MAIL ORDER BRIDE: ARISTOCRAT: The Duke’s Engagement (Historical Victorian Duke Romance) (New Adult Romance Short Stories) (27 page)

              “Listen up, we've got a female guest on board. No one is to touch her. She is to be treated like all the other merchandise. She is going to fetch us a pretty penny at the whore house. And I don't want her injured. Understand?” He questioned. “Aye sir!” shouted the men. “Good now get to work you greasy good for nothings!” he shouted and his men scattered like dandelions in the wind.

              I quickly grabbed the captain's arm. “I thought that you were going to take me back to town. You never said anything about selling me.” Shock played on my face. “We are not civil servants. You want a ride it'll cost you a pretty penny. You are, of course, free to leave this ship. You won't make it very far before the thieves get you. Maybe someone else will come along and rape you. Ha ha, but I have a feeling you'll choose to stick it out with us. There are worse things than having your virginity sold,” he laughed.

              I gasp and swung my hand to smack him, but he caught my hand. “Careful,” he warned. “How can you be so heartless?” I asked. “I'm a pirate,” he laughed again and let my hand go. The Captain walked back to his quarters below deck. Shortly after the bridge was drawn up and the ship started to set sail.

              “If you're going to be on this ship then you're going to work,” I was informed by one of the men. I was handed a half broken broom. I started to sweep when a fish net made of rope was thrown over my shoulders. “There's a lot of men on board this vessel missy. You wouldn't want to thrill these old men, best to keep um covered,” said the man who had handed me the broom. I wrapped the rope netting around me like a shawl and continued sweeping.

                                                                      *     *     *     *

              Later that evening I was slumped over the side of the ship, watching the sun reflect off the water. I felt very ill. My thoughts wondered to the note that I had tossed back in my apartment. I knew that someone had pulled me here, but why? I wanted to find the answers but I was felt so weak. I was starting to forget things, simple things like my age or the address to my apartment. My middle name was even a blur.

              I tried to think back to what had brought me here, to this time period? Some mysterious man or was it something else? My parents, where were my parents? I couldn't recall. The ship jarred against a huge wave and my poor shook up stomach had finally had enough. I barfed into the sea several times and then slumped to the ship's deck.

              I awoke in the Captains quarters. He was sitting at his desk writing something. Every now and then he would take a swig of his whiskey. I sat up and he glanced in my direction. “Finally up?” he asked. I didn't respond. “Just like a woman, weak and fragile. Hump! Pathetic. The sooner I get rid of you the better,” he said. “I have some good news though. We'll be in the next town soon. There's a whore house by the new railway they’re putting in. Hump, railways. Men were made to travel the seas.” He took another swig of whiskey.

              “No wonder you sail the seas, you're nothing but a vile, wretched old man who ho couldn't make in any other profession but stealing and pillaging others. You should be ashamed to be alive,” I spat. “What did you say to me?” He sat up quickly and grabbed me by both my arms. My face was now nose to nose with his. “You have a filthy mouth. No wonder that man tried to rape you, you're clearly not good enough for anything else.”

              “Who was she that broke your heart and left you to speak nothing but curses to women? No descent living man would treat a woman with such audacity. You're nothing but a monster, a vile creep,” I snapped. Suddenly his hand flew across my face and I fell to the floor. My head was bursting and my ears ringed. “If you were one of my men I would have cut out your tongue. Never have I been so disrespected! And on my ship too!”

              I was punished immediately. The Captain had me tied up in the brink. It was dark and cold and smelled awful, like rotted meat mixed with spoiled milk. My stomach did enormous flip flops. I want to get the hell off this ship. My wish finally came true when one of the men untied me and brought me back up to deck. 

              “Good news this is you're stop,” said the Captain as he grabbed my arm and pulled me off his ship. My legs were wobbly and I stumbled around a bit. The Captain all but dragged me through me the city when we reached the plain unmarked house. The Captain threw me against the side of the house and searched me for jewelry or loose change. He tossed the rope netting off me and then pulled me along. He knocked on the door once. He was greeted by a middle aged woman holding a cigarette. “Okay, Captain what do you have for me this time?” she said.

