Hey everyone!
I deeply apologize for the long delay! I have been writing and re-writing my stories. I am a perfectionist. -_-
Everything was not turning out the way I wanted. My other story, Paperdolls, oy! I've been re-writing my next chapter this entire time!
Anyways, some crazy stuff has been going on as well. I meant to update on friday, but alas, my sister-in-law's cousin had gone missing. She went hiking and hadn't returned. Two days had passed and still, nothing. After a massive search and rescue, she was finally found! We are unsure exactly how she got lost ( she has done hikes around the world), but she is at the hospital now.
The family is blessed to have her back safe and sounds, but my goodness!
People: Please make sure someone knows where you're going. Who you're meeting up with. etc. Don't wonder off by yourself, especially if you're upset.
Anyways, I hope you all are safe and sound.
Let me know how you like this next chapter. :)
It took some time to write. The angle I'm going with will make sense towards the end. :)
Without further adeu, here's chapter 6 of Monster.
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Chapter Six
If I told you what I was,
Would you turn your back on me?
And if I seem dangerous,
Would you be scared?
I get the feeling just because,
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
That this problem lies in me
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Strong winds blew in from the rooms high windows as rain pelted the ground outside.
Blue bonnet eyes stared up at the tapestries hanging lazily from the ceiling; their heavy fabric moving slowly with the stronger current.
Raia glared as she flipped over onto her stomach, her long ebony hair flopping absently behind her. It had been three days; Three long drawn out days since she been able to speak to anyone. Jad had not bothered to visit her, though she was thankful for that, but he also seemed to want to keep her in solitude.
The thought was unnerving. As if he wanted to chip away her resolve piece by piece. Wanting her to know what her life would be like under his rule.
Different servants would drop off food and water, but none would talk to her, even if she tried to engage them. She knew they understood her, or at least partially, yet they too ignored her.
She had always preferred being alone, but now that it was forced upon her, the feelings that followed were not pleasant to deal with. Frustration caused a huff as she sat up, her eyes eyeing the new outfit that she had pulled out of a trunk that was delivered just yesterday. He again chose outfits fit for a courtesan.
She eyed the deep burgundy beads that accentuated her bust. The top of this new option stopped right in the middle of her stomach, allowing the eyes to see her lighter flesh. The sleeves dipped to the ground, lightly scrapping the floor if she placed her arms by her side. The Skirt flowed from the hips and dragged on the ground behind her, forcing her to lift the front in order to walk. Over all, it was an outfit fit for a prostitute; one wanting to expose herself.
Raia huffed as she slipped off the bed, eyeing the still full tray of food. Contemplating eating something, she turned away at the sound of heavy door opening.
Expecting to finally face Jad, Raia took a step back when Kasim stepped inside.
"The servants have said you are not eating."
Eyeing the empty hall behind him, Raia swallowed gently as she made eye contact, "I'm not hungry. It is difficult to have an appetite when I am stuck inside day and night."
He glanced towards the two still untouched trays of food, "You can afford to eat. You are skinny enough as it is."
Raia huffed as Kasim's eyes traveled over her body, eyes stopping at the skin exposed on her stomach and then again at the dip between her breasts.
Wishing for more layers, she narrowed her eyes as his lips spread into a grin, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. "It is rude to stare."
His larger body moved towards her, his long legs carrying him quickly. Raia dared not move. Your normal instincts demanded you run from a predator but running only made them want to chase you more. His large hand reached up and Raia felt her body flinch, expecting a blow. When his hand only cupped her chin, she met his stare with one of hatred.
"You are a beautiful woman. It is difficult not to stare. The men speak of you. Wonder what it would be like." She watched his eyes travel down, his eyes stating more than his words.
With her chest rising with each heavy breath, Raia reacted without much thought as she brought her hand up to strike him. His movements were fast as he caught it, inches from his face.
His laugh filled the large room as he dropped her hand and moved back towards the door.
"You do not need to fear me, in regards to taking your virginity, jameel. I enjoy being a man. If I did, I fear I would be acquainted with Jad's blade-and that is not a man I would want to fight. I was sent to see if you have eaten. I will report that you have not and will have a much more dangerous situation to dela with."
A dark brow lifted, as a sense of relief and dread washing over her. "Jad is half your size. You fear such a man?"
He turned back one last time and eyed her, "Only a fool doesn't fear death, Raia. I know where I stand in regards to strength. But I am nowhere near the skill that Jad is in regards to killing. That keeps you untouched by the others. Remember that."
Raia blinked as the door closed tightly. If she didn't know any better, it sounded like Kasim was offering her some insight into the man that kidnapped her. Insight into what he was capable of. Shuttering slightly, Raia wrapped her arms around her waist, unsure about what to do as the storm seemed to scream violently into the night.
