Taken by the Enemy (4 page)

“Sit down, and don’t run again. Please.” Ben sighed and left her by a small fire on the periphery of the quieting celebrations. He returned a moment later with a thin piece of wood that held a tiny pile of meat, two berries, and some kind of chopped root vegetable. “There’s not much left, but here you go.”

He held out the plate to her for a second before she lifted her eyes to glare at him. “If you’re waiting for me to take that from you, you’re going to need to untie me.”

“Damn, I forgot. Here.” Ben sat down next to her and lifted a piece of greasy meat towards her mouth with his fingers. Emmie grimaced. His hands were dirty, and the boar itself looked to be the last dregs off the animal.

“I’m not hungry.” She turned away from the food, trying to ignore the tightness in her belly.

“Well, if you can find a place for yourself here, you’ll be able to eat with the rest of us, when there’s still good meat left. The ones in the stable always eat last.” Ben dropped the meat back onto the makeshift plate, and Emmie’s stomach growled traitorously.

“I don’t want a place here.”

“You’ve made that abundantly clear, but here’s the thing, little hawk – we’re your only option. Based on the look of you, you haven’t been outside the city long. Probably not far from the walls either.” He kicked his legs out in front of him, setting the plate on his thighs to lean back on his hands. “It’s not as easy as you think to find water, and you know what else is near fresh water?”

Emmie glanced at him, and he just raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”

“Animals,” he answered. “Lots of animals, and not cute, cuddly rabbits. Boar, cougars, bears. They need water too, and they’re not very happy about sharing it. See the problem?”

“I didn’t see anything like that when I filled my bottle.”

“You were probably still close to the city. They send out hunting parties occasionally, scare the game farther into the woods, but eventually you’d run into one. Get treed by a boar again, with no one around to save you.” Ben looked over at her and she just glared into the fire until she lost all night vision and spots started to appear. He chuckled, and sighed. “I don’t understand why you’re not at least a little grateful. You have shelter here. Food, water —”

“Lucian
attacked
me!” Emmie was surprised by her own shout, but Ben only shrugged.

“Nothing is free, little hawk. Especially not outside the walls.” His words settled like a rock in her empty stomach, but this time when he wiped his hand on his pants and offered her a berry, she delicately took it between her teeth. It exploded with sun-ripened sweetness in her mouth and she almost moaned. When he offered her the next one, she took it greedily, and soon she’d eaten all of the slightly hard root vegetable pieces, and even the greasy meat.

“May I have some water?” she asked quietly as she swallowed the last piece, and Ben walked away with the plate. The village center was almost empty, the fires flickering and dying, but the sky looked brighter because of it – and Emmie’s own outlook only looked dimmer.

What she wanted more than anything in that moment was to have the ropes off, to be able to stretch and roll her shoulders, to release the tension in her back. But she apparently had to
earn
that.

A shudder passed through her as Ben returned with a bowl, lifting it to her lips so she could sip the water. It tasted green, earthy, but she drank it greedily. Her stomach felt full for the first time since she’d left the city and she hated that these raiders had provided her that much – not like they hadn’t taken plenty from her.

“I want my pack.”

“Speaking again, are you?” Ben tilted his head until he caught her eyes.

“It’s mine.”

“Well, you’ll have to discuss that with Lucian.” He stared at her calmly as she fumed, clenching her hands into fists behind her back.

“Then may I
please
have my hands untied?”

Ben laughed quietly. “So polite all of a sudden! That’s something else Lucian will have to decide.”

“Do you do
anything
without Lucian’s permission?” Emmie shouted in frustration. “Do you need his permission to go to the bathroom?”

“No,
I
don’t.” Ben shrugged and gripped her arm to haul her to her feet. “But if you want to go to the bathroom, you might want my assistance before you’re in for the night.”

“Like hell.” She gritted her teeth, but he didn’t reply as he began to push her towards the stable. The walk was short, but the silence made it feel much longer. When they finally reached the animal skin over the doorway, she walked past the new guard and went inside without argument, and with her eyes already adjusted to the darkness, she could see Alice and Clara already laid out on thin fabric on the floor asleep, or at least pretending it.

It was difficult to move to her knees gracefully, and then drop to her side without waking up all of the other aches and pains already present – but she managed. Sleep came with effort as Emmie started to mentally recite an old poem she had memorized as a child:

“
If you can keep your head when all about you
  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
  But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
  Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
…
If you can dream — and not make dreams your master;
  If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
  And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
  Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken…”

Her mind stalled, unable to remember the rest and she sighed, rolling to her other shoulder. As much as she struggled, the only line that would come to her was one of the last, “
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it
.”

With the sound of the forest outside the shelter, that line made her laugh silently to herself. The Earth would never pay attention to her, but one thing was for sure – all the things she had given her life to were most definitely broken.

