Chapter nine: Returned to die


Five days later,


Sabrina held onto the bundle that held her clothes as Erik opened the carriage door for her. She gulped and stared at the house. The house was magnificently built; it was so lovely she couldn't find words to describe it.

Erik gripped her hand tightly as he helped her out of the carriage. He moved towards the house, but she stopped him. "No." he paused and she cleared her throat, trying to fight the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. "It's better we say our good-byes here."

"Sabrina. I can't let you do this."

She pressed a finger against his lips and shook her head, "Erik, I must."

"Sabrina, this is nothing more than paid rape!"

She blinked, "How dare you! You don't know my fiancée!"

"Neither do you! Sabrina," he gripped her shoulders. "come with me!"

"Are you proposing marriage to me?"

"No."

"I wouldn't dare stay on a ship with you unless we were married. Erik, I don't trust myself when I'm alone with you."

She didn't, as they grew closer to land, Erik had become more relentless in his attempts to make her his own. But Mr. Gibbs was always there to break them up. But now, as she was seeing Erik for the last time, she rather wished he hadn't.

She held out her hand. "Goodbye. Thank you for everything, for returning me safely. I will try to get you a pardon from my father for your services."

"Will you beg him for a pardon after this?" Erik snarled as he lifted her up from the ground and pressed her back against the carriage door. She groaned as Erik kissed her. She squirmed as he held her closer and pressed his lips firmer against hers. She vainly tried to protest and decided to surrender him one final kiss. "Come away with me," Erik gasped as he broke the kiss. "Now."

She inhaled, "I can't."

A door opened and Erik set her on the ground immediately. She smoothed her hair and stepped past him towards the groom. She didn't look back at Erik; she could feel his eyes boring into her back.

"Inside please, your Highness. His Royal Highness is waiting for you."

She nodded and followed after the groom. Halfway she turned back to see Erik holding his arms out to her. A silent plea for her to come with him. She sadly shook her head.

She stepped inside the door and it closed behind her. Suddenly, she was grabbed and pushed into another room. Sabrina shrieked as she was rudely thrown to the floor. She gasped and looked up at the 'handsome' prince who was to be her husband. He would have been handsome, except for that cold and hungry look in those blue eyes.

He stood up, "Haven't been on my property more than a minute…and I see you cavorting with a pirate!"

She gasped, "He's no pirate!"

"Lies." he stood up and grabbed her hair and pulled her up to her feet. "Do you think I actually want to marry an English, one-armed, pirate loving whore?"

"I don't love him!"

"I'm not blind. I saw how your arm clung to him when you thought you'd never see him again. And you won't!" he snapped. "As soon as your father sends a ransom to my friend, you, will be put to death!"

"But," she stammered. "why?"

"Simple." He said shoving her towards the door. "Money."


Erik stopped at the gangplank and frowned. Something was wrong, he didn't know what. "Drop her off captain?" Gibbs asked. Erik nodded. "The lass all right?"

"She's not happy."

"That makes the two of you." He said before turning and gesturing to a small trunk. "There's the pay." He smirked. "And we didn't even drop her off, it was waiting for us."

Erik frowned and studied the trunk; he ran his hand over the crest that was on the front. He'd seen that crest before. "Her fiancée gave you this?"

"No, the man who wanted her in the first place. He paid us shortly after you left."

Erik scowled, "Gibbs, this is her fiancée's crest."

"Impossible."

"I dropped her off, I know what it looks like."

"How could her fiancée pay us off for returning her?"

Erik's mind was spinning rapidly. "Maybe…he's holding her hostage."

Gibbs snorted. "Erik, don't be ridiculous."

"It has to be. What was the name of the contact? Do you even know?"

"Ehh, the paper was destroyed. I believe it was Chaney or something like that."

"Her fiancée's name is Chagney. But why kidnap her?" Erik's heart began to pound. "We get the blame and who'd argue our word against a prince? And if she happened to die."

"There'd be no peace between the countries."

Erik spun around. "I'm going to get her."

"Wait captain!" Gibbs shouted. "I'm coming with you. Cannot have you running off by yourself in your state of mind!"

Sabrina shivered as Raoul's father studied her form. Her one arm was tied above her head to a hook in the library. Both men had been celebrating their 'fortune' and were getting a little tipsy. She'd been tied there, stretching upon her tiptoes for almost half the day.

Mr. Chagney glanced at Raoul, "Perfect figure, a shame she's only got one arm."

"Oh father," Raoul spat. "that makes her easier for you to subdue her if you must."

"Enticing idea."

"Tell me," Raoul asked stepping forward and gripping her face. "Are you still a virgin? Or did your pirate lover claim you also?"

"He's not my lover!" She shrieked. "Please!"

"Silence!" He shouted striking her. She closed her eyes. "However, I can't help but wonder if you're lying."

He grabbed her skirts and pinned them up around her waist. "How dare you!" she screamed. "Stop it!"

He ignored her and pulled her undergarments down around her legs. He then thrust two fingers inside her maidenhood, hard. She cried out in pain as he felt her barrier. He smirked. "Ironic, to see that touching scene, and him; the epitome of heartbreak. He never took her, and to think that when you're taken, it won't be by him. It'll be by my father, me, my friends, the guards and servants in my employ who will give you so much pleasure that it'll kill you."

"Please." She begged; she knew she was trapped here. Erik was gone and there was no one to help her. "Just let me go, and I won't tell my father anything, I swear it."

"No can do," Raoul said. "You see, our country can use the money to fight yours. What better way to help them…with a princess's ransom? Your father will pay dearly, and you will pay dearly." He undid the rope and handed it to his father. "She's all yours."

"Please!" she screamed. "I've done nothing to you!"

"No." he said. "But, then, I can't afford to have a conscience where money is concerned." He picked up his wineglass and toasted his father. "Enjoy."

Sabrina was yanked sharply and dragged towards the stairs. Her heart pounded as tears fell down her cheeks. She fought to keep the screams at bay, there was no escape from her and she wished she hadn't fought Erik so hard. She'd rather he'd been her first. But now, a disgusting household was going to use her until she died and her death would kill her father. No peace would be achieved, more lives would lost and she'd never get father to help pardon Erik.

Maybe…they'd meet again in the afterlife and she hoped they wouldn't be separated even then.