April 2002
Disclaimer: the characters aren't mine, this story however, is.
Chapter 9
Selenity sat on the couch in her room, her head in her hands. Her
hair was loose, trailing over her shoulders and down her back, spread about
her like a golden pool. "What have I done?" she murmured softly.
Darien knelt in front of her. "What you had to, Selene."
She looked at him through her fingers, "Did I really have to be that
harsh?" she asked, sucking in a shaky breath. "I have never been that
cruel to anyone in my life."
He grasped her hands and gently pulled them away from her face,
looking deeply into her eyes. "It had to be said eventually. I'm sorry
about your mom, I didn't know."
She bit her lip, glancing away, "No one does."
He gently grasped her chin and made her look back at him, "You did,
and now I do. I'm sorry about your father too."
She smiled slightly, "Don't be. I've been living with his ideals
for a long time." She sighed, searching his face, "Did I do the right
thing?"
He nodded, kissing her forehead. She grimaced. "Why do you do
that?"
"Do what?"
"Kiss me on the forehead. Or the backs of my fingers. Or my cheek.
Do you not want to kiss me on the lips?"
He smiled, a slow smile that sent her heart racing, "When I do,
Princess, I want it to be with no shadows in your eyes, and I want it to be
perfect. As of yet, I haven't found the perfect time."
She stuck her tongue out at him, "I should get you some ice for your
eye. Looks like it might be swelling up."
He shrugged, "I'm alright. Are you going to be?"
She took a deep breath before answering, finally nodding and smiling
half a smile, "I will be. Don't leave me a lone, alright? When Martin
wakes up he might try to take revenge for what you did to him."
"If he tries anything, lovely, he'll deal with me. Sleep, you're
wounded, you need to heal."
"You're one to talk." she grumbled, allowing him to assist her back
to her bed. She pulled her robe off and tossed it at the foot of the bed.
"Stay with me?"
"I can't."
She bit her lip, "I don't want to sleep alone," she admitted, "I'm
afraid to dream."
"Don't ask this of me, I beg you,"
She nodded, bowing her head, "Alright. Good night, Darien."
"Good night, Selene." he tucked the covers up to her chin, kissed
her gently on the cheek and then walked away.
Closing her eyes with a disappointed sigh, she listened as he went
through the connected bathroom into his room. Her thoughts whirling, she
focused on his face and drifted off to sleep.
Darien crouched beside the door to the cat carrier and opened the
door. A satin black cat with a crescent moon on its forehead walked slowly
out, stretching her dainty legs and yawning. He chuckled, scooping her up
in his hands and scratching her behind the ears, "I'm sorry, baby, I didn't
mean to leave you cooped up in there."
She licked his face, purring, squirming in his arms as she pawed at
his shoulder. He chuckled again, lifting her to his shoulder where she
curled herself around his neck contentedly. She meowed softly before
licking the back of his neck. He tilted his head to the side and rubbed
his cheek against her, "I love you too, baby girl. Come on, let's get
unpacked, shall we?"
She purred, making the back of his neck tingle, as she was content
to tag along for the ride. He knelt next to his things and spread them
about the room. Luna's assorted pieces, her litter box and food, went in
one corner. He locked the door to his room as he looked around again.
With a nod he opened the bathroom door and re-entered Selenity's room,
leaving her bathroom door open as well. He looked around. The lights were
dim, moonlight shining in through the windows and illuminating her floor.
The lights in the hallway could be seen underneath the door as he walked
towards her bed. With silent footsteps he approached, Luna purring in a
contented fashion. As he neared, her felt her head come up and she fell
silent.
He lifted one hand to her and gently stroked her back. "Something
the matter, pet?" he asked softly. She licked his hand before carefully
untangling herself from around his neck. With a graceful little hop she
dropped onto Selenity's bed near her feet. Luna sniffed at the comforter
and began to purr again as she walked towards the head of the bed. Darien
crossed his arms over his chest, watching as his cat rolled around on the
comforter, getting ever closer to where Selenity's head lay. Her brow was
furrowed in her sleep, her head thrashing from side to side as she murmured
'no' again and again.
Darien sat next to her on the bed and lifted one hand to her head,
placing it gently against her brow. She calmed after a couple of moments,
her face relaxing into a more peaceful repose. Luna meowed, almost as if
in question, as she looked at them from Selenity's other pillow. Her red
eyes were focused on where they were touching, one paw idly batting at one
of Selenity's golden locks. Darien chuckled and picked her up. She
fussed, squirming to be let go, twisting in his grasp. He frowned.
