Holy s**t. I am now intimidated, I'm actually terrified of posting this chapter because of the great reaction the first one has received. Just a warning I can not write decent smut! It is cringe worthy, I mean it, so I suggest you either try and stomach my terrible smut writing or completely skip it, I personally advice you skip it. It is that bad.
I would like to thank everyone who has either reviewed/favourite/alerted this story as scary it is to have people actually like this story, it is also really rewarding and I do truly thank you
Their is something in this story that I took from 'A song of Ice and Fire'/A Game of Thrones, more information on that at the bottom of the chapter
(=)(=)
I stood shivering covered in a strange pelt as Hades searched through a strange wooden box taller then I. I stood in what was now our room, in front of our bed dripping wet from the bath.
The room was exceptionally large; the size of four average rooms, one side of the wall was covered with those strange boxes whilst the other had a large window leading out to a balcony showing the beautiful night sky, there was a fire place in the corner of the room with a desk and chair next to it, although the room was dark, I could see exceptionally bright colours like pink and yellow in it, such colours in a mans room would have been seen as embarrassing in Sabine
Hades suddenly stood up without a stitch of clothing on and placed a white gown on the bed, expectantly looking at me
"You have clothes for me" I asked surprised that he was prepared for my arrival
He smirked at me, his eyes lightening a shade "I've been preparing for your arrival for many moons" he said huskily, I could do nothing but stare at him "did you think we took you all on a whim"
I actually had thought it had been some half assed plan; I appear to have been wrong
"Are you going to dress or sleep naked" he suddenly asked, my eyes went wide at his words but his soft smile told me that it was just a jest
I covered the pelt over my body tighter as I walked towards the large poster bed and grabbed the white night dress, with horror I realised that it was so light and flimsy that it was practically see through
I saw his smirk, it would not be above Hades to dress me in improper clothing to suit himself, with a surge of anger I turned my body away from his, dropped the fur pelt and threw the night dress on and without even turning to look at him I walked to the right side of the bed, the side facing the window and the balcony and went under the covers
He started laughing but I could see no humour in this situation, I was in bed with a man that was not my husband, I had been taken from everything I had ever known and now I was expected to marry this savage, to share my bed and my body with him, to carry his spawn and to care for him
I would have cried but I had spent my tears in that tub and I was angry at myself for showing such weakness to the Roman, even if his words had been kind they where surely false, men did not respect and cherish women and he would never be able to rid the sadness from my heart, it would remain there till I passed this world to the next
I felt the bed dip as the Roman climbed into bed; I ignored him and kept my body as far away as possible from his
His hand suddenly grabbed my hips and pulled me back against his chest, I struggled but it was of no use, his hold was too strong and as his hand lay on my waist I realised that his chest was bare and that only the bottom half of his body was covered
I felt my face heat up, I had never been so physically intimate with a man and I was extremely uncomfortable as I felt something hard poke my bottom, I knew exactly what it was and I dared not move for he could easily take my maidenhood before we where married if he deemed it fit, he was a Roman, the son of the emperor and now I was nothing more then his object
"Sleep Isabella" He suddenly spoke "nothing will happen until we are wed" his words did nothing to assure me and I stayed tight and unmoving in his arms and when I believed him to be asleep I tried to escape his hold only to learn that he was still awake and had no intention of freeing me
I could not lie on my side, I hated it. I normally slept on my stomach but that was not possible for it would mean sleeping on the Romans chest and that I would not do
I fought sleep for as long as I could but soon it was of no use, my eye lids where heavy and my body and my mind where far too tired and although I tried my best I ended up falling asleep in Hades' arms
(=)(=)
My eyes slowly fluttered open as a hand caressed my back, for a moment I thought it was Betty trying to wake me for the morning chores but I soon realised that the hands where too rough and large as they delicately brushed my back barely touching me and everything that had happened hit me like a charge from Zeus' bolt
I looked up only for my eyes to connect with Hades, I felt his eyes surely should have been red but they where their usual emerald green, I was lying on his chest, my head under his chin, my hand on his chiselled stomach as his circled around my waist, I felt something long and hard press up against my stomach and I was horrified
I tried freeing myself but his hold was too tight and I could do nothing as he continued to caress my back
"Your skin" he suddenly spoke his eyes darker then I remembered "it feels like silk my wife"
"I am not your wif-"
"You will be" he cut me off triumphantly
I said nothing for it was true; I would be his in just six days
"Tell me Isabella, have you ever been touched by a man" he suddenly asked and I was far too shocked to answer him
"Answer me Isabella" he demanded and I was suddenly angry, how dare he question me
"My maidenhood is intact" I spat at him, furious and embarrassed that he would ask such a thing
"I did not ask if you where a maiden" he repeated "I asked if you had been touched by a man" his eyes where hooded and his voice was now heated
"I do not understand you" I answered honestly, a man had never entered me, wasn't that the only way a man could touch you
Hades heaved a sigh, his chest rising against my bosom as he ran his hand through my long hair and then cupped my cheek
"Has a man ever put his mouth on any part of you" he asked
My mouth fell open in stark horror or shock I was not sure which
"No" I breathed out but he looked dubious
"No man has ever had the privilege of touching your breasts or even claiming your lips" he asked arching a brow and I could do nothing more then nod my head as my face heated up in embarrassment
His eyes darkened and his mouth was suddenly on my own, attacking and ferocious. I was completely still, out of shock or fright, I did not know.
