Inayah had no inkling as to how long she had been walking. Her whole body felt sore and fatigued yet she held her tongue as remained silent.
She had silently cried throughout the first hours of travelling, slight sniffles disrupted with hiccups as she raised her bound wrists to her eyes and wiped at the tears.
She knew better than to cry. Crying was a sign of weakness and weakness allowed them an upper-hand over her.
She had to steel herself and yet she could not. She tried but failed thoroughly until finally succumbing to the tears. Inayah cried silently while staring at her bare feet as they walked over the path. She knew the two men could hear her but both chose to ignore and she was glad they did.
Although now that she thought about their ignorance, Inayah felt vague annoyance than anger through the tears. Her brown eyes rose to the broad back that sat astride a large horse, and she glared at him pensively.
He disrupts their annual ritual and claims her as his own. The confidence was revolting and her anger spiked at the audacious behaviour. He took her from normalcy.
Oscar.
Inayah’s eyes begin to burn all over again at the thought of her long time lover who was meant to be her husband. Had it not been for the stranger she would be in his arms by now, in their new home, planning for their new future. A future together.
Oscar. The boy who charmed his way into her heart and stole her of precious breath. Now gone. Eighteen years of saving her chastity for him now worthless.
She was meant to be a wife and now she would be nothing more but a slave to the stranger. Inayah wiped at her tears angrily then huffed out a breath, blowing a stray strand of curl that fell over her forehead.
Her feet ached from walking. To avoid stones and sharp twigs, she moved towards the path’s edge and walked on the grass which was softer and more conducive.
Peering up from beneath wet lashes, Inayah gazed at the man.
He sat tall and rigid. His shoulder-length midnight hair had been tied up and away into a ponytail. He was handsome, unnervingly so.
Hardly had she ever seen such a man for most that lived within their village was of normal looking. Nothing outstanding, nothing to have a woman chance a second glance. However, this man was different. He was beautiful with bronze flawless skin, an exotic breed far from European.
Inayah blinked then, not realizing that she had been blatantly gawking at him, and in turn, his sapphire eyes slanted in her direction. She ducked her head and stared at the ground hard.
After an hour, she broke the silence. “My feet,” Inayah began timidly, “may we break?”
She didn’t know what to expect. A part of her knew he would refuse and yet another hoped he would agree. When he did not stop, his heart began to slow only to stutter as his horse halted.
His dark voice startled her out of the brief reverie as he unmounted from the horse. His boots landed with a heavy thud and he straightened, heading in her direction.
Reflexively, Inayah flinched back as the man towered over her. She did not know what he would do, perhaps strike her for requesting a break? Inayah braced herself for the blow but none came.
His hand, large and warm, curled around her wrist as he worked the knots open. They fell from her wrists and she rubbed them timidly, still staring at his boots and not face.
“Five minutes.” The deep voice startled her. Inayah nodded quickly then dashed towards the tree line, the need to empty her bladder almost painful.
She moves behind a tree then begins to undo her pants only to still.
What was she doing?
Quietly, she turns and peers from around the tree at the stranger. He had moved towards the opposite treeline and was staring out into nowhere. His servant had long Wynter rode ahead, leaving them behind.
Inayah inhaled a shuddering breath and glanced back at the forest before her. If she ran now she could create a great enough distance to safety, plus she was a fast runner that much was true.
It was a risk, she knew, to escape. But what other choice did she have?
Silently manoeuvring around the bushes and trees, Inayah ducked beneath the trees and shot into the forest like a bullet. Her body moved in a blur of short silent breaths and light feet that barely grazed the earth.
Cold air whistled in her ears and hair, whipping them all over her face. She ran without pause nor dared to risk a glance over her shoulder out of fear. Her heart was going crazy, leaping all around and rattling her lungs along with.
After twenty or so minutes, she dared a glance over her shoulder, feet faltering at the sight of no one. He had not come after her, and if he dared then he may have lost her.
Her stomach was awash with relief and nerves. Slowing to a jog, Inayah quietly continued up until the sound of water trickling echoed in the near distance.
At the sight of a river, her mouth went dry. The rush of adrenaline subsided, leaving her in need of hydration and her feet felt horribly sore, sharp rocks and twigs having torn through flesh underfoot leaving traces of blood and dirt.
She needed to wash off the blood to prevent him from tracking her.
Collapsing by the riverbank, Inayah dipped her feet into the cold water and shuddered in turn. It felt soothing, calming her ache. Gently washing away the dirt and blood she ripped the hem of her dress and wrapped it around her soles then crawled onto her knees and cupped a handful of water before drinking.
Once quenched, she splashed her face and rose to her feet.
