The Mamluks (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 1) Read online

  “Hey, Katie,” I said, surprised, opening my arms. I saw Bridget come in as we hugged. “It’s great to see you guys. How did you get here?”

  “We asked to see you, and they flew us over,” Bridget said.

  I moved away from Katie and hugged Bridget. “Where are your babies? I want to see them.”

  “They’re with our servants right now. But don’t worry. We’ll have time for all that,” Katie said, stopping at Juozas’s cradle. “Aw, he’s so cute.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What did you name him?” she went on.

  “Juozas.”

  We gathered around the cradle and watched him for a moment. But I was anxious to hear about their children.

  “What did you have, Katie?” I asked, oozing with excitement.

  “A girl. She’s so beautiful. I named her Lauren-Lynn.”

  I gave her a confused look. “Why two names?”

  “I couldn’t decide. So I gave her both.”

  I thought about the name for a second. “I like it. Makes her unique.”

  “Agreed,” Bridget said, smiling. “I had a boy. And, this won’t come as a surprise. I named him London.”

  I flashed an ecstatic smile. “That’s wonderful, Bridget.”

  “Yes. Awesome name,” Katie added.

  “Thank you both.” Then, Bridget gave me a puzzled look. “However, I’m curious, Emily. Why did you choose Juozas?

  “I didn’t. Giedre thought of it. I wanted him to have a Mamluk name.”

  “Why?” Katie asked.

  I pondered for a second. “You know—I really can’t say. I just looked at him and…it felt like the right thing to do.”

  Bridget shook her head. “No matter. It’s a fine name. They all are.”

  I smiled. “How about that? Lauren-Lynn—London—and Juozas.”

  Chapter 28

  We had been traveling for a few days, trying to find a new refuge. The sun was just coming up as we approached a rocky hill. We climbed to the top and checked the area. My body grew numb as I looked down on a landscape filled with sandstone buildings—surrounded by a beautiful forest of plants and trees.

  Madison gasped and covered her mouth. It was shocking to see how far the Mamluks had come. Gradually, I looked up and saw thousands of ships gliding through the sky, like traffic on the 405.

  “My God,” Robert said, pointing to his right. “Over there.”

  I looked to the right and realized the Mamluk city stretched on for miles—going as far as my eyes could see. It was a stark reminder that they had surely taken over the world.

  “Look,” Madison said, pointing at an approaching ship.

  But there was nowhere to run this time. No concrete blocks to hide behind. I turned and glanced at Robert and Madison, putting my hands up. They somberly followed along. I put my head down and listened as the ship drew near. Finally, a light came over us, and the ship landed on the hillside.

  I trembled mightily, feeling like this was the end. The ship opened up, and two soldiers came out. I closed my eyes as they marched on. I heard them stop in front of us and let out a sharp huff. They stayed quiet for a moment. Then they burst into laughter.

  “Lower your arms, Humans.”

  We put our hands down. I opened my eyes and looked up.

  One of the soldiers came up to Madison and kneeled. She put her finger under Madison's chin and lifted her head.

  “Why do you run from us?”

  Madison’s chest was pumping, and she had slow tears coming down her face. Still, she remained silent and looked on. The soldier smiled and glanced at her comrade. Then right after, she got up and stepped back.

  “Would you like to remain free, Human?”

  Madison stayed quiet.

  “I say this, Human. Knock me down. And you shall remain free.”

  The other soldier chuckled and crossed his arms. Madison didn’t move.

  “If you do not wish to be free—why run?”

  A message came over the radios on their devices. “Have you identified the life force?”

  The other soldier lifted his device to his mouth and pressed a button. “Yes, My Champion. Three humans.”

  Seconds later, their devices buzzed with another message. “Bring them to me.”

  The soldiers opened the ramp and ordered us to the ship. We hurried inside. They put us in a holding cell like the first time and took off. We landed shortly after, and the floor opened, dropping us to a grassy lawn. Then the ship flew away.

  I looked around as we got up. We were standing in front of a building the size of a palace. The trees and plants surrounding it were massive and exotic. I wondered if some of them were planted in one of the holes I helped dig. I looked up and saw a group of hovercrafts gliding over the forest, spraying water like crop dusters.

  The building was guarded by a few soldiers. But they weren’t paying much attention to us. Thereafter, a Mamluk came out of the building and walked down the long entrance steps. I took a good look at him and realized it was Adomas. The Champion.

  He came right at us and briefly looked us over.

  “Follow me.”

  Adomas led us inside and took us to a small, empty room on the first floor.“Undress.” We quickly took off our tattered, filthy bodysuits and placed them on the floor. Adomas lifted his arm and pressed a button on his device. A wide ranging, blinking light came out. He scanned us with it and a holographic screen popped out of the device. Adomas read some information on the screen.

  “Have you escaped us long?”

  We stayed silent, glancing at each other in fear.

  “Answer me. Or die where you stand.”

  “Yes. We have,” I mumbled.

  “Are there any others?”

  “No.”

  Finally, he moved the light away and turned it off. Adomas lifted the device to his mouth and pressed a button.

  “Have the servant bring me the essentials.”

  A response came back promptly. “Right away, My Champion.”

