Hello, it has been requested of me and I should have done this sooner, but this story does have a rape warning. I sincerely apologize to those that have already read it and has made you feel uncomfortable. If anyone is not comfortable with such content then I suggest that you either don't read this story or skip over it.
Again I sincerely apologize.
Chapter 1
The girl struggled as the guards held her down on her knees. They had a tight grip on her dark locks as they made her look in his direction. As she appeared before them she was filthy and straggly. Both mud and blood stained the rags that were her clothes. If it hadn't been for that defiant look in her eyes, the girl would have seemed to be no more than a peasant.
His father seemed to smirk at the sight of the girl while his mother was making a face of somewhat disgust. His golden orbs looked the girl over once more, his eyes locking with hers. Was she angry with him directly? Or was it simply because her freedom had been taken away?
"We caught her travelling through the forest," one of the guards stated, "She didn't make it very far."
"How far did you think you would get into our lands?" his mother asked, using a tone to try to sound superior to those around her, "You are no match for our guards."
The girl scowled hatefully at his mother's words.
"You are to be our son's consort," his father stated almost pleasantly, "Now you will do well to remember that."
With those words the girl started to thrash against the guards. Being a consort didn't seem to be something that she wished for herself. Neither of them could argue though; his father's word was law. She had been chosen to be marked as his and even if she escaped, he would find her. She would remain his. Though he barely knew her, he could already feel the knowledge that she belonged to him growing.
Once upon a time there was a northern palace ruled by a lord and lady. Together they were blessed with a daughter upon whom they loved very dearly. As their daughter turned seven, she had been promised to the son of the western lord. When she would turn the appropriate age she would fully be claimed by her mate. As the northern kingdom celebrated and showed off the mark of the western son, the obedient daughter smiled. The people praised and congratulated her.
Once the celebrating was over and night took over the lands, the obedient daughter's smile vanished. She no longer celebrated like all the others. Instead she disappeared, taking all the celebration and smiles with her.
I scowled hatefully as I sat in the warm bath water, my tired body absorbing the head. Having a bath was the lady's first demand of me; having said my demeanor was a disgrace.
'Why the hell should I care about my demeanor?' I asked myself, seething.
I was a demon that lived in the forest. The reason I had looked so poorly was due to the woman's own guards. Neither one of them paid attention to my actions. Each time I got close to escaping, they would tackle me to the ground. They were the ones responsible for all the dirt.
My jaw tightened as I thought of the lady. I found much distaste in her presence and how her hateful orbs landed on me. The words that the lord had spoken hadn't been any better. A consort? What kind of person did they think me to be? To be bound to a place was a hard enough thing to bear, let alone being bound – forcefully – to another person.
'This is the last situation I want to be in right now…'
The young lord's expression had been no better than his mother's. I could see their iciness as they bore into me. Did he think he would get answers from me if those orbs stared long enough?
"Why did something like this happen?" I murmured to myself, sinking lower into the water.
Whatever happened to the meaning of the word freedom? When had it become tainted with greed and a sense of ownership? Or was it just something that was impossible to gain?
My ears twitched as the bath doors opened and two sets of footsteps walked into the room.
"We were sent to help you wash my lady," a young girl's voice said from behind me.
She sounded as if she would be younger than me.
"I don't need other people to wash for me," I told them tonelessly, "Tell your mistress that I am capable of doing it on my own."
"Um… it was actually master Sesshoumaru that told us to come…" the same girl nearly murmured.
"Then please relay the message to him," I continued, unmoving in the warm water, "I don't want people waiting on me."
Being waited on by others… having everything chosen and done for you without your opinion… that wasn't something that I desired.
"We will leave your night kimono here then my lady," the other girl stated calmly, sounding older.
Their footsteps receded and the door closed behind them. The sound caused me to let out a sigh. I didn't need others to know what was resting on my shoulder… It wasn't something that would go over well in my current situation.
'It was so long ago… I wonder what their reaction would be if it was seen?' I wondered, resting my head back.
