Malika P.O.V

My dress trails behind me, picking up mod from the street. Not that it mattered anymore, as the dress had already been ruined by the river water. Even though our heads had not been submerged, our hair was still dripping. At least our wet appearance did not look out of place, as the rain fell in stripes.

The old gate where the river flowed through the wall had been rusted shut. We had pushed and pulled, but it barely moved. Fiddling with the gate while standing in the cool water felt like needles on our skin. At last, we did get the gate to open, but only enough to get through. With all of the noise we made, it's nearly miraculous that no guard caught us. The security has a significant need for strengthening. Even though no intruder would use this way. Since only a few people know this old rusty gate can be opened.

Valor has a quick pace, it's difficult to keep up with him. My teeth are chattering, my body is shivering, and the wind is frigid. I wouldn't be surprised if I awoke with a cold tomorrow. "Valor, please slow your tempo, I can't keep up." He stopped and turned around, giving me an angry glance. "This Is why I didn't want you to come!" When he spotted my trembling body, his enraged look changed into one of guilt. "I am sorry Malika. But we can't stop. It's crucial we get there. if I lose her. I won't be able to keep living like this. I rather die then living with this curse." The gravity of his his words hit me in the gut, I had no idea how badly the curse affected him, he had been acting as if though he had everything under control. I've been too distracted to realize how it's tearing him apart. I take a few steps forward till I am right alongside him. "Let's continue, just try and walk at a pace I can keep up with."

The silence of the city is eerie. It's the perfect time for a couple of criminals to rob someone like us. But it seems luck is on our side tonight, as the few people who are out, are avoiding us. "How do you feel about Teival? Do you want to marry him?" Valor asks out of nowhere. "What sort of question is that? Of course, I do. Besides It doesn't matter if I don't want to marry The Duke. I don't have the option to reject him." "I do not like him," Valor says. "Why don't you like him? He has been nothing but kind." Teival has been reasonable in all aspects since I first met him.

"That's why, since he came, he's been too kind. He has agreed to everything for the wedding, with no demands. He has no opinion of his own. He even agreed to marry in our church, not one of his religion. " "That was his own suggestion, as he has no ties to the city and felt it should be in our home of faith rather than somewhere unfamiliar to both of us." I defend. "Don't you find it strange he follows all of his religious laws to the letter? But getting married under his god apparently doesn't matter." Valor kicks something on the ground. Before continue speaking "I'm afraid it's all an act. He needs this wedding. He will not risk anything to compromise it." Perhaps he is correct. After all, I've only known him for a week, and it's easy to put on an act. Teival does stand to gain a lot from this wedding. But even if it is an act, I still have no say in this wedding. "It doesn't matter Valor. he could be the worst man alive. You know I can't do against Father's orders."

Valor does not reply and I don't want to continue this conversation. In silence, I follow him along a street that appears shady. It is narrow and irregular to walk on. My nose caught a putrid smell, that with every step seemed to get stronger. "Are you certain this is the right way? After all who wants to keep their establishment in a place like this." I ask. "I forgot to tell you, didn't I? Malika where we're heading..... well its-" He turns to face me, hand on his neck, hesitant to speak. "It's a place where women exchange favours for money" Favours for money? The sentence is in my thoughts for a few seconds before it registers. Oh! he doesn't mean that, does he? "Are we going to a brothel?-" Valor's eyes widened.

"We can't go to a place like that, it's ungodly, it's disgusting, Its...its. Valor why are we going there?!" If I had known we were going to a place like that, I would not have come. "How do you know what a brothel is?" Valor asks, completely ignoring what I just said, "I may be a sheltered princess. But even the bible talks about such places. Why did I come? This is ridiculous, I should have gone to Father." But I couldn't, and I know why. Guilt, that's why I came. "Let's just get going, it should be on this street," Valor says. And as much as I wanna turn around and walk home. By now I can't.

I almost walked into Valor, when he stopped abruptly and said, "I think it's here." The building we're in front of is sleazy. On the door hangs a sign that says MeNs blissfuLL menDeRs, the person who made that can't have had a proper education. I cross my arms trying to shield myself, I don't want to enter that place. "Please, God, let her be here," Valor pleads, knocking on the door . A woman with long black hair opens it, she was only wearing a breast bag and a torn skirt. We must have looked quite shocked after viewing her appearance.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Is this your first time here, love? Do not worry, we will take good care of you." She touches his shoulder while flashing him a smile, her teeth looking quite yellow. When she looked my way she scowled "I must say, it's rare we get couples." I gasped, "Oh no, we're not, he's not." Valor interrupts me. "We are not here for service, we are here to meet with someone." She moves away from the door. "You are the ones Dolion is waiting for, he is upstairs-." She winks at him and says,"But you know handsome if you want to have a good time, come find me afterwards ." Her offer make me want to throw up. "Your offer is very generous." Valor mutters.

