Our Secret Sins

Naiara ran through the forest, rain pelting her body as she tried to get away. She had to move faster, find some place to hide. She pushed herself through the darkness, the ice-cold rain chilling her warm flesh through her crimson dress.

She rushed through the wet foliage as fast as she could, but her dress suddenly caught on a branch, pulling her down with an "oomph" onto the cold ground. She winced as she frantically reached behind her, pulling as hard as she could on the hem to free herself. The crimson fabric finally gave way after a few precious seconds, shredding the side of her gown.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins once she was finally free. Naiara scrambled to her feet, slipping slightly in the puddles. As she rushed, one of her silk slippers slipped from her foot causing her to stumble from the sudden cold on her bare foot. She caught herself and trudged on, she had to move faster. Her slipper forgotten, she found her footing again and ran...

But only moments behind her, a man laughed darkly at her useless plight. He knelt down, the lightning showing him clues as if aiding him in his quest. In a flash of light, he saw a piece of her torn crimson dress on a branch and her ruby red slipper. He smiled, she had gone this way. She wouldn't get far in the forest at night, especially in the rain. He would catch her, and he would give her what she deserved.

Naiara felt as though she'd been running for hours. She soon found herself in a grove of trees and spotted one with a hollow trunk. She took refuge inside it to hide and to catch her breath for a few seconds. Her breathing sought to betray her as she tried to quiet her body. She had run too fast for far too long, but he was out to kill her. He had been very adamant about that; she had angered him for the last time and he would put an end to her.

She yelped as she heard what sounded like wood breaking around her. She covered her mouth with her hands and tried to stay perfectly still. But deep inside she knew it was only a matter of time before he found her hiding place. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as silence fell for what seemed like an eternity. She closed her eyes as the silence was finally broken as her predator began to hum a tune she was all too familiar with.

Tears streamed down her face as her body began to tremble. The tune was haunting as it mimicked a sick lullaby and it was her code to do as he commanded. It had been beaten into her for years until he had broken her, and she did as he commanded when he sang that song. 

"Hush, my dear, never fear. Still, and gaze at the full moonlight. Do you see the shadows fair? This world is full of twisted light and fools who love to deceive. Be light on your feet, cunning and swift. Follow the path, down this way and that. Always one step ahead, before you fall dead. Tell me, my love, do you regret?”

 Naira fought to remain still. He was only going to kill her even if she obeyed. So, she stayed perfectly still hoping to make him rethink her position. Her hand remained over her mouth as the tree that had become her haven was suddenly split from the side. She screamed in fright as the tip of a sword came to rest on her shoulder. She dashed out of the tree only to see her tormentor with his sword drawn, a malicious smile staining his face.

She looked around; it was a dark night and she was deep in the forest. No one would ever find her... if they even bothered to look for her that is. Her only family was after all trying to put an end to her life at this very moment. She had no one that really cared for her... Naiara swallowed hard as the truth hit her; she would never be found if she couldn't escape...

He pointed his sword at her, "It's time to stop running. I warned you to stay out of my affairs and instead you tried to escape when you heard things you shouldn't have."

She balked at him, anger replacing her fear for a few moments, "You were planning on selling me and only God knows what more would happen to me then. My life with you has been unbearable enough. I'm not your property. I never was and never will be."

He smirked, "You naive little girl. You. Belong. To. Me."

He paused as he looked at her small but curvy frame, "It's true I had been planning on selling you to get you out of my hair. But I've decided to get rid of you another way. I see now that I would have to pay your buyer just to keep putting up with you. I can make more money from your death in the long run."

With wide eyes, she began to back up slowly as he approached her like a beast stalking his prey. He towered over her small stature of 5'5 to his 6'5. He reached out for her as she turned to run as fast as she could, only to have him grab the hem of her dress as she turned. She fell with a thud, the cold, wet ground seeping into her dress, chilling her very bones.

She screamed as she struggled to free herself from his grasp, but her screams were only silenced by the roar of thunder above them. Her nails dug into the wet ground, breaking, as he tried to pull her towards him. She could hear her dress ripping in his hands. Her breathing was becoming labored; she was so tired from running, from fighting.

Naiara soon lost the battle and found herself on her back with her tormentor looming over her like a reaper on the hunt for fresh souls. He held a small dagger to her throat and then roughly dragged it down the front of her dress leaving her bare to the elements.

Too frightened to make any sound she simply stared up at him, trying to think of any way to escape from him again. He laughed down at her defeated form, "Such a pity that you will never completely know a man. But since you won't be getting sold to my perspective buyer, I could change that for you before I take your life as well."

He reached for her legs and she kicked him in the stomach making him double over and giving her one more chance. She bolted from underneath him and ran, once again, for her life. She had lost what little clothing she had had in their struggle making her escape that much harder, but she wouldn't go down without trying. If she could only get to a road...

He caught up to her quickly, this time not underestimating her. He caught her by the arm and threw her against a tree knocking the wind out of her body. She slid down the tree, the bark scraping her bare back, until she came to rest at the base. He grabbed her by the throat and yanked her back up, "That was unwise you little whore."

She narrowed her eyes at him and spoke breathlessly, "You're going to kill me anyway, so I fail to see how this changes anything."

He smirked, "It changes the way you will die."

Her eyes widened before he threw her roughly to the ground where she landed on her stomach. As she struggled to rise to her knees, he moved behind her with a rock in his hands. He hit her head from behind knocking her down. She caught herself on her hands and gasped for air as the force from the rock hit her.

