UNBROKEN ME "STARY WRITING ACADEMY II"

I stood there wearing a fake smile, starring into my wine glass trying to hide the pain and fear in my eyes. I wondered how I had gotten there, all I remembered was running through the thick forest after surviving an attack from Agu Ismme: the great white tiger and passing out by Ibemm river after I was bitten by the great ogba a snake.And now I was in strange land,everything was different here. The People looked different, their skin could be likened to that of ripe yellow pawpaw. Their houses were huge and tall like the trees of the forest, they spoke differently. I had only heard of the white man's and his land from Akiri. He had also taught me their language,so lucky me I could understand what they were saying. As if that was not enough,I get caught up in a marriage I never saw coming. And there he stood as if the world belonged to him. Women throwing themselves at him shamelessly. He would touch their bodies at will and as he wishes and all they do is smile.Some stood naked right in front of him touching their bodies while they danced for him. They had no regard that he was standing next to his wife. Sorry did I say wife, I meant trophy(slave). I could literary feel them licking off the spittle off his mouth,I felt I would throw up from such disgusting actions. All I could think of was Akiri:my fiancée, what would happen if he found out I was married. Would he understand it was not my intension to hurt him. What would happen to Nne ,she would die of heartbreak. And Papa won't her spirit rest. It was enough she had giving him female children when he wanted male children, life wasn't easy for her and my sisters. Papa had thought I would be a boy,so he named me Ebube(strength) after his grandfather. He will disown me and hunt me until he kills me,life would become hell for my sisters. I could hear myself screaming inside saying: gods of my land,what have I done to deserve so much hatred. Why have you rejected me all of a sudden. Suddenly I felt his lips brush my ear and I could feel him smile as I trembled in fear. Then he said to me : Darling wife,you are my trophy. I purchased you for my own pleasure ,you belong to me alone,and I should be the only thing on your thoughts. See you tonight in my room. I will be waiting, don't be late. I felt like punching him on the face,was rights does he have to speak to me in such manner. But I remembered I was just a slave ,and was not sure of my fate. He signalled to one of the servants to escort me out. As we walked pass so many doors, all i could think of was finding a way of escape ,i had to continue my search for the Temple of Shadows, I had to redeem my family's face,my tribe needed me. I cant become a s****l pleasure tool for him,it was enough that back home women were seen as s*x symbols, only for the satisfaction of her husband, cooking for the family and baby making. But at least she becomes untouchable and priceless when she gives her husband a male child. We got to a room and they handed me over to female servants and left. They took of my robe,and as my robe fell to the floor I could hear them whisper about how lovely my dark skin glowed like kernel and of the scars which I bore. I mourned in pain as they cleaned my wounds and body in other to get me ready for the Prince. I remember one of the servants asking if the Prince knew of my scars and what he saw that made him marry me. Another replied saying: I heard the Prince say he saw her in a slave market half dead and bought her half the price. And married her because his father had made it habit of taking over his slave mistresses, because they were beautiful and he heard from his Personal servants of how much pleasure the ladies gave him in bed. And when he asked to have them back because he wasn't good at sharing good pleasures like that with anyone, he would say they belonged to the kingdom and he was the king. So he married her to keep him away from her. I felt broken,I had become a subject of discussion for servant's, back home my beauty and skin was the envy of my tribe. You can imagine the daughter of the great Priest of Amadi a slave,the gods has really forgotten me. As I got dressed a servant handed me a mixture to drink,but I rejected it in fear of being poisoned. But she smiled and said: It will help for your pain. I took it and drank. she helped me up and walked me to the door and handed me over to the male servants and she smiled at me turned and left. We got to another section of the mansion, and towards the end of the section there was this huge doors. As it opened and I walked in they shut the doors ,behind me. I turned in fear banged on the doors to open but it wont. I ran in fear without direction, all I wanted was to find a way out,but none was in sight, the only way was jumping. I knew I would land to my death if I did anything that stupid. Confused not knowing what else to do I turned back into the room. I stood awe and shock,mostly shock . I realised how beautiful were I was standing was. I had never seen such big room all my life. The big bed could fit eight of me comfortably, the sheets on the bed were so soft. I could feel it calling out to me.I could hear voices in head saying: rest,rest,you are home. you have been running, stop and rest. I knew it was a lie. It was my fear speaking, it was my pain crying out. I was broken I needed healing, rejected needed love.But I can't give in,I have to stay up. The walls of the room were so wide as if it could fit as a fence for my tribe. It had paintings of half naked and naked women,and portrait of a beautiful woman,I knew it was his mother because he had her looks. Then I wondered how such a lovely looking woman could give birth to such a shameless, ill mannered womanizer. Then I saw a huge door,I said to myself: finally an escape route, only to open it up and discover it was filled with fine linen. Not even the king of our tribe could afford such. I thought of Akiri wearing one for our marriage rite,so I said to myself: maybe I will steal one on my way out as compensation for him marrying me without asking. His balcony was so wide it could fit two huts and it had flower garden ,like the one I dreamt of spending my first night with Akiri as we make love ,staring at the stars. Just then the mixture the servants gave me set in. I could feel my head swell,my toes and fingers became stiff,I felt my heart beat slow down. I sat down on the bed to get a hold of myself and figure out was happening. I realised I was dying, I swept for I never knew I could die this way and in a strange land, all alone.I had dreams,which would die with me,I prayed silently to the gods for another chance,i needed to right my wrong. i found myself thinking of the Prince and how much I wish I could hear his voice, as much as I hated him,I loved the sound of his voice and the feeling of his breathing on my skin. I had never felt that way, not even with Akiri. I got hold of my wide thoughts and asked the gods to forgive the thoughts of a stupid crazy dying woman. Before I could know it I was knocked out completely.