The nausea I have gets worse when I touch the ladder, its covered in dirt and sticky to the touch. "We should split, to find them faster." Valor says. "That is a horrible idea, do you know what we could find behind these doors." "I know it is not safe, but the sooner we find them, the sooner we can leave this nasty place. I am going with this side." He says, moving to the left. For a moment I close my eyes, and just breathe, I can do this. Just go in and out of each room.

Pulling back the curtain. All I see is a dark room, I am about to turn to leave. When I feel an arm around my shoulder. In a swift motion I am forced up against the wall. A hooded figure is all I can make out in the dark. I want to yell, but it is as if my voice has stopped working. "What are you doing here?" I feel something painful and hot on my cheek, did he cut me? Not knowing what to say I stuttered out the first thing I could think of "I am looking for my brother."

The man is silent, my gaze shifts to the knife at my cheek. He pulls it away, letting go of my arm. "A charming girl like you shouldn't be in a place like this, go home your brother will return when he has finished his business." He do not need to tell me that again. I hurried away from him, not stopping until I reached the ladder. There was no sight of Valor. Brother or not, there is no way I am waiting here. As I put my foot on the first step, a familiar voice comes from below. it can't be, what would he be doing here? Putting my head through the hole I search the owner of the voice . I hadn't been mistaken, Governor Brewer is here, in a brothel.

I cannot believe this. That he would seeks such company. His poor wife. "Here is your money," A woman with golden is handing him what looks like different currency. Why is she giving him money? I won't claim to know anything about these places, but isn't he the one who should pay "For once you are paying the full amount, has work picked up." He replies with a chuckle. "We barely scraped by Sir, you need to lower the rent and protection fee, this place can't keep running, we can barely afford food." Protection fee? Those are illegal "Maybe you should consider taking more money, for your services Ashley." "Look at this place, no one would come if we cost more." How can an official man act in such a manner? He won't get away with this. I will make sure Father knows about this.

Hearing footsteps, I look up hoping to see Valor, But it's a woman. While running past me in the narrow hall, the cloth of her chemise touches me for a briefly. Before she disappears into the room where man is in. Looking down the hole once more, I see The Govenor leaving out the door. Good, then I can leave. Halfway down a woman asks, "Who the hell are you?" It's the blond woman who spoke with The governor. The Black-hair woman is also present. A man in rags has his arm around her shoulder. "You knoooow. I think a raaather want heeer." He says in a slurred speech, while stumbling towards me.

"No, you don't touch her. She is not a worker." The blond woman steps in between the man and myself. "Doon't teeell me what to..to do slut." He grumbles. "Mr, I think it's best you leave," She holds up a hand a flat hand. A short Asian man I hadn't noticed approached them. He is dressed in clothes that are too large. "You heard her, leave." The drunk man turns and laughs. "Whaaat are you gonna do... shorty." The drunk man swings his arm in a wobble fashion. The other man grips the arm, and in a swift motion forces him to the floor.

The inebriated man yells some derogatory words, but the man who is holding him down, does not appear to be moved by them. "This was unesasary." The blonde shook her head. Then she turns to me and asks. "What are you doing here?" I gaze down at the floor, avoiding their stares. Should I yell for Valor or tell a lie. "I..am." my voice is practically silent. "Speak up."

Thud thud, the sound of loud bangs from outside causes them to turn and stare towards it. A bang is heard in the room as the door is forced open. There is no mistaking the uniform. Its the royal guards are standing by at the entryway. The Eastern man who is holding the drunk, scrambles to his feets. But before he can get up, a guard tackles him to the ground. The new Captain steps into the house, Is it Basil he is called?

I pull my hood further down to try and cover my face. How can I possible get out of this situation? "We heard that this place housed three deserters, it appears to be true-" The Captain kneels down to look at the Eastern, who has been restrained to the floor. "Good evening Narin, where are the others?" "Eat dirt!" Narin spits. The Captain stands up, he scowl. "Search the place," he orders. One of the guards approaches me- "You. Let me see your face." he dosen't wait for a response before pulling my hood down. "Princess Malika!"