Sold To The Dragon Kingdom

EIGHTEEN

"Eli, the lord told me to pass this message to you. You are to go upstairs and stay in one of the dark rooms." Said Bonny, making my forehead to crease in confusion.

"What's happening?" I asked, picking myself out of the bed as I moved to stand in front of her. "Why do I have to go upstairs and stay in any dark room?"

She was silent for a minute, and then her eyes slowly rose up and met mine, "Because the Lord said so. That's why you have to obey."

"We both know that's not the answer I need to hear. I mean, why would the Lord give me such orders? Please tell me Bonny. Because I need to know."

"I'll show you why. Come with me but be silent."

The way Bonny said that made me felt an uncomfortable feeling settling at the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong.

Following her out of our room, we walked towards the main entrance of our hallway and I assumed we were going out but Bonny stopped. "Look through the window. Discreetly." She whispered.

My head turned to the window to my left and as though I was going to be peeking into my future, dread took over my whole mind. Whatever I was going to see through that window wouldn't be good for me.

I had a feeling.

But the curiosity wouldn't even let me decide what I should do. I just kept moving until I reached the window and stopped.

Pulling the drapes aside, I peeked out the window and saw Lord Zorro, Milan, Lugard Helios and two of his subordinates standing. There were two more women too, I didn't understand what was happening.

What was going on out there?

I glanced behind me and saw that Bonny was already behind me, staring at me as though waiting for me to say something.

"Of course, you wouldn't understand what is happening just by looking. "She whispered, leaning forward to reach my ear, "They came here to arrest whoever does not have an identification tag. Milan, Angela and Sofia. So the Lord wants you to stay in hiding."

What???

Why would Lugard Helios arrest Milan on such a ridiculous basis? I thought their job was to catch the escaped prisoner. Or inspect the rooms for banned sorcery books and magical amulets.

A part of my mind was enraged by the sight before me. Through the window, I could see Lord Zorro talking, probably making his best effort to make negotiations and have the situation under control.

In my opinion, nothing will faze that Lugard Helios. He seemed so determined to arrest Milan. He might come for me, too.

"Eli, you really have to go upstairs, now. If they catch you, you'll have to go with them." Bonny shoved my arm towards the only stairway in the hallway, and continued pulling me all the way up until we climbed the stairs. She pulled me into a dark room.

"What will happen to them?" I asked, stopping in the middle of the room, the darkness threatening to swallow us both. I stare at Bonny, waiting for her to reply.

"Honestly, I don't know. But the Lord is doing his best to make negotiations."

A part of me wanted to hide in here like a coward and wait for things to die down. However, another part of me, the less self-centered inner voice reminded me that I and Milan were supposed to stick together, be there for one another.

Battling with my inner self to arrive at a decision, I heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching our room. No doubt, they'd come up here to find me. I knew it would be hard for them to leave without turning the residence upside down to find everyone of us who don't belong in this Kingdom.

Bonny made a quick move to shove me into one of the wardrobes she had opened. But something in me snapped, and I snatched my arm away from Bonny and stormed out, right through the door.

The flames from two candles were the only source of light in the corridor, and it seemed like this moment was going to be one of the most regrettable moments of my life. I made a bad decision, and I realized this only after coming face to face with Lugard Helios.

Right here, and now. We stood like two parallel universes involved in a staring competition.

Lugard took a large step forward, closing the space between us, his height dwarfing me like a canopy.

The dark aura. . .

I had felt the presence of this dark aura before, with the masked dragon who transported and sold me off to Lord Zorro. The one with burned hands.

"I'm the last one of those you're here to arrest."

"I know," he said. "I wasn't intending to leave without dragging you along with that so called dragon man friend of yours."

"You're not here to find the escaped prisoner. You used the opportunity to come for the two of us because we've been your target all along. Even before I was captured and sold to Lord Zorro."

A half suppressed smile appeared on his lips, "hm, not bad, indeed." His voice was filled with mockery. "I assumed you'd be a halfwit the first time you threw dust in my eyes and took off, in the cave. Like a coward."

"Point of correction. It's called surviving." I seethed, and watched his eyes darting towards the space next to me.

Following the direction of his gaze, it fell on Bonny, standing right next to me like a ghostly wind. "No matter what your motive is, our Lord will not let you take them away. Give up your resolve nicely, and take whatever amount of gold he offers you, Helios."

With that, Bonny turned and stormed down the stairway, causing me to worry that she might fall off the way she carelessly took the stairs. She left me alone again in front of Lugard Helios.

Judging from that reaction on his face, anyone could tell that Bonny's remarks have wounded his big ego. Good for such an arrogant betrayer like him. Lord Zorro should never have saved his life back then when I kicked him on the stomach.

"You're under arrest for illegal trespassing. You have the right to prove otherwise by showing your identification tag or an immigrant permit."

"Don't waste any more of my time than you already have. I don't have an identification tag, or an immigrant permit. Just take me!”