LOVED OR BOUGHT CHAPTER FOUR
As Seth lay on the soft mattress he wondered what all the activity outside their room was about. For over an hour now the castle had been a bustled of noise and action. The soldiers and servants had been whispering hurriedly outside the room occasionally peering in at him. He looked across at Shauna who still lay sleeping soundly beside him. He was not surprised. She had been worn out between working in the dungeon and hunters sordid usage of her. It angered him but there was nothing he could do...as yet. He swore to himself the first chance he got he would get her free. Sighing he thought on how Shauna had been looking at him recently. She had a fear in her eyes as she watched him. He knew it wasn't him she feared but the werewolf inside of him. It still hurt.
Road Dogg appeared at the door to their room and he signalled Seth over. Gently Seth rose from the bed and tip toed over to Dogg. "There is a extremely special visitor coming to stay in the castle. He will arrive at some point today. You will both be introduced to him and I expect your best behaviour. Remember he is a very powerful man" lowering his voice he continued "much more powerful than hunter" then continuing as before he stated "I need both you and Shauna dressed and ready as soon as possible" and he simply turned and left.
"mmm" Shauna moaned as Seth once again shook her shoulder gently. She tried to shake him off but he held her firmly and calmly said in her ear "We have to get dressed. It's a hugely important day today. That nice officer told me that they are expecting a big visitor today and we are to meet him". Turning to face Seth, Shauna looked up at him shocked "we are to meet this guy in no more than this" she signalled the bra top and underwear she wore "what if he plans to sell us?" she cried. Seth took her in his arms and gently told her "there's no use worrying now. What will happen cannot be changed so lets take things as they come. I'll be by your side the whole time".
From a distance the rider saw the castle come into view. "pompous obnoxious fool" he muttered under his breath and he urged the steed onwards towards his destination. As he rode he shook his head in amazement at the vast expense of wealth on show in front of him. These people had no idea of the meaning of the word modest. Approaching the gate he was unsurprised to have them immediately opened before him by at least twelve people to each gate. He was however shocked at the scene that met his eyes inside. Women in poor shape being dragged around like animals on chains. Cages filled with young people scantily clad. Blood dribbling down walls as employees quickly tried to wash it off before it dried in. he could feel his temper rising with every sight.
"Daddy!" came the shrill scream from the castle steps as Stephanie raced towards her father. Dismounting the horse Vince caught his baby girl mid jump and hugged her closely. "you don't look well Steph" he declared studying her face. "thanks Daddy" she giggled sarcastically. Taking on a more serious tone she leant against her fathers firm muscular chest where she had always felt safe as a child and told him "I guess its all the pressure of trying for a baby. Hunter desperately wants an heir".
Growling Vince shot back "Hunter wants any excuse for cheap filthy sex! He never gave you a chance!".
"Father" Stephanie interrupted "we tried. I couldn't conceive!".
Vince shook his head in despair "oh love! It takes time to make a child. It took your mother and I two years before your brother and you came!".
Lowering her eyes to the floor the young girl replied "Hunter is impatient".
Smiling Vince kissed her cheek as he smilingly declared "Hunter will learn...in time".
They walked into the vast lounge room together. Stephanie had rearranged everything particularly to suit her father. She had hidden away everything she knew would anger him. She had to admit to herself that was pretty much everything in the room. She had even contemplated repainting the room but there was no point as Hunter loved the velvet. He claimed it felt sensuous against his naked skin. There was no reason to risk her husbands anger for such a trivial matter. Her father would be gone in a few days and this all would be over. She could sense her fathers disapproval the moment she opened the large oak doors. He walked over to one of the lush cushioned couches and sat down looking around the room as he attempted to disguise his disgust. "so where is the lord and master sweetheart?" He asked. Smiling outwardly Stephanie said "I'll go and find him". Inwardly she was seething. She had demanded Hunter be there to greet her father. He had no respect for her, she accepted that but to be disrespectful to her father could cost them both their lives.