The bells of the town hall were ringing loudly, echoing across the cobblestones, but she was alone in the street. They beckoned her forward, one bare foot in front of the other, and the cool stone bled up through her legs until it chilled her very core.

You promised
, a voice whispered on the wind, and Emeline blinked away tears as she continued the climb up the hill towards the old center of the city.

“I can’t,” she cried and stopped. The wind whipped around her furiously, tearing at her hair and the dress she wore.

YOU PROMISED!

The roar made the wind howl, and Emeline could feel the tears chapping her cheeks in the gale, but she couldn’t force herself to move forward.

“I’m sorry!” she shouted into the wind, and she turned – and ran.

Gasping, Emmie awoke and tried to sit up but was yanked back down by the dead weight of her arms. They had fallen asleep as she tried to sleep on her back, and when she forced herself to sit up, the pinpricks of the blood returning was a unique pain.

I deserve it
.

She sniffled to herself, aware of the chill in the morning air, but it took all of her focus not to let loose a stream of curses as her arms went from that uncomfortable numbness to a furious pain that seemed to touch each nerve ending with icy fire.

“You’re awake,” the quiet whisper startled her until she saw Alice crawling towards the end of the thin cloth.

“Yes.”

“I’m glad, um, I —” Alice looked over at the sleeping form of Clara, the woman’s mouth open slightly as she nestled her head in the crook of her arm.

“What is it?” Emmie whispered, crossing her legs and leaning forward to try and convince her arms they didn’t need to be quite so adamant in their ache.

“I thought I recognized you yesterday, but I wasn’t sure, and I—” Alice took a steadying breath and moved even closer, lowering her voice to an almost inaudible level. “I think I know who you are.”

Alarm bells went off inside her almost as loudly as the ones from her dream, but Emmie tried to remain stoic. “What do you mean?”

“You’re Emeline Daniau!” Alice’s excitement was still contained by a low whisper, but it may as well have been shouted to the treetops. “You
are
Jules Daniau’s daughter, right?”

Emeline was struck still, an ill feeling swirling in her stomach as she fought the urge to throw up, or scream, or somehow murder the young woman without the use of her hands to keep her silent.

“I won’t tell anyone, I promise, I just…” Alice’s voice drifted into silence, and Emmie knew she was probably pale as the moon. “I just had to confirm when no one else would hear us. Victor is asleep, I checked.”

“Then why didn’t you run?”

“Just because he’s asleep doesn’t mean others are.” Alice scooted closer until their knees were almost touching and Emmie wanted to pull back, wanted to flee. “I know it’s you. I saw you a few times, and everyone always pointed your family out. Your father is —”

“Would you shut up!” Emmie hissed, and the girl’s eyes went wide. “You can’t tell them, you can’t tell
anyone
.”

“I won’t!” Alice whispered back, her face alight with a grin. “This is crazy though! Why would he exile
you
? You’re his daughter!”

“It’s complicated,” she mumbled, but the girl was practically bouncing with the affirmation.

“What will you do if the others recognize you? Your family is—” Alice waved her arms around. “– everywhere!”

“I’ll run.”

“You can’t!” Alice squeaked, and Clara grumbled in her sleep. She lowered her voice, an earnest concern pulling her brows together. “They’ll catch you, Emmie, they’ll
hurt
you.”

“If they know who I am, they might do a lot worse, Alice. Think about it.”

They both fell into silence, and the serious expression on the girl’s face made it clear that she at least understood that much. After a few minutes, she took a breath. “Well, I don’t blame you for any of it, if that helps…”

“It doesn’t.” Emmie pulled her knees in front of her chest, leaning her forehead onto them as she flexed her fingers behind her. She spoke against the fabric of her pants. “Do you think they’ll untie me today?”

“Maybe,” Alice whispered. “Are you in pain?”

“No,” she lied, but then the full feeling in her bladder made her wince. “But I do need a toilet.”

“Oh,
oh
.” The girl stood up and bent to help Emmie to her feet. “I’ll help.”

After what was quite possibly the most humiliating morning she’d ever had, Emmie was almost grateful to be fully dressed and back in the center of the village being whispered about as some kind of new oddity.

Being spoon fed gruel was no longer a concern, but she missed the use of her hands furiously. Alice was busy rebraiding her hair when Lucian appeared on the other side of the small fire that was keeping the chill of the morning at bay.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning!” Alice said cheerily, and Lucian nodded his head at her before returning his gray eyes to Emmie expectantly.

She kept her mouth firmly shut, glaring up at him and doing her best to express her hatred non-verbally.

“Nothing to say, little bird?”

“Not to you,” Emmie muttered.