"What's the matter baby?"
She meowed plaintively and he released her. She dropped back to the
pillow before standing again, batting at the comforter around Selenity's
shoulders. Darien shook his head as the black cat lifted the covers and
crawled underneath. "Alright, baby, I won't argue." he gently stroked
Selenity's cheek with the backs of his fingers before turning away. He
needed sleep.
With a yawn and a stretch he double-checked the lock on her door
before exiting her room and entering his. He pulled off his shirt and
slacks before sliding between cool, cotton sheets. With a sigh he closed
his eyes.
Luna licked the little hand by her head. It tasted salty, sweet,
like one of her toys. She licked it again before licking her lips. The
fingers twitched and she nudged them. They moved and she followed, curling
in close to the warm body of the girl's bed she was sharing. She felt one
gentle hand settle across her back. Purring contentedly, she closed her
eyes and slept.
The halls were dark, creepy, and mysterious. A large figure crept
through them, an ice pack in hand. His hands were bruised from his fight
earlier, his nose at an odd angle. Dark eyes flashed with fury as he left
the wing of the house where he'd been sleeping. His humiliation from
earlier would not go unpunished. He would make the little bitch of a
princess pay for ever having crossed him. For even thinking she would be
rid of him. She was his, in every way that mattered with the monarchy, and
her fancy with this Japanese playboy would not stop him from getting what
was rightfully his.
The floorboards didn't creek under his careful footsteps as he
glided through the house like a ghost. He approached the wing where the
Princess and her boy toy were housed. How dare she even think of choosing
another but he? How dare she think she had the right to choose!
The lights were off, as were most of the house lights, at four am.
Lightening struck somewhere outside and a sudden gust of wind caused the
windows to rattle slightly. A storm, from the sound of it; a nasty one.
He would make it work to his advantage. A slow smile spread over his lips.
She had likely locked the door to her room again, to try and keep him out.
He frowned. She wouldn't be keeping her boy toy in the same room, would
she? No matter. The peasant had gotten lucky once, he wouldn't get that
way again. He continued to creep forward as the crash of thunder rattled
the windows harder. He quickened his pace. She hated thunder, hated
thunderstorms.
He finally stood in front of her door and listened hard. Not a
sound. Maybe the first thunder crash hadn't woken her up. Unlikely, but
it was possible. He tried the knob and found it locked. With a glanced at
his ice-wrapped hand, he slammed it into the door next to the knob. A
convenient crash of thunder covered the noise of the wood breaking. He
slid his other had in and unlocked the door. He opened the door and looked
around cautiously. A huge tree outside her window was whipping to and fro
in the heavy winds. Lightning flashed again and he saw the bed in the far
corner. With a smile spreading across his lips, he walked towards it. A
little lump in the covers suggested an occupant, the two pillows, one on
top, one below, hiding most of her head. Golden hair spilled across the
mattress and comforter from between the two cushions. His smile grew as
she shifted, her small arm curling around her head and the pillow as the
thunder sounded again. He dropped the ice bag to the floor as he looked at
her sleeping form.
She was deeply asleep, like the first time he'd taken her. Ah, the
memories. This young woman was his; her body his playground. He reached
up and tugged on her covers. She didn't protest, simply curled up more
into a ball as they slowly slid from her body. Her back was towards him
and he couldn't see her face. An evil smile split his face as he watched
her reach for her covers. She grumbled, half asleep, and began to pull her
head out from between the cushions. He didn't let her. With strong hands
he grabbed her wrists and threw them wide, pinning her to the bed. He
heard her shriek, muffled by the pillow on her face, and watched as she
thrashed, trying to kick out at him. He casually smacked her wrists
together near the headboard, his elbow keeping the pillow on her face
enough to muffle any sounds she made, but allowed her to breathe. His
other hand slammed downwards and smacked her backside viciously.
She screamed, trying to get away from his hold. He grabbed her
behind and twisted her body cruelly so she was on her stomach. He removed
the pillow covering her face as he stretched out on top of her, his hand
working the skirt of her nightgown upwards. He grabbed one of her hands
and twisted it behind her back, the other keeping her face in the pillow.
She balled her hand into a fist but cried out as he yanked on her twisted
arm. "It's me, princess." he told her, biting her non to gently on the
ear, "your future husband. I treated you decent, how dare you go off with
someone else? How dare you double cross me. Me? Your only master?"
