Reflected **** Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three

My forlorn and fragile plight had led me to fool's paradise, he held my head---my arms flailed lifelessly while he knelt on one knee, I felt his mouth against my own when I opened my eyes.

I hadn't remembered much, was it Christmas yet---my children?

I'd arrived at the home at nightfall---no one stirred; I had gone into the Babylonian themed room first noticing the kitchen sink held utensils and dishes, an indication Kie still was not home. I proceeded to the room, walked into the refined bathroom and turned on the shower. I'd had second thoughts about Dario and decided to please myself.

After I'd arrived I'd consorted with a feeling of conviction, I put away my bags and toiled with self discipline...how had I been so docile? Where I'd once been complacent I was now needy.

He couldn't win, I wouldn't let him I sternly declared. I'd cried obstinately while the water from the shower head washed the shame from my face and down the drain, the orgasm flowed from a dark place. Yet the impulse to pursue pleasure was undying, in my mind I couldn't function without his fulfilment. I closed my eyes and saw us---each thrust paralyzing, his words against my ear unheard, the sensation of his lips noteworthy, he tended to enter in and out of my shame.

The stronghold was unfathomable.

I dried off, the waters had begun to flow again in my ears, this time fierce and turbulent. I felt Dario's presence and finally heard movement upstairs, his scent was so aromatic I had to stiffen against the weakness in my knees; he caused and cured the malady and as much as I'd tried not to fall victim to the lust that welled deep I'd become subdued in his typhoon of immoral rapture. I was stern with my decision and was content. He'd placed his mouth on my throat upon entering into the Babylonian room after opening the door and studying my defiant conduct, my commands for him to stop went silent before he commanded me with his eyes.

I'd resisted but soon had submitted to his inaudible orders. He'd left the door open. Where was his mother? No matter how domineering they still needed discipline, because without they become wayward.

What was the explanation for the euphoric stupor he'd provoked, straight away the ground beneath my feet quaked while he conciliated my temper. He could calm my vexation; but it exacerbated when retrogressed.

His breath was marrow to my consciousness, I'd discerned the respiration that exited his lips and entered between my own before opening my eyes, now I was afraid. His presence was void, I laid blindly, while his locks had swept my face before focusing. Alarm was absent in his countenance.

The mirror. I remembered looking into the baroque mirror, his stride continued, I had become deafened by my own screams in my ears as if they were trapped, they made no sound. It had to be a dream I told myself.

I was so diverted by the vibrations that bound us together, he'd taken me there---we hadn't turned back as before. Each time the path would end, but he'd taken me to the other side. The image was only in my mind, my own concoction---a monster I had made him out to be simply because I loathed him. Had I seen him as a villain, and he had manifest before my eyes? Hadn't I even given up on trying to see his face, shamefully he covered it with his hair. Indeed I had but I needed to know if he could feel, without expression he lacked sentiment---I'd neglected my children and abandoned my rights again, was he stricken by my lewd and salacious acts as I was his? I could tell if I looked in his eyes, I silently dared him to show me his soul. The storm had continued, the house shook with each clap of thunder. Finally after several attempts the power briefly shut off but resumed, his reflection reappeared. Being with child strongly attracted him to me, awkwardly he would embrace my belly at the pinnacle of his nympholepsy, I would often become noticeably offended which would lead to me being reprimanded.

He watched me gain consciousness, I was yet in the Babylonian room, my footprints were still wet on the marble floor.

Petrified I attempted to break loose from his grip, his windowless eyes continued to watch me and studied my speculations. Nothing could convince me that what I had witnessed was make believe but I went back and forth with my instinct. Prudently I laid in his clutch engrossed by the possibilities of what I knew I'd witnessed, being real. His impenitence frightened me even more than what I'd seen.

He'd been so aroused from my noncompliance when entering into the room, my resistance only fueled his intent. His sweats hang loosely around his waist, his body was captivating, however I ignored his temptation and wondered if I had intentionally left the door unlocked. I couldn't identify the cast that seemed to encircle him, I credited it to my wet eyelashes. Alluring me hadn't come as easy as he'd banked on his prominent erection said so, my rejection aroused him disturbingly.

I was caught up in a lust induced spell yet the thought of forsaking my babies cut deep. The anger from the possibility of not being pleased tormented me, I silently demanded him to make it well worth it in my mind while giving in to his touch against my cheek. Contrary to my intuition it was vital to my sanity that I allow him to caress the shame and dejection inside; I knew penance would follow and I would yet spend Christmas alone but momentarily I needed him to soothe my affliction. I'd climbed to my knees in the bed, he disrobed and entered also on his knees, I rubbed the trail of hair that grew along his firm belly.

Admonished by the voice, I bargained---I'd faltered and couldn't withstand. A look of triumph had covered his face before he put his soft lips against my throat. Time stood still as he'd lined the wet kisses down my breasts before turning me around and filling me up. I waited for the passion to become aggressive, as always. I reached for his dreads defensively his strokes were antagonizing. I was curious to know why his hair was off limits, touching it was part of my intimate desire. Unmoved by his efforts to chastise me I felt rage in his moans against my back but there was no room for secondary emotion on my behalf. When they hadn't proven effective the moans deepened. Perfect his body appeared in the reflection. His tongue manipulated my every action as the kisses trailed between my shoulder blades and along my spine. I noticed he seemed more cautious with the child, I needed his pain, I wasn't brittle! I'd sat back in his lap against his chest. His hair continued to sweep my back, I felt him reach around me and remove my hand from between my legs aggressively, had he felt like he was incapable? With his face buried in my shoulder our motion synchronized, I watched our bodies glisten in the hanging mirror on the wall, the glow remained around us. His hair was so beautiful, in my thoughts it represented his strength; symbolized power. I was captivated by the locks that hung from his head covering his face during sex, why did he choose to hide his emotions? WAS HE PLEASED!!?