It wasn't an unusual thing for an older demon to find a younger female and place their claim before the appropriate age. It had originally been something that noble demons had done to show off their ranks. It was only natural that over time the tradition had spread to all the demons. Every mark is unique to the demon that left it behind. If someone marked goes unclaimed then the mark eventually fades to nothing.
I had the misfortune of being marked by a demon and had remained unclaimed. I was thankful for being unclaimed, but wished more than anything that the mark would soon fade. No longer did I wish to belong to a person and be ordered to so as I was told. Freedom. That was the only thing that I wanted to obtain for myself.
This palace was large enough to house an entire village, yet its walls were probably a prison for many people. The land around it was lush and well grown. There weren't a lot of pests within the forests to cause much trouble for the ones living nearby. If it weren't for the amount of guards that were roaming around, the western lands would be a pleasant place to live.
"My lady, please finish," a guard called from the other side of the bath doors, "The young lord wishes to have a word with you."
My jaw tightened at the sound of his voice. I wouldn't have a choice in the matters of what I was told to do. I knew that if I took my time then someone would burst in and do everything for me. Reluctantly, I ducked my head under the water. Meeting the young lord was something I wanted to delay for as long as possible, but it seemed I would have to face him sooner rather than later.
He sat against the wall, impatiently waiting for his consort to arrive. He had called for her some time ago and didn't expect her to be taking her time arriving. Leaning his head against the wall, he closed his golden orbs. What kind of woman refuses assistance with things they did throughout the day? Didn't they wish to be pampered by others? An image of her hate filled blood red orbs came to mind and he shook his head. No, this wasn't a regular woman that had lived within his palace walls. This girl… she was wild.
A knock on his chamber door caught his attention; causing him to open his eyes.
"My lord, your consort if here to see you," a guard called from the door.
"Let her in."
The door suddenly opened before she was pushed into the room and it slammed shut behind her. He watched as she turned and glared icily backward where the guard had once been. His golden orbs traced over her figure. Now that she was no longer covered with blood and filth, she was appealing to the eyes. The way her dark locks hung down around her face suited her pale skin. Her clothes though had been sloppily put together.
He watched her intently as she turned to face him. Her expression was hard… almost as If she were being cautious of him. It wasn't an expression that he was used to receiving. It was almost refreshing. He inwardly smirked as he rose to his feet and she instantly took a step away from him. For someone that looked so defiant he didn't believe would back down from their stance. The girl may have held her gaze, but she was aware that she could be overpowered by him.
He advanced toward her steadily; his gaze not moving from hers. When he was halfway to her, he advanced quickly and appeared before her in an instant. Her gaze widened as her back was pinned to the wall; her heartbeat racing within her chest. The sound was appealing to his ears; a sound that wasn't often heard within his bed chambers.
Lifting his hand to touch her chin, her hand lifted and slapped it away quickly.
"I think I see why my father decided to make you my consort," he mused lowly, placing his hands at either side of her head on the wall, "I think he believes it would be fun to break that defiant look of yours."
Her brows pushed together with his words and he leaned in closer, stopping not far from her.
"I might have to agree if that were the case."
His clawed fingers took hold of a damp lock of hair and ran them along it; expecting her to react to his actions. When she barely moved he took it upon himself to tuck some hair behind her ear.
"Now to fix these clothes you're wearing."
Her blood red orbs widened and he caught her heart rate quicken even more. He could see her considering what she would do next and he would wait for her to react. All he wanted was to see what kind of person this woman truly was.
I moved quickly, trying to get to the doorway without being caught. An impossibly task, I knew, for his speed and strength were much greater than my own. A guard I could handle on my own, but this man was not a guard or a regular demon outside. He was well trained and came from a powerful bloodline. I was grabbed quickly; an arm tightly wrapped around my waist and a hand tightly holding onto my wrist.
Trying to struggle from his hold; his grip merely tightened and I could barely move.
"Be a good girl," he whispered into my ear, "If you can do that long enough then maybe I will release you unharmed."
I tensed with his closeness before turning my head away from him, stopping in my struggles. My jaw tightened as his chest was to my back and he stood against me. His arms went around me and to the tie that held my night kimono together. I was seething as I turned my head away and he continued to undo the poor job I had done of dressing myself.
