CHAPTER 25: Monsieur Delaine…
Phoenix was led down the stairs by Alex, and then led into the dining room, where the table was lavished with food. It was such a beautiful house, with beautiful marble floors and decorations surpassing anything she'd ever seen before. He was definitely a man of high-society, but didn't know exactly what… yet. Alex walked over to a chair at the head of the table and pulled it out, motioning for Phoenix to take a seat. Phoenix sat down as Alex pushed the chair in, and then felt his hands gently caress her shoulders as if he'd known her for years.
"Please eat. I'm sure you're famished", Alex said quite caringly as he made his way to the other end of the table. He sat down in his chair, and began to stare at Phoenix, making her feel slightly nervous and somewhat violated. A few servants came to the table, and began to fill Phoenix's plate with various foods. Phoenix looked up to see that Alex was still staring at her, and she quickly looked away.
Once both of their plates had been filled, Alex told the servants to leave the room. The room was candle lit, and had a large golden chandelier hanging down at the middle of the table. "Go on love, eat up", Alex said, making Phoenix's head bolt up, and her eyes regard him with hatred. "Please Master, if ye would be so kind", Phoenix began through gritted teeth, "It would be much appreciated if ye didn't call me 'love'…", Phoenix finished as polite as her body would allow her to be at that moment.
Alex said nothing but gave Phoenix a smile with a nod. "Thank you", Phoenix said softly as she looked down at her plate. "May I ask why?", Alex said just before he took a sip of his wine. Phoenix looked him in the eyes, "Because me husband calls me that. And ye are not he, so I'd rather ye not utter those words to me", she finished rather rudely, making Alex give an evil grin in return.
He slowly rested his glass down to the table and stared into Phoenix's defiant eyes. "You dare take that tone with me?", he said to Phoenix. Phoenix said nothing, but somewhat felt afraid for her safety at the way he was staring at her. "Would you rather me call you whore then? Or harlot perhaps? Or filthy bitch? Whoops, pardon my language", Alex said sarcastically with a grin as he drank once more from his wine glass.
"Mmm, you really must taste the wine, it's perfect", Alex said once more before placing his glass on the table, and beginning to eat. Phoenix wanted nothing more at that moment in time than to take her dinner knife and ram it through his throat. Why was he having this affect on her? Why couldn't she find it in herself to just kill him mercilessly? It was like he was giving her fear of a new kind, one that she hadn't experienced before… just creepy.
"I'd actually prefer it if ye called me Phoenix", she stated, locking eyes with Alex. Alex kept eye-contact with her for a short moment before he looked down at his food and began to eat once more. "No, I think I'll stick with either 'Darling', or 'Sweetheart'… Is that alright with you?", he asked rather politely. When he looked up at Phoenix, her jaw was clenched, and she then nodded, not wanting to talk to that creature any longer.
Phoenix took her knife and slowly began to eat her food. The truth was that she was starving, but she didn't want to eat with her "Master". The whole meal, she had to calm herself from her anger towards Alex, and the burning desire to castrate him and burn his face off with a torch. By the time dinner was over, she was somewhat calmer, and feeling better now that her stomach was full.
"Marie, could you please take care of the dishes", Alex said out loud as he got out of his chair and walked over to Phoenix's. A short stocky woman came from a different room, and began cleaning the table as Alex pulled Phoenix's chair out letting her stand up with ease.
"Come on. Let me show you around the mansion", Alex said as he took Phoenix's hand and led her into a hallway. As they walked along from room to room, Alex had asked Phoenix many questions. Phoenix grew tired of it however, and decided to ask her own.
"Master", she began, careful to watch her words, "May I ask how ye got to own a mansion as large as this, and have enough extra riches to buy a diamond collar", she finished as she rolled her eyes at the thought of the piece of jewellery around her neck. Alex chuckled for a moment as they continued to walk along. "I own my own company, you may have heard of it", Alex said. He paused for a moment, then spoke once more when he realized Phoenix was waiting for a name. "The East India Trading Company", he responded, making Phoenix's eyes go somewhat wide. They were the ones who branded Jack.
