“Am I really to be kept in this chamber forever? What does he mean to do to me? If you know him, then you must know his reasons,” Eden reached out from the bed as the servant tried to take his leave. “Please, I have a right to know what my father did.”
“I honestly cannot tell you. ‘Tis not my place.” He patted his balding head with his sleeve. “M’lord has a lot of demons in him. I don’t know what he’ll do with you.”
Eden saw the truth in the man’s expression, though it was of little reassurance. She nodded, unable to speak. Her nose burned with the force of her unshed tears. Looking away, she was ashamed that she had shown such weakness in front of a servant.
“I’ll try to talk to him on yer behalf, but I don’t know if it will make much difference.” Ulric left her alone in the chamber, closing the door quietly behind him.
A tear slipped down her cheek. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. This couldn’t be happening. She looked about her dingy chamber—with the dusty stone floor, the rotting tapestry, the decaying straw mattress, the neglected fur coverlet—and she wept.
Eden didn’t lament her situation for long. With tears still seeping from her eyes, she fell into a troubled sleep. When she awoke, it was late at night and someone had left a bowl of cold fish porridge on the old chair. Wrinkling her nose, she ate the meager dish without tasting the flavorless meat. It was the same porridge she’d been served for every meal.
Eden sighed audibly and forced herself to be tough as her father raised her to be. She knew the earl wouldn’t be coming to rescue her, for he didn’t know where she was and held no false hope of liberation from that front. If by some miracle her father did come, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go back with him. The nunnery was her only choice and she would have to take matters into her own hands to get there.
Feeling well enough to stand, Eden walked to the thick wooden door of her prison. She was surprised to find that the door wasn’t locked and no guard stood outside. A sense of foreboding overcame her, but she swallowed it down into the pit of her stomach.
The dark monster that dwells within these boundaries mustn’t care if I’m to escape him. That or he knows there’s no escape from these black walls.
Discovering an old torch on the floor outside her prison door, Eden quickly made her way back into her chamber and lit it in the fireplace. She took a deep breath and stepped into the hall, taking halting steps as she reached forward to feel into the darkness. The hall was much like her soiled chamber. Although the torch sputtered with a low flame, she was grateful for the light it afforded her—so little light, however, that she saw no more than a few feet in front of her.
The black stones in the walls were chipped and unfinished, and the tapestries that hung along them were rotted so badly that one couldn’t see the designs in the faded colors. Spiders had spun their webs freely over the ceiling for years and not one of the servants bothered to sweep them from their home. The blackened walls reflected nothing, only soaking the firelight into their inky depths. The floor was littered with pebbles broken from the walls. They crunched under her feet and were the only noise her ears could pick up. There was no sound of insects drifting in from the outside world and no sign of life, save her trembling movements.
Does the monster watch me even now? Does he lurk just beyond the edge of the torchlight? For he has to be a monster to keep me prisoner without my having committed offense.
From the narrow window slit in the chamber she knew that she was high above the ground. So even if she found an opening big enough to squeeze through, she couldn’t jump. She wondered if the monster only came out at night and if she would be better off trying to leave during the day. But she reasoned that in daylight the loyal servants to the beast would be awake and she couldn’t fight them all. Perhaps in the darkness the beast wouldn’t see her and she could make good her escape. Or, in the very least, she could learn her way around his castle.
Along the wall, imbedded into the stones, were little carved inlets constructed to hold torches into place, but there were no torches to light. Eden shivered as she continued past. It was as if no one lived in this part of the castle. Her feet moved by slow degrees over the hard floor. She was about to quicken her pace when she heard a deadly voice whispering over her from the darkness.
“What are you doing out of your chamber, m’lady?”
Eden gasped and dropped her light. The torch’s straw embers slashed across the floor and sputtered out until only one small flame remained at the base. Her heart raced and she backed away from the low voice. She forced her feet to move and her breath sounded odd as it came out in rough pants. The figure stood just outside the realm of faltering light. Silver flashed on a black sleeve before it too disappeared into darkness.
