Shadows of Darkness

Lady Ashton drew in a sharp painful breath as she felt another blow to her cheek. She winced, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out. She was determined not to give them the satisfaction of knowing she was in pain. Her whole body went slack, her knees weakening, and collapsing from underneath herself.

She mumbled unintelligible words under her breath, her eyes half squinted. She was in a daze, barely knowing what was going on around her. Her gaze fell dully to the dirt floor of the forest, noticing vaguely that her skirt lay in tatters around her legs, exposing pale creamy white flesh. Blood was running in rivulets between her thighs and ending in a pool of dark crimson on the ground. She touched her tongue to the corner of her mouth and tasted blood. Swaying a bit to the right, her vision darkened, then went to blackness.

Chapter 1: The Rescue

Ashton awoke to voices she barely recognized. One belonged to her sister Raven. The other, a male, she assumed was Rath.

She tried to open her eyes, but as soon as she opened them she felt a wave of pain and nausea. Her eyes closed, and her mind drifted back into slumber. The quiet was comforting. She curled into the fetal position, slowly bringing her legs to her chest.

“Ashton... Ashton... Can you hear me," Raven frantically asked. She had her sister gathered tightly into her arms, rocking her slowly back and forth, trying to whisper soft words into her hair, and randomly pressing her lips against her head. Ashton was moaning lowly, staring sightlessly in front of her, not seeming to acknowledge her sister’s presence. Raven's throat tightened as her eyes filled with tears. She turned towards Rath and glared furiously. "Look what those bastards did to her." Tears were running in hot waves down her face. “She doesn't even recognize me!" Raven stumbled away from Ashton leaning her forearm on a tree, forehead pressed to her arm, shoulders heaving violently with her sobs.

Distantly, Ashton could hear someone crying. Almost instantly she knew it was her sister who was weeping. An overwhelming urge swept through her to climb out of the darkness that was engulfing her. Slowly she opened one eye and was immediately hit with the urge to heave. Nausea and dizziness violently wore through her body. When the dizziness and nausea passed to a bearable point, she reopened her eyes. She fought hard to keep the dizziness at bay. Her sister needed her right now. Confused, she wondered what had upset her sister so much, then it came back in a tidal wave. Her tongue tasted coppery blood in her mouth, and she knew without looking down that there was blood streaked down her body. Her jaw ached painfully, and she briefly wondered if it was broken. Moving it gently, she realized that it wasn’t, just horribly painful.

Raven was beside a tree crying as Rath unsuccessfully tried to console her. Ashton crawled on her hands and knees towards her sister, but exhaustion quickly won over, and she collapsed into the dirt, her chin scraping the brush. Stinging pain filled her face causing her to cry out in surprise. Gathering herself back up into a crawling position, she finished the painful descent towards her sister. She stopped at her sister's feet and tugged at her skirts, calling out softly in a raspy voice, “Rav..en?”

Raven slowly turned her head toward the sound of her name. Her eyes widened as she saw her sister below pleading be noticed. "Ashton!" Raven quickly stooped and gathered her sister in her arms. Both sisters’ immediately burst into tears as Raven reached to stroke Ashton's white hair. Ashton, in turn, wrapped her pale arms around her sister's cloaked waist, turning her face into Raven‘s chest. It felt good to be held. All of the pent up emotions she held inside came it in a flood of hot stinging tears.

Rath stayed to the side with a mixture of happiness and disbelief. It had been Raven who had led them here. It seemed that no matter what, the sisters would always share a link that held them together; permanently.

King Selvin looked cautiously around and then turned his head to Blain. "Get them out of here. This is no place for the Ladies."

Blain nodded shortly "Yes, sir.” He turned his horse around and rode the short distance towards the two sisters, who still held each other in a tight embrace. Glancing down at Raven he spoke brusquely, “Raven, we must take you two back to the Inn while Rath and King Selvin try and search for the kidnappers."

Ashton quickly took her head off of her sister's shoulder and stared towards Blain with a look of contempt. "I am not leaving with you." She looked towards King Selvin. "Or him for that matter." She turned looked up at Raven for support. She didn’t at the moment trust anyone, and she wasn’t quite ready to go anywhere with anyone but her sister. All she wanted was to go home. “Who are these people, Raven?"

Raven was not given the chance to respond. Blain came up behind Ashton and took her firmly by the arm. "You are going with me. I have ordered from the king to take you back to the Inn."

