Blood Purple by Ashley Nemer Read Free Book Online

this. There you go, now slowly start to move your arm and hips simultaneously to get the full motion.” Nasir watched her learning the lines of cut.
    “Like this, Amm Nasir?” Her body was fluid, taking the sword over her right shoulder and slicing through the air down to her left, her hips moving in rhythm to her strokes. Over her left shoulder and down to the right side, back and forth, she perfected the first two lines.
    “That’s it, Nikole. Now remember, when you are fighting you never charge with your sword while running. You always maintain firm footing. That’s it. Now let’s try some exercises.” Together they repeated the lines of cut, this time towards each other, their swords clanging at each hit.
    “Okay, okay I get it now; I can handle this on my own.”
    Nasir stepped back laughing, to himself. He signalled one of his men to come and face her. Watching as the guard tried to keep up, Nikole ran circles around him. Too bad she hasn’t used the sword once. Out of blue the clang of the weapons chimed and followed by a small squeal. “What happened, Nikole?” He walked over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
    “He sliced my hair off! Look!!”
    A strand of her beautiful brown hair is lay on the grass. Nasir looked to his man, “She wasn’t protecting her head, and I just wanted her to see how close I could get.” Nasir motioned the man away, leaning over and picking up the hair. “Here Nikole, keep this so you always remember to protect your head; it’s very valuable. You never want to let your guard down. Now come on, let’s get dinner. All this fighting has me hungry.”
    Nasir let out a deep sigh. Nikole was like a bent to him, and now she was missing. He replaced the framed sketch and strand of hair on the table for safekeeping and returned to his walk down the hall to go speak to his men.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    O ne moment she was staring into Zayn’s face, the next, darkness. What had happened? Did she flash herself away? That made no sense; why would she do that? Looking for a light of any kind she realized she was in a cell. “Hello?”
    “I see you are awake, good. It’s time for you and me to have a talk.”
    “Derrik is that you?”
    “No, stupid girl, he isn’t here. Now be quiet while I ask my questions.” Panic started to sink into Nikole’s mind. What happened? Why was she being held? Hadn’t Derrik said he wasn’t out for her?
    “Princess Nikole, let me explain who I am, that way, when you speak, you will know how to conduct yourself. You see, your amm, Haydar has employed me to ensure your capture. We knew Derrik would find you, so all we had to do was follow him, and of course he led me right to you. My name is Hamza, and I am Haydar’s lead general.”
    Panic turned to deathly fear as Nikole listened to this man speak. His voice was slow, his words drawn out. “Tell me where your akh is. Tell me how to reach him and I will let you live.”
    “I think you have this wrong, Hamza. If you let me go, I promise my akh and I will kill you swiftly, instead of dragging it out.”
    “Wrong answer, Princess.”
    At that moment she heard the noise of footsteps. The cell opened and guards started coming in, five men, all with knives and swords pointed at her throat. They pulled her by her hair and dragged her out of the cell. She kicked at the men, hit one in the groin. Another came from behind and grabbed her arm. She spun, punching him in the throat. It was at that moment she felt the electricity soar through her body as she fell. She looked at Hamza, seeing the dark look in his eyes. It sent chills down her spine. He ordered her to be secured to a metal table. She glanced around and saw a knife set on the desk to the right and up above a waterspout, dripping drops of brown water.
    She closed her eyes and said a small prayer, hoping to come out of this alive. Nikole felt his rough hands holding her head in place. There was some