He rolled us over until I was on my back with him on top of me his body lightly pressing against mine; I was still numb until I felt his manhood pressing against my inner thigh
It was as if a light had been lit inside of me, I immediately pushed against his chest as I realised what I was doing was wanton and forbidden until marriage, though truly I did not use my full strength, I had never felt the skin of a man and this one, this Roman, this savage was doing strange and moral less things to me.
It was as if my body was slowly awakening from a deep sleep desperate to take in as much as it could. The second he felt my hesitation over stopping, the Roman used it to his advantage, he put his weight on his elbows and removed my hands from chest, intertwining our fingers as he slowly moved my hands above my head, effectively pinning my body against his as his hips rolled and grinded against me
The kiss had suddenly become searing and passionate as I tried to force my body not to respond to his but I could not help feeling an unfamiliar surge ripple through my body as his lips moulded with my own, hot and heavy I hummed in pleasure as he sucked my bottom lip, as he removed one of his hands from my own and let it slowly wander down my body, skimming my breast, caressing my hips, he took his time exploring one side of my body while his manhood rubbed against me.
He thrust his hip against mine just as his hand that had reached my knee was starting to climb back up my body, he reached the hem of my night dress and his hands still wandered further, finally reaching my inner thigh
I abruptly jerked back from his touch, for I felt like I had been doused in cold water as I realised what was happening, the true horror of what I had done had finally hit me; how could I act so disgusting and with such a savage at that.
I forcefully pushed through the fog of lust and moved my head away from his, breaking contact with his lips but he carried on and started to pepper kisses down my neck, I pushed against his bare chest with all my strength, he was as hard as a rock but this time thank Athena he understood, for he immediately stopped and looked up at me our eyes connecting, the green of his eyes where hypnotic, for I wanted nothing more then to stare into them. I believed I would not mind doing it for hours, maybe even a lifetime
He suddenly groaned, an agonising and aching sound, before throwing himself next to me and covering his face with his hands, his chest rising up and down, his arousal still evident
We stayed still for several minutes before he spoke, his voice gruff
"I'm sorry" he breathed, his face still covered with his hands "I can't seem to control myself around you" he groaned as he removed his hands and sat up
I had not moved an inch. I was too much in shock to even speak; I had put my lips upon him. I had kissed this barbarian
He turned to look at me and upon seeing the look on my face he smiled, a bright irritating smile
"We better go get ready my wife, we shall have to leave soon" he said getting off the bed
"Stop calling me that" I snapped as he looked through the strange wooden box filled with clothes
He turned back to look at me "would you prefer lover" he was completely serious
"Wife will do" I squeaked, embarrassed at just the thought of the word lover
(=)(=)
We sat in the breakfast room, although it was more of banquet hall, the table was so long that I presumed it impossible to be able to hear each other from one side of the table to the other without yelling
Edward sat at the head and I sat on his right, just the two of us, the table however was covered with food that neither of us had cooked
"The servants cooked" he explained looking over me, I wore strange robes with what Edward referred to as a stola wrapped around a robed dress, he had to dress me since I had no idea what went where and I must say he took a painstakingly long time to do so.