"What is the name of the woman I am soon to claim?" his voice asked lowly, his warm breath tracing over my skin.
Keeping my head turned away, I didn't make any sign of answering. I was sure that the man didn't honestly care what my name was. Where was even the point in asking? He would get whatever he wished from everything no matter what he did. If not then I was sure he would take it at will.
That thought sent a small chill through me. If in this moment I wasn't careful, then I could very well end up in a worse situation than this one.
"Siri," I muttered reluctantly, feeling him pull at the night kimono.
"Very wise," he told me as he retied the obi for me.
Turning me around to face him, his golden gaze looked me over before walking away to where he had been previously sitting. My brows furrowed with his actions, unsure as to what was happening.
"You may wander the palace as you see fit," he told me as he once again sat against the wall, "At all times you must have a guard or maid with you."
I openly scowled at what he was telling me. I had been right earlier; this place would be a prison. I could wander within its walls but I would never be permitted to leave.
"Then why wander at all?" I nearly hissed, "If you're going to make me stay here then why not just lock me in my room and never let me leave?"
What was the point in dressing it up? I was a prisoner here and that was all there was to it.
"If I wished to take your freedom from you, then I would do so," he said tonelessly; his golden orbs intent.
My heart nearly skipped a beat at the mention of freedom. What did he know of it though? He would forever be the son of the western lord… a prison in itself.
"Go to your chambers for the night," he told me, turning his gaze away, "Tomorrow will be tiring for you."
Turning, I left the room quickly and the same guard from earlier greeted me with a bow. He then led me down the long hallways and escorted me to my bed chamber.
Shutting the door behind me, I looked around the room with disinterest. There was nothing within this room besides the moonlight on the floor that I found appealing.
'What I would give to fall asleep under the stars again,' I thought with a small sigh, taking a seat beside the moonlight.
The way something so far away could light an entire world seemed almost impossible. It was real though and was strangely beautiful. There had been times where I caught myself spending hours in the night just staring at the way moonlight reflected off of rivers within the forest. Ever since I had been a child the moon was something that I had been interested in. To me it almost represented what freedom was.
'It's a shame,' I thought dully to myself, 'It will be a long time before I'll be able to sleep under it again…'
Closing my eyes, I willed myself to fall asleep. My eyes were tired and my body needed rest. Sleep would be where I would find peace.
He stood before his parents with cold eyes. The night hadn't been long enough if this was what was to greet him each morning. His mother stood beside his father, stating her opinion on how mad the idea of this strange woman being her son's escort was. This girl was not from any of the other lords nor did she have any form of noble blood within her. From his mother's eyes the girl was nothing but a peasant being easily welcomed within their home.
"Will you at least say something of your reasoning?" his mother demanded; her fury carrying in her tone.
"Would you be able to be patient long enough for a decent answer? If you absolutely need one now then I'm afraid you will hear nothing," his father said simply, his gaze turned to the side.
If in this moment he were to say what came to his mind then he was sure thing would not go over well. Whether this girl was from a rich family or from the wild, at the moment, he didn't care. She had grabbed his interest the previous night in his chamber. He wanted to break her to suit him, just to see if it were capable of being done. She may have thought this palace to be a prison, but he would be sure to change the way she saw it.
Inwardly, he smirked with that thought. The maids and mistresses that could be brought into the castle would all be the same. They would have that yielding obedience in them. It was time that something new had been brought here. Whether the people within the palace agreed to his father's decision or not made no difference to him. He would get what he desired.
"The marking will take place within a few days' time," his father stated, "Make sure that the woman is ready by then."
"As you wish father," he agreed, nodding his head before turning to leave.
As he left the room, his smirk found a way to his lips. The marking of a mate was a demon's way of showing his claim. That was all it was though; for show. After creating his mark on her, he would take her as his own the very same night. It would be proof to her that she belonged to him and that he would forever be by her side.
'Forcing her won't make her change her mind… all of this isn't for her,' he thought to himself as he walked down the hallway.
No… Marking her – claiming her – all of it was for himself. These were the things that he desired. After he had them, he was sure that he would meet her halfway.