  Within minutes, a young girl wearing a white dress came to the room with a wooden cart. Inside the cart, she had three wooden bowls of goop, three wooden cups of water and some clothing. She carefully set the bowls and cups on the floor.

  “Eat. Drink.”

  We ate in a hurry and chugged the water.

  “Give them their attire.”

  The girl took the clothing out of the cart and walked to us. She handed me and Robert new bodysuits, then handed Madison a plain white dress.

  Robert and I gave each other horrified looks. Madison trembled and looked at us with watery eyes. And as a group, we were frozen, trying to grasp what was happening.

  “Dress!”

  We shuddered and jumped into our clothes.

  “Servant—take the female to a vacant room and clarify her duties.”

  The young girl pushed the cart into the hallway. “Please, follow me, Miss.”

  Madison stared at us as he walked on. I released a few tears as I watched her leave. Robert looked down and whispered a prayer.

  Afterward, Adomas took me and Robert to a dry spot of land on the other side of the building and handed us off to a soldier. Then he headed back inside.

  The soldier threw two shovels at us. “Begin your work.”

  We picked them up in a hurry and started digging.

  Minutes later, I looked up and saw Adomas watching us from a balcony, sitting on a sandstone chair that appeared to be built into the floor. I studied the balcony for a second and realized there was another chair just like it a few feet from his. But oddly, it was human sized.

  Chapter 29

  I went upstairs to the third floor and found Adomas sitting on the balcony. I walked over and took a seat on my chair.

  “Hello, Adomas.”

  “Emily.”

  A servant I had never seen before brought us some chilled drinks. I watched her carefully, wondering where she came from. The marks on her face and the horrendous cond
ition of her hair made me think she was recently removed from hard labor. Maybe they missed a few women?

  The servant left, giving me a clear view of the two slaves working on the dried soil for the garden we were planning.

  “Is Juozas well?” Adomas said.

  “Yes. He’s with Audrey.”

  Adomas lifted his arm and pressed some buttons on his device. A vivid hologram of an alien plant popped out and gradually spun around.

  He clicked through a few more. “What is your consideration of these plants?” I stopped him at a purple and white plant that looked like a tropical flower. “I like that one.”

  “That is a Voz. Very radiant.”

  “A Voz? Wow—this is so cool.”

  Adomas kept clicking through. I stopped him at an orange plant that, oddly enough, resembled a palm tree.

  “Oh, what’s that one called?”

  “That is a Zawe.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, definitely that one.” I felt a little silly looking at plants with him. Naturally, I was vulnerable in the presence of a Mamluk—especially Adomas. But for the first time, I was comfortable being around him. And, I was regaining some confidence.

  “You know…I get lonely sometimes, Adomas. It would be nice if we spent more time together.”

  He glanced at me and laughed. “I am amused by you, Emily.”

  I rolled my eyes and looked away. “I can see that.”

  “You humans are easily controlled by your emotions.”

  “Do Mamluks have emotions?” I asked sarcastically.

  “Certainly. However, we are not controlled by them.” Adomas bent down. “You must let go of your feelings to truly be free. Only then will you obtain the power we relish.” He slid his finger past the marble Dalia gave me.

  I looked down and stared at it for a second. “How can I ignore my feelings? That’s what makes me human.”

  “Abandon your humanity.”

  I chuckled. “How?”

  “By escaping your emotions.”

  I was getting irritated. “Adomas? Please—tell me.”

  “Only you can mend the conflict of your soul.”

  I paused for a moment and stared into the distance. Then, gradually, I looked down at the marble and watched the moving parts. “Oh my God,” I gasped. “Is that what this is? My soul?”

  Chapter 30

  I looked up at the balcony and saw a woman sitting next to Adomas. I stared at her for a long while, studying her mannerisms. For some reason, she seemed so familiar. Finally, she looked down and our eyes locked, and I realized who she was.

  “No—it can’t be.” I dropped my shovel and staggered ahead.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw a soldier lift his arm and aim at me.

  “Stop, Human!”

  I froze and yelled, “Emily!”

  Adomas stood up and walked to the railing. Emily got up and ran to the railing. She had to duck through the enormous pillars to get a better look.

  “Andrew?” she called out.

  “Yes—it’s me!”

  “Emily!” Robert shouted. “Thank God you’re all right.”

  “Soldier! Take them underground,” Adomas barked.

  The soldier snatched us and dragged us to a tunnel on the other side of the building. He headed inside and went to a narrow entryway. The soldier threw us into a dimly lit room. Then, he pressed a button on his device, and a metal door slid from the edge of the entryway and closed.

  “Are you all right, Robert?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  I stood up and saw that the room had stone candles embedded in the walls. Feeling lightheaded, I leaned against the wall and crumbled to the floor.

  “She’s alive and well.” It was gratifying to see the woman I loved once more. But I was also afraid that it might be the last time.

  Chapter 31

  Adomas brought me to my room. Audrey was sitting on the sofa tending to Juozas.

  “Return Juozas to his cradle and leave us,” Adomas snapped.

  Audrey hurried to the cradle, gently put Juozas inside and zipped out of the room.