"You have servants" I asked surprised, although I really shouldn't have been, he couldn't run this palace alone
"A few" he nodded taking a bite out of his meat "I sent them away for the week, well...all except those that work in the kitchen but you should not come into contact with any of them until after we are wed" he said seriously, his tone quite menacing
I did not want to further irk him but I was exceptionally curious
"How many?" I asked, we didn't have servants back home and strangely enough I connected with them, I might not have been a servant but I belonged to Hades, my freedom had been taken from me just like them
"Five hundred" he shrugged and I choked on my water
He worriedly looked at me, not expecting that reaction
"Five hundred" I repeated aghast and he slowly nodded as he moved my skyphos the Roman equivalent of a chalice away from me "why do you need so many, do they all live here?" I asked rapidly not giving him the chance to answer
"Only about thirty live here, I have many other homes and work places that the other servants attend to" he said slowly "what do you presume I need a servant for, to cook and clean and-"
"Then what shall I do?" I interrupted
He looked at me confused
"If the servants cook and clean, what is my job?" I asked in Sabine it was a women's job to look after the home and children
"To be my wife" he answered simply
"But a wife's job is to cook and clean-"
"No wife of mine shall ever do such things" he said calmly but I could clearly hear the anger in his voice as he fisted his hands
I wanted to apologise for angering him but I could not, I would not lower myself to such standards, I was a Sabine women and would always remain as one
He breathed through his nose and looked at me, his eyes clearly conveying his anger. I wondered why he did not yell, father always yelled when he was angry and Garret was even worse with his temper, screeching to the high heavens
"A wife of a noble Roman runs the home, the servants and tends to the children, nothing more" he stated clearly
I nodded and went back to eating
"There is a banquet in your honour this afternoon at the palace" he spoke clearly
"For me?" I asked surprised
"it is Roman tradition that the grooms father holds a banquet for their future daughter and since my father is the emperor yours shall be at the palace" he said in a clipped tone still angry with me, "it shall be for close friends and family only, so naturally my fathers invited the entire senate to attend" he gave me a small smile, his good mood returning
I nodded my head in acceptance, there customs where most different then our own
Edward took a small box out of his leathered pouch and placed it in front of me
"A ring is also expected, as proof of our betrothal" he victoriously smiled "everyone will know you belong to me" I could clearly hear a hint of pride in his tone and my eyes darted to the scratch on his cheek, it was slowly healing and I wished that I had inflicted more pain on him
I opened the box and saw the ring; it was a simple silver band but it seemed to reflect all the colours in the room, I didn't understand their strange customs but I was certainly glad of this one, the ring was beautiful
"Do you like it" he smiled proudly and I wanted to answer no, but I could not bring myself to do so, he truly looked happy at giving me such a thing
"Yes" I answered truthfully and his smile grew bigger in size
"It belonged to my mother" he proudly beamed
Oh
I scarcely wondered why his mother was not wearing it
"She passed ten summers ago" he said as if it had no effect on him
I mentally calculated, he would have been just eleven, with no mother and a father to busy building an empire and yet I felt no sympathy for him, death was a natural part of life, once winter arrived someone you loved was bound to be taken away from you
He abruptly took the ring out of the box, gently grabbing my hand as he put it on the third finger of my left hand
"Why there?" I asked. He frowned "why on that finger?" I explained, in Sabine we always put rings on the fourth finger in honour of Poseidon
"Your third finger is the only one with a line that's connected straight to your heart" he explained and I sadly made the mistake of laughing right at him and very loudly so
It just seemed so absurd, a finger with a connection to the heart
"And what pray tell do you find so humours?" he quipped but I could not answer for I was still laughing, when he realised that I was not going to answer any time soon, he scowled and chose to ignore me
We finished our meal in absolute silence and he soon led me out of the manor and to my surprise towards a carriage, they where different then the wagons we had in Sabine
"You own a carriage" I said unable to hide my delight, though I tried as I climbed into it
As a child I had seen numerous carriages from visitors and people just passing through but I had never been allowed to actually sit in one
"I own many" he said as way of an explanation as he sat next to me, his anger was thankfully starting to subside
I watched the scenery as the carriage moved, Rome was certainly beautiful, the streets where filled with people, wearing all sorts of different robes
"Why are they dressed in a different manner" I asked
He looked at me, eyebrow arched in surprise, most likely because I had initiated the conversation
"I am merely curious" I said making it clear that I didn't enjoy his company
He suddenly laid his hand on top of mine and I futilely struggled against his grip
"Do not touch me" I said my voice had a cold edge to it
His lip twitched as he tried to hide his humour
"My dear wife, I have touched more then your hand" he said brazenly
I gawped at him, shocked that he would say such a thing
His eyes darkened as he looked at me "and I intend to touch much more" he breathed