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Jad glanced up from his maps as Kasim entered through the door, "Has she eaten?"
Kasim smiled, his pearl white teeth a contrast to his much darker complexion.
"She has not. I fear you were right. She may be trying to starve herself."
Jad tossed the quill to the side of the map and braced his hands on the top of the table.
"She is a stubborn creature. I thought a few days alone would be good. It seems my plan has backfired."
Grabbing the goblet of wine, Jad's eyes turned back towards the map, "It seems she may actually like my company after all. Perhaps a few days surrounded by me may have her requesting to be left alone once again-and that she'll eat."
He watched Kasim sip his own wine, "I don't understand. Why don't you just bed her? You know her father won't pay. He has probably packed up his house already and left."
Jad eyed the storm outside, his thoughts lost for a moment.
Choosing to ignore Kasim's question, he eyed the map one last time, "Make sure the men have this memorized. We leave tomorrow."
Without even waiting for a nod, Jad made his way back to his occupied chambers.
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Raia eyed the door, feeling as if the fires of hell would descend upon her. It was only a matter of time before Jad came back to her. She wasn't someone he would toss aside, at least not yet.
When the door opened, she couldn't stop her body from jumping up, her stance ready to face him.
"You have refused to eat for three days now."
She stood behind the table, something between them seemed to add to her bravery, "I have been alone for three days and have had little movement. I do not require much food right now."
His bright blue eyes narrowed as he took in her small waist. His eyes traveled over her body, and Raia felt like screaming at the lack of propriety .
"Stop it! I am not a courtesan! Stop staring at me as such!"
She watched one of his golden brows lift, a small smirk forming his lips.
"That can be changed, Raia. You promised to comply." Titling his head to the side, he eyed her curiously, "You are now breaking that promise."
Raia felt her feet move back as she realized the mistake.
"I am complying! I am just not hungry. I need to move around. Once I can walk, I promise, I will eat."
Shaking his head, he took the steps needed to be directly in front of her, the table their only barrier.
"That is not complying. That is doing things your way. Complying meant doing things my way. I told you the other option."
Raia felt her eyes shift towards the door, wondering if she could actually make it. Moving her eyes back to him, she lowered her head, "You are right, I have been stubborn." Grabbing a grape from the plate before her, she plopped it in her mouth, "I'm eating."
She barely had time to move before he rounded the table and his tanned hand gripped her upper arm, almost painfully.
"You are a stubborn woman, and I will teach you the consequences of not complying with my wishes."
Raia's eyes widened as she tried to pull away, only to be swept up and tossed over his shoulder. Her fists balled as she slammed them against his solid back, "I am complying! Release me! Release me at once!"
Before she realized anything, he moved beyond the room and down the hallway. Her screeching only increased as he ushered them outside and into the rain.
The heavy downpour quickly soaked down her hair and seeped through her clothes.
She howled as she was dropped, rather unladylike, in the wet sand. She glared up at the man before her.
"Was there a reason for this!? Now we are drenched!"
Raia felt her body flinch back as he plopped himself down before her.
"We will stay out here until you learn."
Raia could only glare as her hair plastered itself to her back and along her neck.
"You are crazy! What does this even accomplish?"
His grin shown through the darkness, his golden hair turning to molten gold as the rain dripped down his face, "I have a lovely view-that's at least one accomplishment."
With her face beaming scarlet, Raia glanced down at her drenched clothes and felt like screaming all over again.
"This has served no purpose but to humiliate me!"
Crossing her arms across her chess, she brought her knees up, her posture defeated.
"It has served a purpose, Raia. For now, I am your master. You promised to comply, yet here you are trying to starve yourself. This will not go the way you pray it will. I can bring you out in the rain. I can make you warm my bed. Anything I wish, anything I demand of you, will be followed through." He paused for a moment, glancing out towards the swirling sea, his mind contemplating his next words as he looked back towards her, "I was much harsher with you the other night because you challenged me before my crew."
Raia looked up, her brows drawn together.
"You don't understand what position that put me in. I can't have you challenging me before them. Mutiny is alive and well. If you continue in this manner, you will force my hand."
Raia swallowed, "You mean you would kill me?"
Jad's laughter echoed off the waves crashing nearby. Shaking his head, she watched as a small smile played on his lips, "You are truly innocent, Raia." His chuckle brought shivers down her spine, though Raia stubbornly denied it was truly the deep noise, instead more of the coldness that swirled around them.
"You mean…"
She watched as he simply nodded his head.
"Your lack of compliance is making me question if you would truly fight me off. " She watched the grin spread across his lips as he leaned back on his palms, his longer legs stretching out beside her.
She felt her chest huff at such a notion. "How dare you! I do not want you touching me, let alone anything else!"
