Selanick carried the tray of White Amethyst to the altar. It was his duty as a nobleman's son. Even though he was more than old enough, sixteen, for his service, he still felt too young. He had been thrust into his position when his brother died from poisoning two years before. He was just as well-built as his brother had been, and had the same sandy blonde hair, the same deep blue eyes, the same fair complexion, that some had always thought that the two were one and the same. As he laid the tray full of the sparkling gem on the altar, he wondered what the Gods of Storm, Mines, and Laboring would want with it. All three already had infinite riches and the finest jewelry. It was true that the White Amethyst was a religious element, but Selanick had been taught that the stone was for the people, not the Gods. Still confused, he proceeded to the front row of the temple's pews as the prayer bell sounded.
King Balnor sat in his chamber, counting the White Amethyst crystals laid out before him.
"1,642; 1,643; 1,644..."
BONG!!! BONG!!!
"YAH!!!" The Prayer bell rang suddenly, startling the king. All the White Amethyst and the silver platter it was on, fell to the ground. The fragile gem shattered on the marble floor of the palace.
"Blast that infernal bell!" the king shouted in anger. He looked tearfully at the shattered stone at his feet. Quickly collecting himself, though, he called for his favorite servant girl.
"Meeka!"
"Yes, my lord?" The girl ran her fingers through the king's graying brown hair. Sweat trickled down his red face. Meeka's deep, sensual voice (and body) had always soothed the king, calmed his rages (but otherwise excited him). That's why he liked her, and the queen didn't.
"Meeka," said the king more softly, his hazel eyes flashing with desire, "Would you run to the temple and steal me...I mean fetch me...some more White Amethyst to count?"
"Certainly, my lord." Meeka slithered out of the king's chamber, and Queen DeMona, disgusted, watched and listened from a distance.
Meeka slinked into the temple. The slaves, including LaJeeya, trooped in behind her. Meeka knelt next to Selanick, while LaJeeya knelt behind them and began to pray. Meeka was older than both LaJeeya and Selanick at seventeen. Physically, she was generously endowed, with long black hair and steely turquoise eyes set against the fairest skin known to any man.
"Hello, Selanick," she whispered seductively in his ear as he prayed.
"Hello, Meeka," he coldly whispered back.
"Would you mind going up to the altar and getting some White Amethyst for me?"
"Go away, Meeka."
"Please?" Meeka stood up and faced the altar so Selanick could see her full bosom. The movement grabbed LaJeeya's interest; She hadn't been paying attention before, but she was now. She listened, careful not to let anyone notice. Selanick ignored Meeka.
"Just for me?" Meeka was beginning to sound desperate, but remained calm. So far, no man on Bakai had been able to resist her, and, as far as she was concerned, they weren't about to start now.
"No," Selanick said firmly.
"Maybe this will change your mind!" Meeka turned Selanick, kissing his lips passionately.
The stop in conversation made LaJeeya look up. She then gasped so loudly, that a few other worshippers shushed her. She jumped up and ran out the heavy doors of the temple.
When Meeka's soft, moist lips pressed against his, Selanick protested. When he heard murmuring, he struggled. When he heard the doors of the temple slam shut, he broke the kiss with Meeka, and ran out the door. When he saw LaJeeya running, he called out to her. "LaJeeya!"
"Selanick!" Meeka ran after him determined to carry out the king's request, and, she was growing more than fond of Selanick. He kisses so like his brother did," she thought to herself, Always pulling away so fast, as if he could taste it.
"LaJeeya, wait!" Selanick called to her with concern in his voice.
Meeka had all but opened the temple doors when she heard the two arguing. She stopped and listened.
Selanick grabbed LaJeeya's arm and spun her around. "What's the matter?" He asked the question, the concern in his voice growing.
"Why should you care?!" LaJeeya struggled to free herself from Selanick's grasp.
"Because you're my friend, that's why!" Selanick was beginning to get annoyed.
"Oh really?! You seem to care more for Meeka than you do me!" LaJeeya's retort was rather snobbish.
"What do you mean?"
"You kissed her."
"No, I didn't. She kissed me." Selanick's annoyance was growing. "Why does that bother you so much anyway?"
"Because...because...oh, you idiot! How can you be so blind?! It bothers me because I love you!" Surprised at what she just said, LaJeeya ran off crying.
Selanick stood there, stunned. Of course, he thought to himself. He spent a brief moment remembering his fourteenth birthday. He and LaJeeya had a race in a large field near the mines. When they both reached the finish line at the same time, they toppled over, laughing. LaJeeya had landed underneath him. Quickly realizing the position's significance, he pulled away. He remembered that she had almost tried to hold him down. His mind raced through the years, recalling more incidents of desire on LaJeeya's part; hugs that lasted uncomfortably long, her hand slipping into his as they walked through town, and soft whispers a little too close to his ear.
"Oh, my!" The sudden sound of Meeka's voice brought Selanick back to the present. Her arm slipped through his. "What a surprise!...But let's go back to the temple and get that White Amethyst, shall we?"
As Meeka led Selanick back into the temple, LaJeeya watched from afar. She looked for a second, but turned away.
He'll never love me, she thought sadly, Why do I even bother?
LaJeeya took the long way home, circling around the outside of the town square, instead of going through it. As she walked, she heard Selanick arguing with Meeka.
"Meeka, will you please leave me alone? You got what you wanted."
"But Selanick, I haven't been to your house in almost two years. I miss your mother." Just then, something dropped out of Meeka's hip pouch, and rolled toward LaJeeya. She picked it up and read the label.
" 'Sangreal berries and Helspawn.' Curious." She turned the jar over in her hands, and cautiously lifted the lid and took in the aroma. The scent made her a bit dizzy, so she closed the jar and continued looking it over. She found a small note attached: " 'Use on the boy's brother. Both will then be gone, and I will have no rival.' Well, the only person I know of that Meeka has been close to and has a brother is... Gods, no! Selanick!" LaJeeya ran to catch up to them, but was not fully aware of what she was doing.
"What?" Selanick spun around quickly, of course with Meeka following. She glared at LaJeeya until she saw what she was carrying.
"Give that to me, little girl! Now!" Meeka shouted desperately at the approaching girl. When she reached them, Meeka snatched the jar and shoved it back into her pouch.
"Thank you, little one. Now be on your way home. It's getting too late for girls your age."
LaJeeya watched them walk away, then, in a trance like state, she eventually found her way home.
