Editing Comment - I'm sorry to anyone who read this in the past three days, had kindly deleted my asterisks in between the point of view changes, so this is my attempt to put them back in. Let's hope it works... okay, it didnt, i'm now resorting to periods and commas. Sorry

A/N: The PG13 warning is here for this chapter. I am not going to ruin it for you and I have seen much worse in movies, but believe me when I say that this is not a happy chapter. There is semi-graphic violence that I am fairly sure does not require an R rating, but if you think I'm wrong, please tell me. Now, without further ado…

Chapter 7

Joshua didn't even bother with the ladder; he leapt all ten feet to the ground, landing adroitly on his feet with only a little magic to help him. The sound of Lizzie's scream was reverberating in his brain, striking that one chord in his heart that made him tremble with fear. He had brought her into this whole mess; if someone was hurting her, she was his responsibility. Or so he tried to tell himself—to excuse his actions. He knew he was in deep over his head here, but he didn't care and he knew that now wasn't the time to analyze it. She could be hurt. And he would rather die than see that come to pass.

-.-,-.-

Lizzie stared into the cold green eyes of Andrew Adam Gilld. He looked back at her, his eyes raking swiftly over her entire body. "You have grown up, little girl."

"Where have you been?" she demanded, trembling with fear as she looked into the face of the man before her. He was not young, but beautiful nonetheless. His hair was long and light brown, tied back behind his head with one strand to frame his face. His aquiline nose and square jaw made him look like a Greek statue and his lips were full and oddly seductive in such a masculine face. His eyes glinted faintly in the deep night and held Lizzie's gaze with an intensity that frightened her.

"Waiting," he answered, reaching out and cupping her cheek. "Waiting for you." He raised an eyebrow, as if daring her to say something in reply. She couldn't help herself.

"How sweet." He laughed softly.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise." He pulled her to him and she gasped as he got to his feet and lifted her into his arms.

"My lord, I-" she began to protest, when he silenced her with a hand over her mouth. He smiled at her and sat her down on his horse before vaulting up behind her. She yelped, frightened by this stranger.

"Don't be too afraid," he purred in her ear, spurring the horse off with a deep laugh that blocked out all other noise. She thought she heard someone calling her name, but the hand gripping her waist allowed her no room to turn and see.

"Welcome, little girl," he said, kissing her ear and running his fingers through her hair. "We'll be home soon."

"Why are you doing this?" Lizzie asked, finally managing to turn enough to face him. He gazed curiously at her, waiting for her to continue. "Where are you taking me?"

"I'm taking you back home," he said, kissing further down her neck.

"Please stop," she whispered, cringing at his touches.

"You're my fiancée," he replied, his eyes dancing wickedly. "Soon to be my bride."

"That was a long time ago," she protested, wanting to break out of this grip he had her in and completely unable to. "Things have changed. My father-"

"I know of all that has happened since I left," he replied, licking her cheek and making her shiver. "Don't worry about a silly little thing like that. Our contract still stands." That wasn't the point, Lizzie thought to herself. She didn't want him to take her.

"But he'll be worried if I don't come home," she tried. "He'll notice my absence and be frightened for my safety."

"No he won't," Andrew replied. "You've been at court for the past month… I've watched you numerous times, though I doubt you've seen me. You're stunning, Lizzie."

"Thanks you," she whispered in reply.

"Although, I must admit, I wasn't quite as taken with your masked partner. Who is he?"

"Lord Joshua…" she trailed off, not knowing the rest of his name. Andrew laughed mirthlessly.

"Lord now, is he?" Lizzie turned to look at him, obviously surprised.

"Yes. I mean… that's how he introduced himself."

"I suppose one can buy anything these days," Andrew said disparagingly. "Even a title. Although I wonder whose he stole. He's a powerful wizard, make no mistake, but a very selfish man. He would use you without any qualms as to how you may feel."

"No he wouldn't!" Lizzie cried out, making Andrew snicker and nip at her neck. She flinched, scared of him and his caresses.

"You poor deluded little girl. I knew Joshua from my past. He was a pupil of mine when I still took on apprentice wizards. He was a wonderful wizard. And a cruel man. You're lucky I rescued you when I did."

"Rescued me?" she nearly yelled. "You practically kidnapped me!"

"I can't kidnap that which is mine," Andrew pointed out, his hand gliding upward along her torso, coming to rest just below her chest. She trembled in his arms, wishing she could be somewhere else, anywhere else. Lizzie lapsed into silence, not wanting to continue this conversation. Escape wasn't an option and she could tell that screaming would just upset him even more. She felt so foolish for wanting to find out about Andrew Gilld and she hoped that she hadn't somehow drawn him back by wondering about him. Wizards were so inexplicable and this one more so than others. And his touches were making her more uncomfortable by the minute. She fervently wished she had not left Joshua. That he could be here with her now. For one lunatic moment, she dreamed that it was Joshua who was holding her tight and riding away with her, not this terrible stranger who she was betrothed to.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, jolting her out of her delusional desires.

