AN: I am sorry for keeping so many of you waiting… for years! My gosh you guys are so loyal and I love each and every single one of you! I love my beta but I've decided to forgo the beta process and just post this after a brief rewrite. I am also so sorry that I picked this back up when I did. This was written what seems like years ago and I've forgotten certain specific details of this bedroom so I'm sorry if the details don't match up between chapters. Like you guys really care about that stuff anyway? I might post a much more updated and accurate version of this chapter later. Now for the introduction of the hand maiden of the underworld…

Queen of the Underworld

Chapter Five

Sadie

It had taken far longer than she had hoped to collect herself from the merciless assault and the imposing yet proclaimed words of compassion her newly acquired husband had left her with.

The thoughts of events that had transpired over mere hours rendered her into a state of abrupt stillness even her all powerful father couldn't shake. Tears gathered in her lifeless green eyes, refusing to surrender completely no matter how much she willed it. The all-encompassing and off putting silence was loud and seemed to echo off the walls of her marble prison.

She was unaware of how much time had passed between his leaving and the moment she had finally composed herself, neither did she have the strength to care. Every bit of life her restless sleep had returned to her was carelessly given to her captor without her expressed permission.

Both in body and in soul, she felt weak even beyond her own recognition. Her once porcelain skin was now dull and grey, violent patches of black and blue brimming on the surface as a reminder of its brutal sacrifice.

Careful as to not irritate her wound further, she fanned her stiff fingertips over the most recent additions to the bruises that marred her skin and traced them over the obvious imprints of a much larger set of hands than her own. It was tender to the touch causing a small whimper of pain to escape unbidden from her lips and a sob to catch in her throat.

She was unable to tear her eyes away from the crescent shape of his nails that had lodged so possessively into her flesh. The marks and scars on her body only served as a quiet reminder of the chains she now bared in his absolute possession.

For one who had proclaimed his feelings of love and devotion so strongly to her he had an odd way of showing it.

Gently, her fingertips raked up her arms that were crossed defensively over her chest and came to rest on the tops of her shoulders. With a couple of shaky breaths she titled her head, surveying the damage to her back and gasped at the horrific sight that her eye could barely see. Her skin was raw from the abuse in the meadow, the harsh memory prompting flashes of the feeling as her back was plundered into the hard earth. Her back was braised with angry red scrapes and jagged cuts that sat at the surface which desperately needed to be cleaned.

She grimaced and moaned as she rubbed the irritated skin at the top of her back, her eyes fixed at her lap until she peered up finally taking in her surroundings.

His supposed generosity knew no bounds in the careful craftsmanship of the magnificent room he had created for them. Not only had he thought of his own needs and tastes but he had also selflessly incorporated hers. Every detail was meticulously thought out and tailored to her specific liking and ascetically pleasing to behold.

Although he had the foreseen knowledge to commission this with her in mind it did little to ease the comfort of her transition to the underworld and even less to her new husband.

Beyond the long stretch of sheer black fabric veiling the rest of the room she could make out a single arm chair, opulent in stature and decorated in the same color scheme as the rest of the room with a fine piece of unidentified fabric that looked to be made out of black silk. Narrowing her eyes in growing curiosity she shifted the sheets covering her bruised and battered form and cautiously lifted herself from the bed, hissing in pain as her muscles protested every wayward movement. Slowly and shakily she drew the curtain obstructing her view and unsteadily rose to her feet.

Her limbs felt slightly off balance in the lower realm with which she now resided and she knew it would take some time for her body to adjust to the sudden decrease in altitude. She stumbled around like an infant on the unfamiliar marble floor, unused to the weightlessness she seemed to sense the moment she stood. Swaying uneasily, she extended her hand for the nearest piece of furniture to use to steady herself and gather her bearing before attempting to take her first steps in this foreign world. Her fingers curled around one of the intricately carved black wooden bed posts at the head of the bed, holding onto it like a lifeline in order to root herself in place.

The sensation was dizzying and slightly disorienting to say the least. It was as if she were a newborn babe fresh into the world and learning to walk for the first time.