Suddenly, a hand braced on her lower back and shoved her into the river. Inayah fell with a yelp, plummeting into the water as it rolled over her.
She resurfaced, a sputtering lungful of water consumed only to freeze at the sight of Sapphire eyes. Wordlessly, he pointed at the shallow part of the river.
Inayah ducked her face shamefully and slowly tread through the water until the shallow part.
Just as he began approaching her, she pivoted and shot away only for a large hand to curl around the back of her neck.
“No!” Inayah screamed as the man lifted her with ease. She bucked and thrashed about, “Let me go!”
“Quiet,” he commanded but she remained adamant, kicking at his body when suddenly he knelt on one foot and placed her, stomach down, on the other.
Inayah gasped as her skirt was lifted and seconds later, his large palm came down on her exposed behind.
Inayah had never been hit, let alone spanked.And so when the stranger had swiftly thrown her across his lap, she barely had enough time to register just exactly what was happening until his large hand grasped the hem of her dress and bunched it up on her waist, exposing her backside.A gust of cold airbrushed her ass and hardly did she react when his open calloused palm landed on her left ass cheek.“Ow!” Inayah yelped as jarring pain spread over her tender flesh.He did not go easy.Another smack on her right cheek forced a cry of terror as she bucked on his thigh. His free hand grabbed a fistful of her ponytail and forcefully shoved her face down such that she hung by the belly on his thigh.“No! Stop!” Inayah gasped as another spank landed on her left cheek.He spread each open hit evenly; from one cheek to another, down the back of her thighs. Each strike was hard, heavy and absolutely painful.&ldq
“W-what?”Salem gazed at his slave, with less curiosity and more hunger. There was a certain craving he had felt, an attraction drawn by the small, timid creature.Which was one of the reasons as to why he purchased her. Yet despite her submissive nature, he sensed a little spitfire in his slave after she attempted escaping him.He watched her run, those slender bronzed legs. She was strikingly fast, much like a rabbit. It thrilled him to know that she held a tiny flame of rebelliousness for he would enjoy breaking her.Throwing her over his lap had been for disciplining reasons and yet as his palm struck her bare, heart-shaped ass, Salem couldn’t help the painful stirring of his cock. The need to stroke her pussy then spank her in intervals— offering pleasure and pain.Massaging the ointment onto her bottom, with the scent of her cunt had aroused him to no end.He would have her.Using the hand on her cheek to
Again his tongue parted her lips, sliding into her mouth at the same time his fingers slid down her slit and sank into her pussy, easing deeply into her virgin depths, stretching her as though to prepare her for his hard length.“A virgin,” he whispered against her lips, his fingers beginning to move slowly in her tight sheath. He could feel her hands gripping to his shoulders, gentle whimpers muffled against his lips as his fingers stretched her virgin depths.Despite her confusion at what was happening to her she still arched her hips into him, pressing his fingers deeper. He was only too happy to oblige, forcing his fingers deeper, faster, fucking her cunt with his hand, the high pitched moans that began to fall from her lips only feeding his frenzy.He smiled callously down at her, “Good girl.” She’d be so easy to mould, to make his. He knew his brother would never allow it though, not until she was marked but he didn’t ca
Inayah felt uneasy, anxious and her stomach clenched with complete dreadful humiliation.Her face was bright red, not from pleasure. Her eyes rose to Sin’s back, tall and steeled on the horse and she glared timidly.Her whole body felt sore, especially groin regions and she could still feel his cum, now sticky and slightly crusted between her inner thighs.Sin had taken her Maidenhead.He had claimed her on the forest floor. She had lost what was considered the most precious thing, to a man she knew nothing of.A cold, callous, unemotional scum of the earth. It repulsed her, the thought of submitting so willingly— yet part of it had been out of fear. Fear that he would do more than spank her, and his coal gaze held true to its threat of harming her should she resist him.He had touched her in ways only a husband should. His mouth had descended on her breasts tentatively, hands skimming up and down her bare legs, and that tongue&m
Mathilde was crouched by the fire pot, stirring a long wooden spoon about as wafts of her curry rose and spread like a fog over the enclosed kitchen.The past few days had been silent, peacefully so. And though she missed her master with idle reluctance, the emptiness was welcome. She moved about her business dutifully, cleaning, washing, scrubbing, cooking— and sometimes she would catch herself glancing up at the clock overhead.Waiting for master’s arrival.Word of his return arrived a day in advance and she spent it in elation, gliding about the mansion cleaning every room, though no one but him resided within.She polished the silver and dusted the ancient library. Tore down the curtains and replaced them with clean heavy dark drapes. Rolled out the Persian carpets and beat them in the back with a club until all dust vanished.Last but not least, Mathilde prepared a bouquet of his favourite meal. It was hard to pinpoint which her ma
