Her Pain, His Love

**May contain material not suitable for children**1

It hurts when he's inside of her. Not because of the actually size of him, but because of how ruthless he is with her fragile body. As his wife, Jossanna says nothing, laying flat, motionless, without a single complaint.2

For four year she has been married to Master Silber, one of the wealthiest men in the city of Norraine. Since fourteen she's lived in The Castle of Mann. In his lonesome castle full of only men, she is nothing but merely a woman.3

They mistreat her, beat her without hesitance when ordered, and keeps the words 'prisoner' and 'torture' imprinted in her mind. A lost woman with nowhere to go--no one to lean on--she's forced to be with him--stay with him.4

She bites her lower lip hard enough to break the skin as he grows fierce with her. Her eyes close tight, fingers gripping the sheets at her sides. Goodness, she wishes this wasn't what a marriage was like; abuse, rape, hell!5

What would it ever be like to really be in love, to have a real husband that cherishes you? What would love-making truly feel like?6

* * *7

"Go to the market."8

Jossanna jumps at the sudden sound of his voice, turning away from the food she'd been preparing. Standing in the doorway of the kitchen, Silber has his arm around a young girl, a few years younger than Jossanna. She doesn't have to guess to know he is planning to have sex with her and wants Jossanna out of the castle when he does.9

Too used to this, she is unfazed.10

She nods to him without looking at the girl, who she knows is doing it for the money. She just takes the coins he holds out to her and is out of the door.11

Was there a such thing as loyalty in a marriage?12

* * *13

Jossanna is roaming around the market place, unaware of what it is she is suppose to bring back. What would Silber be expecting? What is it he would want? All she can do is hope she comes back with the right things, too sore already for another one of his beatings or one from the guards.14

She's been walking around for almost ten minutes when one of the store clerks comes to her in a huff. The way he looks at her, eyes heated with hatred, stance threatening, she's expecting only the worst.15

"Where is your escort?" he demands.16

Her face drains. She'd forgotten that it was a law for women to have men with them when they went out. Goodness, they had the authority to beat her for breaking that law. What was she to say?17

"I..." Her breath is coming in hassled pants now, knowing she cannot get out of this. Oh, not more torture to her hell-filled life.18

He raises a hand, ready to strike her. She closes her eyes, preparing herself for the hit that is sure to bruise her face and bring tears to her eyes. Unfortunately, she's used to such hits.19

It never came. 20

When moments pass, she lifts her lashes to see what was the hold.21

A man dressed in all black was behind the clerk, keeping his scrawny wrist in the air, away from hitting her. Swallowing hard, she waits. This man with the long black hair and menace eyes scare her. He appears to be just as ready for striking as the clerk.22

"The lady is with me," he all but growls, his deep voice reverberating through her.23

Seemingly scared for his life, the clerk nods shakily. "O-ok."24

He frees the trembling man, who immediately scrambles away. Meeting her wide gaze, he takes a step toward her. Habitually, she steps away. A man as well-build and tall as him could really do damage to her.25

"Are you hurt?" he asks with concern, his unique violet-blue eyes swirling with sincerity.26

"No," she says once she's found her voice. "Thank you."27

He nods his approval. "You should get what you need so I may escort you home."28

Jossanna clears her throat, moving past the stiffness in her bones. As she bags what she needs with shaky hands, she keeps her attention on the man walking closely behind her. She doesn't trust him or his intentions. Those beautiful eyes of his are tricky--sly. They are vivid enough to lure a woman, but hard enough to mean danger. Knowing man more than any other nature, she can guess what he really wants from her.29

"I'm married," she says hoarsely, not bothering to turn to him. She knows this is rude, but can't help how her heart is beating in warning.30

"Where is your husband?" he asks without urgency.31

Jossanna doesn't want to lie, but the truth isn't something she is proud to say of her husband. "He is home...busy," is her answer.32

"Why does he not escort you?"33

She says nothing to his question, taking her belongings to the front counter, handing her money to the glowering clerk. There is no need for her to tell the stranger of her business.34

