Amon and Glynna started to pull me around the palace of the Vaelin’s. The hallways of the palace were ornate, adorned with warm tapestries that depicted their families' history. Some torches cascade the light off paintings that hung proudly from the walls. It was a barren contrast to the rough and bare stone walls of the tower I had been held in and escaped from. Amon and Glynna moved gracefully off the polished surface floors, with hardly an audible sound. Their grip was firm around my sore arms, yet not as menacing as Drax's was. The corridors were lined with lavish crystal chandeliers that danced with the reflective lights of the torches and guards who eyed us curiously but made no move from their stations.
I kept my head down, trying to keep a mental map of the twists and turns we were taking as my guards headed us toward another secluded area of the palace. Baron Damiano was infamous for his brutal attitude towards the peasants, and I knew that whatever he wanted from me was going to be like one of the horror stories I had heard in whispers. My mind raced with possibilities and a potential escape plan, but with Amon and Glynna on either side of me, I knew I had to bide my time.
We arrived at a decoratively carved door guarded by an imposing sentinel dressed in gleaming bronze armor. Amon nodded with his gentle smile to them, as they swiftly stepped aside, opening the door and allowing us to enter. The room differed from the opulence of the winding palace corridors. It was a simple room, filled with herbal remedies in jars, scattered on a large wooden table in the center of the small room.
Glynna dropped my arm and stood by the now-closed doors. Amon continued to gently guide me to the table and gestured for me to sit. "We need to tend to your wounds," he said softly. "Baron Damiano wants you in good health." He turned over my battered arms and looked over my swollen face. Grabbing mixtures, tonics, and torn pieces of bandages, Amon prepared himself for the work ahead.
I was reluctant to sit due to the bruises that were setting in. I winced as my bruised and bloodied body made contact with the hard, wooden surface. Amon moved over each wound with a surprising gentleness and speed for someone who had seen more youthful days. Cleansing out my wounds with a practiced hand, his touch was comforting and warm in comparison to the harshness that Drax had inflicted on me.
As he worked, I tried to piece together the little information I had gathered. Baron Damiano wanted me alive and in good health, but for what purpose? The thought filled me with dread, and I couldn't shake the feeling that whatever he had in store for me was far worse than anything Drax could have thought of doing. I was in no position to assume I knew what his desires were for me, I had never even seen the man before. The only thing anyone knew of him was the stories and whispers from people of the underworld.
"Why does the Baron want me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. I stifled the feeling of my lower lip quivering from the fear. This was the first time I had been captured since I was a small child and this time it was by the royal family of the region. I could be sentenced to death, or worse, to the frontlines of the battle for the realm.
Amon glanced at Glynna, who remained silent by the door as he continued to bandage my wrists. He sighed, his weathered face showing a hint of pity. "The Baron has taken an interest in you. He sees you... potential,” Amon was trying to hide the concern he was feeling. “He gets what he wants." The pity his eyes had for me, made me feel a twinge of pain for the man that was hired by my inprisoner.
"Potential for what?" I pressed Amon for more information, trying to keep fear out of my tone. I was a thief and it seemed nobody knew of the secrets that Lord Canlin was keeping about me. I doubt the Lord would tell his son about me, out of fear of the consequences.
Amon shook his head. "It's not my place. I can advise that it's in your best interest to cooperate with whatever is asked of you. The Baron is not a man to be toyed with.” He looked over my beaten face, and turned away from me, “I know you have heard the stories, but sometimes there are two sides to a story" He turned back towards me with a soft smile and a wrapped bag of wet herbs.
Amon pressed the wet bag to my swollen face and the wave of relief from the containments made me shiver with gratitude. “Drax broke a few of your bones. I can’t fix those, only time can. I did mend the broken skin and bruises he left. They should fade away in a few days.” Amon said as he patted the back of one of my wrapped hands.
Amon set the bag down and stepped back, his expression still gentle. "Drink this and you’ll be ready to see the master of the house." He said softly as he handed me one of his concoctions, his voice overflowing with empathy and his eyes filled with sorrow. The copper cup held a warm liquid that smelled sweet, with a strong floral scent. I quickly drank the unknown liquid and as I did, the pain in my body subsided and was replaced with a warm feeling, similar to a hug from a loved one.
