Monday, May 23, 2011

Chapter 5: One After Another

Ina woke up the next morning and got dressed in her boy clothes. She went to the baby room and took care of them. Eric was glad that she was there. All of a sudden, the door slammed open. Devin walked in. He grabbed Ina’s left arm and shoved her into the wall. He kissed her.
“Leave us,” he said.
“Yes, My Lord,” Eric said leaving at once.
Devin let go of Ina’s arm. “Sorry,” he said. “I have bad news. Your sister is getting worse. I had the best doctors take a look at her, but they said it’s too late.” Ina began to cry. She covered her eyes with her hands and fell to her knees. Devin took her hands and kissed her. “Your brother has been sent to war. I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop him.”
“My Lord,” Eric said retuning. “It’s Miss Black. She’s..”
“Lets go,” Devin pulled Ina to her feet. They rushed to Karin’s room.
“Karin,” Ina yelled when she got inside.
“Sister?” Karin wheezed. “Is that you, Ina?”
“Yes, I’m here,” Ina said.
“I’m going to die, aren’t I?” Karin asked.
“No! Of course not!”
“You know I can’t say long. All I wanted to say was that I love you.” Ina’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t cry. I’m not afraid. I’m ready to die.”
“Don’t say that! We can save you!”
“I don’t want to be saved.”
“But Spencer needs you. I need you.”
“Tell Spencer that I love him. Oh, and Ina?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry for taking the last apple.”
Ina laughed. “It’s just one apple. We can go apple picking together and get more.”
“Ina! I told you, I’m not afraid. Just promise me that you’ll take care of yourself.”
“I will!”
“L-lord Devin? P-protect... Ina... for me!”
Rain began to fall. Memories of all the times Ina spent with Karin flashed through her mind. Some of them were sad, but several were happy. Ina remembered the apple incident and laughed.
“Karin once took my apple,” she said. “It was the only one I got. I was mad for a long time. My mother gave me another one, so I forgot about Karin taking my first one. She never apologized, until now.” Tears rolled down Ina’s face. They were falling faster than the rain.
“I promise to help you at all cost to get Spencer back,” Devin said placing his arms around Ina’s waist. She reached up and kissed him. Eric picked up Karin’s body and buried her. The stone above her grave read:
“Loving Sister, Daughter, & Lady!”
Devin placed flowers on the grave. Ina placed Karin’s favorite picture of the whole family next to the flowers. Eric did the engraving then washed the stone. The rain fell down in a fast lilt. Devin picked up Ina and brought her pack to his room. She refused to eat. The maids tried to cook her favorite foods, but she refused them all. When Devin returned in order to sleep, Ina removed her clothes. They made love to each other.
Later that knight, Ina got dressed in her boys-clothes. She grabbed some food and set off. She was going towards the battle field in order to retrieve Spencer. Devin woke up six hours later and rode after her on a horse. By the time he caught up to her, Ina was in the mist of battle.
She spotted Spencer and ran towards him. Devin was close behind. A man came at them. Devin was too quick for him. The man was killed instantly. Ina closed her eyes. All of a sudden, she felt a tug. Spencer was being pulled away from her. She opened her eyes to see an enemy plunged his sword into Spencer’s stomach. She let out a piercing cry. Devin held her back as the man kept pulling his sword out of Spencer’s stomach and pushing it back in. Ina pulled free of Devin’s grasp and grabbed his sword. She ran at the man and shoved the sword through his heart. Blood splashed on Ina’s face and clothes. She kept cutting the man.
“He’s already dead,” Devin said as he pulled Ina off of the man.
“S-Spencer,” Ina whispered.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t make it in time,” Devin said as he picked up Spencer’s body. “I’m sorry.” Eric and some others arrived with a carriage and some horses. Their side pushed back the other, as they left the scene.
Ina didn’t say a word on the way back to Devin’s. She refused to eat. She made no movement nor did she change her expression. Devin tried to force-feed her, but it didn’t work. Nothing he did made her smile. He tried to make love to her, but when she didn’t react, he left the room. Neither of them slept that night.