Feeling deeply uncomfortable in a room which felt very much like it belonged in a old western brothel, Vince got up and began to wander the halls. He shook his head at the distasteful décor lining the corridor. He was just feeling the wallpaper when he heard a woman screaming repeatedly as though in agony. Racing down the passage towards the room the noise was coming from Vince burst into the room but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met his eyes. There stood his son-in-law naked as the day he was born drilling into a obviously pained young woman as she cried for him to stop. There were bruises and welts all over her back as Vince angrily stomped forward and tore Hunter from his young mistress. Throwing a sheet at the young woman he demanded she cover herself. She willingly did so, showing immense relief at the intrusion. Hunter turned to his father in law oblivious to his nudity and got in his face as he growled at him "What the fuck do you think your doing? How dare you interrupt me!". Vince simply laughed as he grabbed Hunter by the throat and soared across the room to pin Hunter high against the wall levitated from the ground. "How dare I?" he asked in a terrifying voice "How dare you disrespect my daughter and my family name?". Catching the eye of the frightened young woman Vince summoned a passing guard and asked that he take her to her room before turning from Hunter to follow them out. Stopping in the doorway Vince warned "you will change Hunter...or I will kill you".
The dinner that night was extremely tense. Hunter stared daggers at his father in law as Vince completely ignored him and laughed airily with his daughter about her childhood. While Stephanie was very much aware of the tension between the two men in her life she could have no idea what had intensified it. Vince had spared his child the pain of knowing he had caught her husband impaling a young unwilling woman and Hunter was in no way going to admit to getting schooled by her father. His ego would not allow it.
Finally Vince stood and declared "whilst I am here I shall require a male and female servant to attend to me". Coincidentally at that moment Road Dogg entered the room closely followed by Shauna and Seth. "Sir would you like me to lead them to the usual room tonight?" he asked placidly. No sign of emotion showed on his face as Vince chirped up "ah yes. These will do!". Hunter shot up angrily "no fucking way! They are mine!". Vince calmly walked over to the man and woman standing quietly shaking behind Dogg and looking them up and down quietly told Hunter with no trace of anger in his voice "Everything you have is in fact mine and the only reason you still have it is because I chose to let you".
Stephanie quickly pulled her husband down into his seat, her face extremely white in the candlelight. Hunter lowered himself into his chair and sitting stiffly he growled at his father in law "this is not over!".
Vince simply smiled, kissed his daughters forehead and whispered "goodnight" against her hair.
Signalling for Shauna and Seth to follow him, Vince headed for the stairs and made his way up to the usual suite he stayed in when he stayed in this castle. He need not check they were following him as Vince was a man who expected his orders to be followed. He harboured a immense amount of power equalled only by the respect shown him by others. He was known as a tough but fair man. For him family always came first and it pained him how changed he found his only daughter.
Opening the large oak doors to his suite, the tall grey haired man held the door and nodded Shauna and Seth in. he observed them closely as they squeezed in past him. Both were thin. They clearly weren't eating well.
It angered Vince to see that Hunters attire for them seemed to be nudity! No servant in his keep had ever been treated so inhumanely. The smell of sex coming from both was almost unbearable. Closing the door behind him Vince sauntered through to the bathroom and began to run water in the bath. Entering the bedroom again he saw the young girl standing shaking as she held her male counterparts hand for comfort. He smiled softly at her and taking a bathrobe from behind the closet door he held it out for her to put on. Reluctantly Shauna stepped forward and slipped quickly into the fluffy cotton robe. It was completely the opposite from what their master wore. Hunter was all about silks and rich materials yet this man seemed to care more for comfort. Turning to the young male Vince said "I'm afraid I only have one robe with me, however you may borrow a pair of my pyjamas to make you more comfortable if you wish" and he pulled open the second from top drawer in a chest and pulled out some warm cotton pyjamas in a dark navy colour. "Thank you" Seth whispered amazed at the kindness of this man. He was obviously more powerful than their master and yet much kinder...or was that simply a cover to lead them into dropping their guards. He had heard Stephanie mutter that happy servants made for amazing lovers. Perhaps this was his ploy. Whatever it was Seth would be on his guard to protect both himself and Shauna at all costs.