Dynasty Warriors: Strength to Change the Land
Chapter 12 of my Dynasty Warriors story, enjoy.
Reviews
FanFicFanticGurl: Yeah, well here you go; glad you enjoyed it though.
AncientHeartlessKai: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; well, Lu Bu did listen to Chen Gong's strategies, just didn't always agree with them or decided to do his own thing. Yeah, felt it would fit in better.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Dynasty Warriors belongs to Koei.
Chapter 12: A Songstress's Suffering
The cold metal of the chains bit harshly into her skin. However Cai Wenji refused to allow her tears to fall; she would not give them the satisfaction. She was chained up in the dungeon; the wound to her thigh had been treated, but that was as far as her captor's kindness went. She was awaiting her sentence for aiding the Emperors escape; she knew that to go against Li Jue and Guo Si was treason in their eyes. She knew death would be her payment; that's not what scared her.
'Will they just kill me, or will they do worse.' She thought fearfully. 'I've seen their looks; they want my body, they'll take it, no matter what I do.'
Those thoughts raced through her head; making the sound of the cell door opening terrifying. She looked up and saw the jailor approach. He didn't say a word to her; just removed her chains before manacling her hands in front of her and her legs and forcing her to walk. She had to take small steps due to her leg restrains; but her jailor did not care, he kept her moving forwards. It was only when they arrived that she realized they were at the throne room. The doors opened and she felt like her worst nightmare had been unveiled.
Li Jue sat on the throne, Guo Si stood beside him on one side, Jia Xu on the other. Lined down both sides of the room, filling all but the central walkway, were those loyal to Li Jue and Guo Si. She was marched down the walkway to the front of the steps leading up to the throne, only then were her manacles removed. She looked up at Li Jue, fearful for what he had planned for her.
"So this is the woman who aided the Emperor in his escape." He asked rhetorically. "Well, we cannot let a crime like that go unpunished; can we?"
Jia Xu nodded. "She has committed treason and must be executed."
However Li Jue shook his head. "Don't be foolish Jia Xu; look at her; I have something different than execution in mind."
It was then Cai Wenji realized that Jia Xu had tried to help her; by trying to convince them to give her a quick death, rather than the suffering she now knew she would have to endure. Li Jue smirked at her.
"Well, I've already decided on a fitting punishment for a woman such as yourself." He declared before casually giving his order. "Remove your clothing; all of it; show everyone your body; whore."
The order stung like a slap; she was about to speak, to protest but Jia Xu caught her eye and shook his head. She knew then that would only make it worse; so she did the only thing she could and took off her dress; her hair ornament came with it. She kicked off her shoes and removed her stockings and undergarments and stood; petrified and naked before her captors and all his allies.
Li Jue laughed as he stepped down from the throne and stood level with her. Cai Wenji blushed, noting his gaze lingered on her breasts; yet she fought the urge to cover them with her hands, knowing it would just get her in trouble. He smirked; leering at her before speaking.
"Well boys; she's all yours!" He cried as he suddenly grabbed her arm and pushed her into the crowd of men gathered around.
She cried out in shock before a hand covered her mouth; it was then she realized this wasn't just them taking advantage of her; some had no inclination to do that; she was being beaten and tortured too. Desperate to escape this nightmare and praying for it to end she suddenly found herself remembering something Diaochan told her; concerning that night she was forced to spend with Dong Zhuo.
"It was horrific yes, but I found a way to cope. I just, found some place inside myself, where nobody else could go, surrounded by walls. I hid myself there and just waited until it was over."
The words rang in her ears and she decided it was her only hope. So she closed herself off; and allowed her body to go limp. She remained safe, hidden away inside herself, while these beasts in human form defiled and degraded her. She only became aware that it was over when Li Jue delivered a harsh slap to her posterior and ordered the jailor to take her out and chain her to a cart; they were going to transport her, as she was, to Tianshui. There she would remain imprisoned until Li Jue said otherwise. In the meantime, while imprisoned she was to pleasure anyone who wanted it.
She knew her nightmare was just beginning but she refused to let anything anyone said or did get to her. She kept her face blank and stayed shut off within herself as she was chained to the wagon. She was gagged and then taken out; paraded through Changan for all to see and driven out to Tianshui to suffer the same fate.
'Don't let them see you cry, don't show any weakness.' She thought desperately. 'If you cry or let them get to you, they win; you cannot allow them to break you, no matter what they do to your body.'
So, despite the insults, the suggestive comments, the reactions of the people that saw her, she stayed silent; refusing to let them beat her. She finally found herself in one of Tianshui's dungeon and breathed a sigh of relief; she knew that now, for a while at least she could lie in the darkness and recover. She was certain she would need the strength soon.
End of chapter, poor Cai Wenji; read and review please.
