She was about to turn around and get into her courtyard when she felt him suddenly grab her head with one of his hands and smash his lips on hers.
His lips sucked on hers and his teeth nibbled until it felt numb. Her eyes went wide when a soft piece of flesh entered her mouth.
"Ah.."
His tongue smoothly ravaged the inside of her mouth. He roughly made his way around her teeth and the sides of her cheeks. She felt a jolting sensation when their tongues met. Their tongues wrestled in a rough battle and their saliva mixed.
"Hu..."
Her moans went on and on until he broke the kiss. He put his forehead against hers and with barely and inch between their lips, he said in a low, alluring voice: "breath."
Only when she heard him did she realize she was holding her breath the whole time. She opened her already parted lips and took a breath. A long, heavy one.
Elisabeth was still catching her breath when her eyes landed on the duke's lips. She unconsciously bit her own lips. She lifted her eyes slowly and met his lustful blue ones. She heard him sigh as if he was tired, and before she knew it, he took her in another round of kisses.
This time, it was slower and smoother yet deeper and more passionate. Electricity run down her spine when his tongue reached a sensitive spot. As if to tease her, he kept on rubbing and licking that same spot with his tongue making her moan even more.
'weird...'
Elisabeth felt so weird. A stream of multiple sensations flooded her. Her mouth and tongue tingled, and her entire body craved his attention. Her heart was beating so fast and an uncomfortable feeling landed between her legs.
She clasped her hands on his chest and grabbed his coat so tightly as if her life depended on it. Her reasoning has long since gone and her mind was swimming in a pool of mist.
She felt a touch down her back and just above her bottom, making her flinch. her heart begun to throb, and instantly, all the pleasure she was feeling, gradually became fear.
[I'll make you feel good, young girl. Just be obedient, huh?]a voice of a middle aged man resounded in her head.
[N-No! Stay away from me! No!]
"No!"
she screamed loudly with eyes tightly shut. She pushed the duke away from her, with all her might. She stepped backwards, panting. With shaken eyes, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders as to make sure she was safe.
She fearfully lifted her eyes up and looked at the man in front of her. He had a soft look on his eyes just moments ago but now, there was an inexplicable cold and scary air around him. Just like when he was talking to the lady in the garden before. She felt somehow disappointed and betrayed. Contrary to the soft and tender expressions he had just a while ago, his face was expressionless.
Just like that middle aged man's face was.
[How dare you refuse me, you whore! You should be grateful I payed you attention, but what, you kick me instead!!] the man's voice ringed in her head.
' scared...'
[The only thing that's attracting him is the heat between your legs, girl.] a cold voice of a woman said.
[He's not the kind of a person you think he is.]
[ I thought you were clever, what a shame.]
'No... stop it...please...'
[They are all the same, after all.]
"No. Stop! No!" she screamed. Her mind felt like about to explode with all the voices and images flashing inside her head.
Although she was trying her best not to lose it, she no longer knew what's her imagination and what's reality.
She no longer could hear the fountain's water' sounds, or see the palace, or the man in front of her.
She was stuck in there.
Only a few moments and she found herself trapped in the dark.
'scared...I'm scared...' a little subdued voice resounded in the empty dark space.
Did I pass out? she turned her head left and right but saw nothing but darkness.
Oh, it must be that.
'I'm scared...please let me out..sob.. I'll be a good mouse...I won't disobey you, I promise, so please...' the little girl's subdued voice resounded again but with sobs now.
Is it another dream?
she was hearing other voices talking to each other but it was so distant.
After some time passed, she could distinguish who were talking. it was the same girl's voice and a boy's.
Her head felt as if swimming in a pool of dense liquid so she couldn't hear the conversation clearly and most of it was blurred.
'.....a nightmare,....?' the boy's voice rang.
'Mmm.'
The next of the conversation went fuzzy.
'It's so dark. I hate it. I hate this'. she thought.
she had always suffered from Nyctophobia, the fear of darkness. and though she knew it must be nothing but a dream, she still felt scared.
Two single drops of tears escaped her eyes, followed by a never ending stream of tears, rolling softly down her cheeks. she was still trying to calm herself down when the two children voices resounded again.
'I'm scared.....and it's scary....' she heard the girl say.
she could hear some lines of the conversation while the rest was still incomprehensible and unclear.
'It's not the darkness you're afraid of. You.....' the boy's voice said.
'....'
'.....for... It's loneliness you fear.'
'....'
'.....holding hands will do.'
'Holding hands?'
'Yes. Here, hold my hand....There is nothing to fear.'
With that said, she felt the warmth around her hand and it brought her calm and steadiness. She felt peaceful and safe.
'It's alright.'
'It's alright now.'
she heard words flowing as if to calm her down, comforting her.
'you are safe.'
'no one will harm you.'
'no one can.'
Though she didn't feel scared or insecure anymore, yet she felt her tears still falling down.
'it's alright now.'
the tender voice continued on coaxing her.
'it's alright.'
'so, wake up now.'
'wake up for me,'
'Elise.'
Her eyes flung open. she was breathing sharply and with difficulty as if she was out of breath for a very long time. her view was still blurry but she could see a couple of golden eyes starring at her from above.
she blinked a few times. the mist blurring her sight slowly faded away allowing her to see him, the blonde man in front of her.
"D Duke?" she stuttered in a very low voice that was all she could muster at that moment.
"you're alright now. you're alright." he said in a very soft voice patting her head gently.
Elisabeth took a few moments to grasp the situation.
Sensing her confusion, the duke explained: "you fell unconscious. It's been around ten minutes now."
'so I really passed out.' she thought. she tried to stand up but her body was powerless and refused to listen.
"Stay still. Don't tire yourself." she heard the duke say in a very gentle voice only a few inches above her ear. she nodded with flushed cheeks.
"I apologize for what I did, your highness. I seem to have drunk more wine than I intended, please forgive my misbehavior." he apologized with a bowed head.
He had a very innocent look on his face while apologizing. Like a boy in his teens who got caught steeling cupcakes. She was somehow fascinated by the total change of air. He was still expecting a response from her whether she forgives him or not, so she nodded lightly then stood up with him helping her and excused herself for the night.
"Is our date still valid?" she heard him ask.
"D-Date!?"
"Am I still welcomed to visit your highness tomorrow? You wanted to know about the headache."
"Oh, of course. Please do visit me tomorrow, your grace. I'll be looking forward to it."
"See your highness tomorrow then."
"Yes. See you tomorrow." She curtsied and wished him a goodnight then walked back to the door but stopped right there.
"And duke,..." she said with her head half turned. "...I already have a lover." She then hurriedly went inside and straight to her bedroom.
Elisabeth kept thinking about what happened the whole night and only slept a couple of hours before dawn.
____
Her cheeks flushed red remembering last night's happenings.
Getting back to reality, she took in a breath then opened the letter. It would be more correct to call it a note than a letter. It was a little card that had only one sentence written on it.
I'll be visiting your highness around eleven.
David.V.Krams
'what a beautiful handwriting' she admired inwardly.
"What is it, your highness?" Anna asked curiously.
"It says his grace the duke will be visiting around eleven, so get ready, please."
"The duke!?" exclaimed Anna with a pale face. Realizing her rude demeanor in front of her lady, she hurriedly apologized then went out of the room to get everything ready for the guest's arrival, leaving Elisabeth to her thoughts.