Ashton glared coldly towards Blain. "I can take care of myself, sir." She brushed his hand off of hers roughly and winced in pain as a dull ache surged through her ribs. She bit her lip hard, to keep from crying out.

Blain looked at her and smiled coldly. "Yes, it does seem you can take care of yourself, doesn't it? What with being kidnapped and half-unconscious when we RESCUED you." Ashton turned to speak through gritted teeth, when she heard King Selvin's voice cut through the trees, like a cold wind. "Blain, get THEM OUT OF HERE!"

Blain turned back towards Ashton with a dark look on his face. He gripped her upper arm roughly and spoke through clenched teeth, "Look, whether you like it or not, you and your sister are leaving here and coming with me. Understand?"

Ashton narrowed her dark blue eyes and watched him coldly. "No, sir," She said sarcastically, "I don't understand." Ashton's eyes turned to her sister's red eyes and all her feelings spread across her face. The cold look was now gone, replaced by love and adoration of her sister. "Raven," Ashton whispered, "We do not have to go with him.... do we? Can’t we go home?"

Raven walked to her sister swiftly and swept Ashton's white hair out of her eyes. Now was not the time to mention why they could not go home. "Yes, Lynn, I'm afraid we must go with Blain," Raven turned a fiery look to Blain, "And YOU sir, could stand to be a little more gentle with Ashton. She is confused right now, and treating her harshly is not going to win her respect."

Blain sighed and frowned. "M'lady, with your sister being stubborn, it 'tis hard not to be harsh with her." He turned his blue-gray eyes to Ashton and thoughts filled his mind, over his face, and softening his hard features. Light flaxen hair fell in wispy waves on his forehead. It hung around the collar of his tunic, curling slightly at the ends. His face was pale and held an arresting look. It was not handsome, but interesting to look at. He quickly regained his composure and stared coldly at the sisters. His voice came out hoarse, "I have strict orders to take you to the Inn, and I shall take you by force if I must."

King Selvin rode up on his horse next to the two sisters. “We shall continue this in Shanal where it is safer.” He turned around and began galloping out of the clearing, the tail of his horse swishing back and forth behind him. He was blunt and to the point. It was obvious that swaying here or there was out of the question.

Ashton’s gaze followed King Selvin’s retreating back, and she bit back a sarcastic remark. She felt Raven’s fingernails dig into her upper arm, warning her against making any rude comments. Raven always knew when Ashton was about to do something that she may later regret, and it always seemed that nine times out of ten she saved Ashton from things that could get her in serious trouble.

Raven leaned towards Ashton, whispering in her ear. “You really must control yourself. You are as stubborn as ever, but here it could get you killed.”

Ashton refused to respond, but instead jerked away from her sister and tiredly followed Blain, who beckoned her to his horse. Raven shook her head and climbed behind Rath onto his horse, her arms encircling his waist. He had a surprisingly strong back, and a small fluttering went through her stomach that she couldn’t explain.

Ashton looked out of the corner of her eye and watched Rath and Raven exchange a secret look. Averting her eyes, she shook her head distastefully. Raven and one of her many affairs. Ashton already felt sorry for him. It was a matter of time before Raven broke his heart.

Once she reached the horse, she stared dumbly in front of her, not wanting to get on. Blain held out his hand, his face expressionless. “You have to get on, you know.”

Ashton looked up at Blain and took his hand, gripping it hard as she pulled herself up. She hoped she broke his fingers. A fleeting smile of amusement crossed her face, before melting away as she felt his strong grip in hers. Once she was behind him she leaned forward and pressed her chest to his back. She felt him take a sharp intake of breath as she pressed her lips against his ear, whispering, “You are a bloody bastard, Blain.” With that she leaned back and wrapped her arms loosely around his waist, staring out at the scenery as they rode back to Shanal.

Chapter 2: Selvin’s Castle

Once the five were safely back in Selvin’s grand castle in Shanal, they all met around a long table. Selvin sat at the end, while Rath and Raven were to his left, and Ashton and Blain was to his right.

Selvin gripped his wine glass tightly and rhythmically picked it up and then clinked it back on the table staring at Ashton. Her eyes remained rooted to the table, studying the oak lines and avoiding everyone’s intruding glances. Ashton squirmed in her chair trying to find a comfortable position. King Selvin sat waiting expectantly. She glanced over at her sister, who was watching Rath, who was, in turn, staring right back. She sighed. No help there. They were busy making eyes at each other.