Chapter 4: True Feelings

Eric stopped by and gave Devin the ingredients for Karin’s medicine. He didn’t see Ina. Later that night, Devin and Ina went to Karin’s cabin. Ina was shocked to see so many guards outside of it. It was very late. When she got inside, Karin looked up.
“Ina, it’s good to see you,” she said. “Is Spencer ok?”
“He’s fine,” Ina said. “How are you?”
“As good as I can be,” Karin coughed.
“Here take this,” Ina handed over the medicine. Karin stared at it blankly. “It’s medicine. It’ll make you better.”
“Ok,” Karin coughed again. She put the cup to her mouth. “It’s salty.”
“Of course it is. It’s lemon juice mixed with salt water.”
Karin smiled. “Thanks. I feel better already.” She tried to get up, but she collapsed. She landed with a sickening thud.
“Are you ok?” Ina yelled.
“I’m fine. It happens a lot.” She sat up. “It seems I’m tired.” That was the last thing she said before falling asleep.
“Devin?” Ina said.
“Yes?” Devin answered.
“I want to ask you for one more favor.”
“What is it?” Devin asked.
“Bring my sister to your mansion and have a doctor look after her.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“It’s a request. I’m prepared to grovel at your feet.” She got on her knees. “Please I beg of you.”
“What are you willing to give up?”
“Anything!”
“Ok, then give up on your revenge and offer yourself to me.”
Ina paused before replying, “ok. Do as you wish.”
“Lets go.” Devin walked out of the room. “Move her to my mansion. Then call a doctor, the best one you can get.”
“Thank you,” Ina said. They walked back to the mansion and had dinner. Ina had a lot of wine then went to go take a bath. Devin followed her.
“You know,” he began. “You are the first woman to hate me so much.”
“I’m sure there are others,” Ina said.
“No, I can’t think of any,” Devin said. “Most woman either look up to me or fear me. But you don’t do either. Instead you loath me.”
“Yes, I do hate you,” Ina said. She started crying. “I hate you so much.” Devin pulled Ina to his chest and held her tight. He lifted her chin and kissed her. His shirt became drenched.
“I know,” Devin said. “But I just can’t stop myself from loving you.” He kissed her again. Pain shot through Ina’s heart. She pushed Devin away.
“I can’t,” she said. “I can’t love you.” She jumped into the hot bath. Devin followed her in. “Stay away from me.” Ina put up her hands in defense.
“That won’t work on me.” Devin grabbed Ina and kissed her again. This time Ina could not fight back. Noticing her disgust, Devin released Ina. She backed off into a corner.
“Please stop!”
“Why?” Devin took a step forward as Ina stepped backwards. “Why do I have to stop? You can learn to love me. I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t. My brother and sister need me.”
“I can protect them!” He took another step towards Ina.
“Stop! Stop it!”
“Let me be the one to hold you.” He took two steps this time.
“Go away!” Ina was now in the corner and could not flee.
“I won’t!” Devin reach up and caressed Ina’s cheek. “I love you!”
“Stop!”
“I love you!”
“Please stop!”
“I love you, Ina!” It was Ina, this time, who kissed Devin. She could no longer hide her feelings. The heat got to her as her body fell limp. Devin caught her and carried her to his room. Once she was on the bed, Devin ripped off her clothes. He took off his own and kissed Ina’s body.

