The Emerald Virgin (Gem Apocalypse Book 1) (7 page)

Aria wasn't sure whether he was lying and trying to frighten her or telling the truth. She knew he had the manpower and weapons. "I won't," Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper.

One foot in front of the other. The path though dark didn't scare her. The closer they approached the 'pit' as Bernard called it, the more noise and voices could be heard.

"Step up," he said, and Aria glanced at the cement floor to the black steps. There were two. She took them and then he followed, leading her to the side of the stage. The light shined on the center of the stage and the auctioneer. The room filled with an excitable audience, but she couldn't see anything. The noise and commotion though was unlike anything Aria had experienced before.

"Our next prize this evening to be won is an emerald virgin."

Bernard pushed her forward and she stepped out onto the stage. The bright lights were blinding, forcing her to squint. She slowly walked across the platform approaching the auctioneer. Aria didn't recognize him. He wore a suit, his hair greased up, and he tried to make this show look appealing to the rich crowd. What would they think if they knew how the merchandise had been kept the last few days? Would they care?

"Tamed by King Gideon himself, this gem is a rare beauty. At twenty-three, she's still plenty young for teaching her the proper way to submit and old enough to not feel guilty about it."

A chorus of laughter echoed in the auditorium.

The auctioneer leaned closer and hissed into her ear. "Smile."

Aria smiled. It wasn't as though she had to pretend to want to get out of here. She desired to leave, to flee for her freedom but she wasn't sure which suitor would have the least level of security. There was an elderly gentleman in the front row. At the very least, he looked like he could keel over and die within the next few years. Aria doubted she could survive a few years with him though.

"Let's start the bidding at one thousand, shall we?"

A gentleman lifted his bid card in the back of the hall. There were at least a few hundred patrons, mostly gentlemen.

"Five thousand!" Another man shouted. He held up the number 482, it covered his face. Aria recognized his voice and her hands balled into fists at her side.

"Six thousand!" Aria's head darted toward the most recent bidder in the front row. The gentleman that could be her grandfather. Apparently he noticed when she had locked eyes on him. Gross.

"Ten thousand!" 482 said and Aria knew without a doubt the voice belonged to James. Had he lost his mind?

The auctioneer laughed. "Wow. Ten thousand. Do we have ten five?"

The split second of silence was interrupted. An explosion rocked the stage, forcing the metal rafters to drop down at Aria. She covered her head, but not before watching the auctioneer pummeled to death.

The audience leapt out of their seats and rushed for the exit.

A second bomb detonated at the back right, near one of the exit doors. Smoke filled the room.

"Aria!" James screamed, darting toward the stage and the commotion, heading for Aria.

There were voices and movement behind the stage. "Emerald!" They must have been the ones that set off the explosion. Who were they?

Aria turned her head to see what the commotion behind her was about. A group in black clothes and dark masks stared at her. "You want to get out of here?"

They were rebels.

Aria stood, coughing as the smoke permeated the room. She had never considered herself a rebel until today. Though wasn't that what she'd been all her life?

Footsteps behind her, James caught up. "Aria, what are you doing?"

"Living my life," Aria said. "I'm not going to be bought by a prince or a wealthy pervert that wants me as his sex slave."

"We have to go,
now!
" a voice said behind the black mask.

"I love you," James said.

"You don't even know me." The glimpses he got were pieces of Aria that were forced and untrue. The most real moment they shared while together had been at the market, before her escape.

"I want to," James said and he gripped her hand. "Please, stay with me."

"Your father sold me to these men to auction me off. I'm not going back to the palace. If you want to be with me, you're going to have to prove yourself worthy. Come with us or don't," Aria said, pretending not to care. He infuriated Aria to no end, but a part of her did like his attention and his company.

One of the masked men grabbed Aria by the arm. "Are you sure he's to be trusted? He's the King's son, a Prince of Brayleigh."

"You have my word and if he betrays any of us, kill him." Aria locked eyes on James. She was done taking orders and fearing for her life. It was time he feared for his own.

Aria climbed into the backseat of the car and sat in the center. James sat beside her, as did another girl from the facility.

Aria glanced behind them through the window as a dozen or so vehicles trailed, headlights blazed into the night.

"We're being followed," Aria said.                           

"Of course we are," the driver said and pulled off his mask. "Got ourselves a new fleet of vehicles."

In the rearview mirror Aria caught sight of his amber eyes and relaxed into the seat. "Who are you guys?"

He was quiet, probably deciding how much to reveal since Prince James was in the vehicle.

"I'm Rhys. We're part of an underground movement to protect gems."

"Gems?" the prince asked.

"Girls with green, brown, hazel, or amber eyes. The rarest and most highly sought out women," Rhys said. "Tell the prince how most blues attend the palace but only a handful are chosen, but gems, you don't ever leave."

"He's right," Aria said, chancing a glance at James. She didn't imagine he wanted to hear it, but it was the truth. Girls with blue eyes were easily overlooked. The chance for them to serve a prince was rare and for some it had become competitive, a way of life trying to seduce the prince when choosing his courtesan.