"Please don't," she sobbed into the pillow. Her arm hurt, her
shoulder almost dislocated. He eased the pressure on her arm but instead
of pinning it with her other hand she felt him drag it along his body, over
his belly and down to the front of his trousers.
He forced her fingers open and pressed them tightly against his
swelling erection. "See what you do to me, you naught girl, what do you
think you should do about it?"
Selenity closed her eyes tightly. It was happening again, he was
going to take her by force and there was nothing she could do. She sobbed,
feeling light headed. Breathing into her pillow was hard, and she was
having trouble remaining conscious. She had to stay awake, if she didn't
there would be no chance at all for her to get away.
Martin's hand rubbed hers against him and she felt him thicken and
harden against her palm. Her skirt was almost to her thighs as she was
pressed down with a powerful push into her mattress. She felt air against
the backs of her thighs and shuddered. His lower body pressed into hers
from behind, his slacks rough against her smooth skin. She knew his
tastes, his habit. It was always the same. A tear slid fro her eye to be
soaked up by her pillow. Please, God, if you're there, don't let this
happen! she begged silently, Not again!
She heard a sudden hissing from the end of her bed. Martin's weight
let her upper body up and she lifted her head, sucking in air greedily,
glancing over her shoulder. She got a smack across the face as she felt
his hips thrust into hers and then heard him curse as a black ball of fur
landed on his back. Lightning illuminated the scene. "Darien!" she
screamed, "Darien!"
She rolled away as Martin rolled off her, trying to get the black
ball off his back. He yelled as bloody furrows appeared on his back.
Something dropped to the ground as Darien came running into the room.
"Martin!" he hissed. He stopped short as Martin's gaze didn't even lift to
him, but stayed where it was. Curled in Selenity's blankets, her teeth
barred, her claws poised for the attack was his little Luna. Thunder
crashed again, lightning flashing off Luna's glowing red eyes. She looked
ready to kill the man in front of her.
Martin lunged for the cat, trying to grab her. Luna jumped away,
quicker than the lumbering, injured lord, and hissed at him again. She
positioned herself between Selenity and the man and slashed at his hands as
he tried to grab her. "Blasted cat."
"She's the least of your problems, Martin,"
Martin turned then, his eyes widening in surprise. Darien stood a
couple of feet away, his hand already in motion. Martin couldn't dodge as
Darien's palm slammed into his nose and thrust up. His eyes crossed and he
dropped to the floor. Darien stepped away from him and turned to look at
Selenity. Luna was already gently licking the young woman's hands,
purring, as she nuzzled the fingers.
Selenity was curled up. Her arms wrapped securely about her legs in
a protective gesture, her face buried in her knees, her legs against her
chest. "Princess?"
She glanced up, her tear lined face making his heartache. "He was
going to do it again," she whispered brokenly, "I couldn't stop him... If
it hadn't been for..."
Darien stepped over Martin and scooped her up in his arms.
"Shhhh... everything's alright now, Selene. I'm not leaving you alone
again, you're sleeping in my room from now on."
She burrowed into him, crying silently, her arms wound tightly
around his neck. Luna meowed softly before jumping to his shoulder. She
slid down until her back legs were laying down his back, her front paws on
Selenity's elbow, meowing softly and gently licking the girl's skin.
Darien carried her into his room, closing and locking both of the
doors between her room and his. He placed her gently on the bed before
checking the lock on his door. He went back to her as the thunder sounded
again, making her shudder. Luna slid carefully down his chest before
hopping back over to the terrified girl. Darien pulled her into his arms
and coaxed her gently to lie down. Luna snuggled next to Selenity's neck
and licked her face.
Selenity reached up and gently stroked the cat's fur, scratching her
behind the ears, "Thank you, my little black warrior."
Darien smiled softly, reaching around her to gently pet his feline.
She was purring contentedly in no time. Selenity turned into Darien's
chest, her eyes dry, and stretched out. She sighed. "Why?" she asked
softly. "Why me?"
Darien stroked her hair with one hand, tugging the covers over them
both with the other, "I don't know," he replied honestly. "You are very
beautiful, Selene. Many man will want you, some will try and take what
they could never be gifted with."
"Is it always like that?" her voice was small, terrified.
"The fear and the terror?"
She nodded, her hands splayed on his bare chest.
"I don't know. Sex is supposed to be enjoyable. According to Drew,
making love is supposed to be magical."
