| The night was still�. nothing could be heard, but the whimperings of the small red-headed girl. �Poppa� no! I�m not a bad girl!�� He laughed softly, harshly into the night.. �I daresay you aren�t bad, girl, and I do believe I told you not to call me Poppa.� The larger shadow slaps the smaller one, the sound of flesh hitting flesh, rings out in the stillness of the night. A small sleepy voice is heard in the dark��Cewaeno? Wha� da�?� The smaller girl sits up in her bed, rubbing her eyes. �I had a bad dream, Drace� P� M� Lord Janz came to check on Me.. Go back to sleep�� The red headed girl�s voice is quiet, and soothing to the little one. The man, Janz, sneers in the darkness, hissing softly to the older girl..�You can�t very well protect her forever, Celaeno, I daresay I will have the chit�� He walks out, adjusting his hose.. Celaeno whispers softly into the night,� I can try.� She clutches the bedclothes to her chest tightly, and weeps herself to sleep quietly, the cold pre-dawn light filtering into the room� Dawn breaks� and the young copper headed, woman wakes, slowly, putting her hand lightly on her stomach, making a silent promise. She rises and struggles into her corset and gown quickly, without the aid of her maid, thanking the Fates for what little mercy they have for Drace being away from home now� She starts at a sharp rap on her door. �One moment,� she calls out over her shoulder still lacing her gown. Janz saunters in, not bothering to wait for permission. His handsome face is marred by a smug sneer. �Well now, early to � bed � and early to make me �rise. � He crosses the room to her side. �Why do you bother child, with putting your clothes on? I daresay you know by now that gown will be ruined briefly. And, your poor, dear, Maman will never know why. Will she?� He slaps her buttocks sharply, enjoying her flush of anger. �Come now m�dear, Must I remove that gown my way?� His face takes on a congenial smile as he regards Celaeno. �Such a pity you weren�t born to be a whore, a beautiful piece like yourself could lie like a log and still wear silks.� He pauses, putting a finger to his lips as if in thoughts, his gray eyes cold, � Oh, wait you do, don�t you my beauty?� �If I am a whore, �tis you who made me one. Poppa.� Celaeno�s leaf-green eyes glitter with hatred. Janz backhands Celaeno across the face, his bejeweled rings cutting open her mouth. �I thought I told you, my beauty, not to call me that, I am not your misbegotten Poppa.� :His eyes narrow as he raises his walking stick to rain blows on Celaeno. She flinches out of fear, and knowing what�s to come� She wraps her arms around her midsection instead of raising then to protect her head. She wakens, hours later; her eyes swollen shut and bruised a deep purple and black. Her lips are split and bloodied, her gown hangs from her shoulders in tatters; angry red hand and finger marks mar her pale skin. She pushes to her feet slowly, clutching at the remains of her gown with one hand, the other holding onto the bedpost, white-knuckled, for support. Tears stream down her face, mingling with the dried blood, and dripping down off her chin�. She leans against the bedpost, her hand resting lightly on her stomach; �He won�t hurt you little one.. I promise..� She jumps at a knock on her door, all colour draining from her face. �I am indisposed, leave me alone. � �Celaeno? It�s me, Maman� What�s wrong chere? Your stepfather said some boy ruined you. Is this true? Talk to me.� The older woman�s voice is gentle and pleading from the other side of the door. �Go away Maman� He lies.. �Twas no boy who ruined me. �Twas a disgusting.. cochon old enough to be my father who did.� Celaeno�s voice is angry and bitter, and filled with a bit of longing. She so wants to tell her mother what a pig Janz is, to leave, and keep Drace away from him. Instead, she crosses the room unsteadily, and pushes a heavy chair in front of her door; collapsing into it when she�s done� The sweet blackness of unconsciousness claims her again. Moonlight filters through the windows of the room, playing softly across her marred flesh, making her appear grotesque and beautiful all at once. She awakens with a start, her hand coming up to gingerly touch her face. She pushes up out of the chair, and pushes it out of the way, just as a frantic knocking is heard at her door. She calls out, her voice heavy with sleep still, �I am unwell, and do not wish to be disturbed�� Her mother�s voice comes wafting through the heavy door again, �Celaeno! Please, open the door. Your sister, Drace, is missing�.� Soft sobs accompany the desperate voice through the door. �Please Celaeno.. let me in�. Let me see you so I know you are alright�� |
| Whispers In The Night |
| Warning, graphic and mature content |
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