I muttered to myself before turning and glaring backward. The guard that had been assigned to me was watching as I was dressing myself. He seemed to find it amusing while I thought his arrogance was annoying.
'If the young lord saw him doing this then I doubt that he would think it was so amusing,' I thought with a tight jaw as I tried to tie my obi in frustration.
Whoever had created the kimono to have so many layers and to make it so complicated deserved to be stabbed to death.
"Damn it!" I hissed hatefully, throwing the fabric to the ground, "And don't you dare think about laughing!"
I heard the chamber door close and let out a sigh at the guard's absence.
'It's about damn time he left.'
"What would be the cause for laughter?" the young lord's voice questioned from behind me; making me turn in surprise.
My body nearly went rigid as our eyes met and I saw that he was serious. I watched him as he bent down to grab the obi off the floor and came forward with it.
"Perhaps it would be better for you to have a maid help you dress yourself," he stated simply, looking at the fabric thoughtfully, "Or perhaps you prefer to look like a slob?"
My brows furrowed with his words. I didn't want the assistance of another. It didn't matter of which gender they were from. I wanted to have my own dignity and independence.
"I don't need people waiting on me hand and foot," I told him coldly; watching him intently.
"Then perhaps you just need to be taught how to do it?" he wondered, coming to a stop not too far away.
"I just want to be left alone," I muttered, turning away from him and slipping off the most outer piece of the kimono, "I want to wear my own clothes and do as I so please."
Was that such a hard thing to understand? To want freedom was only a natural thing to want in one's life… Or was that a foolish way to think?
"For a so called peasant you speak as though you were of higher blood."
"That is no concern of yours," I murmured, glaring at the wall before me.
I tensed when I felt the fabric of the kimono being placed on my shoulders and his hands slide an arm through the sleeve. As I went to pull away from him, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist and my back was against his chest.
"I believe that since you are to be my mate, then you are my concern," he said lowly, his warm breath against my ear, "Which also includes how you are to be dressed."
"You honestly expect me to believe that you care about my wellbeing?" I asked him doubtfully, "I bet any woman would do."
His grip tightened around my waist with those words; his free hand taking hold of my shoulder.
"You would do easily mate with something the guards dragged off your lands," I continued, not even struggling to satisfy him, "I might as well just be a maid that serves you."
The hand that was on my shoulder went to my chin and forcefully turned my head to look back at him. I must have pushed a button before there was anger written in his golden orbs.
In the instant our eyes had met, he leaned forward and captured my lips with his. I started to struggle then; only to have his hold become tighter and struggling seemed almost useless. He continued the kiss, forcing his tongue into my mouth as the hand around my waist slid underneath the layer of clothes. As his warm fingertips touched against my bare skin I started to panic. If this went any farther then he would see the mark I was trying to desperately keep hidden. Kicking my feet I tried to force myself away from him.
I stumbled forward and was face to face with the wall before I was turned around and my back was to it. His hands slid the kimono off my shoulders before he took my lips again and continued as though nothing had happened. My hands pushed against his chest, trying to force him away. As the kiss continued, his hand proceeded to the last layer of clothing covering me. His hands slowly started to slide it off as our lips parted and he started to nip at my neck.
"No, stop!" I demanded, letting my legs go and dropping to the floor.
My hands grasped tightly to the fabric covering me; stopping it from going any farther.
My breath had been taken from me as my heart beat loudly within my ears. That had been the first time that I had sincerely felt like I had been in danger. His hand took hold of my chin and turned it to face him.
"You are to be my mate," he nearly hissed at me, his brows pushing together, "You will be the one to bear my mark and not a filthy maid. The reason to wear these kimonos is to please my mother's eyes."
Releasing me, he turned toward the door; his fists clenched tight.
"A maid will be sent to help you dress and you will accept the offer."
With those as his last words, the door was closed behind him and I flinched at the sound. I had never experienced that level of intensity in a person before… I felt weak compared to him.
'There wasn't even anything I could do against him…' I shuddered with that thought.
How would I be able to succeed against such a being?
End of Chapter