He felt her shudder, pressing closer to him. He tightened his hold
on her, kissing the top of her head. "I want to show you that what Martin
did to you is not what it's supposed to be like, I want to make love you
to, for you to make love to me back. One day, when you're ready, I want to
show you that magic."
"Have you ever tasted it?"
He shook his head, "No. With you, I think we both will."
He felt wetness on his chest and rubbed her back, "Let it out,
Selene," he told her softly, "lean on me. Tell me what you're thinking."
She didn't try and wipe her tears away as she began to speak, "I
find myself wishing I wasn't so weak," she said softly, her throat thick,
"I wish I had the strength to fight him off. I wish I could still be pure
for you, still be the naive princess I was a few months ago. Blissfully
unaware of the brutality he is capable of. He was charming before,
attentive. He seemed to listen to everything I had to say." she glanced up
and smiled through her tears, "That trait reminded me of you. You look so
alike," he voice caught in her throat and she bowed her head again, "I
thought you both might have the same decent core. I cannot believe how
wrong I was. Mother warned me about him, you know."
"I didn't."
Selenity closed her eyes briefly before continuing, "She said he was
a cruel, heartless man who had raped, she faltered but continued, "many
young serving girls. His aid is a young woman he once took advantage of.
She learned three kinds of martial arts to keep him away. Mom told me to
watch out for him, to never let him near me alone. I didn't listen. Three
months ago I woke up in my bed at my father's home with a heavy weight on
top of me," she shuddered, releasing him and rolling away. She sat up and
wrapped her arms around herself.
Darien watched her, aching to hold her but knowing she needed the
space. He reached out and stroked his sleeping cat as he listened to her
painful words, his heart bleeding for her.
"I found myself pinned to my bed. There was nobody in my wing at
that time of night. Charles sleeps with the servants; daddy was on the
other side of the house. He let me scream," she shuddered, remembering,
rubbing her arms as if to warm herself, her gaze on the memory, "he told me
to scream because it was what he likes. I tried to fight him off. I tried
to kick him and he pinned my legs. I tried to hit him and he laughed at
me. He tied my wrists above my head and undressed me quickly. I've lost
more clothes to that monster in the last few months. He tears everything
off me." She rubbed her wrist, oblivious to the thunder and lightening
outside, as she turned haunted eyes to look at him, "Do you know what
that's like? To be at someone else's mercy, to be at the mercy of a fiend
who's only intention is to cause as much pain as possible?"
He didn't answer, just shook his head once. She rubbed her arms
again, "It's terrifying. It hurt. He used me. Me! The heir to the
throne because he wanted to be king. He wanted to be able to rape young
women and get away with it. He knew that if he took my virginity I would
have to marry him. If I was carrying his child even better." She
shuddered at the thought, "I'm not ready to be a mother yet, and I don't
want to bear his child. That would destroy me."
He reached out and gently grasped her hand. She twined her fingers
with his, smiling faintly as she continued, "He tried to keep me quiet
tonight, he didn't do that the first time. The first time, he laughed at
me. He slapped me, across the face, on the chest, on the back of my
thighs, telling me he wanted to see me squirm. He was so violent, so
brutal. His hands were rough. Nothing like yours, my love, you are always
careful. You treat me with such respect I sometimes wonder what I did to
deserve it. Martin thinks I am a possession. His possession. To do with
as he pleased. He bit me," he free hand went to a spot just below her left
breast, "he drew blood. I remember being tied, both legs spread wide, with
a little give. He bruised me then, on the hips, as he grabbed me." she
shuddered, "He wasn't gentle at all. He was viciously rough, claiming me,
stealing my virginity in strong, painful strokes. I never want him to do
that to me again," she whispered softly, "I never want to be the victim
again."
His jaw was clenched as he watched the emotions pour across her
face. The anguish and pain of such a brutal rape, the terror, and lastly,
the regret. He squeezed her fingers, "Never with me, Princess. You're in
control, we'll take things as fast or as slow as you want too. I want to
wipe his memory from you; from your mind, from your touch. If I could I
would undo all of the damage he's caused you. I can't. I can promise you
to never treat you like he did."
She went into his arms then, tears running steadily down her cheeks,
"Darien, my dear Darien," she sobbed softly.
He held her, simply held her, until her crying stopped, her eyes
closed and she curled into a peaceful sleep in his arms.
Author's Notes: Let me know what you think! comments, questions,
suggestions all go to:
Jademax@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading!
