Chapter 5

            Diana regained consciousness a few hours later.  When she opened her eyes, she tried to look around to figure out where she was.  Focusing was difficult because her head hurt so much it felt like it was splitting apart.

            She was sitting on a chair with her hands tied behind her.  She wiggled her wrists to see how tight her bonds were and found that with a little work she may be able to get out…eventually.  She also noticed the hired thugs that were around the room, apparently watching over her.

            "Well, look who's returned to the world of the living.  We have some negotiations to do." The Duke said as he entered the room and took a seat across from Diana.

            "BASTARD! I told you I'm not selling!"

            "You will.  A deal…the Moulin Rouge for your freedom."

            "I'd rather be DEAD!"

            "You insolent BITCH!" the Duke said as he gave a gesture to Warner.  Warner came over to Diana, and without hesitation, slapped her hard across the face.  Diana was dazed slightly but still infuriated.

            "I told you I'll get what I want in one way or another." The Duke replied.  "Or maybe…there is another way we can negotiate." He said as he started to size her up as a conquest.  "Satine was a dreadful miss but you won't be." He said as he caressed her.

            "GO TO HELL!!" she screamed as she pushed him back with a foot to his abdomen.  When the Duke regained his footing, he looked again to Warner.  This time he balled up his fist and rammed in right into Diana's ribs, cracking several.  The excruciating pain shot through her system like a wild fire.  She screamed out in pain but still remained defiant.

            "You don't even have the nerve to take me on yourself.  You have your flunky beat up on a woman.  I will not break under the non-existent power of a whining baby!"

            This time the Duke himself slapped her across the face.  Diana thought she was going to black out after this round of abuse on top of the others, but she fought to maintain her consciousness.

            "Leave her.  She'll come around eventually." The Duke said as he departed, leaving Diana with one of his "guards."

            Every breath hurt for her now thanks to the cracked and bruised ribs.  She ran her tongue over her lips and tasted blood; one of the slaps split her lip.  She knew one of her cheeks was bruised, as was her eye.  She thought to herself that she would never give into him, no matter what.

            When she thought her guard wasn't paying attention, Diana started to work on the ropes that held her.  Every time her wrists moved, the ropes cut into her and made her skin raw.  She didn't know how long she could keep her shields up.

            The Duke attempted the same routine nearly every other day.  Diana would continue her defiance and beratement of him, and with each comment came a beating.  Her near blacking out spells came more regularly and Diana was starting to lose her battle.

            After two weeks of this constant struggle, the Duke became impatient.  He wanted the Moulin Rouge…NOW!!!

            "Damn Yankee bitch!  Why can't you understand that I have defeated you?" the Duke screamed.  Her response was to spit in his face.

            Diana glared viciously at him as he wiped his face.  Even through the bruises, the anger inside her still emerged.  "Because you haven't!" she replied.  "If I'm a damn Yankee bitch, then you should realize that the Americans don't die quietly, you imperialist son of a bitch!!"

            She sat there and watched him throw a fit over her retaliation, felling quite pleased with herself.  The Duke lacked the comprehension to realize that he was not going to win with Diana as an opponent.

            As the again defeated Duke departed from her, Diana screamed out "GO TO HELL!!" from behind the door.  She had to get the last word.