The black rose prologue
He felt warm and hard inside her. His hot breath blew across her face and his pink skin was shining with sweat.
She moaned with a false passion as he thrusted towards her. Not that he would ever have known how disingenuous she was being. His eyes were closed and his head was tilted back. A sigh passed her lips, almost as silent as a whisper and buried under the noise of his grunts.
She leaned in and reached down between her legs. She tried to get ahold of his member and give him a few hardy yanks to be done with him.
As if he knew what she was about to do, he took her by the shoulders and flipped her over in the bed. He put her on all fours with her back exposed to him. His dry, crispy hands took hold of her hips. The tips of his fingers dug into the skin, wrapping around and pressing against the bone. After a dry cough, he started pounding her from behind.
The coarse, rough hairs around his groin felt like steel wool against the skin on her behind. It hurt, it stung each time he thrusted forward.
A few moments ago, she was sick of him but now she just wanted him out. She leaned forward and felt sweat running of her forehead, down on her arm and sinking into the sheets.
He pounded faster. The noises coming out of him became deeper and louder. He started squealing like an old boar and his fingers almost cut through her skin.
Now it burned each time he pressed into her. She squinted and did her best to mute the sounds she made, trying to make every noise of pain sound like a moan of pleasure.
Finally, he sank and slacked just after he exploded inside her. The grip he had around her waist loosened.
She fell forward and felt the fluids coming out of her.
He sat grunting above her. His pale skin was shining with sweat and a little pink piece of flesh hanged underneath a black bush.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"What?"
"Leave your money and get out." She said with a bitter tone.
Silently, he made his way out of the bed and threw his clothes back on. Before he left the room, he left a bill next to the door.
When he left, she turned in the bed and laid still on her back. She carefully touched the little scrapes he had left on her hip. Narrow little red marks where unpleasant to touch with her sweaty fingers.
But they seemed like so little when she looked down between her legs. The skin was red and sore. The fingers felt warm as they hovered above it and she flinched with pain when she tried to touch it. She reached over to her drawer and took some salve out of a jar and carefully started massaging it between her legs.
It was soothing and easing on little flame that had started between her legs but there was still a little area that was left to burn. She put both her hands over it and winced.
She rose out of the bed, feeling the sheet being peeled from her skin as she rose. She walked up to a on sink made of silvery metals and turned on the water. She cupped her hands and let the water fill up between her fingers. The water was a crisp and cold feeling on her face. It mixed with the half-dried sweat on her skin and ran down the crevasses of her face, a few streams accumulating in the corners of her mouth. The salty taste graced her tounge before she splashed another handful of water over her face.
In the mirror above the sink she gave her face an examination. Her right eye was far darker than the other, almost a little blue. The makeup had run off. She took some powder makeup and covered the darker tone of the skin around her eye. It more popular to have pale, perfect skin and her skin was pale like milk and smooth to touch. All apart from one part of her body, fortunately it was on they rarely looked at or put their hands on much.
After making herself presentable, she threw on a robe and tied a ribbon around her waist. The fabric was dark and thin, hardly enough to hide any part her body. Just enough to blur the curves of her body and mute the tone of her skin.
She left the room and walked down an empty hallway. To her sides were closed doors, the muted sounds of moans and climaxes coming from the other side. Not wanting to linger, she quickly made her way to the end of the hall and reached the public area of the brothel.
After a quick glance over the men in the area, she was both disappointed and weary. They were all the same size and shape as the one she just had.
The kind of men who will tear and scratch. She thought. She was about walk up to the smallest, most timid man she could find when something caught her sight in the corner of her eye.
A woman in an expensive, fine dress sitting in one of the booths. The dress was made of a crimson, shining fabric. Patterns of golden twines spread across her sides and up to her shoulders. It looked as if they almost moved and climbed across her. She had long, wavy dark brown hair and a sharp pair of sharp, emerald green eyes. At first, she seemed to be there alone but then she noticed an enormous armed man next to her, a body guard.
Was this an Astartes? Was he one of the men in the service of the holy Emperor? She had never seen one of them before. But there was still the question, why was a woman with the money to afford a guard and clothes like hers doing in a brothel?
Whatever the reason, she walked up to her and performed the most graceful bow she could muster.
"Hmm…" The woman said, examining her with her fingers gently rubbing her lips. She wore red lipstick. The same shade as her dress, making it look blood-red when contrasted against her pale skin.
Her lips parted, ready to greet the Lady but she quickly shut her mouth. She knew very little of the noble´s way of acting around others but she figured talking before being spoken would be taken as a sing of disrespect.
