Disclaimer: I don't own anything you've seen in the movies.

Warning: Violent content of a sexual nature. Don't like, don't read.

Chapter 14

Zhylaw did not like to think of himself as weak. Yet, he could think of no other word to describe his present state. And it was all her fault. He could not sleep without dreaming of her and she haunted his thoughts by day. It was driving him mad.

He paced the floor of his war room. A casual observer would have thought the great Lord Marshal was considering his next conquest or the most artful plan to bring Rion to its knees. None would have guessed the tiny woman who attacked him would be the cause of his intense focus. Zhylaw needed to find a way to sever the hold she had on him and the only way to do that was to break her before she broke him.

No woman had ever captured Zhylaw so completely. It took all of Zhylaw's will not to touch her. He needed to regain control.

He would leave Anya beaten and bloody and visit his wife. He knew Selene was suspicious of his frequent visits, but she held her tongue. Her silence would not last.

Zhylaw slammed his fist into the hard stone desktop. I will not give in. She will not bring me to my knees.

Zhylaw stopped in his tracks as an idea came to him. Irgun, he would call on Irgun.

The Lord Marshal marched to his console and activated the comm. "Captain Irgun, report to the war room."

Out of the ether a deep angry voice echoed, "Right away, my Lord."

Zhylaw did not have long to wait before the giant warrior arrived at his door. The man bowed respectfully to the Lord Marshal and Zhylaw waved him into the room sealing the doors behind him. It would not due to have someone eavesdrop on this conversation.

"I have a job for you, Irgun, if you are up to it."

"Of course, my Lord, what is it you wish me to do?"

The Lord Marshal smiled inwardly at the man's favorable response. "Do you remember the Raynan girl you brought on board?"

The warrior's eyes grew cold at the memory of the attack on the Lord Marshal and the tiny woman responsible. His words were like ice, "I remember her, Lord."

Zhylaw was pleased at the warrior's reaction to his mention of Anya. He appreciated Irgun's unflinching loyalty. "You see, I thought I would teach her a lesson, teach her some respect."

Irgun's lips curled into an ugly sneer at Zhylaw's words.

"Unfortunately," Zhylaw continued, "my new pet has proven more difficult to break in than expected."

A confused expression appeared on Irgun's face. Zhylaw waited for the hulking man to formulate the question that was moving through his mind. Irgun was not the most eloquent of Captains, but his loyalty was unwavering. It was this quality that enabled the Lord Marshal to show him such patience.

"If you have been unable to…what I mean to say is… what is it you wish me to do?" the great man babbled.

"You see, pain does not work on her. I've spent the last two weeks hurting her body and still she meets my eyes, refuses to obey." Zhylaw looked out the window, lost in thought. Everything he had done. A lesser being would cower at his feet, beg him for mercy.

Not Anya.

He wondered idly if he would continue to be captivated by her once she lost her will to fight. He wouldn't know until he broke her. Then perhaps, her hold on him would weaken.

"She can feel pain?" Irgun asked in surprise.

"Yes. She has not been purified. Pain instills fear, or at least, in most breeders it would." Zhylaw turned to the warrior. He was truly a terrible sight. Many Necromongers retained their battle scars, but Irgun took that custom to a higher level. His visage was enough to make a legion of breeders quake in their boots.

He continued, "She will not be broken by pain. I believe a different approach is necessary." Zhylaw walked to his desk and sat heavily on the chair. "I want you to humiliate her."

"Sir?" Irgun looked, if possible, even more confused.

Zhylaw picked up a trinket from his desk and turned it over in his hands. "When was the last time you enjoyed the company of a woman?" he asked the warrior conversationally.

Irgun was startled by the shift in conversation but realization slowly dawned on him as the implications of Zhylaw's words sunk in.

Zhylaw continued without waiting for Irgun to respond. "I understand from Selene that the ladies of the court find you to be, what was the word she used? Ah, yes, terrifying." He enunciated the final word.

"I think Anya could use some attention." An evil grin graced his lips, "Perhaps you could help."

Irgun's cruel sneer matched his Lord's. "I'll help any way I can."

"Excellent." Zhylaw stood and walked around to the other side of his desk, taking a seat on the stone slab. His demeanor turned serious as he addressed the warrior. Zhylaw needed to be sure Irgun understood what he wanted. "Just be sure to remember whose toy you're playing with. I want nothing broken but her spirit. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Lord" Irgun replied.

Zhylaw stood and moved back to his seat. "One more thing, Irgun, I have one condition for lending out my pet to you."

"What condition, my Lord?" Irgun asked, curious.

A sinister smile spread across Zhylaw's lips. "I get to watch."

Anya woke at the opening of the sitting room doors. The Lord Marshal entered followed by a large, terrible looking man. Anya sat up on the sofa and waited for Zhylaw to speak. The large warrior stood quietly beside the doorway. Anya watched him warily out of the corner of her eye. She had seen no one aside from Zhylaw and Enan since she awoke days earlier.