I was far too angry to be shocked as I furiously struggled against his grip, after a second or two he sighed and let go
He frowned at me, before placing his hand on my cheek and cupping it "You'll come to accept me with time" he said passionately, his green eyes blazing into mine, I wanted to disagree but it would be futile, so I could nothing but stare back at him as the carriage came to a halt
He jumped off and then gently helped me down, holding me close to his chest when my feet finally touched the ground
I glared at him and then when he still did not remove his filthy hands I stomped on his foot
He quickly let me go surprised at my audacity
I was sure that he would yell but he just smirked as if I had said something most humorous and grabbed my hand then dragged me inside the palace, we entered a large courtyard filled with servants, holding numerous bowls and walking in all sorts of directions, we turned left and then right and waked for quite some time, when we finally reached a stairwell and beyond that where oak double doors
Hades abruptly stopped and looked over me
"Do not embarrass me" he smiled
"If I do, it shall be entirely your fault, for I know not of your customs or your traditions" I coldly rebuked
I expected him to snap at me or roughly grab me and then threaten me but to my amazement he salaciously grinned at me and lightly held my face in both his hands
"Six days" he breathed so close that I could feel his hot breath on my cheek, he removed one of his hands from my face and placed it on my hip, pushing my body against his so I could feel his manhood, long and hard against my stomach
My body felt cold on the outside, but inside it was as if a fire had been lit, every part of my body was burning as my stomach uncomfortably clenched
"Do you feel that Isabella" he growled, his eyes had darkened with what I now understood to be lust and I was not sure what to say
He held me close, his lips only mere inches from mine but then his grip abruptly loosened, he took numerous steps back, pushing himself up against the wall, his eyes clenched and his hands fisted
"Isabella, you will not utter a sound unless you want me to take you against this very wall" he growled, his eyes still closed with his body pressed against the wall
I took his advice
After what seemed like several minutes his body relaxed and his eyes fluttered open, immediately connecting with mine
He opened his mouth to speak but just closed it as he closed the gap between the two of us and held my head in his hands; "my lover" he breathed as he slowly placed a feathery kiss upon my forehead
I stood there dumbstruck until his words registered with me, as much as I wanted to protest the use of the word lover, I knew it would not deter him in fact my annoyance would most likely give him cause to continue
He held his arm out and I reluctantly took it as he pushed the doors open
We entered a room much like the one where I had met him and his father, but the other side of the wall was completely made out of glass and I was able to perfectly see the city below. There was a table filled with food and empty seats on the other side of the room. The room itself was filled with Romans, most of them old men and a few women that only looked a few summers older then I and a young boy, possibly nine or ten summers with eyes the colour of the ocean
Everyone looked at me, eyes filled with curiosity but they did not approach, Hades led us to the far corner with the glass wall, away from most of the people in the room
"Father has not arrived" he said by way of an explanation, when he saw that I still did not understand he explained "it would rude of them to approach you before the host introduces you to them" he smiled
"Do you not have many friends of your own?" I blurted out, for I could only count three men that where close to his age, the others where old men
He looked at me astonished before breaking out into laughter
"Now why would say such a hurtful thing, my wife?" he asked in jest
I blushed "I was merely inquiring why there are only three men close of age to you?" I explained quickly
He arched his brow, his lips twitching before he answered me "my friends are currently in the middle of their weddings" he said with mirth
"Wedding!" I squeaked
"The men have waited a long time to be wed, most will not wait another second" he said coolly "if it was up to me, we would have wed yesterday and I would have bedded you multiple times already" his words where heated and they did strange things to my body
No one had talked in such a casual manner about something so forbidden before, I felt like a wanton women being led astray by Hades, my soul was already condemned to the underworld because of my actions just this morning and my body and mind would belong to this savage, just the thought made me wish for death to come for me
"Then why are we not already wed?" I spat as he brushed my long curly hair from my shoulder
"Father loves weddings" he said mournfully, he looked like a boy that had just had his favourite weapon taken from him " Victoria's wedding was a disaster, so he's determined for mine to be the grandest Rome has ever seen"
"Victoria?" I asked
He inclined his head to red haired women openly glaring at me, surrounded by what little women where here
"My sister...sort of" he said amused, his lip twitching
"Sister" I breathed, remembering his father's words
'I've always wanted a daughter as sweet as you'
"But your father's words?" I asked
Edward outright chuckled, causing curious glances to come our way "he wished for a sweet daughter and if you knew Victoria, you would know that the words sweet and her should never be used in the same sentence" he heartily laughed as Victoria furiously glared at me. One of the women who stood next to Victoria, with hair the colour of sand was sternly looking at me, whilst the other ladies surrounding the two where merely giving me inquisitive glances
