1 – Back so soon?

Eden woke to a new day, back inside the medical ward and under its daunting white lights. She was stretched out on the same table she was on only days before and posed a certain way. Her arms were once again tied above her head.

She strained her neck, trying to see the binding as her wrists and could only view of two jutting elbows at the top of the table. The same styled paper sheet covered her body, only this time her legs lay motionlessly flat, and for that she was grateful.

Is this some sort of Groundhog day situation I'm having? Am I doomed to relive this horrid day over and over for the rest of my miserable life?

"No." Panic surged through her veins, pulsing along with her racing heart. "This can't be happening."

The only thing her struggling brought on was a radiating pain in the back of her head. It shot bolts of fire down her neck and into her shoulders, bringing fresh tears to her eyes.

"Just let me go home!" She shouted this into the quiet room, flinching at the shrillness of her plea echoing around her. "I don't want to be here anymore." Her words were but a mere whisper on her lips. Then nothing but silence.

There came the simple clearing of a throat. It was loud enough to still Eden's thrashing movements. Her eyes narrowed at the offending sound, and a string of curse words threatened to rip free from her mouth when she recognized him.

He was the reason she had been placed back in this room. "It's you." She spat the words at him like were poison on her tongue.

By the looks of him, it was clear that Ben's nose was broken. And judging by the faint beginning of two black eyes he'd have two beautiful shiners for a while. A satisfied grin lifted her mouth as she took in all his wounds.

It serves him right. The thought was bitter but soothing. I want him to feel everything.

Ben seemed forlorn, deep in thought, as though he was struggling to find the words to make things right. But Eden knew there was nothing he could say to make this right, and she wasn't the least bit open to hearing any form of apology he might think up. Not today, maybe not ever after what he was going to do to me.

The thought of him going through with Declan's demand made her skin crawl, made her physically ill. If she hadn't have hit him when she had the chance, the outcome would have ended in rape.

All the thinking, the trying to remember what happened after she hit Ben, made her anger return that much stronger. The pain in her head intensified as dizziness settled in. Her head fell against the table, hitting the wrong spot that sent another searing pain through her scalp.

Gritting her teeth, Eden groaned out her misery and anguish the only way she knew how. She clamped her bottom lip between her teeth and tried her best not to cry. She lasted at most ten seconds before tears started to leak from the corners of her eyes.

"Please don't cry." There was a rustle of movement across the room as Ben sat up. "About last night-"

"I don't want to talk about it." The blanket covering her top half had slipped, revealing a naked breast. "I don't ever want to talk about it."

Could today possibly get any worse? There she was, exposed on the table for his viewing pleasure.

"For what it's worth." Ben readjusted the sheet, covering her back up. She shivered when the backs of his fingertips grazed her skin. "I didn't want to do it."

Eden forced herself to remain calm. He was too close, and she couldn't stand him touching her, even if it were to help her, she didn't want him near her. "The that you are referring to is rape."

"Call it what you will. I would never willingly hurt anyone." A part of her wanted to believe him, that the distraught man standing in front of her wouldn't be capable of such a brutal act.

"But you-" Their talk died when the door suddenly clicked opened.

Ben jumped back onto his side table. They greeted Dr. Morrison with steady gazes as he entered the room. Declan was right on his heels.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." Eden dared to speak out loud, staring right at Declan as he came to stand near her feet. He responded by snatching the paper covering from her body, crumpled it up, and tossed it aside.

"You live to see another day." The side of his mouth lifted. He moved towards Ben, whose gaze had drifted to the floor. With a stiff back, Ben obediently clasped his hands behind his neck without being asked.

Declan's fingers lifted Ben's chin.

"You did well. Let me see you." A frown settled over Eden's brow as she witnessed Declan act so gentle towards Ben. What happened next stole the very breath from her lungs. Leaning forward, Declan's lips brushed against Ben's in a loving kiss. "A reward will be waiting for you tonight in your chambers. What do you wish for?"

A brilliant flame of excitement grew behind Ben's eyes, but he remained quiet and calm.

"Don't be shy. Would you rather I pick for you, Ben?" He leaned into him. For a moment Eden thought he was going to kiss Ben again and a part of her wanted to see it.

Ben nodded his agreement. "Yes, Sir."

"So be it." Declan took his time figuring everything out. "Perhaps a night with Jessica will soothe your pain?"

The side of Ben's mouth lifted.

