Red River: Kira Ishtar
After being sucked down the rabbit hole to who knows where-our heroine ends up in an unknown land where no one seemingly speaks English or have any knowledge of the 21st century! And if that's not bad enough, try being chased by a group of armed soldiers, hunted down by an evil Queen who's hell-bent on getting your blood or meeting a handsome blonde haired man-who randomly kisses you against your will!
Chapter 2 - Prince Kail
It seemed like forever, being dragged down to God knows where and for a moment-Kira was immobilized by the fear of the unknown and what would happen to her, her family, her life in New York? And where the hell was she going?!
Suddenly-her resolve kicked in and with all the strength she could muster, she kicked the arms that bound her, setting herself free and then caught notice of an opening above her head.
Thank God!, she thought and wiggled her body in a swimming motion-reaching with all her might towards the bright light and then-WHOOSH! Oxygen filled her lungs once again and caused Kira to pant and gasp wildly upon exiting whatever form of Hell or prison that was. Water surrounded her body and her vision remained blurred momentarily before she blinked her eyes and looked around to see the shocked expressions and incomprehensive words being muttered around her.
People gazed at her curiously and with frightened eyes to what was happening that mirrored the uncertainty burning in Kira's heart.
Where … am I?
"Dammit!" an unknown hooded woman swore, hovering above a pool of water in a dark room with only a candlelight burning. "She slipped away somehow! And we nearly had her this time!" She growled but eventually calmed herself down. "She must be nearby. Most likely she's at one of the city's six springs."
"I'll send your guardsmen to look for her. They will bring her to your Majesty in short order." said the cloaked man holding the candle.
"Do so." said the woman, who then revealed herself to be a beautiful woman with auburn hair wearing an elegant dress and a small tiara on her head. "Our purpose is urgent. I must have her blood at any cost."
MEANWHILE …
Kira ran from the bathhouse or fountain or whatever the hell that place was and wandered aimlessly around, passing by so many unknown faces … dressed in unknown clothing … and speaking an unknown language!
This definitely isn't New York. So where the hell am I?, she questioned internally and paused-both thoughts and body as she looked over a huge wall that overlooked an entire … kingdom?
"What … what is this place?" She whispered to herself, backing away slowly. "No, .. this is a bad dream. It must be!" She said with a tremble in her voice. The lush green hills that stretched for miles on end against the red brick walls that surrounded what looked to be a city within stone walls seemed like something out of documentary on ancient civilizations. Like the Maya or Inca.
Her legs finally gave out and slumped to the ground while Kira tried to process everything that was swirling in her head.
"I was just with Nick leaving school … so how the hell did I end up-" her thoughts were cut off after hearing a loud yell in that same weird language come from behind. Four men in what looked to be uniforms began to approach her and judging by the looks on their faces-they weren't going to sit down and have tea! Quickly, Kira rose to her feet and started to run the moment she saw them unsheathe their small blades. Her legs screamed in protest as they stomped against the hard ground as she ran through the streets of the city, but Kira silently commanded her legs to quit bitching and take her as far away from the men as she could manage!
These walls are like damn maze!, she thought-making multiple left and right turns through this confusing city.
And then after turning one more corner, she stopped upon seeing a person cloaked in white turn slightly, gazing at her breathless form before revealing himself. Kira's eyes widened. He was so handsome! Blonde locks that looked luscious and well taken cared for that slightly covered the multi-coloured head wrapping he wore against his sun-kissed skin. The white cloak hung on his arms and pooled at his feet revealing a long … dress-like attire that she guessed the men here wore.
She couldn't take her eyes off of him!
Until the sound of approaching footsteps reminded her that she was running from those supposed soldiers and couldn't turn back or move forward due to the enclosed status of this small garden.
Chills ran up her spine in fear of what would happen if they caught her and then-SWOOSH! The man grabbed Kira's arm and yanked her under the shield of his cloak … with him on top! Her protests were silenced as his wet lips covered her own.
What the hell?!, she thought-completely bewildered.
The footsteps approaching became louder as well as the voices of those men, but Kira couldn't focus on them finding her-not with this man hovering her, caressing her cheek and pushing his tongue past her soft lips! For a moment, she almost forgot how to breathe until the gentle tap of his hand against round butt forced her to gasp.
He pulled back slightly allowing her to catch her breath and then pressed against hers again before she took the chance to speak. Kira sighed in defeat, closed her eyes and let him kiss her hastily.
