DEMONIC PRINCE OF ROME

Chapter 1

This all started back in my hometown in Africa. I had just clocked the age of nine and my Uncle came all the way from Malaysia to celebrate my birthday.

Although he came bearing gifts, I still had this tingling sensation that all will soon change. Well, I didn't have to wait long to find out. Early the next morning, he called in my parents as he wished to discuss an important matter with them.

“If Mack comes with me, he will benefit a lot in just a few years”

He was trying to convince my parents to grant him the permission to take me with him to Malaysia, although my family wasn't poor, but we weren't stinking rich either, and besides, life outside the country was every young boy's dream.

“I will enroll him in the best school, and will make sure he's successful. Don't forget he's my favorite nephew. and besides, he's very smart.”

My Uncle was a bald haired bulky man, dark skinned and kinda handsome.

I agreed and so did my parents.

Everyone thought it was a good idea, little did I know that my life was about to change.

We took off the next day at full speed and headed for the international Airport.

Uncle decided we'll make a little detour before we finally head over to Malaysia, I had no problem with that.

You know, before I go any further, you probably need to have a clear picture of what I looked like; I was like every african boy, black hair, chocolate skin and slim, not bony thin, just slim, and in my hometown we specialized in kickboxing, wrestling and as well as fist fights.

I guess my Uncle had spent so much time in Malaysia that he's forgotten that our clan and tribesmen ain't defenseless as we looked.

After a couple unfruitful days, I was bored, and we had just arrived at the Algerian airport.

“Alright, listen carefully Mack, we will be heading to the harbor now.” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“What's a harbor, Sir.” I asked curiously. I've never heard of a harbor before.

“A harbor is a place where ships and boats are kept, you can also call it a ship port, you know, like an Airport for Airplanes.” he replied as he hailed a cab.

“Now, no more questions, we're already late.”

I noticed my Uncle sounded so cranky when he said the last sentence and I assumed he was annoyed that we're late for departure. Although it made me wonder, why didn't we just take an Airplane at the airport, why go to the harbor?

We arrived at the harbor and Uncle paid the cab fare.

“We have to first meet up with a friend of mine, he's in charge of everything.” he said and walked off, and I trailed behind him.

I began to think, perhaps we're going to sneak into the Malaysian border. Perhaps this is how Uncle travels into Malaysia.

The moment I saw his friend, I knew I had to be on the defensive, the dude looked like this caribbean pirates with an eyepatch and a couple broken teeth.

He was conversing with my Uncle but he kept stealing glances at me.

“This concludes our business, he's the last of the fifty boys I promised to get for you, now, can I see some cash?”

My Uncle said this nonchalantly as if I wasn't even there.

And then it hit me, we were never going to Malaysia, Uncle intended to sell me.

His pirate friend just looked at me again and then turned to a roughish teenage boy beside him.

“Take him to the lower deck and make sure he behaves well with the others”

I knew right there and then that I had to make my escape.

My first reaction was to beg my Uncle but when I saw the look on his face, I knew nothing and no one could change my fate, so I decided to escape.

I didn't have a plan at the moment but I had to work something out, I had to improvise and not just stand like a dummy.

The moment the teenage boy came close to me, I kicked him in the groin, swung a punch at my Uncle's d**k, right in the balls and made a dash for it.

I cared little for their cries of pain, as my instincts told me I had to escape from my vicious Uncle and his pirate friends.

The harbor was filled with wooden crates and boats of different sizes as well sailors hollering at the top of their voices.

I knew I had to hide from my abductors, so I jumped into one of the wooden crates, covered the lid and stayed in there.

“Where did he go?” I heard my Uncle questioning.

“How could you let him escape. Find him, dead or alive.” his roughish friend shouted.

That statement sent chills down my spine and it thwarted any courage I had to leave the wooden crate.

I must have been there for about 20minutes when someone tapped the crate I was in, he then said in a whisper

“You can come out now, they're all gone.”

The voice was unfamiliar and at first I didn't want to leave the crate, but on second thought, I decided to.

I shifted the lid slowly and came out, facing the man who had tapped the crate. I'd say he was in his mid-forties, muscular and handsome.

“The name's Lucius Arthropathius Von Blake, but you can just call me Lucius.”

“Thank you Sir Lucius, but I have to be going now or those bad men will catch up” I said with boyish cuteness.

The man simply smiled and for some unknown reason I felt a sense of security and familiarity. I felt that I've met him before but just couldn't know when.

“You can come aboard my ship laddie, I don't mind. I'm simply heading over to drop an important item. We can get you home after it's all sorted out. Whatcha say?”

Even though his accent was somehow confusing but I knew I had no choice, well technically I had a choice, and that was either to trust this mysterious man or to wait her till my Uncle catches me, not much of a choice huh.

And so I followed Lucius to his ship and boarded it.

His ship was huge with well muscled crew. At first I thought they were all boxers or gym instructors and my curiosity got the best of me.

“Sir Lucius, are these men soldiers? or wrestlers?”

He laughed

“Laddie, these men are my crew. They're not exactly humany, that's why their physique is buffed.”

I was still confused, I didn't get the part that they weren't humans and I became scared to ask.

“We've got an important task to complete in Rome, and after that, you'll be on your way home.” He said while smiling.

“As long as I get to go home Sir Lucius, I don't mind.”

“Now that's a good lad. You'll make a fine gentleman when you're all grownup.” he said as he patted my back and led me to the upper deck. He then instructed one of the crew member to get food for me.

He stared at me for a while and I felt he could see through me and even sense my worries.

“Dont worry laddie, it's all fate and destiny, you'll be home in no time”

And that's how my journey started.