Chapter 28
Tainted love
2 months later
"Are you alright, mistress?"
It took a moment before I realized that Carmen had said something. I smiled at her and nodded. She was a very sweet girl. I liked her a lot. She was brushing my hair and humming some nice Spanish song. I had learned the Spanish language almost completely during the time I had spent here.
But this was still a prison for me. There was no way out. I had tried everything I could think of. I just tried my best to avoid Kol but he certainly didn't make it easy for me. I was forced to have a dinner with him every single night. He really knew how to make me uncomfortable. He was always touching me and smelling my hair. I was just some object to him. It made no difference to him that he was keeping me here against my will. As long as he got what he wanted, nothing else mattered.
I tried my best not to look miserable in front of Carmen. She was always trying to cheer me up and I didn't want her to think that I was ungrateful. She was the only person who had actually made me smile when I had been here. We both startled when Kol marched in, without knocking as always. Carmen stood up and bowed.
"Leave us", he said.
"My lord", Carmen murmured before she left. I didn't even bother to stand up. I just hoped that he would leave me alone.
"How are you this evening, my darling?" he asked.
I signed to him that I was tired and I wanted to go to bed. He grinned.
"Well, what a coincidence. I came here to tell you that for now on you will sleep in my chamber."
I stared at him and shook my head. I had been afraid of this day.
"I have been more than patient", he said annoyed. "I have given you time to adjust but now…I will claim you as mine for good."
No. I shook my head and signed to him that I didn't want that. Not that it mattered. He grabbed me and yanked me on my feet.
"Do you think that you can continue teasing me?" he asked angrily.
I was stunned. What was he talking about?
"I am not sure what it is you are doing to me but it ends right now", he said and kissed me roughly.
I tried to fight him off but apparently that only excited him. He was holding my head still and forcing his tongue in my mouth. I felt like I couldn't breathe so I hit and kicked him as hard as I could. I was crying when he finally let me go. He looked confused and frustrated.
"What are you doing to me?" he yelled. "Is this some kind of witchcraft?"
He was really scaring me so I backed away. I couldn't understand what was wrong with him. He had never acted like this before. I signed to him that he should try to calm down.
"You do not tell me what to do!" he yelled.
I continued backing away and signed to him that I was sorry. I was shaking when he moved in front of me. He raised his hand and I instinctively tried to cover my face.
"You think I would hit you?" he asked tensely.
I didn't want to make him angry again so I just bowed my head. I flinched when he touched my cheek.
"Forgive me, I do not know what happened", he murmured. "I will give you more time if that is what you need."
I nodded. He kissed my forehead and wrapped his arms around me.
"You are mine. Do you understand? Mine."
I held still. I couldn't understand any of this. Was my blood doing this to him? That was a scary thought. What if he would completely lost it? I had no idea what to do. I was too scared to resist when he wanted to sleep next to me. I felt very uncomfortable and didn't really sleep at all. Eventually I had fallen asleep and when I woke up it was bright outside already. Kol was gone. I was just trying to think what to do when I heard a knock. I felt tense when the door opened but I relaxed when I saw Carmen. She was carrying a tray.
"Good morning mistress", she said smiling. "Master would like you to eat and wear your riding dress."
He wanted to take me riding? I couldn't believe it. I could actually go outside. But he must have some other agenda. I knew I had to be very careful. Carmen plaited my hair and I wore my blue riding dress. Kol was waiting for me in a hall.
"Good morning my darling, you certainly look lovely. Are you ready for a ride?"
I looked at him cautiously and asked why he suddenly wanted to take me riding. He smiled.
"I thought it might be fun. Shall we?"
He took my hand and led me outside. A stable boy was waiting for us with two horses. Mine was a beautiful brown mare. I touched her mane before Kol helped me on a saddle. He didn't say anything when we headed to a small path. Suddenly he stopped and jumped down.
"I think there is something wrong with my horse's leg", he said.
I was still on my horse and he had kneeled to examine his horse's leg. I saw an opportunity to run and I took it. I didn't look back when my horse was trotting faster. I didn't get far when someone grabbed me and yanked me off my horse. Kol's face was only inches away from mine. He was looking at me coldly.
"Hmm, I was hoping you would not do that", he said emotionlessly. "It seems that I have been too kind to you but that will change right now. You will learn your place."
I tried my best to hide my fear. I really didn't want to know what his idea of being unkind was. He had done this on purpose. He had known I would run. Somehow I thought that he was just looking for an excuse. He had certainly found one now.
...
France 2 months later
I didn't feel anything when I saw Rebekah's house. Kol helped me out from a carriage. He looked miserable.
"Anna please…I love you."
I didn't look at him. What he did to me wasn't love. It was cruel and humiliating. Maybe someday I could forgive him but this certainly wasn't that day. I reminded him what he had promised me. That he would never tell anyone. He nodded.
"Yes, I will keep my word. And…I truly am sorry. I never meant…"
I shook my head. I really didn't want to hear that right now. I held my head high when I turned and walked away. There was nothing left to say. I didn't know how he was going to deal with his addiction and in that moment I honestly didn't care. I just wanted to go home.