"Then it's settled. I'll have Matilda inform Jessica that she is to comfort you however you see fit. She is at your will."

"Thank you." Ben's tone was soft, as though he whispered his thanks for only Declan's ears.

"You're seriously going to reward a would-be rapist?" The words were out of Eden's mouth before she could stop herself. "This is crazy. Pure fucking insanity!"

Declan appeared at Eden's side.

Leaning over, he placed his hands on either side of the table and was less than a foot from her face. He wasn't pleased with her outburst. "You will remain silent until I'm ready to speak with you. Do you understand?"

"You don't scare me." They both knew that was a blatant lie. Declan didn't scare Eden; he terrified her.

He closed what little distance was left. Eden tried to move, but the damn ropes held her in place. They were almost nose to nose now. He was so close that she could smell the cool peppermint on his breath.

"Do not test me." His eyes traveled down to her lips. "For if you do, you won't like the outcome."

Her lips parted. She was dying to say something foolish but couldn't. For the first time, Eden was speechless.

The side of Declan's mouth lifted into a satisfying sneer. "You're learning." His head dipped low to plant a firm kiss in the middle of Eden's forehead. "There's hope for you yet." He mumbled against her skin.

What the hell just happened? Eden was left wondering while Declan returned to the doctor's side.

Dr. Morrison offered Ben an orange bottle. "I brought these for the pain. Eden certainly did a number on your face, didn't she?"

"He deserved it." The words came out so easy, perhaps because they were true.

"What did you hit him with?" The doctor turned towards her.

"My elbow." Her gaze shifted towards Declan who was glaring at her. "And for the record, I'll do it again to whoever tries to hurt me."

"I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that blow." His joke fell flat. When no one laughed, he refocused his attention back on Ben. "Now, I've reset your nose so everything should heal nicely." His fingers probed lightly at the bandage. "But if it starts bleeding again and you can't stop it, or he has trouble breathing then give me a call. It should heal perfectly fine though. But no more hits to the face."

Declan walked Ben to the door, speaking quietly as he showed him out.

"As for you. Eden." Her attention was pulled towards the doctor. "You've managed to get ten stitches in the back of your head and glass embedded in the soles of your feet. Care to tell me what the hell happened last night?"

"Does he need to be here?"

A rugged laugh came from Declan. "I will always be here."

Clamping her bottom lip between her teeth, Eden held strong. She blinked away the tear burning in her eyes and allowed herself a second to compose herself, then stated, "I refuse to talk to you if he's in the room."

It took less than thirty-seconds for Dr. Morrison to fold. "Would you mind stepping out for a moment so I can speak with Eden? If I'm to care for her, I need Eden to be open with me."

Declan challenged both of them, crossing his arms across his broad chest as though he was stating that he didn't plan on backing down. When no one said another word and Eden continued to stare silently up at the ceiling, ignoring him, Declan's mouth pressed into a hard line. He gave in. "Ten minutes. Not a second more. And I'll be right outside this door if she tries anything."

"Sounds reasonable." Dr. Morrison turned towards Eden. "Are you okay with that?"

Eden offered him a stiff nod, but when the door closed, she dissolved into a blubbering mess of a human being. Deep, gut retching sobs consumed her shaking body. Her emotions were in overdrive. Everything she was fighting to hold in came out in a hurricane of confusing nonsense.

Dr. Morrison pulled up the rolling stool, sat at her side, and let her cry. His hand came to rest on her arm; his touch was one of sympathy and understanding. "What happened to you, Eden?" There was a sense of sincerity to his tone, and it helped calm her tears.

"I had no other choice!" Her words came out in a rush, a jumbled mess of sounds and pitches. Then suddenly she found herself bearing her soul, as though he truly cared about her wellbeing. "Ben was going to rape me under Declan's demand. What was I supposed to do? Lay there and take it?"

Dr. Morrison's thumb massaged the underside of her arm, trying his best to comfort her. Yet, he didn't look the least bit shocked at her revelations. It was as though he heard this story a dozen times before her and he had become desensitized to it all.

His smile faded. " Eventually you will learn to just that."

"You can't be serious!" The pitch of her voice rose. Her eyes widened in confusion. What she wanted to ask him was, 'What the hell is wrong with you people? Have you no morals, no humanity?' Instead, she shook her head no, repeating, "You can't be fucking serious."

