Chapter Ten Scars of the Past Part Two

Alannah lounged in the library, gazing dully at the black, dismal day outside. She had awakened that morning in the hope of being able to go out riding on her mare, Bronwyn, but the black skies threatened to open up at any moment. Not that she minded the rain-her riding coat kept her quite dry-but she knew that only a fool would go out when an Underland storm threatened, and Alannah was no fool-despite what some might say- so she had resigned herself to spending the day in her mother's company. She had walked downstairs, only to find the house utterly deserted. There was a folded up piece of paper on the dining table, and Alannah picked it up, sighing in annoyance at the contents.

'Alannah, I have decided that I will be spending the day with Lord and Lady Germaine at their home. I am sorry that I did not wake you, but Lady Germaine requested that you be left at home. She says that until you learn to behave the way a Lady being courted should, she feels that you do not belong in polite company. Quite frankly, I agree with her. Your behavior towards Lord Maxwell has been quite shocking, to say the least. It is my suggestion that you show a little more friendliness to him.'

Alannah snorted in disgust, and crumpled the letter, tossing it on to the floor. 'The day I show that guddlers scut any kindness is the day the Jabberwock Futterwackens.'

She went into the kitchen, and began to make herself breakfast. Her mother had fired the cook weeks before, and she had yet to remember to hire a new one. But Alannah didn't mind-the previous one had been hopeless. She had been strangely fond of pepper, and would throw great piles of it into every dish. Alannah had been sure if she had her druthers, pepper would have appeared in the drinks as well. Alannah could always tell when dinner was ready, because she would sneeze for a good ten minutes before her mother called her. It didn't help that the dinners the Cook had prepared had been vile. In Alannah's opinion, no amount of pepper could mask the taste completely.

Alannah poured herself a cup of tea, and then walked out to the dining room, munching on her breakfast-a piece of buttered toast. She sat at the table, munching away and casting a baleful look at the world outside. The sky, which had been a dark grey when she awoke, was quickly deepening to black. 'Guess I'm staying inside today.' After her breakfast, she had gone in the library and begun poring over the books.

She was bought out of her reverie by the sound of someone knocking at the door. She sighed in annoyance, and set her book aside. The knocking continued, and she walked down the hall, muttering under her breath. "Hold on, will you? I'm coming."

She opened the door, gazing in contempt at her visitor. "Lord Maxwell. What a surprise. I'm sorry, but my mother is not home, and as such I do not think it would be proper for you to be visiting at this time. So if you will please excuse me, I have some reading I was doing." She reached out, ready to slam the door in his face, when his hand shot out and stopped it in mid swing. He leered at her, and Alannah shrank back from his gaze. Maxwell took the opportunity to step into the house, and he grabbed Alannah's shoulders, squeezing until she whimpered with pain.

"I am getting tired of this, Lady Alannah. Your behavior towards me has not been very exemplary. I have spent hundreds of pounds on gifts for you, and you toss them in the fire without as much as a glance. That is rather rude of you, you know. You should not treat a suitor in such a cavalier manner."

Alannah glared at him, her eyes flashing red, and her voice harsh with hate. "I will treat ye however I bloody well please, you shukm. It is not me fault that ye canna take a hint! I never once thought of ye in any pleasin' manner. Ta tell the truth, I despise ye completely!"

Lord Maxwell gaped at her, and then slapped her as hard as he could. Alannah went spinning, and crashed to the floor. She looked up at him, rage and fear stamped on her features. "Try that again, ye bastard, an' I will make you useless ta any woman!!"

Maxwell reached down and, grabbing her shirt front, yanked her to her feet. She snarled in rage and clawed his face with her nails. He blinked against the pain, and slammed her against the wall. Alannah yelped as her head cracked against the stone and stars exploded in her vision. Maxwell leaned in, a furious expression on his face. Blood seeped from where she had clawed him. "You are going to pay for that, you little whore. I promise you."

