Chapter two

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RED

Sadin, a woman of implicit beauty, a man's downfall was a blasphemy to my past life. I had fallen on my knees to that creature that was beginning to fall on her knees to me. She wandered into my heart without permission and as a man I wanted to feel what it meant to protect someone you cherished.

"A woman who led to the bereavement of many in the past, a change in time now and I was the driver of her destiny.

The foretelling said she will come again to this world; it is on my own accord to find her and keep her under control. A curse of a woman, I submitted myself to a woman who held no sword, gave her my life and she blemished my soul with her foxy ways, causing destruction over the kingdom I once swore to my forefathers to protect.

The way she acted as a shield for her sisters made me angrier that she wasn't able to protect me then when I needed her, but that was all in the past now.

"In this lifetime, she's under my control, even the air she breaths has to go through me first."

The woman I valued embarked with my enemies and spilled the secret I trusted her with, the secret of a Berserk.

I am a Berserk who is dreaded by my power to shake nations, bringing victory to my kingdom in all glory and admiration. And the people of Ingrey have been waiting for the traitorous fox that went against me, caused my death, and the death of almost a nation!

I glimpsed behind my horse, not a hint of her presence was seen. I simpered to the punishments I could confer if she arrived late.

The sentence that would put her back on her knees where she belonged, my main motive was to keep her by my side and satisfy all the promises she couldn't keep. She once said she would become my wife, recollecting the statement clearly like it was yesterday. I intended on achieving that wish for her now, except it may not be her wish.

I saw her lean figure approach me, even in the midst of all the sweat, and dirt on her cheeks. She was still the finest creature I had laid my eyes on, her hands held unto her skirt while she drew near, stood by the horse breathing heavily and weakly at the same. She kept her gaze on the floor and I was prepared to reprove her if she had faced me. I mounted from the horse, and she stepped away from me.

A wise decision.

The door barged open and the different statuses of workers from my Manor came running out with their faces in glee.

Master Red. The man who headed the committee of workers ran and lined up in a straight platform according to their ranks.

"Where_" I wanted to ask before my leader of guards rushed towards me, just the person I wanted to ask for. Savage, the leader of my men fell on his knees with the others as he positioned his sword beside him.

Rise, I instructed as I walked in, diving into the pathway hastily opened for me by the workers. I strode into my Pavilion with my hands akimbo while I supervised the surrounding.

"What happened here? I asked with an arched eyebrow."

The workers may have gone too far in refurbishing the Red suite. I shall ask them to put things back to place. Savage answered before turning his back.

"Do not bother." I said wearily, my hand brushing over my hair. Have them set me food and a warm bath. Have you spoken to the priest?

Yes, Savage answered. "The priest gave me the marriage scroll that binds your marriage without a ceremony."

"My marriage? I asked with a shift in my tired voice."

"N_no, Savage spluttered. I meant to say t-the marriage."

"Better."

I said giving him an encouraging look before taking out the weaponries in my dressing and placing them on the round table that had the color pink, a floral white curtain behind it. I frowned in distaste before facing Savage who was still standing behind me.

What are you still waiting for?

What about the lady? She is still waiting outside, Savage replied.

"Ask her to come in." I said after removing my shirt and heading for my pants.

She limped in, slowly closing the door behind her and I smirked at her ghastly state with hilarity. It really made me contented. I picked the scroll that was written in red matrimony of our bond and held it towards her.

"Written bonds were a kind of marital signature for people who are going to be living together in Ingrey, especially if the couple were not close to each other in distance during the time of the ceremony."

Although, if the script that the priest had written in connecting them as one was lost before the ceremony then, both partners could be free from the bond if any of them wanted.

Read it. I commanded.

She reached for it slowly from my hand, before her hand could reach it, I threw it towards her and it hit just about a good amount of her face. She still had her eyes cast downwards when she pretended like I didn't just throw it to her.

"She opened the scroll and I waited to see the amount of fear it was going to cause her but instead, she wrapped it back, carefully."