She let that thought sink in as she cautiously took a step forward, swaying slightly while her hand kept a sturdy hold on the support of the bedframe. Focusing on the task at hand, she took another testing step in the same direction with a much more successful result. Reassured with the fact she could maintain her balance as long as she remained still she allowed herself to shift her death grip from the bed post and reached lower for the side of the mattress, holding onto it as she side stepped until she successfully reached the foot of the bed.

With one hand perched against the post at the foot of the bed, she reached out desperately for the bunch of silk fabric draped across the arm of the chair which proved to be an unsuccessful first attempt at gathering the object of her immediate desire. She would have to get much closer.

With great determination, she extended her arm out as far as she could reach, unwinding her fingers from the wooden bedpost and launched herself forward, stumbling into the arm chair as her hand closed around its intended target.

She steered herself quickly, her breathing shaky and uneven as if she had just run vigorously through the garden that rested just beyond the reach of the palace that was too long gone now to even picture in her mind. A place that was nothing but a distant memory as her eyes catalogued her immediate surroundings from her new position braced backwards into the chair.

The leather of the chair was least pleasing against her skin; as cold and as unwelcoming as the rest of her new home. The chair that held her together like a lifeline was as crimson as the blood she had shed earlier that morning.

With an unsteady hand, her fingertips stretched over the length of shapeless black fabric, feeling the fabric wax and crane like waves between her fingers. The fabric moved underneath her curious hand until she met a slight bump.

Her eyes widened unexpectedly in surprise of her newest discovery, her hands immediately beginning to eagerly push away at the material to reveal the hidden object beneath it.

The abandoned black silk soared from its perch on the chair to the floor as her fingertips cautiously brushed a slender golden chain, her barely there touch ready to pull away at a moment's notice as if it would burn her if she got too close.

Her eyes panned the length of the chain, each of intricate links in the strand as small and demure as she was with the exception of the large circlet attached to the very end of it. She narrowed her gaze as she inspected the object in the dainty palm of her outstretched hand waiting for a hint of a spark of recognition as to the purpose of this item.

"It is a sash, my Queen."

The voice echoed louder in the silence of the room easily startling Emma as a shriek of surprise rang out of its unsuspecting occupant.

Emma slid on sweaty limbs against the red leather seat, trying desperately in vain to preserve her modesty.

There was not even an inkling of thought as to this newest presence was, who, or what they wanted. There was only one thing she was absolutely sure of- it wasn't him. That revelation alone provided slight but minimum relief as she searched frantically for her discarded garment which in her haste was far from reach.

"My deepest apologies Majesty."

The voice appeared even closer than before which had her body tensing at the intrusion, the rest of her remaining on high alert for any apparent danger.

Surely he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of marrying her against her will, de-flowering her in the most evasive of ways, and kidnapping her to a foreign place if it meant killing her? No, surely not. A monster he may be but he hadn't given any indication of hurting her intentionally. Of that much she was absolutely positive.

"Miss?"

The decidedly female voice approached further causing her to flinch in unbridled anticipation and confusion.

Emma inhaled nervously as a curious hand reached out toward her.

The hand, rough but innocent in nature fell gingerly to her shoulder and she yelped at the touch. The feeling of being wrapped up caringly in a large duvet was a welcomed feeling of unburdened kindness. Her body slumped forward as she began to shake with uncontrollable sobs at the show of the unnamed woman's compassion and charity.

Tears fell unceremoniously down her red cheeks, her body trembling in the backwards embrace of the woman she would forever be indebted to.

The woman shushed her in a foreign language she was unfamiliar with even by ear but the tone was comforting none the less as wrinkled boney fingers combed lovingly through the golden strands of her hair as she wept.

With her head cradled in the woman's hand, she wilted backward into the security of the woman's touch, her tears less frequent as her quiet sobs turned into hiccups and she steadily began to regulate her breathing.

Dried restless tears remained on her pink cheeks, her head bowed forward in shame as her savior rounded to her side to face her.

