moongoddes

"Pray I beg of you, please leave me be, you mustn’t!" Amber choked

"Never, I have been waiting a long time for this day, you knew this day would come, it was only ever a matter of when" Lord Ashwood sneered, whilst wiping the sweat from his pox-marked brow. Then he reached forward in one swift movement to grab the bodice of her white muslin gown, leaving Amber standing in her thin chemise and stockings.

Desperately, Amber tried to think clearly of a way out, of the dreadful situation that she was in. No man had ever seen her in such a state of undress, and instinctively she knew what was before her, as she looked into the evil eyes on her stepfather’s face. His eyes almost black, sent currents of terror through her freezing blood. Amber knew, that she had to act quickly, "pray, I knew no such thing, I must insist, that you leave me be!" certain that she was running out of time, she had only one chance left, "I have money, name your price and leave me be!" Amber lifted her chin defiantly, refusing to let the tears flow that ached in her throat, not seeing his arm strike out until she felt it sting her cheek like a red hot dagger.

Falling back onto the four poster bed behind her, Amber felt splinters of pain travel down her neck. He had pinned her to the mattress with his heaving frame. She wanted to retch, as the smell of horse sweat and body odour swamped her delicate nostrils, whilst his large callous hands forcibly ripped her thin chemise, exposing creamy breasts. When his thumb found a nipple, Amber lifted her head to sink her teeth into his clammy flesh. Grasping in pain, Lord Ashwood struck her hard across the face.

"You will pay heed to my warnings wench, if you continue to struggle further or call out, your sister will pay dearly in your place" he sneered through rotting teeth.

His threat stung harder than his earlier blows, the thought of this despicable man touching dear Jade, sent shivers of terror and repulsion through her soul, leaving a sickly taste in her mouth.

Laying motionless and naked, Amber tried to close her mind to what was happening to her, as Lord Ashwood’s hands scratched her silky skin, an involuntary scream escaped her bruised lips as he entered her, burning pain was followed by complete darkness as Amber’s mind and body could take no more punishment.

When Amber re-opened her eyes, Lord Ashwood was forcing his obese body into his breeches, "If you speak of this to anyone, your sister will pay, do you understand wench?" unable to speak, Amber shook her throbbing head. She knew only too well, that he would carry out his threats; if she dared to cross him.

Alone again, Amber cried into her pillow for her mother, wishing that she was still alive, sure that if she had been, Lord Ashwood wouldn’t have dared to touch or threaten her. So much had changed in the two months without her; it frightened her to think of what would become of Jade and herself in the future.

Fresh tears rose as Amber realised, that she had also lost her maidenhead, along with it any chance of a decent marriage match. The only chance that she had, was to escape from her evil stepfather and his threats.

Worried that Lord Ashwood might return, Amber quickly summoned her maid, sure that she was safe, as long as she was never to be found alone.

Soaking in the tub, Amber scrubbed her used and battered body, until it shone red, still feeling disgusting and dirty and aching beneath, Amber carefully climbed out and laid on the bed, holding her sore stomache and bruised breasts.

Unable to face her stepfather, Amber remained in the sanctuary of her room. Shielding her eyes from her maid, sure that Annie would be able to read in her eyes what had happened, knowing that if she was to protect Jade, no one must ever find out about her ordeal.

Tired an exhausted, Amber refused to give in to sleep, afraid that Lord Ashwood would return. Even though Annie was sleeping on a pallet, in the corner of the room. Amber couldn’t bear the thought, of him touching her again so intimately. Still Amber’s cheeks ached from his blows, as if to remind her, of her stepfather’s strength. It did not sit well with her, that she was powerless to stop him from doing, anything that he wanted to do to her.

Hearing the birds chirping outside her bedchamber window, Amber realised that she must have fallen to sleep. The instant she moved her head, the pounding inside reminded her, of the hold that lord Ashwood had over her now. Positive that this was only the beginning, somehow she had to think of a plan to stop him, sure that just by having Annie in the room, it wouldn’t be enough to deter him for long.

Not only that, Amber didn’t like to ask Annie to sleep on the pallet, sure that it couldn’t be very comfortable and she wasn’t getting any younger. Also, Amber had to be sure, that she wasn’t putting Annie in any danger, Lord Ashwood thought nothing of deflowering his step-daughter, so what would he do to a mere maid?

Not having the physical strength to keep him at bay, Amber knew that she needed some kind of weapon and jumped off the bed, to search through the trunk; that belonged to her mother. Except for old gowns and needlework, there was nothing that even slightly resembled a weapon. Amber knew that the only alternative was to recruit outside help, somehow she had to think…