Did she read it or was she not able to read? I decided to make it clear.

"As you stepped into the Red palace, you have been bonded with me by this written manuscript, we are yet to have a ceremony but it will never transpire because a venom like you isn't deigned worthy to be my wife." And you have no choice but to accept, the lives of your sisters are in my hands.

"You are an abomination, an outrage here and nobody will lift a finger to assist you."

You have only me!

"Obey my wishes, so I wouldn't dispose you earlier than I planned to."

"This is our very own nuptial night so wash yourself; you look like a stray dog."

Those were my last words before I left the room to the wash chamber. I observed her through the transparent floral curtains and I could see her holding tightly the matrimonial scroll.

She walked onward, kept it into a drawer near the fire place, beside the window which was declaring evening. The Sadin unlocked the other drawers and selected out a lace black gown which she looked at progressively.

She looked around, probably making sure that she wasn't approaching the same bath place that I was. Instead, she followed the route that led beside the door, unknown, that the wash chamber she was approaching was still connected near mine.

"Of course, she wouldn't know."

I'd forgotten I came here to soak, picking up the bar soap, I eroded my braided hair with its foaminess but my eyes still glued on her. The other door that linked to my bath place was what she now unlocked and closed behind her.

She hadn't noticed me yet.

This Sadin placed the garment slowly; she did everything cautiously, probably because she didn't want to make any sort of sound at her own disposal.

She placed her hand into the tub to feel its temperature and didn't notice that I was right in front of her, concealed only by a thin sheet of curtain. I watched her remove the small top that stopped before her waist. She slipped it off and immediately turned her back to drop it; on her back was a bruise that must have stung heavily. I bet it came from the stone that she shielded for her useless sister.

I watched as she turned her back trying to inspect the wound by touching it a little; she then slipped the longer skirt off. I had my eyes on her unadorned body, I couldn't take it my eyes off and as she reached the small stand to lift herself into the bathtub, she paused suddenly and her eyes gazed at mine through the thin sheets between us. She fidgeted and paused, unsure of what to do about the situation.

After rinsing the rest of the soap away from my body, I grabbed the near towel and stepped out of the pool like tub. "Without another glance, I walked out of the room with a covered erection."

................

I savored my tea unhurriedly; my focus was engrossed on the scrolls that needed my consensus as a Prince to the people of my Kingdom. My elder brother, the King leaves these errands to me with the conclusion that I comprehend what cavalcades outside our home territory.

Ingrey, my home is a Berserk Kingdom and ever since I was twelve, I started leading men and commanding them to implement my orders in the manner I desired them to. "And with my brother as King of Ingrey, any single spot of deficiency that could perchance bring about demise to the people." I was there to avert by presuming the weight of the lower quarters.

In other words, I functioned as a link between the king and his people. The Red manor was the place where people could enter to probe or report issues that needed a higher intervention.

I released the empty tea cup with the intention of pouring out more from the kettle but it was all gone, I sighed to that. I could see her lean shadow standing miserably behind the fluorescent curtain. She had been there ever since I assumed the chair, guess it was a good thing that she feared me so much.

Are your legs made of wood? I asked, but there wasn't any response.

Come out!

I said exasperated at her muteness, I observed her walk slowly towards me with her hands rubbing against each other.

Won't you sleep?

She simply turned, led herself to the empty surrounding after my study and sat on the ground. I shook my head when I saw what she was about to do. In annoyance, I stood, walked towards her and seized her by the ankle.

I hate you a lot, you know? You've started a new kind of disposition this time. And I guess innocent is the new you and I despise it already. You cowardly coated crap! I said digging my nails into her wrists. She shut her eyes without even trying to stop me from going further, how blameless was she proving to be when it came to me?

"I had observed you yelled at the one who slapped your sister's hand which you reciprocated to." Why is this different? I said throwing her wrist, and making her fall brusquely.

"Stay on the bed; you are my dear wife after all."

