Author's note: this is from Magda's point of view

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I woke up at the sound of drums. There was some random murmur and as my head cleared up, the sounds became clearer.

"Ayayayaya!"

Someone screamed and my eyes snapped open.

I found myself in a pastel-orange room and the bright light was coming in through open arched windows.

The noise was coming from outside.

"You are awake!", an African woman approached me, and I focused on her full lips that smiled at me. "I am Akanke, the main wife."

I blinked while taking in my surroundings. I was on some bed that had colorful bedsheets. Red and green and yellow… and the only thing more colorful was the dress I was wearing.

It was a strapless dress that went flat over my chest and hugged my body down to half of my thighs. It was red and blue and green with golden threads throughout, and I never saw anything more hideous in my life.

"She does have pretty eyes…", another African woman said while coming closer. "My name is Ime. I am the lower wife."

"Where am I?", I croaked while pushing myself into a seated position.

"You are home, Uzuri.", Akanke said.

"Uzuri?", I repeated the foreign word. "No. My name is Magda."

"From today, you will be Uzuri.", Ime said. "Husband gave you that name. It means beautiful. It suits you."

Like hell it does.

"I need to get out of here."

Akanke put her hand on my bare shoulder. "If you know what's good for you, you will not cause trouble."

I scowled and pushed her hand away. Does she really expect me to sit here peacefully and marry a hideous guy who already has so many women?

Ime touched my hair and squealed. "Her hair is like silk!"

Akanke's eyes lit up and she started touching my hair also.

Weirdos.

"My name is Rudo", a woman spoke behind me, and I whipped my head in that direction. "We will all be sisters from now…"

My eyes fell on the incense Rudo was holding and my mind went hazy. Damn it! How many times are they going to drug me?

First my brother, then these crazy women!

From then onward, the images became choppy.

Two more women came to introduce themselves, but I couldn't catch their names.

I was just smiling foolishly, like everything around me was pleasant.

The five women laughed, and I laughed with them.

Someone else came into the room, and we all walked out while holding hands and giggling.

Before stepping into the courtyard that was bustling with people, they put a massive white hat on my head. Golden chains dangled from the top of the hat all the way to my chest, obstructing my face partially.

When we stepped out, the colorful crowd quieted down and made a path for us.

Akanke led me by the hand, and Ime, Rudo, and two other women were behind us forming a second and third row.

I saw my brother, decorated with ridiculous colorful jewelry, and Enitan Keita was wearing some long golden tunic.

I remember some guy waving feathers around me and Akanke.

In the next scene, I was holding Enitan's hand, and the feathers flapped around me and Enitan.

We jumped over a broom and there were screams and people burst into dancing.

"I will take good care of your sister, Mr. Thompson.", Enitan said.

"Please, call me John. We are family now.", John said with his professional fake smile.

I always hated that smile, but somehow girls swoon over my brother. Kim included.

Yes! Kim… that bitch! Traitor! Wait until I get my hands on her!

"I'm counting on you to take care of my sister. I believe you know what to do.", John said in a low voice, but I heard him loud and clear even with my muddled consciousness.

"I will let her visit family."

John lifted his hand. "I'm sure that right now, her priority will be to get to know her new family."

Bastard. I wanted to rip his throat out, but the only thing I could do was smile like an idiot.

I couldn't wait for the drugs to wear off. Then I will give them a piece of my mind. Do they think that I'm stuck here? I will find my way out!

"I know you said that the celebrations will continue for three days, but I need to leave. I hope you understand.", John said.

Enitan nodded magnanimously. "I understand completely, and I will not take it against you."

"If you let Magda come to the UK, please give me a heads-up, so that we can prepare a proper welcome." I heard John say, and then he gave me a hug and murmured something I didn't understand, and he left.

Images of people dancing overlapped, and I think I danced as well.

I remember eating sour bread that was dipped in a super-spicy lamb stew. I believe that Enitan was feeding me, and I fed him in return for what people cheered.

The next thing I know, it was evening, and I was sprawled on the bed.

The light breeze caressing my body told me I'm naked.

I cringed at the sensation of a sweaty palm moving up my thigh, and I realized that was Enitan.

He was also naked and climbing on top of me.

I used all my strength to push him away, but he didn't budge.

"Don't act coy, Uzuri…", his voice sickened me. "John told me that you are not pure. I won't take it against you."

"Get off me!", I shouted as hard as I could, and his eyes flashed maliciously.

'PAK!'

A harsh slap landed on my face, and I saw stars the moment before I tasted something metallic in my mouth. Blood.

"You are my wife now, Uzuri. You belong to me. Your purpose is to serve me and serving you will do. Don't make me get my whip on our wedding night, Uzuri."

I swallowed my non-existent saliva. Somehow, I knew that he was not joking about the whip, and I knew that it will be a bad idea to say that I don't want to serve him tonight.

He leaned toward me and licked my cheek.

Enitan grinned, and I could see that his teeth were red.

Did he lick my blood? Sick bastard.

With his knees, he spread my legs.

After a brief prodding at the cradle of my thighs, I felt the stretch when he intruded inside me.

He didn't bother with foreplay.

Most of the sickos who shagged me were not good lovers.

I wished that he would flip me on my stomach so that I don't need to watch his disgusting sweaty face as he pounded himself inside me, but he kept me on my back, and I closed my eyes while trying to tune out what's going on. Drugs helped.

…

Morning came eventually, and I found myself in the room with Akanke, Ime, Rudo, and another guy. He was an older man with a scar on the left side of his face.

The drums and shouts from the outside told me that the wedding party was still ongoing. My wedding party.

Other than a sparkly fantastic wedding dress with an endless train, I imagined my wedding with an elegant orchestra of string instruments, and maybe a popular band to liven up the mood as well, and not this… savagery.

"This is Zo, the healer", Akanke said while gesturing toward the man.

"The healer?", I asked, and I realized that my left cheek hurt like hell.

"Stay still, madam…", Zo said and started applying some green paste on my cheek. A second later, the pain was gone, and I marveled at the soothing sensation.

Zo didn't linger, and as soon as he left, Akanke sat on the bed next to me.

"Husband doesn't beat us if we behave.", Akanke said. "He went easy on you because it was your wedding night. Don't provoke him."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't plan to spend my good years in pleasing an old fart."

Rudo shook her head. "You don't know anything. Zo is a miracle doctor. It is said that husband is much older than what he looks, thanks to Zo's medicine."

Yeah, right. That miracle medicine is called anti-wrinkle cream.

I was determined to find my way out.

I escaped the hell in Sweden that John put me in, I will escape this one as well.

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