TO LOVE SHOULD NEVER HURT
By Sailor SwiftHeart
Rated: R
Princess Serena awoke to the sound of birds singing and to sunlight that
shone brightly through the pink curtains of her bedroom. It was Monday morning.
The first day of school... again. Another year of etiquette lessons, speech
writing and learning about the laws and history of the Moon Kingdom. Not that
she minded. She was only ten years old, but she understood how important she
was to the future of the kingdom. She knew that someday she would inherit the
throne and rule the whole kingdom... along with a husband. In fact, the young
princess was already betrothed to a prince. A MUCH OLDER prince. A young man
her father had seen fit enough to one day rule the Moon along with his daughter.
Serena didn't see in this prince what her father saw. But she dared not
protest or question him, for she knew what the consequences would be.
Princess Serena sighed as she brushed her hair and did it up into two
buns on top of her head with long pigtails cascading over her shoulders and
almost touching the floor. As she headed downstairs for breakfast, she prayed
that her father would forget to give her that little-talking-to he always gave
her on the first day of school, before he left for work.
In the kitchen, her father was seated at the table reading a scroll or a
proclamation of some sort. He was a large man, seven feet tall and very
muscular. He had piercing sapphire eyes and black hair that he wore
chin-length. He was everything a King should be. Strict, dignified and
no-nonsense. He was so set in his beliefs that nothing ever changed in the
kingdom. Whatever King Eryk said, went. Without question.
Her mother, Queen Serenity was at the counter, making Serena's lunch.
The princess sighed again. Her father, King Eryk did not believe in having
servants, maids or cooks. He thought that servants made royals lazy and
irresponsible. Her mother was expected to do all the cooking, cleaning and any
other palace chores that were necessary.
"When I married you, Serenity, I not only expected a Queen but a
housewife as well." King Eryk had once told her mother. "It will do
you some good to learn how to cook and clean. A woman's place is at home with
the children. Besides," he added. "It builds character."
Princess Serena secretly thought that her father must not have ANY
character at all being that he was always at work. Unlike most Kings she had
read about who worked out of the palace, her father wore a suit and tie. And he
only wore his crown at festivals, banquets or other special events that took
place in the palace. That was the only time they ever hired servants too, since
King Eryk expected his wife to be seated beside him. . . on his right side. And
she was to "be seen and not heard", unless told otherwise.
Serena took a seat at the table and poured herself a bowl of cereal and
milk. King Eryk looked up from his scroll and smiled at his daughter. "So
is my little princess all ready for her first day of school?"
"I sure am, Daddy." Serena answered. "I'm so
excited!"
"Good." King Eryk nodded his approval and returned to reading
the scroll.
Serena took a sip of her orange juice and turned to look t her mother.
She was making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Serena's lunch; her
favorite.
"Mom?" Serena asked. "Can I have extra jelly?"
King Eryk looked up from his scroll once again and gave Serena a stern
look. He frowned. "You'll take what your mom gives you and you'll like
it."
"Yes, sir." Serena said in a small voice.
Serenity looked at her daughter and smiled. "I"ll put some
extra jelly on." she said.
"Don't spoil her, Serenity," Eryk said as Serenity slathered
strawberry preserves on the bread.
"It's just a little jelly...."
Eryk frowned again. "Right. This time." He looked at his
watch. "I'm running late. I need you to pick up my shirts at the cleaners.
Can you manage that, Serenity?"
"Yes, Eryk." she replied.
"Don't forget."
"I won't." she promised.
Eryk picked up an overcoat off the back of the kitchen chair and put it
on. Then he approached Serena and crouched so that he was the same height as
her, seated on a chair. "Now, Serena," he began and she sighed.
Here it is, she thought. That little-talking-too she always dreaded. "You
remember what I told you about Prince Jonathan, don't you?"
"Yes, Father." she nodded.
He continued anyway. "You must get along with him. I chose him
for your future husband for good reasons. He is a fine young man and will make
an excellent King someday. I can tell. Do what he tells you and never disobey
or anger him. After all, you will have to obey him when you two are married in
the future, so you may as well start doing that now. Understand?" he
demanded.
"Yes, Father." Serena replied. "I'll try."
"Never mind trying," Eryk said, firmly. "Just do
it."
"Yes, sir."
"All right then." He got up and walked over to his wife.
"I'll call you later." He bent and gave Serenity a brusque kiss on
the mouth.
"Have a good day." she called to him as he plowed through the
front doors of the palace, his broad shoulders set. Even after ten years of
marriage, Serenity could hardly believe how huge he was.
"Mom?" said Serena.
Serenity turned her attention to her daughter. "What's the matter,
Serena?"
