25. Revelations of a Cruel Kind.

25. Revelations of a Cruel Kind.
Caspian

The opulence of the carriage the Duke of Erneska has me travelling in is utterly worthless. I find the vibrations of this strange box on wheels more unsettling than I can explain. To me it is nought but stale and confining, but it carries me to my Catherine, and allows me to appear in such a way that will be deemed as acceptable by the humans surrounding her. So, I must accept it, even if the rhythm of the Duke's carriage suggests one of the four horses pulling it is lame. I may not be any real relation to the animals that toil to transport me, in fact it often irks me just to see them, powerless landlocked imitations that they are; however, the thought on one of them being mistreated does not sit well with me either. It is a testament to the callous snobbery I will likely have to play along with and endure, in order to retrieve my bride.

With a sigh of discontent, I move the red velvet curtains aside to peer outwards, and at last I am offered a reprieve from my suffering, I can see the gaudy fortress at the top of the winding road we are on.

I am less than a mile from you now.

Before long I hear the grinding of the gears that raise the portculis. Finally, I have arrived. Without waiting for the footman, I thrust the carriage door open and barrel out into the dim shaded courtyard. I ignore the shocked looks on the faces surrounding me as they take in what is left of the door, that is now pathetically hanging off its hinges behind me.

I cannot hide the contempt on my face, at everything and every one surrounding me. The dampness and moss festers as it grows and clings to every surface around us, and the men look shabby and unclean.

This is what my beloved has had to endure? It will not do.

The humans have thoroughly tainted this once true and sacred place with their need to... I don't even have a word for it. Their despeation to claim and corrupt everything is repugnant. Their need to look superior, and down trod all others is a vile characteristic. Even the servants, who are clearly not treated well, will fight for the first opportunity to prosper on the misfortune of another. It is so visible behind their eyes, their fear of me mixed in with their willingness to sacrifice one another for my approval.

Everything here disgusts me.

"Lord Varnur," A voice calls my attention, and I quickly school my face into a friendlier disposition rather than revealing the distaste that is plainly written across it.

"Ahh, Your Grace," I respond to the approaching Duke, exaggerating the smile upon my face as though he is an old friend. "It seems I have finally arrived."

"Indeed, you have, and I am glad of it. The company here is not as refined as the society we have in the city I am afraid. But, it is my ancestral seat and I do find I am blessed with great luck upon every business deal that is made here. I am a creature of habbit that way," He explains, raising his arm to gesture in the direction I am expected to follow.

I oblige with a nod and follow the man into a cavernous area, with worn and uneven steps which lead to a large wooden door; one that I can sense the decay in, just by the water that clings to every surface available, the smell is quite pungent.

"Besides," he continues, "My son has a new..." He pauses, searching for the right word, "distraction. And I believe he needs reminded of where his priorities lie."

I raise my eyebrow questioningly, but stay silent to allow him to continue.

"Yes, I am afraid so, boys and their toys." He laughs out.

I smother my instinct to wring his neck by hand, and force a fake laugh to match his own.

Fates help him and his despicable family if my imaginings are correct, to what he describes.

I follow the Duke into the cavernous house, and my heart thrums as I feel her presense inside. The connection is intense, fluid like, as I close in on her ever more. I don't even notice the interiors, I cannot claim I am bothered by anything other than the pull to Catherine. It takes all my might not to out stride the Duke himself who I am meant to be following. Yet, all too quickly, the path breaks off from her trail, and once again I am being taken further from her.

Humans and their blasted etiquette.

In my excitement I have forgotten that I am expected to want to clean up after the arduous journey here. Thus, I am being shown to my room instead of my bride.

Most men would be honoured by the Duke's personal care of them, that he himself has shown me to this room as opposed to a servant. Myself? I am merely relieved, his genorosity and attentions show how desperate he is to get his hands on what I have to offer. Which means, getting what I want will be all the simpler.