He shrugged and dropped his hands on his hips, looking way too perfect in the early morning light. “Well, if you have nothing to say then I guess you can spend another day with your hands bound.”

Emmie gritted her teeth, but when he turned to walk away, the word burst from her lips, “Wait!”

Lucian paused, turning to face her again. “Yes?”

“I want my hands untied,” she said.

“Going to ask?” He stared at her for a moment, and when she didn’t respond, he shrugged again and started to turn away.

“Dammit!” she shouted. “Will you untie my hands?”

When he turned around, he was smiling, a devilish tilt to his lips that made her want to hit him again. “Say please.”

Her stomach clenched around the measly amount of food in it, but she was somehow able to grate the word out. “
Please
.”

“Was that so hard?” Lucian asked as he stepped around the fire. Alice quickly tied off the braid, moving aside as he gripped Emmie’s arm to pull her to her feet.

“Yes,” she answered and he chuckled.

“You don’t want to do anything the easy way, do you?”

That
question she decided to leave unanswered as he navigated them through the morning movements of the village. As he passed others they smiled or nodded at him, a few called out to him from their work and he waved with his free hand.

Emmie hated all of them for their complicity.

“Here, kneel down.” Lucian pushed open a roughly hewn wooden door and pointed to the floor inside, which was lined with animal skins. It was a luxurious space compared to the stable she had slept in. Large, with a huge pallet for a bed, a small table in one corner with a chair, along with hand crafted dishes, and other supplies organized around the room. It was tall enough for Lucian to stand in, and he was at least half a head taller than she was. The roof also had a flap which let dappled sunlight pour in, lighting the room easily.

Emmie blamed her own surprise for the fact that she found herself on her knees as he’d requested. It was tempting to climb back to her feet, but she knew she’d look ridiculous as she struggled to do it, so she tried to look as composed as possible in the kneel.

Lucian grabbed the chair and planted it in front of her, taking a seat before he leveled his gray eyes at her. “Well?”

“Well?” Emmie echoed, staring up at him. The small smile that spread over his lips made her furious.

“You asked to have your wrists unbound.”

She rolled her eyes. “So, what are you waiting for?”

He laughed.
Actually laughed
. A bright sound that brought out the baritone of his natural voice, and then he leaned back in the chair, throwing one arm over it. “I’m waiting for you to earn it.”

“How?” Emmie tensed, and his gray eyes moved down her body slowly.

“I thought I might let you come up with an acceptable option.” Lucian sounded like he was having the most calm, respectable conversation in the world – but
this
discussion was anything but reputable.

“I’m not fucking you, if that’s what you think.”

“What a mouth!” He laughed again and she wanted to scream. “If you don’t want to
fuck
me for this, then offer something else. That is, unless you’ve grown comfortable with your wrists tied like that.”

“Fine. I promise not to hit you again when you untie me.” Emmie said it seriously, but he only chuckled.

“Try again.”

“I won’t strangle you either.”

Lucian grinned, leaning forward. “As if you could.”

Emmie leaned forward too, their faces dangerously close. “Untie my hands and let’s test it.”

“You’re an interesting one, little bird.” He laughed softly. “But, I think you’ll need to think of something else.”

She hated it, but she pulled back first and he returned to his relaxed posture in the chair. The incessant ache in her shoulders and back were impossible to ignore, and the pain in her wrists already told her she’d worn the skin raw. The added humiliation of needing Alice’s assistance that morning was too much – she
needed
her hands free. “What do you want?” Emmie whispered.

“I want you to accept your role here, and earn the right to have your hands free.”

“I refuse.”

Lucian stood up and grabbed the back of the chair to return it to the table. “All right then, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Wait!” Emmie cried out and he stopped. She let out a frustrated scream and clenched her eyes tight. “Please, I want my hands free. I’ll do what you want.”

The sound of the chair landing in front of her alerted her to his presence, and then she heard his deep breath as he settled onto it. “All right. What do you think I want?”

She took a steadying breath. “Me.”

Silence stretched, and then she felt his touch under her chin lifting her head and she opened her eyes to find that heather gray stare inches from her. “Yes, I do. What are you offering, little bird?”

“
Please
,” she whimpered, and his thumb brushed across her lips. The intimacy of that touch made her shudder, and then she knew exactly what he wanted. “I’ll—”

“Yes?” he asked, holding her chin so that she couldn’t look away. It was infuriating to look at him. Those strong features, accented by the delicate, high cheekbones that would have made him almost pretty if it weren’t for the rugged tousle of his light brown hair. She hated him, and his face, and his strong body, and the power he held over her.

“I’ll taste you,” she whispered, and his eyes widened slightly.

“Really.” It didn’t come across as a question, more of a doubting mockery, but
that
was something she at least knew how to do. It was at least something she had done under much more pleasant circumstances.