"Nothing," Serena said quietly. "I just need to get my
lunch box so I won't be late for school."
"Oh. Oh, of course, hon." Serenity hastily stuffed the
peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a few cookies and a thermos of juice into the
pink, plastic bunny rabbit lunch box and handed it to Serena. "You ate
all your breakfast?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Okay, have a good day."
"Thanks, Mom."
Serena headed out. She seemed subdued, maybe worried. Serenity knew
why. It was what Eryk had told her about Prince Jonathan. She was only ten
years old! It would be YEARS before she was ready to get married and YEARS
before she would inherit the throne as Queen of the Moon Kingdom.
"Oh, Serena," Queen Serenity said aloud, sighing heavily.
"If I had my way, you could marry whomever you wanted."
She knew that her daughter hated Prince Jonathan. He wasn't everything
a young prince should've been. He was nothing but a school yard bully who stole
the other children's lunch money, picked fights with the boys and pushed the
girls in the mud. Serena had come home many times, her pretty dresses
grass-stained and covered in mud. Eryk had never been home in time to see it,
so he assumed that everything with Prince Jonathan was fine. And Serenity let
him believe it. It wasn't like she could tell him... whatever he said went
without question. Even though she was Queen, she never had a say in anything.
Sighing again, she ate her breakfast, cleaned up then went upstairs to
her and Eryk's bedroom to make the bed. She opened the curtains to let the sun
shine in. It was a beautiful day, but Serenity couldn't even manage a smile.
She never got to enjoy the sun as much as she would've liked to. She was always
stuck in the palace doing chores. When would it ever end?
"Right now," she said and sat down at her dresser.
"It's going to end right now."
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face showed more lines than
anyone would expect a young woman like herself to have. On either side of neck
was a bruise in the shape of a large thumbprint. Serenity gingerly touched them
with her delicate fingertips and winced at the pain. The pain. When would the
pain stop? Not just on her body, but in her heart as well.
"Right now," she repeated. "It's going to stop right
now."
She opened the top drawer and pulled out a dagger concealed in a leather
sheath. She drew it and looked at the pointed tip and extremely sharp edges.
She touched the tip softly and he finger began to bleed. It was sharp enough to
slice through a single strand of hair. Serenity put the pointed tip to her
chest, just above her heart and pressed a little. Her dress offered her a tiny
bit of protection from the sharp end. She took a deep breath and was about the
drive the dagger through her chest, through her heart... but something stopped
her. The same thing that stopped her every day for the past eight years. The
princess. Her daughter. What would the princess do without her mother? Tears
welled-up in Serenity's eyes. She'd be left with only Eryk to look after her.
Eryk never touched Serena, but with Serenity gone, he surely would. And
Serenity couldn't bare the thought of that. Suicide wasn't the answer. But
what was the answer?
Serenity noticed the claim ticket for Eryk's shirts on top of the
dresser and remembered she had to go and pick those up at the cleaner's. It was
Serenity's only escape from the palace walls. Eryk never let Serenity wash his
things, because the first time she did, she had accidentally mixed colors and
whites and turned all of his shirts pink. So he took them to the cleaner's,
instead. Serenity was glad that she did. If she ruined anymore of his things,
it would just give him another reason to insult and hurt her.
Serenity put the dagger back in the drawer, hiding it under lingerie
where Eryk would never find it. She closed the drawer, grabbed the claim ticket
and left the palace, heading for the cleaners. It was quite far from the palace
and since Serenity didn't have a horse (Eryk didn't allow it) she had to walk.
She didn't mind. She liked the feel of the sunshine on her face. And she liked
getting fresh air this way. Open windows in the palace just weren't the same.
At the cleaner's, the young man at the counter handed back her claim
ticket.
"These aren't done yet, My Lady."
"Not done?" Serenity repeated. Eryk wasn't going to like
this. "I thought they were supposed to be back today."
"They were, My Lady, but we had two people call in sick
yesterday," he explained. "I'll have them for you tomorrow. I hope
that's not going to be a problem."
Serenity shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think so." She
hoped not.
"I'll give you a discount. Here, let me write it on the
ticket."
Serenity surrendered the claim ticket again. The young man wrote
"10% Off" on the back of it.
"I'm sorry, My Lady." he said.
"Don't worry," she said to him, more to assure herself than
the young man. She began the long walk back to the palace, not looking forward
to the chores that awaited her.
***
Serenity spent the rest of the morning cleaning the palace. It was not
particularly dirty, but she found the activity more entertaining than reading or
listening to the radio. At noon, she made herself a tuna sandwich for lunch and
was just about to bite into it, when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"It's me." It took Serenity a moment to register the voice as
Eryk's. "Did you pick up my shirts?"