"Have I done something to offend her?" I asked him, for if looks could kill Victoria would have taken my life numerous times already
"Do not trouble yourself with Victoria" he said calmly as he arched a brow at the red hair. She scowled at him and then turned her back to the two of us "You have taken her place as the most important women in all of Rome, she's bound to be angry" he chuckled
The door suddenly opened and all talking ceased as Aro entered with a tall man who looked about twenty four summers, his long hair was the colour of wheat and his eyes where as dark as the sea, it reminded me of the only child in the room, the young boy I had seen when I first entered
Edward took hold of my hand as the man left Aro's side and walked towards the young boy
"Welcome one and all" Aro beamed as he opened his arms, pointedly looking at Edward and I
Edward walked us over to stand at his side
"We all know why where here" he smiled, everyone looked quite happy except for my future sister and the sandy haired women "and that is to welcome my newest daughter, Isabella" he said as cheers broke out
Aro's speech was short and simple and he left us soon after to talk to some men on the other side of the room and Edward quickly walked us back to our old position by the glass wall
The sandy haired women was still looking at me and I was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable
"Who is that women" I asked Hades, he turned and looked at the women
"Tanya" he said as if I should have been accustomed to the women
He suddenly looked at me uncomfortably, averting his eyes
"And who is Tanya?" I asked bewildered, my stomach uncomfortably tightening
"She was my betrothed" he said as if talking of the weather his eyes looking into mine "we where betrothed to each other when we where nothing more then children" he explained
My mind was far too cluttered to take it all in
"You have been betrothed before?" I asked astonished
"Yes...but it meant nothing" he continued "I have spent more time in whore houses then I have with her" he said quickly and then grimaced at his words as I gawped at him
He truly was Hades
He heaved a sigh and then ran his hand through his hair, he opened his mouth to speak but was cut off when something small suddenly crashed in to him
I realised it was the young boy, hugging Edwards waist
"Edward" he said delighted as the Roman ruffled his dark locks, I noticed Victoria glaring, not at me but at the young boy, she turned her head and sent a scathing look at the man that had entered with Aro. I wondered what the matter was
"Alec" he said brightly, holding the young boys shoulder, getting a better look at him "how time has passed, you are nearly a man" he smiled
A man, the child was just a young boy nowhere near being old enough to be considered a man
"I shall be eleven summers in the under three full moons" he said proudly as the wheat coloured haired man, with the same eyes as the boy walked over
"James" Edward said acknowledging him
"Edward" James said with a nod, "I see your trip was rewarding" he said giving me a curtsey nod
Hades proudly smirked, putting his arm around my waist
"Very much so" he replied and I was tempted to stomp on his foot again but I controlled the urge, deeming it improper
James smiled at "I wondered how long it would take to be provided with a sister" he said gently, holding the young boy by the shoulder
"Sister?" I said curious, was Edward not Aro's only son
"James is married to my sister" Edward said inclining his head towards Victoria
"Oh" I said understanding, my eyes landed on the young boy who I presumed was their son
"I did not know you had a nephew" I said to Edward, he abruptly lost his smile as he looked at Alec and then James
"Alec you must be famished" James said to the suddenly sad young boy
"Did I say something wrong" I asked bewildered as they walked away
"Alec is not my nephew" Edward answered "he goes by the name of Alec Snow" he said as if the boys last name was enough of a clue for me
He sighed "Snow is the name given to an acknowledged bastard child"
A strange thought suddenly entered my mind
"He is not yours is he" I blurted out
Hades looked into my eyes, gauging my reaction "Would you be annoyed if he was"
"Very much so" I admitted, he raised his hand and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear
"No" he breathed "Alec is James' bastard not mine, he's is merely my ward"
"Your ward?" I had never heard of such a word
"He lives under my protection, in a house of mine at Capitol Hill. He rarely comes down to the city" he said sounding exceptionally sad
I forcefully took a step back, away from his hands. He seemed amused as he raised his hands in a placating manner and turned to look at the guests, only his shoulder touching mine
"What's an acknowledged bastard?" I asked. In Sabine a bastard was just a bastard, an outcast that everyone was forced to put up with, so I was surprised that Alec had been allowed to attend today. I now understood Victoria's anger towards the two
"It is a bastard that has been acknowledged by his father, Alec will never have the rights that James' true children will receive but he can use his father's name freely, something he will learn to be thankful for in the future"
I wasn't sure if their system was better then ours or worse, at least in Sabine, the bastards stuck together, they had each other but now Alec was above the status of a bastard and all alone as he faced the scorn of the world
A thought suddenly came to mind
"Why is he named Snow?" I asked and he actually scowled
