When the Butterflies Fly Home

"You mean she's gone? We don't have to bother about that idiotic girl again." Said Irene serenely, running a mother-of-pearl backed hairbrush through her golden tresses.

"She's gone mistress… for good." Said the young hand-maiden who was selecting the jewels to do into her hair today, "There are whispers from My Lord Draconis's house."

"Ah…really, yes dear the rubies will do nicely with my new Stola. Pray tell what is the content of these 'whispers' ?" demanded Irene, looking up at the young woman, studying her through the reflection of the large mirror.

Deftly Vienna began to braid the soft blonde hair, "I think she's locked up in his home, no one can be sure but he did bring the Cohorts scribe with him which can mean only one thing. He is having her…"
she shuddered gently, "Tattooed."

"That is interesting… Draconis has never…" Irene began, "Unless, oh dear… I knew it wouldn't last too long. The girl must have told him, Vienna hurry and finish the coif and then run and bring me some vellum and ink. I must pen a letter to my brother immediately, I need to find out exactly how much he told the girl, send for a messenger while you are down my dear, one with a horse, this is urgent!"

The girl fixed the wide ruby barrettes onto Irene's glossy hair and then swept out of the room. As soon as she left Irene's face lapsed into a mask of troubled expressions.

Maybe the damage was already done; she would have to pay a visit to Draconis to see how much he knew.

Vienna returned in quick haste, bearing the thick sheet of vellum and an ink-pot of Egyptian ink.

"Thank you." Said Irene with a vague smile, waving her away.

Her letter was short, to the point and slightly accusing. She sent her hand-maiden rushing to the messenger and told him to make quick haste with the precious document she had entrusted into his care.

A light weight mantle of linin in a similar scarlet that matched her dress and gold accents was thrown over her pale shoulders as she purposefully walked towards the litter.

The small carriage was not spacious but it was comfortable, she commanded the driver to take her to Draconis's home, so pre-occupied with her troubled thoughts that she didn't feel the jerky, uncoordinated movements of the litter.

Draconis's house was close; Irene had made sure of that, she gave a cynical little smile as she thought of how she tormented him with her presence alone.

….

Hermione had a plan, an admittedly stupid one but a plan all the same. She was going to die, of that she was sure but she could prevent it … she HAD to.

She carefully went through the steps of her plan inside her head… she would seduce him. If Hermione was right then he desired her… lusted after her and it was a small price to pay.

She could hardly remember if she was a true innocent now anymore, weather Marco's fat, disgusting fingers had penetrated her maiden head. She had been soar and ached all over the next few weeks so she had no idea.

It was just after her cycles so she was sure she would not conceive him child, let alone see his seed grown into spawn in her womb when she seduced him, it would be supremely easy. When she had worn him out enough as her sister had told her men often were after that she would escape, take of in one of the ships. She was small and unobtrusive enough not to be noticed, the only folly in the plan was how to convince him.

She could say a number of things, like how she didn't want to die a maiden or she wanted to experience the earthy, sensual pleasure she had heard some women speak of or she could tell him she wished to take different memories of carnal pleasures to her grave than the ones Marco had given her. But the question was… would he buy any of them? She knew he was a good lover, slaves gossiped.

Hermione wasn't coy and she was honest enough to admit to herself that she was attracted to him. Hell! She didn't like him but attraction never runs side-by-side with liking, in fact it most always runs fairly parallel. She detested him but wasn't that big a liar that she couldn't admit what his kisses did to her.

He was hardly prince charming but she wasn't exactly perfect either, frankly the both of them were running pretty low on redeeming qualities right now. So she wasn't past doing this and maybe… she might just enjoy herself, she thought with a cynical smile. Her mind seized at the nebulous thought screaming at her for behaving like a depraved whore.

But she wasn't ready to die! Not when she had worked so hard to stay alive, God knows she deserved to live, even if it was like branded cattle… where everyone recognized her sin.

There was no end in sight expect for the one she could make for herself, no one was coming for her… she had made peace with that, more of a resigned reluctances but she chose to call it peace, she knew it had been stupid to trust those men but she had been blinded by revenge then.

She was no less angry now but she was also colder, her experiences had made her stronger, more mature, made her consider her intelligence tempered with sensibility, more wry, more cautious and definitely more defensive but most of all it had given her the faith she needed in herself. She didn't belong here and it was too early for her to die.

So if she had to seduce Draconis to get out, she would do it but this time she was leaving… for good. She now knew their ways and she would use that to her advantage, to get away.

She blamed no one for the predicament she had landed herself in and she certainly didn't blame Draconis for going to his dictator. Gods if she had been in his place she would have done it without hesitation.

So she would seduce him.

….

IMPORTANT: First of, the next chapter is going to be M… so be warned anyone not interested in reading a sex scene is advised to skip it. Also I would love it if you guys told me your favorite line from this chapter, so do review.