"I see you are awake." He lifted her chin and she met his eyes. "Good as new, are we?" The smile he graced her with chilled her bones but she controlled the instinct to shutter. She hated this man more than she could imagine hating another human being. It was her hate that kept her strong, that gave her the courage to look him in the eye.

Zhylaw watched as Anya's eyes shifted once more to the man at the door. Her expression was guarded. It was time to see just how much his little lovely could take.

"This is Captain Irgun," he gestured toward the man at the door, "do you remember him?"

Anya allowed herself to take a look at the large man. She did not remember him or know why she should.

Zhylaw watched her hesitate, "He carried you from the capital building." The Lord Marshal twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, "I think you owe him thanks."

Anya turned back to Zhylaw, "You think so?" she replied acidly.

"Hmmm," Zhylaw looked at his companion, "and I'm afraid Irgun is ever so protective of my person. You made him quite angry that day."

Anya's attention shifted to the stranger. She did not like where this conversation was headed.

"Lucky for you Irgun is my most faithful servant. He wouldn't harm a hair on your head without my permission."

Anya looked up at her tormentor with all of the hate she could muster. His hand caressed her cheek and she jerked away.

"And I have given it."

Anya's eyes darted back and forth between the two men. Zhylaw took a few steps back from her and looked to the man at his side, "Shall we?"

The giant warrior moved more quickly than she thought possible. He grabbed her roughly and hoisted her over his shoulder, pinning her legs against his chest. Anya yelled and pummeled the man's back with clenched fists.

Irgun lifted the tiny woman with ease. She thrashed in his arms and struck his back with her fists. He laughed at her feeble attempt to free herself from his grasp. He followed the Lord Marshal to his bedchamber. Upon entering the room he tossed Anya carelessly onto the large bed.

Anya struggled harder when she saw where the large man was taking her, his chambers. The man threw her down on the bed and she scrambled to escape his reach.

Her mind was screaming.

I will not beg. I will not beg.

Irgun grabbed Anya's thigh and dragged her beneath him as she tried to escape across the bed. He wrapped his hand around her throat to still her. Her hands pushed against him as he leant close to cover her mouth with his own.

Anya could not escape the powerful man. He kissed her hard on the mouth, biting her lip and drawing blood. She was finally able to turn her face away from his but was met with a more terrible sight. Zhylaw stood, leaning against the wall, watching. His eyes raked over her as Irgun ripped the fine silk robe from her body. Anya closed her eyes and prayed this terrible night would pass quickly. She needed pain to escape, to separate her mind from her body.

But the pain did not come.

Irgun's hands moved across the tiny woman's body. Her skin was so soft. It had been a long time since he'd possessed something so sweet. He reminded himself, not too rough, Zhylaw said, not too rough. He claimed her mouth once more, his hands moving to free himself. Irgun pulled the woman's knees up around his waist, he could feel her muscles resist but he was stronger. "Beautiful" he whispered against her mouth as he entered her.

Anya cried into the man's mouth as she felt him push into her. She was not ready. It had been a long time since she had laid with a man and her body screamed its reminder. She was ready for the pain to increase but the man did not move. He breathed hard into her neck while his hands moved to her hips, holding her still. He gave her time to adjust to his size and then began moving slowly against her.

Anya could feel herself drowning in her own tears. She tore at the man's back with her fingernails but he took her arms and pinned them down above her head. She wanted him to hit her, beat her unconscious, anything to escape the feel of his body against hers. He began moving more forcefully, his pace quickened and all she could do was wait until he finished.

Irgun shuttered hard as he reached his climax breathing heavily into the woman's neck. He could hear her quiet sobs once more and tasted the tears that ran down her face. He withdrew and rolled off of her onto his back.

Anya slid to the edge of the bed trying to put as much distance between her and her attacker. She curled in on herself; eyes closed, and tried to steady her breathing. She felt the edge of the bed dip and a hand run through her hair. Zhylaw's voice sounded in her ear. "You didn't ask me to stop him. You could have asked me, you know?"

Zhylaw ran his fingers through her now tangled hair. He wanted to touch her soft, exposed skin, but he wouldn't, not yet. He brushed the hair out of her face, but she did not look at him.

"Do you want to ask me now?" Zhylaw waited for Anya's reply. He received none.

She did not meet his eyes.

Zhylaw smiled.

"I'll leave you in Irgun's care, then," he turned to the large man sprawled on his bed, "good night. I'll have Enan clean up the mess in the morning." The Lord Marshal withdrew from the chamber leaving Anya alone with the giant warrior.

Without warning, a large arm wrapped itself around Anya's waist. Anya gasped as Irgun pulled her back against his chest, "I'm not done with you yet, little one."

Grabbing her arm, he rolled Anya onto her back pinning her arm beneath his side. Anya turned her face away from the terrible looking man but he took her chin in hand and turned her face back to him. He kissed her leisurely on the mouth as his hand moved down the length of her side. His mouth trailed along her cheek to her ear, his breath hot on her neck. "Do you know our bodies respond to fear in the same way they do desire?" He brushed his fingers lightly across her breast, making Anya whimper. She clutched at his hand but could not stop its movement.

"I'll show you."