Read The Mamluks (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 1) for Free Online Page B

stopped. “My soldiers, you may begin your selection.”
    They rose and walked from place to place, scanning the
women.
    Katie grabbed my hand. “Emily?”
    “Calm down. It will be all right.”
    I stood there and looked on. But for some reason, none of
them were looking at me. Finally, a soldier came up to us.
    “You,” he said, pointing at Katie. “Come with me.”
    She let go of me and went with him. Then, another soldier
came over and took Bridget. Soon after, all the women were gone, leaving me
alone in the hallway.
    I watched the last couple go downstairs, feeling confused.
Slowly, I turned my head and saw Adomas—still standing at the end of the room.
I became numb as he walked toward me. Adomas stopped in front of me. I looked
up at him, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
    “Follow me.”
    Adomas led me to a room on the next floor down. There was
only a large bed inside. He walked to the bed and sat down.
    “Undress.”
    My eyes watered as I stripped down. I could feel him
watching me, and it made my stomach curl. I covered my chest as I stood there
naked.
    “Come to me.”
    I walked to the bed and stopped at his feet. He slid his
massive hand onto my back and pulled me closer. I breathed heavily as he bent
down. Adomas sniffed my body for a second, oozing with pleasure. He took his
time as he went on, gently kissing my breast and roughly fondling between my
legs.
    Adomas picked me up with ease and set me down on the bed. He
stood up and took his clothes off. I looked below his waist and winced. As he
came onto the bed, I crawled backwards and got off.
    “No—I won’t,” I snapped, covering my chest.
    Adomas glared at me.
    I stared at him for a moment, then fearfully looked away. “I
want to talk first.”
    Adomas laughed. He sat on the bed and leaned against the
backboard. “You are brave to defy me.”
    I slowly looked back at him.
    “I was wise to choose you.” Adomas smiled and waved me over.
    I climbed on the bed and crawled to him.
    “Tell me your name.”
    I stopped by his arm. “Emily.”
    Adomas reached up and gently placed his index finger on my
chin, lifting my head.
    “What troubles you, Emily? ”
    I blinked uncontrollably as I looked into his eyes.
“Everything. Please —tell me why you’re doing this.”
    “In time, you will learn of the Mamluks.”
    Naturally, I was a little relieved that he didn’t
kill me. So I slid down and opened my legs. Adomas got on top. I inhaled deeply,
tucked my lips, then exhaled through my nose and closed my eyes.

 
     
    Chapter 19
     
    Our food and water supply was almost out. Everyone gathered
around the fire. I let out a nasty cough and wrapped my arms around my stomach,
feeling the hunger. Madison was sitting next to me, holding her hands by the
fire.
    “All right everyone. It’s time to make a decision. We can
either stay here and continue to search the rubble—or go back to the surface
and pray they don’t find us,” Robert said.
    No one said anything at first.
    “We have no choice. Even if we find more food—it won’t
last,” I said.
    “No, we do have a choice,” a man said. “We can either die
down here or die up there. And I ain’t digging no more holes.”
    I nodded. “He’s right. There’s no point debating this.”
    Robert let out a deep sigh. “Fine. Anyone who chooses to go
back to the surface, follow me.”
    Madison and I got off the floor. We put some food in a muddy
shirt and tied it up. Robert did the same. Then, each of us grabbed a
splintered log off the pile in the corner and burned the top. Before we headed
out, I paused and looked over to the others.
    “Is there anyone else?”
    They said nothing and looked on with blank stares.
    I stood there for a moment, in shock. “Good luck to you
all.”
    We marched into the sewers and climbed through the rubble.
    “Keep your eyes open for anything valuable,” Robert said.
    We went nonstop for what felt like an eternity. Finally, we
found light from above.