Ch. 11 Anguish
I closed my eyes to the fear that surrounded me and leaned back against Richard, relishing in the feel of his skin pressed against me. I shuddered in apprehension, and part passion, as I tried to think of how we were going to get out of this. At least Richard was with me.
As if he could read my thoughts he put his mouth to my ear whispering "We'll get out of this, Kahlan. I promise. Grenden and Lucan are in the Peoples Palace and Zedd and Chase will be on their way soon, looking for us." He reassured me.
"You always make everything seem so easy even when it's hopeless."
"Nothing is hopeless." I felt his face break into a grin behind me. I could feel his muscles tensing as he attempted to loosen his shackles. He was always so determined and fearless, I thought to myself. I smiled my special smile for him, even if he couldn't see it.
"Thank you Richard….for making me feel safe, I mean." I said shyly.
"Sure Kahlan" he said paying more attention to the Mord Sith and D'Harans as they went about rearranging a long table of weapons.
"Richard…." I hissed. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Of course I am…" as he maneuvered his wrists around loosening their hold only a little. "And you're welcome for making you feel safe" he said and kissed my shoulder. I sighed, dear spirits what was I going to do with him, I thought smiling to myself.
I suddenly tensed, hearing the distant sound of Rahl's voice approaching. As he entered the room I heard Richard curse him under his breath. He walked in, his robes floating after him. He did not even look in our direction when he came in but went to the table that contained the weapons. He examined them with reverence, as though they were living things as the doors to his chambers were shut and barred closed. He shed his robe and turned around meeting my eyes. I felt very exposed as he moved his gaze over my body.
"Seeker…so good of you to join us for our…gathering, if you will." He said caressing the sword of truth tauntingly as he spoke. "This is a special occasion and we wanted you to be here…so you wouldn't miss the fun." He laughed wickedly and tossed the sword back to a Mord Sith who placed it on the table among the other weapons.
"Kahlan" he purred walking towards us "I know I promised you your virtue until our wedding night…but I'm sure Richard wouldn't want to miss the blessed event" he leered. Fear began to overwhelm me as Rahl continued to slowly walk towards me.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Richard defended…his low voice vibrating against me and I could feel him shaking in anger.
"Or what…" taunted Rahl "It seems you're a bit… tied up at the moment." Everyone laughed then and I felt tears threatening to escape. Rahl began to untie the strings of his pants as he came to stand in front of me. I squeezed my eyes shut so I wouldn't have to look at him and heard his pants drop to the floor. I flinched and screamed as he ripped off my shift. Rahl backhanded me and grabbed me by the face "Silence Confessor" he said and spat in my face.
"Get your hands off her! Stop! Whatever it is you want…just tell me, and its done. Just let Kahlan go!" pleaded Richard.
"Why, Richard….I have everything I need here right in front of me" he said as he roughly squeezed my breasts and separated my feet with his leg. I could feel him hard against my thigh and I breathed in short rapid breaths to keep from vomiting. He brought one hand down between my thighs and separated my folds "No…..!" I wailed "Please…please…don't do this…not in front of Richard" but he ignored my pleas. I tensed when I felt him at my opening and he looked up at me as he roughly pushed himself inside saying "This is for Richard." I heard Richard behind me cursing Rahl, but the words wouldn't register. I felt like I was falling.
The pain was like fire between my legs and he dug his rough hands into my flesh ripping it in places, causing me to bleed. I sobbed uncontrollably at the horror of what he was doing to me.
"Kahlan"….Richard sobbed behind me. "Listen to me. I'm right here with you….I'm never going to leave you…I promise….I'm so sorry….." He choked through his tears "I love you so much. Do you know that? Ever since the day I met you." His tears were running down my neck as he watched helplessly.
As Rahl reached the precipice of his lust he shoved me hard against Richard ramming himself deeper inside of me, holding himself there. I screamed in agony as I felt his seed spread into me. I begged the spirits not to allow a child to grow from this nightmare as Rahl grunted his pleasure. He finally pulled out of me, blood covering the front of him and ordered the Mord Sith to get me down.
I collapsed, my legs shaking from the trauma but was pulled up roughly and dragged over to the opposite side of the chamber.
"Kahlan?" it was Richard but I couldn't bring myself to even look at him in my shame. It felt like forever, but it had only taken a moment to ruin me.
"Now I have something for you…my darling Kahlan." He sneered pulling his robe back on and grabbing an ageil from a near by Mord Sith. He tapped it against his hand and sauntered his way back to Richard. I felt like I was watching this happen outside of my body and I stood frozen and helpless. Rahl slammed his agiel into Richard's chest and I screamed.
My body began shaking uncontrollably and I could feel the anger in me taking over. My blood began to rock beneath my skin and the room around me turned into a hazy shade of red. I threw my head back and screamed with an otherworldly violence. Everything made of glass shattered, and the doors banged open with a loud crash. The chains holding Richard popped open causing him to crumble to the floor and I watched him as he crawled behind me to grab his sword. Everyone else seemed to become like statues cemented to the floor as I fixed my gaze on them. I searched for Rahl, but he was no where to be found, but everyone else was mine. I raised my hand and released my powers feeling the rush of soundless thunder engulf me. The entire room bowed, begging me to command them. "Die!" my voice ordered in a hollow voice of authority and everyone dropped suddenly without even a last breath.
The room began to spin and I collapsed to my knees. I could suddenly hear voices I recognized around me but couldn't focus enough to register what they were saying I felt someone drape a shirt around my shoulders and I reflexively grabbed them in warning.
I heard Richard's voice call my name and at that moment the hazy redness faded. I fell forward into his chest and he lifted me into his arms. I felt the air rustle my hair as he carried me. I wrapped an arm around his neck and clung to him for dear life…and then everything went black.