"They weren't ready."
There was a pause. "They weren't ready?"
"No. They had some people sick yesterday or something. They'll be
ready tomorrow." Eryk said nothing. Serenity felt the hair on the back of
her neck stand up at the silence. "He gave us a discount..."
"A discount?" Eryk broke in quietly. "I need a clean
shirt for tomorrow. I ask you to do one simple thing for me and you can't do
it. What's the matter with you?"
"I... it wasn't my fault. They weren't done..."
"I don't care whose fault it was. I need a shirt."
Serenity's hand tightened around the phone. "I'll.... I'll pull
something out of the hamper and wash it for you..."
"Fine. Just get me a shirt for tomorrow morning. And don't ruin
it in the wash. I'll be home at four."
Eryk hung-up before Serenity could formulate a reply. She slid the
phone back into the cradle and returned to her lunch. The fact that Eryk was
making such a big deal out of a few shirts scared her. She knew that he would
be annoyed and cranky once he got home.
"What's the big deal?" Serenity wondered aloud. "He has
about fifty others in the closet he could wear."
Serenity knew why he made a big deal out of it. She had become so used
to him and his demands, that Eryk would look for any excuse to hurt her.
I have to get out of here, Serenity thought, like she had countless
other times. She'd never had the courage to actually walk out. But today, she
felt she did. She finished her lunch, cleaned up and then went upstairs to
Serena's room. She wanted to be ready as soon as her daughter got home. She
put together a suitcase for each of them, packing only the necessities. Then
she dug two shirts and some towels out of the hamper and threw them in the
washing machine. When she pulled them out, one of the white shirts looked pink
and she noticed only then that one of the towels was red. At least the color
was evenly distributed on the shirt. Maybe Eryk wouldn't notice. She threw
everything into the dryer and hoped nothing would have to be ironed. The shirts
proved to be permanent press, so an hour later she put them on hangers and
deposited them in the closet.
Princess Serena didn't return until 3:45. Serenity was pacing by then,
remembering that Eryk had said he'd be home at four. They would have to hurry.
She met Serena part way down the sidewalk. She looked surprised.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
"Nothing's wrong, hon. But you have to hurry. We're going to
visit Grandma and we have to leave right away."
"Is Grandma sick?"
Serenity hustled her into the house. "No, no, Grandma's fine.
But if we don't start right away, we won't be able to get there at a reasonable
hour. Now, I've got all our stuff packed..."
"You said I could go to Ami's tonight," Serena protested.
"Well, we're going to do this instead, okay?" Serenity took
her hand as she closed the bedroom door behind them. "Okay?"
Serena stopped, looking at the suitcases, then looked up at her mother,
puzzled. "Isn't Dad coming?"
"No, Baby, Dad's not coming. Now, why don't you just get your
stuff and let's go."
"Did you tell Dad we're going?" Serena was hesitant. She was
still staring at the suitcases as if they might blow up in her face.
"No, I didn't. I'll call Dad later and let him know."
Serenity picked up her suitcase and headed for the front door.
"Dad's going to be mad," Serena stated.
Serenity stopped. Serena looked at her with a strange, helpless fear in
her eyes. "Dad's going to be mad," she repeated.
Serenity didn't know what to say. She knew how her daughter felt. She
picked up Serena's suitcase with her other hand. "Come on," she said
and opened the door.
Eryk was coming up the sidewalk.
"Eryk..." Serenity choked in a whisper.
Eryk stopped walking. "Serenity," he said quietly.
"What's going on?"
Serenity foolishly tried to hide the suitcases behind her back.
"Nothing, Eryk. Nothing."
"Nothing?" Eryk repeated. "It looks like you're going
somewhere."
"Oh. Well... I was thinking we might go see Mom."
Eryk stepped forward. Something had shifted in his stance. He looked
even bigger, steely and frightening. Serenity swallowed. Fear was a galling
bitterness in the back of her throat.
"Go see Mom?" Eryk said. "I don't remember you saying
anything about that."
"It was sort of a last-minute thing. She called and said she'd
like to have some company."
"So you were just going to head up there without telling me?"
"No. No. I was going to tell you." Serenity suddenly felt
small and helpless as Eryk loomed over her, a huge, hulking shadow.
"Get in the house," said Eryk, still quiet. "Get in the
house now."
Serenity went inside. Serena had backed into the living room and was
standing next to the staircase, her eyes wide and frightened.
"I've told you before not to lie to me, Serenity," Eryk said,
following her into the house. He closed the door gently behind him and locked
it. "How many times have I told you not to lie to me?"
"I didn't..."
