Chapter 01
Disclaim : I do not own Vampire Dairies.
Elena's POV
It has been one day since High Priest Elijah had visited my village. One day that he went through all the gifts that had to be collected for the princes' birthday celebration. It had become a tradition that when a birthday was to be celebrated for one of the members of the Royal Family, gifts would be gathers from all villages and cities across Egypt. And only the best would be collected to be given to the royal family as a gift.
This year was special as the Pharaohs eldest son, Prince Klaus would become of age. And when a family could not present a gift their eldest child would be taken from them and would be transported to Cairo to the Royal Family. Thus the Royal family would then decide what would become of the child. Most of the cases the child would become a slave or a maid in the palace. One could never have enough servants when one was the Royal Family. On very few occasions the eldest child would be a strong young male adult that would be trained to be a guard, if it was a female and she had her first bleed then other arrangements were made that would not be said in public to protect the Royal Family.
And knowing that when a Prince become of age at the age of 21, it didn't mean that everything was fine. Some girls that have been taken from their families have been known to have run away and they have never been seen again which was a lie that people would believe because you cannot think or speak ill of the Royal Family. There were consequences that you do not want to face.
From what I knew and from what I have been told, being a slave in the royal palace was either a wonderful thing or the worst. It all depended on how you look at the situation. Knowing that the Pharaoh is a ruthless man and that his son would most likely be the same. Because the apple does not fall to far from the tree.
I have feared that this day would come. Knowing full well that my family had nothing to offer to the royal family but myself. I feared of what could and would happen once the High Priest collects me in the following 5 days. I had to mentally prepare myself to be taken from my loving mother and father; I had to prepare goodbyes to my other family and friend, knowing that I would probably never see them again in this life. But I don't know how to prepare if I have no idea of what is to come.
I would miss my parents because I love them very much. I knew that they would miss me as well because I was my father's pride and joy and I was the smile on my mother's lips when she spoke of me. I was their only child and I could not begin to phantom how they must feel like giving me away. In one day my life had changed so much and I did not welcome this change at all.
I don't know what the royal family will see in me. I am not a scholar nor do I have any special talents, I can't even read? Most likely I will become a maid to clean up after them if I am that lucky. My mind is busy reeling on how this has happened to me. From all the previous years there was something to give. Yet this year we had nothing. Nothing to save me.
I didn't want to leave my home, my family, my life. I did not want this. But how can you refuse a High Priest that is only following orders from the Pharaoh. How could one refuse the Pharaoh? I would be killed on the spot. And I could not disgrace this family by putting up a fight.
I know how people talk, I know what they say behind our backs. I didn't want this for my mother and father. It would already be hard on them if I was taken. I just had to come to terms that I am no longer my own person and that soon I would be some ones slave. But I still had time to do that. Now I focused on helping my mother around the house, doing some chores. I just have to keep myself busy just to get this off of my mind.
But the more I keep myself busy, the faster my time runs out. And soon I'm standing in a group of friends and family, tears running down some cheeks and others give encouraging words to my parents. The whole village could have been here to greet me I would not have known. Everything felt like a blur and all the arms that wrapped around my small frame feels the same. Every word being whispered in my ear to stay calm and stay strong soon forgotten. I want to tell them that I'm not dead to them, this isn't goodbye. But the words fail as I try to say them.
It was my last night in my own home. And I can't fall asleep; I just can't get myself to relax. A million and one things are running around in my head. Not to mention the thousands of questions I want to ask but there are not any answers yet. I started to roll around but if I turn on my left side I start to think of my parents and how they are going to miss me.
On my right side I feel sick to my stomach because I can't just say 'No I don't want this'. And then finally when I am on my back all the feelings are messed together and I am so unsure of how I really feel. This was too much for a 16 year old to handle. But this has been done for years and why would they change now? It's not like they will take my feelings in consideration and maybe give me a second chance and come back after 2 to 5 years.
This was happening. I was leaving this house in the morning and I would not return. Tears weld up in my eyes, threatening to fall and I let them fall down my cheek. If I didn't let go of these feelings now when I am alone in my bed, I would never. And for an hour I could not stop myself from crying. Crying for my parents, crying for the people I am leaving behind and most of all I am crying for myself.
