Vaaden Captives 2: Enid (6 page)

Rheul came to pick me up the next morning.

“Is there anything that belongs to you?”

I looked around and realized that everything technically belonged to Bastian.

“No.”

When I stood, my legs barely held me up. I was still weak and had trouble holding food down. Since I had been thin before, it only made things worse. Soon I would look like a walking skeleton if something didn’t change.

Rheul wrapped an arm around me to steady me. “Will you let me carry you?

Your new quarters are just down the hall.”

“I… I guess so.”

When he lifted me into his arms, I locked mine around his neck. My heart beat wildly in my chest and I wondered if I was doing the right thing. It had sounded like a good idea yesterday, but following through was a different matter. I knew Bastian wouldn’t take me back so I had no choice but to go with Rheul.

He quickly walked down the hall, and opened the door to my new space with a thumbprint.

“Is there anyone else who can enter?” I asked.

“No. Well, Bastian, but that’s all.”

“He won’t be stopping by.”

“You don’t know that, Enid. He could come to regret his decision.”

“I won’t go back to him. Not as long as he plans on marrying Danai, or any other woman.”

He shook his head and set me down on my feet.

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I looked around and realized that my quarters were even more spacious and pretty than the ones Bastian had given me. The furniture was the same style, but covered in softer, more vibrant fabrics. “It’s beautiful.”

“I had it redecorated yesterday in case you agreed to come here.” He looked around. “I thought this might suit you.”

“Thank you.”

His eyes raked my body and he frowned. “You should eat something.”

“I have a hard time keeping anything down,” I admitted with a blush.

“There’s something similar to your Earth crackers in the kitchen. Why don’t you try those?”

I nodded and walked into the kitchen, running my hands over the shiny marble-like counter. I reached into the cabinet, pulling out a box of what I assumed were Vaaden crackers. Opening it, I took a few out and nibbled on them. When it seemed they would stay down, I ate a few more.

“You’ll need more clothes.”

I glanced down at the slave garment I wore. “This is sufficient.”

“Enid, you can’t wear the same thing day after day. For one, you’ll need to wash it.”

He’d confirmed my suspicions. I was to wear slave garments. I shouldn’t have expected any different. Not from Rheul, who’d made his opinion of slaves clear. I questioned my sanity on being here with him, but pushed my doubts aside. It was better to make the best of it.

“Did you tell Bastian about the baby?”

“No, and miraculously I didn’t get sick while he was there.” He nodded. “That’s probably a good thing.”

“If he sees me in a month, he’ll know. I might be showing by then.”

“We’ll deal with that if we have to. Right now, I want to concentrate on getting some weight on you and getting you settled.” He looked around. “Is there anything you need? Anything you want?”

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Freedom, but I knew I wouldn’t have that. “I like to read.”

“I’ll bring some books for you. Is there anything else?”

“I don’t know. I can’t think straight.”

He grinned and walked to the door. “I’ll be back in an hour.” I nodded and grabbed a few more crackers. Eating them slowly, I walked around my new place and checked it out. An hour was going to seem like a long time while I was alone and didn’t have anything to do.

* * *

I was right, the hour dragged by, but finally Rheul returned. He was carrying a large metal trunk and I wondered what he’d brought. It seemed rather large for a few books.

When he sat it on the floor, I knelt beside it and waited anxiously for him to open it.

He smiled. “I think you’re going to be pleased.”

“Just open it already,” I said staring at the trunk.

He laughed and opened it. Inside I saw a large stack of books, some tunics neatly folded in the corner, and to my surprise and delight, a music box. I lifted it out gingerly, admiring its beauty. “Where did you find it?”

“Valen got it for me. There’s a storage area where items from Earth are kept. I thought you might like it.”

“I love it,” I assured him. “No one’s ever done anything so nice for me before.” He hunkered down beside me and cupped my cheek in his hand. “It isn’t a big deal, Enid. I just thought it might help with the boredom of being here when you’re alone.”

I nodded and set it on the table. I rose to my feet, and my stomach rolling again, and ran to the bathroom. Just as the toilet was flushing, I heard Bastian’s voice.

Oh no, not now
! I could handle anything but that right now.

“Why didn’t you tell me she was sick?” I heard Bastian demand. A moment later, he was standing beside me.

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“Please just go away,” I begged.

“No, I won’t go away.”

“Bastian, you don’t own her anymore,” Rheul reminded him, coming to stand beside me. He helped me to my feet and handed me a cold, wet rag.

“What’s wrong with her?” Bastian asked.