He'd held me around my waist---what was hours seemed like minutes, I allowed him to please me as always, the desires would eventually kill me, each session would become more addictive. His fingertips had turned white from the grip on my thighs, this time seemed never ending, he'd lost control I could tell by his unsteady breathing, the panting assisted my constant release. I opposed his gesture to push me from his lap and to my knees but watched him in the reflection.

I wiped at my eyes, surely my lashes were dry but I could yet see something around us. What I'd seen was only circumstantial I'd told myself, I was high off lust, I had desired him too long.

Even though hair hid his expressions he was still breathtaking in the reflection. I hadn't found it peculiar that he'd stayed in my room. I was actually flattered he'd chosen to, it seemed less ceremonial but the experience had been unforeseen.

Strength was leaving me with every thrust, quite naturally I would pass out I told myself trying to make sense of what had occurred. It had all been a dream, the eyes of fire that shone through the parted dreads that hung in his face; how could he have possibly made his chest expand? No logical explanation.

The lascivious mood had impaired my reasoning...but he stared directly at me in the mirror through the long locks with fiery eyes.

In fear I tried uselessly to climb from the bed, after not succeeding I patted the cover for my phone frightened for my sanity and life! His hold would not allow me to escape, the eyes beamed and his pace had quickened, the room felt occupied as if someone else had come in but the cast around him was gone. I felt my hands and feet go numb while watching his steady gaze simultaneously to glimpsing my own terror stricken reflection, right before I passed out.

Now he knelt above me, as I moved my legs I could tell the insides of my thighs were raw. It had to have been a dream my cognition told me so.

Why was I so fucking sore? I tried to speak to him, my voice had returned, I demanded him to let me go! How had he revived me, why had I needed CPR?

I demanded him to tell me what happened and loosen his grip! I was scared and could make it to my babies, I knew I could---I told myself there was no need for regret just leave, I still had a chance to see them! Was he restraining me because I'd awakened defensively? WHO WOULDN'T?

My inner thighs were so pained to the touch but I hadn't remembered enduring that kind of torture, I didn't even know if I was able to walk. I worried about the unborn and knew shit had to have gotten out of hand he was in a frenzy.

I think what sent me over the edge was the fact that the Devil's Decimal laid opened on the floor beside where Dario knelt, why was I even on the floor, hadn't I just passed out in the bed!?

He saw terror in my eyes and smiled, I began to fight him out of anger he lacked empathy, his eyes said so! He grabbed my wrists while I pulled at his hair with every intent to rip it from his scalp! What had he done to me!? WHY WAS HE DRESSED SO FAST?

I orchestrated a 911 call in my head but what the fuck would I say!? In someway I had been violated, both my child and I---I just hadn't known how.

I could see the anger across Dario's face now, through clenched teeth his temples pulsated, but I became angrier. My screams had gone unheard, his expression instantly transformed, now he grinned at my unsuccess and devoured me with his eyes. I became cold from his antics as if someone had lowered the temperature in the home. Finally he released my wrists, stood and left the room. His scent of lust remained.

I was so afraid now but continued to tell myself it had all been a dream, it was Impossible to see what I thought I'd seen in the reflection. I spotted my phone laying in the chair on top of the bag I'd brought inside. My memory was so vague, but I remembered Dario coming into the room before being seduced. I studied the mirror almost expecting it to give me a sign.

Where was Kerri?, what happened to my sister!? I needed to see her, I was done with New Orleans! Maybe I could get through to her, she needed help. Unsure if I could even walk I planned to escape.

Naked I crawled to the phone to text my babies, Mommy was coming, I would bear the pain. When the hour and date appeared on the lit screen I fought to maintain my sanity.

There were calls from the prison, text messages from Nathaniel and Lawrence---and several from Ryella. AGAIN, what had I done?

Christmas Day had passed, why was I asleep that long?

I was furious, Dario strode about upstairs, he would give me an explanation! Had I dreamt it all or had he induced the occurrence I'd witnessed? The more I thought about my uncontrollable lust the more I blamed Troy! I crawled to the bed, my emotions were so twisted, it wasn't good to be in the place I promised to never return. Dario was bringing back old thoughts, I wanted him dead. That was the only way I could break free of his stronghold. I had fucked up.

Especially when at a low place, the voice would speak, they never loved u, it said. I agreed. I had suffered, would they suffer if I was gone?

At 4:58 a.m. December 26th the unfamiliar number called my phone while I struggled to stand---puzzled I answered but didn't receive a response, aware someone was on the other end I held the phone and listened to them breathe and to the television in the background---it announced the WTOP 6:00 news. The time zone hadn't coincided with my own. After 4 minutes the call from the 703 area code ended.