Just as phoenix opened her mouth to speak, Alex interjected, "So, you say you have a husband. Not any longer obviously, but who was he? What was he like?", Alex finished, making Phoenix's eyes somewhat tear at the idea of never being able to see Jack again… never being found by Jack.
"His name is Captain Jack Sparrow, captain of the 'Black Pearl', and father of me two children", Phoenix finished, making Alex stop in his tracks. "Sparrow huh? And children you say? How old are they? Where are they now?", Alex said as if he cared. Phoenix looked away and continued to walk, "They're twins, Raven and Romeo. Both turning 6 quite soon", Phoenix finished. She then felt her breath catch in her throat as she felt her knees buckle, and her form fall to the floor.
"Me children…", she breathed as her eyes quickly welled up and poured with tears. "I shall never see them again", Phoenix said with pain in her voice, the realization just hitting her like a cannon's fire. "Me family…", Phoenix moaned out in pain at the thought. How could she continue to live knowing that her children and husband were out there somewhere without her? Now she truly knew what Jack felt when she herself had been absent from him for those 5 whole years.
"It's alright darling, it will be fine", Alex said as he crouched down beside Phoenix and placed a hand on her cheek. He looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. He then caringly scooped her up in his arms, and began heading for her new bedroom. It didn't make any sense to Phoenix how Alex could be so caring and cruel at the same time, but right now, she couldn't get her mind off the faces of her two children, and the possibility of never hearing their innocent giggles again.
As they reached Phoenix's bedroom, Alex opened the door swiftly and walked over to the bed, gently laying Phoenix down on it. She continued to cry, but now cried into the pillow that was underneath her head. Alex took the large thick sheets, and covered her shaking form gently. He then sat on the edge of the bed, and placed a caring hand on her head, stroking it as she continued to cry. "Everything will be fine. We shall finished the tour of the house tomorrow when you are well rested. Alright darling? Have sweet dreams goddess…", Alex finished, moving his lips down to Phoenix's cheek, and gently placing a kiss on it, lingering somewhat, and aching to taste her lips. However there's always a tomorrow for that…
Alex got off the bed and silently doused the candles and lanterns that illuminated the room. He then walked across the room and left with almost as much silence as the wind filling the room with the fresh air of the warm summer night.
oooooooooo
Phoenix slept until the morning that night, once she had cried herself to sleep. Phoenix laid in bed that morning, breathing steadily and enjoying her rest, until she felt warm lips press on her neck. "Mmm, Jack", she moaned out with a smile, imagining it was her husband who was making her feel that way. She suddenly felt a hand grab her hair and yank her hair back, jolting her from her sleep with complete pain.
"You are never to say that name in my presence again. Do I make myself clear?", Alex told Phoenix. Once Phoenix nodded, Alex harshly let go of his grip, and then took his hand and lightly caressed her shoulders with it. "How was your sleep?", he asked, making Phoenix feel confused about what just happened. She ignored it however, and answered his question as she slightly moved away from him.
"Fine, thank you", Phoenix responded. Alex nodded in acknowledgement, and then began to stare down at Phoenix. "What's the matter?", she asked, wondering why he constantly felt compelled to stare at her. Alex regarded her for a moment with a grin, and then spoke, "You're just so beautiful… it's hard not to look at you", he finished. And before Phoenix said anything else, she felt his lips force themselves on hers; he couldn't wait any longer.
Phoenix attempted to push him off of her body and lips, but he pinned he down, claiming her lips furiously and without mercy as he swirled his tongue around her mouth. Phoenix didn't what her basic instincts said to do, and bit down on his tongue. Alex pulled away from her mouth quickly, and stared at her with his lust-filled swollen lips. At first, Phoenix had thought she'd angered him, but instead, he claimed her mouth harder than before, moaning into her lips, and pressing his manhood into her pelvis hard, wanting to be inside her.
