CHAPTER 1 DALLA

Some years later

I ran out of the forest as I heard the beating of horses hooves on the floor, they were getting closer, I thought I would be able to escape them through the hole in the haunted house, but for some reason I couldn't run fast enough. All movements were banned after midnight and anyone caught would pay a fine of 40000achels, I was very poor and was on a life and death mission, so I couldn't afford to get caught.I could hear them draw near and I was about to be seen by the soldiers when two strong arms drew me behind some forgotten objects that provided a great cover from the soldiers, I started struggling against the firm hold the person had on me when I heard a deep voice. "Would you stop that am trying to save you here" the man said "I would if you just let me go you know, you suffocating me" I whisper yelled as he still held me, his voice sounded familiar from behind me but I couldn't see who he was and it was dark. "Fine, have it your way" he said slowly releasing meI turned to look at the man who grabbed me and was met by a pair of blues eyes, no the other was slightly grey… I couldn't help but stare at his buffy physique, he was tall and so devilishly handsome, he looked like he could carry me easily, too bad he was a stranger, but somehow I felt like I had met this handsome stranger before, I just couldn't figure out where and when I met him, there was this woodsy scent about him that felt familiar but I couldn't quite place why it was familiar to me. "Thank you…" I whispered a little bit flustered by his closeness "It's Zander, and you are most welcome little one" he grinned"Oh yeah" I said looking towards the palace guards as they passed us, I turned back to the man but couldn't find the handsome stranger again, oh well this wasn't a fairy tale and I had no time for men, I was on a path to find the sea princess who could give me a cure to heal my little brother, he was all I had left but first I needed to get the directions to meet this so called princess with unimaginable magical powers. I remember the simple life we had in Sabir, the small village we lived in, it was a boundary village of the Yetande territory. The Yetande territory was one that was perilous and no one was allowed entry, anyone caught by the king would be immediately executed, so I had to be very careful to keep hidden. As I walked farther into the territory through the haunted house I thought of all the times I spent with my brother Walter… "Walter, where are you?" I would say searching under the table as we played hide and seek "Hmmm where could he be? I scrunched my face in concentration pretending that I hadn't already spotted him behind the sofa "Got you Walt" he screeched in excitement as I tickled him "You always know where to find me" he chuckled "I'll always find you buddy" I sniffed remembering all the pleasant memories we had together until that horrid day when our village was attacked by the Bewati people, they are known for their ruthlessness, they poisoned the main source of water flow in my village. More than half of us were plagued by a horrible disease, it made the skin of the person poisoned go dark until the person skin starts peeling off and soon turns to ashes, many had died horribly and unfortunately my parents had died from it and my brother was one of them affected, I wouldn't let him die too, he was all I had left. I had heard whispers around the village, especially in the market about a sea princess who had potions powerful enough to cure any ailment such as my brother's, so I set my mind to travel to meet this princess. But first I needed directions, and who best to ask than Penelope the owner of the shitty bar in the village and the towns slut, this was the reason I was walking past midnight, I could only come meet her now as she ran a night business and my days were spent taking care of Walt, I couldn't leave him except now when he was asleep and could rest from the pain that plagued his feeble body. As I stepped into the bar I knew I was gonna have to fight off a lot of leeches who couldn't keep their eyes and hands off my curvy shape and green eyes, I knew I was attractive with my black curls and long legs but also I could hold my own in a fight with some drunk men, I could do this" I thought to myself as I walked with purpose into the bar.Penelope was at a table talking to a man as she unabashedly flirted with him, I strode purposefully to meet her at the table. "Penelope, I need your help, please can I have a moment with you, it's of utmost importance" I pleaded, urgency sipping into my voice as we stepped away from the man, I tried looking at the man but his face was obstructed from me by the shadows cast by the lamps lit on every table in the small bar. "Have you changed your mind about working for me, hmmm… my profits will increase with this baby face of yours" she said stroking my cheeks as she slowly grinned at me. "Am not here for that, could I talk to you for a minute?" I said ignoring her lewd remarks As we walked further away from her companion, I could feel his eyes on me, it gave me chills and I looked back at him but he wasn't looking towards me so why did I feel he was from the dark spot he sat."Please, I need directions to the sea princess, my brother doesn't have much time left, please Penelope help me, he's the only family I have left" I whispered urgently to get her attention as sadness enveloped me.Hmmm… you know that's just a myth, no one has ever met this sea princess, I felt defeated as she said… but if you really want to know, she said giving me hope, meet me at the haunted house by dawn and you'll have the directions. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go speak with that delightful hunk of a man" she said waltzing back to the man in the shadows. I made my way to the door, thankful I didn't have to spend any more minute in the bar, with the smell of cigarettes and beer, but before I could I was suddenly grabbed by a man, he reeked of cheap beer."What a beauty… how much for a night kitten?" he leered at me"Get your filthy hands off me…" I struggled against his firm grip but he wouldn't let go"If I don't what will you do... slap me? go ahead kitten, let's see if you have it in you" he sneered daringly as some others joined him as he laughed mockingly at me.Before he could detect my movement, I grabbed a bottle from a nearby table and smashed on his head, he fell to the ground unconscious.Everyone stared in shock as no one dared to make a move or comment, they were all surprised that the pretty face could fight. "Serves him right, that would teach anyone not to mess with me" I smirked as I strode out of the bar glancing at Penelope and the stranger, I saw he had black hair and an angular jaw before I walked out. ...............… "Haaaa… where is she?" I said frustrated as I had waited in the haunted house for Penelope for over an hour "It's about time" I said as I heard the door being opened "You know this place is off limits and we are not to be caught here", I rushed forward but was shocked when I heard the voice of a man instead, he stepped closer and I noticed his black hair, it was the strange man that was talking to Penelope from the bar, I had never met him before yet he looked familiar almost like the stranger that saved me right here before I was caught by the soldiers. "You shouldn't be here" the man said"Where is Penelope?" I said retreating back in fear not knowing why he was here and his intentionsThe man only smiled and advanced towards me, I still couldn't make out his features completely, I walked backward till I hit the wall, there was nowhere to run, what would I do?" As I thought of what to do, the man brought out an handkerchief stuffed with chlorine and covered my nose with it, I struggled against his grip but soon all I could see was darkness, before I lost consciousness, I bleakly heard Penelope's voice."What would you do with her?""Just keep your promise that you wouldn't hurt her" I heard her faintly She had sold me to the man, what right had she? I thought angrily, we were not close friends but she had always taken care of me and my brother when we needed help after the passing of my parents. "Don't worry Dalla dear, I would take good care of your brother" she said stroking my cheeks."You snake!" I wanted to scream out but I blacked out completely.