I looked up at Rheul, begging him not to say anything. When I saw the look in his eyes, I knew he was going to tell Bastian the truth. “She’s pregnant.” Bastian staggered and leaned against the wall. He looked down at me, the shock of what he’d been told apparent on his face. “When were you going to tell me?” I looked away. “I wasn’t. It’s part of why I’m here with Rheul.” He glared at his brother. “I thought you said you hadn’t slept with her.” Rheul snorted. “It’s yours, you idiot.”

Bastian looked at me again and sank to his knees at my side. “Enid, how could you not tell me we were going to have a child?”

“After everything that’s happened, I didn’t think you’d want to know. And maybe I was afraid you’d keep me even after you married Danai.” He looked horrified and placed a hand over my stomach. “You were pregnant when you tried to kill yourself?”

I winced. “I didn’t know I was. Rheul helped me figure it out the other day.”

“How could you? How could you do that?”

“I told you why.” I looked away, unable to look him in the eye.

He grasped my chin with his fingers and turned my head to face him again.

When I looked in his eyes, what I saw there surprised me. “What if I told you I wasn’t going to marry Danai?”

“Why aren’t you going to marry her?”

“Because… when you left today, I realized something.”

“What?”

“I realized that I care about you. I didn’t want to lose you, Enid.” Rheul snorted. “Little late for that, isn’t it, Bastian?”

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He ignored his brother. “Please, Enid. Please come back to me.” Rheul grumbled under his breath and left us alone. I stood unsteadily and rinsed out my mouth. Bastian followed me, standing close enough to touch me. “Enid, tell me it isn’t too late.”

My eyes met his in the mirror and I saw he was sincere. He really did want me back. “Bastian, I don’t know. What happens when you decide to get married again, and follow through with it?”

“I won’t. I promise you, Enid, I won’t have another woman in my life except for you.”

“Why would you promise me that?”

“Because…” He looked uncomfortable and he ran a hand through his hair.

“Because I love you. I’ve never loved anyone who wasn’t family so I wasn’t sure what I felt for you.”

“It’s about damn time,” Rheul grumbled from the doorway. “I was starting to think I’d have to claim her for real.”

I spun and looked at him in surprise. “You mean you did all of this on purpose?”

“I saw how happy you made Bastian. He became cold and calculating when he started courting Danai. He became me.” He looked at Bastian. “I couldn’t let that happen. It was obvious you loved her. You just needed a nudge in the right direction.”

“So you decided to claim her?” Bastian demanded.

“I was hoping you would come to your senses once she was out from under your roof. Instead, you left her alone most of the time she was in the slave quarters. I had to take drastic measures to make you realize you still want her, that you need her.”

“Why would you do that? You’ve made it clear what you think about slaves,” I asked softly, still not understanding.

“Because I love my brother, and if you make him happy, then he should have you in his life in whatever capacity he wants.”

“Thank you,” Bastian told him.

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Rheul grinned and nodded. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a trunk to deliver to your house.”

Bastian frowned at me. “What’s he mean by that?”

“He bought a few things for me today. Some tunics, books, and a music box.”

“He did that?”

I nodded. “Are you sure you aren’t going to change your mind, Bastian? I don’t think I could bear it if you did.”

He leaned down and kissed me. “I’m sure.”

I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him back, happier than I had been in a long time. “Take me home.”

“With pleasure.” He frowned. “Just as soon as you’re dressed in something less revealing.”

I laughed and kissed him again. “I don’t have anything else here to wear, and I don’t want to wait on you to go back to the house before you take me home.”

“I don’t want everyone staring at you.”

“Bastian… just take me home. Now.”

He chuckled and picked me up. With him carrying me in his arms, we left the slave quarters behind and went home. And this time, I knew I was there to stay.

currently lives in Tennessee with her family and a house full of pets, after having lived in several places from the East Coast to the West Coast.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her either curled up with a book or out shopping.

She’s particularly fond of bookstores and Starbucks!

Her writing career began in high school when she submitted
My World is
Tumbling Down
to a poetry contest, not only receiving a publication offer, but also an award. Since then, she has published a half-dozen or more poems, six novels, and several short stories. At any given time, she has five or more works-in-progress at various stages of completion.

Prior to writing, she worked for a counseling center; in information systems for a debt collector; and has worked at more than one college. After handling everything from patient evaluations to department accreditation, she decided to sit down at the computer again and attempt writing novels (from young adult to erotica).

You can check out what she’s up to at her website www.jessicacoultersmith.webs.com. She’s also on Facebook (when she has time to login). She loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch with her using [email protected].