Jade_Max
Disclaimer: the characters aren't mine, this story however, is.
Chapter 9
Selenity sat on the couch in her room, her head in her hands. Her
hair was loose, trailing over her shoulders and down her back, spread about
her like a golden pool. "What have I done?" she murmured softly.
Darien knelt in front of her. "What you had to, Selene."
She looked at him through her fingers, "Did I really have to be that
harsh?" she asked, sucking in a shaky breath. "I have never been that
cruel to anyone in my life."
He grasped her hands and gently pulled them away from her face,
looking deeply into her eyes. "It had to be said eventually. I'm sorry
about your mom, I didn't know."
She bit her lip, glancing away, "No one does."
He gently grasped her chin and made her look back at him, "You did,
and now I do. I'm sorry about your father too."
She smiled slightly, "Don't be. I've been living with his ideals
for a long time." She sighed, searching his face, "Did I do the right
thing?"
He nodded, kissing her forehead. She grimaced. "Why do you do
that?"
"Do what?"
"Kiss me on the forehead. Or the backs of my fingers. Or my cheek.
Do you not want to kiss me on the lips?"
He smiled, a slow smile that sent her heart racing, "When I do,
Princess, I want it to be with no shadows in your eyes, and I want it to be
perfect. As of yet, I haven't found the perfect time."
She stuck her tongue out at him, "I should get you some ice for your
eye. Looks like it might be swelling up."
He shrugged, "I'm alright. Are you going to be?"
She took a deep breath before answering, finally nodding and smiling
half a smile, "I will be. Don't leave me a lone, alright? When Martin
wakes up he might try to take revenge for what you did to him."
"If he tries anything, lovely, he'll deal with me. Sleep, you're
wounded, you need to heal."
"You're one to talk." she grumbled, allowing him to assist her back
to her bed. She pulled her robe off and tossed it at the foot of the bed.
"Stay with me?"
"I can't."
She bit her lip, "I don't want to sleep alone," she admitted, "I'm
afraid to dream."
"Don't ask this of me, I beg you,"
She nodded, bowing her head, "Alright. Good night, Darien."
"Good night, Selene." he tucked the covers up to her chin, kissed
her gently on the cheek and then walked away.
Closing her eyes with a disappointed sigh, she listened as he went
through the connected bathroom into his room. Her thoughts whirling, she
focused on his face and drifted off to sleep.
Darien crouched beside the door to the cat carrier and opened the
door. A satin black cat with a crescent moon on its forehead walked slowly
out, stretching her dainty legs and yawning. He chuckled, scooping her up
in his hands and scratching her behind the ears, "I'm sorry, baby, I didn't
mean to leave you cooped up in there."
She licked his face, purring, squirming in his arms as she pawed at
his shoulder. He chuckled again, lifting her to his shoulder where she
curled herself around his neck contentedly. She meowed softly before
licking the back of his neck. He tilted his head to the side and rubbed
his cheek against her, "I love you too, baby girl. Come on, let's get
unpacked, shall we?"
She purred, making the back of his neck tingle, as she was content
to tag along for the ride. He knelt next to his things and spread them
about the room. Luna's assorted pieces, her litter box and food, went in
one corner. He locked the door to his room as he looked around again.
With a nod he opened the bathroom door and re-entered Selenity's room,
leaving her bathroom door open as well. He looked around. The lights were
dim, moonlight shining in through the windows and illuminating her floor.
The lights in the hallway could be seen underneath the door as he walked
towards her bed. With silent footsteps he approached, Luna purring in a
contented fashion. As he neared, her felt her head come up and she fell
silent.
He lifted one hand to her and gently stroked her back. "Something
the matter, pet?" he asked softly. She licked his hand before carefully
untangling herself from around his neck. With a graceful little hop she
dropped onto Selenity's bed near her feet. Luna sniffed at the comforter
and began to purr again as she walked towards the head of the bed. Darien
crossed his arms over his chest, watching as his cat rolled around on the
comforter, getting ever closer to where Selenity's head lay. Her brow was
furrowed in her sleep, her head thrashing from side to side as she murmured
'no' again and again.
Darien sat next to her on the bed and lifted one hand to her head,
placing it gently against her brow. She calmed after a couple of moments,
her face relaxing into a more peaceful repose. Luna meowed, almost as if
in question, as she looked at them from Selenity's other pillow. Her red
eyes were focused on where they were touching, one paw idly batting at one
of Selenity's golden locks. Darien chuckled and picked her up. She
fussed, squirming to be let go, twisting in his grasp. He frowned.