The bedroom chambers was far from what Inayah had expected. The room was large and round. It was dark. All the textiles black and the wood the darkest she had ever seen. The moonlight comes through the black panels seemed to be diminished in the dark room.Inayah stood shivering in nothing but the gown, her damp hair absorbing cold and sticking to the nape of her neck and temple. She fiddled with her fingers nervously eyeing the large fireplace that cracked and spat invitingly.It had been built on the corner, far enough to deprive her of warmth. Inayah glanced about the room one last time then took a tentative step towards the fireplace.“Make your way to the center.”Inayah leaped, startled by the sonorous voice that sounded directly above her. She felt his presence a moment later, large form towering from behind.The protest say steadily in her tongue but something else made her hesitant, silent. Perhaps it was the realization that t
Inayah slept fitfully throughout the night.Sleep constantly deserted her, playing games to which she constantly succumbed to— it reached for her along the edges and just as her eyelids grew hooded, she would catch brief flashes of a beast in the woods, and that alone shuddered her awake.She woke three times during the night, panting and gasping for air, glowing with perspiration that matted the front of her gown to her chest.Her body throbbed with great intensity, oftentimes she whimpered whilst lying on her back, afraid to flatten against her stomach.When the agony grew far too worse, she carefully rolled onto her side and gazed at the small rectangular window that gave way to the darkness beyond.It was quiet outside, deathly so, the sky night that was once lit with stars now blank. An endless abyss.A soft whimper escapes her and realizing that she was far from sleeping, Inayah gingerly pushed off the small cot. Reaching for a s
Inayah’s heart slams maddeningly hard within the walls of her ribcage. Her mouth turns bone dry and she struggles not to flinch nor move whilst astride Sin’s laps.Salem Raised an eyebrow, drawing her attention from his hair and eyes to the rest of his symmetrically masculine face. His nose held just enough authority without being too big. His chin was square enough to expose every clench of his teeth, and his throat powerful enough to reveal every swallow, rippling with sinew and muscle.Inayah’s eyes followed his neck, following the contours of his flawless skin until it disappeared beneath the dark grey shirt with the collar unbuttoned. A scar sat just above the bow of his collarbone, one that seemed eerily close to—“Shall I repeat myself?” Salemsuddenly questioned slight inflexion in his otherwise arctic mellow voice.Inayah’s eyes flickered to his face then down to her hands which lay uselessly on his lap, e
“Well,” Lycus leaned against the wooden door, raising a challenge eyebrow, “what do we have here?” “Lycus,” Inayah groaned, dropping back on the bed slightly ashamed of the talk. Her advancements were obvious, why did he have to question? She heard chuckle and a heartbeat later, the bed dipped. Hands were reaching for her wrists, gently prying them away, still she did not open her eyes. Then he cupped her face and ran his fingers through her hair and all thought was lost. Lycus seemed fascinated with her hair, with her face, her body, her soul - and he thrums as she quivered before him. He took his time, fingers moving on to her mouth and he stayed there for a bit, thumb pressed against her lower lip in mild awe. Inayah's eyes opened then, and with her gaze locked on his, she pressed a kiss on his thumb. A pleasant purr reverberated from his chest and she exhaled as he moved on, her cheeks warm and tingling. Heart pounding ha
Inayah woke to rhythmic swaying, like that of a mother gently rocking her child to sleep in loving arms. Her eyes fluttered open, blurry with the remnants of sleep still desperately clinging to her, but she forced them wider. As her senses gradually grew clearer, the sound of crashing traced her ears. But... it wasn’t a violent sound. It was the musical notes of water, she realised, the percussion section roaring from the surface below.Sunlight bled and warmed her face, casting streaks of ethereal gold and comforting black across the bridge of her nose. As she slowly propped herself onto one elbow, she threaded her hand through her soft tangles and peered around the room. The swaying continued along with the water splish-splashing, and her location soon dawned upon her.The room was sparsely decorated, made of nothing but a chipped, wooden table to the right of her and a closet protruding from the wall in front. Dark browns painted the floors with the only sourc
Dinner drifted by in silence. Inayah ate but could not taste the food on her tongue. Each movement was monotonous, automatic -- the rise of her fork, the clink of her knife, she did not sip her wine for it resembled Mathilde’s blood which had soaked her front and part of the table cloth.The clatter of Salem’s utensils drew her attention back to him. She stared, pale as candle wax, and unmoving. Salem sipped his wine tentatively, seeking her eyes in the process. “I wish to apologize over my past behaviour and all that I had done to harm you.”Inayah remained silent.“I know I haven’t been the best caregiver, nor master,” he paused, “nor lover. But I have tried Inayah.” On cue, his gaze slid to Mathilde’s motionless body still strung on the seat, “It was my fault for not acting earlier and assuming the relationship between both of you had been anything but malicious and for that, I apol