The Lady leaned forward. Her green eyes moving slowly across her body. Starting from her feet before moving up to her hips and then her stomach.
She bit her lip before the Lady´s eyes moved upwards to her breasts and shoulders. Their eyes meet and the Lady smiled.
"What would you do if I told you to stand on your left leg?" The Lady asked. Her voice was coy.
She put on a courteous smile and lifted her right leg, leaning on the left.
The Lady pushed a string of brown hair behind her ear. Her fingers started tracing the line of her face, out to the tip of her chin as a subtle smile started to grow on her lips. She started playing with a lock of her hair.
"If I tell you your name is Velka, what would you do?" The Lady asked.
She put her leg down and took a moment to think on what to answer. "Good evening, my lady." She gave the Lady another bow. "My name is Velka."
The smile on the Lady´s mouth grew wider while the brute of a man next to her adjusted himself in his seat.
The Lady rose from her booth and walked up to Velka. She walked around her. Observing and examining her every feature of Velkas body all while a sharp nail traced around her neck. Starting on her chest and moving to the tip of her shoulder before tracing down her shoulder blades, down to her spine and finally back to her chest. The Lady put two fingers under Velkas chin and held her lips up to her own, putting the Lady´s lips just close enough to let warmth of her breath stroke Velkas lips. The Lady blinked slowly.
"I´ll take you. Velka." The Lady said and pulled away. "Show me to your room."
Velka bowed again, making sure that this time she was bowing deeper than before. She had to show her gratitude that the Lady had elected her.
She took lead with the Lady walking slowly behind her. The guard following behind them, his weapon holstered but ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.
When they got to the door, Velka opened the door and stepped in first. She made another bow and held the door opened for the Lady.
The Lady took her first step into the door and held up a hand to stop her guard from following her.
"But my Lady?" He blurted.
"What was that?" The Lady said without turning to face him.
"I am ordered to follow you at all times."
The Lady made a sharp turn to face him. Her eyes drawn narrow and sharp. She took a step back and pushed the door into his face.
Velka swallowed quietly to herself. "What is it my Lady wishes of me?" She avoided her gaze by looking to the floor.
Her face was lifted by the Lady´s fingers again. The green eyes locking her in place with their gaze,
The Lady leaned forward and kissed Velka on the lips. A sweet, sugary taste of the Lady´s lips spread through Velkas mouth as she felt the Lady´s hand caressing her neck. The curved, sharp nails tracing down to her shoulders and slowly pushing back the robe.
Velka felt her fist closing and her heart beating like a drum inside her chest.
The kiss broke of and the Lady looked at Velka with a coy, satisfied smile.
Velka glanced down and quickly realized that the robe was only clinging to her from the knot around her waist.
The Lady sat down on the bed and presented her back to Velka.
It was far from the first woman she had served but it was the first time she served a lady. She wasn´t sure of what the Lady desired. Going with her instinct, Velka started gently caressing the Lady´s shoulders and leaned forward to kiss her neck.
The Lady tilted her head back and glanced down at Velka. She reached over her head and pushed her hair over one shoulder.
Velka knew exactly what the Lady wanted. With the tips of her fingers just hovering above the Lady´s skin Velka started untying the strings that held the dress up. It was a long string, crisscrossing across her back from the top of her shoulder blades to down the loin. After a few minutes, the Lady´s back was exposed and the dress was just hanging of her shoulders.
Velka leaned forward again, pulling down the dress and brushing her nipples against the skin of the Lady´s back. In the corner of her eye, Velka could see the Lady biting her lip with closed eyes. Encouraged by the response, Velka reached over the Lady´s shoulder with one hand and pulled the Lady´s dress back with the other.
The Lady moaned and clutched her fist on the sheet.
Her hand went between the Lady´s legs. It was arm and moist. She tickled the inside of the Lady´s thigh and kissed the neck. Velka was about to enter her when the Lady put her hand around Velkas wrist.
"No." The Lady said with cold tone.
She froze and thick lump formed in her throat. Had she done something wrong? Was the Lady displeased with her efforts?
The Lady didn´t say another word. She simply pulled Velkas hand out from under her dress and took the other hand of her breasts.
Terrified, Velka sat still like a statue as the Lady pushed herself out of the bed.
The moment she was of the bed, the Lady let the dress slip of her arms. The fabric folded of her like a snake shedding its skin. It clung to her hip for a few seconds before it fell to the floor with a quiet, almost silent thud. And then the Lady stood there with her back to Velka, completely naked.
