On the well adorned bed, Elaine sat silently, a tense ball of frayed nerves, her hands wringing in her lap. She could not bring herself to do much but sit in worry, alternating with pacing the floors in anguish and anger.
Elaine had taken a brief bath and dressed in the clothing she had found just where Sedrick had told her it would be. For a second, she thought it peculiar that the clothing fit her so well. Then she shuddered and nearly fainted as she looked at all of the expensive toiletries set neatly upon a shelf, realizing that Montague probably had it all prepared just for her. He had planned this.
She had played a little with the food that Sedrick had brought her after her bath, but was unable to really eat much. He had been in and out frequently; a quiet, yet comforting presence for her over the last few hours. She felt wary but safer with him around. Sedrick had just left abruptly, his expression hardening upon hearing some commotion occurring in the hallway on the other side of the wall opposite the door. When he exited, her heart sank.
Montague had returned, she was certain. She saw it in Sedrick's eyes.
Within her chest, a sinking feeling took up permanent residence.
What was Montague thinking? That he could just take me and I would stay with him? I wonder if I caused this, by pushing him away and telling him my mind during the costume ball. Could I have prevented this? But how? By yielding to his wishes? No, never! How could I even be so stupid to think such a thing? He is a madman; I had nothing to do with this. But, what in heavens name do I do now? What does he want from me?
She knew the answer, her body threatening to convulse with revulsion.
I know what he wants from me. He can go straight to hell. He will have to kill me.
Elaine burst into tears and fell on the bed.
Oh Erik! I would give the world to be back in the comfort, the safety of your embrace. I know if you were here I would have nothing to fear. I know you must be looking for me. If only I could tell you where I am…
"Oh, Elaine…" said a loud, menacing voice from the other side of the door. Elaine's body quaked uncontrollably. "You can come out of your room now."
I know where I am. In hell itself.
"Damn you, Montague," Elaine muttered to herself. She did not make an attempt to comply with his wishes.
"Do not make me come in there and get you, my sweet. You are in your domain, and I bid you please, enjoy your privacy there. But you will come out when I beckon." His terrible voice, so clear for one so wretched, echoed in her head long after he ceased to speak. There was the particular tone of command. Still she could not bring herself to move. She heard footsteps approach the door. A painfully long minute passed.
"Now, Elaine!" The voice boomed. The footsteps swiftly walked away from her door.
She shook, remembering Sedrick's warning. Elaine stood up and made her way to the door, turning the handle. Before, when she had tried it, the door would not yield to her, no matter how hard she pushed. She walked slowly through short, darkened hallway. At the other end was another door, just like the door to her prison, but this one was open. A yellow light spilled from the room ahead of her. She walked slowly, dread and anger building within her. Pushing the door open slowly, she entered the monster's keep.
Montague's bedroom was large with a vaulted ceiling that showed the stars through skylights. The room was neat and well lit, but felt quite cold. The massive, ornate furniture got lost in the expanse of the room. There was a enormous wooden bed against the far wall, with four sturdy posts arising from it. The presence of chains hanging from each post made her shudder. On one wall, swords and other weapons were mounted, a black cabinet below it with what appeared to be a bizarre birdcage sitting on it. On the other wall, paintings of well dressed men hung. Opposite the hearth was a wall with tall windows, and doors that led out to a stone terrace. A sitting area with comfortable chairs and a thick rug surrounded a large hearth.
Elaine walked in, her head held high, her eyes piercing and intent upon the inhabitants within. Next to another door, which undoubtedly led out, stood two mountains that seemed to be human beings, of the ugliest, most sinister kind. They stood still, silent and foreboding.
Montague, in contradistinction, was leaning on the mantle over a crackling fire. His tall, well-built physique was covered with a dark shirt and pants, his shirt was opened rather low, showing the muscles of his chest. Large leather riding boots adorned his feet; a blue and black cape was draped over his muscular shoulders. He turned to her and gasped when she entered, as if he had never seen her before. His ebony hair, usually pulled back neatly in place, was slightly tousled, making him appear a touch boyish. His face was pale, his blue eyes wide and bloodshot, indicative of the madness surging within. He then looked at her with drawn, tired eyes, taking her in from head to toe, with a peculiar expression, one she could only decipher as satisfaction from his normally scowling face.