Out of the store, he is now walking at her side. He's so tall that it intimidates her. And the way his body heat radiates off of him like a heater implies the strength within him. That quickens her heart rate.35

She stops on the pavement, turning cautiously to face him. "I'll be fine walking home alone, sir, but thank you." The walk is a lonely path and she doesn't want him to take advantage of that.36

He takes the bag from her, saying, "I'll walk you." The gentle but stubborn streak in his voice is one that she can't see herself getting past. All she can do is begin walking again, hoping, praying, he doesn't try anything.37

"I am Rayhn Veather," he states for her after a while, turning his head to look at her. "You are?"38

"Jossanna," she says without adding her surname that is a disgrace to even her. 39

"Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."40

Her breath hitches at his words. Beautiful? That's a word no man has ever said of her. It makes her smile.41

"Do you reside around here, Mr. Veather?" she asks, trying to keep her mind off the fact that maybe--just maybe--his compliment had been one of lust. It didn't seem so, but there is always the possibility.42

"Please, call me Raynh," he insists. "And no. I am a warrior. I never reside in one place."43

A warrior? That explains his hard eyes and huge body. It also made her think of the stories she's heard of warriors. They thought too much of themselves--were very arrogant. That meaning they got whatever they wanted, even by force, including women.44

"Oh."45

There is silence surrounding them as they walked on. Only when they are at the gate to the castle do they speak again. All Jossanna can feel is relief that he hadn't tried to touch her.46

He hands her the bag, the brush of his experienced hands tickling over her skin.47

"It was nice meeting you, Rayhn." She extends a hand to him.48

He takes it into his, kissing the back. "Pleasure's all mine, Miss. Jossanna."49

She blushes and smiles at his manners, at his husky voice. No man has ever bothered to show any decency. But him...Rayhn...he is different.50

"I'll be seeing you again," he promises, rubbing his hand over hers before departing.51

Jossanna watches him stroll away, back down the path into town. Goodness, the man had set her heart to flames in such a short amount of time. With a silly smile on her face, all she can do is hope she would, in fact, see him again.52

* * *53

After a beating from Silber for coming back too early, Jossanna lays on the floor, unsure if she can move; her whole body aches bone-deep. There is never a time when he left her alone. If he wasn't beating her, he was raping her. If he wasn't raping her, he was beating her. 54

She hated him!55

She hated all men for their power over women!56

* * *57

Another painful week was added to her life of despair. 58

Today, she was forced to cook a big breakfast that those evil guards ate before Silber could see she had did as he ordered. There were brief slaps when he came in to tell her to hurry up. She did. And by time someone was knocking at the door, she had placed the buffet of food on the table in the dinning hall.59

Silber came in with a guest when she was done. Her eyes lifted to the stranger.60

Rayhn!61

One look at his face and she felt like sobbing. The thought of their walk--how polite he was, respectful, a gentlemen--flashed pleasantly in her mind. She never had the time of day to think about the memory and didn't sleep to be able to dream of it.62

But now, thinking about it, she was smiling and staring into those familiar eyes.63

And goodness, he smiled back.64

"Jossanna, leave!" Silber demanded impatiently. "Me and an old friend have to catch up." He patted Rayhn on the back.65

She did leave, but not without one last look at Rayhn. He was smiling slyly at her, knowingly. Lowering her head, she knew he had set this up for them to see one another again.66

Thank God he had, because he lightened her whole mood.67

Too bad she didn't get to see him one last time before he left.68

* * *69

"You whore!" Silber was yelling as he pounded his fists against her bare skin along with kicks. He had caught the way she had been looking at Rayhn with that smile and thought she had been with him intimately.70

Maybe he was too drunk to notice he didn't give her any freedom to be with another man!71

She curled herself into a ball on the ground, it helping none. Each hit still hurt as much as the last. Let the torture end!72

Jossanna couldn't take this anymore. Silber's drunkenness, his abuse, his rage. She couldn't...73

* * *74

Silber was out by night, going to a bar to drink himself full. She didn't mind. It gave her the time to take a bath and relax her tense and sore body.75

She was having trouble sliding her heavy dress down her shoulders with the hurting flesh there. After a while, she thought to just give up even bathing, forgetting about how good it would feel against her bruised flesh.76

