"No... NO!" Astraea's voice pierced through the room, resonating with desperation as she pounded on the door. But her cries fell on deaf ears.
"Be quiet, girl," Baron Randall commanded, his grubby hands forcefully covering her mouth. Ignoring her protests, he dragged her violently towards the bed, her futile kicks and screams filling the air. With a callous thud, he flung her onto the mattress, her head colliding with the bedframe in a sickening impact.
Moaning in pain, Astraea struggled to regain her focus, her vision temporarily blurred as white lights danced before her eyes. Baron Randall positioned himself atop her, tearing at her blouse.
"Get away from me!" Astraea's voice quivered with a mix of fear and defiance. The baron paid no heed as he forcefully ripped away the delicate fabric, exposing the transparent camisole beneath.
Impatient and ravenous, he cupped Astraea's breasts, reveling at the warmth through the flimsy material.
"Get OFF me!" Astraea screamed, her distress and agony merging into a desperate plea for mercy. But Baron Randall persisted, his repulsive actions causing her to writhe in disgust.
"The Goddess won't forgive you!" Astraea's voice trembled, her mind racing for a way to escape this horrifying ordeal. Though Baron Randall's stature may have been short and rotund, his physical strength still surpassed her own.
"Remember the Five Commandments! The Goddess--ugh--will expose the monster you are!"
Baron Randall momentarily paused, his actions interrupted by Astraea's words.
I've struck a chord, Astraea thought, a glimmer of hope flickering within her. In this moment of desperation, the only protection she had was the Goddess herself. As much as she resented living under the weight of the Goddess's Judgment, she desperately needed her divine shield right now.
"Ha…HA…HA!" Baron Randall's laughter broke through the air, transforming into a full-fledged cackle. His eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as he gazed down upon Astraea.
"The Goddess won't come to your aid today," he sneered, pointing at the bracelet adorning his right wrist. "You see, I am currently protected. Shielded from all, be it good or bad."
Astraea's dumbfounded expression betrayed her disbelief. This couldn't be true. It was inconceivable.
"Surprised?" Baron Randall's voice dripped with smug satisfaction.
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” Baron Randall said, lowering himself to her ear.
"I don’t blame your shock. After all, these are just testing grounds to see how well this magic works. Who would believe a mere farmer’s girl having an unpleasant…encounter.”
"No..." Astraea shook her head in denial. It couldn't be possible.
"Let's find out," the baron sneered.
With a sudden surge of strength, he pinned Astraea against the wall, forcefully lifting her skirt and exposing her cotton undergarments.
This can’t be happening... Tears streamed down Astraea's face as the baron's slimy hands slithered their way up her trembling legs, violating her boundaries and inching toward the entrance of her maidenhood.
"STOP!" Astraea's agonized cry shook the room, her voice choked with anguish. His invasive fingers brushed against her innermost thigh, and Astraea felt the worst, most sinking feeling in the world. It was more painful than being abandoned, more painful than hiding under her mask, more painful than the hundreds of lashings she endured.
At that moment, she truly wanted to die.
Astraea no longer fought against the baron's advances, her eyes vacant, filled with emptiness. As he began to unzip his pants, preparing to take what he believed to be his right, she sank deeper into her thoughts.
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Is this it? Astraea’s mind spun, seeking solace within the recesses of her being. She fled to the innermost thoughts in her body, seeking protection from the outside world that only gave her hurt.
Goddess…what have I done to deserve this? Astraea cried pure anguish in her thoughts. The only aspect she had control over was her body, and now even that was being taken away from her. Life was just too much to bear.
“No, you don’t deserve this Astraea,” a familiar voice said.
What? Astraea circled in her darkness, searching for the voice’s owner.
Did I hear correctly? She spun around, searching for the source of the voice within the void.
This can't be a dream, can it?
“Fight, Astraea,” the voice said. The figure emerged from the shadows, only showing its glowing violet eyes.
“Fight, and I will grant you power.”
“I promise.”
Whether illusion or reality, the voice's vow ignited a peculiar surge of energy within Astraea. She couldn’t explain it, but all the rage, all the hatred for the world came bubbling up and she snapped awake.
In that moment, the baron's extension dangled, his eagerness evident as drool pooled at the corners of his mouth. He saw Astraea’s lifeless appearance, smug that it took no time at all to subdue her.
Meanwhile, Astraea's thoughts raced. She had to act quickly, and even then, she wasn’t sure she’d succeed.
But the voice's promise fueled her determination. She wouldn't allow this monstrosity to take everything from her.
In a swift motion, Astraea seized the nearby glass cup and shattered it against the baron's forehead. Blood trickled down his face as he stared at her incredulously, surprised at the sudden change in her.
"How dare you--"
Before the baron could finish his sentence, Astraea leaped off the bed, snatching the pitcher adorned with ornate blue and green flowers. In the flickering candlelight, its beauty contrasted with the brewing chaos.
"You despicable wretch," the baron spat, wiping away the blood, his own anger escalating. Gradually, he cornered Astraea against the wall, intent on reclaiming his power.
Sensing the danger closing in, Astraea paused.
Think Astraea, think!
"I was mistaken," Astraea suddenly confessed, feigning vulnerability. She pretended to lower the pitcher.
"I was frightened. You see, I’m still a maiden," she continued, her eyes casting a seductive glance downward, emphasizing her small curves beneath the shadows.
"Do you understand?" Astraea's voice dripped with a twisted allure, her gaze laden with deceptive lust.
He smiled at Astraea’s words, his eyes hypnotized as he gazed at her body.
“But I know now,” she paused, locking eyes with the baron.
"It is time for me to repay you... for what I did. I am willing to let you take me now."
Baron Randall nodded, an understanding gleaming in his eyes. Eagerly, he began to fully discard his pants, fully revealing the repugnant appendage he possessed.
In a swift motion, Astraea grasped the pitcher again, smashing it onto the distracted baron's head once more. Fragments of shattered porcelain littered the ground, a mosaic of destruction.
"You insolent whore!" the baron seethed. His illusion was now broken, and he lurching forward, his movements hindered due to damage Astraea conflicted.
Astraea dodged Baron Randall’s first attempt, but he quickly spun around again.
“You’ll pay for this!” He shouted, lunging himself onto Astraea and sending them both tumbling to the ground.
Streaks of blood smudged the floor as the baron and Astraea fought for control. He attempted to force himself into her, but she had enough of his actions.
SLASH!
The baron's breath caught in his throat as his hands instinctively reached for the fragment of porcelain embedded in his neck. Astraea deftly rolled away from him, her hands stained with blood from clutching the sharp object.
"Help..." Baron Randall gasped, his eyes pleading for mercy. Astraea stood above him, her gaze devoid of any compassion.
"HELP!" The baron's gurgled cry echoed again, his life slowly ebbing away.
SLAM!
Astraea's gaze shifted towards the now open door, where Mildred stood, her eyes widened in sheer horror.
For a fleeting moment, Astraea struggled to comprehend the scene before her, but realization dawned. The pieces finally fit together. The signs, ones she ignored because they couldn’t possibly come true, now aligned with cruel clarity.
"It's you..." Astraea gasped, her bloodstained finger pointed accusingly at Mildred.
"It was YOU!"