Cloaked in black Gemma stoked her camp fire. She stared into the flames as they licked the night sky. She found herself alone once again and was reminded of why she kept company when she could. When she was alone her mind would drift, falling to wallow in the past. Countless times she’d looked back as if the outcome could be different as if she could have been different. If only she were as strong as she was now back then…

Gemma had been young and naive when she’d first met Merek. Raised the daughter of a King, Gemma had only known the walls of her palace and the luxury of her life. The only pain and heartache she had ever suffered was the lose of her mother when she was but a child. Her father had done all he could to make her life pleasant. He devoted his resources to making her happy however he could.

She was nearly a teenage when Merek Brezbec strode into her father’s throne room, surrounded by her father’s guard. Normally Gemma did not spend time in her father’s throne room. She found his business boring but word of Merek’s reputation, had preceded him traveling among the castle’s staff. She found herself interested.

Merek was rumored to be an ox of a man. He’d taken down half an army protecting one of her father’s oldest friends, Bendle Mcree. Once Merek had saved him, he’d insisted on making sure Bendle got to the castle safely. When Gemma’s father leaned what Merek had done, he requested he be brought before him so that he could personally thank and reward him.

Gemma stood beside her father’s throne as Merek approached. He was younger then she’d imagined he‘d be. Most the men who fought were old and had beards but Merek was barely twenty and clean shaven. He had bruises and scars like most men who fought but it was one scar across his face that caught her eye. It started at the top of his forehead, went through his right eye, and finished at his cheek. It was gruesome to say the least. As he drew closer Gemma moved closer to her father’s throne. He pattered her on the shoulder assuring her everything was alright.

When Merek was a few feet away he dropped to his knees before her father. He showed his respect and vowed his allegiance. Gemma was used to this as it was customary but there was something different about Merek. His armor was old and rusty, his body bruised and scarred but he had such grace, such confidence that made his presence feel as if it were equal to her father.

Merek’s eyes only left her father once when he greeted her with a nod. Gemma nodded back and then Merek and her father talked. Gemma’s father offered Merek rubies and gold for what he had done but Merek turned them down. He told the King he had no use for riches. He claimed that he had no home, no allegiance. He was a man without and this is what he desired most.

So Gemma’s father gave him a bit of land and a place on the guard. Time passed slowly as Gemma grew becoming a teenager and then a woman. Throughout the years she took notice of Merek. While she’d once thought him marred by his gruesome scars she found him handsome and well spoken.

Once or twice a day she would see him, if only in passing. He’d show her magic tricks, slight of hand and speak lines of poems she’d never heard. Sometimes he would give her a flower or walk with her and tell her stories of some of his adventures. She found herself amused, interested even but she knew her place and his. He was only a passing fancy.

When she was nearly twenty her father decided it was time for her to marry. While he adored her and wanted her to stay his little girl forever, he was getting on in age and wanted to live long enough to see his grandchildren. By then Merek was the Captain of the Guard, a trusted confident of her father. He suggested their was no rush for Gemma to marry but her father insisted suitor’s be found at once.

Suitor’s came from all over at first but tragedy befell them, one after another died. Some never even made it to the castle, while others died in their sleep or were poisoned. One even disappeared altogether never to be seen again. Gemma began to think she was cursed in love and so did everyone in the kingdom. They would whisper and talk. The news traveled across the land and soon not a single suitor could be found.

Merek was kind and always had a word of encouragement. He spent more time with Gemma walking with her in her garden. He told her that those other men weren’t worthy of her that she had someone special…waiting for her. When the time was right he would arise before her. She liked the idea of someone out there just for her. She’d been oblivious to Merek’s feelings and had no idea he was referring to himself.

She knew he desired her but most men in the castle did. She was the forbidden fruit. Merek was one of the few who did not stare openly. Still sometimes she’d catch him staring at her from afar or watching her from the shadows, when he thought no one was looking. She teased him when he thought she didn’t notice.

She wore sheer dresses or rose naked from a bath as he stood outside the window. Her servant Allue caught on and warned her not to play with men’s hearts that they could be quite cold and callous when scorned. She didn’t understand Allue’s warning to her. At the time she thought she was just an old woman who wanted to spoil her fun.