"Welcome, my darling Elaine," he said, turning to her, giving her a small bow, his hands dropping to his side.
"Welcome?" Elaine said, incredulous. "Montague, what do you think you are doing?"
Montague's face returned to a rather pained scowl.
"You left me no choice, Elaine," he said, clasping his hands and approaching her. She backed up instinctively. He stopped. "If you do as you are told, you have nothing to fear, little one."
"I am here against my will. Please, release me. Let me go back home now, before it is too late," she said, attempting to reason with the man. He shook his head sadly.
"Oh my dear, it is already too late. I am afraid there is no turning back now," he said.
"You had me kidnapped and brought here. Why do you do this terrible thing to me, yet you call me darling and dear?" She said, feeling strength growing within her.
"I have not done anything to you…yet," he said, his devilish eyes flashing before her. He walked over to the black cabinet and opened it. It was filled with crystal glasses and bottles of liqueurs. Montague slowly poured two glasses of brandy, offering her one. Elaine shook her head, looking away from him in anger.
"Pity. This is a particularly good brandy, dear." She looked back at him. He emptied both glasses swiftly, his jaw tensing only slightly as the liquor burned within him. He threw both glasses into the fire, the flash and the crash making Elaine jump. She regained control of herself quickly. She knew she would have to use all her abilities of self control not to break down with this inquisition. This situation had to be handled quite delicately. He began to walk around her, the glint in his eye making her tremble.
"I have offered myself to you for years, Elaine. I worshiped you from afar, yet you paid me no mind. No gentle touch, not even a sweet word of appreciation came from your lips as a response to my affections," he said, his tone bitter as he walked behind her. Elaine dropped her chin down. "You did not even give me a chance to show you..."
"I know you cared for me, but I could not return what I did not feel, Montague." She said softly. "You would not take polite refusal. So I had to be more abrupt." She felt him approach her from behind and pause. Her body tensed and she held her breath. He circled around her.
"Do you know what it was like, Elaine, to hear of your…escapades with my horrid sister? What it was like to know you gave yourself freely to men less deserving than I?" Elaine looked up at his angry expression with some venom in her own eyes.
"That was long ago, Montague, and those forays are at an end. I could not control what your ears heard. It does not change the fact I still do not feel for you now." His gaze became dark as she glared at him. He approached her.
"My adoration turned to lust, to need. I need to have you, to experience that which you denied me. But I will not take you. That I can do with any woman. I want you to give yourself to me," he said, his voice becoming a low growl near her ear. She tried to back away, but he gripped her shoulders firmly. He body turned to ice and she struggled to not push him away, knowing that would just inflame him. She breathed in the scent of spice and liquor.
"I will not give myself to you…I ask you again, Montague. Please, let me go now, you have scared me enough." She pleaded, tears coming to her eyes. She struggled to look him in the eye. He released her shoulders, and stroked her hair gently.
"I am very well versed in how to please women, my sweet Elaine. I can be very gentle, dear. Or rough, if that is what you prefer. If you let me, I can give you pleasure like no other man ever has," he said, as his fingers stroked her chin. She gasped and pulled away.
"No! Never!" She said, backing away, against the wall. He looked mischievously disappointed.
"Hmm. Just as I anticipated. Luckily, I like to plan ahead." He poured a rather large amount of the brandy into his mouth. "I have secured your son…"
"What have you done with Roland?" she said, her heart breaking with dread, her anger growing within her.
"He is well fed and warm, my dear. He just misses his mother." He looked sideways at her. "I see this information shocks you less than I anticipated. Perhaps Sedrick has told you of his personal arrangement?"
"Yes, he told me that you are holding his wife and child captive for his obedience! How could you do such a thing to us?" She said, walking up to Montague, fire in her eyes. He smirked at her, seemingly aroused by her anger.
"Yes, well, the same applies to you. If you tell anyone anything, if you try to escape and get help, I will kill him. If anything happens to me to stop me from being able to periodically contact my associates who are taking care of your lovely boy, they will kill him." Elaine stared at Montague, wide eyed and disbelieving. "If you refuse me my requests, I can arrange to have him brought to you. Piece by piece." Elaine gasped and nearly fainted.
"You are completely insane! I don't believe you would do such a thing!" She managed to say.