My skin is crawling by the time I leave the grandiose room to make my way back to the drawing room that was pointed out to me upon my arrival. I deliberately had to wait extra time, to seem like I am following their behaviours and normalities.

Time that I could have been spending with Catherine.

Except that I must wait, I remind myself, the time is not right yet.

Disappointment grabs me as I close in on the room.

She is not in here.

I steel myself and push my irritation away, before entering the large room. Allowing myself to tune into the monotonous voices I have so far tuned out as their laughter ceases and they turn to me.

"I trust the room was to your liking, Lord Varnur." The Duke himself asks me, as I make my way to stand by the fire.

This element is a novelty to me I must admit, the way it dances across that which it destroys. Gloating and boasting about its triumph. My own element can erode and destroy it is true, but it also nurtures, soothes and encourages. Fire however, is violent in its unrelenting intent, and yet captivating in its beautiful dance, like it is trying to entice you to your own destruction, never hiding the evidence of what it shall do if it gets you within its grasp.

"It is a fine room indeed, Your Grace." I smile, turning to face my host instead of the caged element behind me.

"Excellent, and you find yourself refreshed from the journey?" He continues.

"I do." I nod. "The whole house seems well enough appointed to ensure the comfort of the men who use it." I answer, hoping my veiled insult is at least internally queried in their minds.

"Indeed it is, and speaking of the men who use it," he continues unfazed, and pointing open handed to the other men in the room. "This is my son, Lord Edward Sorrell, and his friend Doctor Charles Hawkins, and Mr. Richard Sinclair here, is my attorney."

I smile at them all, though my eyes settle on the auburn haired, arogant male he indicated was his offspring. His stance is one of sheer mockery, like he does not have a care in the world. It wouldn't bother me, except for the presence of Catherine's aura surrounding him. He is the one who hold's my mate in this mountainous prison.

Which means, I must gain his trust as well as his father's to proceed. These other men however seem, irrelevant. There is going to be no actual deal for the attorney and the other seems like a witless hanger on, happy for any scraps from the Duke's or his son's table.

"I am pleased to meet you, and thank you for hosting me here. I must say this place is quite intrigung." I respond, deliberately smirking, "And, very... Private."

The young men chuckle, even the Duke is wearing a smile, as they gesture for me to come over and sit with them.

"Indeed it is a private place, built deep into the mountain herself. It is why we have never let it go from the family. Instead it passed from father to son alone. After all, here we have the ability to relieve our needs and desires without the prying eyes of court to interfere; and especially, without the prying eyes of our young wives." The Duke boasts.

The other men laugh triumphantly at what I presume they believe to be a boon in their lives. I find the thought itself abhorrent.

"You are married?" I ask the Duke, forcing my voice to sound relaed despite how I am feeling inside.

"I am indeed, as of last month there is a new Dutchess of Erneska." He smirked, "She is a complete dullard, and honestly her constant tittering would give even the saintliest of men the urge to strange her. But, she is exceedingly well endowed bodily, and at sixteen everything is tight enough that penetration is barely needed at all. She is all bust and rump so there is plenty to grasp at," he almost drools as he speaks, and I think may vomit. "It is in fact, her very dowry I plan on spending with you Lord Varnur; on acquiring these wonderful ships your father wrote to me about."

My eyebrows shoot to my hair line, and it takes all I have in me to nod appreciatively and not strangle the life out of such a disgusting old letcherous man. Why, he must be over sixty himself! Yet how he speaks of his wife, a woman, neigh a child, entrusted to him to care for, fills me with such an enraged offense. The Duke of Erneska is a vile creature indeed.

"And, speaking of wives," He continues, unaware of my disgust, "Edward, I believe yours is longing for the companionship of her husband, it has been months since you were seen by her side."

Edward Sorrell rolls his eyes, "Father, Lucile Bardot, is wedded, thooroughly bedded and already with child. I have done my duty with her until the child is actually born, and she can carry another. Do not insist I am forced to endure the very pointless tittering of women, that you yourself have just complained of."

