It has been days since I have become acquainted with my new chambers and to say I am going mad would be quite the understatement. Although, it was quite surprising to me what I found once I was able to explore. It was quite obvious my abduction had been planned well in advance, as I had access to all the basic womanly necessities; clothing, toiletries, hairpins, and shoes. At least I would not be stuck as a mermaid for my entire stay. It was the non-essential elements that took me by surprise.
There were shelves with books of varying content, both educational and fanciful. It was also stocked with a variety of needlepoint materials that while not my normal cup of tea, at least had the ability to assuage some boredom. Lastly and most interestingly, were the copious amounts of art materials. Parchment, charcoal, paints, and brushes. I was hard pressed to believe that a ruffian such as Niklaus Mikaelson could hold any interest in the finer things in life beyond doubloons and debauchery; it was quite obvious some thought had gone into the purchasing of these items. Perhaps he wasn’t the only one with a preconceived notion or two. Irrelevant, because he was still a pirate and I was just as captive no matter how fine the furnishings.
My only break in monotony was my daily visit by a young cabin boy who provided my meals and a bit of companionship. Although boy may be a bit of a stretch because he was surely my age, he seemed so much younger and far less worldly for being on a pirate ship. Matthew arrived thrice daily with a tray of food and whatever information I could glean from him. The first day or two he was most reticent to even speak to me, but he said I reminded him of his sister and he took some pity. He saw me as a girl caught in a horrible situation through no fault of her own.
I saw him as a means to escape.
I made sure to be working diligently on some craft or another every time he arrived. Tapestry draped across knees pressed firmly together and hands lightly placed in my lap, a downward gaze speaking of one demure and innocent. So I possibly laid it on a bit thick, but I was desperate. It was through him I found out the ship had docked in a small port for provisions and most of the crew and disembarked for the evening. He stated with a blush that he had stayed behind through lack of interest in what entertainment the others would be pursuing.
He was far too sweet for me to get caught up in my escapades, so I declined trying to barter with him to free me. Instead, I would use the other “craft” project I had been working on to aid my escape. While Matthew was most attentive to my stories of eccentric society dames, he was not as attentive with the silverware. I had been able to slip a knife into the copious folds of my dress and that same knife had been most useful in taking apart the hinges of my door one evening. I had immediately put them back together, but they were now easily undone. I had been waiting for the perfect time to slip the bolts free and make my escape. Tonight was it.
I prepared for the evening by using some material to pin my jewelry from the ball to the inside of my skirt and scissors to alter my undergarments in a way so that I had less to weigh me down in my short swim. A satchel found amidst all the clothing left for me could easily be pulled behind me with anything I might need once I reached shore and could find some help. I was unrealistically optimistic about my chances and had little idea of the danger I was exposing myself to other than the wrath of Niklaus.
I would soon understand my folly.
I watched the clock unblinkingly until the hands reached midnight before I made my attempt. The hinges slipped out easily and I carefully pulled at the metal until the door opened enough for me to wedge myself through and then pull the door back closed as best I could. It would not pass any kind of close inspection, but a casual glance could be fooled. The ship appeared deserted and I traced back the path I remembered taking when I arrived in order to find the deck. I was nearing the stairs I hoped would lead me to freedom when he stepped out from a doorway. Tall, broad, and reeking of liquor, my unexpected company had obviously not found reason to be on shore that evening and instead was now hindering my progress and leering at me as if I were a tasty morsel.
“Wot we got ‘ere, luv? Feelin’ to stretch yer legs? Hows about we stretch out some other parts of yea as well?”
A steely grip drags me into the room from which my obstacle had just exited and I was pressed against the wall before I had a moment to register that there may be worse things than boredom or a midnight swim in store for me this evening. I opened my mouth to scream for help, who I thought would be my hero I did not know, when a greasy mouth covered my own and a foul tongue was forced inside. I struggled viciously against his cruel attack, hands running roughly over my body that was trying to evade every touch. His kiss hard enough to draw blood as I tried to turn my head while a hand reached inside my bodice to paw and pinch at my breast. I guess Niklaus was wrong about the revenge that was going to be dealt to my father.
I had been in a similar position before with the Marquess, but this savage man was not simply trying to steal a kiss. He was going to keep taking until I was used and discarded on the floor. I knew any action I took could very well fail and only incur greater ire, but I had to try. I bit down hard on my attacker’s tongue and shoved when that action momentarily stunned him. I began to scream my head off while racing for the door until fingers clenched in my flaxen tresses to throw me back against the wall. It was in this moment I hoped he was angry enough to beat me into unconsciousness before he undertook whatever level of deviance he preferred. At least then I would not have to endure it.
With hands clenched around my throat, my world began to darken while I smiled it sweet relief; at least my ordeal was over. It was this last thought that I became confused when the pressure was alleviate and I crumbled to the floor. I realized I was staring at my assailant, also prone, lying across from me and bleeding from his skull. How could this be?
A moment later I was looking into the eyes of my wolfish savior as he inspected me, his expression a mixture of anger and concern. I could barely make out what he was saying in such growling tones as picked me up from the floor to take me back to my cell, but a lady must always remember her manners and with the last of my breath I rasped out what any thwarting of sexual assault deserves.