Chapter 3: Lord Marcus

Ina sat still for a couple of minutes. Then she read the letter again five times. She got up and ran for the door. She knew what Karin had and that they would burn the cabin down so that no one else got her ominous disease. She ran to Devin’s mansion. The guards stopped her.
“Let me through,” Ina yelled.
“Now what?” Devin said.
“It’s nothing Sir, just a slave,” one soldier said.
“Who is it?” Devin said.
“Mr. Darin Walker, My Lord,” the other one said.
“Let him in,” Devin said. He was sitting on his bed when Ina got to his room.
“Don’t burn it down,” Ina yelled. “There is a cure. Please don’t kill my sister!” She fell to her knees and started to beg.
“You expect me to fund her recovery?” Devin said. “You must be dreaming.”
“I beg you,” Ina said. “Please save my sister!” She bowed.
“So now that you beg, you think that pay to save a slave’s life?”
“I’ll do anything!”
“Anything? I see.” He got off his bed and walked over to Ina. He grabbed her arm and tossed her onto the bed. “Then I guess I’ll have to take you up on your offer.”
“No, wait!” Ina tried to push Devin away.
“You said anything.”
“But.”
“You want to save your sister, don’t you?”
“You promise you’ll save her?”
“I promise.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Ina woke up in Devin’s bed. She was alone. Devin was out giving work orders. She sat up, letting the covers fall. She was naked. The door suddenly opened and Ina covered herself. It was one of Devin’s maids.
“Oh you’re up,” she said. “Lord has asked us to look after you. Is there anything you need?”
“Can I have some water?” Ina asked.
“Here you go,” the maid said giving Ina a glass of water. “I know it hurt the first time, but you’ll get use to it.”
Ina blushed. “It was necessary. Can I have some clothes?”
“What color dress would you like, Lady Ina?” The maid asked.
“Lady Ina?”
“Yes, that’s what we must call the lady of Lord Devin.”
“You can call me Ina. What is your name?”
“There is no need for you to know my name.”
“What is it?”
“My name is Chelsea, Lady Ina.” She bowed.
“Just Ina is fine. I’d like my normal wear please.”
“But you are Lord Devin’s Lady. You must wear a dress.”
“I don’t like dresses.” Ina picked up her clothes off the floor and started getting dress.
“Oh no. Lord Devin will have my head if you wear those. Please just wear a dress.” Chelsea bowed again.
Ina sighed. “I like blue.”
“Yes, My Lady.” Chelsea left the room then came back with a blue dress. “I will be your personal maid. If you have any questions just ask.” She handed Ina the dress. “Do you need any help?”
“I can dress myself, thanks.”
“Breakfast is ready downstairs, Lady Ina.” Chelsea left Ina alone.
“This dress is too luxurious. Oh well.” Ina got dress then went down stairs to the dinning room. The cook and some other maids greeted her.
“Lady Ina, you look so beautiful,” Chelsea said. “Please sit down. I’ll serve you.” She gave Ina a plate of food. Eat up, there’s plenty the cook said going back into the kitchen.
“Is there anything we can do for you, lady Ina?” Another maid said.
“You can just call me Ina,” Ina said. “Where is Devin?”
“Lord Devin is at a meeting right now,” came a man’s voice. “If you are dateless I don’t mind eating with you.” He sat across from Ina. A plate appeared in front of him as soon as he sat down. “I’m Marcus L. O'Neil. You may call me Marcus.”
“Is there anything else you need, Lord Marcus?” A young maid asked. She looked terrified. Ina noticed this.
“There is nothing I need,” Marcus said. “But there is something I want. Of course, that desire will be fulfilled later. Now then, Lady Ina I here you’re Devin’s Lady.”
“I am no such thing!” Ina said.
“You seem pretty stubborn,” Marcus said. “How’d he get you?”
“There is no need for you to know,” Ina said.
“A sweat talker too,” Marcus said. “How did it feel to have him inside of you? I bet it felt really good.”
“Shut up.”
“I bet the touch of his lips on your body felt like heaven.”
“Shut up!” Ina got up and ran through the door. She ran to Devin’s room. Marcus was close behind her.
“Did I say something wrong? Oh, I know. You want to keep your pleasure moments to yourself.”
Slap. “Shut up you bastard.”
Slam. Marcus shoved Ina into the wall. Marcus got on top of her. He took his shirt off. “Never say that again.” He kissed Ina.
“Never take what doesn’t belong to you,” Devin’s voice came from the door. “You should know better then to take what’s mine, Lord Marcus.”
“I should, shouldn’t I, Lord Devin?” Marcus said. He leaned closer to Ina.
“Get off of her Marcus,” Devin said. “Now!”
“You ruin all the fun,” Marcus said getting up. “I was just...” Devin sliced his shoulder with his sword.
“Just what?” Devin said.
“Never mind.” Marcus walked towards the door. “Oh, I’m taking your young maid. Hope she’s fun.” He left the room laughing.
“Are you ok?” Devin said.
“I’m fine,” Ina said. “Ow.”
“Bastard!”
“I’m ok. Where were you?”
“I had a meeting.”
“My sister, have you told them that she can be saved?”
“They won’t burn the cabin down.”
“But she needs medicine.”
“I don’t know what type she needs.”
“She needs salt water with lemon juice.”
“Is that all she needs? That’s pretty cheep.”
“Are you doing to buy them?”
“No, one of my men will.”
“Why not you?”
“I’m very busy. Now lets go enjoy what’s left of breakfast.”