"Its is a reminder" he said his eyes on Alec and James as they passed the scornful Victoria "of his mother deeds" he continued "She was not as pure and as virtuous and as clean as Snow can be and that ultimately led to his conception, it is a way for everyone he encounters to know of his mothers sin and for him to never forget it"
I could not help thinking that that was far worse then just being ignored
"Who is his mother?" I asked and he actually chuckled
"A women not worth thinking about, Alec is not the first child she has given James" he said amused and I was sure I had misheard but his smirk proved otherwise
"Where are the other children?" I asked shocked
"Most likely with Pluto now"
"Pluto?" I asked
He looked at me confused "In the netherworld" he said as if I should already know this
Netherworld? And I suddenly understood
"You mean to say the underworld" I said "and Pluto must be Hades, god of the underworld"
He frowned, his eyes roaming over me
"You are a Roman now, do not speak of your old ways" he said abruptly
"My old ways?" I asked confused
"Your old gods and goddesses" he said in a clipped tone "unlike the Sabine we do not follow the Greeks" he said quietly and far too calmly for my liking
A second later I realised that he had answered my question
"Their dead" I breathed, referring to the bastard children
"I assume so" he answered, his mood sour "Victoria showed a rare occurrence of kindness when she allowed Alec to live, something she regrets now I am sure. She would never let another bastard live, especially not one that Lauren has sired" he finished
"Lauren" so that was the name of Alec's mother, I could not understand why a woman would willingly sire children only to lose them "did he force himself upon her?" I asked and Edward chuckled, his good mood abruptly returning
"No man needs to force himself on a woman like Lauren" he smiled "besides Victoria would never allow such a thing to go on in her house, she would cut James' throat whilst he slept if he even thought of doing such a thing"
"Then why would this Lauren put herself through such an ordeal?" I asked him, he looked down at me, his eyes piercing
"Power" he spoke "something that she will never receive as long as Victoria lives" he added curtly
(=)(=)
Six days quickly turned into five then four and before I knew it, it was the day of my wedding
I had still not seen Rosalie or even Jessica and I worried for their safety. Neither where my sisters by blood and I was not very fond of Jessica but Rosalie held a special place in my heart, she was like a sister to me I wondered If either of them would be as weak as I, would they forsake everything they were for an easier life, I had so many questions yet no answers.
Apart from the feast I had only been out one other time and that was to buy a child's toys for the wedding, one of the Romans customs was that I had to renounce my childhood so that I could prepare to be a mother and a wife and to do that I would have to surrender my childhood toys, but since they where all back in Sabine, Ed..Hades had brought me brand new ones and I now had a trunk filled with toys that I had no use for
The Servants had returned this morning and where now helping me prepare...well only a handful of women where helping me, the others where all around the manor but strangely enough I hadn't run into a single male, though I had seen two earlier swinging their swords at each other in the courtyard wearing the strangest clothing, fur pelts around their waist that only reached to their knees and nothing more
"Ow" I yelped as one of the older ladies pulled my hair back far too tightly as she tied it to a fillet, the Romans had a strange hair style the bride had to have on her wedding day so that it would drive evil spirits from her hair, it was called a Tutulus. So far my poor hair had been divided into six locks and then tied to a fillet on the top of my head, in a sort of cone shape, it hurt a lot but I figured that was because the women made it more painful then it should have actually been
She finally stepped back from me and with a nod of her head turned and walked out of the room, where to? Only Zeus knows
"Do not mind her" whispered the youngest of all the women, she had shoulder length brown hair and eyes the colour of coal, as she sat at the foot of my chair, sewing something as the other women wandered around the room trying to look busy. I knew a servant could be any age but she looked no older then I
"How old are you?" I asked her
She looked surprised before quickly and enthusiastically answering "I have just turned eighteen summers, my mistress" she beamed as she nervously scanned the room making sure no one was looking
Mistress!
"And you should not let a lady like Kate bother you, especially on such a day" she said more excited then I was for this wedding
"Kate?" I asked perplexed, this girl had been the first person to openly speak to me and I was desperate for some type of friendship in this strange world I had been thrust into
"The lady that has just finished my mistresses' hair" she said as if I wasn't the mistress she was speaking of
"And who is Kate?" I asked
The girl looked left and right, making sure no one was listening "she is Lady Victoria's mother" Kate whispered as if she was telling me of her plan to assassinate the emperor
"Mother?" I breathed making sure to be just as quiet, remembering those poor slaves that had been tied up and feathered, I did not want to get this young girl into trouble and so I followed her example "Edward said his mother had passed"
The girl waggled her eyebrows "I did not say she was the Master's mother, for you see..." she quickly whipped her head round the room, bringing her head closer to mine "she is a free women"
I gasped, unable to comprehend what I had been told. Gossip was a terrible thing but this was the first time something had felt so natural and so I wrongfully indulged.