“Are you still…there?” Eden tried to force her body to bend, reaching to pick up the discarded torch. Her waist wouldn’t submit to the movement.
“You didn’t answer my question.” The duke’s voice grew louder and softer as if he paced the length of the corridor in an instant. It was as if he was all around her at once. His tone was behind her, in front of her, under her. She looked up as if to see him there, along the spiders’ ceiling. All that greeted her was inky blackness.
“Please, don’t hurt me. I meant no harm.” Eden held out her hand as an offering of peace. Hoping to feel him, she only touched air. She took a step back. “You have kept me in that prison for days. I wish only to walk about. Would you have me grow mad with idleness? Is there not something I can do?”
He chuckled. “You still think me a monster?”
“I don’t know.” She lowered her hand to her waist. Eden begged the darkness to part with her eyes, but it didn’t change. “Are you?”
He didn’t answer her.
Eden took another step from him, moving away from the ever-dimming light. When he talked to her, her legs weakened as if they were suspended off the dark floor into nothingness. As he said nothing, the only sound to her ears was her own panicked breaths. She touched the solid stone of the passageway wall and her fingertips tangled in a spider web. Snapping her hand to her side, she brushed it clean. Then, she again reached to the stones to guide her way.
Eden took another step back and then another. The heel of her worn shoes caught on a loosened stone. Screaming, she fell onto the hard floor.
Vladamir lunged forward, his hand outstretched as if to help her. Eden gasped, scurrying away from him. His fingers glowed pale in the torchlight, contrasting the darkness of his nobleman’s ring. The skin of his hand crinkled with the marks of a scar. His manicured fingernails were overly long, much more so than an ordinary nobleman.
His clothes were all in black, except for the glinting of silver thread along the high collar of his wool tunic. A strand of dark brown leather was wrapped about a lock of his raven black hair at his temple, winding down the whole length past his shoulder, nearly to his waist. A few of his forelocks were cut shorter, falling just below his eyebrows.
But it was neither his clothes nor his hair that frightened Eden. Nor was it the sight of his once-burnt hand. It was his eyes. They were as cryptic and luminous as the rest of him, yet they glowed with an eerie light, the like of which she’d never perceived. They were as dark as a moonless night, just as they had been in her dreams.
She forced herself to look away from the mystical orbs and instead drew her gaze along his face to the side of his neck. A fiery scar led from his lower chin to disappear into the neckline of his tunic.
That is where I touched him.
Her palm blazed at the memory and itched to do so again. She held back, refusing to fall under his devilish spell. If that memory was real, then perhaps the rest was real as well? Had he kissed her neck? Her body heated at the thought. Had he touched her breast, massaging it in his palm, sucking it between his teeth? Her nipple instantly puckered in response. Her thighs tightened and to her shame, she wanted him to touch her again.
Vladamir didn’t move from the li
ght. Forcing himself to stand still, he let her study him, waiting breathlessly for the contempt and loathing to enter her eyes. He wasn’t disappointed. She still thought him a monster and now looking at him she would have her proof of it.
As he eyed her pink, delicate lips, he thought of many sordid things he wanted her to do. His cock was full, throbbing painfully as it urged him to act the beast and take her right there on the dirty floor, to demand she take the turgid shaft between her lips and suck him until he found his release. It was a reaction he thought to have subdued after seeing her last time. Obviously it would take more than self-pleasure to work her from his system. Flexing his hand, he longed to touch her breast. He refrained, determined to act the gentleman in part—at least for the moment. Besides, last time he’d touched her he’d nearly gone mad with lust. He didn’t wish to go there again.
“You wear the marks of the fires of hell.” She crouched lower, her husky tone oddly erotic. “‘Tis true what they say.”
Vladamir had seen her walk down the hall, had seen her apprehension as she braved the darkness. She was beautiful, more so than he could’ve imagined, despite the fact her features held glimpses of her father. For a moment, her beauty took him by surprise and he was unable to move. He’d just stood and watched her, like a fool, until she’d drawn too close and he was forced to say something to stop her from stumbling into him.
