8. Rain

“Wake up, princess.”

A loud feminine voice shouts at me, which wakes me from my sleep. My eyes are heavy and my body, which is still covered in dry blood, is feeling exhausted. Why can’t they just leave me alone?

Slowly, I open my eyes, the torch is still lit and illuminating my cell. The steel door is open, with a single individual standing in the small opening.

“Get up.” She snaps at me.

Like the others, she is dawning the long black robe, and a white mask with gold accents, with the hood over her head.

Laying on my side, I roll over slightly and place both hands on the earth next to me. I try to push myself up, which is harder than anticipated, and my muscles shake as I rise. It hurts, but I push through it, not wanting her to see how weak I am really feeling. I have a feeling that is the kind of shit they get off on.

The lady moves towards me and my heart races, panicking that I have upset her. Moving quicker, I push through the pain and exhaustion. I am on my hands and knees, as I start to rise. With the panic, my lip quivers as I see more of my mom’s blood still on me. I can still picture them killing her. She couldn’t escape, they held her down and pushed a blade through her throat. But she was strong until the end, not letting them see her scared, only strong. Which is what I need to be if I am going to survive this.

The lady moves out of the way of the opening and lets me pass her.

“Walk in front of me. Don’t try anything, princess. I am authorized to punish you if you do.” She threatens.

I nod in response and begin walking through the passage and hallways in front of her. She doesn’t speak, only keeping her hand on my shoulder, guiding me where to go. As we walk into this larger space, it looks all too familiar to me. We are back where it all began.

Looking around the space, I notice the candles are lit, and the fire still roars, but not as many people fill the space this time. In the middle of the room is a large copper tub filled with water. My eyes then wander to where my mother was killed, it still has stained blood around the area.

I need to be strong, I cannot cry in front of these people.

“Principessa Oscura,” my father greets me with his smug voice. Looking in his direction, he is also dressed like the others. I don’t respond, instead waiting to hear what he has to say. The room is quiet.

“It is time for your cleansing, undress.”

My face scrunches up with confusion. He must notice as he begins walking towards me, “Don’t fight this. It will happen with or without your cooperation.” He barks, echoing in the cave.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth? That you are my father? I haven’t even seen a picture of you before.” I challenge him.

His bare hand reaches out and his fingers wrap around my neck, “How dare you question me? I am Master of The Chapel. The Dark One speaks to me. He told me where to find you and your evil, whore of a mother. Don’t you ever forget the powers I hold here. Never fucking question me again. Do you understand me, daughter?” I can feel the rage with each word.

Looking up at him, I nod my head and whisper, “Yes, sir. I understand.”

He lets me go, satisfied with my response but doesn’t step back.

A cold object touches my skin, it sends a chill down my spine. Looking down, he has a blade touching me, the tip of it is on my stomach where my skin is exposed.

“It is time for your cleansing, now fucking undress.”

With shaking hands, I bring them to the hem of my shirt, which is stiff from the hardened blood embedded into each bit of fabric, up off my body. It crunches, then flakes as I continue to remove it and lift it over my head, exposing my bare torso and breasts. The shirt falls to the ground next to me as I move on to my sleep shorts. He doesn’t move the blade.

Hooking my thumb under them, I begin pushing them down. Once I get them over my hips and bottom, they slide off on their own, bunching at my feet, leaving me in my lavender thong. Before I can reach to take them off next, his blade moves to just above the fabric covering my last bit of dignity. Goosebumps begin to rise all over my skin as my eyes watch the tip trace my skin, taunting me. My eyes look away, I can’t watch this.

I can feel the blade move down my hip and my body tenses, preparing for the inevitable. Just as it does so, he brings the blade up and slices it through the fabric. He then moves to the other side and does the same.

I want to cover myself with my hands, but I won’t give in. I won’t let them get the satisfaction of thinking I am embarrassed or ashamed. I’m not, I love myself and who I am. But they do not deserve to see me this way. He is a monster.

He grabs hold of my chin, forcing me to look up at him and asks, “Are you still intact?”

The question is puzzling, what does he mean intact? He must notice my confusion as he drops the blade to the ground and cups my pussy, repeating himself, “Are you still intact?”

I am mortified as my head shakes no in response.

Still cupping me, “Shame. Just like your mother. You won’t be like her though, soon you will rule next to me. You have been given to me by the Dark One.”

My eyes widen, and I react without thinking and spit on him out of disgust, “I will never. I would rather die.” I declare, my voice is seething with rage.

He removes both his hands from my body, and within a blink of an eye, the back of his hand connects with my cheek. The force knocks me to the ground, and my dirty hair hangs over my face as I absorb what just happened. My eyes want to cry, but I won’t let them. I will fight through this.

“Now get up and cleanse yourself. Wash away what remains of your mother and your tainted past. You will come out of the tub cleansed of it all and ready for the taking.” He instructs.

I swallow, biting my tongue I want to scream. Fear is radiating inside of me but I listen, not wanting to make things worse. My feet move, one step at a time against the earth. I zone out the few followers surrounding the area, if I can’t see them then they are not here watching me in my most vulnerable state.

Stepping over the ledge of the copper tub, I test the water with my toes, it is lukewarm so I lower the rest of my leg in and do the same with my other one. Placing both hands on either side for support, I lower myself down. Relief washes over me, this is exactly what I needed. As I am fully seated in the tub, I begin washing myself and the water turns red. Before I can move to my face and hair, I feel something cold on the top of my head followed by a set of hands, massaging it into my hair. It’s him. My father. His scent is strong and musky. As uncomfortable as this is, it feels amazing so I don’t move, instead letting him continue. Moments pass before his hands are off of me. I submerge myself under the water, using my own hands to rinse out the suds and wash my face.

Placing my hands back on the ledge, I rise. My hair is slicked back behind me as I open my eyes and gasp for air. I’m taken aback as I notice the followers have moved closer; they are surrounding me. My eyes take them in, none of them move or speak.

“Tomorrow you become ours, Principessa Oscura. Tomorrow, you will be prepared for the taking. Until then, you will remain in your cell. Now get up, dry off and change.”

Nodding my head, I agree.

“Everyone out. Now!” My father demands of his followers. They obey without question, scurrying out of the room in single file.

“And after the taking, you will become my wife.”