A/N My updating schedule is all but shot at this point because of my work hours. So for now I'll just be writing and updating where I can.
Also, this chapter is in James' POV which is a departure for this story thus far. Most of this will be in Bella's POV but there will be the odd chapter that will pop up here and there in other character's POV in order to further the story line and fill out any plot lines I feel need more information. And also, I love writing evil characters every now and again just because it's so much fun! Yes, yes I am the type that watches/enjoys serial killer documentaries. Don't judge me!
Just a small warning here guys, this chapter may be a trigger for people as it has some abuse in it so you can skip the second half of this chapter if you need to
Chapter 6
James
'We could form our attack from here," murmured Vladimir as he re-positioned the little models of our fleet ships along the southern coast of the map of Washington.
"Hmm maybe," I said noncommittally as I glanced around the darkened room. This meeting has gone on much later than I had anticipated this evening. It is pitch black outside the windows and the candles in the room burn low. But I try to bring my concentration back to the conversation taking place around me.
"How are the diversions coming along?" I ask no one in particular but Vladimir answers.
"Starting to pick up now that we have more men to deploy. We are starting to attract the notice of the other kingdoms. We now have patrols working along the borders burning anything they can find."
"Good, that's good," Vladimir's idea of causing distractions at the borders seemed to be working. If the other kingdoms were worried about minor attacks on peasants on the outskirts of their kingdoms, they would have less time to try and spy on what we were building here in Nomadia.
I had planned on taking Phenix as peacefully as possible, wanting to keep up the number of men in my army as high as I could manage and then gain more men once I was King of Phenix. But since Edward stole my bride, I grit my teeth every time I think of Charles' and Carlisle's betrayal, that option is now gone. I need to find another way.
I had it all planned out. I would marry this Princess Isabella and use our union to gain favour with the South. Then at some point in the near future King Charles would meet his untimely end and I would make my move. By that time I would have put a baby in Isabella's belly and gotten rid of the young heir, Prince Jacob. The lad would still be only seventeen or so and would be easily disposed of.
From there I would have gained enough men to invade the North before finally having enough power to take on the more powerful West. But then, those two idiot Kings and that son of a pig Prince Edward ruined all my plans. Actually, it was my own father, King Laurant, who initially caused this mess in the first place. I could see his disappointment every time he looked at me, I could tell he planned on deeming me unworthy and allowing my younger cousin, Prince Benjamin, to claim the throne in my stead. So, he had to be stopped. What choice did I have? The only good decision the old fool ever made was to assent to my marriage to the Princess of the South. That, and his first marriage to my mother, Queen Rachel.
I looked down the long table in the war room, either side of it flanked by the army generals with various others strewn throughout the edges of the room, Admiral Vladimir was right beside me. My most trusted ally – not that I fully trust anyone, but he is perhaps the closest I have to a friend…. other than Victoria or course.
"Have the banner men been called?" I interrupt one of the generals from speaking, not that it matters. When I speak I should not be interrupted.
"Yes your majesty", General Stefan responded curtly. "Half have already answered the call and we are seeing more arrive every day."
"Good, that's good Stefan." General Stefan was good at his job as commander of the entire Nomadian army, but he had been loyal to my father until his untimely end, unlike Vladimir who had come to my side long before my father's death. Though Stefan seems to accept my leadership despite the rumours of the manner of my father's demise I am still keeping a close watch on him, as I am with everyone in this room. But I have to admit, there is no one better at commanding an army than Stefan, and I can overlook the allegations here and there of his indiscretions with the younger boys. His personal proclivities are none of my concern. Besides, I cannot fit many more traitors in the dungeons below Raven's Rock. It is already overflowing with those still suspected to be loyal to my father's wishes. I will not have anyone questioning my right to be King and I do not acknowledge this stewardship that has been placed upon me by lesser men.
"Your majesty," one of the palace monks, I can never remember any of their names, pipes up and I gesture for him to get on with it. "Thank you, sire. I just wanted to inform you that your new coat of arms is prepared. If it is amenable to you, we will get straight to work changing the coat of arms throughout the kingdom."
I stick my hand out for the scroll in his shaking hands and twitch my fingers for him to hurry up and give it to me. He scurries over to me in his long robes like a little mouse and I need to grit my teeth again. These monks are just so…timid, it is not natural for men to be so weak, but I keep them around as it comes in useful every now and again to have these scholars at hand.
I look down at the scroll to see the new coat of arms I asked for. It was my mother's family arms of three golden lion heads only now these are surrounded by a ring of fire against a deep red background. I decided to make a few changes to the original when I took my mother's family surname of Witherdale when I ascended to the throne. If I am to claim my rightful place as the King of Washington, then my strongest claim is through my mother's bloodline. She was a direct descendant of the old kings of Washington, before the kingdom was taken away from them over two hundred years ago. Queen Rachel's lineage can be traced back to the first settlers of Washington meaning I have the true claim on this entre kingdom. And I will have it, I will unite all of Washington under one banner once again, and if I have to kill everyone in this country to do it then so be it. Sacrifices must be made.
