dia-the-kitten - Yes, but explosions are more fun and that is if Duct tape doesn't solve it. Duct tape fixes anything.
Laheba Alam - Calm down there killer! (my best friend used to say the same thing to me lol)
XxXMuffin88XxX - You just made my day... Thank you!
pandimonium- Thank you... now that I think about it, I'm not too sure what it was... I suppose possibly a spell.... to keep the monument.... I don't know, now I'm making things up. lol
I suppose four is better than three...*sighs* I have low self esteem here people.
Chapter 10 - The Offer
Audery awoke still groggy. She motioned to rub the sleep out of her eyes, but she couldn't move her arms. Her wrists were tied to the bed posts. Although, she was furious, she waited calmly for the prince to come. There was no sense causing a ruckus until he arrived, but giving him a little extra push wouldn't hurt.
A cold wind gusted through the castle. Desmond left his paper work and looked out the paned window. Though snow covered the ground, the trees were completely still. Another cold gust ruffled his hair. Audery was finally awake, Desmond concluded. He prepared himself for a war, as he left his study.
A thought crossed his mind, as he stalked through the corridors: Audery would never harm another creature. It just wasn't within a witch. Desmond set out to find Thane. Conveniently, he was in a lounge down the hall. It was simple with dark wood floors, and brown leather chairs. A thick rug lay by the hearth where Thane lay, curled by the fire.
"Thane?" Desmond called.
*I'll come with you, but you wont use me as leverage* Thane lifted his head. His yellow eyes seemed to glow in the flickering fire light.
The duo walked through the corridors in silence, both anticipating the fight that was about to come. As they neared the room where Audery was kept, the air got colder, the wind, more violent. When Desmond crossed the threshold into the room, everything stopped. It was as if he had pushed a button, or flicked a switch. Thane bounded past him, and jumped onto the bed next to Audery. Her hair was spread around her head in blonde waves. Her pink lips were formed into a pout, but were lush, and kissable. Her body was hidden by the green and gold comforter. Her petit hands were bound to the headboard by thick metal chains, attached to leather cuffs that wrapped around her wrists. Her green eyes, contorted in anger, were focused on Desmond.
"I would pet you, but someone tied my hands to the bed posts," Audery spoke to Thane, never taking her eyes off of Desmond.
"I couldn't risk you running away again," Desmond's voice had a slight edge to it, like he was trying so hard not to yell.
"It's a good thing I did try, or Thane would be dead by now," she snapped.
Thane whimpered and buried his head into Audery's shoulder. She patted his head awkwardly due to the position of her hands.
"He may be grateful, and I'm happy you were there to rescue him, but the fact is, you tried to escape, a feat punishable by death. But since you are so precious to me, a smaller punishment will have to suffice."
A thick leather collar appeared around Audery's neck. Desmond pulled a black leather lead out of thin air and attached it to a metal loop in the collar.
"A leash?" Audery yelled, causing the candles to glow brighter, "What am I, a disobedient mutt?"
"Disobedient? Yes. A mutt? You look human to me. It's either this, or I can leave you chained to the bed," Desmond replied in a deadly calm. Audery let out a sigh of frustration. "I knew you would see it my way." The chains keeping Audery immobile disappeared. "How is your leg feeling?"
"It's fine," Audery snapped, getting out of the bed. She was still wearing the riding outfit. The white fabric was torn and dirty from the woods. "May I take a shower, Highness?" she asked tartly.
Desmond glared at her, "No."
"You're the one who has to smell me."
Desmond led Audery through the corridors. She tried to fight the leash, but he was too strong. He led her through two dark brown stained doors, into a dining room. The floor was enriched with a crimson carpet. The walls and ceiling were painted blue to look like the sky in heaven. The trim and rafters, that formed squares, were painted gold. The ceiling was adorned with pictures of angels. The walls on each side of the table, held a fireplace. A painting of a man who looked like Desmond rested above the mantle on one side of the room. Above the other fireplace, hung a painting of a woman. She had long dark hair, and bright blue eyes. Her smile made the onlooker believe she knew something they didn't.
Huge bay windows that almost reached the ceiling, sat at each end of the room. Both were adorned by heavy red velvet curtains. The table seated roughly fifty people in dark wood chairs, that had red velvet cushions. At the head of the table, sat a gold goblet imprinted with a design Audery couldn't make out from far away. The seat to the left of the head, was a plate setting.
As they moved closer, Audery saw that the dishes were made of dark green ceramic, with a gold patterned edge. A ring painted in gold circled the center. At the top of the plate, between the two gold rings, was a family crest of two lions facing an urn. Their inside paws rested on the sides of it. The silverware was gold-washed, and polished so well, Audery could see her reflection. At the end of the handles, was the same family crest.
"Eat," Desmond ordered, as a maid filled her plate. She was an older woman. A bonnet hid her dark, graying hair. Wrinkles lined her lips and eyes. Her brown irises held the burden of life's experience.
"I'm not hungry," Audery grumbled.
"Fine, then just sit there," Desmond growled.
Thane laid down by Audery's feet. Audery, refusing to look at Desmond, stared at Thane's injured leg. She noticed it was very swollen, and light green puss stained the bandage.
"Thane, why didn't you tell me your leg was bothering you?" Audery spoke loudly, causing everybody to jump. "And why didn't you tend to it?" she poked Desmond in the chest, not so nicely. His chest was actually quite toned, and pleasant feeling. Audery wanted to run her hands over it.
"For your information, Princess," Desmond shot, "Thane neglected to inform me."
Ignoring Desmond, Audery called in her med-kit. She unbound his wound. A maid silently placed a bowl of warm water and a wash rag beside her, which Audery used to cleanse the wound. She then spread a poultice over it, and rewrapped it with gauze.
"Why didn't you check it?" Audery snapped when she was finished.
"It's only been a day," Desmond defended.
"A lot can happen in a day," Audery growled.
"Don't you speak to me like that. You're still in trouble, and you will be punished. Since I can't kill you, ten lashes will have to do. So if you are finished here, we can get started."
"You have got to be kidding me!" Audery screamed in frustration, "You kidnapped me, then punish me for trying to get back home? You do have a heart, Prince of Terror, but it's as black as coal."
Audery stood up so fast, her chair flew backward, landing with a soft clatter on the carpeted floor. She stomped away, forgetting about the collar around her neck.
Only getting a few steps, she was forced backwards, landing in Desmond's lap, facing him. He wrapped his arms around her so she couldn't escape his grasp. His black eyes seemed to glow. Her own, widened in fear.
"My poor, poor little witch-ling. How are you going to get out of this one?" Desmond cooed dangerously in her ear, "I have an idea."
He kissed her neck tenderly, suckling on her creamy flesh. His hand wandered to her leg as he caressed her thigh. Audery pushed herself away, and slapped him hard across the face, and jumped out of his lap. He pulled her back so harshly, that she choked slightly from the collar.
"You forget, Audery, who you are, and your place here. You have a choice: I whip you until you pass out, and I assure you, it will take a while, or you can avoid the pain and spend the night with me."
Audery glared up at Desmond. Her body shook from anger. The candles and fire in the hearths grew brighter and more intense, illuminating Audery's face more. Desmond could see the hate glowing in her beautiful, emerald eyes.
"I am not your whore," she hissed, "I will take the lashings."
"So be it," Desmond spoke coldly, standing up. He made his way to a courtyard, dragging a stumbling Audery behind him.