The Bodyguard

| chapter -1 |

My dad on other never married. So Meli was the only woman that I could interact with.

But even my love for her couldn't stop me from running away. It was just a little stunt I want to pull to frighten my father, nothing major. But if I told Meli about it, my father would know even before I could blink.

"Alisha, going somewhere?" Meli's voice stopped me in my path.

It was way past three at night and I thought this close to sixty women might be asleep but here she was glowering at me in the semi-darkness.

"Umm...party?" What a miserable Alisha.

I can't go to parties, too many enemies. I am home schooled because ... I was gangster's daughter. My only interaction was with the men in our gang. And no one even talked to me due to dad's fear. The only other person who talked to me, bought me concert tickets, ice creams and stuff was Terell, my dad's right-hand man and like an older brother to me.

"Wearing joggers pant and sweat?" The old lady was mocking me.

"Running away," I answered with the truth this time.

"Because Master needs a son." See, even she knew.

I nodded.

"And what good will running way do?"

"He will realize my worth." Hopefully.

"You have tried this like five times before." She sounded amused.

Yes, go laugh at my expense.

"I thought this might be successful." I started moving back in the room silently pledging not to talk to my dad for a week.

"Then take this and go." Her words stopped me in my tracks.

"What?" She did not just allow me to run away.

"Here, take this and leave. I will cover for you." She handed me a fucking water bottle for running away but I took it anyway.

"You are not tricking me?"

She laughed at my question and shook her head with too much gray hair on it.

"Now go and have fun." And then she bloody winked at me.

And so I ran.

***

Running apparently is not a good idea when you have to dodge dozens of guards, have to kick too many butts but that was easy part since I had no idea where to run off to. Taking a motel or hotel will be useless, they all loved my dad. Hiding in a place with CCTV was stupid so I just kept walking through the forest area.

I was glad that I at least had few clothes, energy bars and a water bottle.

I was missing my bed already and it was nearing dawn now. Dad must be furious but his wish of having a son infuriated me and I kept walking. I could always go to my Terrell's place but he was too loyal to dad. He was my last hope for now. I just have to convince him enough.

Too tired to walk I sat down on the grass , leaning my back on the tree and took a gulp of water from the bottle. As soon as I drank it, it burned my throat. Did the old woman give me something acidic? And suddenly I felt a jolt in my gut and for a moment I lost consciousness.

I opened my eyes next moment and I was fine. I sighed in relief that the water was not poisoned.

"Tonight we kill the prince and be done with it. We don't want any more heirs to the throne to block our passage." A voice said not from far.

Was a prince codename for some gang leader?

And then I saw them ...on horses, on bloody horses!

They carried a sword, wore a robe like uniform and carried swords. Their faces were covered and one of them carried a fire torch.

They got be joking, was it Halloween already?

I stayed hidden just because of my sharp instinct.

"Hail King Engel." The group of ten said all dressed in black and rode off.

I stepped out of the hiding and came to the road. I was in my city alright but where are the streetlamps and the speeding cars? I walked ahead to find more forest, darkness and no buildings.

Where the hell was I? I even left my cell phone behind. I pulled out a dagger from my boots and moved carefully on the path carved by the moonlight. Suddenly I heard someone groaning in pain in the dark and clutching my dagger tightly I moved closer to the sound almost falling over someone's foot.

"Help the prince." The voice said.

Way to early for Halloween jokes, still a month to go.

"What the hell happened to you?" I asked not able to see clearly in the dark.

Suddenly he held my hands in his and I reacted immediately pulling it away.

"Please, help the prince. They will kill him tonight." He sounded sincere and desperate.

"And how am I supposed to save someone I don't know?" I humored him.

"Take my horse to the palace, fast."

"And leave you here to die?" I asked realizing that he was growing short of breath.

What the hell was happening I had no idea.

"It is my first duty to protect the Prince, my life doesn't matter. Now take this and go." He handed me a silver anchor and pushed me.

"Enough dude, this was good acting now get up," I said but I realized in the silence of night there was no sound.

Not even the sound of his breathing. I used my fingers to see his nerve on the neck . The guy was dead. A little shocked I walked to his horse standing further in the forest waiting for his master. I have ridden horses before so I was not worried. But for the first time in my life I was scared.

Prince? Swords? Loyal bodyguards? Where the hell am I?

**************************

Here goes nothing *phew*

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