"Get off!", Phoenix said loudly, pushing Alex away with her hands. Alex merely gave her another grin and was about to begin kissing her once more until he felt her hand whip across his face hard. Alex clenched his jaw and looked away from Phoenix as he gathered his composure slowly. Phoenix was angry, and could see the same anger begin to rise in Alex, which began to frighten her greatly.
Before she let Alex react, she quickly jumped out of the bed and backed herself up to the wall. To her surprise, Alex did nothing but stare at her with his jaw clenched. "Why are you other there?", Alex asked quite calmly. Phoenix said nothing, but wondered what he was going to do to her for hitting him. "Are you afraid of me?", Alex asked, slowly getting off the bed, but not losing eye-contact with Phoenix.
Phoenix said nothing, but focused on his body approaching her. Her instincts drove her that moment, as she quickly bolted from the room as fast as her feet could take her, not caring where she was going, but also not wanting to be a sex-play-thing to Alexander. It was like a mad-house. He acted as if they had been long lovers. She couldn't consent to any of it, not without trying to fight.
Phoenix passed room for room and hall for hall until she felt to arms grab her and pull her to the ground. When she looked to see who it was, it was two rather large men who looked as if they were some type of body-guards. Suddenly, Alex's form appeared from the shadows and he walked over to Phoenix's head which was laying on the ground. Alex then looked down at her with a grin on his face, just like before.
"You're a very bad girl Phoenix", Alex said as he crouched down and looked Phoenix in the eyes. Phoenix said nothing, but wanted to spit in his face… she quickly decided against it though. Alex took his hand, and gently rubbed the side of her face while he began to talk to the other men in a different language.
"Prendre la petite mademoiselle, et apporter au chambre de servitude", Alex said quite smoothly and genteel. Phoenix could only understand a few words of the French he was speaking, and knew she was to be taken somewhere.
Suddenly she felt Alex's lips press gently on her own. Before she knew anything else, she had been picked up by the two large men firmly, and was now being carried down the long hallway. As she was being carried, a blindfold was put over her face, and she could see nothing, and hear only the sound of a large door opening with many locks.
Phoenix was put down gently on the ground, until the large men grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her into a wall. On the wall, she was strapped into leather hand-restraints fastened to the wall. Her nightgown was ripped mercilessly from her body, and she could feel the two men she was with leave the room, shutting the large door behind them.
Phoenix had begun to shake, and feel her eyes water from the fear of not knowing where she was, naked, and bonded. At least an hour had passed until she heard a smaller door open, and a glove hand lightly caress her behind. "You hit me today. That wasn't very nice of you now was it?", she heard Alex's voice say to her as calm as ever.
"I found it necessary for you to have a punishment", Alex said as he slapped her behind hard, leaving it stinging. Alex slowly walked around Phoenix intimidatingly, enjoying the fact that she couldn't see him. "Do you believe you deserve this punishment?", Alex asked very slowly and matter-of-factly.
"No", Phoenix said truthfully through gritted teeth. She could hear Alex stop walking around her, and feel his absence away from her body. "Repeat after me, my dear: 'I will not disrespect my master',", Alex said calmly once more. When Phoenix did not answer, she felt the sting of a whip collide with her back, making her stand on her toes, and grip her restraints.
"I will not disrespect my master!", Phoenix yelled as the tears began to form under her blindfold. Alex's faint chuckle could be heard as Phoenix continued to wince at the feel of her whipped skin in the air. "I will always obey my Master, or suffer the consequences", Alex said, wanting Phoenix to repeat him. Just as Phoenix opened her mouth however, she felt Alex's whip smack her back once more; this time, breaking the skin. She could feel her warm blood run down her cool back.
"I will never disobey my Master! Never!", Phoenix yelled out. It was unbelievable that this was happening to her, and wanted nothing more than to be laying in bed with Jack, and their children sleeping next to them. Alex chuckled once more, taking Phoenix away from her slight daydream and back into harsh reality. "Now for your punishment", Phoenix heard Alex's voice ring out.
"Ten should suffice I'd think…", Alex said, making Phoenix's eyes go wide with shock underneath the blindfold. She was being punished because he was forcing himself on her, it didn't make any sense. She had to try something to get him to stop, what else could she have done? Phoenix was unprepared within her thoughts, and felt the harsh whip of the first lash.