Amon helped me to my feet, and we quickly left the medical room. Amon and Glynna once again were firmly leading me through the winding corridors, eventually arriving at another set of grand doors. They were ornately carved, depicting scenes of waterfalls and far-off mountain ranges. They had no guards protecting it like the medical room did. My stomach churned as they swung open, revealing a large wash chamber beyond.
The chamber was filled with lavish pools and a sense of awe that bordered on the overwhelming. At the far end of the room, a throne that was suspended in the rushing water, and sitting upon the watery throne was Baron Damiano. He was a tall man with dark amber eyes and an air of authority that made my skin prick up with electricity. His gaze locked onto me as we entered, and a slow, predatory smile crept across his chiseled face.
"Ah, the girl of the hour has finally arrived," he said, his voice deep and smooth. "Welcome to my humble abode." He said, waving his arms around before draping them over the edge of the white-stone carved throne that he sat upon. His chest was bare and his lap was covered with a thin linen that was highlighting his member that was growing as his eyes looked hungry upon my lips and body.
Amon and Glynna stepped back and guarded the inside of the grand doors, leaving me standing alone in front of the grandeur pools. I fought to keep my composure under the Baron's gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. Yet, the more I tried to appear unimpressed, the more the Baron smirked at me. It was like he knew that he had won before I had even stepped foot into the room.
"What do you want from me?" I demanded, trying to mask the gnawing feeling of uncertainty that was building in my chest. My body felt electrified by the energy between me and the Baron. I stood in front of the man who ordered me to be bloodied and bruised by his henchman. I shifted uneasily under the pressure of the room and the gaze I could not read.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Baron Damiano rose from his chair, water rolling down his muscular physique and his wet hair clinging to his face. He quickly approached me, his movements slow and deliberate, showing off his body as he held the thin fabric from falling from himself. He circled me, his eyes scanning over my body like a predator sizing up its meal. I shivered under his unyielding gaze, heat burning deep within my thighs.
"You, my dear, are going to be very useful to me," he said, stopping in front of me and lifting my chin with a finger to look him in his hungry eyes. The deep amber of his eyes burning with desires for me. "You see, you possess something extraordinary. Something that could change the balance of power for Oculyan, maybe even the whole realm." The heat between our bodies was noticeably building. I had never felt this rush of pleasure before and never thought it would be for an enemy like Baron Damiano.
My face contorted with a mix of confusion and fear. "I don't understand. There is nothing special about me besides being a thief." I said, hoping that what I had thought about Lord Canlin was true and he had not told his son about my identity.
He chuckled, a sound that sent chills down my spine. "You will, in time. For now, all you need to know is that you are mine. And I intend to make full use of you." He released my chin and stood mere inches from me. The beads of water ran off his body against my cool skin, causing a feeling of ecstasy to run through my veins.
His words sent a wave of trepidation over me, but I refused to show my feelings to the beast hidden under the cloak of a man’s body. "I will not align myself with you," I said, mustering up as much resistance as I had left in me. "I don't care what you say, I'll never be your puppet." Baron Damiano's smile widened, as he leaned in close to me, his lips barely grazing against my neck. His breath was hot against my skin, leaving my body desiring his lips against me.
"Oh, my dear, you don't have a choice in the matter. You will obey me, my desires, and you will like it.” He said it against my ear, sending my brain into a fog. “When you do, you'll realize that this resistance was in vain." With that, he stepped back peering down on me once more. His eyes were filled with longing and hunger that I had never seen in the eyes of a man towards me. I had seen plenty of men looking at their lovers this way on the streets of Oculyan, but I was never caught by that look until now.
He nodded for Amon and Glynna to escort me again. "Take her to the guest’s quarters. Make sure she is comfortable. Get the wash maids to come to take care of her, I want her dressed and get rid of all this matted blood on her." He waved us away before turning back towards the watery throne.
As they took me away, I realized I had been shuffled around the palace and distracted by conversations, that I no longer remembered how to get out and back to Äezli. I could not help but feel a sense of disaster brewing for my future. Whatever Baron Damiano had planned, I knew it was only the beginning, I had my destiny to follow but Baron Damiano would not be easy to escape. However, I knew that I could not give up and just live to be his puppet. I have always found a way to survive, fight back against my oppressors, and once again reclaim my freedom.