She sat still staring down at her sore wrist and holding quite a sob yet.

Now!

I growled at her and she stood instantly, sitting on the bed and resting herself to a sleeping posture. The soft sheets collected her into the bed and I couldn't even see her face if she were sobbing or just....

"What better way to find out than to lie myself."

I blew out the remaining candles which gave the room an unnecessary amount of light, only a dim fire place attracted enough fire and that was all I needed to close my eyes.

I strode towards the bed, fell into the sheets but her face was curved to the other side, not at mine. I lifted the heavy woolly blanket, but then it wouldn't budge. Immediately, she sat up on the bed removing the residual blanket that she must have laid on. After she succeeded in removing it all, she laid back down with her behind facing me.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

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MAYA.

I tried to soothe the cold I felt in my bones. Most of it started from the incident where I had to lay almost bare throughout the journey amid the cold sea. I was trying to shelter myself, even if it were just my legs with the wool blanket, but what if he stirs up when I moved? I would expire before morning if I can't get some heat, then I would be too sick to know how my sisters are managing at wherever they were.

I need the blanket.

I sat slowly, drew the blanket to my side whilst biting my lips in fear. I delicately put my legs into the blanket before they became still and rigid like the time on the ship. I persistently, glided the blanket towards me and when the one I could acquire seemed to be fair enough to drown my legs in. I stopped and positioned my legs into it with, my head going down to the bed in relief.

My eyes widened when his legs traversed over mine, held it down and his face just a flutter away from mine. The heat I felt now was far more needed than the blankets on my legs, I turned my back to break the gaze of his slumber but that was a terrible mistake. His hands crawled like a spiders' to my waist and he held unto it like he was never going to leave it.

I preserved my posture, my plan was to slip away from him again and before I could act. He was on top of me in all ruthlessness and I begged silently that it wasn't going to be what I thought. I grabbed unto the pillow where my head laid and his eyes were now sullied with red.

"The myth of the berserk's agility."

A berserk's agility that could be born at the remembrance of a painful occurrence be it the present or future. It would take over him, and he will inflict terror on whomever he held a grudge on. I said in my mind knowing that all hope to even try to consider this incident not to happen was futile.

My legs he brought up to himself opening it like a book and I flinched to the throbbing at my thigh.

"Not all the pain until he filled me with his instrument accompanied with coercion of the highest order." I screamed in terror as he occupied me, in fact wasn't able to fill me, because I was still a floret that needed a little touch. The pain did not subsidize, neither did it liquidize. It formed a mental pain in my head with the cold I had once grieved from.

All things blurry in motion, I couldn't remember anything else, but yes, the constant plunge aggrieved my inner womanhood before I fell into a bottomless trance of haziness.

I imagined it was over but it wasn't, when would the haze subjugate me finish?

"Someone who once said I was a child incarnate in the physique of an adult caressed me and said, It was all fine, I listened and I felt no pain any longer."

I was inside a tub, I could feel it. I felt warm water dehydrate my body. The fragrance of petals and oil were what I perceived, I craved to open my eyes but I wasn't ready to do so either. The warm water rinsed my face and orders were spilt in the air.

Was it because of me? A mere Sadin? It couldn't be. I wasn't that significant to them.

"Something was brought to my lips, I swallowed it, but it had no taste."

The scent told me it wasn't water at least. I wanted to open my eyes to grasp what it was but it couldn't open. It felt too weighty and I was quite miserable about it.

Another was conveyed to my lips, it had a lemon miscellaneous taste and I detested it.

I wanted to taste honey and ginger just like a special person would make for me when I was ill. She would comb my hair and trim,

Tell me about the world I was bound to see,

And then with a sip of our tea,

She would look me in the eyes as if I was the reason she was bound to live.

She was my mother.

I decided to fall into the abyss of drowsiness until I heard his voice.

Is she still unconscious? My eyes shot open even after I instructed it not to and they instantly, met his.