She’d done much healing, though the bridge of her nose was still darkened with a black and blue mark. Brown hair fell over her shoulders, the exact color of her eyes. Her tunic gown was ragged, but it was now clean and mended. The jagged line of the seam across her bodice gave the impression that her assailant had tried to defile her.
Was he successful? Vladamir pondered in regret. His eyes dipped over her thin frame, unable to determine an answer.
He knew he frightened her for it had been his intent to do so, but the moment her eyes fell upon his scars he knew. He saw the panic in her and was sorry for it. An intense sadness haunted him, and for a brief moment he longed to be whom he once was—devilishly handsome, charming, irresistible to the fairer sex. A decade ago he would’ve lured her to his bed without thought. A decade ago, she would’ve come willingly. A decade ago, she’d have already been on her knees before him—her lips working over his shaft and her fingernails imbedded firmly into the cheeks of his ass.
“Argh!” He whipped his dark wool cloak around his shoulder to hide his face from her accusing gaze. Turning away, he planned on storming down the passageway. He wanted, needed, to get away from her damned eyes. He was already losing himself to them. With those eyes she could control him and with her lips she could command him.
“Wait! Please don’t go. Come back.”
He cursed himself as he obeyed.
Already she commands me. Her woman’s spell captures me.
“Are you still there, m’lord? I cannot see you.” Her voice was gentle, like a cooling summer breeze. “Please, come back. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to say such things. I don’t know why I have such a wicked tongue.”
Vladamir turned and slowly made his way back to her. He stopped as the light from the torch sputtered out completely. His eyes were accustomed to the night and he saw her panicked features clearly.
“I’m sorry.” Eden paused as she moved to stand. “‘Tis wrong of me to call you a monster. I have no right to say such horrible things. Please forgive my senselessness.”
Vladamir didn’t move. She took a hesitant step toward him and bit her lip as she reached her hand forward. It swung through the air in sweeping searches, missing him each time.
“Are you there?” Eden inched slowly closer. “I cannot hear you. Have you disappeared? Have I driven you away?”
“I’m here,” the duke answered, unsure as to why he did. He stayed back from her reach.
“You’re Vladamir of Kessen, Duke of Lakeshire?”
“I am,” he answered. His lips tightened as he denied himself the taste of her mouth.
“Why do you keep me here? What is your grievance with my father? For whatever has happened I’m sorry for it. I should like to help make it right.”
Vladamir stiffened as he remembered whose seed she was. Growling at the reminder, he stalked forward in the darkness to grab her about the upper arms. “You’re my prisoner. Give me your pledge that you won’t try to escape again.” He was angry but loosened his grip when she groaned in pain.
“I cannot give my word on that, m’lord. Without better reason, I cannot agree to stay here with you. Without knowing the crime I’m being punished for, I cannot say I’m guilty.”
“Give your word,” he ordered as he leaned into her. She was so close, under his complete control. His nose almost touched hers as she swayed under his brute strength.
Take her, his body urged. It is your right to do so.
“Give it,” he said instead of following his natural instinct to release his built-up desires, “or I’ll send my armies to march against your father’s home. I’ll have all who reside within Hawks’ Nest killed.”
“I give you my word of honor,” she complied. “Please don’t harm my father’s people. They are innocent. They don’t deserve your wrath.”
Vladamir was surprised at how easily she surrendered her freedom. Why didn’t she struggle more? Why did she give in?
Mayhap, ‘tis because your words aren’t worth the air used to speak them. Ladies have no honor.
“Why are you like this?” Her arms fell listlessly to her sides. “Why are you so cruel? What has happened to you to make you so—?”
“You think this cruel?” He laughed hard as he gave her another shake. “Why don’t you ask your father about cruel?”
“I would if you’d but let me go,” she snapped. Closing her eyes tightly, her head turned to the side as if bracing herself for his strike.