"This will do," I say absently to the monk. "Make it happen." Then I decide to leave the plans to the generals, it is late and I have need of some sport.
When I reach my rooms I think at first that I am alone. I remove my armour, I wear light armour at all times, you never know who will stab you in the back. I am picking through the food platter left for me and thinking I might need to grab one of the servant girls for the evening when I hear someone moving around in the bed chamber of my suite.
"Victoria?" I call out, I can't imagine anyone else in my rooms at this hour. The servant girls are long gone before it gets dark.
"I'm in here," she calls out and I am instantly annoyed. Did she expect me to come looking for her?
"Come out here," I snap, not in the mood for games. She comes to the doorway of the bed chamber with a ridiculous pout and I roll my eyes. For someone who is a child no longer Victoria certainly still seems to act like it a lot of the time.
"Come here," I say, making an effort to gentle my tone and she sidles over to me.
"You were gone a long time, how did it go?" she asks as she reaches me.
"Fine," I say and take a large gulp from my goblet of wine. I'm not discussing war strategies with a woman. "Food?" I offer her some grapes, but she shakes her head no.
"Will we invade soon?" I just shrug, bored of this conversation already. She ignores my mood and smiles up at me, "once you are King, we can be married." I shrug her off and step away. Why does she always do this?
"Stop it Vicky, how many times have I told you? We can never be married." I don't know if she is stubborn or just plain stupid at this stage.
"Why not?" she pouts.
I roll my eyes. "We've been over this and over this Victoria. I told you, when I am King I will need to make an advantageous marriage, and that won't be to you. Kings need to marry well to gain alliances."
"To Princess Isabella no doubt," she spat fiercely. Victoria had hated the princess she had never met her entire life simply because she was betrothed to me.
"Possibly, but then I will need to make her a widow first," I smile at the thought. But even then, I don't know if I would marry Isabella, I don't want a ruined bride and I'm sure Edward has had her many times by now. I am suddenly enraged by this thought. She was mine and he just took her. Victoria doesn't appear to notice my plummeting mood, or maybe she is just ignoring it, I was annoyed before but now I am quickly approaching fury.
"Well then, maybe I will marry Edward too, like I was supposed to." She says haughtily and tries to turn away from me but doesn't get far before my arm strikes out quickly and I grab her forcefully by her flaming red hair, twisting my clenched palm until she yelps. I pull her back around to face me, my finger nails digging into her scalp.
"What did you say?" I snarl.
Victoria attempts to smile through her pain. "N…nothing, my love. Just a little jest, that is all."
I knew what she was up to, she tried to make me jealous. Well, she had succeeded in making me angry. I did not get jealous over women, particularly, but nobody took my things and Edward was at first promised to my cousin before he spurned her and then took my future bride instead. There was no way I would suffer being a cuckold to Prince Edward Cullen, of all people.
I loosened my hold on Victoria's hair and she let out a relieved breath, she should know better than to rile me up, she knew how bad my temper could be. Victoria had been in love with me since she was a young girl, and I was well aware of it, in fact, I frequently used it to my advantage over the years. She used to follow me around like a lost little puppy, pathetic as it was. Even when I fucked her the first time, when she was barely 14 and I almost 20, she still came back to me. She tried to fight me off at first, confused as to what I was about but then she let me have my way eventually, knowing it was my right as heir to the throne. And although now, at 17, she perhaps didn't hold the same interest for me that she once did, I still fucked her on occasion, especially when the younger house servant girls scattered into the dark corners of the castle at night.
I kissed her roughly, bruising her. "Are you going to be a good girl?" She nodded meekly. "Okay, get on the bed, clothes off," I ordered, and she rushed to do as she was bid.
I could see the pain in her expression as I rutted into her roughly, pinned beneath me as she was, but we both knew she deserved it after her behaviour tonight. Sometimes I thought she riled me on purpose so I would take her this way, she once said that she knew it was my passion that made me hurt her. I just let her believe whatever she wanted to, after all, I fucked every woman like this, it was half the reason I was getting bored of her though because she no longer cried out in agony the way she used to. She was just too willing to please me, there was no fight in her and sometimes I longed for the fight, that bit of resistance that sweetened the experience for me. I kept fucking her anyway until eventually the pained whimper that she could no longer hold in brought me to my release and I rolled off of her pushing her away from me. She laid still for a long time once I was finished, I had been particularly…passionate tonight.
Yes, I was over this thing with my little cousin, but I would keep doing it to keep her on my side. Because no matter how annoying Victoria could be, she had proven her worth to me, proven how far she would go for me when she had poisoned her uncle, the King, on my orders.
A/N Bit shorter than normal here ladies but I wanted to give you a glimpse into the depraved world on James so you could see for yourselves what type of character we are dealing with. I bet you're all glad now that I didn't have Bella marry this guy!
Reviews are welcome and appreciated.
Thanks for reading,
C