"What's the matter baby?"
She meowed plaintively and he released her. She dropped back to the
pillow before standing again, batting at the comforter around Selenity's
shoulders. Darien shook his head as the black cat lifted the covers and
crawled underneath. "Alright, baby, I won't argue." he gently stroked
Selenity's cheek with the backs of his fingers before turning away. He
needed sleep.
With a yawn and a stretch he double-checked the lock on her door
before exiting her room and entering his. He pulled off his shirt and
slacks before sliding between cool, cotton sheets. With a sigh he closed
his eyes.
Luna licked the little hand by her head. It tasted salty, sweet,
like one of her toys. She licked it again before licking her lips. The
fingers twitched and she nudged them. They moved and she followed, curling
in close to the warm body of the girl's bed she was sharing. She felt one
gentle hand settle across her back. Purring contentedly, she closed her
eyes and slept.
The halls were dark, creepy, and mysterious. A large figure crept
through them, an ice pack in hand. His hands were bruised from his fight
earlier, his nose at an odd angle. Dark eyes flashed with fury as he left
the wing of the house where he'd been sleeping. His humiliation from
earlier would not go unpunished. He would make the little bitch of a
princess pay for ever having crossed him. For even thinking she would be
rid of him. She was his, in every way that mattered with the monarchy, and
her fancy with this Japanese playboy would not stop him from getting what
was rightfully his.
The floorboards didn't creek under his careful footsteps as he
glided through the house like a ghost. He approached the wing where the
Princess and her boy toy were housed. How dare she even think of choosing
another but he? How dare she think she had the right to choose!
The lights were off, as were most of the house lights, at four am.
Lightening struck somewhere outside and a sudden gust of wind caused the
windows to rattle slightly. A storm, from the sound of it; a nasty one.
He would make it work to his advantage. A slow smile spread over his lips.
She had likely locked the door to her room again, to try and keep him out.
He frowned. She wouldn't be keeping her boy toy in the same room, would
she? No matter. The peasant had gotten lucky once, he wouldn't get that
way again. He continued to creep forward as the crash of thunder rattled
the windows harder. He quickened his pace. She hated thunder, hated
thunderstorms.
He finally stood in front of her door and listened hard. Not a
sound. Maybe the first thunder crash hadn't woken her up. Unlikely, but
it was possible. He tried the knob and found it locked. With a glanced at
his ice-wrapped hand, he slammed it into the door next to the knob. A
convenient crash of thunder covered the noise of the wood breaking. He
slid his other had in and unlocked the door. He opened the door and looked
around cautiously. A huge tree outside her window was whipping to and fro
in the heavy winds. Lightning flashed again and he saw the bed in the far
corner. With a smile spreading across his lips, he walked towards it. A
little lump in the covers suggested an occupant, the two pillows, one on
top, one below, hiding most of her head. Golden hair spilled across the
mattress and comforter from between the two cushions. His smile grew as
she shifted, her small arm curling around her head and the pillow as the
thunder sounded again. He dropped the ice bag to the floor as he looked at
her sleeping form.
She was deeply asleep, like the first time he'd taken her. Ah, the
memories. This young woman was his; her body his playground. He reached
up and tugged on her covers. She didn't protest, simply curled up more
into a ball as they slowly slid from her body. Her back was towards him
and he couldn't see her face. An evil smile split his face as he watched
her reach for her covers. She grumbled, half asleep, and began to pull her
head out from between the cushions. He didn't let her. With strong hands
he grabbed her wrists and threw them wide, pinning her to the bed. He
heard her shriek, muffled by the pillow on her face, and watched as she
thrashed, trying to kick out at him. He casually smacked her wrists
together near the headboard, his elbow keeping the pillow on her face
enough to muffle any sounds she made, but allowed her to breathe. His
other hand slammed downwards and smacked her backside viciously.
She screamed, trying to get away from his hold. He grabbed her
behind and twisted her body cruelly so she was on her stomach. He removed
the pillow covering her face as he stretched out on top of her, his hand
working the skirt of her nightgown upwards. He grabbed one of her hands
and twisted it behind her back, the other keeping her face in the pillow.
She balled her hand into a fist but cried out as he yanked on her twisted
arm. "It's me, princess." he told her, biting her non to gently on the
ear, "your future husband. I treated you decent, how dare you go off with
someone else? How dare you double cross me. Me? Your only master?"