“What exactly happened out in the woods?” King Selvin asked. He had his hands clasped in front of him, lying on the table. His gray eyes looked directly at Ashton, also noticing Rath and Raven were not paying the least bit of attention.

Ashton stared back with a look of contempt. She refused to back down, as she folded her arms across her waist. She had no intention of giving out information to strangers. All she wanted was to go home and be rid of this nightmare.

Selvin sighed impatiently, shaking his head. He spoke tiredly, “M’lady, did you get hit over the head quite hard? Because it seems you have the mentality of a seven-year-old as of right now.”

Ashton felt her temper flare, and she gritted her teeth. “I am sorry, M’lord. I shall revert to my age of 17,” she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Blain, who sat beside Selvin, watched the scene with little emotion. His face was frozen over, void of expression.

Selvin narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, so his face was inches from Ashton’s. His voice was soft but, held a cold edge, which made Ashton cringes slightly. “M’lady. I have enormous amounts of patience. But even it sometimes wears thin. And right now you are shredding the last bit of it that was left. Now, tell me what happened to you.”

Ashton looked away, her face pale and unreadable. The bruises looked dark and harsh against the whiteness of her skin. Her lips were drawn tightly together as if she refused to speak. Dark images crowded her mind, making her want to pass out. She could feel the wind being knocked out of her and slowly the blood drained from her face. It was as if the beating was happening all over again. In a choked voice she managed to speak. “What happened to me is of no one’s concern, but my own, and whomever I wish to tell.” She turned and let her cold blue eyes stare at him like chips of ice. “What is of your concern, M’lord, is finding out who these cruel men are. And I’m sorry but I cannot help you in that area.”

Selvin frowned. His face seemed haggard and tired as he sighed and nodded slightly, defeated at last. “I understand, Ashton.” He may be a hard man, but he knew when he had pressed too hard. It was better that he gave her some time and press her harder later.

She looked at him startled. It was the first time anyone had used her first name beside her sister.

“Raven and you need rest.” He gestured towards a servant girl who was waiting in the shadows beside the door. “Moira. Please go prepare the young ladies two separate rooms.”

The small girl quickly curtsied and nodded. “Yes, M’lord. Right away.” She opened one of the two heavy doors that closed the room and briskly shut it closed behind her

Ashton stood up without saying a word and quickly strode to the doors that Moira had disappeared through. She heard Selvin calling her name faintly as she closed the door behind her.

Everyone watched as Ashton left the room, sitting in silence. After a couple of minutes, King Selvin was the one to break the silence. “One way or another we must get the information as to what happened in the forest.” He directed the statement at Raven, his eyes cold and distant. She met his gaze with her own fiery eyes, her hard expression never wavering. “It will not be taken by force. Whatever Ashton has gone through, it has proved to be a traumatizing experience that she does not wish to share, and I will not sit by and listen to you and Sir Blain dream up a means to do it with.” She turned a hard glance over to Blain, before scraping her chair roughly away and leaving.

Rath watched Raven go, his eyes holding a worried look in them. His voice was soft but held a strong firmness that could not be ignored. “We do not need to treat the sisters this way. They have been put through enough, without having us interrogating them for answers. I think they need to be given time. Let Ashton heal her wounds before we start putting more salt in them.” He glanced at the two men across the table when he spoke his last words.

“My interest lies with their safety, Rath. And to protect them, we must know what we are dealing with.” Selvin leaned back in his chair, chewing thoughtfully on the end of his thumbnail. “But you are right; we must give Lady Ashton more time. She could progress into further distress if we push her any farther, which may be causing her to have a complete emotional breakdown. With that in the back of our minds, we need to be more careful, otherwise, we have no clues as to who these culprits are.”

Blain frowned, obviously disagreeing, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He got up from the table, wiping the palms of his hands on his tunic, and then moved the chair underneath the table. He walked out of the room without a word, the others staring as he went.

Ashton walked at a quick pace to catch up with Moira. When she laid her hand on the girl's shoulder, the girl jumped and turned around with a scared look on her tanned face.

Her voice stuttered as she talked, “I am sorry, M’lady. Did I do something wrong?”

Ashton shook her head, grimacing. She hated being treated like royalty. “No, you didn’t. And please stop calling me that. My name is Ashton. Here I am no better than you.” She stopped and stared meaningfully at Moira. “I wish for you to just overlook my room and let me prepare it myself. I have two workable hands.” She watched as Moira’s face fell. “No, no child. I won’t tell Selvin. It is between you and me. Just please stay out of my room.” With that, she quickly walked around Moira and started for her room.