Out of nowhere, Eryk's hand came up. He slapped Serenity across the
face, throwing her off balance. She dropped the suitcases and staggered back a
step.
"You were going to run away, weren't you?" Eryk murmured.
"You were going to run away to Mommy and not tell me."
"I don't..."
Eryk slapped her again. Serenity, now angry at her own sense of
helplessness, struck back. Eryk's open hand intercepted her fist in midair.
The blow did not even jar Eryk. He closed his hand around Serenity's fist and
jerked her arm around, twisting it behind her, then shoved her away. Serenity
stumbled and hit the floor.
"That wasn't very smart," said Eryk. He came up behind
Serenity and pushed her over roughly with his foot. "Apologize."
"Apologize, my ass," Serenity retorted. She came to her feet
and took up a fighting stance.
Eryk laughed. "That's funny, Serenity." As Serenity gathered
herself for a blow, Eryk closed his hand into a fist and struck at her.
Serenity deflected the blow with one arm, but it jarred her enough to throw her
off balance. Eryk pushed her with the other hand and she ended up on the floor
again. Serenity felt her breath coming hard, more from fear than exertion.
"Apologize," Eryk repeated. He picked up Serenity by the
hair. "Apologize."
Serenity ground her teeth together. "I'm sorry." she grated.
"That didn't sound very sincere," Eryk said and slapped her
again. "Apologize."
Serenity tasted blood in her mouth. Eryk twisted her head up, forcing
her to look into his face, then backhanded her twice. She was starting to feel
dizzy. She swallowed. The thick taste of her own blood made her sick.
"I'm sorry," she managed. "I'm sorry, Eryk."
"That's better." Eryk let her go. Serenity collapsed. She
heard Eryk move past her, through the living room and into the kitchen.
Serenity wiped blood from her mouth with the back of her hand and looked
around the living room for Serena. She was still standing by the steps, silent.
"Are you okay?" she mouthed to her daughter. Serena nodded, backing
up against a wall. In the kitchen, Eryk was slamming cupboards open and shut.
Serenity got up and went over to Serena. "Listen, sweetheart," she
said to her. "Why don't you run upstairs and start on your homework. I'll
be up in a few minutes."
"Okay, Mom," said Serena in a small voice.
Serenity took a few moments to recover, then dragged herself upstairs to
the bathroom to clean up.
***
Eryk left Serenity and Serena alone for the rest of the evening.
Serenity helped her daughter finish her homework, then read her a story and put
her to bed. Eryk was downstairs going through some paperwork in the study.
Carefully, Serenity tiptoed into the bathroom to change clothes. When she came
out wearing her pajamas, Eryk was standing outside the door.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to bed. I, uh... I thought maybe I'd sleep in Serena's
room tonight."
"Why?"
Serenity shrugged. "I don't know. She seemed little... scared to
go to sleep by herself."
"You're not going to spoil that child," Eryk stated.
"You sleep in our bedroom where you belong."
Serenity weighed the alternatives. Finally, she stepped toward their
bedroom. "Goodnight." she said.
"Goodnight, Serenity."
From the bed, wrapped in blankets, Serenity watched Eryk take off his
clothes, then go into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Moments later, he came
back into the bedroom. Serenity flinched under his sudden, direct gaze.
"Don't forget to pick up my shirts tomorrow." Eryk said.
"I won't. I'll get them first thing in the morning."
"Good." Eryk turned off the light and got into bed.
Serenity rolled over, turning her back to her husband. Eryk was still
for a long time. Serenity started to relax. Eryk rolled over. Serenity
flinched again, moving closer to the edge of the bed.
Calm down, she told herself. Just take a deep breath and calm down.
He's had his fun for the night, he's not likely to hit you again. But it wasn't
exactly the hitting that she was afraid of. She could hear her own heartbeat,
loud and fast in the silence. She wondered if Serena was laying awake in her
bedroom, waiting to hear the slapping again, the whispered threats...
"Serenity?"
Serenity's hands tightened convulsively on the blanket.
"Serenity?" Eryk said again. "Serenity, are you
awake?"
She said nothing. She felt him move, then a huge hand cupped her
buttock.
"Come here, Baby," Eryk whispered.
Serenity squeezed her eyes shut. "I have a headache."
Eryk's hand moved forward, his fingers sliding between Serenity's
thighs. "Come on, Baby. I love you."
"I really don't feel well, Eryk." Serenity put a hand over
her mouth to stifle the sound of her breathing, which was coming far too fast.
Eryk was still for a moment, then pushed away. "Fine. I don't
want you, anyway."
Serenity pulled the edge of the blanket closer to her chest and realized
she was shaking. It was a long time before she fell asleep.
