I turned around only to face a strong blow straight into my face. Lorcan hit me and I landed on the floor. My head was dizzy. Something inside my head repeated instantly. Get up, you are a prince you are not allowed to show weakness. I was swaying yet I got up. I looked Lorcan in his face, there was pure fury. I was wrong. He hasn't forgiven me a single thing. He was just toying with me as he wanted to punish me on his terms. My cheek and lips were prickling, he hit me hard.
He stepped closer and I automatically stepped back.
"You are afraid? You should be. I'm pissed as hell. You've made a laughing stock out of me. For the past three months I have been searching for you like a madman." Lorcan grabbed my chin forcing me to look at him all the time.
"At night and even during the day I was imagining what I would do to you when I found you. I was picturing you with another man or woman and I went crazy. I will make sure you will regret what you did." He let go of me. My chest got tight, I was scared of him. I knew what he was able to do.
"I haven't been with anyone. I was working as a translator." I said meekly hoping to ease his fury a bit.
"Yes, I checked that. After all you were raised as a prince so whoring yourself is below your dignity, right." He smirked.
"It is." I admitted.
"However you will be my little obedient slut. You will learn how to beg and please me. You will follow my every order without a single second of hesitation." He hissed while grabbing my hair and pulling my face closer. He kissed me. His lips crushed mine and I was too afraid to resist so I opened my mouth and let his tongue slide in. It was a fierce and domineering kiss. There was no tenderness, no love.
He left me pounding for air, but he didn't let go of my hair. His eyes met mine and for a moment we were standing like this.
"Welcome back my prince, from now on this is going to be your room. It's at the top of the tower well separated from the rest of the house. You may scream here to your heart's content and nobody will be able to hear you." He stepped back looking at my petrified figure.
"Strip."
Right, I was supposed to follow his orders without hesitation or he would punish me. So I took off all my clothes. He was examining my body with his eyes.
"You are thinner." He mumbled while reaching his hands for my clothes.
"The bathroom is behind that door. I ordered a hot bath for you. Wash yourself well and use the scented oils. I will come to you tonight."
He took all my clothes and left. I heard the lock clicking. I was alone in my new room. No, my prison. I went straight to the bathroom. I wasn't that eager to fulfill his orders. I simply wanted to clean myself after a few days of traveling. The water was still warm and I added some scents. It was supposed to feel relaxing but I couldn't stop thinking about what Lorcan said. I washed my hair and was ready to get out. I looked in the small mirror hanging on the wall next to a bowl with water. My face was bruised and my lip was a bit torn. Standing in the bathroom I realized something more, there was nothing I could wear except for a towel. I dried myself and butt naked returned to the room. I slid under the duvet. It was warm, in the fireplace the fire was crackling.
I heard that somebody placed a key into the lock and opened the door. My heart froze, but it wasn't Lorcan. It was Gelda. She looked older and somehow worn out. She was holding a tray with food.
"This is for you sir." She placed it on the bed.
"Thank you Gelda." I felt awkward, I had no clothes on so I just stayed covered.
"The Lord said that if you don't eat the food he will cut my hands off." She said in an indifferent tone.
I looked at her with horror.
"I will eat Gelda, the point is I have no clothes." I blushed, feeling ashamed.
"I know nothing about the clothes, I'm supposed to stay here till you finish sir and then lock the door. Should I do something wrong I will be punished."
I sat on the bed and started eating. There was no need to drag it any further, we were both at Lorcan's will.
"Gelda what happened during the past three months?"
"It was a nightmare. The Lord went crazy. Many people were punished, two guards were killed. I was beaten almost to death."
Tears were rolling down my cheek. All that misery was my fault.
"I'm sorry Gelda. I didn't know he would …" I couldn't look her in the eyes. The food was hard to swallow, I didn't feel like eating anymore.
"Please, eat." She said quietly.
I nodded and forced myself to eat almost everything. Gelda took the tray and went out. I was crying in my bed, feeling miserable and guilty. I was watching the sky in the window. it was turning from a dim light into a purple one and then finally it was black. I was fully aware that Lorcan will be here any moment now. I hate waiting. Being here alone made me think about many possible scenarios that Lorcan could follow. I was imagining the worst and felt how panic was forcing its way right to my throat to stay locked there making me unable to speak. I covered myself under the thick duvet and wanted to hide from the outside world, just like when I was a little child. I knew it was pointless but something childish inside me felt safer under the cover.