Dark One Rising(129)

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She could feel his hot breath on her face, smell the stench of long ago consumed ale. His eyes bore into her and his breathing was heavy. His hand was grasping her throat and she could hardly swallow. His body was pressed up against her and she felt something hard against her thigh; his sword or his lust she didn’t know which. She didn’t care. If he squeezed any tighter, she would pass out. Then she would never know what happened, what he did to her. Maybe it was better that way. She didn’t want to feel him against her, didn’t want any part of him touching her. She wanted to lose consciousness, but she knew he’d never let that happen.

“You thought you could run away from me? You thought you could hide behind the shield of that man that calls himself a king? A weak minded, pathetic excuse of a man who dares sit upon the throne? You ran away but I found you. You hid but I lured you out. You are mine, Melenthia, you always have been. You belong to me.”

She had trouble taking in enough air to speak with his hand squeezing her throat, but she managed a croak. “I will never belong to you. You will never take me. You will never own me. You will have to kill me because I will resist, and you will lose.”

He squeezed harder in rage but knew that killing her would bring him no pleasure until after she gave him a son. He released his hold on her a little, but did not let go.

“Oh I’ll have you, Melenthia. You will bring me immense pleasure, and you will bear my son. I have seen the prophecy, and you will bring into the world my heir, my off-spring that will be more powerful than anyone could ever imagine. Together, he and I will rule this world. This world was meant to have a great one on the throne, not these insignificant fools who know nothing, are nothing. I’ll be the ruler of the world, and you will seal my destiny for it. It doesn’t have to be this way you know. You and I could rule together, side by side.”

“Never. I will never join with you. You will have to kill me before I give myself over to you, and you’ll never get an heir with me dead.”

His eyes flashed, his breath more ragged now. He was losing control. He squeezed harder. She tried harder to get a breath in, tried harder to remain conscious. He pushed her harder against the wall, pushing his weight against her, crushing her ribs and her hip bones.

“Don’t resist me, Melenthia, or you will just make things harder on yourself. Giving in will make your life less of a hell.”

His grip loosened just enough for her to take a small breath in. Then she spat on him. The dribble of spittle ran down his eyes. He growled and tightened his grip. Then all of a sudden his hand was no longer on her neck. She could finally breathe. She panted to try and get air into her starving lungs. Her neck hurt, and she could still feel his fingers grasping her throat. She put her fingers to her neck and touched the sore spot on her larynx. He was fading from her sight, moving away from her, disappearing into the distance. Before he was almost out of sight, she heard his voice in her ears.

“I found you, Melenthia. You thought you could hide forever but I found you. I will have you. I will have you.”



She sat up in bed, breath ragged and sweat dripping down her head in streams. She was crying and could hardly get air into her aching lungs. Dain’s arms had been around her and he started when she woke. He sat up now, too, and stared at her, a look of terror on her face. She was shaking uncontrollably, and, when he touched her arm, she jumped, moving halfway across the large bed. He was all of a sudden afraid.

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, the sky a faded gold and yellow, the birds now singing in the garden trees. It was an hour before dawn.

“Melenthia, what is it? What’s wrong?” He tried to slide over, move closer to her but her face held terror and she stiffened. He didn’t move any further. “What’s happened?”

“He was choking me, squeezing my neck. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I could feel his hot breath on my face, hear his panting in my ear.” She absentmindedly touched her neck again. It felt sore, as if bruised.

Dain lit the lamp and looked over at her, still on the bed, but just out of reach, tears streaking her face, her hands at her neck. He tried to move toward her, slowly. This time she didn’t pull back. He reached her and grabbed her gently, looking into her eyes.

“It was a nightmare, Melenthia, nothing more. You’re here, with me. You’re safe. He cannot harm you.”

She looked in his eyes as if trying to see something in them. She touched her neck again, trying to hide it from him. “I could feel him. Feel his hand on my throat. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get any air into my lungs; they were burning.” She rubbed her neck more.