“Thank you.”
It was then, with my duties thusly met, I allowed myself to enter the black.
There were shelves with books of varying content, both educational and fanciful. It was also stocked with a variety of needlepoint materials that while not my normal cup of tea, at least had the ability to assuage some boredom. Lastly and most interestingly, were the copious amounts of art materials. Parchment, charcoal, paints, and brushes. I was hard pressed to believe that a ruffian such as Niklaus Mikaelson could hold any interest in the finer things in life beyond doubloons and debauchery; it was quite obvious some thought had gone into the purchasing of these items. Perhaps he wasn’t the only one with a preconceived notion or two. Irrelevant, because he was still a pirate and I was just as captive no matter how fine the furnishings.
My only break in monotony was my daily visit by a young cabin boy who provided my meals and a bit of companionship. Although boy may be a bit of a stretch because he was surely my age, he seemed so much younger and far less worldly for being on a pirate ship. Matthew arrived thrice daily with a tray of food and whatever information I could glean from him. The first day or two he was most reticent to even speak to me, but he said I reminded him of his sister and he took some pity. He saw me as a girl caught in a horrible situation through no fault of her own.
I saw him as a means to escape.
I made sure to be working diligently on some craft or another every time he arrived. Tapestry draped across knees pressed firmly together and hands lightly placed in my lap, a downward gaze speaking of one demure and innocent. So I possibly laid it on a bit thick, but I was desperate. It was through him I found out the ship had docked in a small port for provisions and most of the crew and disembarked for the evening. He stated with a blush that he had stayed behind through lack of interest in what entertainment the others would be pursuing.
He was far too sweet for me to get caught up in my escapades, so I declined trying to barter with him to free me. Instead, I would use the other “craft” project I had been working on to aid my escape. While Matthew was most attentive to my stories of eccentric society dames, he was not as attentive with the silverware. I had been able to slip a knife into the copious folds of my dress and that same knife had been most useful in taking apart the hinges of my door one evening. I had immediately put them back together, but they were now easily undone. I had been waiting for the perfect time to slip the bolts free and make my escape. Tonight was it.
I prepared for the evening by using some material to pin my jewelry from the ball to the inside of my skirt and scissors to alter my undergarments in a way so that I had less to weigh me down in my short swim. A satchel found amidst all the clothing left for me could easily be pulled behind me with anything I might need once I reached shore and could find some help. I was unrealistically optimistic about my chances and had little idea of the danger I was exposing myself to other than the wrath of Niklaus.
I would soon understand my folly.
I watched the clock unblinkingly until the hands reached midnight before I made my attempt. The hinges slipped out easily and I carefully pulled at the metal until the door opened enough for me to wedge myself through and then pull the door back closed as best I could. It would not pass any kind of close inspection, but a casual glance could be fooled. The ship appeared deserted and I traced back the path I remembered taking when I arrived in order to find the deck. I was nearing the stairs I hoped would lead me to freedom when he stepped out from a doorway. Tall, broad, and reeking of liquor, my unexpected company had obviously not found reason to be on shore that evening and instead was now hindering my progress and leering at me as if I were a tasty morsel.
“Wot we got ‘ere, luv? Feelin’ to stretch yer legs? Hows about we stretch out some other parts of yea as well?”
A steely grip drags me into the room from which my obstacle had just exited and I was pressed against the wall before I had a moment to register that there may be worse things than boredom or a midnight swim in store for me this evening. I opened my mouth to scream for help, who I thought would be my hero I did not know, when a greasy mouth covered my own and a foul tongue was forced inside. I struggled viciously against his cruel attack, hands running roughly over my body that was trying to evade every touch. His kiss hard enough to draw blood as I tried to turn my head while a hand reached inside my bodice to paw and pinch at my breast. I guess Niklaus was wrong about the revenge that was going to be dealt to my father.
I had been in a similar position before with the Marquess, but this savage man was not simply trying to steal a kiss. He was going to keep taking until I was used and discarded on the floor. I knew any action I took could very well fail and only incur greater ire, but I had to try. I bit down hard on my attacker’s tongue and shoved when that action momentarily stunned him. I began to scream my head off while racing for the door until fingers clenched in my flaxen tresses to throw me back against the wall. It was in this moment I hoped he was angry enough to beat me into unconsciousness before he undertook whatever level of deviance he preferred. At least then I would not have to endure it.
With hands clenched around my throat, my world began to darken while I smiled it sweet relief; at least my ordeal was over. It was this last thought that I became confused when the pressure was alleviate and I crumbled to the floor. I realized I was staring at my assailant, also prone, lying across from me and bleeding from his skull. How could this be?
A moment later I was looking into the eyes of my wolfish savior as he inspected me, his expression a mixture of anger and concern. I could barely make out what he was saying in such growling tones as picked me up from the floor to take me back to my cell, but a lady must always remember her manners and with the last of my breath I rasped out what any thwarting of sexual assault deserves.
“Thank you.”
It was then, with my duties thusly met, I allowed myself to enter the black.