Teasing Merek was just a game. She knew their could and would be nothing more between them. He was the captain of her father’s guard and she was a princess waiting for her prince. She was naive…spoiled and so oblivious to what was going on around her.

When she was nearly twenty four she awoke one night to hear Allue screaming. Disoriented she lifted her head and called to her servant but she didn’t answer. She wondered if Allue had, had a nightmare. Gemma lit a nearby lantern. She saw Merek standing in the shadows. He had blood on his hands. He looked at her strangely as he walked over to the bed.

She had no idea what he’d done. She had no idea that he’d beheaded her father. That he’d slowly turned her father’s guards against him, replacing them over the years so that they only obeyed Merek. She had no idea they were ripping the castle apart, killing all who would not sever Merek as their new and rightful King. That just seconds before entering her room Merek had slit Allue’s throat.

His voice came out in a whisper as longing trembled through him, “Gemma,”

“What…what are you doing here?” asked Gemma wiping her eyes. “You’re not allowed in here! Allue where are you!?”

“It’s okay… She’s gone… their all gone,” said Merek. He fell to sit on the end of her bed. Slowly he scooted forward reaching out to her. He touched Gemma’s cheek before brushing his thumb over her lips. She was taken aback. No man had ever touched her like this.

Gemma raised her hand pulling Merek’s hand from her face. She pulled back sitting up more. She was beginning to get scared and didn’t understand what he meant by they were all gone. She quickly asked, “Where…Where is everyone?”

Merek said nothing staring at here. She heard several screams in the distance followed by a boom. She turned without thinking and got out of bed. She went to her window. She saw people running in the courtyard below. There were fires and explosions. She watched as one man was killed by a guard. She covered her mouth and turned away from the window.

Merek was there to take her in his arms. He pulled her in hugging her, holding her as she shook. He ran his hands up and down her body attempting to sooth her before he took her chin in his hand and lifted her head so she would look upon him. “It’s okay…It will all be over soon.”

Gemma didn’t understand what was going on. Were they under attack? Why wasn’t Merek out their fighting…Why wasn’t he protecting her father… She didn’t like the way he was talking and touching her. She wanted Allue and if she would not come then she would go to her or her father…

Without a word she pulled from Merek and attempted to leave the room. He grasped her arm as she reached her doorway. She looked back at him and he asked, “Where are you going?”

“To find Allue….To find Father…”

He looked at her somberly as he said, “I told you their gone…”

She pulled away, yanking her arm free of him. She didn’t understand what he meant by they were gone. They couldn’t just be gone. They had to be somewhere. She stumbled forward into the dimly lit hallway and saw Allue laying on her side, on the ground.

Without thinking she rushed to her, “Get up! Get up and tell me what is going on!”

When Allue made no motion to move Gemma fell to the ground. She turned Allue on her back and saw that her throat had been slit. Gemma jerked back crawling away as she let out a blood curdling scream.

Within seconds Merek was there, shielding her from the sight. He lifted her into his arms, carrying her back into her room. She sobbed into his chest crying, “What happened to her…”

“I had to kill her. She would not let me pass. She would not allow us to be together,”

Gemma pulled from him struggling out of his arms. She stumbled to her feet nearly falling as she took in his words. He’d killed Allue. “Be together…father would never-”

“I took care of him before I took care of Allue. It’s over now. Nothing can keep us apart,”

Gemma’s eyes went wide as Merek grasped her around the waist. He pulled her into him, pressing his lips against hers as her mind flooded with this new information. This was her first kiss but she felt nothing as grief wash over her. She struggled to pull free of Merek’s hold but he wouldn’t let her go. His grip and lips were like the links of a sturdy chain. She nearly passed out from the lack of air.

When Merek pulled back from the kiss Gemma slap him across the face as hard as she could. He blinked but he didn’t flinch. He didn’t let go of her. She slapped and scratched at him trying to get free of him. She screamed for her guards but it was useless. Merek was captain of the guard. They would only follow his orders. No one was going to help her or save her. There was nothing she could do.

Merek tore at her nightgown. The thin fabric came apart easily falling to the ground. Naked before him she coward back trying to cover herself. He looked at her bemused as he said, “You never seemed to care before…”

She trembled as she realized he’d known she’d teased him intentionally. Merek began to remove his armor. Gemma tried to run out of the room but he grabbed her in one fell swoop he picked her up and threw her back on the bed.