              The Captain pushed me toward her. “Pff. This poor thing? Why did you have to damage her?” said the woman grabbing my cheeks with her hand. She turned my head right then left, inspecting my face for further injuries. “This one has a sharp mouth but I suspect she'll fuck better than she runs her mouth,” he said. “I can't take in a mouthy brat, nor can I pay full price for damaged goods,” said the woman.  “Listen, you'll take her because she's not coming back with me and the last person you want to piss off is me,” he spat.

              The woman pursed her lips. “Fine,” she said and pulled me into the house with amazing strength. She paid the Captain whatever price they had arranged. Then her attention was on me. “Listen, I don't know what kind of trouble you caused Captain Bretham, but if you use your sharp tongue to scare off my clients I'll cut it from your mouth and leave you on the streets for thieves and beggars,” she warned. I nodded. “I really hate selling damaged goods. I hope for your sake the captain is right. You may refer to me as Madam Virmen.” 

              Her name sprung a tiny giggle from me. “You find something amusing?” she asked. “No mam.” I said still laughing inside. I was ordered to go upstairs and clean myself up. I had my first assignment that evening. I was to meet him behind the pub. I dressed the part but I had no intention of meeting anyone. When the time came I walked out in a plaid corset dress.               I was in booted heels and my hair was a bun on top my head. A black cloth choker around my neck.  

              We were each given a number and I was to arrive in a horse drawn carriage. When the carriage took off and I was far away from the whore house. I opened the carriage door and jumped out. The driver stopped the carriage and I took off as fast as my legs could carry me. I ran into the woods, ran as far away as I could, I ran until my lungs burned and my legs gave out. I fell to the forest floor sure that I had gotten away.

CHAPTER 4

              I had been walking for what seemed like ages. At last I spotted an old ranch and ran toward it. I looked around and saw no one. Then I went to the stables and found three nice horses. I patted one and he seemed friendly enough so I unlatched the stable and quickly threw a harness on him. By the time the sun rose in the sky, I had jumped on his back and rode away.

              I didn't know where I was going, I didn't know what I was searching for. All I knew was that somehow I had stumbled upon a group of hunters carrying muskets and it was late evening. I steadily approached them. There were two men and three women. “Good evening!” I called out. I saw them lower their weapons as I approached them. “Good evening,” they called back.

              I stopped the horse just a few feet from them. I introduced myself and said, “I'm traveling alone and wonder where the next town might be,” I said. “A woman traveling alone?” questioned one of the men who had a choppy haircut. “Yes,” I said. “Oh honey, you won't find another town for at least eight miles,” he said. “I'm Marcus, this here is Spencer. (He pointed to the man next to him), and those two are Lydia, (a blonde woman who was standing on the left just behind him), and Sophia, (a red head standing on the next to Lydia on the right).”  

              “Nice to meet all of you,” I greeted. “Welcome stranger,” said Lydia her voice was smooth and soft. “So you are hunters?” I asked. “We are, we hunt creatures,” said Marcus. “Creatures?” I question. “Creatures. Like werewolves, banshees, and vampires,” explained Marcus. “Okay,” I said. My eyes found their campfire and my nose had found what they were cooking. “Smells good,” I remarked. I couldn't remember the last thing I ate. “Pleasure’s ours,” said Lydia handing me a bowl of stew. Whatever meat they had used was delicious. I ate three delightful bowlfuls.

              “You were hungry,” remarked Spencer. “Yeah I don't know when my last meal was and I don't know when the next one will be,” I said. “That's true for us all,” he agreed. “That's enough resting. We need to get hunting. It's turned dark and that means the werewolves will be out. Everyone take your places,” ordered Marcus. I looked at Spencer. “It's time for fun,” he sang as he picked up his musket. My first thought was that they can't be serious, but as I watched them get into positions I realized just how serious they were.

