floor.

His hand came down a second time and the pain radiated across her rear. Wetness began to seep between her folds, and she prayed he didn't notice or see her glistening pink flesh. That would be worse than having an audience.

"You will obey me, Aria." His voice stern, his tone unapologetic.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Aria cried out, desperately trying to escape his fury and his hand.

"You hit a Prince of Brayleigh. You don't raise your hand or arm at me, ever."

Tears threatened Aria's eyes. Is this what her life would be like from now on? Punishments for not acting lady like and doing as told? She wasn't used to living with a prince, obeying his rules, let alone knowing them. How was any of this fair?

"I didn't hit you." At least that hadn't been her intent in swatting him away.

His hand came down again, spanking her.

Her cheeks clenched together, growing uncomfortable as the ache began to build in her pussy. What had he done to awaken such desires? Had his dominance been what turned her on?

"You will obey me. Say it." Another swat to her bare bottom.

Aria slammed her eyes shut. It wasn't the spanking that hurt terribly. No, her heart ached. Trapped here with other women that James enjoyed felt unbearable. The mere thought of sharing him, knowing he did this to the other woman in the royal harem was devastating.

She knew her pussy dripped with wetness. Could he see the arousal and swollen folds begging to be touched? A faint moan slipped past her lips. She never meant to tell him of her arousal at all, let alone hint at it. Why give him the satisfaction?

"Say it." James grew impatient waiting for Aria's subordination. His hand came down again. Her bottom grew raw, the pain much more fierce as he tried to get his point across.

Aria blinked through her misty vision as tears threatened her eyes. Why had he turned her on? That was worse than the spanking itself, knowing he'd aroused her. The maid walked away, retreating down the hall, no longer interested. Had she seen this display of punishment before?

"No." Aria refused to do as he ordered.

Another blow to her rear and she squealed with a mix of delight and pain. Her bottom had grown raw and his lashes weren't easing up anytime soon.

"I can go all day," James said in warning. "Do you want another spanking? Or perhaps I should get the belt?"

"No!" Aria shrieked. "I'll do whatever you say. I won't hit you." Somehow it seemed ironic what was happening, considering she'd barely touched him and he lashed out on her body.

"Get up," he commanded.

Aria climbed off his lap and he lifted her panties back around her waist. His fingers lingered over her hips. Aria swallowed and took a tentative step back as she smoothed down her dress and wiped the tears away. Is this what her life would be like in Brayleigh? How long would she survive here?

* * * * *

The prince escorted Aria to her bedroom. Grateful she didn't have to share it with eleven other young women, she didn't want them to know of her punishment. Aria doubted she'd be able to sit again tonight.

"You'll be able to mingle with the girls and I'll come find you and the others around dinner," he said.

Aria had barely eaten anything all day. She didn't want to wait until tonight but it seemed there was little choice in the matter. Would she have to dine with him and his other mistresses?

She climbed beneath the covers, lying on her stomach, and shut her eyes needing a nap.

The door between her room and the royal harem squeaked open, and she heard her name. "Aria," a young girl said.

"I'm trying to sleep." Aria's voice answered into the pillow with a groan. She turned her head and noticed the girl wasn't more than ten or twelve with blonde hair and blue eyes. She poked her head into the room, staring wide-eyed at Aria. "What do you need?"