Inayah stood by the kitchen counter, staring at the vast array of knives spread before her. One knife in specific was double-edged and sharp enough to slice through the skin with ease. So much ease.“Stop lazing about.” Mathilde’s voice echoed from somewhere behind her and Inayah gripped the potato in hand. Inhaling a measured breath, she began to precariously peel the vegetable, gripping the knife handle tightly as the blade swept beneath skin. She was careful enough to cut out chunks of flesh lest Mathilde injures her again.Then again… Inayah’s eyes flickered to the fire hearth with a cauldron set atop, two pokers pressed into the bright orange coals that glimmered with embers of heat. She licked the back of her teeth thoughtfully.Completing the remnants of dinner, Inayah arranged the variety of foods on a platter and as she did, her mind wandered to Lycus who was caged in the basement. With an acerbic taste in her
Inayah treaded close behind Salem's figure. She fought the urge to reach out and grasp the lapel of his coat for guidance as he led her down a winding hall, down a descent of stairs and further past the cells he had her locked in.Inayah had stopped counting after four turns and followed obediently. He halted before a metallic chamber and pulled out a set of keys, wedging it into the silver door."This," Salem stepped aside and waved a hand like a magician who had just performed a trick, "is where I keep my enemies."Inayah's eyes widened as they took in the room all around.Silver. Everything was silver, from the walls to the floor and ceiling. Stone and silver hardened to prevent escapes. Four cells had been placed, each with large silver shackled embedded to the walls and what looked like a dog plate in each.
The week of torture drifted past in flashes of black and white.Salem kept Inayah locked in the cages intermittently, allowing her freedom to use the potty and eat before locking her up again. His torture knew no bounds, from whipping to shouting and sometimes daring to suffocate her in her food.All for one question."Do you like him?" Salem asked, lifting her head with his grip on her ponytail.Inayah blinked back nauseating tears and spoke. Her own voice sounded like it was tearing and unfamiliar. "No," she admitted for the tenth time that day."What were you planning on doing?""Running away," blood dripped from her nose from the stress her body tried to put up with, "he said we'd head East-""To the ocean
There was darkness. Voices. Dreams, dark and murky. Fear, pain. So much pain.Inayah opened her eyes, but the light hurt. She winced and tried to move. She could not. She was in a room, bright and open. She saw Mathilde come into view.Her first reflex was resistance, struggling to relieve herself of the chains and shackles that bore her to the bed. But her body seemed to have a mind of its own, completely slack and hot and in pain. Only her mind seemed hyper-aware of their enemy.Mathilde's cheek was wrapped in gauze, and she walked with a limp towards the bed. Her eyes held darkness equal to Salem's and hate, so much hate."There you are, child. Why'd you go and do such a horrible thing? Master has just been beside himself, he almost lost himself completely. It's such a shame what you did to him. I'd half a mind to let you pass on in your fever dreams, but he demanded I help you heal. I did
When Inayah came to, she was lying on a cold hardened ground. A soft groan of agony escapes her lips as she struggles to blink then roll over, now conscious of the world all around her. She blinked again then stilled at the sound of scurrying.A rat.Inayah shot upwards and glanced around at the darkness that consumed the reeking room. She raised a hand towards her pounding head, then faltered as chains around her wrists clattered noisily.Someone had shackled both wrists and ankles.But who-Lycus.The grimace that pinched her face suddenly tightens at the thought of him. Salem. Inayah shoots to her feet and stumbles forward, hands outstretched and blindly groping for something, anything. It was not until her fingers curled around metallic bars that Inayah heard the slamming shut of doors overhead.Footsteps echoed along the open hallway, drawing closer and closer still. Inayah blinked as faint yellow ligh
“Three hundred silver coins?” Lycus heard Inayah’s incredulous voice as she counted the coins set on stone by the steaming bath’s edge.He hummed in acknowledgement.“Three hundred silver coins,” she repeated, then shifted, the sound of water splashing her movements, “Kade paid you that much to find me?”“He did.”“Oh,” another shift. The tone of her voice had Lycus lifting one end of cloth placed over his eyes. He peered at her with one eye. She sat a few meters from him, steaming water rising up to her neck, sodden hair held up in a loose ponytail.The bag of coins he had given her was now open, coins spilled over the bathhouse edge. Her chin was set on the edge, flushed fingers pushing them aside one at a time.Lycus picked a stray coin and flipped it towards her. It landed with a soft plop beside her; “Penny for your thoughts.”