"Carius still won't wake. The physicians say there's no hope. My wife has lost her mind to grief. And Calla—my precious Calla—will leave soon."
The chamber was dark, the candle was barely lighting the room.
He finally looked up. His eyes were red-rimmed. Wet.
"I'm so alone," he whispered. "So lost. I need... I need comfort. Just someone to remind me that I'm not abandoned by everyone I love."
My heart ached for him. "Father, I'm here. You're not alone."
"Come closer." He gestured. "Please."
I approached. Knelt beside his chair the way a concerned daughter might.
His hand landed on my shoulder. Squeezed.
"You're a good girl," he murmured. "So good. So kind."
His other hand touched my hair. Stroked it gently.
Then—
His hand moved lower.
Down my back. To my waist.
I stiffened. "Father?"
"Shh. It's alright." His voice had changed again. Deepened. "You want to comfort me, don't you?"
"I—yes, but—"
His hand slid to my hip. Started lifting my skirt.
Horror crashed through me like ice water.
I shoved his hand away and scrambled backward. "What are you—"
"Ungrateful bitch!"
The transformation was instant. Gone was the grieving father. In his place—something monstrous.
He lunged from his chair, grabbed my arm, pulled me back. "After everything I've done for you! Letting you live in my house! Giving you purpose!"
His hands groped at me. Tearing at my dress. I screamed and fought but he was stronger—so much stronger—
The door burst open.
The Countess stood there, eyes wild. "What is—"
"Help me!" I gasped. "Please, he's—"
"SHE SEDUCED ME!" Count Haroth's voice boomed. He released me suddenly, stepping back with an expression of shocked outrage that would have been convincing if I hadn't just felt his hands on me. "This whore came to my chambers! Threw herself at me! Tried to—"
"LIAR!" I sobbed. "He summoned me! He—"
The Countess's face went scarlet. Beyond rage. Beyond reason.
"You DARE," she hissed. "You dare to touch my husband? To try to steal him from me?"
"I didn't—please—"
She moved with frightening speed. Her hand cracked across my face hard enough to split my lip. I fell.
Everything felt still, my body was becoming heavier and heavier.
"Please," I begged from the floor. "Please listen—I didn't—he's lying—"
"Shut your whore mouth!" The Countess kicked me. Once. Twice. Pain exploded through my ribs.
"Mother, stop!" Calla's voice from the doorway. "Please, you don't understand—"
"GUARDS!" The Countess shrieked. "Take Lady Calla to her chambers! Lock the door! She's not to leave until I say!"
"What? No!" Calla struggled as soldiers grabbed her arms. "Maria didn't do anything! Father is lying! Let me—"
But they dragged her away. Her protests faded down the corridor.
The Countess grabbed my hair. Yanked my head back so hard I saw stars.
"You want to seduce men?" she whispered, her breath hot against my face. "Let's see how you like it when they actually take what you're offering."
Terror like I'd never known flooded through me.
"No," I whispered. "Please, no—"
"BRING HER!"
Guards grabbed my arms. Dragged me from the chambers, down the corridors, out into the night air.
They pulled me like a cattle, like it wasn't flesh in their hands.
We crossed the grounds toward the practice yard.
I fought every step, screaming, begging, but no one helped.
Servants averted their eyes. Soldiers followed orders.
The Countess followed behind, skirts rustling, voice raised in proclamation.
"Gather the bastards! All of them! Every single one!"
Her voice carried hatred beyond reason.
We reached the practice yard. The guards threw me down onto the packed earth.
I tried to stand.
A boot in my back kept me down.
Within minutes, they came.
My half-brothers. The bastard sons—eight of them, ranging in age from fifteen to twenty.
Confused.
Frightened.
Not understanding why they'd been summoned.
The Countess circled me like a predator. Then she grabbed my dress and ripped.
The fabric tore. Exposed my back. My shoulders.
I screamed and tried to cover myself. She kicked my hands away.
"Strip her," she commanded the guards.
"My lady—" one started.
"STRIP HER!"
They obeyed.
Rough hands tore away my remaining clothes until I lay naked on the cold ground, trying desperately to cover myself, sobbing so hard I could barely breathe.
The wind seemed to scratch my flesh, the eyes—
The eyes gnawing at me...
The Countess's voice rang across the yard.
"This bitch is hungry for the cock of her own kin!" she shrieked. "She tried to seduce the Count! Tried to steal him from me!"
"No," I choked out. "No, please—"
"So she'll get what she wants!" The Countess turned to my half-brothers. To the boys I'd grown up alongside. "Take her! All of you! Give this whore what she's begging for!"
The world stopped.
My heart stopped.
Everything inside me that had ever hoped or dreamed or believed in goodness died in that moment.
"Please," I whispered. "Please, I'm your sister—"
The boys stared.
Horror and disgust and—gods help me—some of them looked interested.
Excited like hungry dogs
I saw which ones. Saw them step forward.
"No!" I screamed. "NO! PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME! ANYONE!"
But no one came.
No one—
***
David ran.
He'd been in the barracks when he heard the commotion. Heard the Countess's voice carrying across the grounds. Heard what she'd ordered.
And he ran.
Not toward the practice yard. Toward the stables.
Garrett was there, practicing in the darkness as he always did. His axe—the enchanted one that cut deeper now, stayed sharper—moved through forms with deadly precision.
"Garrett!" David's voice cracked. "The practice yard—Maria—the Countess—"
Garrett stopped mid-swing. Turned. "What?"
"The Countess stripped her! Threw her down! Ordered the bastard sons to—" David couldn't finish. "You have to help her! Now!"
For one heartbeat, Garrett stood frozen.
Then his expression changed.
Something terrible surfaced behind his eyes. Something that had been waiting for an excuse.
He picked up his axe on his shoulder without, wasting another breath—
He ran.