Kitanna
Chapter 194: SWITCHED

Chapter 194: SWITCHED

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES NOT~ JESSICA BIAO]

Cortez made his way back to the gathering; people were now enjoying themselves as if his goods did not just burn to the ground. It was always like that – if you’re not ready to take risks and have losses, then don’t venture into being a merchant. Most merchants have had their goods lost in the sea, burnt, and stolen by bandits, so it was not a new thing to them.

Cortez wouldn’t have been bothered if it was a natural occurrence, but this was premeditated by someone who always followed him around, and that person needed to pay the price.

"Cortez, where have you been? I’ve been so worried that you would try to harm yourself. Don’t worry about the goods; I’ll tell my father to..." Abigail’s voice trailed as she tried to look supportive in front of Cortez. Unbeknownst to her, the young wise merchant knew there were snakes in the grass.

Cortez smiled as he watched Abigail chatter away like a parrot. He raised his hands to her face, touching her lips in the process. "It’s the way you worry about me, Abigail. I want to talk to you in private. Let’s use that room." Cortez’s voice was nothing less than the whisper of the devil; alluring yet icy.

Abigail blushed when she felt the cold hands of Cortez on her cheeks; it was like a dream come true. Who knew burning his goods would knock some sense into him? The young woman’s lips curled up in a sly smile.

"I always worry about you, Cortez. I’ve always loved you. I know this is not the right time, but if we both get married, my father would give you half of what he owns because I’m his only child." Abigail suggested, trying to use the weakness she felt Cortez was in to make him accept her marriage proposal. It was a thing of joy for Abigail, now that the lowly girl would be shipped to Ipolo as a slave or courtesan, while Cortez would have eyes for only her. Abigail felt her heart bubble in joy.

"It’s a pity." Cortez hummed, dipping his hands inside his pocket to bring out a cigar.

"Why?" Abigail asked, looking perplexed.

Cortez lighted his cigarette, taking a long drag; he said, "I’m going to take away your father’s only daughter." He grinned, his words having other meanings that the dumb woman failed to notice.

Abigail blushed, "He won’t mind as long as I’m happy." She remarked.

"Happy? You would be thrilled." Cortez licked his lips, bringing out from his pocket a small vial filled with a green slimy substance. He turned to a tray of drink and poured it into a glass, giving that one to Abigail; he grabbed another drink for himself.

"To our dream come true!" He cheered as their glasses clinked. Cortez watched with pleasure as Abigail gulped what was in her cup excitedly.

"Fool." Cortez muttered.

Abigail felt her head spinning after she dropped her cup, "Cortez, I don’t feel well." She murmured.

"Of course, you won’t. Who would feel okay after being fed a cock’s bile, mixed with a crushed brain of an urchin, and a little pig blood?" Cortez said to himself, looking at the woman who held her head, trying to keep her feet balanced on the ground.

"Don’t worry; you’ll live, and you’ll thank me later. The cock bile, for your jealousy; the urchin brain, for your empty ones, and the pig blood, for your personality." Cortez grinned as he watched the woman realizing what was happening, but it was already too late.

Abigail’s eyes widened in shock, "What did you do to me?! My father won’t forg-" her voice was cut short; she tried to talk but nothing came out. She tried to scream and scream, but nothing came out, until she fell down on the ground paralyzed and her voice missing.

Cortez snapped his fingers, like he missed out on a crucial detail. "I forgot! I added something else to make you shut up already. Enjoy your time at Ipolo." Saying this, Cortez dragged the woman, with the help of his assistants, Abigail’s dress was changed into the ones Axilla had been wearing.

Cortez carried her back to the ship of Ipolo, using a sack to close her face while binding her hands together; it was of no use because she would be paralyzed for a while. Looking around the ship, Cortez untied the girls that were to be sold as slaves, while carrying Axilla’s friend out of the ship.

Once he was done, Cortez entered the last carriage and left the Kaima-riya port with the goods he took from the Ipolo ship now safe back at the merchants’ inn. Cortez smiled when he thought of Chief Theo’s reaction if he found out he had been beaten at his own game.

"They won’t chase after us, right?" Axilla asked worriedly as their carriage left the port, with Kayla still unconscious and resting on her shoulder.

Cortez relaxed on the carriage seat, with one of his legs crossed over the other. "They know better." The young merchant closed his eyes, enjoying the cool breeze of the night.

"And what if Lady Abigail’s father asks?" Axilla couldn’t get the worry off her chest.

"You worry so much for humanity, bright flower. Don’t worry; the man knows how much his daughter likes to travel. This time she chose Ipolo. She eloped with her love." Cortez smiled at his story.

Before the first cock crowed, the men of Ipolo boarded their ship ready to sail, unaware of the changes that had occurred last night.

Chief Theo smiled widely, as he puffed his chest out in pride. He had finally won the proud Chief Cortez who he always took as his competition. As the ship sailed deeper into the large sea, Theo called his personal guard – a big, buffy-looking man with a scary knife mark on his face.

"Get me the girl; let me have some good time before we arrive Ipolo." Chief Theo said, enjoying the early morning view of the vast sea.

The guard bowed, leaving the place and quickly returning with the woman his master had requested.

Theo waved his hand for the guard to leave, as he trailed his hands on the girl’s body. Cupping her breast tightly but didn’t get any reaction.

"What? You don’t enjoy it? Should I tear off your dress?" Chief Theo asked, his handsome face now looking creepy. When he received no response from the girl, it pissed him off that he slapped the girl, tearing away the sack that covered her face.

It was as if the slap relieved Abigail from her temporary paralysis. She started waving her hands frantically, jumping up and down but was not able to say a word.

"What the hell are you doing here, you wench? Where is my priced good? Where is the girl I asked for?" Chief Theo asked looking furious?

Abigail who had lost her voice to whatever it was Cortez fed her tried to make the man understand using gestures that they have been played only for her cheek to receive a loud ringing slap.

"Don’t play with me! Why can’t you talk, did you and Cortez plan this?" The man asked, his anger now seething through his ears. Before he could hit Abigail his personal guard returned to his side.

"Chief, there is an issue. The goods in our cabin is nothing but sand." The man reported.

The chief of Ipolo, turned to look at his guard to be sure he knew what he was talking about. "What do you mean nothing but sand.?" He asked. It was then it dawned on him, everything had been switched, his goods the girl he wanted to use for his pleasure.

Chief Theo hit his fist on the railings, "Cortez!! Cortez!!" His anger was evident as his whole body shook terribly, he turned to Abigail.

"This is all your fault, your fault!! Throw her into the sea." The man ordered.

Abigail shook her head violently, getting down on her knees she begged the man. She didn’t want to die this way.

"You’re of no use, you can’t even talk!" Chief Theo raised his hands frustratedly.

"Tie her up, we shouldn’t lose everywhere when we get to Ipolo, sell her to the highest bidder." The man concluded entering inside the room to drown himself in alcohol. Once again he had lost to Cortez.