Somewhere during the night I stopped crying and I fell into a dreamless sleep but it was short lived before my mother woke me up. I could see her red blood shot eyes. She had been crying. I couldn't blame her because I knew this would not only be hard on her but my father as well.
"Elena, dear you need to wake up, it's almost time." her voice sounded scratchy and rough but I knew it was because she was crying.
"I'm awake mom." I sit up in my bed and my back ached when I flex. That rolling around last night didn't do me any good. I looked up into her sad eyes and my heart couldn't take it. And a new set of tears run down my cheek.
My mother was next to me in an instant wrapping me in her arms like she always did when I was upset. She stroked my hair and whispered into my ear that it would be fine. But I could not find it in myself to believe a word she was saying. She pulled back and looked straight at me, a look of determination plastered on her face.
"Elena, all will be okay. I know they will take great care of you. But right now you need to wash up and get ready." She might believe herself but I do not. I just can't, the fear that was in my heart was much greater then what I thought. I brushed my arm over my eyes to brush away my tears and with my other arm I wipe my nose. I nod my head at my mother in an attempt to reassure her that I'm fine. "I need to get your robes from the High Priest; I'll be back in a few seconds. But I brought you some water to wash up." She seemed nervous when mentioning the High Priest.
And that most likely meant that he was here already waiting for me. I nodded at her and she swiftly left the room closing the door behind her. I looked around and see the 3 vases of water, a cloth and a small bar of soap. I wonder where she got the soap because it's not something that we usually have. I stand up from the bed and walk over to the vases, most likely the water will cool me down because right now I'm sweating from stressing about what will be happening.
My mother soon enters the room with a sad smile on her face. She looks at me longingly then places a package on my bed and leave again. I needed to take of my old robes and quickly undress. I bent down to soak the cloth and then loather it with soap before I start taking my time to clean myself. If the priest was already waiting I could have him wait a bit longer.
I washed myself limb from limb, from my toe to my head. I made sure that all dirt was removed from my toe nails and my nails and I made sure my hair had been washed and all soap was removed. I took my time to dry myself and then I moved to the package and opened it to find a beautiful yellow robes packed inside.
I pull the robe out of the package and it's a dress with a matching cloak. I pull the dress onto myself and it fits me perfectly. It's strapless and only goes down to above my knees. Showing too much skin for my liking but the material feels silky soft on my skin and I am grateful of the new robe. I tie the cloak around my neck and then move to where the comb is. I comb my hair out and then I leave it hanging down my back. I slip on a pair of sandals and make sure that I look presentable.
When I leave my room High Priest Elijah is busy explaining something to my parents. He doesn't stop speaking nor does he acknowledge my presences and I feel a bit awkward just standing there and listening to him speaking to my parents about how grateful the Pharaoh is for this and how they will take care of me.
Absolute rubbish I think to myself as I wrap my arms around myself. Once he's finished he turned to me nodding his head and finally acknowledging my presence. "Elena, the robes I chose fit you perfectly." His voice is like music to my ears. Beautiful and reassuring. I blush at the compliment that a high priest has just given me before bowing my head to ensure he does not see my red cheeks. "Please greet you're parents, we need to be on our way as we have some time to make up for." His voice dipping low but there is a slight bit of irritation and I am not sure whether it is directed towards me.
I was first to greet my mother wrapping my arms around her as tightly as I could. I couldn't help the tears running down my face. And my heart broke again as I realised that this was final and that there is no turning back. I sobbed into my mother's embrace and soon my father wrapped us in his arms and he just held us. A sob escaped my mother and that made me cry harder. I didn't want to let go. I didn't want to give this up. I didn't want to lose my parents.
My father held us for dear live. I knew he didn't want to let go and if he had a choice he would never let go.
And when he let go it felt like my whole word came crashing down. "Elena, honey I love you so much!" my mother whispered in my ear and that erupted more tears from me.
When she finally let go of me my father wraps his arms around my. "I love you so much my baby girl, don't ever forget that." My father rubbed my back soothingly while he said this to me and I knew this was the last time that I would ever have this. This was the last time that I will ever see my parents. As my father let go of me I turned towards the High Priest who extended his hand to me. I hesitantly took hold of it and he started to lead us out of my childhood home. My mother rushed to my father's side and he wrapped his arms around her. And now they both were crying. And I couldn't do anything to make it stop.
