by Ciara Lake
“Shut the hell up, you insolent woman. You think you can talk to me like this? I’ll show you.” He drew his right arm back, but this time she moved faster, ducking. He became even angrier, his face turning a brighter red. Grabbing her coat as she moved to flee him, he ripped it down her back. It slowed her, allowing him to grab her long hair. Pulling her hair, he jerked her neck back. She cried out in shock. Pain paralyzed her for a moment.
“Hugh, let me go.” She tried to stomp on his feet.
He pulled harder on her hair, throwing her to the ground. Stunned, Breanna saw stars. Breathing heavily, he lunged at her. Breanna fell hard to her knees. Her knees cracked as they hit the hard, cold ground. The next thing she saw was his fat fist coming toward her face. When it made contact, an explosion of lights flashed inside her head. Dazed, she managed to maintain consciousness, but she could not speak.
“Now you’ve ruined it, you ungrateful bitch. I may have to postpone Angus’s visit. You messed up your stinkin’ face.” Hugh grabbed her by the front of her dress, yanking her up. As she dangled from his hold, he shook her so hard her teeth rattled. “Listen here, girly.” He sneered close to her face. The sight of his teeth’s blackened decay made her ill. She moaned, nauseated from his body odor. “You mess up this deal with Angus, and I’ll make you damn sorry. Angus wants a sweet, pretty virgin. If you mess this up, I’m gonna enjoy you myself. My cock don’t care how you look.” He shook her extra hard for emphasis. “Your good for nothing Ma don’t do her job as wife. You’re gonna replace her, ya hear? I’m real sick of being neglected.” He shook her again.
Breanna was so dazed his words barely penetrated the fog in her mind.
“You hear me?” he asked again. He tossed her to the ground. Her chin hit the ground, rattling her head even more. “Now shut your stinkin’ trap. You’ve gotten too mouthy.” Hugh leaned down as far as his belly would allow. Even from more of a distance, his foul breath sickened her. “I’m gonna go to town to take care of some business. I’ll be back ’round six, have my dinner on the table or I’m gonna whip your ass again.”
Picking up some dirt, he tossed it on her. She closed her eyes to avoid it blinding her.
“Open your damn eyes when I’m talkin’ to you,” he shouted.
Breanna squinted and rolled onto her side, facing him. Pain pulsed through her.
He kicked her shin. “Now you’ll remember yer place. Keep your damn trap shut.” He turned and walked away.
Breanna lay on the cold ground for a long while, tears silently rolling down her face. A cold breeze soothed her injuries. Completely numb to the world, she moaned. She tasted the salt from her tears mixed with blood. Her face ached, her lip stung, and she could barely open her right eye. The area around her left eye throbbed. Sitting up, waves of dizziness passed over her.
Hugh was far down the road, nearly to the bridge. “I hate you,” she whispered.
After gathering enough energy, she stood, shaky. Stumbling, she struggled to maintain her balance. Fresh tears nearly blinded her. She could barely walk on the leg he’d kicked. With blurred vision, she mindlessly walked to the edge of the woods where she enjoyed a private area of the river, a secluded cove. The trees moaned in the wind as the breeze picked up.
Sitting on her choice rock, she stared into the water. It was clear, no doubt frigid, ice had formed around the shore. Carefully, she leaned forward. Dipping her hands into the water, she brought it to her face. Splashing the cold water on her face eased her pain, soothing her distress.
She cried, her tears making ripples in the water. Eventually, the water stilled, allowing her to see her reflection. Her face was swollen and discolored, and she hardly recognized herself. “I look dreadful.”
Seeing something between the smooth, brown stones, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and peered closer. Still not satisfied, she reached in to move the stones. A shiny object flew at her hand. Screaming, she yanked her hand out of the water. She shook her hand frantically, trying to dislodge the object from her finger, but it stuck firm.
Finally, she calmed down a bit, and she realized, surprisingly, that whatever it was wasn’t causing her any pain or discomfort. Her eyes focused on her finger and she saw a fabulous jeweled ring. It had miraculously leapt there, seating itself on her finger, fitting perfectly. It felt warm, almost hot.