Chapter 2: Crying Disasters

Ina once again became Darin Walker. During the day she worked in the fields. At night she trained with a stick. She listened to Devin’s advice and practice swordsmanship throughout the night. She didn’t attempt to kill Devin or hi soldiers. Nothing bad happened to her while she worked because no one was allowed to talk to each other and because she always obeyed the soldiers’ orders. At night, everyone was asleep except for the night soldiers who were ordered by Devin to just watch her.
One night she went to the river that was near by her cabin. One guard kept an eye on her as she walked into the water. She removed her clothes. It was too dark for the guard to see her body. Everyone on the plantation received some soap. No one ever asked why Ina took her baths in the dead of night. She had just finished when there was a piercing cry. She recognized it at once and ran for the long house on the other side of the field. Two guards fallowed her. She opened a door to a nursery.
“Please stop crying,” a man said. He was one of Devin’s soldiers.
“What’s going on?” Ina asked.
“This baby won’t stop crying no matter what I do,” the soldier answered.
“Let me see,” Ina said. As soon as the baby was in Ina’s arms, it stopped crying. She rocked the baby back and forth. “There now, you’re ok. Everything’s fine.”
“How did you do that?” The soldier asked.
“A baby needs love and care,” Ina said. “You need to pick them up and talk to them.”
“This one won’t stop crying either,” another man said.
“Here,” Ina said. “Just rock her back and forth like I did.” She walked over to the baby boy and did the same thing.
“What’s going on?” Devin came in. “I heard a very load shriek.”
“It was the babies, My Lord,” said the first soldier. “That boy calmed them down.” He pointed at Ina.
“I see,” Devin said. “What is your name?”
“Eric Sir,” the man said.
“Well, then Eric, I hope you learned something tonight,” Devin said walking over to Ina. “It seems you are to thank for quieting them.”
“It’s not that hard,” Ina said. “You just need to care for them. Your men aren’t trained enough for this.” She put the baby back in a wooden box.
“Leave us,” Devin said furiously. Eric put the baby down and ran out the door followed by the other soldiers.
“So you think my men need more training?” Devin said. “You have a lot of guts to belittle my army.”
“Is that all you wanted to say?” Ina said. “It seems you need help in speaking.”
Slam! Devin pushed Ina to the floor. “A girl has no right to lecture me,” he said.
“But I’m a boy to everyone else,” Ina said.
“I can fix that,” Devin said. He pulled out a small knife. “I’ll just make you more of a woman.” She cut her shirt.
“Stop,” Ina yelled.
“Why should I? You are just a simple worker. Why not just be my personal slave?” He cut her wraps and undid his shirt.
“Let me go!” Ina started kicking.
“It won’t work. I’m stronger than you.” He bent down and started kissing her body. His hands moved down her legs.
“Please stop.” Ina started crying. Devin sighed then got up.
“You should just give in. You’ll never kill me.”
“I will. I’ll kill you and your stupid army.”
“Then get stronger. Build up your hate and everything. That is the only way for you to save your brother and sister. Oh by the way.” He pulled out a piece of paper. “It carries some information you might want to know. Also clean yourself up.” He walked out of the building and closed the doors behind him. Ina opened the letter. It read:

Dear Lord Devin,
        Miss Karin Black has taken ill. We have her locked in a cabin. We ask you for permission to burn it down. She has a pestilence. We don’t know what it is, but we can’t have it spread to any of the other slaves. Please write back as soon as possible.
                                                                              Sincerely,
                                                                              Soldier #89