She had a beautifully curved body. Her skin, cream white. Her hair flowing like a golden-brown river from her head down to her shoulders. Her hands moved along the sides of her body, starting from the stomach and slowly tracing their way down to her legs.
The Lady moaned and looked over her shoulder, staring into Velkas eyes.
While Velka hadn´t dared to move, the Lady´s eyes seemed to almost lock her in place.
A coy smile grew on the Lady´s lips.
Velka had to be blind and deaf to not know that the Lady was enjoying herself. Yet, she sat frozen in place. Not daring to move from the position the Lady had left her in.
The Lady turned to face Velka. She walked towards the bed with carefully measured grace. Each step made with almost unnatural balance.
Despite the Lady walking completely naked towards her, Velka eyes remained locked with the Lady´s cold, unflinching gaze.
She climbed onto the bed and placed her hand on Velkas shoulder. Her long and slender fingers falling down on her skin and the nails digging in. She glanced down at Velkas stomach and quickly looked back up at Velka.
Looking down, Velka realized that the robe was still tied around her waist. Suddenly, her arms jumped back to life and fumbled with the knot for a moment before untying it. She looked at the Lady and saw her smile. Encouraged, Velka pulled the robe back and leaned forward a little bit, just enough to let the Lady know what she was trying to do.
The free hand moved alongside Velkas face and pushed through her hair. She could feel the hand moving behind her head and Velka took a breath through her nose.
The Lady pulled Velkas head towards her and kissed her a second time.
Once again, Velka felt the sweet taste in her mouth. She could also feel a set of talon-like fingers creeping on the inside of her thighs. Upwards, towards the center.
The Lady stood just before the door. She looked over her shoulder and stared back at Velka.
She laid naked on the bed. Her ribcage jumping up and down and her skin shining with sweat. Her face wincing with pain and turned red, her arms pale.
"Thank you." The Lady said and put a set of bills next to the door. "It was… good." She opened the door and left.
She rose from the bad and put her hands between her legs, just above the skin and her mouth moved as if she was screaming. Sharp breaths passed between her teeth as she bent forward, trying her best not to touch anything yet fighting the urge to clutch it. There was only one time before she could recall this kind of pain.
Limping, she climbed out of the bed and put her clothes back on. Not the thin robe this time. A far more commonplace dress with set of comparably soft smallclothes.
With every step sending jolts of pain, she left the room, locked the door and walked up to her private quarters. It was only a floor above but the climb on the stair felt like walking barefoot on broken glass.
Eventually she made it up walked into her own private chambers. When she closed the door she saw her, standing in the middle of the hallway brushing nots out of her hair. Pointless. She thought. No one wants her now.
"Hello mother." The young woman said.
"Hello Emma." She said, trying to hide the pain in her voice.
Emma turned to look at her. Her face quickly turned pale. "What happened?"
She was quiet for a moment. It was not unusual for her to lock ragged and weary by the end of the day, especially not now, but Emma had grown used to the sight. The fact she reacted now was both surprising and scary to her. What if she would always look this horrible? Who would want her if she did?
"A noble Lady gave me money for letting her do things to me." She answered.
Emma´s fingers closed to a fist but they opened faster than they closed. "How much did she pay?"
She sighed. "More than I´ve made since the last moon." And caused me more pain then I´ve felt in years.
"Why does the God-Emperor allow this?" Emma asked, avoiding her mother´s gaze. "Why does someone so mighty allow those with power to abuse those without?"
Her eyes rolled a little bit at those words. Emma was still young, barely fourteen. She still didn´t understand why the those with power like to play with those below them, even as Emma herself had chased girls smaller than her around when she was younger.
"I don´t know." She said. "The Emperor protects those that serve him. We are no servants of his… and neither are they."
Emma grunted. Though it was only a small noise, it was clear for her mother that she was furious.
She put a hand on Emma´s shoulder.
Emma´s little blue eyes looked up.
Her mother carefully wrapped her arms around Emma. Her fingers pushing through Emma´s thick, blond hair. Tickling her scalp just enough to bring a little smile to Emma´s lips. "We have some money now." She whispered in Emma´s ear. "We just have to make sure others don´t see it." She pulled back and saw that Emma was smiling. A sight she found more rare and precious then the pale full moon.
"Alright." Emma rubbed her hands on her round, bulging stomach. She flinched. "I think I felt it moving."
She chuckled. Happy, knowing that her daughter would have someone to help her with her childbirth. "Have you picked a name yet?"
Emma opened her mouth quickly closed it. She pushed a string of her hair behind her ear and stared away from her mother. "No not yet."