"How are we expected to procreate and grow our nation without wives?" James asked.

"We're not your wives. We took no oath, promised no hand in marriage or loyalty. You chose us." Did he not see how wrong the world was? Society had once outlawed slavery, but now it was as common as the sun rising and setting.

James sighed and leaned forward. "I'm not saying what my father does is right, but isn't it important for the nation that we have wives of all gems? So that we can integrate back into the gene pool?"

Aria snorted under her breath. "Those are the lies you tell yourself so you can accept the dirty deeds that you've done. I don't need a prince to have a child. I could have had one with Ethan, but you murdered him!" Ethan and Aria were solely friends, nothing more, but James didn't know the depth of their relationship and she preferred to keep him in the dark.

"Shit you killed one of her friends?" Rhys said, glancing up in the rearview mirror. "No wonder she looks like she'd kill you if I handed her a pistol."

James's jaw tightened. "Please don't."

"Please don't, what?" Aria asked. "Give me a gun? Because Rhys is right. I might be inclined to shoot you."

"I didn't murder your friend or your mother. My hands aren't stained in blood," James said. Was he trying to rationalize his actions?

"You didn't stop it either!" Aria grew furious. She wanted to get out of the car and as far from James as possible. She couldn't though, stuck in the backseat, she crossed her arms. The tension mounted.

"We've got a long way to go to stop the palace and reverse slavery, but maybe with the prince on our side we can kick things into high gear," Rhys said.

James gave no hint of amusement in the plan. "What do you have in mind?"

Aria knew these rebels wouldn't let Prince James leave, ever. It was either become one with them, or their prisoner. At least she hoped that was the alternative. Aria didn't wish James to die. Murder didn't solve anything. One life for another, it wouldn't make her feel any better.

Rhys sighed and turned off the dirt road toward a compound in the distance. The moonlight illuminated the building, as did the headlights from the car.

"You're going to draw us a map of the palace. I want a detailed sketch of every room including the royal harem. Your emerald is going to oversee the drawing. If any of the sketch is inaccurate, we'll take a vote to decide what to do with your body and how to execute you."

"Wonderful," James said under his breath. "And emerald prefers to be called, Aria."

Aria raised an eyebrow, surprised by his statement. She didn't say a word.

"I may as well get on someone's good side."

Was this his way of trying to mend a broken heart? He had a long way to go.

Rhys shut off the engine and they stepped outside. The rebels that had followed, trailed up the path and parked their cars.

"Any chance there's clothes I can borrow that aren't green?" Aria asked Rhys. She wanted to get out of the dress and desired something a little less inconspicuous.

"The girls have a trunk with worn clothes in the bedroom upstairs. Speaking of which, we'll need to figure out sleeping arrangements. There are more rebels than beds now. That's a first." He unlocked the cabin and they stepped inside, one at a time. Rhys grabbed a match and lit the oil lantern, turning it up to produce enough light for everyone to see.

He handed Aria a flashlight. She recognized it as Bernard's. Did they kill him? What about the other men hosting the slave auction? She didn't dare ask, not wanting to know what happened.

"Shake the flashlight. It will give you enough power to see upstairs."

Aria could feel Rhys excitement from liberating the slave auction. Grateful, Aria knew she owed a great to debt Rhys for saving her life. She had no problem paying her debt by helping the rebels, supporting their cause. She believed in it as well.

Rhys pointed Aria to the staircase. "Second room on the right. Come down after you're changed."

"Thanks." She grasped the cold metal in her fist and shook the light as it sparked on. Aria guided the light in front of her feet, walking up the old staircase. The house looked to be at least a hundred years old, maybe more. It was clean, well-kept up, and she stepped out into the hall and tried the handle to the door. It was unlocked.

Aria took a breath, her heart began racing in her chest. A sense of déjà vu overwhelmed her. These people weren't here to hurt her, but she couldn't stop the fear and uncertainty she felt creeping in her blood.

She dropped to the floor, her legs tight to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees as she rocked back and forth. Aria trembled unable to stop shaking. She couldn't force the image of the doctor at the auction out of her mind. She grimaced and jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Aria blinked back the tears and loosened her grip around her knees. When did she start crying? Sniffling, she stood up, her legs were shaky and her body felt weak but she ignored the wave of dizziness. Aria hated that this girl, a stranger, was staring at her, questioning her.

"I'm fine," Aria said. She lied.

The stranger dug into the trunk at the bottom of the bunk beds, and removed a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. "Would you feel more comfortable in this?" she asked.

"Thank you." Aria took the clothes and bent down grabbing the flashlight from the floor. She scurried down the hall, finding an empty bathroom to change into. Quick to change, Aria wasted no time before she headed downstairs.

James stood over a table, drawing a map of the castle. Would Aria be forced to question its validity? She'd been at the castle but contained to the royal harem. Aria didn't know if she'd recognize the layout if it were doctored. She had to trust James, but could she?

