Chapter 10
Ha! Who know writing was such fun? (Looks over shoulder) cheer up Des, no need to mope. Just because you fight over those certain scenes doesn't mean you have to pout because a skeleton can.
Des: Just write!
Alera was sitting with Maleka, among the cushions a few hours later. She looked around at her past home. This would be one of the last times she would see the harem. She turned back to Maleka. She had just got done telling her about Erik's 'gratitude'. Maleka seemed very content with the results. When the hour was up, Alera stood and Maleka bide her farewell.
"Remember…you was always my favorite and I thought yourself as another daughter." She whispered into her ear.
"And you as a mother." Alera lied and hugged her back. Alera bowed and backed out of the room. When the door closed, she sent a glare at the hated woman behind the doors. She then turned to see Erik waiting for her. She gave him a genuine smile and brushed her hand over his forehead. Nether said a word as he took her by the hand and led her back to his apartments.
XXX
"Alera." Erik's voice jolted her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?" she put down the French book she had been trying to read. Erik had taken to teaching her full French, not just the tidbits she had picked up from him.
"I would like to now know how you came to be in Persia. Will you now tell me?"
Alera bit her lip and nodded slowly. "I was the youngest child and the only daughter in a family of 4 children. My mother had died two years after I was born. My father loved her terribly, so he never remarried. We were well to do. Neither nether rich nor poor. My father was an excellent swordsman and maker. My brothers were to take over the business one day, but they had no desire to. But I did. Even though my father knew it was improper and hopeless, he taught me. I was 14 when I decided that I'd never marry. I cut my hair and dressed as a boy. In that way I would be able to take over for my father. It was going to work. No one thought any different. But it was soon cut short. I was 15 when I had to take a trip to a small town to deliver and pick up some supplies in Plovdiv. I was traveling with a small caravan, when these men ambushed us. They killed the older men and captured the younger men and boys. As I had looked like a boy, I was not killed, but captured. They shipped us to Turkey. Once there they found out I was a girl. Instead of…defiling me and then killing me, they sold me to a caravan that was heading to the Persian palace. Once here the Khanum took a shine to me. I was bought for her as her 'pet'. In the next few years I played her. I let her believed I was loyal so that I could find a way out. You can only imagine the horrors she did as I watched. When she found out I could fight with swords, like you, had me to fight and kill for her."
When she was done Erik leaned forward. "You say you are deceiving her. I can see that. You also say that you were using her. I am not stupid. I see that you are using me as well. This I do not like."
Alera looked away, "I will not lie." She turned her face back to him, "True, I am using you. But I also hate doing it. Ever since I saw you…" Alera paused searching the best way to tell him, "You have stroked a fire. I saw past your face and into your intellect. I knew that if I waited I would have my chance to give you the împărţire. I also knew that you would not be fooled for very long. But now I'm afraid that the whole împărţire has become something more for me. I believe it has caused me to a fi îndrăgostit de you."
Erik sat there shocked. No one had ever told him that. Not even his mother. He stood up and pulled Alera up as well. For the longest time his intense gold eyes searched her green ones. In them he saw the truth. Erik placed his thumb on her pulse that was in her neck. He felt it speed up. Slowly Erik encircled her neck, all the time watching her eyes. Her breathing quickened but no fear came into her eyes. Testing his new power, he squeezed slightly, then let go to caress her neck and cheek.
Alera let him fall into control. As he slowly touched and caress her, Alera's head fell back as warmth came over her. She was dimly aware of the bed. As he put his weight on her, her eyes widened as he whispered the same words as she had yesterday, "Did you know, that if you had only asked, I would have agreed?"
a fi îndrăgostit d- to be in love with