***
Serenity awoke to find herself alone in the bed, sweating, her face
aching. The clock read 6 am, so she hadn't overslept. Eryk must have left
early. Thank God, Serenity thought. She got up and went to check on Serena.
She was still sleeping peacefully. Her bunny rabbit alarm clock was set for
6:30. Serenity tiptoed back out of Serena's room and went to the bathroom.
Her own reflection in the mirror made her ill. The injuries on her
delicate features were blasphemy. She had blue bruises along both cheekbones
and her lip was split open and swollen. She found a washcloth, ran cold water
over it, wrung it out and applied it to her lip as gently as she could. She
ducked her head into the sink. Her ministrations had started her lip bleeding
again. She felt the need to get her dagger again. "I'm not going to
die..." she said, her voice echoing against the porcelain. "I have to
take care of Serena. I have to be strong for Serena's sake." She
straightened. The face looking back at her from the mirror was tiny, bruised
and helpless. Would she be trapped in the walls of the palace forever, hiding
her pain from everyone?
***
Serenity had a hard time with breakfast. Orange juice was incredibly
painful and cereal had too many sharp edges. She finally settled on milk and a
bowl of oatmeal. She made the same thing for Serena, who came downstairs at
6:45, dressed and ready for school. She was relieved that her dad wasn't there
to remind her to be nice to Prince Jonathan.
"Are you okay, Mom?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." Serenity lied.
"Where's Dad?"
"He left for work already."
Serena sat down at the table and poked her spoon into her oatmeal.
"I'm sorry he hit you last night."
"You're sorry? Why are you sorry? It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was," she said. "If I hadn't asked so many
questions, we would have been gone before he got home."
Serenity shook her head. "I'm not sure about that. Listen,
Serena, your dad's got a problem and he needs help to fix it. But none of it's
your fault, okay?"
Serena nodded. "Okay, Mom."
"Okay. Now eat your breakfast. Do you have all your
homework?"
"It's in my bag."
"Good girl."
They finished breakfast in silence, Serenity trying hard not to show the
difficulty she was having eating. Serena was withdrawn and only ate half her
oatmeal. Serenity watched her as she put her lunch together. She didn't look
like she had slept well. When she went to meet her friends at the curb, her
gait was a strangely adult plod instead of the happy skip one would expect from
a child her age. She was so young and innocent and so important to the future
of the Moon Kingdom. But through all this, will she be all right? Serenity
wondered, worried.
Once Serena was off to school, Serenity retired to the bathroom, where
she used her makeup kit to try and cover most of the bruises in preparation for
her trip to cleaner's. By the time she had finished, she didn't look too bad.
She managed to smile, then headed off to the cleaner's.
***
Serenity was helping her daughter with her homework when Eryk came home.
"Hi," Eryk said, smiling. He tousled Serena's hair.
"How was school?"
"Fine," Serena answered. "We had an assembly today,
with a magician. It was neat."
"That's nice. Do you have a lot of homework?"
"No, not really."
"I remember when I was a young prince I always had piles and piles
of homework." He headed for the kitchen, where he opened the refrigerator
and took out a bottle of water. "I'd be at it for hours." He opened
the bottled water. "Did you get my shirts today, Serenity?"
"Yes, I did," Serenity answered. "They're in the
closet."
"Good. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Serenity was more than a little off balance
by now. Was the old Eryk back? And for how long? He seemed almost normal.
"How was your day?" Serenity ventured.
"Busy. Did we get the paper today?"
"It's on the kitchen table."
"Great. What's for supper?"
"There's a chicken in the oven. Serena helped make stuffing."
It was a boxed mix, but Serena had enjoyed helping.
"Sounds good." The paper rustled as Eryk flipped it open.
Serenity looked at Serena, who was smiling.
"He's happy today," she said quietly.
Serenity nodded. For the moment, she thought. She wondered what was
going to happen to set Eryk off. Any number of things could change his mood.
"I'll go read my English now," said Serena. She picked up
the book and stood.
"Okay, Hon," said Serenity. "Dinner will be ready in
half an hour."
"Okay, Mom."
Serenity watched her daughter climb the stairs, then went into the
kitchen to check the chicken.
"Did you make any vegetables?" Eryk asked, looking up from
the paper.
"Yes," Serenity answered. "Carrots and potatoes. And
the stuffing, of course. And I pulled an apple pie out of the freezer. I
thought you might like it."
Eryk smiled. "That's nice. It sounds good."
Serenity opened the oven to baste the chicken. Maybe I can keep him
happy tonight, she thought. Maybe he won't do anything if I keep him happy.
She pushed the chicken back into the oven, then straightened. Eryk looked at
her over the newspaper.
