Forever Eternal, plebeau [best books to read non fiction txt] 📗

all looked at me with the same look. I couldn't identify it but it seemed to me like the look of starvation. Growing up, I'd had my fair share of starved nights and hungry days but these people had plenty of food in front of them and enough red wine to drown a boat. How could they honestly look so hungry?

"Ahhh you made it young one and dare I say, you look delightful. Almost good enough to eat." The tinking of laughter filled the room but sounded as if a choir of angels had broken into song. Didn't quite get the joke but the compliment was enough to put a smile on my face and I thought I did well on blending into the crowd whilst I was being herded toward the head of the table.

Keeping what I would call a protective stance, Fred whispered to me, "As a guest you are to sit next to our King. Do not speak unless spoken to and always address Alston as 'Your Majesty'. If you need me, just think of me, I'll be right with you okay?" Without letting me answer I was seated next to the King, Alston to be less formal.

I knew he was a leader but I thought I was dealing with the mafia, as far as I know there are no Kings associated with the mafia. Who the hell was I sitting with and what did Fred mean about 'if you need me, just think of me'?

None of this was making any sense at all and all I really wanted to do now is go home where I'm comfortable. I know the rules and I know the only people I'm dealing with is my mother and her boyfriend. I wanted to cry. How could everything change so suddenly? Just a few seconds ago I thought I was dealing with something I understood and now I'm told something completely different. What's going on here? I thought we only had one Queen in England, I'd never heard of a King? How long was I knocked out for? Where am I?

I think now it's safe to say I was a scared little girl that had been kidnapped and dressed up for what purpose I really don't know but I sure as hell didn't want to find out. Even though what Fred had said didn't make any sense, I didn't have many options right now and I'd sooner just think his name then try running and cause a scene. Well here goes.

'Fred I need you. Get me out of here, take me home please. I wont tell anybody about anything I've seen or heard. I promise Fred. Just let me go.'

Nothing. I didn't feel differnt at all. It just felt like normal, like when I used to talk to myself back home. I thought he said he would hear me or something. Jesus. I'm talking to my own mind about someone hearing my thoughts. How messed up could I possibly get.


'I'm sorry Val but your going to have to stay put right now okay? I promise I wont let any of these people harm you. They wouldn't dare, not when Alston has told them that not one drop of blood should be spilled from your body. Just sit tight and enjoy the night. I'll tell you everything later. I promise.'

Oh my god. He spoke back. I heard him almost as if he was just whispering into my ear. I stared straight at him to see if he had moved but he looked to be in deep conversation with the person next to him. What the hell just happened then? He can't honestly have listened to what I said and replied, in my bloody head? No one can do that. Maybe he just guessed what I was thinking and then ran really fast to reply in my ear and then ran really fast back to his seat. Except he was sitting at the other end of the table.

'Relax Vallery. People are going to realise something's wrong just breathe in and out. Like I said, I'll explain everything later. By the way, you look beautiful."

Oh well.. as long as I look okay everything is fine. Sarcasm wasn't really helping so I tried to breathe deeper and calm my breathing. I suppose I could have looked slightly suspicious and what would I have used as my excuse if anyone asked what was up, 'Me and Fred are speaking together in my mind'? Oh yeahh because they wouldn't just kill me straight away. So that's what I done, just focused on breathing.


And that was it. For almost 4 hours while these people dined with happy smiles on their faces and the occasional lingering glance in my direction, I sat like stone afraid to even move incase I drew more attention to myself. Of course I ate what was shoved on my plate and answered any questions when asked but that was it. Alston tried forcing me into many conversations with these strangers and I did speak, I just managed to dropped out of the discussions when I could and stared at my plate hoping that sometime soon, the meal was going to end and I would be allowed back to my room and plan my escape. Don't always get my wishes though and it seemed that the meal was moving into another room for more drinks and natter. How long exactly could this thing go on for.

****

A further 2 hours later saw almost everyone in attendance dancing to music that had been provided almost immediately and the room we currently resided in seemed to be decorated for a party. Fred had somehow whisked me away to the far corner of the room underneath a set of stairs that threw our current position into darkness, at least now I wasn't being stared at.

"Your coping extremely well for a human in this situation." Fred smiled at me with a warmth I hadn't seen today and was surprisingly welcomed even though his sentence didn't make sense. "Everyone will be leaving shortly and we'll be able to slip away back to your room if you'd like. I'm sure you have many questions for me but now is not the time to be answering any of them." He had taken both my hands in to his own and the look he was giving me silenced any thoughts I had.

"Well there are many things about this situation I don't like and I never asked for any of it." I shook my head and looked toward the floor, "Why is this happening to me?" Fred understood that the question was directed at myself because we both knew I wouldn't be getting an answer to it anytime soon. I just couldn't fathom why these people had chosen me to take. Surely I wasn't worth anything to them. I didn't have any information for them, I wasn't rich so they couldn't ransome me (not that I would be wanted back anyway) and I definitely didn't have any unique skills that could be used in their organisation. Unless your counting cleaning as a skill, in which case, I could be useful as a maid. I suppose I would have to wait to get some answers to questions I couldn't even piece together yet.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a shadow lean into our little cubby whole. "Hiding from me Vallery? And you Fredrick? Not getting up to anything naughty I hope." Alston laughed lightly. "May I have this dance?" Wonderful timing Mr DJ. A slow song had just begun and I really didn't have much choice in refusing did I? He was the King. So I took his outstretched hand and walked into the bright lights of the room leaving my only alli back in the comforting darkness.


Chapter 5

Hey guys, just wanted to say a massive thanks for reading my story so far. I know it's not all that great so I would really appreciate some comments on everything you've read up to the end of this chapter. Would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully you will enjoy this chapter.

xx

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Pulling my body just a little bit closer to his, Alston twisted us round again gracefully. I've gotta give it to him, this bloke really knew how to dance and by the looks of the faces we passed, every woman here was insanely jealous. I mean, yes he is handsome, a King and obviously has money but apart from that he really hasn't got anything going for him. His sense of humour is atrocious and I swear he is so conceited that if he says one more nice thing about himself, his head will explode. I'm extremely surprised he has lasted this long with his head still intact. As you can well imagine, my night was stumbling down hill pretty rapidly.

It started out fine with a few nice words, "How are you enjoying the night?" Followed swiftly with, "You look absolutely breathtaking and that smell... what is it.... mhmmm delicious." He just didn't leave enough room to breathe before that setence so I had no chance of answering him and instead just smiled weakly in hope that he would think me as a shy person. I am shy (and it worked in my favour) but this situation I was shoved into by none other than this man himself didn't leave me with many pleasantries to add anything positive to his one-way conversation so I settled with keeping shtum. Besides what exactly was he expecting me to say, if I had even suggested that I wasn't having a good time I would be killed on the spot and there was only one bottle of perfume in my room so there wasn't much to say on that.

As the song continued though, he seemed to gain more and more momentum with every passing sentence, "I'm sure the council will be fine with you, you have such an allure most of them will be begging to keep you for themselves," to, "When I found you, you lacked purpose. I've given you a whole new start at life." Can't say I really understood much of what he said so not saying anything at all seemed like the best idea. I didn't want to look stupid and anyway, Fred assured me that he would tell me everything I wanted to know later, what's the point in asking