Aine of Diarmada

Chapter 6

👆👆👆Supposed to represent orange spiral in case anyone was confused! (You'll see in the chapter) Happy reading 🍀💚

I marked another line on the cold wall with the sharp tip of a stone. It's been a little more than two weeks. My dress is ripped in tatters from being on my knees cleaning. My fingers are rubbed raw and have small cuts on them from trying to get the supper done on time. Not to mention the spreading black and blue bruises. They'll get angry at anything.
If you answer back.
If you don't do as you're told.
If the supper is late.
If something hasn't been cleaned properly.
If you try to fight back.
If you don't let them have their way.
If you reject their 'affection' as they call it.
And of course if you try to escape.
I lost the hope of trying to escape after the first time I had tried. I had been so close. I could see the bright sunlight and could feel the fresh breeze on my face. But of course, he had caught me. Angus is his name, at least that's what I've heard the others call him a few times. His large intimidating figure makes you shrink down every time he comes near. His worn face is covered by a bushy beard, that always has a stale smell of ale. His eyes are cold, dark circles filled with aged evil. His large, powerful hands control your every move for fear of being beaten by them. And his voice. It sends rippling shivers down your spine when you hear it.
My bubble of thoughts burst as I heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. The rusty door to my dungeon opened slowly with a creak. Angus stepped in with a smile plastered on his face.
"Roise, my dear. I thought I'd bring you this. You're looking a little scruffy." He threw a tightly shaped dress at me.
"Thank you," I whispered, holding it to my chest.
"And you'll have a wash before tonight."
"What's happening tonight?" I asked.
"You're becoming one of us! You'll be one of our women," he announced, clapping his hands together in delight.
"I'll never be one of you," I snapped.
"You will," he snarled but quickly went back to smiling,"so try on the dress," he smirked. The way he looked at me made me feel sick to my stomach.
"Um, maybe it would be better to put it on after I wash myself," I said, hoping that he wouldn't make me change in front of him.
"Alright," he huffed as he closed the door, leaving me trapped once more. As his hand swept away from the handle I realised for the first time a marking on his wrist. I squinted my eyes to catch what it was. An orange spiral. I tried to think of what clan it belonged to, it seemed familiar. An image of Aine's wedding flashed into my mind. A red cloak with orange spirals....on Chulann. My eyes widened in shock. Chulann's clan. My capturer was part of the Mi clan, he was one of Chulann's men.