"Are you okay, Serenity?"
She nodded. "I'm fine."
"When will dinner be ready?" Eryk asked.
"About twenty minutes." Serenity took a step away from the
table where Eryk sat.
"I'm going to set the table."
Eryk smiled a little. "Sure."
***
Dinner was quiet and almost homey. They didn't talk very much, but when
they did it was typical dinner conversation. Serena told them more about the
magician she had seen at school, and about the story she'd read for English
class. Eryk complimented Serenity on the chicken, and Serena on the stuffing.
So far so good, thought Serenity as she picked up the dishes. Eryk
retired to the living room and started to work on the crossword puzzle in the
paper. Serena curled up in the big armchair with a book. Serenity took her
time washing the dishes. She decided she could suffer a case of dishpan hands
better than she could handle another beating from her husband.
It was seven o'clock when Serenity finished and went into the living
room to join the rest of her family. Everything was still fine. It almost made
her uncomfortable. This wasn't usually what went on. But Eryk had been so nice
all evening and Serenity found herself thinking how much she loved him when he
was this way. He doesn't hit me that often, she thought. If I do what he says,
everything is fine.
She touched her lip and winced. It was still very sore. The pain and
memory of the previous night's events made her shiver. Did she really love Eryk
that much to believe that his beating her was justified? No, she thought. Love
shouldn't hurt.
There was only one unoccupied seat left in the living room, and that was
on the couch next to Eryk. Serenity sat down. There was a magazine on the
table next to her. She picked it up and started reading the recipes. Serena
suddenly got a strange look from her father. She closed her book, got up and
announced she had to go to the bathroom. Her father smiled and nodded at her
and she headed upstairs.
"Maybe Serena should go to bed early tonight," Eryk
suggested.
Serenity jumped a little, startled. "Why? Does she have to get up
early in the morning?" She looked at Eryk, who was peering at her around
the side of the paper. Serenity had seen that look far too often on his face to
have any doubt what it meant.
Serenity smiled and tried to respond in the most gentle way possible.
"Oh, Eryk. That would be nice, but I'm still not really feeling well. My
head's really been bothering me." It wasn't a total lie.
Eryk nodded. "Maybe I can help. Come here," he said.
"Where?" asked Serenity, nervous.
"Just come over here." He reached out and took Serenity's
shoulder, pulling her sideways across the couch. "Let me rub your head.
It'll help."
Serenity obediently put her head on Eryk's lap, trying not to flinch as
Eryk's big hands engulfed her head, massaging her forehead and the back of her
neck. She closed her eyes, then dared a peek up through her eyelashes. Eryk's
face was quiet and gentle. The was the Eryk Serenity loved. But she was
playing a game with herself to convince herself to stay.
"Mom!" came Serena's voice from upstairs. "I'm going to
stay up here and read for a while, okay?"
"Okay, honey." Serenity called back.
"Is that okay, Dad?" Serena added.
"That's fine, Serena," said Eryk. He smiled down at his
wife. "She's doing really well with her school work, isn't she?"
Serenity nodded. "She's doing fine. She likes learning about the
Moon Kingdom."
"Good. She'll be a fine rules one day with Prince Jonathan at her
side. Just like her mother." said Eryk.
"Maybe."
Eryk stopped massaging and smoother Serenity's hair away from her
forehead. "There," he said. "Is that better?"
"A little bit," Serenity answered.
Eryk smiled. His other hand slipped across her chest, then under the
tail of her nightshirt. "You look real nice tonight, Serenity." he
said.
"Thank you," said Serenity. Eryk's hand moved up her back,
his arm cradling her body. Serenity held still, waiting to see what was going
to happen next. As she had feared, Eryk lifted her and bent to take a kiss.
For a moment, Serenity froze, not sure what to do. At the last moment, she laid
her hand on Eryk's lips.
"What?" said Eryk.
"My mouth still hurts."
Eryk's lips tightened. "Now your mouth hurts?"
Serenity nodded, tensing, waiting for Eryk's reaction. Slowly, he
lowered Serenity back to his lap.
"Serenity," he said, "if you don't want to make love,
why don't you just tell me?"
"I don't want to make love," Serenity said, too quickly.
"I just... I mean, I'm just not in the mood tonight. I'm sorry,
Eryk."
"It's okay." He leaned back into the couch and Serenity sat
up, moving a little away. Eryk didn't look angry, but he was withdrawing, his
eyes becoming distant. His face was taking on the same tension it had held the
night before. But his voice was still quiet. "It's okay," he
repeated. He turned then, his hardening gaze focused on her. "If you
can't give me what I need, I'm sure I can find someone else who will."
