Kahlan's magic roared through the room until she dropped her hand, only to hear Rahl laughing at her. Her eyes grew wide as she backed herself against the wall once again, feeling like a scared little girl.
"That was quite impressive, Mother Confessor." He taunted, stepping forward. "However, Giller provided me with an elixir that makes me immune to a Confessor's touch." Rahl lifted his fingers to her chin, forcing Kahlan to look at him. "You know what that means, don't you?" He inched closer, his lips almost brushing against hers as she clenched her eyes shut, trying to mentally prepare herself for being raped in front of her beloved.
Instead, she felt the his fist. Kahlan winced as she fell to the ground, her hands gingerly touching her face. She was reasonably sure that he had broken her cheekbone. She moaned as she curled into a ball. Darken laughed and turned towards Denna and Richard.
Richard didn't think he could become angrier than he was at that very moment. Denna sensed this and glared at him.
"Lord Rahl, if you don't mind, I think Richard may need a little more training." Rahl nodded and Richard was dragged away by the angry Mord'Sith. Richard felt every nerve in his body on edge, all he wanted to do was go back and save her. Denna's hold was too tight, and the pain searing through is body prevented him from acting on his impulse.
Kahlan slowly lost consciousness on the cold stone floor, hearing Richard and Denna leave and the door close behind Darken.
xx
Her eyes fluttered open and she grimaced when she saw Darken sitting on a stool that must have been brought in after she drifted off. Kahlan held a hand to her head as she sat upright, her body fighting her every move.
"Mother Confessor, you're awake!" Darken said with mock surprise. Kahlan glared at him and smirked. "This is all very .. dramatic, don't you think?" He continued, waving his hands in the air as she looked at him with furrowed brows. "There's no hero to save you, he's in the hands of a very malicious Mord'Sith. To think that the man you love now belongs to another." Kahlan felt the stab at her heart and she took a deep breath before letting her hand drop from her head.
"What do you want with me, Rahl? Other than to have your sick amusement with?" Kahlan spat, her head throbbing. Maybe she could taunt him into killing her. The thought quickly escaped her mind, Rahl was no fool. He'd know what she was doing. He smiled down at her and she felt as though she would vomit.
"Sick amusement, dear Kahlan?" Her head jerked up as she narrowed her eyes at him. His smile broadened. "Don't you wish to feel the touch of a man who isn't binded to you by your magic?" Kahlan clenched her jaw. She did wish to feel that very thing, just not from him. Only from one man. The man being tortured because he could not cut her hand. "You'll never feel that from Richard, not now, anyways." Kahlan wanted to curl up into a ball and sob. Rahl was going to take what wasn't his, like he always did.
xx
Richard fought to stay awake as he hung from the chains, his body battered and broken once again. Denna didn't leave him time to rest and gather his strength, constantly berating him and calling him a failure. He slowly started to feel himself become broken again, but it wouldn't matter. As soon as he would see Kahlan, he would fall back into defending her. It didn't matter what Denna and Lord Rahl did - Richard was Kahlan's.
He wondered if she was okay, or if that monster was moving over her. The thought of Rahl taking Kahlan made his blood boil. He cursed himself for never thinking of using an elixir before. The solution seemed so simple, even though it wasn't. Getting his hands on Giller would have been nearly impossible. Denna backhanded him.
"Stop thinking of her, Seeker. All she brings you is pain and torment." She moved closer to him, her breath on his face. "I can bring you release." Richard nodded slowly as Denna smiled. She dragged her agiel across his chest as he yelled.
xx
"You aren't half the man Richard is," Kahlan glared up at him. Darken laughed and she felt as if her blood was curdling underneath her skin.
"Oh, but I am more of a man, Mother Confessor. I found a way to be with you, he did not. That alone should earn your affections."
Kahlan scoffed. "What do you want with me, Rahl?" Regardless of how many times she asked that question, he did not answer her. She was growing tired of the game, only a breath away from informing him to just kill her.
"You are the most powerful Confessor alive, Kahlan," he drew out. Kahlan flinched. She didn't like him using her name. The sound of it on his lips made it seem sinister and wrong. She would never view her name the same way again. "I want to harness your power."
Kahlan laughed, and she couldn't stop. Rahl glared at her, his face flushing with anger. Kahlan held her stomach as she tried to control her actions. "That is impossible, Rahl." She managed to choke out between her laughter. Rahl smiled and Kahlan felt as though she made a grave mistake.
"Oh, but it's not. Giller is working with quite a few victims, trying to perfect a Confessor's power. However, with a live Confessor, the most powerful Confessor of them all, he could simply take your power."
"And why would you want a Confessor's power? To make women love you?" Kahlan hissed, her mind racing and reeling.
"No, no," Darken smiled, leaning forward and resting his forearms on his knees. "Well, in a sense, perhaps. I want your power so that I can simply confess my enemies. The first will be your darling Seeker."
Kahlan's heart pounded in her chest. "That is ridiculously unneeded. He is already broken."
"Wrong again, Kahlan. He couldn't even cut your hand. That is child's play. When confessed, he'll be able to bleed you dry." Darken sat straight, a smirk playing on his lips. "Perhaps I'll let him have his way with you after I take you. It is one of his darkest desires, bedding the Mother Confessor. Then I'll have him kill you. Tragically romantic, yes?"
Kahlan choked back a sob. The thought of Richard raping her was almost too much for her to bear. She wouldn't be able to stop him. She knew of how the confessed acted - with blind devotion. Kahlan shook her head.
"Did that finally break through, Mother Confessor? Are you ready to comply?" Kahlan looked up at him through blurry vision.
"What do I possibly need to comply with? You'll take whatever you want, regardless if I consent." Darken smirked and nodded, seeming to take her words into consideration. There was nothing to consider, she was right. He took what he wanted with no remorse, Kahlan was just an object to obtain.
"Perhaps, but I believe it would be more pleasurable if you were willing."
"Willing for what? The experimentation or the rape?"
"Both." His lips curled into a devious smile, her eyes closing as she wished she was dead.
"No." Darken's eyes grew dark as he stood, kicking his chair from underneath him as he stormed towards her. He leaned down, his face inches from hers as he yelled.
"You will do as I say, Mother Confessor! I own you!" He struck her, the blow causing Kahlan to momentarily lose her vision. She blinked. This was what she wanted - for him to become so enveloped in his rage that he paid no mind to anything unless it aided in causing her harm.
Kahlan's hand gripped her dagger firmly, pulling it out of her boot as Rahl hit her once again.