Outside a carriage is waiting for us with four horses at the front of it. A guard opens the door to the carraige and the High priests steps aside for me to enter first. I had one foot in the carriage when I hear it. My mother yelling at the guards to stop what they are doing and not to take me. When I turn to face her, she is at High Priest Elijah's feet begging him not to take me.
"Please remove your wife before the guards do." High Priest Elijah grunts while looking at my father who is running to get my mother. But my mother doesn't stop. She keeps on yelling at them to let me go and she's pulling on the robes of the High Priest. And I see how his demeanour changes and how agitated he is getting.
The guards rush to his side and I want them to stop or they might just hurt my mother in the process. And my father is trying to pull my mother away but he just can't keep her away. And the people from the village are starting to gather around all of us. "Stop it!" I yell but whether they hear me or not I don't know because now the High Priest is trying to get away from my mother's grip. I hear a sharp sound and all blood drain from my face.
My mother had slapped High Priest Elijah in his face and everyone is quietly looking at him and my mother. "Let my daughter go!" she demanded. High Priest Elijah raised his hand to where my mother's hand connected with his cheek rubbing it slowly, seemingly not hearing what my mother had said. Then another sharp sound was heard. This time she did not slap him but down right punched him in his jaw. He stumbled back and I presume he was in shock.
He didn't even glance at my mother before pushing me into the carriage. He whispered something to one of the guards to his side and soon he was next to me and the door was closed. When the carriage started on its way I turned back in my seat to look out at my parents.
A guard now had my mother in his arms and another my farther. And soon I heard a scream of pure pain as on guard started to whip my mother. The look of pure pain plastered on her beautiful face. And then another and I turned toward the High Priest. "Please stop! Their beating my parents!" I yelled and I was greeted with a palm to my cheek. It stung fiercely and I sat back in shock looking up at the man next to me.
"Say another word and I make sure that they are not only whipped but worse, hung." High Priest Elijah said and I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped my throat, nor the tears running down my cheeks. I could hear another scream and this time it was my father. And before I could look back the high priest stopped me. "I would advise against anything to anger me with further. So if you could please just sit in your seat and keep quiet, it would be much appreciated." I stared at him before whipping my eyes on the sleeve of the cloak and facing forward.
The road to Cairo was long but we would reach it by sun rise the following day. It was quiet and all that could be heard was High Priest Elijah's steady breath, and the sand making way for the wheels of the carriage. I already felt home sick. And I missed my parents. I would never forget my mother's pained look when we drove off. It would haunt me for years to come.
I stopped crying a while after leaving our village. But that might be because I didn't have any tears left to cry. Now I sit silently next to the High Priest, my hands folded on my lap and I'm looking anywhere but at the High Priest. I couldn't believe that he slapped me, it was still stinging and it still hurt but I could do nothing about it in fear that I might anger him.
The sun was about to go down when I hear High Priest Elijah clearing his throat. I turn to face him, his eyes are following my ever move. "Elena, a few things to understand before we go to the Royal Palace. You are not to speak unless spoken to. Do you understand that? Not speaking out of your turn." I nod my head. "You are to serve under Prince Klaus and should do anything he asks. If you defy him you will regret it and you will be punished by his hand." His eyes turned serious as he continued, "At all times answer people with Yes Pharaoh, or Yes Prince Klaus or such, and last please behave, no one likes a an unmannered child."
"Yes High Priest. I understand High Priest." the sarcasm is clearly seen and the High Priest back hands me. And now my other cheek is stinging and hurting. And a fresh set of tears run down my cheeks.
"If you can't do something right you will be taught the hard way." He states sitting back in his seat. And I can't help but want to ball up my fists and hit him. But I saw what that got my parents. And I did not want to get beaten. "Now get some sleep." He barked a command at me.
I glanced at him before looking in front of me again. I wrap my arms around myself as it starts getting cool with the night around us. I rest my head against the back rest and close my still teary eyes. And soon enough I'm asleep without any trouble.