Vladamir’s stomach tightened at her gesture. She thought he would beat her for that? What had happened to her? And why did he suddenly care? His hands loosened until his fingers moved on her arm, almost a caress but not quite.
“Please,” she pleaded, not fighting him, “just let me go. I’m of no consequence to you. You cannot really want me here. Surely I’m more of a burden to you than anything.”
“Nay, don’t ask for your freedom again. It’s a useless plea. I won’t release you.” He watched her lips as she flicked her tongue over the edge. The scent of lilies came to him from her hair as she moved her head to the side. He wondered if Haldana had purposefully used the scent. It had been one of his favorites long ago. He breathed in the enticing perfume of her. For a moment, he was lost in her spell. “Tomorrow you’ll be given new quarters.”
“The tower? You wish to put me in a real prison? Or mayhap even the dungeon? I have sworn to you I won’t leave. At least give me a chance to prove my honor afore you doubt it. If I prove my honor false, then you shall imprison me with my blessing, for I won’t deny that then I’ll be most deserving of it.”
“Nay, m’lady, not the tower and most definitely not the dungeon,” he answered softly, the sound a vast contrast to his usual hard tone. He wanted to laugh, for he didn’t have a tower save for the chamber she was already in. “Prove your honor.”
“Then, you’re to make me your…?” Again she tried to pull from his arms. “I’m to be put in your chamber, m’lord? With you? Won’t your duchess be upset?”
“There is no Duchess of Lakeshire.” Vladamir couldn’t draw his gaze from her delightfully full lips as they quivered enchantingly under his watchful eyes. He thought of chaining her to his bed, forcing her to be his bed slave until he took his fill of her. “M’lady’s prison shall be of gilded bars. You’ll be afforded full use of the castle. You’ll be fed. The servants will treat you with the respect due your station, unless you prove you deserve otherwise.”
“Thank you.”
“But,” he warned, squeezing her shoulders once more and causing her to wince. “You won’t be permitted outside the bailey walls. I do
n’t care if the castle is burning to the ground. If you don’t have my permission, you shall stay and burn with it. If I find you trying to leave, I’ll lock you in the dungeon for all your days and I’ll besiege your father’s keep until all those who live within starve. I’ll burn his crops, slaughter his peasants and his cattle and leave them to rot where they fall. And you, m’lady, will know the full meaning of hell afore you die.”
“I understand,” she said softly. “I won’t try to escape. My only wish is that you’ll reconsider and let me go.”
“I won’t do that,” he answered, his voice harsh. His chest heaved with rapid breaths, but his growling tone turned soft. “M’lady will do well to wish for other things for I’ll never let you go.”
“Then I’ll stay here true to my word and I’ll only leave with your permission.” Eden conceded, taking a deep breath. “I will swear it on mine own blood, but only if I may have one demand. Methinks it fair.”
Anything.
Vladamir nodded his head and then realized she couldn’t see him well enough through the darkness to make the gesture out. “What?”
“Don’t harm my father’s people. They don’t deserve your wrath. I don’t know what plans you may have, but keep your quarrel with my father only. If it is he who has spurred your anger, then he shall have to face it.” She pulled away from him and he let her go. Her chin lifted proudly before him, even in her fear of him. “If you don’t harm them, I’ll stay here. But, if I find out that you hurt them in any way that wasn’t self-defense, I’ll break my vow and will do whatever is in my power to escape you. I’ll spend the rest of my days if needs be bringing you to justice and I won’t stop until ‘tis done. Do we have a deal?”
“Yea, m’lady.” He smiled at her courage. It puzzled him that she showed no concern for her father’s safety, yet cared so openly for the lives of peasants. “I won’t harm your father’s people.”
“Good.” She held out her hand, her fingers shaking, but she didn’t back down. “Hand me your dagger, m’lord, so that I may keep my word and pledge my honor with my blood. Let us seal the bargain so it shall be done.”
Maiden and the Monster Page 7
