The Eighth Sea

Amara

Hearing his steps pound down the hall, Amara viciously blew onto the page, drying it as quickly as she could. She slammed the book closed and hid it in plain sight on her very full bookshelf just before she heard the key turn the lock in the door. 

Barnabas swung the door open and smiled when he saw her standing by the shelf. His well-kept hair was dark, but Amara noticed several grey strands. Before, she would have made a snide remark about them, but now, her scars remind her not to. 

"Amara," his smile grew as he slowly walked towards her.

"Master," Amara avoided eye contact and kept her head down as she made an effort to bow. The word 'master' tasted bitter on her tongue. She despised showing him an form of submission, but it was needed to survive.

It did not take long for Barnabas to reach her, and when he did, he reached his arm out to push a few stray strands of dark blonde hair behind her ear. "What did I say about pulling your hair up?" he whispered in her ear. She muttered an insincere apology as she reached up to pull the twine from her hair, allowing the thickness of it to drop down to her thin waist. "Ah," he said, "now, that's better, don't you think?" Amara nodded, still avoiding eye-contact. "Hand it over now." His voice was quiet and calm, reminding of a quiet lion readying to pounce on its prey. She hesitated, but obeyed, and Barnabas calmly placed the twine inside his pocket.

He took another step forward, so that his body pressed against hers. Amara squirmed, but the bookshelf made it impossible to escape. The man grabbed her head with both hands, and leaned forward to kiss her. Amara squirmed more, trying to escape his grasp, but it only caused Barnabas to press harder against her to keep her still. She clenched her jaw shut, knowing what was coming next, but he was too strong and forced her mouth open by placing his thumb on her chin and pulling down.

Amara squealed, but instantly regretted it. Barnabas clenched her jaw in one hand and whispered "Shh, my love. It will be over quick," as he used his other hand to reach down and undo his belt.