Alannah snarled at him in response. Her eyes were completely red, and every muscle in her body was coiled, ready to spring at him. Maxwell looked at her, a curious expression on his face. He sighed in annoyance, and then backhanded her. Her eyes widened in rage, and she hissed at him. "YOU DAMNED BASTARD!! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THAT!!"

Maxwell glared balefully at her, then punched her in the stomach as hard as he could, and Alannah gasped in pain as the wind was knocked out of her. She doubled over, and Maxwell yanked her up, slamming her against the wall once more. She looked at him in fear, her eyes back to their normal color. "Lord Maxwell, please leave me alone. I am not interested in being your wife. I am sure there are many ladies who would be more than happy to take the job." Her eyes widened in fear at his response.

"I cannot leave you alone, Lady. You are very hard to get over. You see, ever since your father described you, I have had a great longing for you. I only courted you because it was the proper thing to do. But in reality, I have something a bit more…carnal in mind, and I feel that I deserve at least that much from you. Don't you agree?"

Alannah gaped at him in disgust. "I would sooner be fried by the flames of the Jabberwock than have you touch me!"

Maxwell shook his head in mock pity. "That was not the answer I was looking for, Alannah. You see, I am used to getting what I want, and right now-you are what I want. So why don't you make it easier on yourself, and not struggle? I promise if you don't struggle, you may just enjoy it. Now, be a good and proper lady, and escort your suitor to the bedroom."

Alannah glared at him. "If you touch me, I swear by Time I will kill you. I refuse to escort you anywhere!"

Lord Maxwell sighed. "I see we are not in agreement. No matter." He grabbed Alannah's arms in a vice like grip, and began to drag her off down the hall. She fought him every inch of the way, slapping and clawing at his hands. He tightened his grip on her until she was sobbing quietly with pain. He reached a door at the end of the hall, and yanked it open, revealing a bedroom. He smiled wickedly.

"What luck! I found the bedroom on the first try!"

Alannah shrieked in fear as he dragged her towards the bed.

Stayne shuddered in anger as Alannah sobbed into his shoulder. The memory of her rape was something she would never forget. She had struggled against Lord Maxwell, but it had done no good. He had left her bruised, battered and shaking with shame and humiliation. She still remembered his final words.

"You were quite satisfactory, My Lady. Thank you."

She had lain in bed for hours after, shaking with sobs. When her mother had returned home, Alannah had confronted her with what Lord Maxwell had done. Much to her horror, her mother had refused to believe a word. Indeed, she had accused Alannah of seducing Lord Maxwell! Alannah had gaped at her in horror and disbelief before running to her room, tears of rage streaming down her face.

She slowly got herself under control, and spoke in a voice hoarse with sobs. "I left home the very next morning. I knew that this place was empty, since my mother had not been here since I was born. I wanted to get as far away from my mother and from…him…as I possibly could. I thought I was completely free from him when I heard that the ship he was on had been wrecked in a storm on the Crimson Sea. I nearly futterwackened, I was so happy."

Alannah looked at Stayne, tears streaming down her face. "But he's alive, and he…he'll try to come after me, he'll…oh Time, he'll…" she choked on the last word and Stayne felt his heart twist in pain. He pulled Alannah close, stroking her back.

"I will not let him touch you again, Alannah. I swear. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. You will never be hurt like that ever again. I promise."

Alannah breathed deeply, and settled herself against his chest. "I love you, Ilosivic."

Stayne smiled. "And I you, my beauty."

Alannah smiled happily, and then shut her eyes. Stayne continued to stroke her back, and she fell into a deep sleep. He slowly moved so that he could stand, then picked her gently up and carried her to the bedroom. He turned back the covers, and gently placed her on the bed. He tucked her in, and gently stroked her face. Her hand shot out of the covers and grabbed his. He smiled softly, and climbed in next to her. Immediately, she pressed her body against his. He sighed happily, and gently kissed her shoulder.

"I will always be here, love. I swear by Time."