“Let my heart be still a moment –
And this mystery explore”
Edgar Allan Poe
Prologue
It came swiftly. The soft scream emitting from Odicia’s tinted berry lips; beads of sweat beginning to form on her upper lip. She was sure her body would lose control, shaking, as descent of the anxiety began to sink in. She tightened her already strong grip on the marble wall, trying to steady herself before the blow reached her. Her hair was damp, sticking to her cheeks, thin, wiry black lines trying to mask her ivory skin in witchlike claws. It came closer.
She took a glimpse over the balcony, at the city below. Silence. A furtive, noxious blanket rested in the form of clouds, whispering sweet nothings of deep slumber and dreams.
Nausea crept in, churning, causing Odicia to shudder violently. She was going to be thoroughly punished this time. She knew she had done wrong, maybe not understanding the extent of just how wrong, but she had.
A strong blast of wind whipped at her face, stinging as her sweat suddenly iced dry. The air grew still as she counted the dull steps that approached from his chamber. One, Two, Three, somehow matching the steady beat of her heart. Four, Five, Six. The steps became unexpectedly louder, each thud creating a shiver along her eyelids as she waited, ferociously patient, mumbling the dawn of Celo’s prayer.
The steps had stopped. A heat reverberated off of her back. A rasp and heavy breathing brushed against the skin of her neck. She began to feel faint. She noticed her hands no longer gripped the marble wall but lay still, glowing ghostly in the moonlight.
A growing warmth met her. The heat pushed, pressing her against the wall in a ravenous thrust, the touch of his skin almost singeing her. She cried out. A cavernous laugh fell on her. She instantly stiffened, forgetting her place. A large, rough hand began to feel its way from her waist. It crept higher through the fabric of her robe. Touching its way. Invading. The other joined its brother in their pursuit. They rested on her breasts and grasped them. She gasped waiting for the pain, but surprisingly to her, none came. The hands moved again. They worked higher, resting on her neck, each finger caressing the nape. She closed her eyes. Tears rolling down her ivory cheeks, she bit her lip trying to stifle her sobbing. Hard lips began to singe her shoulder blade, bristles of hair scratching her skin. She sighed in a weak euphoria. She yearned this, to be devoured with his despicable lust and yet she knew she didn’t deserve such kindness. The lips kissed slowly to her right ear, sucking at her ear lobe. Odicia shivered; disgusted that she felt his pleasure pour into her own. The caressing fingers suddenly gripped her throat, pinching at the oesophagus. Her eyes big, she scrambled terrified. Clawing at the hand she became weak. She choked as her legs caved under her, pathetic under the strength of his hand. The night light shimmered before her. Hazy...cloudy. Her eyes fell heavy, watering furiously. The hand let go, the laughing bringing Odicia back to reality. She gulped the night air hungrily. There was a burning in her chest. After her fill she doubled over weary and confused. Was that all her punishment was to be, she thought. No, her heart whispered. She stood up with difficulty, using the wall for support yet again. She took deep breaths as she skimmed the city below, dead to the world, tears filling her eyes. Laughter rang in her ears.
“Turn to me,” he said.
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