The Heirs

Ethan: Captivity

Chapter 11:

(Damira POV)

The next few days moved slowly. It felt like all those years of freedom were nothing but a dream now as I sunk back into the reality of this place. I barely left the room I was given, and never left the house. Laurianne and Eliza took it upon themselves to begin my lessons again, since I became such a heathen without being under their watch. A maid would enter my room before the sun rose every morning to dress me and prepare my hair and makeup to Laurianne and Eliza's liking. I would then wait a few hours after they both would have breakfast and get dressed before they would meet with me. I was expected to be standing and waiting for them each morning. I would go into a deep curtsey and then we would begin. Etiquette, Manners, Elocution, Posture, Walking, Dancing, Laughing, Smiling. I never faltered I knew what I had to do for them to be happy. Resistance was useless.

They would lock the door again and go to Dinner and sometimes a maid would bring me a piece of bread or some broth. I knew that it was never approved because she would give me 5 minutes before she would take whatever was left away. It was after everyone left that Richard would come in. Richard was responsible for dealing out my punishments. He always had been. His wife and daughter were too perfect to see and cause the type of punishments I needed to receive, although his daughter always decided what the punishments would be. That was there reasoning at least. There were a few rules that he always followed: no visible scars, no lasting injuries, no stopping. Once he started a punishment he wouldn't stop until it was done. Most of the time he would be staggering in drunk and those nights were always worse.

That night he came staggering in and was supposed to use his belt. I could immediately tell that, that was no longer the plan. Instead he had a belt he had a small dagger. He had a maid beside him, "Take the gown off but leave the corset on." He said not even glancing over at me. The maid came over and jerked off the gown and backed away leaving me standing there. He came closer to me swaying with each step. He gestured for me to turn around and I complied. His fingers brushed against my burn scar on my shoulder. I felt my blood run cold but I didn't move. He then took the dagger and began recreating the brand that was on my back, "You can never escape this. This is your fate. Your blood belongs to us. You can't burn it away." He dug in deeper creating a sloppy version of the crest. I made sure never to scream or flinch. He pulled the dagger away and then I felt a piece of cloth over the new wound. He then turned me back around to face him. He placed the dagger in my hand. I felt the cool blade in my palm, "Squeeze." I looked up at him as I wrapped my fingers around the blade and felt it pierce my skin. The blood continued to run down my hand and to my arm before he had me stop. He then knelt down in front of me and looked me in the eye, "You are our property. You will do as we want, understood?" I nodded my head before he stood up, "I want 10 self inflicted slashes across your legs. After that we shall go to the hole."

He sat leaning back into his chair as I lifted up my skirt enough to expose my calf. I began to move the blade across my leg on previous scars from this punishment, "Slower." he barked out. I nodded my head and slowly moved the blade across my leg before moving down and adding another. I looked up at him when I finished and watched for a moment as I slipped the dagger in between the mattress and the frame of the bed. He glanced over at me and saw that I was done. He came over to make sure that I did 10. He then nodded to himself, "Good." He looked me in he eye, "That is our blood to spill. This family has worked hard for purity and you are our result. Never forget that." He turned to leave the room and the maid directly followed him. He had forgotten to take me to the dark room tonight and I was the slightest bit relieved. I turned back towards the bed and better concealed the dagger.

The plan was coming together. I had the when, I had the where and I had the what. I made my way over to my window and willed my eyes to close. I replayed the memories I had been holding onto of my freedom, of Albuquerque, of Ethan. Ethan, a smile quickly came and left my face. I had to stop. He was the first-born son of the King and Queen, not to mention who I was. Ethan gave me a few moments, that was all. It couldn't be anymore than that. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to remember his embrace before I walked back over to the bed. I tried to lay on my back but immediately felt the pain radiating from my shoulder and rolled over to my side. Only a few more days. I let my eyes softly close as I wrapped my fingers around the worn blanket.

The door burst open the next morning and I shot up as I saw everyone come pouring in. I sat up in bed trying to think if I did anything wrong, "We must prepare you." Eliza started saying as she was yanking me out of bed. I turned to the others in the room as they had proud smiles on their faces. I wanted to ask what was going on but, didn't think it was a good idea. Eliza then looked over at me, "The invitations have been sent out. Your fiancé will be arriving today." I nodded my head as Eliza turned me around. She saw the bandage, "What is this?" She turned to Richard. He looked it over, "She needed to remember her place." Eliza muttered something to herself, "We will have to cover it up." She threw a gown on me with long sleeves that covered my shoulder. They then did my hair and makeup before smiling with the result. "Perfection. Now come downstairs with us." I nodded my head and we waited in the parlor until a knock came on the door.