"Hey! You!" said one soldier. "Did a girl run this way? Which way did she go?" He commanded. The man pulled away—finally.
"A girl?" He said, letting his tongue brush against her hot lips. Kira let out a small gasp, but no one but him heard it.
"I saw no one," he said, sitting up but still keeping Kira covered under his cloak. "But then again—when I'm with a woman, I never look at another." He smirked. Kira bit her lip and had the surprising urge to kick him in the face, but she couldn't. Why? Because he was saving her ass right now!
"P-Prince Kail! What are you doing here, your Highness?" said one of the soldiers. Then it clicked in Kira's mind! She could understand them now—but how? Could it be that … the kiss?
"A girl passed by here we think, Your Highness. She's wearing strange clothing and—"
"Must I repeat myself?" said the agitated young man. "I'm occupied, can't you see?"
"Yes, Your Highness! But if you—"
"Away with you now!" The man yelled and Kira didn't need to look up to hear the retreating footsteps of those soldiers moving away from them. She sighed heavily and then watched as the young man moved off of her and allowed her to sit up.
He eyed her carefully while she trembled under his gaze.
"Hmm … your clothes are strange." He said—in a soft velvety voice. "Tell me—from what land do you hail?" He asked, taking in her entire form. Tan-bronze skin that appeared utterly flawless that contrasted somewhat—beautifully against her strange brown hair and pink highlights. Her body was slim, but rounded with the perfect amount of curves under her white jacket, loose black blouse, washed out jeans and brown boots.
And her face! By the Gods—she was beautiful!
Ocean blue eyes that seemed to sparkle ever so lightly under the bright sun and full rounded lips that made him want to kiss her more deeply and thoroughly.
Kira didn't respond to his question and just watched his face squint a bunch of times, trying to pinpoint her origin.
"Why is the Queen's guard chasing you, woman?" He asked.
Queen's Guard? … He saved me! … And somehow he speaks perfect English—or maybe I can now understand his language! My God, this is ridiculous!
"I … I'm not from here." She stuttered. The man named Prince Kail smirked. "Yes, well I can see that." His tone was sarcastic but … playful in a weird way.
Kira bit her lower lip unsurely. "Err … t-thank you. For saving my life."
"Well, if the Queen's guard is after you—then you must be important to her, I guess. Then again, maybe not." He said rather dismissively. "She does have a hatred for beautiful women. Especially those who can get in the way of—" he stopped himself with a chuckle. "Pardon my manners, we have not yet been properly introduced. I am—"
"Prince Kail … right?" She finished with a short nod from the golden haired man.
"And you are?" He then asked. Her breath caught in her throat suddenly. How could she know if she could trust him? For all she knew—he could be a henchmen for this Queen and find some way to take her to this woman who apparently wants her super bad.
With that in mind, Kira kept her mouth shut.
Kail quirked a curious eyebrow at her. "Perhaps you are still distraught over the kiss." He said, catching her attention. "I, for one, hate to start things and not finish them. Since my fair flower has not yet come, perhaps you can take her place."
Disgusted, Kira angrily ran away from the prince with the sound of his "Wait!" trolling behind.
What a pig! None of this makes any sense! And that disgusting harlot of a prince just makes being here even worse! What a nightmare this is!
Kira ran so fast that she didn't realize that she had entered a street alley where tents were planted selling food and goods to consumers and her presence only shook the balance.
"Ahhh! There she is! That girl who appeared from the spring!" screamed a terrified woman.
"A woman who appears from the spring?" questioned a man passing by.
"There she is! Take her!" yelled one of the Queen's guards who rallied together and was able to grab Kira and bind her hands with rope before dragging her towards the palace.
No! Mom! Dad! Nia! Prince Kail! Please—someone help me!
In a cold and dimly lit room, was Kira tied to a huge pillar. Her heart was beating ten times the normal rate and her mind was in disarray about all the events that have occurred in such a short span of time!
"It was a foolish mistake to let those commoners we what happened!" yelled a woman from another room close by. "We must finish this before panic begins to spread!"
That voice … I heard it before! When I was being dragged down from the park! It's the same! I know it is! Kira thought.
The door then opened and entering came two individuals: one was a beautiful auburn haired woman who wore a cruel smile while the other person was cloaked in black.
The woman chuckled lightly. "Welcome to Hattusa."
Kira gasped. Hattusa? Why does that name … sound familiar? "You … you're the one who brought me here?! Why?! What do you want from me?!"