Astonished, Breanna gaped at the ring. Holding her hand out in front of her, she continued to examine it, perplexed. The ring sparkled extraordinarily. It had to be priceless. Multi-colored gems encircled her finger. “Are these diamonds? It looks like a crown.” Breanna could only stare at the incredible ring. It sparkled brightly in the dim morning light, captivating her further. “Where did you come from?”
Her toes began to feel funny. She wiggled them in her shoes. A warm tingling which started in her toes inched up her foot to her ankle, then leg. Panicked, she tried to remove the ring, sure it was the culprit. Surely it was possessed.
“Oh my God, help me. Please don’t hurt me.” She pulled hard on the ring.
The unusual sensation continued up her body, now spreading through her womb.
The ring would not come off her finger, no matter how hard she pulled. It had a hold of her. Desperate to rid herself of the ring she whined as she worked to pull it off. “Please,” she cried.
Realizing her shin no longer pained her, she stopped struggling. As the sensation moved further up her spine, the feeling intensified, spreading out into her arms, encasing her fully. Standing completely still, she waited, no longer as fearful, more curious. The feeling was breathtaking. The skin on her hands prickled to her fingertips. Watching her hands, she observed the scrapes along with the gashes heal, closing, the redness dissipating before her eyes. Her hands even appeared cleaner.
At the same time, the warmth moved up her neck into her mouth, nose, and eyes. Her entire face radiated with relaxing heat. As if a huge hand gently held her skull, it caressed her scalp. Oddly, the very strands of her hair seemed invigorated with sensation, it moved down the full length of each strand. Amazed by what was happening she held her left hand out to examine the ring. When the tingle reached the ends of her hair, a giant burst of energy rushed into her as if a mini explosion occurred. However, it was a pleasurable experience, and a rush of power followed.
After the unusual experience concluded, Breanna felt as if she breathed for the first time. Deeply inhaling, her lungs rejoiced in the flow of crisp air. Never before had she felt as healthy, bright of spirit, and tranquil. Those positive elements swamped her very being.
As if in a trance, she sat back down on her large rock, reexamining the ring. She turned the ring on her finger, wondering where it had come from. The ring freely turned, but it would not come off. An invisible force kept it firmly on her finger.
“All right, I’m going to leave you alone,” she whispered to the ring. “I’ll stop trying to take you off.” She inhaled sharply when the ring seemed to respond by flashing dramatically in the sun. “Are you going to hurt me?” The ring flashed again, followed by a pulse of exquisite pleasure right to her core.
Breanna jumped up, running to the house. Excitement and confusion swirled in her head. Throwing open the front door, she rushed toward her mother’s room.
“Mother, Mother,” she called out. When she reached her mother’s bedside, her mother slept peacefully, not rousing at all. “Mother, I have something to tell you.” But no matter how she prodded, she couldn’t rouse the older woman. For the first time in a long while, a pleasant expression graced her mother’s face. She looked serene.
Breanna sat down on the edge of the bed, deflated. She stared at her hand. How was she going to hide this ring from Hugh? It wouldn’t come off her finger, and she didn’t have any gloves to put on to hide it. When Hugh saw it he’d want to take it from her.
Looking around the small room, she bit her nails. She accidently bit it to the quick. “Ouch!” She shook her hand, the nail bleed. Again, her hand began to tingle. A
mazed, she watched her nail as well as the torn skin heal. “My goodness, this is truly magical.” She looked at her mother. “Maybe it could heal you. But I can’t get it off my hand.”
Breanna decided to look for her mother’s mirror to see her face. It felt completely healed too. Digging her mother’s precious possession, a silver mirror, out of a drawer, she held it up to her face.
Inhaling sharply, she nearly dropped the mirror. “What’s happened to me?” With amazing quick reflexes, she caught it before it hit the floor. Stunned, she paced in a frantic circle in front of the bed, trying to figure out what had transpired. Looking once more at her sleeping mother, she sighed. There were no easy answers. Obviously, there was some sort of sorcery involved, but she didn’t know what.