"I've met hundreds of girls like you, Eden. You're all strong, defiant even. And I'm sure you'll give him hell at every turn just like they did. But those are the girls that fall the hardest, that suffer the most." His thumb stopped moving as a shadow crossed his face. "Do yourself a favor and submit your will. Stop all this unnecessary suffering. That is the only way out for you. If you continue on this path, your pain will only get worse, and our meeting will only increase. Is that what you want for yourself?" His words were a punch in the gut.

"What I want is to get THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" She shouted. "You're all fucking insane." Anger bubbled in the pit of her stomach, churning around and creating an acidic pool of rage. "Are you hearing what you're saying? You want me to allow him to hurt me? That's sick! You're sick if you honestly believe that is something I'd do."

"Then my time here is done." He withdrew his hand with a heavy sigh and stood up. "I've said my piece. In the meantime, I've brought you some pain meds and sedatives to help you sleep. But I can't risk you doing something drastic again, so I've given them to Declan. He'll manage your medications until further notice. I'm sure I'll be seeing much more of you in the coming weeks." He seemed almost disappointed.

When he turned to leave, Eden stopped him.

"Wait! Can you at least untie me first, before you go?" When the doctor shook his head, she began to beg. "Please. I don't want to be tied up when he comes back. I won't be able to protect myself." Panic colored her tone.

His voice dropped almost to a whisper. "Allow Declan to lead you, as a master does his slave, and you will shine brighter than any midnight sky, but continue to fight him, and you will surely die. Which would you prefer to happen?"

"And if I chose death? Then what?" She asked.

"Then you'll simply be choosing the same path as dozens before you."

The door opened, ending their discussion on a bitter note as Declan reappeared, stony as ever. He clapped Dr. Morrison on the back. "Jude is ready for you upstairs."

"You shouldn't have."

"Only the best, for an old friend." The shark-like grin returned to Declan's lips. "You may spend the evening with her."

It hit Eden all at once as she listened to their short exchange. Dr. Morrison willingly involved himself and part took in these 'rewards' Declan offered. That being said, he was not to be trusted. Her hopes of having someone on her side dwindled to a sputtering spark that burned out.

Dr. Morrison stepped from the room, leaving them alone. Declan locked the door and leaned against it, eyeing Eden sprawled out on the table, naked and at his mercy.

Yet, she still refused to talk, to even look in Declan's direction. Instead, her body stiffened in response to him taking the same spot the doctor was in only moments ago, right next to her side. He was too close.

She focused on the small smudge in the middle of the ceiling as he began his assault on her body.

Declan trailed his fingertips over her calf, to her knee, then up her thigh. They lingered on the smooth curve of her hip, toying with her, trying to force her to meet his gaze.

He didn't stop.

His fingers slid up her side, over her flat stomach and between her breasts only to grip her neck in an iron-like hold. "What should I do with you?" His lips brushed against her upstretched arm. "I can do absolutely anything I want to you here, like this, where you're so vulnerable and weak and at my mercy." His teeth grazed her skin, nipping her. The touch sent a wave of chills throughout her body, yet, at the same time, a flutter of warm grew in her groin.

"But I won't." His hand slipped to her breast, cupping it, squeezing it gently. "Unless you want me to." He kissed her skin. "Do you want me to allow you a release, Eden?"

His hand slipped down her belly towards her sex, but she clamped her thighs together, blocking his access to her.

When Eden didn't answer him, he slapped her thigh. The pain brought out the tiniest yelp of surprise. "The silent treatment will never work. I have ways of making people speak."

Declan caught her jaw, forcing her to face him now. "Maybe I should give that same treatment to your brother."

"We had a deal." She wanted to shout this in his face but what came out was the pitiful whine of a defeated person.

"A deal you apparently forgot about the moment you trashed my bathroom and broke my window. There is no longer a deal. You should feel lucky that I don't make you pick up every sliver of broken glass with your mouth."

Eden did the first thing that came to mind. She spat in his face. The large glob of saliva splattered over his eye and cheek.

With lightning speed, Declan slammed his fist into her stomach. The blow knocked all the air from her lungs, and she was left gasping for air, drawing her knees up and rolling to the side.

"You shouldn't have done that." He got to his feet. "I've been trying to be nice and this is what I get in return? You brother's days are numbered, thanks to your little stunt. I hope it was worth it."

Eden struggled to breathe. Bile rose up in her throat as she chocked out, "You can't-"

"You seriously need to stop underestimating me." Declan slammed the lights off. "I want you to think about what your selfishness cost your brother." The door slammed shut behind him.