Chapter 1: Ina

After the war and destruction of the Black Rose and the Nasturtium Clan, Mary and Stephen started a new clan called the Orchid Clan. But problems arose when Mary took ill. She died of a disease, which also took Stephen and their only son, David. Elizabeth Rose II raised their daughter. She soon gave birth to Ina, Karin, and Spencer. But they didn’t live happily ever after. Remnants of the Black Rose took over the Orchid Clan and several other lands. Devin Mathews led them. He was a man who showed no mercy. He separated families and put everyone to work. If you did not obey his every order, you would be killed. There were never any second chances.
Elizabeth Rose II was killed protecting Ina, Karin, and Spencer. Karin, who was only nine, was taken away to work at the hemming district. Ina could not stop them from taking her, so she instead dressed as a guy and was taken to the male-main section. Here they divided the men up into different groups. One was a training group. This was were they tried to take Spencer to.
“Let him go,” Ina said pulling on a soldier’s arm. “We must stay together.”
“Insolent fool,” the soldier said pushing Ina to the side. “You dare disobey?”
“He needs me,” Ina said. “Let him go!” She charged at him. The man was faster. He pushed her in the stomach.
As she hit the ground, a voice said, “what is going on?” A tall man wearing black clothes and a hooded, black cap stood firm in front of everyone. The soldiers bowed.
“My lord, this boy dares raise a hand against us,” the soldier said bowing. “He tried to run away with his brother.”
“That’s not true,” Ina coughed.
“I see,” the man said stepping forward. He unsheathed his sword.
“Please don’t,” Spencer said. “It was that man’s fault.” He pointed to the soldier. “He...”
“Spencer, be quiet!” Ina yelled.
“Smart kid, trying to save his brother,” the man said. “Now then, your punishment.” The sword glinted in the sunlight.
“Yes, Lord Devin,” the soldier said. “Show him whose boss.”
“I am,” Devin said as he decapitated the soldier. Everyone stood still for a minute. Then he walked over to Ina sheathing his sword. “Name!”
“Darin Walker,” Ina said. “My name is Darin Walker and my brother is Spencer Walker.”
“You are to come with me,” Devin said. “Send the boy to the training barracks.” Two other soldiers carried Spencer off as Devin led Ina to a cabin. “Remove your clothes,” he said sitting on a haystack.
“And if I refuse?” Ina said.
“Then I shall take them off for you,” Devin said.
“Fine,” Ina said removing her clothes. She stopped when she reached her under dress.
“Take that off too. Every last piece of cloth.” Ina stood frozen. Devin got up and threw Ina to the wall. He ripped her remaining clothes off. She shuttered and covered herself. “I can’t believe my men couldn’t tell that you were a woman,” Devin said. “Why hide the fact?”
“To protect my brother,” Ina said.
“That is just so foolish,” Devin laughed. “To protect your brother? What load of crap is that?”
“I will protect him,” Ina yelled. “And I’ll get my sister back too.”
“Really? And how are you going to do that? My men won’t even let you get close to them.”
“I’ll kill them. I won’t let anyone stand in my way.”
Slam! “You think my men are weak? You’re just a woman. You’re not strong enough.”
“I’m strong enough to beat you.” At this Devin smiled and grabbed Ina’s arm. He threw her on the hay and pinned her down.
“You think you’re stronger than I am? Then push me off.” He started kissing her body. She started kicking and screaming, “let me go!” Her cries got to him as he released her. “What is your name? And I mean your real name.”
“I’m Ina. Ina Black.”
“From now on Ina, you will hide the fact you’re a girl from everyone but me. You will work in the fields and grow stronger. When you are stronger than I am, come kill me.”
“Why are you letting me live?”
“It will be fun to watch your journey towards revenge.” He tossed a knife at Ina. “Use that to protect you.” He walked over to her under dress and ripped it into long strips. Then he grabbed her other clothes and gave them to her. “Wrap the strips around your top. It will hide the fact you’re a girl better.” He walked to the door. “Oh, one more thing. I might kill you the next time you raise a blade to my throat.”