One pale bony finger captured her chin, the touch like a relative she hadn't seen in many years rather than a forceful gesture meant to invoke harm.

She stifled a small sniffle as she urged her eyes to meet that of the woman before her.

The woman's eyes were the first thing she noticed and was by far the most distinguishable feature on this woman's face. Her eyes were as pitch black as the starless night sky with an absence of white around the iris.

She would have been immediately taken back by the unusual affliction if not for the noticeable crinkles around her eyes- she was smiling up at her. Emma managed a small respectful smile and averted her gaze as to not anger the woman by staring too long.

This unknown woman had knowingly comforted her, cared for her, and greeted her like a long lost friend instead of a stranger which begged the question- Why?

"I don't understand." Emma stammered out almost afraid of the answer.

Cold, lifeless hands met her cheeks and she shivered on instinct as her head was met forward with a kind face.

Peeking out underneath a curtain of blonde hair she could finally make out the rest of her.

The woman was old. Ancient. Beyond the limits of age which made it difficult to determine if there even was one. Her hair was an unnatural shade of white and long past its stages of grey, the long silver ends broken and poorly manicured. Her thin untextured hair fell just below the small of her back and greatly overwhelmed her more than small stature. Age lines and noticeable wrinkles graced each and every crevice of her skin but still she remained ageless.

"Oh, Emma." She cooed, stroking her cheek with a crooked finger. "Don't you know?" She croaked meekly, her once ageless demeanor revealing a hint of a number. "We've been waiting a very long time for you." She revealed with an awestruck smile as if she could hardly believe it herself.

Emma flinched at the implication of the stranger's words, retreating from the woman's touch, startled by the meaning. "No." She choked out in retort. "No, that's impossible." She denied, violently shaking her head. "You have the wrong girl. This isn't right. I'm not-" She renounced, distancing herself from both her and her new role. "I'm not supposed to be here." She said shrilly into soft pitiful sobs.

The woman frowned in explanation, "I'm afraid the stars were clear child. Your destiny has been written from the very start."

"The stars were clear about kidnapping me then raping me?" She nearly screamed in anger, her voice incredulous and high in pitch.

The woman appeared shocked at her choice of words, "certainly not as crass as you're making it out to be but… yes."

"And you allowed this?" She shrieked, betrayal evident in her tone. "You sat idle by as that monster defiled me not once but twice?" She was absolutely consumed with rage. "You sit here and pretend to be my friend and you are just as guilty as he is!" She accused both insulted and disgusted.

"There were parts that were a bit more gruesome in nature than others but you must understand that there is a reason for it all." She bid calmly. "There are things you have yet to understand and situations that you couldn't even imagine at play here." She stated in her defense and more importantly his.

"I don't understand? I don't understand!" She aggressed. "Have you ever been taken from everything you've ever known and forced to live anew with a man who violates you and takes you repeatedly against your will?" She asked, a stone cold dead expression in her face.

There was no reply from the woman.

"That's what I thought. Do not presume to tell me what I do and do not know." She said firmly and without an inch of hesitation in her still trembling voice.

"My sincerest apologies your highness." The now remorseful woman bowed her head in shame. "I do not mean to offend. It is my job to ensure your happiness and educate you of the land you now preside over. You have been entrusted to me since well before you were born and I will not let you down." She proclaimed.

"Preside over?" She questioned with a raise of a curious eyebrow.

"Surely your majesty knows she is a much greater asset than keeping company with the King?" She pondered wondering what she had been told so far of her reason for being here. The woman sighed and the corners of her thin lips turned up into a knowing smile as she lifted herself from her place beside the chair and made her way to the opposite side of the room.

Emma turned around in her seat awkwardly as to avoid exposure, her eyes panning over to the small woman who stood at a wall of thick crimson tapestry's, her back turned to her.

"My name is Sadie your grace." She announced without preamble before drawing back the curtain exposing a set of grand windows that stood from floor to ceiling overlooking the terrace which had the perfect view of the kingdom she now ruled over.

Emma's mouth parted in equal parts shock and wonderment at the unbelievable sight.

"And welcome to the Underworld."