Conquer My Heart
After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, Sam has learned to detest people, especially the nobles of Masters Castle. When the youngest son, Daniel, is chided by his father for his cruelty toward animals and inability to tame one, he kidnaps Sam in hopes she will teach him kindness, but Sam seeks revenge. Can the young maiden reach the arrogant noble's heart before she plunges a sword right through it?
Chapter Two
I gripped the white parasol in my hand, embroidered with gold swirl designs, and prayed there wasn't any holes in it. It would sell for a lot more in the market that way, but my hands were coated in a good layer of dirt and mud that I didn't dare open the beautiful item.
The umbrella had been put in my hands during a walk to the village. I had enough knowledge to understand these people were afraid of me. I was the maiden who allegedly killed her parents and lived like an animal, so I often wore a dark cloak, but presently it was drying out in the sun. I pushed away the thought of wearing it cold.
The woman had been young, perhaps my own age, with wavy, dark hair and blue eyes. There was an exotic appeal to her tanned skin and curved body. She was probably sought by many suitors and courted often with such charms. Of course, her beauty did not destroy the fact that she recognized me. Right away, as I made to step past her, she screamed.
"Diablo!" She croaked in her native tongue. "You are pure evil and will burn in hell."
I merely turned to her, not in anger or sadness. It was the white parasol in her hands that I stared at in wonder, the image stirring a forgotten memory.
My mother loved parasols, especially white ones.
"Mother." The word escaped my mouth without my consent.
The woman screamed again though, throwing the parasol at me. She picked up the ends of her extravagant gown and rushed into the arms of the closest man.
My gaze remained on the item, even as it flew out of her arms and landed at my feet. I watched it for a moment, the way the morning sun caught the lines of gold and sparkled against the sterling white.
That was three days ago. I was now taking the parasol to the market in order to receive some proper food. I made sure to wear my cloak this time -gray and filled with holes like swiss cheese- but coverage nonetheless.
No one recognized me at the market. I smiled beneath the hood and offered up my treasure. Few people saw it at first, until a high class woman stepped up.
"How much?" she questioned. Her voice, a lot like her teal eyes, was neither gentle nor weak. There was a spark in her that most woman did not obtain. She was stronger, perhaps a person coming from high rank or social status. I held up the parasol.
"I bargain ten silver coins."
The young woman crinkled her nose. Stray curls of red hair fell out of her elegant bun and into her face. "May I?" She held out a white, gloved hand.
I nodded, giving her the object. I proposed she was too proper to steal from beggars, and I could run as fast as her. That I was certain.
She inspected the parasol carefully, running her fingers over the material. At last she opened it up and held it over one slender shoulder. Lace appeared on the ends.
"This is beautiful," her voice was much softer now. "But I cannot take this for ten silver coins."
I was about to lower my bid, when she pulled out a tiny, blue pouch from her side and placed it in my hands. Several silver coins stared back at me.
"I..." The words stuck in my throat. This was an awful lot of money, but I had never liked people, especially those of higher status. It would not be something I could accept.
The woman simply smiled. "Do take care of yourself, Lady Samantha."
There was the release of my breath as she had left. She knew who I was, even with the cloak, yet she still paid me? Certainly she knew of the tales then. How was she not frightened?
A brief moment I thought about confronting her, but she had already disappeared among-est the crowd. I sighed and tied the tiny pouch to the waistband of my dress, marching on to my home.
Home was a large, cabin house my parents had owned before their passing. It sat right beside the forest, away from peering eyes and wandering travelers. Everything had been cleared since the deaths and I worked everyday to keep things neat. I had only just gotten the stains of blood out of the floorboards.
There was a shed just beside the structure and I used it as a stable for my only companion, Chase. Often I saw men with whips, threatening their animals, treating them as lesser. The thought made me frown. Such behavior seemed incredible to me. Were animals not, but the same as us? Searching for their purpose in life?
I shook my head to rid my frustration and clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. Chase stirred in the stables and neighed in my presence.
"Got a treat for you," I stated, reaching into my bag. I held up the apple to his mouth and then stroked his mane. "We'll be heading out soon, boy." It was that time of year again. Chase seemed to sense that by the way his hooves clomped impatiently against the ground.
The bridle was placed on a hook hammered into one of the wooden columns supporting the stable. I grabbed it and quickly prepared my steed. It had been one of the few possessions I still had of my parents. After their death, many people robbed us. I didn't even own a saddle to ride properly.
Hoisting myself over the magnificent animal, I gripped the reins and squeezed his sides with my legs. Chase took off in the direction of the woods, heading off west toward that special spot. I didn't even have to guide Chase. He knew the way.
The trip took a little over an hour and as we slowly strolled into woodland area, I sighed at the wonderful scenery. The market had never been comforting to me, nor had the people. It was the forest, the animals, that called to my soul. Whenever travelers or hunters stirred in the forest, I managed to scare them off. Then I would tend to whatever damage they had caused. The villagers believed an angry spirit was burying the hunted animals. No one dared to kill here anymore.
Chase stopped and grazed at the grass. We were finally here. A tiny, break in the woods where a creek past through. Grass and orchids sprung out from the ground, long and healthy beneath my footing. I took a seat on the ground and listened.
"Hello, mother and father," I whispered. Cicadas sang all around me along with the insistent chirps of birds in the distance. "I've brought you something."
Gently I pulled the rest of the fruits I had gathered from the parasol and set it on a small handkerchief in front of me. Black ants instantly began to crawl over the fabric and I willingly allowed them.
"I have not found him yet." My voice was thick, anxious, and my gaze quickly scanned the area. There was little I could hear besides the water's current. "But I promise you, soon. I will find the man who had killed you on this very day." My hands clenched into fists just as my eyes shut. "I will kill that phantom."
After that I pulled my knees to my chest and let tears escape. The sun began to pass over the sky, but it was still mid morning. Chase nudged my cheek with his nose.
I smiled slightly and stroked his head. "I'm fine," I said through a sort of forced laughter. "Thank you though."
Over the singing of insects and flow of water, I could just make out the snap of the twig. Something had invaded the peaceful patch of nature. Quickly, I looked up.
Just a few feet away, standing behind a tree on the other side of the creek was a young man. His skin was pale, a great contrast to the raven colored hair just shy of his eyes. His eye color was a crystal blue, almost child like, but I knew enough of nobles to understand the look that wavered in them; desire, determination. He was staring at me as if I were a territory of land to conquer.
Without a moments hesitation, I mounted my horse, and took to the direction of my home. I hated those people, loathed the ones that had tortured my mother. They were all terrible, deadly sins in the world, and they all deserved to be silenced in hell.
Chase kept up his pace and didn't slow until I pulled on the reins outside the stable. I fumbled taking the gear off him, and then took refuge in my home. My heart was still drumming. The way that noble was looking at me, like he was going to take me away right there.
I shook my head. It was absurd. Of course no noble would have any need for me, especially a young man. I was the devil, a monster. Shaking my head, I took to the stable and gave Chase a quick wash before preparing for my own.
For the next week or so, I kept my visits in the forest quick and didn't dare even pass that spot. I made sure to be cautious of all my moves and where I headed. I hadn't been this anxious since the death of my parents. Perhaps I was being silly, my mind countered.
Something did happen, but not what I had expected. In the following week, two men on horseback knocked on my door. They were dressed in black uniforms with the Masters family crest design imprinted over their hearts.
There was only one word running through my mind after that.
Revenge.
