“Back up, slave,” a guard barked.
My father obediently retreated a few steps.
“Get them back to work.” Leda’s voice pulled my attention away. “And take these ones to the market. Make sure you get a good price.”
As the guards collected chains from the empty cart, I felt the world crumble beneath me.
No, no, no.
The women began to wail in protest as iron collars were fastened around their throats. Some attempted to wrestle the bindings away, but they were powerless against the guards who effortlessly restrained them.
My mother did not fight as they secured her metal collar.
“No!” The scream ripped itself from my throat. “Get away fromher! Stop!”
“Melantho!” My father’s voice chased me as I bolted forward.
Two guards lunged at me, but I pivoted around them, slipping from their grasp as I raced ahead, my feet pounding desperately against the earth.
When I reached my mother, I flung my arms around her neck, the coldness of her shackles biting against my skin. I pulled back, panic strangling logic as I tried to tear her chains apart with my bare hands.
“They can’t take you,” I wept. “You can’t leave me—”
The words were cleaved from my lungs as an arm locked around my waist, hauling me backward. I tried to hold on to my mother’s hands, but the guard tugged me so hard I thought my ribs might crack.Still, I thrashed against him, foaming at the mouth like some wild, cornered creature.
“Please, my queen, she is my daughter,” I was faintly aware of someone saying.
“Control her then,” Leda replied flatly.
I was thrust into unfamiliar arms. My father’s.
“Do something!” I screamed at him.
His wounded eyes lifted to my mother, then turned to our queen. His throat bobbed, his breathing shallow.
“We must obey, Melantho,” he said.
“No, no, no!” I sobbed. “Help her! Please!”
“I cannot. I’m sorry,” he murmured to the ground, looking so small and pathetic, as if his spine had been ripped out, leaving him to melt into the dirt.
I heard chains clinking as the guards began loading the women onto the cart. At the same moment, my father tightened his grip, holding me still.
“Melantho, please be calm,” he whispered in my ear. “Please obey.”
“I hate you!” I screamed, elbowing him hard in the stomach. He doubled over, and I took the opportunity to rip myself free.
My mother was in the cart now, and I scrambled up to her, sobbingbreathlessly, but two firm hands landed on my shoulders, halting me.
Mymother’shands.
“Melantho, you need to stop,” she told me, voice thick and trembling. “Please, my heart. Stop this.”
“No! I won’t let them take you!” I was barely able to get the words out as I choked on desperate tears.
“You must.”
I wanted to ask her why. I wanted to scream it.