              I crept down low with the girls. I was given a hunting knife and told to stay close. Hours passed and I was seriously starting to cramp up. I wanted to tell them how stupid this was, but then there was a rustling sound in the woods. The noise got louder and then a growling sound vibrated through the forest. The next thing I knew, we were being ambushed by very large dog-like creatures.

              I couldn't believe my eyes. Musket fire erupted and Spencer called out, “Don't let em scratch you!” I ran but a werewolf blocked my path. I sliced his stomach. Blood oozed out from the gaping wound. “Good job,” called Spencer. “Hey she's a natural,” I heard Marcus shout.

              Musket fire blazed and then there was an order to fall back. I didn't know who had given the order but we all jumped on our horses. We rode fast and hard trying to escape the werewolves. They chased us running along the ground or jumping from trees. Musket fire still rang out as we rode.

              The werewolves trailed our galloping horses until we rode up the mountain. “How come they're not following us?” I asked. “They say this mountain is where the vampire lives. The natives come here and put sacred artifacts in place. It keeps the creatures away, except for one Vampire. He eludes all warnings. We want to catch him.” Said Marcus. I didn't know what to say to that.

              As we were riding along the skies opened up and rain started to pour. “Damn it, nobody said anything about a storm,” cursed Marcus. “We'll have to take shelter,” said Sophia. The rain poured down in buckets and made it increasingly hard to see the path before us.

              Lightning and thunder struck across the sky and my horse spooked. I tried to get him controlled but he went wild and he threw me off. I got up, only to slip in the mud. I fell fast down the mountain side. “Lucy!” I heard someone shout. I screamed and flailed around aimlessly, but there was nothing to break my fall, nothing to hold on to. When I hit the ground I felt something snap.

              Thunder clashed into the sky and I laid there staring up at droplets of casualties as they came crashing down to earth. I tried sitting up. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't believe that I had survived. “Don't move, dream queen,” I heard a voice say. I froze and desperately wanted to look behind me. But my movement was thrawled by strong arms that swiftly lifted me up. Cradled into the arms of this being, he smelled delicious, sweet like honey.

              He carried me into his huge mansion and laid me on the sofa. A fire immediately roared in the hearth. The sitting area was beautiful. The sofa was black leather, the floor was rich cherry wood, the walls were painted red and gold with a splash of intricate design painted in silver. A white tiger hide was laid out on the cherry wood floor.

              As he lay me down I caught a glimpse of his face. My dreams came flooding back. He was perfect, dreadfully handsome like I always pictured he would be. I knew by his soft dark curls, his greenish-blue eyes, and that timeless face; He was the man from my dreams. The one I could never get to. I stared into his mesmerizing eyes for the longest time, unable to breathe or think.

              He moved away from me so quickly that he was nearly a blur. “You are even more beautiful than I ever imagined,” he said. I was caught so completely off guard by his statement. His voice was beautiful, soft and warm. His words vibrated through me like a lullaby, and my heart skipped a beat.

              “I know what you can do,” he said. My mind raced back to the note I had found on my apartment door. “Are you the one who left that note on my door?” I asked. “Yes,” he confirmed without the slightest bit of guilt. “Who are you?” I asked. He introduced himself as Harcourt Winfell. He then began to explain himself. “I pulled you here. It's hard to tell you this but you're in danger. Your very existence is in danger. Every moment you spend from your own time period puts you at risk.” He started to pace as I struggled to grasp what he was saying.

              He took a seat next to me. Only then did I ask, “Risk for what?” His eyes held a look of total seriousness, then he stated bluntly, “Having your existence wiped out completely. Haven't you felt weak, forgetful, sickly?” My mouth gaped open. “How do I stop it?” I questioned. “You must learn to control your power and get yourself back to your own time.”

              “If it's such a risk for me to be here, then why did you call me here to begin with?” I asked. “To teach you, to meet you, to see your beautiful face in person,” he admitted with such lavish honesty.