Chapter 5: "I'm going with you," Emeriel stated firmly. Lord Vladya arched a perfectly shaped brow. "No. We have no need for you; we only need your sister." Emeriel stood. "I don't care. Take me too. If you leave me here, I will always try to come to her. I will cross the great mountains if I have to!" Lord Vladya laughed, but there was no humor in the cold sound. "Without the rite of passage, the great mountain will swallow you whole. You'll never make it to the other side." "I'll take my chances," Emeriel vowed. "No! My brother is not coming," Aekeira interjected, turning pleading eyes to Emeriel. "Don't do this, Em. I'm already doomed. I don't want you to face the same fate." "If you come with us, you will be taken as our slave," Lord Vladya stated, pinning Emeriel with a stare. "Urekai do not care if you're male or female; you will serve in any way your master wants you. Whether it's in the mines or the cellar, on your back, bent over, or on your knees. If you agree to be our slave too, your free will ends today." A shiver ran through Emeriel's spine. "Do you know what it means to be an Urekai's slave, little human? You're a pretty boy; you will not lack masters to service." Fear seeped through his core. If everything he had heard growing up and read in books were true, being an Urekai's slave was worse than being a human's slave. And my dreams… I should be running in a different direction…! But he steeled his spine. "Where my sister goes, I go." The tales you love are at gⱯlnσν????ℓs․cøm "We did not agree to get two slaves," the second Urekai said. "That is settled then," Lord Vladya continued, as if he had never spoken. Reaching into his robe, the scarred Urekai pulled out another bag of coins, throwing both onto the floor toward the king. "We will take both." "Sold!" King Orestus banged his gavel again. Aekeira cried for over an hour after they left the courtroom. At first, she had been angry, shouting at Emeriel about his foolish decision. And then, she broke down, crying as if her heart had been shattered. Now, they were left alone in a tiny room on the boat. Emeriel remained quiet throughout his sister's breakdown, the weight of his decision finally sinking in. By the Light-gods, he was now a slave. Lower than a lowborn. Lower than a carpet servant. And not just any slave, but a Urekai slave. Or many Urekai-Emeriel had no idea yet. He would serve those heartless, ruthless beings who despised humans. "You're a pretty boy; you will not lack masters to service." A shiver coursed down Emeriel's spine. They were going to violate his body. What he had always dreamed of would finally come true. Only now, it wouldn't be just one beast; it would be many. As many as his master wanted. They would spread him apart, subjecting him to that dreadful act of sex. Emeriel swallowed the bile rising in his throat. His breath seized as panic set in. "Breathe, Em. Come on," Aekeira appeared by his side, rubbing his back. "In… and out… come on, Em." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!