"Oh, Elaine, you doubt me. You know I can do it. And I will, if you do not keep your end of the bargain."
"This is no bargain! This is a morbid, evil threat!" She cried. "If I do not let you fuck me, you will hurt my son. God damn you!" She was shaking with anger by this point.
"Such vile words from such a beauty," he said, a wicked smile on his face. "I want you to consider it a means to an end." He walked over and flopped himself down on one of the chairs before the fire. She stood there in silence, staring at him while he looked into the fire and back at her. The clock ticked and she felt her heart beat heavily in her chest as the seconds grew into minutes.
She successfully calmed herself, a coldness coming over her. He left her no choice. She could not kill him. She could not refuse him. She had to be his slave, for the life of her son. The devil's mistress. He must have sensed her realization, for he stood up and walked over to her slowly, an evil grin on his face, a swagger in his step.
"I believe the time for words is at an end, Elaine. I hope you have come to grips with your position. I have waited long enough. Let us expend some of that pent up energy, shall we?" He took her in his arms and planted his lips upon hers before she could do anything. She fought the urge to vomit in his mouth. He kissed her hard, but she would not return it. His arms were about her, and in seconds, his hands seemed everywhere, roaming her body. His mouth had moved to her neck.
It took all her willpower resist the urge to struggle; walking a fine line between stopping herself from pushing him away, and not letting herself tear at him with her nails. He stopped for a moment, and looked into her eyes. She glared at him.
"Come now, Elaine. You will enjoy this if you let yourself." He pressed his mouth against hers again and squeezed her jaw, making her open her mouth. He shoved his tongue deep into her mouth as his hand pressed her to him. She could feel how aroused her struggling was making him. An alarm went off in her head, and a panic gripped her.
She began to fight, trying to push him away, instinctively. She started to kick, scraped his cheek and bit down on the tongue in her mouth. Montague yelled out in pain and gripped her shoulders roughly, pulling her an arms length away.
"You bitch!" He yelled. A second later she felt a sharp pain on her cheek as his fist connected with her face. The force of it sent her back and she hit the wall, falling to the floor. Shocked and in pain, she started to cry loudly, holding her face, which was stinging with the punch she had received. The taste of blood crawled onto her tongue. She looked back at Montague, terrified.
"Damn you! Look what you made me do, woman!" Montague yelled. He was wild eyed and fuming, pacing back and forth like a panther, panting in rage. She stared at him, the pain in her face throbbing. He crossed his arms and glared at her.
"So be it, Elaine. You have seen the accommodations I wish you to have. My hospitality is at an end for now." He crouched down next to her. Elaine cowered away from him.
"I hate you!" She screamed. He turned to the two crude men at the door and spoke to them tersely in a language she could not understand. They grunted and nodded at him. They grabbed her roughly and for a moment she struggled, but the vice grip around her waist threatened to suffocate her.
"A little time in less comfortable surroundings may convince you that your actions were unwise. You have until the sun sets again to reconsider your decision. After that, you pick what part of your son you would like to see if you choose to refuse me again!" Montague growled at her with clenched teeth.
She was dragged unmercifully as she sobbed loudly; they took her through dark halls and down narrow stairs. She started to scream when she saw where she was going. They held her kicking arms and legs as they unlocked the gate to a cell in the dungeon. They threw her in, against a cold, wet floor. The place was dirty and smelled of decay and putrescence. The door to the cell slammed shut with a resounding clank that echoed in her bones.
"No! Please! Stop!" She screamed, running to the door, holding on to the bars as the two brutes walked away. She shook the door desperately. Now completely alone, Elaine dropped down and wept bitterly.
Within a dark hallway of Castle Bourschied, a tall, dark, figure released the limp body of a dead mercenary, his head hanging on by just the soft tissues of the neck, the spine broken. The body fell alongside four others similarly mangled.
The dark figure pulled the Punjab lasso off of its latest victim, and lit the torch he had extinguished to ambush the now-deceased brutes on the floor. As the figure rose upright, the hood fell back. A stone-faced Erik wrapped up his slender rope in the low light of the freshly lit torch.
Erik looked up in horror as he heard the screams of a woman echoing through the dark halls, getting softer, leading away from him. He shook with rage.
"Elaine…" he said, in a tortured whisper.