Between the Lines of Time

Chapter 7

*no one's pov*

Deep breath, it's okay, just breathe and get through it, Maddie kept telling herself, she just had to get through dinner and convince stephan to let her go. She had been trying to focus on a plan but everything around her is making her anxious. She was slowly making her way to the dining room, her breathing getting heaver by the proximity. She was so lost in thought she nearly ran into the servant when they stopped in front of the doors to the room. She gave one last pleading look to the servant, but it was no use, they just pushed her through the doors, shutting them behind her.
"Ye look so beautiful in your gift" Stephen said, with a devilish smile, he was in fact telling the truth, he has never seen a girl half as beautiful as Maddie was to him. For that factor alone she was something he wanted to possess, but now the idea of owning her in a marriage, there was nothing better in his eyes. "Am I supposed to pull the chair out for ye? Comb, sit" he guided, and when Maddie made no move, he pushed a little further, "Sit."
Eyeing him slowly, she made no efforts to move forward in the room, it was  not until he made a step towards her that she slowly made her way to the chair. Sitting down, she glanced around the room taking in every extravagant item in there. It was as if he was trying to show off all his wealth now as a "changed" man as he has proclaimed. He's definitely overcompensating for something, Maddie joked to herself, as it is the only thing that is helping her stay sain.
"I suspect ye find our room to yer liking then?" Stephan asked breaking her out of her thoughts.
"W-what do you mean our room?" Maddie asked, a little caught off guard. Stephen just smirked at her and continued adding food to his plate.
"We are to be married in but 3 days sweetheart," he stated nonchalantly "comb now, lets eat before it gets cold, we will discuss wedding details afterwards."
Maddie felt sick to her stomach, 3 days how can that be, she thought to herself, there is no way this is legal. She was so lost in her thoughts after the news that she did not see the pirate staring at her and thinking of all of the things he was about to do to her tonight. He had waited for this moment for a long time and now he finally was on the track to getting his wife and child all to himself.

Maddie's POV

Dinner seemed to drag on slowly, with all the burning questions that I had in my mind, I could not stomach a single thing. I took small bites of what seamed to be some sort of fish on the table so as to not provoke him. Man do I miss the 21st century food, fish is so not my cup of tea but that is all they seem to have if meat is not readily available. I just have to make it through tonight and figure out a plan that he will let me leave, that way I can make a break for the stones with Elias as soon as we are reunited. I was wracking my brain trying to think of a reason he might go for when I felt him touch my shoulder.

"Comb on now sweetheart, lets go back to our bedchambers and start talking about our future," Stephan gilded as his hand started rubbing my shoulder, "If ye are a good girl, I'll give ye a taste of what your future holds"

Disgust ran through my body at his attempt at an innuendo, however as I do not want to see him follow through on that promise, I stood up and walked more hastily out of the room as to put some space between us.

Back in the room, I made my way to sit on a small chair in front of a small tea table as I know that there is no room for him to mess with me here. I turned to look at the door just in time to see him walk through it's threshold and close the door shut, locking it. Gulping nervously, I reminded myself that I just have to make him uninterested in me and find a way to escape.
"So, can I ask my questions now?" I stated, trying to start the conversation before he has a chance to take control of the situation.
"Darlin' go right ahead" he said bemused coming to sit right across from me in the other tea chair.
"O-okay," taking a deep breath, I decide to just go for the burning question and work my way down. "Why do you want to marry me, you don't know me, for all you know you might actually hate me." I said trying my best to convince him its a bad idea
"Oh darlin', I could never hate ye. And trust me, I know all about ye, I have been following ye for about 3 years now."
"What?!" I almost yelled at him stalker much?
"Ye didn't think I would just let ye and me son live unprotected now did ye?" He questioned before continuing, "When ye came to me in the jail, and told me that there was something left of me on this earth, I knew right then and there that ye were different. Seeing you all round with my baby, well, that was just the image I needed to become instantly obsessed with the need to possess you in every way imaginable. When I heard about yer aunt's party, well I became so jealous I knew I had to make ye mine as soon as possible."
Speechless, I just nodded, this man is psychotic! "Is that supposed to impress me?" I asked
"O'course darlin', now you know the lengths I am willing to go for ye." he stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Quickly, I started to form a plan to get out of this, at least for now, "Isn't it tradition that you have to ask my father for permission?"
"Not when I have the legal system on me side"
"Well what about the tradition that the bride can't be seen by the groom until the wedding day, surely you, a man of superstitious beliefs, has to understand the bad luck that will come out of this" I attempt to point out, and for a moment it seemed that it might have gotten to him.
"Aye, by danu I did not think of this," he started, "we must then leave for town tonight to correct this and get married first thing in the morning."
"NO!" I shouted standing up, "this is not going to happen, you are fucking loco in the brain if you think that I am going to agree to be your wife! You sick, vile, piece of shit! You can't force someone to marry you!" I continued shouting profanities at him, completely overwhelmed by this situation, there is no way the court will let this happen. I had just finished shouting my last curse towards him when he abruptly stood up, knocking down the chair. His dark eyes narrowed at me as he started to stalk in my direction. I took this as my que to try and run around him dodging his attempt at grabbing me. I ran past the couch and tried the door, fuck! I forgot he locked it, I turned back around to see that he was getting close, If I could just make it to the bedroom, I could close that door, I made a break for it jumping over the couch, running straight into the bedroom. I slammed the door shut and looked for something to prop up against it to help keep it closed. As I was grabbing a chair to put under the handle, he slammed the doors open.
"That is enough." he stated lowly sending shivers down my spine, "No wife of mine will ever disrespect me like that" he said shutting the door behind him.
"Then find a new one buddy" I said, not sure of where this defiance came from but I am not backing down. Or so I thought. Because the very next second he grabbed me by the throat and pined me to the bed post.
"Ye are mine. Ye will marry me tomorrow morning or ye will hang. If I can't have you, i'll be damned if anyone else will" Stephen growled. Tears started swelling in my eyes, and I found it increasingly harder to breath as his hand kept getting tighter. I put my hand on his wrist to try and stop him but it seamed no use.
"I am going to let go, once I do, ye will be a good girl and tell me ye can't wait to be Mrs. Bonnet in the morning."
As if I just stared him down. He slowly let go and I started coughing catching my breath. His hands enclosed my waist and he pressed himself to me. I let one tear fall as I told him what he wanted to hear. All the while I cursed him out in my head.
"There, that was not so hard, now was it?" he chided like I was a child. He leaned down to kiss my forehead while pulling me even closer to him. My tears were free falling now. How am I going to get out of this?
"P-please," I started, "Can't you see I will never love you. This will be a loveless marriage"
Frowning he squeezed my hips and stated "I've heard the expression, 'learn to love' I know in time sweetheart, ye will love me. By danu, I'll make damn sure of that" he wiped my eyes and pulled my head to his chest, "comb now love, lets call a coach to take us to wilmington.