By the time Alex got to the 6th whip, Phoenix had passed out from the pain. Even she didn't think she'd ever given lashings of that strength before. Her blood trickled down her back, and Alex continued until he cracked the whip for the tenth time. He could see her blood covered back and grinned menacingly, telling himself that he owned her, and nothing would take her away from him, not now.
Alex walked up to Phoenix body, and gently took off the blindfold that was wet with tears. He then took her hands out of their restraints and held her limp body in his arms, making sure not to touch her soaking back. "JEAN! THOMAS!", Alex called out from where he was standing as he held Phoenix. Just then, the same two large men who brought her in, entered the room and went to their employer.
"Take her to her room, and tell Bernice to clean her wounds. I want her presentable for this evening", Alex said. His orders were followed by two quick nods, and he watched the men carry Phoenix off. Alex stayed behind and picked up her silk nightgown that was ripped on the ground. Alex brought it up to his face and inhaled deeply, embedding the scent in his senses.
oooooooooo
It was about half-past-noon when Jack awoke from his reverie aboard the 'Revenge' and yawned widely. The ship sounded quite silent as he slowly got off his bed and stretched with a yawn. His brain felt numb at the amount of hemp he'd smoked the night before, dulling his pain, and he tried to focus. Jack slowly got off the bed, gained his balance and gave himself a smile, until he immediately lost his balance, sending him stumbling into the large oak table.
"Bloody piece of…", Jack mumbled as he hit the table, then taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I need rum", he said sternly, opening the liquor cabinet that stood behind the table in the cabin. Jack opened it slowly, and took out the largest bottle he could find, quickly opening it, and chugging down a quarter of it. He wiped the excess from his lips, grinning at the memory of when Phoenix would call him a child because of it.
Jack clenched his jaw, and took another long swig. As he stood there for a moment, breathing deeply, he realized there was little to no sound to be heard on the ship. It was quite odd to him, so he decided to check it out. Jack downed the rest of the rum from the bottle he had, grabbed another one to replace it, and quickly made his way across the room to the door leading out to the deck.
As Jack looked around the deck, he saw members of his crew still sleeping, and the gangplank leading down to the docks. He figured everyone was out exploring and enjoying the sites… he should be doing that too, to get his mind of his tragedy. Jack uncorked the bottle of rum he held in his hand, took a sip, then made his way across the deck, down the gangplank, and down the docks.
"Maybe a nice tavern would do me good", Jack said with a sigh as he went on his way, hat crooked on his head, and his shirt and coat dishevelled and loose. In other words… Jack looked like a mad-man. The bright sun seemed to be too harsh for him as he kept his hand in front of his eyes until he entered the woods, on a path leading to Havana, the main village they were near.
"We kidnap, ravage, don't give no hoots. Drink up, 'earties. 'o…", Jack mumbled to himself sloppily as he continued to drink from the bottle, and walk on his way. A few times, he had to regain his balance from his tripping over random twigs and sticks that rested on the ground, and about 20 times as many curses spilled from his mouth in the process.
Near 20 minutes later, Jack entered Havana, and looked around desperately for a tavern he could drown his sorrows in. The streets were filled with life and disappointment at the same time. There was pure evidence of slave trading, which made Jack's eyes begin to water at what John had planned for Phoenix. Jack clenched his jaw tightly, then took a long swig from the rum bottle he had, and finished it. As he threw the bottle on the ground, he caught the sight of a large sign saying, "The Whining Wench" and deemed it an acceptable place to drown his woes.
It only took him a short while before he entered the tavern, and found his preferable dark corner, away from prying eyes. A young barmaid came over to him and placed a pint of rum on the table in a tankard. Jack waved his hand to her in acknowledgment, and rested his head on the table, one hand holding the mug. Jack could hear the noise around him for only a short time, before he seemed as thought he couldn't compute anything that was going on around him.