His grin stayed in place as eyed her, "Oh, but I do dare. I have dreamed of it since the moment I laid eyes on you. Imaging you beneath me, sighing and.."
"Stop! I don't need to know the vile things you think of! " Her face beamed blood red as she pulled her knees closer to her chest.
"I will eat and I will not challenge you before your crew. But you will not place me in such a position again."
His bark of laughter made her look back at him sharply.
"You are truly a unique woman. You are the prisoner and here you are giving me orders."
She held her stare as he looked back.
He stood and reached out his hand, "Alright. I feel that will not be a problem any longer anyways. We leave in the morning."
Ignoring his hand, Raia stood on her own, pushing her long locks back.
"I don't suppose you will tell me where?"
When he stepped closer, Raia almost took a step back, instead she faced him.
"I will."
Lifting a dark brow, Raia took a cautious breath, "You will?"
He nodded as his hand touched her chin lightly. "For a kiss, I will tell you exactly where we are going. For two, I will share what I will be doing as well."
Raia tried to move back as his arm encircled her waist and his hand tightened along her jawline. Trying to keep her breathing in check, she stared at his strong chin, "I do not wish to know then."
Feeling his warm breath against her face, she felt her heart rate increase.
"Pity. I would like to share such information with you."
Raia finally looked up, her eyes narrowing, "I don't want to know. So pray, keep that inf-"
She gasped as his lips descended on her own, his tongue taking liberties with her parted mouth.
She tried to push away, but the harder she pushed against his solid chest, the tighter his arm around her became.
When his tongue slipped across her lips and dipped inside, Raia wasn't sure how to respond. Her eyes widened at the sensation, as his lips moved expertly across her own.
She wasn't sure when or how, but beyond all reason, she felt her body respond on its own accord. When his hand left her face and trailed down her sides, gripping her waist and pulling her against him, she placed her hands on his chest and shoved with all her might.
Crying out at the force of her own strength, she groaned as her backside became familiar with the sand once again.
The rain stopped as silence reigned. Hours could have easily passed before she heard him speak again.
"We are going to Tyre."
Looking up at the man before her, Raia felt fire burn behind her eyes.
"After Tyre, we will be heading back to Constantinople."
She jumped when his hand appeared within her vision. Wanting to smack it away, but knowing better, she stood on her own once again and took steps back. Her courage returned as she tightened his fists.
"I said I would comply. Until my father decides to pay or not pay, you do not have liberties with my body."
She watched as he glanced towards the sea, his body posture stiff.
"Fair enough."
His eyes connected once again with her own; a small smile gracing his kissed lips. She had to fight the blush creeping along her cheeks.
"And when we get back to Constantinople and discover your father's estate empty, remember this Raia." He took the few steps needed to be directly in front of her, his hands not lifting to touch her this time. "You will surrender to me."
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Raia wasn't sure how long they had traveled, but the port of Tyre was not what she was expecting to see. The hidden moon offered little to help her see within the darkness. Torches lit certain areas, but overall, the place was quiet.
Sighing, she looked back at the deck as a few of Jad's crew tossed coins, laughing when one landed in their favor. The trip here had been simple. Jad slept in the quarters with her every night, his much larger body taking up the bed as she curled up in the chair beside the fire. They had enjoyed a few civil conversations, and he had most importantly, kept his hands to himself.
Even though she hated to admit it, his demeanor was beginning to have a slight effect on her.
She gripped her cover tighter around her as leaned once again on the railing.
She eyed Kasim as he leaned on the railing beside her-his body posture tense as he scanned the area.
"Shouldn't he be back by now?"
Kasim eyed her, "He returns when he is done."
Raia sighed as she brought her hand up to rest her chin in the palm.
"You are concerned for him now?"
Scoffing, Raia stood and gripped the railing, "No. I just want to get back to Constantinople."
She saw the flash of teeth as Kasim smiled. "Sure."
About to defend herself further, she stopped as sniffling sounded behind her. Turning, both her and Kasim looked down.
Raia's eyes softened at the boy before her. He couldn't be older than five winters. Her brows drew together as she realized she had not seen him prior.
Kasim seemed to volunteer information she could not ask.
"His name is Nimir. His mother dropped him off right before we left."
Raia eyed the man beside her as she crouched down to the child, "Who is his father?"
Kasim seemed to shrug, "Don't know. The whore said it was one of crew members and demanded we take the burden from her."
Raia glanced up sharply, "He is a child, not a burden."
Kasim shrugged again, "Either way, he will be dropped off at the orphanage in Constantinople."
Raia's heart melted as the boy opened his arms up, wanting to be held.
"Don't become attached, woman. "
Ignoring him, Raia lifted the child into her arms. She smiled as he wrapped his thin legs around her waist; his head nestled in the crook of her neck.
"The least I could do is offer some comfort while he is here."