"Hush your mouth, girl—and do not move!" The woman warned, inspecting the girl carefully. "What I need from you … is your blood." Her cold slender fingers trailed across Kira's neck causing her to shiver.
"I shall slit your throat and let your life's blood spill out." She said darkly. Panic rose in Kira's chest.
"Forgive me," she said bowing slightly with an evil glint in her eye. "Allow me to explain—you see, His Majesty is very old, which means sooner or later—one of his children will succeed the throne and I will make sure that his successor will be my son!" She declared. "Unfortunately for my precious boy, he is the youngest born—sixth in line to be exact. Therefore, for him to become Crown Prince—the other princes must die." She smiled wickedly.
"And that is where you come in. For you see, I need a blood sacrifice to place a special curse on the princes in order for this plan to work. So I asked my God to provide me with a sacrifice—no matter where it came from. And you showed up." She grinned. Kira swallowed thickly.
"Lady, it's the 21st century! You can't sacrifice me to some pagan God!" Kira protested while the Queen chuckled.
"21st century. Is that the name of your country?" She asked and then shrugged dismissively. "Well you might as well forget about your home now. This is the Hittite Empire. And I am Queen Nakia—second wife to the King of Water—Suppiluliuma."
"The King of Water?" Kira whispered to herself.
"My Queen!" said an incoming soldier. "His Majesty is on his way here right now!"
"His Majesty? Why?" She questioned him harshly.
"Perhaps word of the disturbance has reached His Majesty's ears, my Queen." The soldier responded shakily.
"Hmm …," Queen Nakia mumbled. "His Majesty must never learn of my plan." A small smirk fell upon her face as she came around Kira and quickly tied a cloth over her mouth, muffling her speech.
"The important thing now is that we spill this girl's blood and I have the perfect idea." said the Queen, just as the door opened once again and entered was a tall elderly man who still had his stature and muscle on him, but it was obvious time had taken its effect.
He stood in front of Queen Nakia who bowed in respect.
"My Queen, I was told of a girl who appeared from a spring." He said, staring at the tied up girl. "Why is she in your palace?"
The King! Maybe he can help me! Oh God, please help me!, Kira thought helplessly.
"Your Majesty," Queen Nakia responded politely. "Do you not remember? Am I not the priestess of the Great Temple as well as your Queen? The springs are gifts of the Storm God Teshub and the temple has charge of them." She explained. "Where should she be if not here?"
"Hmm …," The King thought. "What do you intend to do with her?"
"Your Majesty, if a girl comes from the Storm God's spring … it behooves the empire to return her to him."
Return? I can get out of here?!
"You mean to offer her to Teshub as a sacrifice?" King Suppiluliuma asked.
"If that is your will." Queen Nakia responded.
"If you deem it best, I have no objection." said the King—much to Kira's dismay.
"Then we should take her to the Great Temple, Your Majesty." said the treacherous Queen who shot an evil smirk towards Kira. "Issue an edict informing your subjects that there will be a ceremony tomorrow."
And just like that, Kira's world sank around her. Her? A sacrifice to some pagan God? How could this be? And to her horror, King Suppiluliuma kept his word and relayed the message to all of the citizens of Hattusa to attend the sacrificial ceremony. And for her last remaining hours, Kira cried in silence within the dungeon. Begging for her parents, her sister or someone to save her from this horrible fate!
A female servant entered early in the morning to strip Kira out of her clothes and into a loose white dress garment that she would wear for her execution.
God, this can't be happening! This is a sick joke!, she thought all the way to the Great Temple, hands bound behind her back with that same nasty cloth tied around her mouth and tears staining the fabric.
A soldier dragged her to the spot of where her blood would spill before the audience.
More tears fell from her eyes.
"Attention subjects!" an announcer proclaimed. " His Majesty—King Suppiluliuma I had been seated! Crown Prince Sari Arnuwanda has been seated. Second prince—" The roaring cheers from the crowds disrupted Kira's hearing of the royal family until it came to one particular person.
"The third Prince: Kail Mursili is seated!" At that point, Kira was in total shock!
That man! He's … he's the third Prince! He's the Queen's relative! And yet … he saved me.
Her eyes were glued to Prince Kail's presence as he greeted his father and brothers before taking his seat in the royal court. When everyone quieted down—someone jingled a metal staff, grabbing everyone's attention to the front where Queen Nakia stood cloaked and fully prepared under her hood as she began the ritual.
"God of Gods! Great Storm God!" She began. "We ask thy blessing of rain and fertility on Earth … and offer up to thee … a pure virgin!"
