I moaned deeply as he pulled out of my dripping hole, letting some of his cum spill out with each tremor that ran down my spine. My cheek firmly planted against the linen and my ass pointed to the ceiling must've been a sight to behold, because instead of leaving immediately like he usually did, Popocateptl lingered and watched me. I felt his studious gaze upon my pricked, cooling flesh and couldn't think of anything in my muddled mind that would possess him to stay longer than what he thought was necessary.

Is this necessary? Him staying?

I breathed out in longer puffs and blinked languidly, waiting for feeling to return to my hips and thighs so I could move and wash his essence off me and massage the fresh, shallow wounds he laid across my skin.

Except, I wasn't expecting a soft tender caress to grace my abused bottom. I shivered when he trailed light touches up and down my back and hummed absently. He carefully picked me up and sat me in his lap. I instinctively rested my head against his shoulder and tried calming myself when he sat us there still and quiet. Popocateptl's breathing was slowing and his fingers were still tracing foreign marks and patterns like a spider weaving silk along my hip.

When my breathing had stabilized and I was more aware of the position he put us in, I built up the courage enough to talk to him.

Will he answer though? I asked myself, hesitating. No, don't back out. Just start off with getting his attention Chiara.

"Eh, Popocateptl?"

He stilled his fingers immediately and drew in a breath.

"…What?" he answered in a low voice after a couple moments.

"I was wondering, if you would be staying here longer today."

He chuckled and looked down to meet my gaze at his shoulder. "Are you in such a hurry to relieve yourself from me?"

Licking my lips, I averted my eyes and stuttered out a "maybe". He smirked and released his hands in a surrendering gesture.

"Fine, if the lady does not wish for my presence, then I shall allow you to retire for the remainder of this day."

"I was just asking out of curiosity, you asshat," I grumbled out. "You're usually gone by now…"

Popocateptl eyed me seriously for a moment before his warm grey irises glinted a deep silver as he cocked his head.

"Planning your latest escape?"

Flushing, I couldn't help but widen my eyes. He let out a laugh and pushed me back onto the bed by my shoulders. I gasped then pursed my lips as his face drew close to mine; his nose a hair breadths away from my own.

"White woman, you test my generosity and patience."

"I'm sorry."

"I like your resistance. It gives me great pleasure to bring you down to such a submissive state. Make no mistake though, that only applies in this room, when you are to be joined with me."

I nodded barely, but enough to let him know that I understood. His eyes narrowed.

"You belong to me. In my harem, you have a meaningful purpose. As a prisoner of war, you are nothing. Which position would you rather be placed in?"

I stayed silent and let my eyes slide to the left.

"Answer me."

"…you."

"Again."

"With you."

His maniacal grin was the last thing I saw before he quickly rose up and flipped me over. I resisted before he grabbed my chin and spoke from behind me in my ear.

"Then let me answer your previous question," he began in a low sensual growl. "I shall remain here, until nightfall."

My face grew hotter and hotter with every word he whispered. I gulped and felt my crotch begin to build up a familiar ache. Popocateptl licked the shell of my ear and I gasped and bucked against him when he let his hand wander down to part my lower lips.

"Be grateful."

I woke up in the middle of the night. I sighed and turned over to see the eight other women all asleep on various different bed rolls, mine being the furthest away from them and nearest the window.

I sat up quietly and looked around, wondering what had awoken me. Standing up, I smoothed out my tunic and walked outside. Popocateptl knew from the other women, and a few warriors, that I wandered around the inner city sometimes in the early morning before dawn. He thought I was plotting to escape him, when in fact I was just curious about this place.

I knew there was no escaping this land by myself. I grudgingly resigned to remain here with him not too long ago when I realized the true extent of my precarious predicament. In doing so, I wanted to see my new "house". Wandering and exploring was usually my reliever from the stressful days of being subjected to the dirty looks and silent judgment of the other harem women. Though tonight, I felt almost restless for some reason.

I walked without any destination and ended up by the road leading to the lower class villagers' homes. By a land plot with a few fruit trees, I saw a shadow moving unnaturally against the moonlight out of the corner of my eye. Squinting, I tried to make out if it was a dog or other animal belonging to that family. Coming to the judgment that it was far too large to be a domestic animal, I backed up slowly and made my way back to where I came to go somewhere else. Only a few steps later is when I heard the scuffing of fast footfalls behind me.

Anxious, I looked over my shoulder to be greeted by a hand that grabbed me fast by the arm and another to cover my mouth roughly. I screamed into my assailant's palm and struggled fiercely against them. The large calloused hand made me aware that this was a man when I was brought up close to their scratchy face. Lurching away, my shoulder came into contact with a metal breastplate. Stilling, I realized that this was a Spaniard.

Here? In the city?!

"Thank goodness you stopped. I didn't want to make you any angrier than you already were."

My eyes widened at the deep voice.

A soft chuckle warmed my cocoa eyes and caused them to tear up.

"To think you infiltrated this damned village and were surviving here till now… Amazing. I'm sorry you thought I wasn't fit to protect you."

A tear slipped down my cheek as soon as he removed his hand from my mouth.

Don't say it. Don't say it you bastard.

"What's wrong?" he voice wavered in its whisper. "Wait, don't tell me you still don't forgive me…?"

My lips trembled.

"Chiara?"

I stood on my tip toes to wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly.