"Just childish dreams," she answered him, forcing herself to be brave. This didn't need to be terrible, did it? The memory of Maurice falling to the ground, a knife protruding from his back made her afraid of the answer.

-.-,-.-

"Lizzie!" Joshua roared angrily, watching as the horse leapt away. He stood in the yard, shirt flying open and sword gripped in white knuckles. He knew that black stallion, recognized the strange designs worked in glimmering gold on the saddle and he knew that profile. Andrew had come home.

"Damn!" he swore, kicking the water trough with as much force as he could muster. "Damn, damn, DAMN!" The last shout was when he stubbed his toes on the hard metal. He had to go after her, he knew that. Joshua would never abandon her to such a fate, especially now. She meant too much to him, loathe though he was to admit that. Besides, he was duty bound to protect her. He went to the stables, putting the reins onto one of the carriage horses as swiftly as he could and not even bothering to find a saddle. He could torture himself bareback for this.

Mounting with an easy grace, Joshua spurred the horse out through the gate and onto the road. The horse skidded to a halt, seeing a strange bundle in the middle of the road. Joshua, more concerned about catching Andrew, swung down and knelt by the heap of clothes. A soft moan came from within. Joshua swore and moved aside the dark cloak to see if he could do anything quickly for whatever poor person was inside.

"Josh…" groaned the man as Joshua eased his hand under the man's head.

"Maurice," he breathed, seeing the face. A moment later, his eyes saw the knife. Joshua broke into a string of curses, most of which he made up on the spot. He didn't have the time to deal with this now, not with his Lizzie in danger. Joshua ignored the possessive added on to her name and placed his hands atop Maurice's body. "You don't even deserve this much," he told the man angrily, but he let the lightning sharp magic come out and make him disappear in a flash of magic. That taken care of, he remounted his horse and raced off into the night after Andrew.

-.-,-.-

"Please don't hurt me," Lizzie begged, his hands tightening around her own.

"What did you just call me?" he hisses, his eyes locked on her own.

"I'm sorry," she cried, his hands bruising her. "Please stop." Andrew's eyes narrowed as he looked at her; lips swollen from brutal kisses and arms black-and-blue from his touch.

"Sorry?" he mocked, his voice bitter. "Sorry, Lizzie? Sorry is not what I want to hear? I'd rather you tell me why you were calling his name."

"I was frightened," she answered, losing all her usual strength and composure. "I…I… forgive me, sir, I knew not what I said!"

"I am your husband," Andrew hissed, loosing her hands to tilt her chin up to face him. They stood in a small clearing, far away from the road. "I am your lord and master. And if I ever hear the name Joshua again, you will wish you had never been born."

"I hadn't meant to upset you," she breathed, running her tongue over the deep bites in her lower lip. She hated Andrew, hated him for the callous way he touched her, the cruel way that he treated her and she hated him for taking her away from all she had ever loved.

"But you had," he answered, watching her lazily. "Tell me something, Lizzie." She looked at him questioningly. "Why exactly are you so reticent to leave a selfish bastard hell bent on revenge?" Lizzie's mind cried out that he was neither selfish nor hell bent on any revenge—he was a good man, far better than the one who was with her at the moment. But that would be as good as signing her death warrant.

"I don't know," she answered finally. "I suppose we don't always make decisions based on logic."

"What do you feel for him?" he asked sharply. The truth came unbidden to her mind, but she could not answer him, could not say those words. Neither could she lie, for the falsehood died on her tongue. She remained silent, hoping that he would not interpret it correctly. Unfortunately, Andrew was an accomplished wizard and a talented judge of men as well. "You love him," he growled, his eyes burning with rage. He backhanded her forcefully across the face, making her fall backwards onto the coarse grass with a frightened cry. "You little whore, you love him!"

Lizzie had never been in a situation like this before, never faced a furious wizard who was in total control of his magic. "Stop!" she screamed as he stood over her and laughed.

"Of all the ironies," he growled, "that my bride would have fallen for that boy." He raised his foot and placed it in the center of her chest. She lay on her back, staring up at him with mortal terror in her eyes. He was pleased to see her so submissive, pleased to have broken the will of such a fiery beauty. "You are mine," he purred, straddling her and laughing manically. She struggled against him, but he subdued her with harsh kisses and rougher caresses. But it was only when he tore off her dress, exposing her to the night sky and his lecherous gaze that she screamed.