Two men grabbed Kira by the shoulders and bent her head down, exposing her neck to all as an onslaught of tears flowed from her eyes. Mom. Dad…
"Please, O God! Accept this offering and answer our humble prayer!" said Queen Nakia with that same evil smirk.
Another man came behind Kira and revealed a sharp axe, waiting to slice through flesh and bone to spill Kira's blood all over the ground.
Mom. Dad. Nia… I love you all …
The executioner held up his axe and prepared to swing down.
KLANK!
The axe was then suddenly knocked out of the executioner's hand by … a wine goblet? Kira opened her eyes wonderful what the hold up was and became overwhelmed with relief seeing that the axe was no longer in hand.
"Who dares to incur the Storm God's wrath?!" barked Queen Nakia. A man stood up from the royal court. Kira's eyes widened.
Prince Kail!
"I dare." said the third prince. "Or rather—you dare by staging this unholy ceremony!" He stressed while stepping down from the court and onto the field where Kira lay bound and tearful.
"Prince Kail! You threw the cup?" She asked with astonishment that soon turned into anger. "And what do you mean by 'unholy ceremony'? Prince or not—your accusation is unforgivable!"
The young man bent down to Kira's level and lowered the cloth from her lips. He smiled to himself. "Just a moment, stepmother. I stopped the ritual because I did not wish you to anger the Storm God. Now … let me see," his big warm hands grasped Kira's face lightly, while he pretended to inspect the girl searching for some faux evidence.
"Yes, this is the girl," He said openly. Then, he rose to his feet and glanced up at the King. "Father, an offering to the Storm God must be a virgin, correct?"
"Of course," the King replied. Prince Kail then sighed and placed his head in his hand. "Then it would be a sin to keep quiet if I knew that the sacrifice was impure." He said before looking down at Kira again. "I'm afraid I have no choice. I have a confession to make!"
Long arms lifted Kira up from the ground as easily as if she was as light as a feather and held her against his broad chest.
"I apologize, stepmother … but I laid hands on her. Without knowing that she was to be offered to the God—I took her virginity." Prince Kail declared. Heat rose up Kira's neck and inflamed her tanned cheeks. Immediately, her natural response was to call out his bullshit lie! But then the logic set in—if she denied his lie, she'd go back to being sacrificed to that Storm God! And if she knew anything about situations like these—sometimes you need to lie to survive.
"That can't be true!" Queen Nakia yelled. I only just summoned the girl yesterday!
"How can you be so sure, stepmother?" asked Prince Kail, who then turned to Kira smiling devilishly. "You haven't forgotten our encounter under the tree yesterday, have you?" He asked, brushing his lips ever so lightly against hers.
Although Kira wanted to smack him for this disgusting lie, she knew she had to play along if she wanted to keep her head.
"Girl, does he speak the truth?" King Suppiluliuma asked. And though reluctant, Kira feigned a dreamy smile and nestled her head under Prince Kail's chin with a small nod, confirming the story's truth. Queen Nakia looked on in complete shock!
Prince Kail smiled approvingly. "My apologies, stepmother. Allow me to take this sullied baggage off your hands." He said happily. Kira quirked an eyebrow. Sullied baggage?
"Prince Kail!" She yelled with obvious fluster. "I will not allow this!"
"Have no fear, stepmother! I will send 100 virginal cows and chaste goats to the Great Temple in atonement. A suitable reparation, is it not, Father?" The young man asked kindly while walking towards the exit with Kira held loosely in his arms.
"It is." The King said with obvious disappointment l, but what could he do? His son was known for his infamous seductions—all he could do was reprimand him later for his actions.
"Your Majesty!" Queen Nakia protested. King Suppiluliuma sighed before stopping his third eldest son. "Kail, the frivolities of youth are sweet. But why don't you choose an official wife?"
The playboy prince smiled brightly. "Nothing would suit me better, Father. But with beautiful princesses being as common as stars, how can I choose just one?" The Prince then Bowes and have a quick farewell to the Queen, King and his siblings and once they were far enough away—Kira sighed deeply.
IN A SECRET ROOM
"Prince Kail's seductions are infamously known, but he did not deflower that girl," said Urhi—Queen Nakia's loyal servant and advisor.
She glared at the ground. "It matters not! Virgin or harlot—it makes no difference! Her blood must spill at any cost!" She growled out. "Send the black water to Prince Kail's palace!"
"Yes, My Queen." Urhi replied, disappearing into the darkness.
Peace & Love
xGhostReaderx