"Woah! Um!"

"Stupid Idiot! Fucking bastard… You god damn shithead."

"Sorry…"

"You asshole."

"I am sorry…"

I cried and blubbered out more profanities to try and hurt him as much as he had. To leave a wound like he had. I get across how much he had pained me.

It didn't work. Because the next thing he whispered in my ear, so softly and with so much care was:

"I didn't expect to find you in the target area… but it's a good thing I did. It's dangerous here. Come on, let us go back."

My eyes blinked open and I stood stock still, with bated breath.

Target Area?

"What're you talking about?" I asked in a quiet voice.

Antonio pulled away from me and looked me in the eyes.

"Hm? We're in a dangerous area. The next target area in fact. The last one when we disable their chief. We should go, before someone comes."

He began to walk away, leading me by the wrist, but I didn't budge.

I remembered suddenly. The last face I saw from him. Not this nice Spain. Not the one that was laid back like Isabell, but the evil glare and maddening expression that saw me off into the new world's jungle. How could I forget that? This Spain was not the one I wanted to associate with. This was the Spain I was supposed to run away from.

He must've understood the apprehension radiating off of me, because he furrowed his brows and cautiously smiled.

"Chiara, let's go."

Decide. Decide right now.

I can't… I can't do this….

Decide.

If I stay…

Decide.

If I leave…

Decide!

I can't!

"No."

"No?" he repeated astonished.

I shook my head. "No. I won't go with you, Spain."

He closed his mouth and stared at me. He let go of my hand and searched my eyes for something, anything to grasp an understanding of why I said what I did. He found what he was looking for, I assumed, when his green eyes narrowed and his lips drew into a tight line.

"Who is he?"

That threw me off guard. I imagined that he had thought that I formed an attachment to this city. Not to a man. I squashed the image of Popocateptl that formed in my head.

"There is no one. Not even you."

He cocked his head intimidatingly and looked down on me. The fired eyes and menacing frown was the terrifying expression I was familiar with. I stood my ground.

"Leave."

"Not without you. You got away last time, not again."

I stood firm. Scared on the inside, but trying to appear strong on the outside.

"Which position would you rather be placed in?"

"My position is here, and I'm here to stay."

His hand flew up and smacked me across my cheekbone. My face lit up in pain as I stumbled at the force he unleashed on me. The shock was clear on my face.

He hit me?

I looked up at him from my hunched position. My fear was beginning to win over, because I knew I had no power to fight against him. I was powerless against him. I was—powerless.

Always powerless.

We both were alerted by the sound of footsteps approaching. My head jerked in the direction they were coming from and Antonio's gaze followed suite.

"You'll be back."

I turned back to face him and furrowed my brows.

"No-"

"You will be back, when you realize the mistake you made in leaving the side of righteousness. The mistake you made in leaving me."

Antonio raced off, clinking silently into the dark night, back to his camp. I stared off after him, wondering what this could mean for these people. They would be murdered by Spain's men the way he was talking. My mouth was dry, my cheek was hot and stinging, and my whole body as a whole felt extra weary.

This couldn't possible become any worse, could it?

"My pale flower…"

I shuddered as the voice of pleasure ran through my body. Turning around, I met the questioning, silver gaze of Popocateptl. He walked up to me and studied my stance and face.

"What were you doing?" he asked me lowly.

I wet my lips and tried to think of a viable excuse. He noticed my slight hesitation and narrowed his eyes. Sighing out his nose, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders then hooked the other behind my knees and picked me up. I was used to being man handled by him now and let him do as he pleased.

"Who is he?"

I looked at Popocateptl and lowered my eyes, almost feeling guilty. Then I leaned my head on his shoulder, the same way I did this past afternoon.

"I'm sorry."

He said nothing and didn't acknowledge my apology. He only continued on back to where the large stone house was. I was preparing myself to be deposited a bit roughly back on my pallet near the window in the women's room. Instead he passed by the door and continued further and up the steps to his room.

Surprised, I leaned up and looked at him then back to the women's doorway.

"You passed the door," I stated the obvious.

He ignored me and went in his room to the bed pallet where he slowly lowered me down. I sat there dumbly as he removed his loose clothing and headband, keeping only his loin cloth in place. Then, kneeling down, pulled up my tunic, leaving me bare chested in only my long skirt.

"Lay down."

I obeyed and laid down stiffly on my back as he crawled over and laid on his side. He pulled me to him and settled me against his scratched and carved chest as he breathed slowly in my brown, curly hair.

"Sleep."

"…I can't," I confessed to him.

He sighed again and massaged my scalp lightly. "Well I can. I am weary and require sleep. You too will also sleep. Now," he told me in a soothing tone, his lips moving against my curls, "sleep."

I began to close my eyes, trying to slow my breathing and focus on anything but Antonio. I breathed in deeply.

He's Popocateptl.

Author's Note

Sorry about the wait, but we're nearing the end. Four more chapters left. Thanks for still reading. There was some slight NSFW in the beginning of the chapter, but not as bad as chapter ten's smut fest.

No I don't hate Spain. He's screwed up and wonky in this fic and OOC in my opinion, but that's to be expected for the crazy situations I put these poor characters in.

Chiara's feelings are all over the place and poor chile is suffering from Stockholm... Oh well. She gets an okay ending, anyway.

So, long note short, I'll see you all soon. Laters.