The Concubine (5 page)

“What have you done, Lord Valancette?” I finally gain courage to ask.
 

“What should have been done years ago…I only righted a wrong.”
 

“What wrong? Where are the others? The palace…”
“Do not worry yourself over them. They do not deserve it.”
“They were my family! What have you done to, Marik?” The tears fall, and my head spun.
“I am your family now.”

He must have put something in the water. My vision blurs, dizziness overcomes me all at once and too soon I find myself in darkness.
 

I am alone when I awake. The hour is lost upon me as the only source of lights comes from the candelabras at the walls. I raise my head in an attempt to assess the room I am in but in doing so I exacerbate the pounding at my temples. I am still bound, shackled to the bed. There are innumerable questions battering at my mind, the main of which wonders what has happened to not only you, my king, but those who’ve been charged to protect us. What’s happened to Kivar? Somia?  Salyn?
“Even in a time of war, you are still wanted by your enemies.” was that Krea’s voice? She came away from the shadows and approached me.
Her face when not contorted in scowl seemed almost pretty to look at, but at the moment she scowls down at me, her eyes so cold and malicious.
“You know,” she whispers, as though allowing me in on a great secret.” I can carve that abomination from your womb and happily watch as you bleed to death.” She brandishes her dagger, the blade catching the light just so emphasizes her deadly point.
“You wouldn’t…“

“What is it exactly about you that make’s men act like idiots, hmm?” She draws closer. “Could it be your face?” the dagger licks across my cheek with lightening precision, drawing blood, but not deep enough to mar, but it hurts all the same. 
“Or maybe these lips?” She takes my jaw within her hand and draws the dagger across my lips. “I could make them redder.” She presses down, the pressure biting into my flesh and I knew she would’ve gone through with the threat had it not been for Lord Valancette’s intrusion. 
“It would behoove you to drop that dagger and step away from her, Krea.” He says with warning, coming just within my eyesight.

It takes her a moment in which I believe she would ignore the command and finish what she’d wanted to do for so very long now. But she takes a step back, taking her dagger with her. I release the sigh I wasn’t aware I was holding.
“She is not deserving of your affections, my king.” 
“Careful my sweet, speak no ill of my consort or I might just overlook the favor you have done me and kill you.”

“Yes, your majesty.”
“Leave us.” She hesitates for but a minute but turns on her heel and leaves with a huff.
“How are you feeling?”

“Where is, Marik?” I countered. 
“Dead.” he looks to the trey at my bedside. “You have not eaten.” 
“You’re Lying! What have you done to him!” his oleaginous smile sends a chill down my spine.
“How can I possibly lie when his wife helped me carry out the deed? A simple swipe of her dagger across his throat.”
“Krea loves Marik…she would never kill him, never!” 
 

“With the right incentives, even you can be brought to kill a loved one.” He was evil when he smiled. He leans forward to kiss my forehead. “You must eat, my sweet, if only to preserve strength for the child you carry.” he left me to my agony.
You are not dead. You are far too stubborn to allow yourself to be murdered in such a way. Too wise to allow such stupidity to befall you, my king. You are not dead. Please, my love let it not be so. There is so much I need to tell you, so much we need to share. Fate can be not be so cruel. To give me this gift, this precious life in me, only to take you away so prematurely. You are not dead.

I weep only because my heart aches, my soul despairs because you are not here, at this moment, beside me. My body is wracked with sobs because…because…because…the pain is too much to bear.

My coughs are loud, the ache forms into bile and spills from mouth on the bed, I see blood as I continue to cough, I don’t care, I don’t care! The acid burns my throat, tickles my nose and tastes horrible against my tongue, someone has come, trying to restrain me, trying to coerce me to seize my loud coughs, but I hear nothing, see no one.
Please Marik, let it not be so! How can I survive without you? How long will I go on before anguish causes me to kill myself? For what is life if I do not have you to share it with? Our child will be lost, so lost without you…
 