He quickly finished undressing as she scrambled back to the head of her bed. She struggled to get under the blankets but he climbed onto the bed. As she grasped the blankets so did he. He tore them from the bed and threw them across the room.

He breathed deeply as his eyes smoldered with desire. He puffed up his muscular chest and roared. “I have waited. I have waited long enough for this kingdom and for you…Tonight I have taken this kingdom and tonight you will be mine once and for all… My wants, my needs will no longer be denied Gemma… You will succumb to me and I will make you my wife.”

“NO…NO NO!” Gemma screamed.

She tried to kick him as he crawled forward. She missed him twice and on the third kick he grasped her leg, yanking her to fall on her back. He dragged her to him. He kissed her ankle as he loomed over her. He slid his hand down her leg and touched her as no man had dare touch her. She screamed out and fought struggling to get away from him but he pinned her body to the bed with his own.

She pushed and shoved trying to squirm out from under him but he was too heavy. Merek watched her now as if he were teasing her as if all of this amused him. When she realized she couldn’t overpower him, she begged him to let her go. Her pleas fell on deaf ears as he just stared at her. He wiped her tears away waiting for her to exhaust all her options.

When she fell still, whimpering to herself, he kissed he neck gently before he said, “I love you Gemma…for years now I have loved you. Originally I came here to claim this kingdom and over the years I’ve fallen in love with you. I want you. I need you. You can fight me if that is what you wish but it will only hurt you. I have no intention of stopping not now or ever… I worked too damn hard. I have paid my dues in full severing under your idiot father and killing off any man who would dare to take you from me…”

Gemma began to breathe quickly, shallowly as Merek’s weight pressed into her. Her mind raced as she realized he’d been planning this for years. She struggled once more screaming, fighting, her adrenaline rising up. Yet she was too weak…Never knowing what it was to fight, to struggle. Merek’s will and stamina were mightier then her own.

When she laid still on the bed Merek pinned both her wrists above her head with one hand. She turned here head to the side as he took his member in his free hand. He was hard and ready as he placed himself at her entrance. He hoped that should would accept him if not now then in time. Yet he knew if she would not…it mattered little. As long as he possessed her he cared little for what she wanted. In the end all that mattered was that she was his.

He looked down at her as he attempted to enter her gently. He tried to make this as painless as he could. Yet when the tip of his penis fell at her opening…it was too much. He’d waited far too long for this. All those endless night of masturbating and fucking whores, dreaming of this moment was too much for him.

He thrust into her hard, ramming her deep into the bed as he sought out her core. He tore through her virginity claiming her as his once and for all. For a slight moment as her screams filled the air he closed his eyes taking in the moment.

Gemma’s mouth opened wide as she screamed like she had never screamed before. She had never known discomfort, never known physical pain and now she felt as if her entire body were being ripped apart. She scream and twisted trying to push him out.

He pulled back and she thought it was over but he thrust back into her again and again. His eyes were cold…callous. When she managed to meet his gaze she saw a hunger, a desire that would not be denied. Her heart pounded in her chest as her legs shook. Blood flowed between them as he consumed her.

His thrusts were slow at first, thoughtful, calculating and then faster, frenzied as he lost himself to the pleasure. He took and took. She cried and screamed begged and pleaded for him to stop…to stop but he was relentless. Adrenaline flew through his muscles as he bucked into her, twisting her fragile frame around his mighty girth.

He lay claim to her making sure she never forgot this moment. He took her breasts in his hands caressing them kneading them before sucking on them. He swirled his tongue around her nipples and she moaned feeling sensations she’d never felt before. Yet any pleasure she received was nothing compared to the pain.

Merek pumped into her. He dove deep inside her letting himself feel every inch of her. When he pulled from her breasts he grasped her chin. He forced her to look at him. His cruel ice blue eyes pierced into her as he tore her entire world apart.

Gemma gasped tears streaming down her cheeks. She twisted her hands in her bedding clinging to what she could as she braced herself against his assault. A few seconds later he picked up the pace mercilessly hammering her. He grasped and clawed at her as he dug his hands into her body. He shoved himself deep with in her. Suddenly he stiffened and released a mighty roar as he burst cumming inside her.