  Adomas glared at me as he came close. “What is your association to that slave?”

  I took a deep breath. “We were in a relationship before the invasion.”

  Adomas looked me up and down. “Have you deceived me, Emily?”

  “No—never.” I carefully walked up to him. “Adomas, when I accepted my responsibility to nurture Juozas, I left the past behind. This is my life now.”

  Adomas stared at me for moment. “Come to the main entrance at sundown. You will be given an opportunity to prove your assertion.”

  I closed my eyes as I listened to him walk out, dreading my thoughts.

  At sundown, I went to the main entrance and found Adomas waiting for me. He was holding two circular devices.

  “Are you ready?”

  I nodded anxiously.

  “Follow me.”

  We went outside, and he led me to a dark tunnel on the right side of the building. Adomas lifted his arm and pressed a button, turning on the candles in the wall. He marched to the end of the tunnel and stopped at a metal door. Then, he pressed a button on his device, and the door slid open, revealing a small, dimly lit room.

  Adomas put his hand out toward the doorway. I walked inside and saw Andrew and Robert sitting on the floor.

  “Emily?” Andrew said.

  Right away, I realized this was my chance to ignore my emotions. I said nothing and waited for Adomas to give me instructions.

  Chapter 32

  I stared at Emily and waited for her to say something. Seeing Adomas there made me think she was being cautious. The rocky jewel she was wearing glowed in the murky light, making it easier to see her face.

  Adomas reached through the door and handed something to Emily. “Secure these collars around their necks.”

  I didn’t know what to think at first. In my heart, I felt that Emily could never bring herself to kill me, thinking that’s what the collars would do. But as she walked to me, I looked deep into her eyes and realized the woman I loved was gone.

  “My God, Emily. What have they done to you?”

  She ignored me and kneeled. I kept looking into her eyes, trying to find some compassion.

  “Don’t move.” Emily forcefully put the collar around my neck and closed it. She quickly shifted to Robert and put the other collar on him.

  “Why, Emily?” he groaned. As she rose, he closed his eyes and lowered his head. “God bless, my friend.”

  Emily turned away and left the room, never looking back. A slow, angry tear moved down my face as I watched her shadow fade away. I looked at Adomas and saw him lifting his arm. He pressed a button on his device, and our collars made a beeping sound. Suddenly, I felt a little more pressure around my neck. Adomas pressed another button that closed the door.

  I lowered my head and covered my face. “Not this, Emily. It can’t be this.”

  Part Three – New World Order

  Chapter 33

  I was at the beach with Juozas, playing in the water. He was older now. But since the Mamluks didn’t record time, I wasn’t sure of his exact age.

  Juozas was a little taller than me, and he looked to be well over two hundred pounds. Like all the Mamluks, his body was incredibly muscular. And, like all the male Mamluks, he had to keep his head shaved. In their culture, it was believed that only females should have hair.

  We were engaged in a feisty game of cat and mouse. I covered my eyes as Juozas chased me, splashing water at me. Finally, he caught me and pulled me down. I screamed cheerfully as I went under water. When he pulled me up, I coughed while laughing, and heard Juozas say, “I have you now, Mother.”

  I spit out a few gulps of water. “All right—I give up.”

  Afterward, we relaxed in the sand and dried off. In the distance, I could see a group of hovercrafts collecting water from the ocean. Each one had a metal hose that sucked the water into a vat. The wate
r was then transferred to the city and used as needed.

  Some of the water was brought to the sandstone buildings and spilled into a hole in the corner of each roof. Since the invasion, I had learned that every building had a filtration system that ran through the walls. It was yet another neat discovery about the Mamluk way of life.

  When we were finished, I had a patrolling soldier call our ship. It arrived within a few minutes and landed nearby, blowing some sand our way.

  “Why can’t we stay longer, Mother?”

  I brushed some sand off Juozas’s shoulders. “Because you have to eat and get ready for training in the morning.”

  We got on board and took off. The pilot went to our building and landed by the main entrance. The ramp opened, and we headed up the entry steps.

  “Go get ready, Sweetheart. Then meet us in the dining hall.”

  After showering and getting dressed, I went downstairs and found Adomas in the dining hall. Our newest servant was setting the table. Since her arrival, I had learned that her name was Madison.

  I walked ahead and took a seat by Adomas. Moments later, Juozas came into the dining hall and sat across from me. Madison finished setting the table and wheeled her cart into the catering hall. She came back shortly after with our food.

  Madison went to Juozas first and filled his plate with grilled meat and steamed vegetables.

  “Thank you,” he said, flashing a kind smile.

  I quickly glared at him. “Son, we don’t say 'Thank you' to servants.”

  Juozas looked down and frowned. “Sorry, Mother.”

  Madison finished her duties and went on her way.

  “Did you enjoy the shore, Juozas?” Adomas said.

  “Yes, Father. I won against Mother in the game we were playing.”

  Adomas chuckled. “What is this…game, you speak of?”

  “It’s called cat and mouse. I was the cat, and Mother was the mouse.”

  Adomas glanced at me, smiling. “This surprises me, Emily. The cat, or feline breed of this planet, is superior to the mouse. Is it not?”