"No, Eryk," Serenity protested. "Tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night, I promise."
"I don't want it tomorrow night, I want it now." Eryk stood
stiffly and went upstairs.
Serenity put her face in her hands. What now? Eryk was going to go
upstairs, get his coat, and leave, probably to find some other woman to satisfy
himself with. So Serenity was safe, for the moment, but what other
repercussions might there be from this? Serenity pushed herself up off of the
couch to go after Eryk, then froze. She suddenly realized, horrified, that Eryk
had not gone upstairs to get his coat. He had gone upstairs to Serena's room.
Serenity plowed up the stairs, three at a stride. She came around the
corner into Serena's room and caught herself on the door frame. Eryk was
sitting on Serena's bed, pushing her long, blonde hair back from her little ear.
Serena looked uncomfortable. This was the last straw for Serenity.
"You take your hands off my daughter," Serenity snarled.
Serena looked up and flinched as she saw Queen Serenity. "It's
okay. Daddy's just going to tell me a story."
"Like hell he is." Serenity took a step across the room and,
with every ounce of her strength, grabbed Eryk by his collar, dragging him off
the bed. "You get your filthy hands off my daughter. Now."
Eryk laughed. "YOUR daughter?" he repeated. He regained his
balance and moved back toward the bed and Serena. "My daughter too,
Serenity."
"Maybe not." said Serenity.
Eryk froze. Slowly, he turned to face Serenity. "What did you
say?"
"I said maybe she's not your daughter, Eryk."
Eryk stepped toward Serenity. She had never seen such hatred in his eyes
before and she was suddenly frightened. More than she'd ever been in her entire
life. She had accomplished her goal, which was to draw Eryk's attention away
from the Princess, but it appeared that she had also gravely endangered herself.
She moved backwards, guiding him out of the bedroom.
"What are you saying to me, Serenity?" Eryk murmured.
"What are you saying?"
Serenity didn't answer. She sized Eryk up, looking for a weakness.
Eryk's gaze was riveted to her face. If a blow came low, he wouldn't even see
it... Serenity gathered herself, then unleashed. She had to fight back.
Eryk's hand caught her kick in midair. He jerked Serenity's foot upward
and she went down, flat on her back on the floor. She heard a ringing thud as
her head struck the wall. Before she could gather herself again, Eryk fell on
top of her, pinning her to the floor. Serenity's head was still ringing.
"Oh, I get it," Eryk was saying in a low, strained voice.
"It was a joke. It was supposed to be a joke."
Serenity's stammered reply was cut short by Eryk's backhand. She tried
to shield her face with her arms, but Eryk shifted so that it was impossible.
Serenity couldn't move at all. She could barely breathe under the crushing
weight of Eryk's body.
"Well, it wasn't funny," Eryk stated. "It wasn't funny
at all."
"Eryk... " Serenity choked. He shifted again. Serenity
wedged an arm free, but Eryk caught it in one hand.
"I think you need to be taught a lesson," Eryk said.
"What..." Serenity started. Eryk struck her, a slap this
time, that burned across her pretty face.
"You need to learn not to say no to me," Eryk whispered.
"Especially when I ask you nicely."
"Oh, God... " Serenity tried again to thrash free. Eryk
backhanded her, then grabbed her nightshirt by the collar and ripped it open.
"I asked you nicely," he said, "and you said no. I
don't like that."
"No. Please! No. Don't do this, Eryk. Please don't do
this," Serenity was starting to panic. She couldn't move, she couldn't
free herself, could barely breathe. Her head was ringing from the blows.
"You don't leave me much choice, do you?" Eryk said. He
forced one arm under Serenity's body, pinning one of her arms against him and
closing his big hand around the other. Serenity flailed yet again, to no avail.
Eryk shoved up against her, drove a knee between her legs and then kissed her,
brutally forcing her mouth open.
Serenity cried out involuntarily with revulsion, but more from the pain.
She had to do something! But she was doing everything she could, which was
basically nothing. Eryk was huge and heavy and had her effectively immobilized
with his body and one arm. His free hand was groping at her groin. Serenity
couldn't even close her mouth, or she would have bitten through Eryk's tongue.
Then Eryk moved back. Finding an arm free, Serenity struck out as hard
as she could, her fist connecting with Eryk's jaw. Eryk reeled under the blow,
but came back laughing and grabbed Serenity by the hair, slamming her head into
the floor, then sideways into the door frame. Serenity's eyes filled with
blood. The pummeling brought a flash of blackness with it. She struggled back
up through the haze, determined to hang on to consciousness. In the moment of
helplessness, she felt Eryk lift himself up, then heard the sound of a zipper.