***

There is naught else left but this gaping wound inside the very core of me. Numbness envelops me, cocoons me from emotions I no longer wish to feel. Our child lives, grows and breaths through me. This child, the sole reason I allow myself to remain alive. I could’ve killed myself countless of times, with the chains I am bound with, but I will not, I cannot. This child will live and rule one day in your stead, the true heir to Noria. I will raise it to be everything you were. It will be a magnificent ruler, for the blood of kings’ courses through its veins. 
The months have passed, I have learned very little, I have seen no one I know, but I know the palace of Noria still stands. Lord Valancette has usurped your throne and those who opposed him were either killed or put into slavery, made to rebuild. I have learned that he means to make me his consort. The idea is laughable, but I will sit by his side, wed him if I must, and be a complacent wife if only to keep my child safe. I willfully whore myself to this snake, the idea not at all foreign to me. I no longer live for myself Marik. My joy has left with you, but a love remains for our child, our child gives me hope, gives me the will to go on. 
He has burnt everything that was ever given to me by you, he has clothed me in dark satins and silk, colors to match my eyes, colors to complement my burnished complexion. Your name is banned from my lips and anyone else’s around the palace. I mourn Kivar for I know naught if he lives, Somia also. My days and nights are spent in this room, always within his company, Lucian as he has asked to be called.
Always he acts the perfect suitor, as if he is courting me. He wants to please me and when I say something to upset him, he is cruel and precise with his punishments. Once, because I had angered him by uttering your name, he threatened to have our child sold into slavery when it was born. That was the day I came to a decision to protect our child at all cost. 
My collar, my beautiful golden red collar is gone, that, above all the rest I dreaded parting with, it was special to me, almost like a wedding band. I cried when he tossed it into the flames, he had expected me to thank him, as if he had done me a great favor, but I hated him more, so much more. My fingers mindlessly run over the empty space now, I miss it. 
“We are ready for you.” Did I forget to mention, today is my wedding day? I rise and follow, the yards of garish emerald satin wraps around me as I walk. The halls, once so vibrant with court life and chatter, are now silent and tomb-like. There is no laughter, no happiness. Everyone, everything is somber, lifeless, kept in line by Lucian’s guards.
Followers of the new reign lined the throne room, spectators to the wedding of a whore and a usurper. Lucian donned the colors of Noria, in the flowing robes, the golden crown on his head looks out of place. He looks at me now with those evil blue eyes, beckoning me to approach him. 
“Before we commence, there is something I must do.” I look at him expectantly, wondering what exactly he is talking about. 
I did not wait long to have my answer. He sits me down on the divan and terror resonates when two guards head our way. It dawns on me too late what he intends to do. He curtails my attempt to flee as by presses my head to his chest.
“It must be done,” he whispers harshly, lifting my garments and exposing my naked thighs for all to see. It will hurt for but a second.” He lies.  My screams echo throughout the silent room, my eyes wide as he mercilessly brands his insignia on the inner most part of my trembling thigh. The stench of my burning flesh makes me want to retch.
I don’t remember much after that. I was escorted to his chambers after, washed and shaved, scented with honeyed fig and made to kneel on the floor to await his arrival, naked. The insignia ached, but did not throb, the poultice they had applied dulling the pain.
He came in, silent and menacing, I did not bow my head as was fitting, but matched his stare with my own emotionless one. I will not cower before this man. 
“You are even more beautiful than I imagined.” He pulls me to him. My body flushed against his aroused one. “Even with his bastard child growing in your womb.” His fingers run across my chest, squeezing my breasts, down my back to caress my buttocks, then continued down to the center of me. I am ready for him the scented oils applied just so ensuring that. 
“You will give me sons when his bastard child is born.” 
“Yes, your brooding mare at your complete disposal.” I mutter, he cups my chin and plants a brutal kiss. 
“So eager to put your tongue to good use, little one?” his tongue flicks across my moist and bruised lips.
“Isn’t that the reason for all this?” 
He pulls away with a harsh laugh. “If I only wanted a quick fuck, you would’ve been thoroughly fucked months ago.” he takes my arm and drags me to the bed. “No, I will make you submit to me. Your loyalty will be mine, having that from you would be the icing on the cake, as they say. Shame your lover isn’t here to witness this.” his fist my hair and brings me to my knees before him.
“I believe the Marik once said that your mouth was one of delight, show me how delightful.” he orders. 