Turning, she swallowed the oath that almost escaped her as Jad stood, watching the exchange. How he moved so silently, truly frightened her.
"Business is concluded?"
Raia eyed Kasim, but kept her full attention on Jad.
"It is. Marcus is bringing in the bounty. We make sail as soon as everything is accounted for."
Kasim's heavy steps echoed down the deck as he went to prepare.
"I see you've met Nimir."
"I have, he is tired and just needed someone to hold him."
Jad nodded as he motioned for her to follow him, making their way to his quarters.
As he opened the door, he paused and bellowed out, "Farooq!"
Raia had barely stepped inside before the older man appeared.
"Take Nimir back to his bed."
Raia felt the boy's arms tighten, "I could do it."
Jad looked up from removing his daggers, "You can see Nimir tomorrow. I have something I need you to do."
Lifting the boys head up, Raia smiled at him. Leaning in, she kissed his forehead. "I will see you tomorrow."
Nimir nodded as Farooq took him and marched out, closing the door behind him.
Turning, Raia eyed Jad as he now seemed to limp towards the massive bed, a box in hand.
Drawing her brows together, she couldn't stop the question from leaving her lips, "Are you alright?"
Jad sat down on the bed, pulling his sash from his waist, "How good are you with a needle?"
Raia swallowed, "I am okay."
Nodding, he lifted the shirt over his head. His breath catching in a hiss.
Raia's eyes widened. "What in heaven's name happened?"
Moving closer, she examined the long knife cut cross his stomach.
"My bounty did not want to die without a fight. Sadly, neither did his guards."
Raia glanced up as she knelt beside the bed.
"How many men did you fight?"
"Five. Six if you include my main target."
Raia brought her hand to touch the slightly swollen skin surrounding the cut. Questions floating in her mind as she eyed the box he had brought, noticing thread and needle inside.
Another thought entered her mind as she picked a needle and thread and moved to burn the needle on the candle flickering on the stand beside the box. "You trust me?"
She watched his blue eyes seek hers out, "I do."
Ignoring his answer for a moment and more questions it brought on, she turned to a safer route.
"Why do you do this?"
"It is what I am good at."
Standing, she moved towards the wash basin and soaked the cloth. Scrubbing her own hands first, she brought it back to him, wiping the area clean.
"You could be good at a number of things. You chose this."
His hiss was evident as she brought the needle through its first part.
"I did. You seemed to take a quick liking to Nimir."
Raia focused on the task as she answered, "I did. He needed someone."
She watched his hand grip the blankets below him as she continued closing the wound.
"You would make a good mother."
Stopping, Raia looked up at the man before her.
"And I will probably never know if that would be true."
She watched Jad reach for the goblet that had been sitting on the stand since morning. Drinking its contents, he hissed again.
"Why wouldn't you ever know?"
Finishing up the last stitch, Raia stood and once again brought the needle to the burning candle.
"If my father does not pay, I will become a whore. Whore's are not normally allowed to keep their children."
She stopped moving when Jad's hand clasped gently around her thin wrist.
"You would not be a whore, Raia. And if you ever became pregnant with my child, I would not cast it away. It would not be a bastard."
Scoffing, she yanked her hand free and moved towards the water basin once again, not believing she was even having such a conversation. Scrubbing her hands, she felt the fire in her voice as she answered, "If I have to share your bed, I am a whore. If I become fat with a child and unmarried, that child is a bastard-even if the father knows of it."
She heard the bed squeak and turned quickly, expecting him to be behind her. Instead, his body stretched upon the blankets, his eyes closed.
"You decide to sleep?"
She watched as one blue eye popped open to look at her for a moment before closing.
"You raise an interesting point."
"What is that?"
He grinned as his body seemed to relax. "If your father doesn't pay, then I vowed you would keep my bed and body warm. But, if my seed happens to reach your womb, then you would be carrying my child. My heir."
Raia felt a shiver run down her spine. Her mind took in his choice of words. Simpletons, pirates, bounty hunters and murderers did not speak in terms of heirs. Her heart thumped quickly in her chest as she voiced her question, not daring to look at him, "Heir?"
When silence continued on, she looked up to watch the even rise and fall of his chest and realized he had dozed off within the last few moments she took to ponder.
Signing, she moved and covered him with one of the blankets and blew out the bedside candle.
He would be answering her come first light.
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Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I had a few different options mapped out but decided on this one. :)
I want to thank each and every one of you for your reviews! They truly mean a lot to me!
Reviwer "RD" You raised an interesting inquiry and one I honestly never thought of. Have you by any chance listened to the song "Monster" by imagine dragons? I can't say more, as they will make an appearance later on (the *idea* behind the lyrics will be spoken by one of the characters) but thank you for a different idea then what I had even thought of.
~LAla