My room was not far from the steamy, water chamber we had left Baron Damiano in. The steps were easy to count, but that did not matter much now that I was lost in the larger-than-life palace. I had not noticed last night, but all the doors seemed to have intricate carvings that alluded to what was behind each door. My was a single wooden door, carved with stars and moons that had vines woven between them.
The room was a spectacle, it was adorned with tapestries that had ribbons of gold, depicting scenes of ancient myths and legends of magic. There was a wall lined with shelves of books bound in leather and gold. The floor was covered in plush hides, so thick it felt like walking on clouds, in deep shades of red and gold that complimented the elaborate room.
A grand canopy bed commanded the room, draped with sheer, blue silk curtains embroidered with silver celestial patterns to match the carvings on my door. The bed itself was a masterpiece, carved from dark ebony wood with intricate inlays of alabaster shell and precious rubies that glimmered in the firelight. Beside the bed, a small dressing table with an array of cosmetics, fine perfumes, and jewelry. A large wooden wardrobe, similar craftsmanship as the rest of the room, stood nearby, its doors ajar to reveal elegant gowns of silks, satins, and other fine materials, each more luxurious than the last.
To the far side of the room, there was a small sitting area arranged with lavish furniture. The chairs and sofas were upholstered in tanned leather, their frames gilded from gold and adorned with delicate carvings of celestial entities. A small wooden table held an assortment of fresh berries and fruits, their vibrant colors contrasted beautifully against the dark wood. There was a large hearth, where a fire roared highlighting the quality of craftsmanship throughout the room. It was framed by a marble mantle, carved with scenes of battles between dragons and knights. Above it hung a large mirror that reflected the dancing of the flames, casting a long warm, golden ray across the room.
A large, arched window on the opposite side of the fireplace overlooked one of the solitary palace gardens. There were heavy velvet drapes drawn for privacy, not that anyone was looking this way. The window itself was a work of art, with stained glass panels depicting the different phases of the moon, casting colorful shapes across the floor as the last of the day’s sunlight streamed through.
The overwhelming awe of the room left me in a daze that I had not noticed the washmaids moving with practiced grace. They were preparing me a bath with steaming water and fragrant oils that filled the space with an intoxicating aroma. The youngest of the maids, with long brown hair and soft blue eyes, curtsied to Amon and Glynna before turning her attention to me.
"Are you ready, shall we begin, my lady?" she asked softly, never looking up at me. Her voice was gentle and respectful.
I nodded to the girl, unsure of what was going to happen. Amon and Glynna stepped back, allowing the maid to lead me to the bath. The warm water encased my body, washing away the tension that had been building and replacing it with a sense of peace and relaxation. The young maid carefully tended to me, her movements efficient and ensuring I was perfectly cleaned of the matted, old blood accumulated over the hours.
Once the bath was complete, she had my old damaged clothes replaced with the finest silk robe, its texture was soft against my skin. As she began to brush out and style my cleaned hair, Amon and Glynna maintained their positions by the door, with watchful and vigilant eyes. The young maid worked quickly and with ease. Her artistry spoke of years of training she must have experienced even at a young age. She wove intricate braids throughout my hair, adorning them with strands of pearls and ribbons of gold to contrast my silvery locks.
She went through the wardrobe to bring out a gown of deep sapphire, its fabric shimmering like the stars of the night sky. Helping me into it, she laced it tightly at the back to accentuate my slender but curvy figure. The gown cascades around my body, gracefully flowing to the floor. The hem of the dress was adorned with tiny blue crystals that shimmered in the light with every movement.
When the young maid was finished, she stepped back, admiring her handiwork with a content smile and nod towards Amon and Glynna. "She is ready for the master," she said softly, handing me a pair of delicate heels to complete the look. “Good luck, my lady.” the maid said as she curtsied and left me alone in the room with my guards.
Amon stepped forward towards me, offering his hand. "We should go now, my lady," he said, his warm smile reassuring as he looked at me with admiration. With a final glance around the lavish room, I took his arm, and we made our way to dinner with Damiano.