The door was heavy oak and made a creaking noise as she opened it. She drew in a sharp breath as she took in the room. It was licked with a crimson flame, pure red everywhere. The bed was stained dark cherry wood, with frilly pillows decorating it. She would bet there were crimson satin sheets to match. She let her eyes travel over to the stone fireplace. The mantle had a large mirror hanging above it, ready to look in as soon as you woke up in the morning. Directly in front of her were big windows, drawn open to see the midnight blue sky. She strode forward and undid the big bows that fastened the drapes open. Darkness immediately filled the room.

She walked to the bed and sat down on it, immediately sinking into the softness of the bed. Laying back into the softness of the blanket, she could feel sleep already overpowering her.

Ashton’s eyes popped open. The recognizable click of the door closing had her bolting upright on the bed. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched a bulky figure move its way towards her bed. She quickly drew herself farther away from the edge of the bed and more towards the wall, trying to blend in with the shadows. A soft chuckle broke through the silence, sending chills down her spine. The bed creaked as the figure moved to sit on the edge. Without warning a finger trailed down her cheek, causing her to open her mouth to scream. Before she could the finger turned into a palm slapped across her mouth. The speed of it was dizzying, and she had to close her eyes to steady herself.

“Shhh….” Ashton narrowed her eyes as she recognized Blain’s voice. She opened her mouth and bit hard into his hand. Instantly she tasted the coppery blood as it trickled into her mouth. He let out a hiss of pain and swore under his breath quickly removing his hand to the safety of his mouth. Watching her with angry half slit eyes he sucked away the remaining blood that had pooled into his palm. His icy blue eyes stabbed through her like ice. She felt a chill go through her body.

She moved farther away, and into a sitting position drawing her knees to her chest. “You little bastard,” She whispered harshly. “What the hell do you think you are doing, sneaking into a lady’s room in the middle of the night?” Without thinking she reached up and laid a smart clap against his cheek.

He reached up and calmly gripped her wrist firmly in his hand, easily encircling her slender wrist. Softly he said, “M’lady, I just wished to see if you were still okay.” His face took on a sarcastic glint. “It seems you have regained your strength.” He slowly moved his wrist up her arm to grip her bicep gently. The other hand reached up to brush the pale hair out of her eyes. He shook his head and searched her face with storminess that betrayed wicked violence.

She sighed, jerking out of his grasp. Maybe if she ignored him long enough, he would just disappear. She glanced back up, and much to her dismay he was still sitting on the edge of her bed, staring intently at her.

“What is it you want, Sir Blain?” She bit out the last of her sentence with a vehemence that surprised even her.

“I only wished to have a few words with you, or rather a few questions.” He stopped and scooted farther away from her. It was better to keep a distance before he did something that he may later regret. He glanced down at his hands. “What happened to you out in those woods?” He looked up and into her face and almost missed the look of terror that made its way across her face.

She quickly closed her eyes off of emotion and clenched her jaw. “That, M’lord is none of your business.”

He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “Whatever happened, it did not injure your tongue,” he remarked coldly. “I believe you owe me, as well as a few others, a valid explanation.”

She raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms across her chest defiantly, her blue eyes flickering with annoyance. “Sir, I do not owe you anything. All that I told you and Selvin, was what I felt you should know.”

He sighed and stood up off the bed. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his tunic and stared at the ceiling in frustration. It was quite obvious that pulling the truth out of the white-haired female would prove to be difficult. He chewed on his bottom lip and sorted through the different possibilities he could use to get the truth out of that little smart-mouthed the mind of hers. A particularly interesting one crossed his mind, and a snicker began to gurgle low in the back of his throat.

He turned to look at her and noticed her eyes taking a different shape of emotion. Fear flickered in and out of them like the spark of a match. He sighed softly, concern shadowing his feelings. This was not a normal emotion from him. It was better to use and abuse, rather than to get emotionally attached. It was obvious what had happened to her. Different images pooled into his mind, making his blood run cold. He knew he had to find who did the horrible things to her and make them pay with his justice. Or at least he thought he should.

“I am tired of playing games with you, Ashton.”

He shook his head and shuffled his feet before turning to the door. His hand reached for the knob, turning it slowly in his hands. He opened the door halfway, and then laid the palm of his right hand on the side of the door. Turning he looked at her intensely, his gray eyes piercing her to the soul. The stare chilled her to the bone, causing her hands to reach up and rub her arms. Shaking his head, he spun away, leaving without a word.