New dress
1406 Words
All my life, I’ve been a runt, a virgin with no wings to fly. I’ve always wondered what it’s like, giving myself to someone.” - Enoma Pearl
…
The sooner we were done eating; we were marched to a vast hall and split into three groups. Eight in two groups and nine in the remaining one.
My group had nine people. Luckily, Madeline and Samantha were not in my group, they were far from my room which made me thankful. Marina was separated from her group, which made me worried.
“They are taking me away, Enoma,” she said, in panic.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine, we’ll figure out a way out of this. Till then, be safe.” I said.
“Okay,” Marina replied with a nod.
“Be fine,” Destiny said, patting Angela’s head. They had put her in a different room too. Angela nodded a ‘yes’ at her words and soon, we watched their retreating figures.
Marina looked back at me, with me staring back in reassurance that it was going to be okay. Even if I had no idea what was going to happen next.
We were directed to our beds next, which I lay on quickly, Destiny nodded at me commencing to go through her handbook.
We weren’t the only ones; the other girls went through their books with curious expressions.
I couldn’t help but think that this was my only shot at seeing Mom and Elena again. To figure out a way out, I had to play the game.
“Many centuries ago,” the handbook read. “A plague that affected Kota women broke out, eliminating most of Kota’s women. Kota women died off, and a great scare was bestowed on Kota. The once powerful clan of Lycans was erasing, like they never existed.”
“At this time, the smaller wolf packs experienced tyranny. A group of rogues called the Patches hired dark magicians to curse their lands to be barren. The smaller packs did not produce farm yields, and this weakened them.”
“But Patches didn’t stop there; the Patches kidn*pped the smaller pack’s warriors in bits. In a bid to make a final strike, the Patches quested an easy battle, in which victory prevailed before they struck.”
I paused, my eyes astonished at what I just read. Inhaling, I continued, “The head KOTA was visited by the smaller packs, who asked for help. Seeing this as a way to save his Kingdom, the head KOTA made a deal with the smaller packs.”
“In the deal, he protected their lands and in return, they chose one of their female wolves to mate with Kota men. This was a tough choice for the smaller packs, but they agreed to protect their lands.”
My eyes scanned the length of the book, before continuing.
“The Games are a series of tests, to check if each potential mother is compatible to mate with a Kota. These are the rules and regulations of the Games: One, do not try to opt out of the Game, once you’re in, you can’t go out again. Two, you have to play till the end. No matter what hurdles come your way you have to play till it finishes, unless there are consequences. Three, each female is only allowed to have one Master. Whoever tries to have more Masters is disqualified. KOTA isn’t a harem, but a place of love.”
I turned the pages to the requirements section.
“The following are the requirements. One, you must be 18 years or older to participate in the Games. Two, you must be unmated and unmarked to be chosen. Three, only female wolves are allowed to participate in the Games, any attempt to compromise that will have severe consequences.”
I wondered if this meant the other genders couldn’t participate. I guess it was, from the lack of males around.
Marina would be sent back. She wasn’t of age, so there was no way they would allow her to participate.
As I thought of these, I continued the requirements to find out what they would do. Once they learnt the truth that I was wolfless. Will they let me go or feed me to a life of tyranny?
I scanned through the pages only to see some words that broke me. “Once a female is discovered not to be a wolf, she is publicly stripped of her titles and sent home for tricking the KOTA board.”
My eyes widened at those lines, it was just as if between my chest and my breasts I felt an ache.
I sighed, moving back to the rules and regulations:
“These are the night rules. No loitering at night. The slightest display of misconduct closes your pack’s deal. Sneaking is not allowed. Do not go to places you aren’t approved to go. Anyone found wanting is locked up, and such a person won’t eat for a day.”
I closed my eyes, trying to take in all that was just said, not realizing when I fell asleep.
…
“Dearest Sands, report to the Grand hall so your Masters officially meet you. You have an hour to prepare. I’ll be coming to pick you up before you step out. May the odds be in your favor.”
I woke up to Lady Peach’s voice booming from the speaker. Seeing the speaker plastered to the room’s wall, three females rushed in that minute. In their hands were tape rules.
On their body was a peach and white vintage gown, with a square neckline. And a wheel of clothes stacked, which they pushed to the room’s center.
“Quick Sands, come and know your sizes so you can bathe and dress for your Masters!”
I stood up with the other girls with Destiny whose bed was opposite mine. The girls took turns in their measurements, with Lady Peach’s women checking our sizes.
“Here you go,” they said, handing us our respective dresses. The next thing they did was guide us to the bathroom. I scrubbed my body, stepping out after.
“Wow,” Destiny said eyeing me.
“What? Is something wrong?” I asked, worriedly.
“You look stunning, Enoma,” she said. “The dirt made it hard for one to see.”
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
“Blue eyes, clear skin, good lengthy hair, with these features, you’d get any high rank.” Destiny stated drawing nearer with her hands on my skin. “With the right tactics, you’ll be leading the castle. Look at that skin… what’s your secret?!”
“Nothing.” I plainly said.
“C’mon, tell me. I wasn’t the Belle of my district but I know you can eat stuff and get the skin you want.”
“I only eat what I hunt.”
I replied, not wanting to say anything more.
“Okay,” Destiny said, hands in the air like she was retreating.
“Pace up ladies, the time is almost here.” Lady Peach’s women urged as they handed us our clothes.
Destiny grabbed hers wearing it hurriedly. I sized up my clothes, observing each quality before putting them on.
I was clothed in a square neckline medieval dress, with lengthy sleeves and a corset with a lace up. It was brown with a white inner that clasped around my bosom.
“Come for your hair styling.” Lady Peach’s women added, with us sitting individually.
“Hmm, what should we do with your hair? What’s your name?!” one of them asked.
“Enoma.”
“I sense some rarity here,” she told the other woman. I narrowed my eyes, in silence.
“Same here, sister!”
“Your hair is dark and thick. We should do something different, something unhinged and unstoppable!”
I stared at them, nodding with hope. If this was what I needed to win, I didn’t mind.
Glimmers sprinkled from both hands with a smile on their face.
“All Sands report to the entrance!” Lady Peach announced. The girls marched to the door hastily, opening it only to see Lady Peach waiting ahead.
“Oh great, you all look pretty!” she excitedly said. “C’mon, we have to make it to the Grand hall on time.”
- Writer