Suddenly he heard a distant voice… voices, to be exact. It was the voice of two women calling his name. Jack made a confused face in his shirt sleeve as he rested his head on the table, then looked up shocked when he saw two familiar bodies. "Sarah, Laurie… how nice---", Jack stopped mid sentence, not wanting to talk any longer, and placed his head back on the table, ignoring the two women.
"It's alright Jack old man… It's not the end", Sarah said comfortingly as she sat beside her friend and placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort. Jack didn't move, and ignored the woman's touch. "I dunno if yer interested, but I'm 'eadin' to an opium den if ye want to---", Laurie said but was cut short by Jack who jumped out of his seat, down his rum quickly, and slammed the mug back on the table. The two women regarded Jack oddly, then he took out a couple of coins, placed the m on the table beside the mug, and looked at Laurie seriously in the eyes.
"Where is this den ye speak of?", Jack said seriously yet comically at the same time. It was quite pathetic how he was acting, but it only proved moreover how much he truly cared for Phoenix, and missed her. Laurie cleared her throat and looked at Sarah with a shrug. "Let's go then…", she said, leading Jack and Sarah out of the tavern, and headed towards the "Singapore Sunset" Opium den, about 5 minutes away from Havana.
oooooooooo
Phoenix awoke shortly after Jack had awakened, and was lying face down on her bed, someone behind her. She quickly jumped, thinking it was Alex, but then was surprised to see an older woman, looking very concerned, but distant at the same time. The older woman had near-white hair tied up into a perfect bun sitting atop her head, olive-coloured skin, and a dark red work-dress covering her heavier-built body. Her face looked tired, but her eyes were bright with life… she was very beautiful older woman.
"Don't be afraid child, you're safe here", the woman said soothingly to Phoenix. The woman's accent wasn't British, but more Italian than anything else. "My name is Victoria Lazuli. I am the head maid, and nurse in Monsieur Delaine's home. I bathed you before when you were unconscious, we really must have to stop meeting like that", Victoria said with a laugh that could brighten up a room.
Phoenix gave a weak and half-hearted smile to Victoria, and slowly tried to turn onto her back. "No! No, Child!", Victoria said quickly as she pushed Phoenix back onto her stomach. "You don't want your back to go on aching do you?", she asked without need a true answer. Phoenix then relaxed her body, and continued to lay there as she felt warm dampened cloth gently caress her back.
"Monsieur Delaine has taken quite a liking to you, you know Phoenix", Victoria said as she gently began to rub Phoenix's back with ointment. Alexander Delaine? That was an odd name, but then again, Phoenix had never been to France. Phoenix couldn't understand her reasoning for Victoria saying what she had said however. How could he like Phoenix when he 'punished' her so mercilessly? Unless it was only lust…
"How do ye figure that?", Phoenix asked very sardonically. There was silence for a short moment until Victoria's voice filled the room once more. "Well, you've only been here for about a day and a half, and already you're all he talks about", she said with a chuckle. Phoenix rolled her eyes to herself, and continued to listen to the woman's explanations.
"The Monsieur has had quite a few slaves in the past while, and none has he ever treated as nicely as you. Why, he gave you that diamond necklace---", "You mean collar?", Phoenix thought to herself, "---gave you your own room, and even got me in here rubbing ointment on your back. Hah! Very different side of the man indeed…", Victoria said, her last words somewhat in thought more that in statement.
Phoenix said nothing else for a while, and neither did Victoria, until she had finished rubbing ointment on Phoenix back, and then proceeded to help her take a bath. Phoenix's back was sore, but felt drastically better in the warm bath water. When it was over, Victoria helped Phoenix into a nightgown that was much more modern than its time. It was a deep purple colour with thin straps at the shoulders, and the length reaching down to her mid-thigh. Victoria said Alex hand picked it for her that very morning as a surprise… Phoenix couldn't help roll her eyes at that.
"Victoria? Are you finished?", the two women heard Alex's voice come through the door after a knock, as they sat at the bureau to the side of the room, Victoria adjusting and re-styling a few of Phoenix's dreadlocks. Victoria said nothing to the door, but instead whispered in Phoenix's ear, "You'll be fine… just don't upset him again…", she said, and then turned to leave the room.
