My name is Royalty and I'm sixteen years old. I've just turned sixteen though and I had a rather quiet birthday as I'm really shy and I didn't have many friends at school. I really don't mind though. I have curly black hair which I keep shoulder length and blue eyes. I have a perfect smile with pure white teeth hidden behind sweet light pink lips.
I opened the door to the apartment I call my home and looked around and sighed. I threw my bag on the chair and looked around for something to eat. My little sister Lina crawled out from under the kitchen table with her pick teddy bear and ran to hug me. She had a wild imagination and for some reason she came up with the idea that the chairs and tables were like the walls of a castle and she would put all of her toys there when she wanted to play.
"Hey Ro—Ro." she said happily
"Hey kid." I took down two yogurts
She was almost three and starting school in a few weeks when September began. She looked like Cynthia and Mondo and not a bit like me. She had brown shoulder length hair and their brown eyes.
"Where's mom?" I asked handing her a yogurt and a spoon
"I'm here." I heard her voice and I turned around to face her "You're home very early Rei."
"The last period got cancelled because of an incident at school so the school was dismissed early." I told her opening my yogurt and sinking the spoon in.
My mom grinned at me slyly as she waltzed into the kitchen and turned on the radio.
"Oh mom." I rolled my eyes as she turned it onto a slow love song.
"Oh Royalty." she mocked me with a laugh "C'mon let's dance."
"No." I backed away from her "Big girls don't do those things. Dance with Lina."
"What no!" Hinako shot at me and then ran
"Girls." mother started but we were already up the stairs and laughing.
At around nine that night Lina and I were snuggled under the sheets and sleeping peacefully without any idea what was going on downstairs—well almost no idea. We were woken up by the sound of a fist being slammed hard on the table and I woke up in shock. I heard a soft knocking on my door and opened it. Lina was standing there in pajamas with her cream teddy in her hand.
"What's going on?" I asked her
"People down—tairs with mamma and papa." Lina took hold of my hand and pulled me to the end of the corridor over the living room
I saw my mother beginning to cry and for the first time I heard my father speak softly to her but with regret in his voice.
"Give us the rest of the day with them." I heard my father say
What on earth is he talking about? Who the heck is out there?
From on top all I could see was the feet of the people who were talking to my parents. I couldn't see the bodies clearly to know if they were male or female. We heard an army of feet march out the door and slam it close. Mother and father started to get up and I pulled Lina into her room quickly and ran into mine and ducked under the sheets fast.
The next morning I was woken up by my mother humming in my room as she pulled back the curtains. Her eyes were bloodshot red so I knew she was crying. I sat up and yawned as she gave me a weak smile.
"Breakfast is ready Ro." she said "You don't have school today so you can stay home."
"Why?" I asked
"Um....uh...food is ready. Get dressed please." my mother said then leaving
I knew she was hiding something. I ignored her and grabbed a towel and went to get Lina before dragging the little sleepy into the shower. I turned on the shower and undressed Lina then took off my clothes. I gently lifted up Lina and placed her in the shower and got in with her.
She was always trying to make my job of taking care of her easier even if she hardly knew how to do much by herself because I had to teach her. I took some soap in my hand and soaped down her small body and tickled her so she laughed a little and wiped suds on my face then laughed. I splashed her with water and she splashed me back. I bathe myself in front of her while she rinsed out. I shampooed her hair and rinsed it then did mine. I turned off the shower and we leapt out.
I dried her down with the towel then dried myself and wrapped in the towel and we walked out. She didn't care to the fact that she was walking around naked and I wish I could go back to being three. I quickly chose out clothes and changed and freshened up with deodorant and a small whiff of perfume while she chose what she wanted to wear. I help her put on her pink Dora panty and poured a little powder down inside then wiped some on her neck with some.
I put on her yellow shirt and small blue soft short pants and found her tiny pink slippers and slipped then on her feet then we went into the kitchen. Father was there with his head in his hands and I ignored him and gave mother a kissed then seated Lina down.
Mother had small pancakes ready and we ate in silence while father looked at us and shook his head sadly and in regret. I wondered what was up. He was extremely nice to the both of I wondered if he hit his head or something for him to be so sad. He was usually happy. He was really quiet and even quieter when he took us out for ice—cream and out for burgers and fries!
We came home that night talking and laughing but my happiness was shattered when I came around the corner to our apartment. There were two mean in suit outside our door with thick dark shades over their eyes. They guarded our door. I saw my father sigh regretfully and shake his head.
The men let us in and inside there were at least five more men in suits with the same thick shades around the room. My mother was there crying when she saw me she threw herself on me and sobbed.
"Mother, what's wrong?" I asked looking at her asked she dried her tears
My father looked away.
"What's all this?!" I demanded looking at him as Lina looked around confused and scared
"You're coming with us." a man's voice said and I looked up
A boy over 6 feet with a smooth thick Italian accent who was no more than nineteen was leaning on the kitchen counter looking at me with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't wearing a suit. He was in a blue shirt, white jeans and black shoes. His hair was jet black and really curly. He had cut the back of his hair low and it grew higher until he had a curly mass at the top if his head with blonde tips. His eyes were light blue but looked golden due to reflection.
"I'm not going anywhere!" I yelled at him then turned to my parents "What's going on!?"
"Royalty," my father said softly looking at me "I'm so sorry but we had no choice. We need money!"
"What?!" I asked confused
Needed money? We were happy with the normal amount of money. What the hell did I have to do with money?
"W—w—we..." my mother stammered
"They sold you over to us." the boy softly walking over to me
He put an arm around my waist then tilted up my chin with his finger and stared sympathetically into my eye. His eyes were like a clear blue sea that captured you.