She left to do her chores. Walking out into the main room, she grabbed the broom to begin sweeping. She swept the house fast, full of energy. She straightened up the entire house, but left Hugh’s bed untouched. It disgusted her. It stunk of him, making her remember what he’d done to her that morning. Breanna stood at the end of his unmade bed seething with fury. To her absolute surprise, the sheets began to smolder. Actual smoke began to rise. Fear raced through her. Running to the buckets of water, she grabbed one. When she got back to his bed, there was no sign of smoke or fire. Reluctant to touch it, she watched it for several moments to make sure the danger had vanished.
Bewildered, she carried the water back into the buttery. Sitting down at the dining table, she put her head in her hands. “What’s going on?”
She looked up at the ceiling. Realizing the late hour, she jumped up to get supper prepared for Hugh’s return. She toiled as she cleaned the big black cook pots hanging over the fire. Emptying the dirty water, she collected clean water from the well. After everything had been cleaned, she took her mother a plate of food.
When she entered her mother’s room, she was up sitting in her rocking chair. “Mother, you’re awake?”
Still in her nightgown, Fiona rocked in her chair. When Breanna approached her, Fiona’s eyes widened. “Child, what’s happened to you?”
“I had an accident.” Breanna looked down at her dress. She smoothed it. “Don’t worry, it’s just my work dress.” Breanna handed her a plate of bread with cheese. She sat the glass of ale on the table next to her.
“No, Breanna, you’ve changed. You look different.” Fiona leaned closer to look up at her. She reached for her hand. “You’re absolutely amazing.” Her mother’s hand felt ice cold.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “You’ve not spoken this much in months. You’re feeling much better?”
“Really, you’ve changed.”
“You think I’ve changed so much?” Breanna looked over at the mirror which was still sitting on the dresser. Heat crept up her neck and into her face as she remembered what the mirror had shown her. “Mother, you’re talking a lot today. This is wonderful.” Breanna smiled. Yes, I’ve changed. The ring has changed me. She glanced down at her finger.
“You’ve always been a lovely girl, but now you’re perfect, truly perfect. Your face has no blemish, not a one. Your complexion’s flawless, rosy like I’ve never seen. Your hair’s longer, fuller. It shines like black satin.” Her mother inspected her. “Has King Hema visited?” Fiona’s expression perked up, and she almost seemed her old self. “Has he come back for us? Are we forgiven, no longer forsaken?” Her mother’s voice was full of hope.
“King Hema’s not real.” Breanna patted her arm gently. “He’s only in your dreams.”
“No.” Fiona shook her head. “He’s real, but we’re forgotten.” Her mother looked so sad. “I’d hoped he’d returned.” She frowned, looking down at her food.
“I’ve not changed. I just feel good today, is all. I slept well last night,” she lied. She handed her mother a cloth to use to wipe her hands. Fiona resumed her silence, oddly watching Breanna as she fixed her bedding. “If I have changed, Hema has nothing to do with it.”
“You would tell me if Hema came here for me?” Her mother grabbed her sleeve. “You wouldn’t leave me to go with him?”
“No, Mother, I would never leave you. And I would tell you if Hema visited.” Breanna regretted telling her Hema was a figment of her mind. If speaking of him was enough to stir her mother from her slumber, all the better. “I’m going to go cook Hugh’s supper.” She kissed her mother’s cheek. “If you need anything else just call me.”
When she got back to the buttery, Breanna prepared dough for the bread. She sat it out on the table covered by a towel giving it time to rise. By the time she put the loaves in the oven, it was late afternoon, and she needed to start the stew.
A flourish of nerves ate at her stomach at the thought of Hugh’s return. The possibility of Angus arriving with him increased her anxiety. She leaned against the dry sink and looked at the ring on her finger. It was as beautiful as she remembered. She still couldn’t believe she’d found such a treasure.
“This ring’s out of a fairy tale.” Closing her eyes, calm settled over her and the nerves evaporated. When she opened her eyes, the ring glinted mysteriously as if communicating with her. “I’m going mad, like Mother. I don’t live in a fairy tale. This is real life. My life is sad,” she mumbled.