"Please don't," she sobbed into the pillow. Her arm hurt, her
shoulder almost dislocated. He eased the pressure on her arm but instead
of pinning it with her other hand she felt him drag it along his body, over
his belly and down to the front of his trousers.
He forced her fingers open and pressed them tightly against his
swelling erection. "See what you do to me, you naught girl, what do you
think you should do about it?"
Selenity closed her eyes tightly. It was happening again, he was
going to take her by force and there was nothing she could do. She sobbed,
feeling light headed. Breathing into her pillow was hard, and she was
having trouble remaining conscious. She had to stay awake, if she didn't
there would be no chance at all for her to get away.
Martin's hand rubbed hers against him and she felt him thicken and
harden against her palm. Her skirt was almost to her thighs as she was
pressed down with a powerful push into her mattress. She felt air against
the backs of her thighs and shuddered. His lower body pressed into hers
from behind, his slacks rough against her smooth skin. She knew his
tastes, his habit. It was always the same. A tear slid fro her eye to be
soaked up by her pillow. Please, God, if you're there, don't let this
happen! she begged silently, Not again!
She heard a sudden hissing from the end of her bed. Martin's weight
let her upper body up and she lifted her head, sucking in air greedily,
glancing over her shoulder. She got a smack across the face as she felt
his hips thrust into hers and then heard him curse as a black ball of fur
landed on his back. Lightning illuminated the scene. "Darien!" she
screamed, "Darien!"
She rolled away as Martin rolled off her, trying to get the black
ball off his back. He yelled as bloody furrows appeared on his back.
Something dropped to the ground as Darien came running into the room.
"Martin!" he hissed. He stopped short as Martin's gaze didn't even lift to
him, but stayed where it was. Curled in Selenity's blankets, her teeth
barred, her claws poised for the attack was his little Luna. Thunder
crashed again, lightning flashing off Luna's glowing red eyes. She looked
ready to kill the man in front of her.
Martin lunged for the cat, trying to grab her. Luna jumped away,
quicker than the lumbering, injured lord, and hissed at him again. She
positioned herself between Selenity and the man and slashed at his hands as
he tried to grab her. "Blasted cat."
"She's the least of your problems, Martin,"
Martin turned then, his eyes widening in surprise. Darien stood a
couple of feet away, his hand already in motion. Martin couldn't dodge as
Darien's palm slammed into his nose and thrust up. His eyes crossed and he
dropped to the floor. Darien stepped away from him and turned to look at
Selenity. Luna was already gently licking the young woman's hands,
purring, as she nuzzled the fingers.
Selenity was curled up. Her arms wrapped securely about her legs in
a protective gesture, her face buried in her knees, her legs against her
chest. "Princess?"
She glanced up, her tear lined face making his heartache. "He was
going to do it again," she whispered brokenly, "I couldn't stop him... If
it hadn't been for..."
Darien stepped over Martin and scooped her up in his arms.
"Shhhh... everything's alright now, Selene. I'm not leaving you alone
again, you're sleeping in my room from now on."
She burrowed into him, crying silently, her arms wound tightly
around his neck. Luna meowed softly before jumping to his shoulder. She
slid down until her back legs were laying down his back, her front paws on
Selenity's elbow, meowing softly and gently licking the girl's skin.
Darien carried her into his room, closing and locking both of the
doors between her room and his. He placed her gently on the bed before
checking the lock on his door. He went back to her as the thunder sounded
again, making her shudder. Luna slid carefully down his chest before
hopping back over to the terrified girl. Darien pulled her into his arms
and coaxed her gently to lie down. Luna snuggled next to Selenity's neck
and licked her face.
Selenity reached up and gently stroked the cat's fur, scratching her
behind the ears, "Thank you, my little black warrior."
Darien smiled softly, reaching around her to gently pet his feline.
She was purring contentedly in no time. Selenity turned into Darien's
chest, her eyes dry, and stretched out. She sighed. "Why?" she asked
softly. "Why me?"
Darien stroked her hair with one hand, tugging the covers over them
both with the other, "I don't know," he replied honestly. "You are very
beautiful, Selene. Many man will want you, some will try and take what
they could never be gifted with."
"Is it always like that?" her voice was small, terrified.
"The fear and the terror?"
She nodded, her hands splayed on his bare chest.
"I don't know. Sex is supposed to be enjoyable. According to Drew,
making love is supposed to be magical."