"What? Sold? Money?" I asked choking on tears which started falling
"Yes Royalty." the boy said "You're coming with me. I'm sorry but you have to. Let's get going. I'll explain all this to you later."
"Hell NO!!" I shouted pushing him away "I'm not going anywhere with you! I don't even know you!"
"I'm Cristiano. Cristiano Arivonese." the boy said "I'm sorry but we have to go."
He motioned to two guards who grabbed me and I struggled to break free. I felt anger and pain growing in my heart.
My parents sold me to unknown people for money?
I felt tears rolling down the side of my face.
How could they? I thought they were my parents?
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY PARENTS?!" I yelled when they came outside crying as they dragged me away.
I saw Cristiano hand then an envelope bulging with money and my father hesitated. He looked at me being dragged down the corridor then took the envelope from Cristiano.
No way! The beast! His own daughters are being dragged away! Didn't he care?
Cristiano smiled then came down after me. I was pulled all the way from our apartment down to the road where I limo was parked and two other guys stood. When they saw us coming one opened the door and the other got in the front seat ready to drive. I struggled but I was pushed in roughly before Cristiano got in and pulled a gun out his pocket and I shrank back in fear and pressed closer to the door and held tighter to Lina. The other men got in and we drove away. Cristiano looked at me with his eyes very intense and scary and I drew closer to the door in fear not taking my eyes of him and the gun.
Please don't kill me!
"Do you promise that no matter what you wouldn't tell anyone of where you're going and who you'll be with?" he asked with his accent much stronger "By the code of Omertá?"
"Y—Y—Yes." I stammered wiping tears away but more came down "I promise. I promise. P—p—p—please let me go."
"I'm sorry Royalty." Cristiano said sadly "That is something I can't do."
I began to cry. I cried really hard. I was scared, terrified and most of all I was really confused. He looked at me sadly before taking out a handkerchief and putting it up to my face. I screamed even though the sound was muffled. I tried to pull his hand away from my face but he was really strong and I knew he wasn't using his full strength. I began to fell weak and dizzy and my vision began to get blurry and I began to see him in five different figures.
What's happening to me? Why is he in six different places at one time?
I tried to knock his hand away but my blows were weak. Finally I saw him as a blurry figure before everything went black and I collapse on the seat. I woke up a little while later with one splitting headache which restrained me from moving too fast in any direction. I tried to open my eyes but I realized I was blindfolded. I tried to move my hands but I they were tied tightly together. I began to cry silently and tried to keep calm. I heard the mean talking so I knew they were still around. The vehicle came to a stop and a hand untied the blindfold.
I looked around.
No way! Miami's Airport! Where the heck are we going?
"Where are we going?" I asked frightened as we parked at the back of the airport and I saw a large black jet with the same men in suits and shades waiting for us.
"Off to Italy bambina." Cristiano answered me smiling "Italy is like New York city now so it's not that ancient anymore so you won't miss home so much."
"I—Italy?" I asked in surprise "What? Why? Why am I tied up?"
"So you won't escape." Cristiano answered
"I'm not so dumb to do that after seeing the gun." I said looking away "I don't want to get shot. Please untie me."
He studied me for a while and I held out my hands to him. He put his hand in his pants pocket and pulled out a pocket knife which he used to cut the ropes. We got onto the jet which had long seats and a table filled with food and drinks. I remembered I hadn't eaten for the last three hours. Cristiano sat us down and the guards sat at the back not to bother us. They closed the door and we started off. I ate quietly then fell asleep after two hours as I was tired and worn out from crying and traveling. The flight lasted for another eight hours and ten minutes and when we got to Italy it was morning. Cristiano gently woke me up and I followed him out the jet and into the limo waiting for us.
We drove through the busy Italian streets and into town and it was like another New York City. We passed through and down to the coast then into a fancy driveway with cherry blossoms on either side. We pulled up at a club. There were guards at the door also. We got out and Cristiano led us up the stairs and into a club. It was pretty luxurious and it was clear the owners were rolling in tons of money.
"Where are we?" I asked shyly
"We're in Blue Bay Italy and you're in headquarters at the moment." Cristiano answered "My younger brother is out for now. You will be staying with us until we figure out what to do with you. My brother should be home sometime later and we'll give you details later."
What to do with me'? You mean rape me then kill me?
I looked around uneasily as people were dancing and partying. Girls were on the poles and men were throwing money like mad. People were drunk and the bartender had a hard time keeping up with the orders. Beside the usual smell of money and alcohol I smelt sex, lust, pleasure and something deadly.
I can't put my finger on the last smell though.
I was lead to the back of the club where girls were wearing lingerie and men were walking around in shades and tuxedos. I looked around nervously.
Where the hell am I?
Cristiano led me to a room at the back and dismissed the guards. The room was an office but a very rich and luxurious one. There was a big velvet couch at the back of the room which was part of a circle of velvet armchairs and a small glass table in the middle. The glass table was filled with files all in a neat stack. I turned to my right where there was a table filled with big black and silver briefcases. One was slightly opened and I saw a whole stack of hundred dollar bills.
What the heck is this place? Where am I? What's going on?
I turned to my right where there was a king sized bed behind a curtain of silk curtains. A thin section divided it from a stainless steel door with a keypad on the side. Cristiano dismissed the men and sat down in an armchair facing me.
"Do you have any idea so far where you are?" he questioned
"No." I answered "Where am I?"
"Promise you wouldn't leak a word?" he questioned "By the Omertá?"
"Yes." I answered eager to know
"Very well." Cristiano said then smiled at me slyly "Welcome to the mafia."