Victoria slowly opened the door, gave Alex a brief curtsy, and made her way down the hall. Phoenix sat at the bureau feeling vulnerable and frightened as Alex entered the room, and slowly closed the door behind himself. His eyes peered into her own, and he looked stern… somewhat angry, but calm at the same time. He approached Phoenix at the bureau, and she recoiled, almost falling off the small chair. Alex said nothing, but stopped in his tracks.
"Get on the bed… let me see your back", Alex demanded to Phoenix, his voice sending a shiver down her spine in fear as she quickly obeyed her master, not wanting to feel any more pain than she had already been subjected to, mentally and physically. Phoenix gently laid down on her bed and placed her head on her pillow. Alex walked over slowly and sat on the edge of the bed, beside Phoenix's behind. He slowly lifted the nightgown to her shoulders and looked at the long lines trailing along her back.
He leaned his mouth down close to Phoenix's back, and began trailing gentle kissing along each wail on her back. Phoenix gasped a few times, and felt her spine receive shivers with every delicate peck. Her body was betraying her, wanting to feel the lips remain on her back, kissing trails everywhere. Her mind was telling her, "Do you remember how nice Jack's kisses are? He's a true man".
"How do you feel about being my slave?", Alex said to Phoenix as he slowly pulled her nightgown back down to cover her beautiful body. Phoenix said nothing, not knowing how she should answer his question. If she gave him her honest-hearted answer, he would probably shoot her. "Don't feel afraid sweetheart… I only punish you when you disrespect me. If I want to hear your opinion.. I want to hear your opinion", he finished with a slight chuckle. His hand went underneath Phoenix's hips and he gently nudged her, signalling he wanted her to turn over.
Phoenix turned over slightly and winced as the weight of her body pressed her back into the bed. Alex took his hand, and gently caressed the side of Phoenix's face when her eyes shut tightly at the pain. "Now then darling… answer my question", Alex demanded casually as his thumb gentle pressed against Phoenix's bottom lip.
"I think it's disgustin', and I want nothin' more than to leave ye and go back to me family", Phoenix said quickly with her eyes closed. Alex chuckled once, and brushed a few stray dreadlocks from her face. "You can open your eyes now", Alex said with a smirk to Phoenix's expression. "I appreciate your honesty", Alex paused, and leaned slowly down to Phoenix's lips. "I'm going to make you mine, and you can either do it willingly, or by force, the choice is yours gorgeous", Alex said sinfully soft as his lips drifted mere millimetres from Phoenix's lips.
Just then Phoenix pulled back from Alex quickly, recoiling into the headboard. "What's the matter?", Alex asked with a slight smirk. Phoenix clenched her jaw tightly, "Ye'll not 'ave me! I'd rather die than give meself to ye", Phoenix said coldly. Alex's expression fell to one that was unreadable as he regarded Phoenix with his devastatingly dark eyes. "Don't talk to your master in such a way, no good will come of it", he said calmly.
Alex began to edge near her once more. "I won't let ye have me, I won't!", Phoenix protested, not wanting to give herself to any other man except her husband. Alex continued to look Phoenix deep in the eyes, then slightly nodded. His eyes drifted to the window and the bright sun shining down into the trees outside. "So be it then", Alex said, shocking Phoenix greatly, "But only if you agree to attend a dinner party tonight with a few of my associates. I agreed to attend a party in my honour tonight, and I would love for a beauty such as you to be at my side", Alex said, looking Phoenix back in the eyes.
"Do I have to sleep with ye?", Phoenix asked sternly. Alex shook his head in response, making Phoenix think for a moment, before nodding in agreement herself. Alex took his hand and placed on Phoenix's knee somewhat caringly, "I'll leave you alone then, and have Victoria bring up a dress for you", he finished, getting off the bed. "The coach will be ready at sunset… be ready sweetheart", Alex said with a smile. Phoenix's face was expressionless as she regarded Alex with a clenched jaw. Alex nodded once more and turned to walk out the room.