The Duke sighs, before sitting further into his seat to continue.

"And yet, you I hear have made an offer of marriage to another?" His Grace continues with furrowed brows.

Lord Sorrell sighs, "Indeed I have, and while you are all here, I would thank you to keep the truth to yourself. Catherine Innes has been the bane of my life for months, but I will not let her over inflated spirit conquer me. I will force her to submit and recognise her true place in the world."

My jaw clenches and it takes all I have to calm the storm within myself, and not cause the liquids in their very drinks to explode in their faces, but even I cannot hide the darkening of the skies outside.

Yet the arrogant fool continues, "She is a fucking farmer's daughter, I obviously have no intention of actually commiting bigamy with her. I am simply waiting for her to invite me between her legs of her own accord. After all her false airs and superior attitudes, I only wish for her to realise her downfall has been her own doing. She will learn that her place is at my feet upon her knees, and that she herself had begged to be there. I fully intend to have her be an active participant in her own ruin, to give me every bit of herself willingly before I am through."

The Duke nods thoughtfully, as I watch their conversation in silence, desperate to drown the man in his own bodily fluids. To watch as his own blood chokes him, before exploding outwards from his body and painting this den of debauchery with his remains.

"And why, pray tell did you not just take her when she first took your fancy?" The attorney asks, obviously quite at home with the depravity we are surrounded by.

Edward smirks, "It was my initial intention to be fair, when I happened upon her walking alone. However, she spoke to me with such authority, I simply had to do more to show her the errors of her ways. Yet, the girl has thwarted my every attempt. Be it, romantic or my more aggressively persuasive tacticts. Hells, she caused the death of the six thugs I paid to torment her on the hill. She was merely meant to wait where she was and then be scared by them, for me to swoop in and rescue her. But, she bloody well went galavanting through the hills and then tried to fight them like a heathen; she had them almost rape her in revenge. I barely arrived in time to ensure my prize was kept... Intact." He laughed out, clapping his hands, "Though, I must admit the view of her nakedness at their hands was indeed a good payment for the trouble. With the pert kettledrums on her, she should definitely make us good money when I am done father."

"Good money?" I choke out, horrified by all that I am hearing, while praying they do not suspect anything from the darkness of the skies outside.

Yet, I have to listen on, all while plotting this man's ugly death.

But, it is Doctor Hawkins who answers though, as Lord Sorrell silently appraises me.

"Yes, Ed here intends to sell her to the court whore house when he is done. It's not as if she has a family to go home to now." He remarks, seeming unentertained by the entire subject matter.

"Her family wouldn't want her back?" This does not seem at all like the man I met on the beach who thwarted my every attempt to trace his beloved child.

Edward laughed, "They may, but unless she joins them in the grave, they will be hard pressed to get her. You see, a terrible fire burned down their farm."

"Yes," The Duke growled suddenly, "And you will be paying me in full for that, Edward. My coffers are not supposed to empty in such dramatic terms, while you chase your entertainment."

"See, she is such a burden to me," Lord Sorrell shrugged, "The terrible things she has cost me. Now, I cannot even keep the money from her sale. It is owed to my father for the restitution of the farm he has lost."

"Yes, and if you have not finished with her by tomorrow fortnight, I will take her for myself Edward and end your game myself." The Duke threatens, as his son's jaw clenches.

It dawns on me quickly. This evil little spawn of the Duke has endeavoured to ruin my Catherine fully, he has even went so far as to murder her family in cold blood to isolate her from escape, and now I have a dramatically close deadline to get her to safety.

To hell with the treaty.

To hell with the council.

To hell with the world.

I am fully decided, if I do not have my Catherine safe by my side within the seven days, I will raise the sea and swallow this land whole. Watching with glee as each of these men drown in their own bile.




Author's Note: So much information for you here. Hope you've enjoyed it.