Blinking furiously, Serenity tried to see through the sheet of blood.
Vaguely, she made out Eryk's form kneeling in front of her, his back to the
stairwell. Do it, Serenity! a voice told her. Do it now!
Serenity wasn't sure she could. The parts of her body felt
disconnected. She bit down on her lower lip, focussing on the tiny barb of pain
through the roar of agony. She drew her knees into her chest and struck Eryk
full on the sternum with both feet.
Eryk looked surprised as he toppled backward down the stairs. Serenity
heard a series of thuds, then a sharp crack, then silence.
***
"Mommy?"
Serenity tried to blink. Her eyes felt gummy and he lashes stuck
together as she forced her eyes open. She had a feeling she had lost a few
seconds.
"Mommy?" said the little voice again. Serena was leaning
over her. Her little face was chalky, her eyes wide. "Mommy, please
wake-up."
"Serena?" said Serenity.
"Mommy, you're bleeding all over."
"Am I?" Serenity lifted a hand to her face. Her hair,
forehead and eyes were sticky. She could feel clotting blood moving sluggishly
down a crease in her neck. Her hand came back dark scarlet.
"Eryk," said Serenity. She tried to sit up and vertigo
grabbed her. She threw out a hand to find her balance and caught herself on the
wall.
"Daddy's down there," said Serena, pointing. "I think
he's dead."
Serenity gingerly got to her feet.
"Is Daddy dead?" Serena asked quietly.
"I don't think so," Serenity assured her.
"I'll go check."
"No." Serenity said. "No. Come with me into the
bathroom. I need your help. I need to clean my face off so I can see."
"Are you going to die, Mommy?"
"No, sweetheart," said Serenity. She wavered a little as she
went through the bathroom door, but caught herself on the sink. She was leaving
bloody hand prints everywhere. "I just hit my head. When you hit your
head it bleeds a lot even when it's not cut very badly."
"Like when I hit my head on the monkey bars?"
"Yes. Just like..." Serenity broke off as she looked at her
reflection in the mirror. Her blonde hair was clogged with blood, her face
covered with it. "I look terrible."
Serena found a washcloth. soaked it in warm water and was holding it up.
"Thank you." Serenity carefully rinsed her face so she could assess
the damage. Most of the blood was from a two-inch gash at her hairline, where
Eryk had slammed her into the door frame. Bruises were blackening under both
eyes, her lip was split in two places and she had another gash on her cheek.
"Mommy?" Serena said suddenly. "I think I should call
the hospital."
"Yes, Hon," Serenity nodded. "That would be a good
idea. Can you find the number?"
"It's on the phone, Mom."
She ran into the bedroom and Serenity hobbled in after her. As Serena
dialed the number and talked to the operator, Serenity opened the top drawer of
her dresser and dug out the dagger. She knew what she had to do. Serena,
luckily, was still on the phone.
Serenity crawled down the stairs, backward on all fours, holding the
dagger between her teeth. She made her way down to where Eryk's limp body was
laying. His neck was obviously broken. Serenity sat next to him, the dagger
clenched in her right hand. Eryk began to stir and moaned. He blinked and
looked up at Serenity. The expression on her face was thunderous.
"Serenity..." he croaked, his voice cracking.
She said nothing and gave him a hostile glare. Then, clenching the
dagger with both hands, she lifted it into the air, above her head and said,
"Long live the king." She plunged the dagger straight through his
chest and into his heart. Blood poured from the wound and he screamed in agony.
Then he died.
Serenity stared at him and her eyes filled with tears. Finally, deep
sobs racked her insides. She fell over him and wept. It was over. The pain
was over.
***
Following the King's funeral, Serenity made many changes in the laws of
the Moon Kingdom. Her first rule was that Princess Serena could marry whoever
she wanted. Prince Jonathan looked as happy about it as the Princess did. He
walked up to her and apologized for all the mean things he had done to her
during the time they were betrothed. Then he told her that he hoped she would
find a good husband. And Serena told him that she hoped he'd find a good wife.
Princess Serena and Queen Serenity were much happier with so many
pressures cleared from their lives. The palace now had cooks, maids, guards and
servants. Everyone had their own horse also. Princess Serena learned more and
more about the Moon Kingdom, mostly from her mother. At fourteen years of age,
Princess Serena was mature and almost a full-grown woman. She fell in love with
a Prince from Earth who vowed to protect her forever. Queen Serenity had never
been happier.
Once in a while, Queen Serenity and Princess Serena would talk about
King Eryk. He was not forgotten. And Queen Serenity could only offer her
daughter one piece of advice from their ordeal.
"To love someone should never hurt."
***
The End
E-mail: SwiftHeart@v-wave.com
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