He felt her shudder, pressing closer to him. He tightened his hold
on her, kissing the top of her head. "I want to show you that what Martin
did to you is not what it's supposed to be like, I want to make love you
to, for you to make love to me back. One day, when you're ready, I want to
show you that magic."
"Have you ever tasted it?"
He shook his head, "No. With you, I think we both will."
He felt wetness on his chest and rubbed her back, "Let it out,
Selene," he told her softly, "lean on me. Tell me what you're thinking."
She didn't try and wipe her tears away as she began to speak, "I
find myself wishing I wasn't so weak," she said softly, her throat thick,
"I wish I had the strength to fight him off. I wish I could still be pure
for you, still be the naive princess I was a few months ago. Blissfully
unaware of the brutality he is capable of. He was charming before,
attentive. He seemed to listen to everything I had to say." she glanced up
and smiled through her tears, "That trait reminded me of you. You look so
alike," he voice caught in her throat and she bowed her head again, "I
thought you both might have the same decent core. I cannot believe how
wrong I was. Mother warned me about him, you know."
"I didn't."
Selenity closed her eyes briefly before continuing, "She said he was
a cruel, heartless man who had raped, she faltered but continued, "many
young serving girls. His aid is a young woman he once took advantage of.
She learned three kinds of martial arts to keep him away. Mom told me to
watch out for him, to never let him near me alone. I didn't listen. Three
months ago I woke up in my bed at my father's home with a heavy weight on
top of me," she shuddered, releasing him and rolling away. She sat up and
wrapped her arms around herself.
Darien watched her, aching to hold her but knowing she needed the
space. He reached out and stroked his sleeping cat as he listened to her
painful words, his heart bleeding for her.
"I found myself pinned to my bed. There was nobody in my wing at
that time of night. Charles sleeps with the servants; daddy was on the
other side of the house. He let me scream," she shuddered, remembering,
rubbing her arms as if to warm herself, her gaze on the memory, "he told me
to scream because it was what he likes. I tried to fight him off. I tried
to kick him and he pinned my legs. I tried to hit him and he laughed at
me. He tied my wrists above my head and undressed me quickly. I've lost
more clothes to that monster in the last few months. He tears everything
off me." She rubbed her wrist, oblivious to the thunder and lightening
outside, as she turned haunted eyes to look at him, "Do you know what
that's like? To be at someone else's mercy, to be at the mercy of a fiend
who's only intention is to cause as much pain as possible?"
He didn't answer, just shook his head once. She rubbed her arms
again, "It's terrifying. It hurt. He used me. Me! The heir to the
throne because he wanted to be king. He wanted to be able to rape young
women and get away with it. He knew that if he took my virginity I would
have to marry him. If I was carrying his child even better." She
shuddered at the thought, "I'm not ready to be a mother yet, and I don't
want to bear his child. That would destroy me."
He reached out and gently grasped her hand. She twined her fingers
with his, smiling faintly as she continued, "He tried to keep me quiet
tonight, he didn't do that the first time. The first time, he laughed at
me. He slapped me, across the face, on the chest, on the back of my
thighs, telling me he wanted to see me squirm. He was so violent, so
brutal. His hands were rough. Nothing like yours, my love, you are always
careful. You treat me with such respect I sometimes wonder what I did to
deserve it. Martin thinks I am a possession. His possession. To do with
as he pleased. He bit me," he free hand went to a spot just below her left
breast, "he drew blood. I remember being tied, both legs spread wide, with
a little give. He bruised me then, on the hips, as he grabbed me." she
shuddered, "He wasn't gentle at all. He was viciously rough, claiming me,
stealing my virginity in strong, painful strokes. I never want him to do
that to me again," she whispered softly, "I never want to be the victim
again."
His jaw was clenched as he watched the emotions pour across her
face. The anguish and pain of such a brutal rape, the terror, and lastly,
the regret. He squeezed her fingers, "Never with me, Princess. You're in
control, we'll take things as fast or as slow as you want too. I want to
wipe his memory from you; from your mind, from your touch. If I could I
would undo all of the damage he's caused you. I can't. I can promise you
to never treat you like he did."
She went into his arms then, tears running steadily down her cheeks,
"Darien, my dear Darien," she sobbed softly.
He held her, simply held her, until her crying stopped, her eyes
closed and she curled into a peaceful sleep in his arms.
Author's Notes: Let me know what you think! comments, questions,
suggestions all go to:
Jademax@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading!
Jade_Max