Naiara shuddered as the familiar copper taste filled her mouth. She reached up to her lips and saw what she had feared. She was so dizzy, she had to get away... He had hit her too hard. Her vision began to blur as she tried to crawl away, but the rock came down once more as she tried to move away.

Again.

And again.

Blow after blow rained down upon her. Each one causing her to fade farther and farther away from reality. She watched through fluttering lashes as blood began to drip from her hair and onto the earth. If not for the rain, her upper body would have been soaked with blood from the trauma to her head. She slid slowly to the ground, lying down in her own blood. She couldn't take any more pain. She lay there, unable to move or speak until her eyes closed and her breathing became too shallow to notice.

The man finally paused his assault, breathing heavily from the force he had exerted. He smirked as he looked down at Naiara's naked body. Blood ran down her back as the rain washed it from her hair and began to pool around her. He had warned her so many times to not cross him, but in the end, she was still a stubborn little girl.

Without so much as a second thought, he turned and began his journey back home. His troubles with her were over and he couldn't have been happier. All that was left to do now was play the grieving game and convince his buyer that there had been a terrible accident...

***

Naiara blinked several times, the sunlight blinding her as she attempted to open her eyes. She ached all over, especially her head. She reached up to feel her head and found it wrapped in what felt like... bandages?

 What happened?

She tried to sit up only to find that she could barely move. She looked at her surroundings from her slightly inclined position. She was in a very nicely decorated room, lying on a very soft bed.

Where was she? This didn't look familiar at all... She tried to recall what would have been familiar to her, but she couldn't.

How had she gotten here? Why was she in so much pain?

The door opened suddenly revealing an older woman with snow-white hair pinned to the top of her head in a bun, who appeared to be a maid. She looked up at Naiara and gasped, almost dropping the tray she was carrying. She immediately set it down on a dresser and rushed to Naiara's side.

Her eyes filled with concern as she touched Naiara's arm, "How are you feeling milady?"

She winced as she tried to move again, "I... I'm in a lot of pain. Where am I?"

The woman smiled sadly, "You're at Castle de Arc in Voltaire."

Naiara frowned at her words; Voltaire didn't sound familiar to her, "Do I... live here?"

The woman shook her head sadly, "No my dear, you were found out in the middle of the forest a few miles from here, naked as a wee babe and practically holding Death's hand. You've been here for almost a fortnight in a comatose state. Our physician wasn't sure you were going to survive your wounds."

"My wounds?"

The old woman nodded, "Oh, yes! Someone appeared to have attacked you on the road. Your head was especially bad, but you have various bruises and cuts on the rest of your body too... Do you remember anything at all dear?"

Naiara tried to recall what had happened but she couldn't even remember where she belonged. Naiara's breathing started to increase as she answered the woman's question, "I don't... I don't seem to have any memory of anything. But I think my name is Naiara, that's the only thing that sounds right."

The woman frowned, "You poor dear! But, I'm sure it will come back to you in time, don't you fret. You're here with Beatrice now and I'm going to take very good care of you as is our physician Hadvar. So, don't be pushing yourself to remember anything."

She clasped her hands together suddenly changing the subject, "Naiara. Such a pretty name you have! Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go tell Hadvar that you have awoken. He'll want to see you immediately."

Naiara nodded, immediately regretting the decision as the movement made her dizzy and increased her pain tenfold. She decided to just lay back on the soft pillows, trying to remember anything at all. It seemed like the safest, and pain-free, thing to do at this point.

***

Beatrice opened the door to the medical wing swiftly, "The young lady has awoken Hadvar!"

His eyes widened, "Remarkable! I was sure we would lose her. Come Beatrice, we need to examine her immediately!"

Beatrice nodded exuberantly and followed behind him with various medical supplies. When they arrived back to the room holding their guest, Beatrice went to her bedside while Hadvar began to examine her head wound.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself before examining you my lady. My name is Hadvar Penrose, physician to Castle de Arc. You are very lucky to be alive young lady. Can you recall anything at all about what happened to you?"

Naiara closed her eyes, "I'm trying to, but I feel completely lost and confused."

Hadvar smiled gently, "Fear not, the most important thing is that you have survived, and the wound is healing very nicely. If your body keeps this up, you should be up and walking in a few weeks."

Beatrice's eyes widened, "Truly?"

He nodded, "Yes, it's quite remarkable if I do say so myself."

Naiara frowned at their words, it was wonderful that she was healing so quickly but... what would she do when she could move freely again?

Beatrice seemed hear her thoughts and smiled, "My dear, you worry too much. I've already asked if you could remain here if you recovered."

Naiara's eyes widened, "You did?"

Beatrice nodded, "Oh yes, I could use the companionship and help around the castle with my chores. I'm getting old you know."

Hadvar smirked, "But you are as lovely as ever Beatrice."

Beatrice blushed, "Oh Hadvar, you foolish old man."

He winked at her before re-wrapping Naiara's head wound with clean supplies. He turned to his patient, "Now, do you remember anything at all from any point in your life?"

She nodded, "I believe my name is Naiara... and I'm fairly certain I'm not from this region."

He nodded, "Well, that's something at least. For now, I'll leave you in Beatrice's capable hands. You're healing quite nicely, and hopefully that will continue, Lady Naiara."

© Copyright 2020 Soteria. All rights reserved.