I close my eyes and your face appears. It is your length I hungrily take into my mouth, your root I lather with saliva. It is you moaning my name, you fisting your hand through my hair, enjoying the wonders of my talented mouth. You’re beautiful behind my lids, god-like in your want for me, as you thrust into my mouth, the thick veined shaft fucking my throat.
It is you that has me upon the bed, my eyes are tightly shut. You who spread my thighs, it is you who is thrusting into the very core of me. Your hair so long and golden, curtains our secret moment, as you continue to move your hips, loving me like no other man can.
“Marik…” only you my love, only you.
 

His punishment, when it comes is swift and precise. A bonfire of my artwork lights the evening sky. The magnificent flame spreads and licks the canvases until there is nothing left. Tears of sorrow blur my vision as I watch your face ravaged by merciless flames, melting away into ashes. I stand and watch with despair filling my lungs. I inhale a shuddering breath, doing all that I can not to succumb to the oncoming sobs.
 

He is at my back. The heftiness of his presence beating me to submission, he languidly brushes my hair aside exposing the side of my neck to his lips. I dare not move.

“The next time you feel the need to speak his name when I am rutting you, I strongly suggest you bite your tongue. Otherwise I will not be held responsible for my actions.” He says ruthlessly against my ear. “Don’t test me again, little one.” With a parting kiss he leaves me to my misery.

I know not how long I stand here, but the eventual death of embers pulls me to my knees. Ashes and soot still warm from my new master’s fury burn the tender flesh of my palm. But it is a burn I relish, the pain a reminder of what he can never take from me. He may burn all that I possess all that you have ever given me, but know my king, that my love, my fealty belongs solely to you.

***

In these precious few moments when I am left to my own devices, my mind runs away with me. My musings centers on this lovely child who grows within me. He is a boy I believe. An heir, can you imagine, Marik? A little prince of our own. I cannot possibly imagine what he will look like. Perhaps a tawny haired little sprite with your eyes and my nose and lips? What a devastation he will be upon the female population with your patrician features. He will have your charm, I imagine and a grin that will undoubtedly rival your own?

He kicks as though he agrees and my hand crawls to my rounded belly with a contented smile, attempting to follow his movements. I wish you were here to feel this, feel your son.
“I’m glad to see something is all of this amuses you.” I turn with a gasp, unable to believe that he is here. My heart soars along with my feet as I jump up and throw my arms around him. He stiffens but I cannot find it in myself to care as I inhale his scent, long and deep. Lye and soot.
“Oh heavens, Kivar, I thought you dead.” My hands are everywhere, touching is face, searching for injuries.

With a huff, he takes hold of my hands and gently pushes me away. “I have survived.”

Tears suddenly well and it’s impossible to hold them back. Relief and joy fight a battle at my core until they both melt into one messy emotion that creeps into my chest.

“Silly woman carrying on like this when you have the king’s heir in your womb. It is no way for a lady to act.” Despite the bite of his tone, he approaches me and swipes at my cheeks with his fingers.

“Since when do you regard me as a Lady, Kivar?”

He shrugs. “Since I’ve come to the realization that you are the mother of Noria’s next sovereign.” He pulls me along to sit and joins me soon after.
“They captured me and threw me in the dungeons where I awaited my fate along with countless members of the court. Days passed and each person would be taken out never to be seen again. I thought my death was imminent.” 
“How are you here? And what of Marik? Somia?” he stands and begins to pace.
“The new king has heard of my potions and what they are capable of doing, do not ask me how he found out for I have never revealed my potions to anyone but the royal family and yourself. But he released me to come and care for you. I have heard that your pregnancy is becoming difficult.”

I did not know why he did not tell me of Marik or Somia.
“Only slight pains in my lower abdomen, nothing to fuss over.” I reach out to guide him back to sit with me. “Please tell me, do they live?” 
“I did not see the new queen in any of the cells. As to the king…”

I stare at him with wide eyes, breath suspended in my lungs. “So you know then? He’s…”
He looks at me solemnly and I slowly shake my head in denial. “No.”