It's not been a week yet, but Isabel felt that she's been in the resort for a long time already. Today she spends her time alone on the beach.
She enjoyed collecting seashells, as there's plenty, and chose those that have shades of colors that reminded her of the community playground near her house back home.
She planned to make crafts like this before, but so many things distracted her.
She played with the little crab.
"You like chasing the waves too, huh?" She talked to it like it's her newfound pet.
She even helped it chase the waves and laughed at her own silliness. Little things that represented life were valuable for dying ones, she thought. She wouldn't have had this philosophical inclination a few months back when everything was normal.
The sun made her skin look redder than brown. Subconsciously, draw a figure in the sand. It's a figure of a buff-shouldered man with dreadlocks. She didn't have a chance to realize that she drew Hash's image. The waves washed it away.
She then pushed the talk button on the two-way radio.
"Alex it's me, Isabel, don't bother bringing me dinner, I'll walk myself to the grove." The meals the resort served her were delicious and probably prepared by Michellin Chefs, but it's so sad eating by yourself.
"Copy." the word Alex said, barely even heard, overpowered by a static sound of the two-way radio.
Isabel just shrugged her shoulders on her guide's attitude, it's not rude nor unaccommodating, she just lacks this element of warmth.
She would lie if the resort's beauty didn't take her breath away. It was where nature and human architecture meet. Too bad only the dying can enjoy its pristine beauty.
"Right, how lucky a dying person can be?" She giggled to herself.
It's a few kilometers walk, but it relaxed her. The sea wind blew her sundress, the wind suddenly made her lonely. The coolness of the breeze penetrated her skin and made her goosebumps.
She wished she had brought her dad's jacket or her brother's cap. She embraced herself and stared at the ocean, and hoped that a ship that will bring her parents to her.
"Shit, this how it feels to be alone and dying?" She murmured.
Yesterday she thought she was having the best day of her life, but now. Tears are about to fall, but the sound of a seabird stopped her. She walked hurriedly to avoid the birds. Until she reached the stone garden.
It means she's near the grove. She saw no one in the garden ever since she came to the resort. Maybe no one was religious or spiritual enough in this place.
She shrugged off and continue walking. She suddenly smells the familiar aroma and tried turning her head around to look for the familiar hut.
"Hash, show yourself and tell me I'm not just imagining you!" She demanded, as if Hash was really somewhere near her. She waited for a few more minutes for him to appear. No one appears.
"Okay, that's embarrassing." She murmured and continue walking towards the grove, but she kept looking back, afraid that she would miss something in case Hash will appear and she's not looking.
But she reached the grove, and no one appeared near her. The grove was packed and no available seats anymore. Some were sitting under the palm trees or standing.
The smoke from the barbequed beef smells good and made her mouth water. She hurried and catch that freshly grilled chunk of meat.
"Don't worry, we have plenty of stock, young lady." The man in charge of grilling made a chuckling sound upon seeing her so eager. She gave him a toothy grin, like he caught her being naughty.
While Hash was now back in his quarter, tried studying the illustration of a machine gun and its composition.
He quickly sketched it in a piece of parchment so that he won't waste too much battery life of Isabel's iPhone while sipping wine from a golden cup. He annexed it, and each part had labels and functions.
He seriously studied the illustration. He was just being drunk with his euphoria of the information in his hand when someone outside called for him outside.
"What is it again?" He asked irritably, keeping the iPhone in his garb as quickly as he can.
"Your highness, I was sent by Prince Ibir." It's a woman's voice.
"What do you need?" He asked dismissively. Of course, he knew his brother's intention. This was not the first time this happened.
Her purpose was to give Prince Hashim pleasure for the night. However, he wants. It's not only an honor but a privilege to be selected to pleasure the crowned prince. She was hoping she could join the pageant.
Prince Hashim was the most attractive not only among the princes but the entire kingdom. So she volunteered. Mau was the prettiest in her tribe, and when she heard her father and Prince Ibir's men talking, she talked to her father after the palace men left.
"I came to give your highness' pleasure this evening." She breathed, almost like a whisper. She's a little timid, she's a virgin after all.
Hash opened his door, and he found the most exquisite beauty in the entire kingdom. She was wearing a red dress covered with a veil. A veil was a custom for Novalian women, similar to Muslim and Jewish customs in ancient times. And that appearance made every man extremely crazy to check what's that cloth hiding underneath.
"Come here." He pulled her and suck her lips right away.
"What's your name, kitten?" The way he asked her was like he will devour her anytime.
"Mau." voice shaken and surprised. Hash felt her fear of him.
"Ha-ha, I guessed your name right," he whispered in her ear and nibble her lobe. Mau means cat in Novalia.
"My brother knows how to favor me." He chuckled and takes off Mau's delicate clothes.
"Dance for me, Baby." He ordered, and then he sat on his bed pulling Mau closer to him.
Mau was a traditional woman, and they trained her to please her future husband, so she knew what Hash meant. Novalian women knew how to strip dance the ancient way.
It was an honor to please the future king. Even if she won't get chosen, Novalian men would have a taste of how the king was pleased. But Mau knew he would choose her.
Hash made her sit in his lap and touched her body while kissing her. Mau moaned uncontrollably. Hash's hand brings pleasure to her more than she brought him pleasure.
"You like it, don't you?"