The Blacksmith's Daughter Ch. 01

She could hear voices from the top of the stronghold, alerting other guards of their arrival, and she instinctively pushed back as they entered, only to flinch away from the broad chest of the demon guard holding her hostage when he chuckled in amusement.

Nissa glanced around as the dim light of indoor fires illuminated windows of the surrounding buildings, the occasional silhouette of someone's head visible as they peered out curiously. She'd heard that there were various non-human species that resided within the Demon King's lair, and it seemed they lived no differently than those in the Capital, and were just as nosy as well. All she could do was lower her head to keep from peering this way and that, only glancing back up when the sound of hooves halted and she sat staring at the massive castle before her.

The Guards dismounted, and her escort held a hand out to assist, only for Nissa to turn her nose up at him and climb off herself. He seemed to find amusement in that as he let out a laugh.

"Now, do I have to bind you, or will you behave and come along?"

"I've had enough of being forced around." She peered up at him, noting that he stood at least a foot and a half taller than her, but she did not falter in the way she glared up at him despite the need to swallow back the aching lump in her throat.

That seemed to be enough for him, and he led the way while his comrades followed behind her, into the palace's foyer. Nissa had been so accustomed to her own modest upbringings, that to say the sight of the grand foyer had been breathtaking would have been an understatement. A grand staircase sat at the very center, with two smaller sets of stairs lining the sides, and dark marble flooring visible beneath crimson rugs. They moved past the grand staircase, beneath two massive columns made of similar marble, and into a throne room with a similar color scheme. While the room itself was not quite as large as the entryway, its ceiling towered above her at least ten stories, topped with reinforced glass, just as the outer walls had been, offering a view of a courtyard and a hedge that led into what she assumed must have been a maze of sorts.

The room was empty, except for the figure seated on a throne -- made of the very same black marble, and adorned with rubies and velvet cushions set in a deep red -- and the woman standing at his side.

Nissa heard many horrific tales of King Cadogan -- most from Hadrian himself, as told by his father -- a former knight of their own king who died in the war against the Demon Realm. The creature that sat before her was no creature, but bore the likeness of man, just as the guards had. His hair was an almost white silver that practically reflected the candlelight around him, and a golden circlet adorned with rubies sat upon his head. Even from where she stood, she could feel the power that radiated from him, despite the look of disinterest he cast in her direction as he propped his chin upon the palm of his hand and surveyed his captor with bright, gold and red tinted eyes.

The woman at his side seemed to radiate a similar power, but felt far more intimidating to Nissa. She had long, midnight black hair that curled in large ringlets all the way to her waist, and glowing red eyes that made Nissa shiver where she stood. One arm rested upon the Cadogan's shoulder. They both wore robes made of deep crimson, with Cadogan's rune-shaped sigil sewn into heir sleeves. This must have been Queen Sybil.

Cadogan gave a wave of his hand, and her four escorts each bowed and left the throne room, shutting her in with the Demon King and Queen.

"So you're Talia's daughter?" He asked, only shifting in place to tilt his head as he sized her up.

"Yes..." Nissa responded quietly. She couldn't bear to stare at the pair for more than a few seconds at a time, choosing instead to focus on the hint of a full moon illuminating through the glass that lined the furthest wall. It was such a subtle way of letting her guard down that she came to regret when what looked like a series of thick vines sprung from behind Cadogan's cloak and seized her wrists and ankles.

"What-no!" She shouted when he pulled her forward, until she was just an inch or so away from him in mid-air. With every pull in an attempt to free herself, his bonds merely tightened, and Nissa quickly stilled when another one of those vines slithered over her calf, and past her knee beneath the skirt of her gown, wrapping tightly the further it crept. "Stop!"

She wasn't sure whether it was through his own will or her cry that the movement halted a moment, just as the tip of the vine slid over her inner thigh, which prompted her to press her legs together to no avail.

"Hmmm..." He leaned back in his throne, and glared at her. "You're not a virgin, are you?"

"N-no..." She whimpered, and suddenly gasped when he released his hold and the vines retreated from wherever they'd sprung. Her knees buckled as she hit the carpet on the steps, and she fell to her knees, hissing painfully when they hit the sharp edge of the uppermost step.