Two hours later, two newly baked loaves of bread were on the table and the stew looked nearly done. The delicious smell of the food filled the house, pushing aside Hugh’s stench. It was growing dim outside. The sun going down cast an amber glow inside the house. Breanna lit the candles on the table, then moved to light the candles next to the door. The house felt cozy, reminding her of the days before her father died. She missed how things used to be.
The house cat scratched at the front door, and Breanna opened it to let him inside. “Hello, Tabby,” she cooed. “Come inside, keep me company.” Tabby walked in. Pausing, he looked up at her, his green eyes examining her oddly. “What’s wrong, Tabby? Do you think I look different too?” Breanna patted his soft head. He moved under her hand, allowing her to rub his entire back. Purring, he strolled around the edges of the room until he found his favorite spot near the fireplace. Sitting down, he began to lick his coat.
Seeing him clean his fur made Breanna think of her own appearance. Looking down at her dress, she noticed it was a mess. With all that had happened, especially at the river, she’d forgotten about changing. Her dress was still bloodstained and dirty from her fall. It had been torn from Hugh’s harsh treatment.
Feeling defiant, she decided not to change her dress. “It’ll serve Hugh right if he brings Angus home, but I pray he doesn’t. I don’t want to be bothered with another brute.” She smoothed her dress with her hands. “I’m certainly not dressing up for Angus.”
As if speaking of the devil, the door slammed open and in walked Hugh, followed by Angus.
“Girl, I’m home.” His loud voice echoed in the house. “I decided to bring Angus Smith. I promised him supper. Get us some food, we’re hungry.”
Breanna turned away from them to fetch some plates.
“The place looks nice. Supper smells good.” Angus grinned.
Hugh sat down at one end of the table. Angus sat at the other. Breanna sat two full plates of stew in front of them along with utensils. Quickly, she rushed to get their ale. When she brought the glasses to the table, Hugh grabbed her left hand.
“What’s this?” He held her hand up in front of his face. “What’s this, girl?” he demanded, shaking her hand.
“What?” She tried to pull her hand back, but he held tight.
“This ring.” He looked up at her. “Where did you get it?” Surprisingly, he let her hand go. “Why didn’t you put a nice dress on? I told you to.” He really looked at her for the first time since he’d entered the house. “What’s happened to you? You look different.” Confusion was evident in his expression.
“She’s a pretty lass, for sure.” Angus grinned. His front teeth were missing. “I didn’t realize what a beauty she’d become. You’ve kept her hidden w
ell.” He winked at her. “I’m happy to wed you, lass.”
“Why didn’t you put a nice dress on?” Hugh’s tone sounded more polite than normal. “You gonna answer me, girl?” His face reddened a bit, showing that his temper still lurked there. “And where’d you get the ring?”
“I got too busy. I didn’t have time to change.” She started to move away, but he put his hand out to stop her.
“What about the ring?”
“I found the ring.”
“Found it?” He glared at her then he laughed. He threw his head back, laughing harder. “Take it off, it belongs to me.” Hugh grabbed her sleeve. “You took it out of my drawer. Found it, my arse.”
“No, it’s mine.”
Angus’s eyes widened when he saw the ring. “That’s some ring. I’ve not seen the likes of it before. It’s worth a lot for sure.” Angus leaned closer as he watched their interaction.
“You stole it from me. Take the ring off now, and I’ll forgive you.” Hugh held his hand open. “I should beat you for stealing. But I’ll not lay a hand on you. Just hand it over, and all will be forgotten.”
“It’s my ring, not yours,” Breanna insisted.
Hugh jumped out of his chair. “How dare you argue with me.” The chair fell over behind him. “Take the damn ring off. It belonged to my mother, you little thief. You took it out of my drawer.” His meaty hands fisted. She could see he itched to hit her again. This morning a monster had been released. She’d not seen the last of it, she was sure.
“You lie, I’m not a thief.” She shook her head. “This isn’t your mother’s ring. Did you even have a mother?” Again, she regretted her wayward tongue.
Hugh grabbed the knife he’d used to cut his bread. “Take the damn ring off or I’ll cut it off.”
Panicked, backing up, she tried to take it off. “It won’t come off. It’s stuck.” She pulled at it. “See, I can’t get it off.”