A woman was never free, from the day she was born her father was in control of her and then her husband, the only way to be a free women was to either be a widow or what the girl was suggesting had happened to Kate, for your marriage to be annulled and declared invalid
"You see, after the birth of Victoria-" Kate had come back into the room effectively silencing the girl
"What is your name?" I quickly asked
"Bree" she replied just as quickly going back to work on her strange flame coloured fabric
I was so confused, I had assumed all the women to be servants but now looking around properly, I could see the difference between the servants and the other ladies, although at first sight their seemed to be no difference, I could now see that it was the small things, like the fabric of their clothing and the type sandals that they wore, that truly showed their status in society
Kate approached me, carefully holding a strange dress, it looked like a tunic to me woven with all sorts of other materials, with a knot at the waist, it was quite long and it would certainly fall past my feet.
It was a strange colour, a light yellow mixed with tinges of red and orange. The use of such bright colours for such a sad occasion confused me
Kate also carried an amaracus wreath to wear on my head and special shoes, they where not sandals nor where they boots but a sort of mixture of the two.
Bree suddenly stood up, carefully holding what she had been sewing, it was only as she was showing it off that I realised it was veil, a strange flame coloured see through veil
"Right" snapped Kate at the other ladies "the sun is almost up, get back to work"
I wasn't sure how long it took to get me dressed but I felt self conscious getting undressed in front of all the women but I had no idea how to dress myself in such strange clothing and Edward had promised to teach me only after we had been wed because according to him dressing me was his favour part of the day, he had received quite a brutal kick to the knee for that one
Time seemed to go on and before I knew it I was dressed and seated in my carriage heading to the Palace
The entire ceremony was strange and confusing, words where yelled, marriage contracts where signed, pigs where slaughtered and the Roman and I where now stuck with each other forever, I felt like I had just been sentenced to death
I had never seen such an unusual ceremony and the guests where just as strange, their where more people then I had seen at the banquet but nobody I recognised from home, no Rosalie or even a single Sabine women.
Day soon became night and the Roman and I where finally left alone
I stood as far away from him as possible, next to the door in his-our room, my veil was still down as was tradition, only he could remove it right before we...consummated our marriage
He had barely looked at me all day and although I had been thankful for that earlier, I was now rather frightened, I had been aggravating him all week but he had always just smiled and referred to tonight and it was enough to keep me quiet
Just the thought of what we where going to do tonight terrified me, it would cut all my ties with Sabine, I would never be able to return for no Sabine man would accept a women that has been tainted by a Roman.
I had already made up my mind, I would not fight but I would not succumb either, I was going to make tonight and every other as difficult as possible for him, from what I had over heard no man liked a women who just laid there and that was exactly what I was planning to do
Edward suddenly turned away from the fire and looked at me, I stood completely still as he took small steps towards me. He stopped only a foot away from me not saying a word
He heaved a sigh and I wondered if he was as nervous as I
He raised his hands and removed my veil our eyes boring into each other brown clashing with green
He finally spoke, his words a whisper in the night "I've never met a women like you" he breathed
"Like me?" I asked petrified, unsure of what he meant, all women where the same
His hand brushed my collarbone and slowly made its way up my neck "bright" he said his hand caressing my neck "beautiful" he added as his hand climbed higher and cupped my cheek, I jerked away from his touch, turning my head so his hand cupped nothing but the air, he fisted his hand and roughly grabbed my chin so I was looking at him "and reckless" he spat his voice held a dark edge and it frightened me
"Remove your clothing" he said taking a step back
"No" I replied immediately, standing firm and strong although on the inside I felt like a weak insignificant little girl
His dark eyes suddenly softened and he smiled crookedly, stepping close to me again he gently held my face between his hands, he seemed to like doing that "you can make this as difficult as possible but we shall consummate this marriage, tonight, willingly or even by force the choice is yours Isabella"
"Not much of a choice" I spat my eyes stinging
"At least you have one" he said gently, his eyes pleading
The room was exceptionally hot, the windows where closed and the fire place was roaring, creating strange shapes in the room and only adding to my fear
"What's it like?" I asked my voice so quite I wasn't sure he could hear me
He removed his hands, walked behind me and started working on the back laces of my dress
"It depends on the people" he said, slowly undoing my dress, his long fingers brushing against my back "it can be...wild...ecstatic even all consuming" he said with a light chuckle as he finished with last lace and brushed his fingers against my back as they made their way up my shoulders and to the straps of the dress "but it can also be terrible" he removed one strap "and painful" the other strap "and the worst experience of your life" he completely removed my dress, letting it fall around my feet
By now I was a quivering mess
"I don't want to do this" I admitted