"Then you're useless to me."

Nissa looked back up, wide-eyed, and noticed the Queen's red lips pull into a smile, though it did not translate to her eyes.

"So...so am I free to go?"

Queen Sybill seemed to find that amusing, a hearty laugh escaping her lips as Cadogan smirked.

"No, darling. Just because I won't have you doesn't mean Evander gets the satisfaction of his precious daughter's return. Though I'm sure you'd make a fitting whore for one of my sons, as they've grown tired of the ones they do have."

Nissa remained frozen in place, staring helplessly at the pair. Cadogan clapped twice, and the doors behind her opened. A glance back revealed that these were different guards, rather than the ones who brought her here. They weren't quite as careful in handling her when they gripped her arms and forced her to her feet, which prompted Nissa to attempt to kick away from them as she begged for them to show mercy.

***

She wasn't sure how long it had been, or at what point she'd blacked out yet again. She'd been laying on a bed, based on the feel of sheets beneath her, and for a moment, Nissa assumed she'd awoken from a horrifying nightmare. The relief was fleeting, however, when her eyes adjusted and she bolted up to find tall windows lining the wall to her left, with their curtains open to reveal the faint glow of the moon spilling in and illuminating her surroundings.

She was in a bedroom, laying upon a large, four-poster bed that could have taken up the entire space of her room back at the village. A vanity sat facing the windows, and...a slightly-ajar door at the farthest end.

Nissa quickly scrambled out of the bed and ran across, only to find that the door led to a bathing room. Before she could look for another way out, the door at the opposite end of the room, across from the windows, opened, and a young woman walked in. She was dressed in a peasant's attire, and looked beautiful with blonde hair tied back to reveal dainty features, with a few wrinkles that led Nissa to believe she could have been about her father's age, if not a bit younger.

"Oh, you're awake." She seemed oddly cheerful, with a tray in hand that held a saucer, kettle, and a teacup. "Here, have a sip of this. You'll feel much better."

Nissa remained where she stood, glancing behind the woman and considering making a run for it. But what then? The castle seemed far too enormous, and she'd surely get lost, or captured before she figured out a true way to escape. Even then, they would just find her if she dared to trek beyond the wastelands and find her village by some miracle.

By the time she pulled from her reverie, the maid was standing before her, and startled, Nissa fell back until she was pressed against the wall.

"Oh, I'm not going to hurt you." The lull of her voice made Nissa want to believe her, but the shock of the day's events still lingered in the back of her mind. Still, as the scent of lavender filled her nostrils, Nissa relaxed enough to let her shoulders drop.

"What is that?"

"Just a cup of herbal tea. Your mother loved a hint of lavender in hers."

"You knew my mother?" Nissa asked softly, lips trembling as palms lifted to cover her face. It was all too much, and the fact alone made her knees give in beneath her as she sank to the ground and sobbed into her hands.

"Miss, it'll be all right." The woman crooned, shifting to kneel in front of her, and setting the tray aside. "My name is Dahlia. I'll be your attendant, and I promise you it isn't all that bad."

"Not all that bad?!" Nissa's voice escalated at the audacity of the claim. "I've been kidnapped and forced to be some demon prince's concubine through no fault of my own. I just want to go home!"

"I know, but you'll adjust, just as the others have. Most of them have come of their own accord, and I'm sure you'll have a chance to meet them, but here." She lifted the cup to Nissa's lips, and the scent that came from it helped lessen the rapid beating of her own heart.

What could she do? Aside from play along long enough to find a way out?

With a sigh, Nissa took the cup and sipped the contents, finding that it warmed her considerably.

"Was my mother kidnapped and brought here as well?"

"Oh, no." Dahlia laughed softly, shifting so that she sat cross-legged, the wrinkles of her eyes far more noticeable as she grinned from ear to ear, looking up as if recalling a fond memory. "No, King Cadogan found her bathing in a nearby river while out hunting with his guard, and she found him to be quite fetching -- as far as she told me, at least. He had a hot spring constructed in the castle just for her, and I believe she was one of his favorite consorts. Talia met your father in a similar manner, while out on a stroll, and unfortunately, Cadogan hasn't allowed his ladies to leave the castle ever since."

