Tara
She sniffled and looked about her piteously. Her siblings had disappeared, as one, boycotting her again, she thought bitterly. She pushed the plate of almost untouched food away and immediately, Beatrice’s dark hand swooped down and snatched it away.
“Silly girl!’ admonished the old woman and a sharp slap on her wrist for good measure, giving her a dark look before ambling away. Tara slid off the chair and raced to her room, tears streaming down her cheeks.
‘They were all awful, every one of them was horrid!’ she thought as she threw herself down onto the bed and sobbed her heart out.
It had not been her intention to make Pappa angry with Mumma but she had been bewildered. Pappa was older than Mumma, the kids at school said that too but he was Pappa and so handsome and powerful and Strong. How could Mumma say that he could not fight?
And Mumma had not supported her.
*
Fresh tears leaked out from her lids and she gave into another bout of crying.
‘She hated her family! ‘she thought in anger,’ Why couldn’t she have a nice friend like Maddie staying with her?
And her stomach rumbled as she realized that she had barely eaten. That witch, Bea had taken away her plate on purpose. Well, she thought, her chin wobbling, if she died of starvation, they would all be sorry. And she would see that, having become a ghost like Maddie said people became when they were unhappy and they died.
Tara dozed off, her mouth open, her thin shoulders shaking occasionally as she sobbed.
*
Proserpina
Moving so swiftly, I barely realized what had happened, he crossed to stand by me. He pulled me into his arms and spun me around to face the wall.
I found myself staring up at a giant-sized screen. He had a remote control device, a slim object in his hand and with a flick of his wrists, the wide, sweeping window curtains slid shut and the darkness was destroyed by the images that suddenly appeared on the screen.
Lucien in the Ring.
Fighting. Facing off against a man who seemed to be twice his size and massively built.
I groaned and tried to turn away but he held my head hard, forcing me to look.
“Please, no, Lucien,’ I whimpered, “I do not want to see you getting hurt, no, no, NO!’ This as the man aimed a blow that connected with my lover’s face. Lucien moved back, shaking his head but it had been a punch landing on his face. I almost sagged against him as I cried,
‘I do NOT want to see you getting hurt, you horrible bas*ard! I want Claude to take over your mantle. Stop fighting, Lucien, please!’
In anger now, I began to struggle in earnest.
But Lucien, who was holding me fast, imprisoned in one arm, growled, a sound of anger that seemed to originate in his chest as he leaned forward and spoke hoarsely,
He grunted, his breath hot on my nape as he bent his head slightly to growl,
‘Woman, listen carefully. I was a fighter, using my fists and winning long before you were born.’
And he shook me hard before twisting my arm so that it was pinned to his chest, but with me facing the other way. I trembled and said nothing as I continued to watch the large screen where Lucien was fighting.
My eyes were fixed on the screen as I watched him jab and thrust, parrying the other man’s punches.
‘That man is one of the finest fighters of the Underground fight clubs, ‘, he went on, his face close to mine ,’ And I beat him, you c*nt. He came in unexpectedly last night and I fought him. And won.’
He bit my neck again, painfully and I shuddered as he growled hoarsely,
“Yes, sl*t, this Old Man won.’
“This is what I do best,’ he snarled and whirled me about before he sank his teeth into my breast, making me cry out.
*
Pushing him away and moving back, stumbling in my distress, I stared at him in the semi-darkness, the gleam of anger in his steely eyes visible. But he came closer and suddenly, I was imprisoned in his muscled arms, the powerful thighs pressing into me.
His fist was balled up as he growled,
“And you, YOU of all people, make fun of me ?’
I shook my head, my hands behind my back- when had that happened, I thought dazedly,- as I stared into his eyes.
‘Did you tell me?’ I whispered, replying to his anger with my own outrage, my voice rising in anger till I was yelling, my hair unbound, streaming behind me, moking me look wild,” Did you think how it would hurt me to discover that you were hiding something like this from me? …tried to keep it a secret from me?’
He stared at me and I pushed his arms away and stepped back, shakily, putting a safe distance between ourselves.
We stood like that, each in their own corner, panting with anger, glaring at each other.
“Woman,’ he said and his voice was a dangerous growl, “you think I am old? Do you want out? I have seen you look at Schwartz, making eyes at him…’
Incensed, I flew at him, but he moved smoothly and in a minute, I was sprawled on the floor, beneath him, furious, spitting, and struggling. From a distance, I heard the sound of clothes ripping and knew that it had to be the pink shirt I was wearing.
“Damn you, you stupid man,’ I shouted furiously,
‘Do you think for a minute that I …’ I struggled wildly under his heavy weight and he held my arms, hurting me.
‘Ah. Damn you woman,’ he growled, and then he lowered his head. I turned my face away and he grunted , in satisfaction and surprise.
‘Ah, fight me, will you, little one?’ he growled in mocking amusement and I cried out as he gripped my face and brought his mouth down on mine. It was a kiss of possession, of ownership, demanding obedience and I was in no mood to oblige.
I fought him, kicking, struggling and when I managed to free a hand I raked my nails down his face, enjoying the grunt of surprise. But then I felt his manhood, so conversant with my body and hard, digging into my belly, and I felt the familiar weakness, the wetness automatically seeping out from between my thighs.
It only made me struggle harder, for now, I was trying to subdue my feelings too. He laughed, a soft, cruel laugh.
“Ah, my little bi*ch, would you fight your Master? I can already smell you, you are in heat.’ he taunted and I said through gritted teeth, as I kept on fighting him, a losing battle alright,
” Stop calling me that!’
He laughed and bit my earlobe, his tongue thrusting in as he groaned,
“Delicious little one.’ And shifted, his hand moving to caress my breasts. I moaned and moved my head, thrashing about.
And then, went limp as he brought his mouth to mine, hard, demanding, his tongue taking control, an arm holding me beneath him. Sensing my weakening, he shifted his weight off me but in a flash, I rolled away, hitting out at him as I scrambled to my feet, first moving to kneel before I stood up, swaying, my hand on my swollen mouth. He stood up too, grey eyes gleaming in surprise and admiration.
‘My little yoga warrior, you surprise me every time,’ he murmured, and I flushed as I discovered that my shirt had come unbuttoned, ripped down the center, to reveal my pointed nipples, hard with desire for the man who stood before me, smoothening his mussed up hair as he touched the scratch on his cheek reflectively.
As he stepped forward, I raised a hand to stop him.
I knew that if he touched me again, I might not have the power to resist him; I was likely to surrender to him.
“Lucien,’ I commanded in a wavering voice,” listen to me.’
He paused, watching me warily. The show on the screen had ended a long while ago and the room had an eerie glow coming from the dim light on his table.
My words came out in a rush.
‘I …I want Claude to fight in the ring that day.’
The words came out, tumbling.
He stopped and stood, weighing my words, rocking on his heels. Then after a long while, he grunted, a slight smile playing on his thin lips, the lips that had the power to bring me to my knees,
“And why would I listen to you?’
My shoulders stiffened. Raising my head proudly, I met his eyes as I said,
“Because I am your Woman, Lucien Delano. Because you are my Master. ‘
His eyes flashed in interest and then he smiled slowly. A cold smile, eyes gleaming with lust as he spoke.
‘Then prove it, my little bi*ch. F*ck me, Woman,’ he growled.