A warm, gentle hand with a rough texture massaged her shoulders, careful around the darkened skin. She jumped, but was unable to move away from such a welcoming touch. Silber would never touch her like this--so tenderly with concern--and neither would the guards.77

The only one she could think that would...78

"Rayhn..." she whispered so softly it was barely heard.79

"You don't have to live like this." He was sliding the dress off of her without it touching any of the most painful spots. "I can take you away from this."80

She didn't know what say to his words. All she could do was savor the feeling of his warm, minty breath against her neck and his masculine scent. Unlike the men she was surrounded by, he smelled like a true man--pure and fresh.81

Dreamy.82

"I'll treat you the way you need to be treated. Like a woman." His warm lips pecked her neck, tightening her chest. "A woman's love is a man's privilege, not his right."83

She leaned back against him, letting him wrap his strong arms around her--hold her. This was what she needed; a man that would touch her with singular attention, kiss her with passion, hold her lovingly.84

She needed Rayhn.85

"Let me take you away from this, Jossanna. I promise I won't mistreat you. I put that on my honor." He kisses a bruise on her shoulder. "You don't deserve this."86

His voice was so sincere and deep. The emotions were tangible, filling her insides with warmth--his warmth. She wanted him to take her away--needed him to. It would be heaven to wake up next to him every morning, to have him touch with affection whenever she needed it. To end this hell.87

"I can't." She waits for him to push her away in anger, but he doesn't. He just holds her tighter.88

"You must," he demands, that tone full of stubbornness. "I can't let this continue and do nothing. I want you in my arms, Jossanna. You're a beautiful woman and you need to be taken care of the right way. You need me." She did. "Let me have you."89

Even without facing him she can imagine those eyes of his swirling with emotion, genuineness. He means every word, and she knows it. But what would happen if she ran off with him?90

"Silber will look for me. He'll send his guards out to hunt us."91

He turned her to see at him, looking into her face. "I'm used to such. I can protect us both. You don't have to worry."92

She swallows hard. "You will never hurt me?"93

His eyes gaze down at her bare body. She doesn't feel as shy with him scanning her as she would if it were Silber, and she's known him longer. With Rayhn, she just knows he won't do her body as Silber does.94

"Never. On my honor."95

Jossanna stares in those lovely eyes that are swimming with emotion and feeling. They aren't as cold as Silber's would be when he looked at her.96

In their silence, he waited. He lifts an arm to pull the pins from her hair to let the dark locks shimmer down her back. Each strand has a shine of its own, even in the dimmest light. Beautiful.97

"Say you'll come with me, Jossanna."98

She opens her mouth, her thoughts racing. Rayhn is so different it's hard to believe he's man. He is the perfect--the man she's always wanted. Her only chance at happiness.99

"Y--" She stops when she hears the heavy boots coming up the stairs. Her face drains, lips curving down into a frown.100

"Rayhn, hide under the bed!" she rushes out, panicking.101

He frowns too, it not direct for her. "I'm not afraid, Jossanna."102

"Get under the bed or I'm never taking to you again!"103

There is hesitation in him, but he does obey, sliding effortless under the large bed.104

The doors to the bedroom bust open to reveal Silber, a bottle of whiskey in his hand. His face is red with drunkenness or anger. Both, she assumes. He's glaring at her.105

"Why are your clothes...on thee floor?" he says, drunk, wanting to start an argument with her.106

He slaps her to the ground before she can even speak. She hold her stinging cheek as he pulls her up by her hair. She screams in pain.107

"You're nothing...nothing but a--"108

He gasps in pain, releasing her. She sees Rayhn there, his hand holding the blade in Silber's gut. "Bastards like you don't deserve life." He twists the blade, Silber now the one screaming in pain.109

Raynh lets him fall to the ground.110

"Oh my..." Bile rises in her stomach as Silber dies right before her, his eyes wide in horror. She'd never seen anything so...111

"Come on, Jossanna." He pulls her up gently, cradling her to his body. "You don't ever have to look back now."112

~~~~~~113

The End114