The Bite of a Snake - Chapter 6

Vincent had Francis get some of the servants and interrogate them to try to see if they knew or had heard anything. They had spent the day searching, questioning people, a lot. He believed a few knew something but weren't talking for some reason. He was deep in thought when a soft knock was heard on the door.

He pulled open the door and blinked wide eyed as arms suddenly wrapped around his neck and lips pressed against his. He scowled and reached up unwrapping Ophelia's hands from around his neck. "We already had this talk. Stop that, I'm getting married Ophelia." He said as he stepped back walking around to his desk.

She followed him and sat down gracefully folding her hands in her lap as her bottom lip pushed out in a pout. "Well rumor is she ran away, so why don't you just stop these games. You know you want me." Her eyes bore into his and he shook his head with a light snort. "No. I don't. At least not anymore. Now it is Nemny I want and Nemny alone."

Ophelia stood up, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "She is never coming back Vincent. Get that in your head. The quicker you do, the quicker you can stop these shenanigans and finally admit that we have something." Whirling around, she walked out slamming the door behind her causing Vincent to flinch and bring a hand up to his forehead then down the bridge of his nose. "This is too much..." he whispered to himself as his gaze moved to the fireplace a moment. He was deep in thought when something occurred in his mind. How could Ophelia be so sure Nemny wasn't coming back? He frowned and ran his fingers over the stubbles on his chin. No, Ophelia would never stoop so low as to make Nemny disappear. Would she...?

He shook his head but made a mental note to look further into it if other avenues continued to give them dead ends. He rubbed his tired eyes and sighed as another knock was heard at his door. He was about to answer when it opened, Francis walking in. The butler seemed to debate on how to find the right words before he blurted out. "A kitchen maid has made it known that she had seen the Princess along with Baron Van Meerschen the night she disappeared Sir." He folded his hands behind his back as he let Vincent digest the information.

The kings features contorted from surprise to questioning ending with a boiling anger. He rose from his chair and gave Francis one look before he dashed out of his office. Vincent ran down the hallway as he yelled at some of his men to follow him as he made his way to the stables. He mounted his horse once there and kicked it into a full run, leaving the palace grounds in a dash. Outside he seemed angry, inside; he was literally murdering the Baron in a thousand different ways. He simply hoped Nemny was alright, and if she was, why was she with the Baron?

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Nemny shivered and blushed deeply as the young boy and girl filled a bath with hot water as she stood naked against the wall. They had stripped her of her garments and she had been standing for a good twenty minutes. Tears began forming in her eyes as she thought of what was to come and she only noticed she had been pulled into the bath by the young girl when the hot water licked at her feet and up her legs and thighs. She lowered into the water and completely submerged herself before she raised her head above it. The two children began washing her, the boy taking a brush and gently brushing her long hair. She couldn't feel anything other than sorrow and was just as barely aware when they pulled her out.

They sat her on a bench and poured a liquid smelling as sweet as honey and just as thick into her hair. The boy continued brushing them as the young girl applied a buttery cream unto her flawless skin. Tears began running down her cheeks which she didn't bother to wipe away as she thought of Vincent. Funny how she suddenly longed for his presence when normally she could barely stand him. The girl nudged her gently, motioning for her to stand up and spread her arms bringing them up to shoulder level. Nemny did as she was told, the whole ordeal leaving her numb other than her need to get away. She knew that at this point all she could do is cross her fingers she would either find a way out, or someone would find her.

The boy and girl wrapped silk scarves around her, a mixture of red and purple. The scarves wrapped around her breast then around her hips, leaving her stomach uncovered. Her long black hair had two braids holding them away from her face and the young boy blew golden powder over them. They added the same gold shiver to her skin before they added a third long scarf, this one looped around her neck and falling down her back and sweeping at her ankles. Her feet had been left bare except for a golden ankle bracelet which happened to match the ones around her wrist. They placed a gold ring in her nose, making it seem as though it were pierced and long hoops were placed on her ears. They added a last purple veil above her head which swept down and covered her features down to her belly.

The boy flashed a smile up at her and spoke very softly. "Do not look so sad. You are very pretty. I'm sure a good man will take you." Nemny smiled knowing he was trying to be flattering and kissed the top of his head. "I had a very good man already..." She said softly before she turned towards the door as a soft click was heard. Lady Milena strode in a please glint in her eyes. "You truly are a jewel. The bid for your virginity has already started and is rising. Wait till they actually see you. I think you will be one of my highest prizes." She gloated as she pushed Nemny towards the door. The princess was guided to a door which she learned was the door leading to the lounge room.

Nemny shook her head as she refused to move forward, earning herself a harsh slap on the butt. "You are going out there, and you are going to show yourself, parade between the tables, smile, refill their drinks or take their shisha pipes when they are done to add another." With that said she was handed a platter which she struggled to balance and brown sugar, cream and hot tea was placed on it. She held it with her two hands and hesitantly stepped out. Some girls were laughing sitting in these men's laps as they balanced the tray in one hand while others were refilling their drinks. They all had bright smiles on their faces and seemed at ease though truth be told very few of them truly appreciated the place.

Nemny walked forward and attempted a shy smile at a group of men whose skin was as black as the night. Their complexion was so dark it almost looked purple and she couldn't help but stare at them in curiosity until one of them noticed her and waved her forward. She blushed at having been caught and hesitated before she move forward and plastered her brightest smile on her lips. "Would you like a refill gentlemen?" Two of the three men nodded as they looked her over slowly.

One of the men leaned into another and whispered something in his ear earning a laugh from his companion. Nemny looked at them quizzically before she lowered her eyes as she refilled the drinks. One of the man, medium built, hair shaved bald and wearing a pair of loose fitted beige pants and a matching shirt, gold hanging in his neck and wrist leaned forward. "My companion said he would like to know what it is like to wake up legs tangled, his dark skin against your pale one." All three men laughed as Nemny blushed deeply underneath her veil as she spoke softly. "I'm afraid I cannot answer that question." She cleared her throat as she bowed her head and went to move when a dark hand shot up and gripped her wrist. "Don't leave so quickly, spend some time with us." She paled slightly and nodded a bit before she stood at the end of their table awkwardly.

The man who had whispered took the tray from her hand placing it on the table before he grabbed her wrist and twirled her into his lap. All men laughed as Nemny let out a soft surprised squeal and shifted awkwardly. "My friend has entered the bid for you." The beige clad man spoke. It seemed he was the only of the three who could remotely speak her language, making the conversation somewhat hard to follow. At his words the princess looked at the man she was sitting on and bit her lip hard. Gods she had to get away. Not that the man wasn't pleasant for the eye.

On the contrary, even with his dark complexion, one she had never seen before, his features were soft and delicate. His hair was braided flat on his head and she watched the patterns before she looked back down at him. As she was about to speak Lady Milena appeared, a wide grin on her lips. "Everything going well gentlemen?" The man translated for his companions and they all gave a satisfied nod. "Well I have the pleasure to announce you are the winning bidder. You can claim your prize tonight." The men clapped and shook hands as they leered at her grinning. Nemny shuddered and stood up under the pretense of getting more tea before she fled the room tears clinging at her lashes.

As she entered the kitchen, she closed her eyes and breathed slowly before a waiter came and replaced the now cold tea with a hot one. Her hands shook as she tried to take the tray and she rubbed her knuckles as she glanced out a high window. "Gods please... save me..." she whispered in a tear filled voice.