Nissa swallowed down the bit of sweetened tea that she'd been holding in her mouth, letting tearful eyes fall. "And she died just so I could live."

"That was her wish. She knew of King Cadogan's threat, and asked me to keep an eye on you should Evander fail to shield you from him. I was the one who delivered you to him, after all."

A heavy silence fell between them, and Nissa slowly set the saucer down on the tray, exhaustion suddenly creeping through every nerve ending in her body. Dahlia seemed to sense it, and leaned forward to brush a tear away from her cheek.

"All I ask is that you forgive me, Miss. This was not something I could protect you from."

"What do you mean?" Nissa yawned, and she followed Dahlia's gaze toward the teacup that she'd placed on the ground, eyes widening as she realized. "No—"

"It'll be quick, just allow yourself to relax—"

Nissa pushed the woman's hand away as she reached for her cheek again and let out another sob just as yet another wave of darkness swept over her before she had a chance to register it in horror.

***

Another black out. Another bed.

Only this time, she was bound to it, with her arms and legs spread, and an inability to move much more than her knees.

From what she could see, this room had a similar layout to the one she originally had woken up in, but felt much more grand, with a sitting area and a fireplace just by the windows, and a theme of deep violet and black throughout.

When she pulled at the ropes binding her, Nissa let out a sharp hiss in pain as they burned through her skin, only then realizing that the weight of the gown she'd been wearing felt different than the peasant's gown she'd been in all day. Through the dim light of the fireplace, she could see that they'd put her in a silk gown of soft rose, with little more than a thin strip for sleeves, and slits lining either side, where her legs were bared in their position. The material was sheer, exposing every inch of her form, and making her heart hammer at just how exposed she felt as she saw the outline of pink nipples visible through it.

"Help..." She gasped, tugging again and crying out when the bindings burned through her flesh once more. But she barely had enough time to consider her options for escape when the door opened and a tall figure entered. Nissa moved to shield her breasts from view, only to be burned yet again, which prompted a cry of frustration.

A deep chuckle came from the man as he approached, and when he moved to sit at the edge of the bed to peer down at her, Nissa's eyes widened when she realized he'd been the same silver-haired guard that she'd ridden here with.

"You..."

"Me," he said simply, lips shifting to one side as he stood and removed his cloak, along with the armor underneath it. "I'm guessing my father wasn't satisfied."

"Your father..." She muttered, swallowing. "You're Cadogan's son...that makes you..."

"The crown prince, yes. Alongside my brother, Cassian, who you also met earlier." He shrugged nonchalantly, pulling his shirt over his head to reveal a series of rune-like markings covering his arms. Markings of a demon. "You may call me Bastien. I've never been one for formalities."

He turned then, sitting at the edge of the bed once again, golden hues staring down with a look of curiosity, rather than the lust she'd expect from a dangerous hellion. When he lifted a finger to trace along the outer edge of one sleeve, just beside her right breast, she squirmed and closed her eyes, turning her head away as a new set of tears threatened to spill.

Bastien paused then, letting out a sigh and pushing himself back up. Nissa turned just in time to see him pull a dagger from his belt, and she gasped, attempting to squirm out of his reach.

"Don't—"

"Relax, woman. I've no interest in claiming you when you're so unwilling." With two swipes of the dagger, the bindings that held her loosened and fell from her wrists and ankles, and she gasped, sitting up and rubbing the tender wounds that resulted from them.

"Dahlia should be able to help you with that," he continued, tugging the rope free from one corner. "Dragon scale rope. They must have thought you'd worm your way out of regular bindings."

Nissa's jaw set, and she sat in place a moment longer before doubling back and swinging her left arm until her fist came in contact with his jawline. That seemed to take him by surprise, though there was no pain registered in his expression. When she moved to strike him again, he caught her by the wrist and she cried out.

"I'm not who ordered your capture, so it would be best for you to take your frustrations elsewhere."

"Then be the one to get me out."

"I can't do that." Bastien released his hold on her and stood up, jerking his head toward the bedroom door. "Now, leave. The guards outside will escort you back to your room."