-.-,-.-

"I will find her," Joshua swore, galloping at breakneck pace through the forest. "I have to find her." He twisted the reins between his hands, guiding the horse expertly with his knees. The intensity of his emotions was driving him insane. All of his memories of her flooded his mind—the first time she had met him and their shy banter which slowly grew into the gentle teasing of friends and sometimes even the subtle flirting they were both so proficient in. He could admit to himself that this little charade of theirs had been solely so that he could go around and introduce her as his fiancée. He admitted that whatever he felt for her, it was something that filled him beyond belief and made him wonder how the hell he had ever survived without her. He was one step away from admitting that he was in love.

Joshua reined his horse suddenly, making the animal rear up for a brief moment before stopping. Joshua squinted into the trees, seeing the tiny glimmer of magic. It was nearly invisible, but he had known it would be somewhere.

Joshua dismounted, tethering the horse to the nearest tree before racing off into the forest towards the shimmer. He swore when he drew up to it, immediately able to identify the spell as a glamour to hide the majestic black stallion tethered there. Andrew could not be far from here, but where was he?

A voice rang out in the silence of the nighttime wood; the voice of a tortured, frightened young girl crying out, crying his name. There was no more noise, but the one word had its affect. Joshua started running towards the sound, his blood cold in his veins. He could imagine what he was doing to her, how he was torturing his Lizzie. He would save her, he swore it by all the gods in heaven.

Joshua burst through the trees into a small clearing. A tall man stood before him, wearing a cloak of midnight black and golden lining. "Welcome," he taunted. "What took you so long?"

"Where is she?" Joshua hissed, not bothering with the preliminary games the other man played.

"Patience, child, patience. Have I taught you nothing?"

"Other than cruelty, sadism and torture, no, you haven't," Joshua answered, his temper getting the better of him.

"I wonder what she sees in you?" Andrew murmured.

"Hopefully nothing of you."

Andrew smirked. "I bid you farewell, little boy. Farewell for now. But I'm back now and the half grown pup will have to learn his place in the pack."

"The 'half grown pup' has gotten older and will not bow to any cur who claims to rule."

"You had better watch that tongue of yours."

"Get out!"

"Make me." Joshua stared at the man in disbelief. They were both used to being the powerful wizard and this impasse had them both at a loss. Joshua took a deep breath and did something he had sworn never to do.

"I acknowledge that which I am, that which I always was, that which I shall ever be," he whispered, the words wrenching his gut like a knife. "I am that I am and I accept the stain of blood." He stared at Andrew, whose face had gone chalk white as he realized that he had crossed the line, forced Joshua to make the only choice that would have helped him. "Out, damn spot," Joshua sneered, reveling in the moment of power. Lightning crashed, thunder boomed and then all was silent. Andrew was gone. For the first time, Joshua could see the figure behind him, the body he had been blocking.

"Lizzie," Joshua mewled, falling to his knees next to her. She lay on the ground, naked and her abdoman and thighs were covered in a lurid swirl of white and red fluids that contrasted brutally well with the bruises on her face and shoulders. Joshua wanted to gag, but his heart ached too much to even give his stomach any consideration. He waited with bated breath, watching for the rise and fall of her chest, listening for her breathing. "Thank God," he whispered as he saw the shallow movement. He took off his cloak and, as gently as he could, laid it atop her. His hands brushed her shoulder for but a moment, but it was enough to make her cry out in fear. A lump rose in Joshua's throat as he forced himself to acknowledge what Andrew had done to his precious Lizzie.

"Joshua," she gasped, her voice barely louder than an echo.

"Shush," Joshua said soothingly, lifting her carefully and wrapping the cloak around her like a blanket as he did so. "Don't worry, we're going home."

"I tried to fight him," she said, each word laboriously articulated. "I tried."

"He's gone now," Joshua reassured her, walking back to his horse. She nestled against his chest, letting his warm arms embrace her. Lizzie slipped into unconsciousness, her mind refusing to deal with the trauma of the rape she had just undergone.

Joshua reached his horse and, after a brief moment as he attempted to mount a horse without either hand free, he used magic to seat himself on the animal. Guiding it carefully, he urged the horse into a smooth canter. It was only then that the first tear leaked out from under the mask and he buried his face in the hair of the woman he was losing even as he learned to love her.

To Be Continued

2nd A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers who encouraged me to keep writing this and informed me that three months is a rather ridiculous amount of time to wait for me to write five pages. They're right and thank you for your support and nagging, both of which have affects on how fast this is done…let me clarify. I don't write for reviews, I write for myself. Lizzie and Joshua are characters in a novel I am in the middle of writing… well, mid-end, that I eventually hope to publish. This story came about from a dream I had about Beauty and the Beast and I found myself putting the characters from that novel into the tale as old as time and it snowballed. I started it as a little side thing so I haven't divided my time equally and so I need to be reminded this exists because I have no plans to abandon it. I'm just rather slow, shall I say. Anyway, thank you so much for reading this far and, as always, reviews welcome and my undying gratitude to all of you who have reviewed until now—you make my day and we authors would be nothing without you, our readers.

Damian