He steeped in front of me one hand holding the back of my head as his other hand caressed my cheek "you have no choice"
(=)(=)
I lay on the bed, trying to control my breathing as I tried not to faint. I fisted my hands as Hades climbed on top of me determined not to participate in the defiling of my body
"Your just going to make this more painful for yourself" he breathed as he felt my tense my body, our naked flesh touching, I could feel his manhood against my leg and I closed my eyes in fright "will you not even look at me" I heard anger in his voice and possibly...hurt
I lay completely still, my body tense and my eyes tightly shut, I wasn't sure if he was looking at me or not but I was not going to open my eyes to find out
His mouth was suddenly on me, not on my mouth but on my breasts as one hand fondled the other. My breath hitched as he wrapped his tongue around my nipple and sucked, causing strange sensations to course through my body. His hands where so soft on my skin, igniting a fire within me that I tried to desperately fight
His mouth attacked my body, everywhere and anywhere he could reach. He licked and kissed and sucked every inch of the upper half of my body as I bit into my lip trying not to make a noise, he picked up my hands numerous times and put it on chest, desperate for me to touch him but I did not and every time I let my hands drop to my sides he growled and his kisses and touches became even fiercer, I could feel his manhood throbbing and twitching against my inner thigh
Their was a strange sensation in my stomach tight and uncomfortable and another one lower down my body
He suddenly moved his body lower until his head was right next to my sex
My eyes flew open "No" I moaned trying to push him away but he paid me no heed as he focused all his attention on my sex and with a triumphant grin he brought his tongue out and swiped at it. I could no longer keep quiet as his tongue did things that I had never imagine, I moaned and yelled as a knot tightened in my sex and bound itself tighter and tighter creating a strange yearning sensation
He suddenly hitched my leg up "this will hurt" he warned as he plunged into me
The yearning sensation was quickly replaced and a painful, burning feeling ran up my body, I had never been in so much pain before. He remained completely still within me and I could not keep quiet as the pain became unbearable, the more he pushed in the more it hurt
"Stop" I begged, praying that he would listen and pull out of me
"I can't" he breathed his body tense against my own "we have to do this and If I stop it will be just as painful the next time"
Next time
He expected me to do it again
I yelped as he pushed in further, trying to accommodate him
"Please stop" I begged, he kept going and then he started kissing me, I assumed he was trying to distract me from the pain but it only made everything worse
I hated him; I hated everything about him and everything about this terrible situation. I wanted to be back at home with mama and papa, with Garret and Betty, cooking in the kitchen, running through the field and sleeping under the stars, things I would never do again.
After what felt one hundred moons has passes, Hades let out a growl and flooded his seeds within me, most likely hoping for a child. Just the thought of carrying his spawn made me sick
"I'm sorry" he breathed as he got off my body and I immediately turned away from him, looking out at the night sky
"Isabella" he spoke but I kept my back to him; I was extremely sore and not at all in the mood to deal with him "Isabella" he growled but I did not budge and after pleading with me and apologising for several minutes he seemed to understand that all I wanted was to be left alone, he turned his back to me and went to sleep
(=)(=)
I wasn't sure what had woken me but halfway through the night I stirred awake, the room was shrouded in darkness and I stayed completely still trying to figure what had happened, when I heard rustling
I turned and saw Hades wide awake, sitting on the chair near the fireplace dressed in his armour
"Where are you going?" I asked fear gripping me
He looked up, startled and his eyes darkened as he went back to fastening his boots
"Armed men have been spotted near one of the outer towns" he answered
"Armed men? You're going to fight!"
"I'm a soldier of Rome, it's my job to lead my legion into battle" he said coldly not looking at me, he was angry and so was I
"Do you know who the men are?" I asked afraid of his answer
He looked at me, his eyes cruel as he opened his mouth to answer, his green eyes looked into my own and something abruptly changed within them "No" he answered shaking his head "We don't know anything except that their our enemy" he said tying something around his wrist
He stood up and walked towards the door "would you care?" he suddenly asked not turning back to look at me "would you care if I died today" he asked and I had no answer for him
I didn't want him to die, but did I care? His death would mean freedom for me, I was use to death, I had seen people far more important to me then Edward die, would it truly upset me, I knew the truth and sadly so did he
"I thought not" he suddenly answered fingering the thing tied to his wrist as he grabbed his sword and walked out the door, possibly for the last time.
(=)(=)
I said that it would be cringe worthy
I tried to stick as historically accurate as possible especially with Isabella's wedding clothes; a Roman wedding would have been insanely long so I sadly did skip through well all of it.
I took Alec's last name Snow from 'A song of Ice and Fire'/A Game of Thrones. They do actually give the last name snow to bastard children
The Romans actually did give rings as proof of betrothal
500 is actually quiet a low number of servants for a Roman noble to have most roughly had 3000 and the emperor had between 10,000 and 20,000, servants where not very expensive so plenty of people could afford quite a few.
Thanks for reading -Eli