"What's the plan?" Aria asked Rhys.

He glanced her over but didn't say a word.

She shut off the flashlight and handed it to him.

"After we're confident the map is reliable, we're going to infiltrate the castle, take down the guards that won't join us, and capture King Gideon," Rhys said.

James gripped the pencil in his hand and paused over the parchment. "And if the guards defend my father, the king of Brayleigh?"

"There are always casualties in war," Rhys said.

A lantern hung from the ceiling providing enough light for James to complete the map. Aria recognized a few of the women from the auction, but there were many more faces she didn't know. They saved her life. Did she not owe them her trust and gratitude?

* * * * *

The rebels produced a fire out back and fresh meat for all. Clearly there were hunters in the group. Aria hadn't been much for hunting. Without the equipment or the animals near the river, it had been no use. They had set up fishing traps and though she knew an abundance of cleaning and cooking fish, she could not help prepare dinner.

It felt nice to relax outside in front of the fire. The food smelled delicious and her mouth watered for the first time in days. Her appetite had returned.

Sitting on a log, Aria inhaled her food in a matter of minutes. The chicken tasted amazing and the rest of the meal, she had no idea what it was but she devoured it swiftly. There were no utensils, but Aria didn't seem to notice.

Rhys grabbed an extra skewer and handed it to Aria. "Here," he said.

How had he known that she was still hungry? Had it been the bones protruding from her hips or the fact her eyes wouldn't leave the sight of food?

"Thanks," Aria said and smiled politely. She ravaged the food and a tall glass of water, parched.

Aria didn't realize how full she was until her stomach grumbled in frustration, several minutes later. She hadn't eaten much in days and probably should have taken her time and not eaten such rich food.

The boys sat around the fire, talking and sharing stories.

Her stomach ached from so much food. The pain growing unbearable. Aria stood, deciding to check on James and then to lie down for bed.

She walked into the cabin and found the prince hunched over a table. James sketched the map, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Is that what the palace really looks like?" Aria asked, coming to stand beside him. The map was intricate and large. He finished sketching the royal harem for all four brothers and the halls connecting them. There were many more corridors and probably hidden passages as well to be added to the map.

"You tell me," he said. "You were there."

Aria shrugged. Should she tell him she barely knew her way downstairs? She didn't want to give him any indication that it would be okay to lie to these people.

"I'm doing this for you, Aria." His eyes were on the map.

Aria wasn't sure if he was unable to look at her or just trying to get the job completed before sunrise. "No," she said and rested a hand on his arm. "Do this for you, because you believe the world should be different."

He paused and put the pen down. "Suppose I agree with some of the rebels ideas," James said. "How do I know they won't murder my father and my brothers?"

Aria shrugged. "You don't know that. Any more than I could have known what would happen to Ethan."

"I'm sorry about your friend," James said.

She wanted to believe him, but she couldn't know if he was saying this to remain on her good side or something else was going on. "Thank you." She patted his shoulder and turned. "I'm heading to bed."

Aria climbed up the darkened stairwell. Her eyes adjusted and though she hadn't spent a tremendous amount of time at the cabin, she quickly got used to the layout.

The moonlight cascaded into the bedroom through the sheer curtains. She found an empty mattress, a bunk bed and took the bottom. Pulling back the covers, Aria laid down, grateful for more than just a blanket on the floor.

Exhausted, she shut her eyes but sleep didn't come. She couldn't turn off her mind, no matter how hard she tried. What had James intended to do with her had he won Aria at the auction? Had his father changed his mind and wanted his son to retrieve Aria?

She pulled the covers tighter around her petite form and shut her eyes wanting to end this day and start another one. It had been long, tiring, and exhausting.

Aria tossed and turned, sleep didn't appear to find her.

"Aria?" James asked. His voice soft and her eyes fluttered open staring at him kneeling beside the bed.

"Hmm?" Though she didn't feel as if she slept, she felt groggy.

"I'm sorry," he whispered finding her hands and kissing the smooth skin.

Aria didn't blame him, not for everything that had happened. He was born into this world, same as her. Aria knew though, that they have the power to change it, transform the system into something better. She felt confident people would listen. There were only few in power and if the largest and most influential ones fell, surely the monarchy would be forced to change.

"I know."

He was here with her. Aria felt that was evidence enough that he was trying to do the right thing, even if he was unsure what it is.

"Lay with me," Aria said and shifted slightly over for him to join her on the twin-sized mattress. There wasn't room, but neither seemed to care. "Why did you come?" she asked.

"I wanted to be with you."

"No." Aria shook her head. "The auction. Why did you show up at the auction?"

He exhaled a soft breath and wrapped an arm around her waist. She didn't stop him. She knew he'd probably fall off onto the floor if he didn't hold her close.

"My father told me you were gone, that he'd gotten rid of you." James grimaced. Clearly there had been more to the exchange than James confessed. "I asked around, it took me a few days to find out that you were part of the slave auction. As soon as I knew you'd be there, I traveled with Matthew to find you."