Gemma could feel something seeping within her, something hot and thick. She didn’t know what it was but it felt it slowly filling her. Merek’s mouth was close to her ear as he grunted out his release, ridding it for as long as he could. Gemma stared up at the ceiling hearing the remaining screams of her people as Merek let his full weight fall on her.

He panted and breathed heavily as he let every drop of his seed fill her. When he pulled out his dick was covered in the blood of her innocence. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Gemma curled up as tightly as she could. She warped her arms around herself as Merek’s seed dripped out of her onto the bed. He looked at her as she began to rock back and forth. Gemma closed her eyes not wanting to look at him. She didn’t know how much time passed as she sobbed.

When she heard another’s footsteps she opened her eyes to see one of the guard enter the room. He told Merek the palace had been secured before he waited for Merek to respond. Merek ran his hands through his hair as a smile cross his face. At last everything was as it should be.

Eventually Merek motioned for the guard to approach. He whispered something into his ear. A moment later the guard left. Alone with him again Gemma buried her head into her pillows. She wanted him to leave and go away. She wanted to wake from this living nightmare. Yet he sunk down on the bed once more. He twisted her body so that she would lay on her stomach. Then he grabbed her hips moving them back and up. He entered her from behind.

Deeper, more brutal, he tore into her once again. He cared little for her sobs as he took what he wanted. She twisted the pillows in her hands and clawed at her wooden bed frame as she screamed. Merek claimed her once more. Again and again he took her tossing her on the bed, the floor, the walls. He took her until she could take no more. She blacked out and still he continued.

In the morning she woke to a new bed, new servant who washed her and dressed her in new gowns. For days she laid in bed recovering from Merek’s brutal assault. She grieved for the lose of her father, for the lose of Allue and for the lost of her kingdom. She didn’t know what to expect, what would become of her. Her entire life as she knew it was gone… shattered.

She was terrified of seeing Merek again and what he might do to her. More then a week passed before she was brought before him. Merek was in her father’s throne room sitting in his throne surrounded by men, making deals, contracts and understandings.

She was reminded of the first time she saw him and now she could not look upon him. Frightened and disturbed she looked to the ground holding herself as he sent the men away. Alone he rushed to her, embracing her. He kissed and caressed her. Unable to control himself he brought her to the throne forced himself upon her once more. He was not as brutal as before but it was still just as horrific.

When it was over he informed her they would marry that night and she would be his wife. He summoned her servants and ordered them to clean her up and prepare her for tonight. She was carried away and bathed once more. At one point her servants left her unattended to prepare for the night. She managed to get out of the tub. Grabbing a robe she used one of her family’s hidden escape tunnels. Though painfully she was able to make it out of the castle.

She looked for help but Merek’s guards were everywhere. She escaped the kingdom and walked along the road. Surely someone would help her. Surely someone would save her. As night fell she stumbled upon a group of strangers. She asked them for help and they sought to attack her as Merek had. They were fighting over who got to go first when a woman arose on a black steed. She killed the men and set Gemma free.

She did not know a woman could do such things and ran after her. Gemma begged her to help her, pleaded with her. The woman took her in but wouldn’t feed her, if Gemma wanted to eat she had to feed herself and if she wanted help then she had to learn how to help herself. Gemma quickly learned of the harsh ways of the world. Gone were the days of luxury and obliviousness. Gone was the spoiled girl who knew not the worth of anything.

Gemma fought hard to survive and the woman trained her. She struggled to become stronger better never wanting to fall victim again. Yet as Merek’s kingdom grew so did his reach. Merek pursued her unrelenting. Pictures painted of Gemma were put everywhere. Detailed descriptions of her were written up and a great reward was offered for any information or her capture.

Gemma had to hide her face and constantly keep moving. Years passed and when the woman she owed everything to…her friend…passed she was left alone to wander. Alone Gemma carried on, using what she had been taught. She fought to survive running to the ends of the world until it would seem there was no place left to go. Sitting on edge of desperation she was at her end…It would seem one day soon she would have to face him again… She only hoped this time she would be stronger…

Thank you for reading^^