Harvest of Travel - Chapter 5 - A'mara Books

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Previously...

5

(Tharnday)

Hailu, X’lea – Buccaneer Casino

.
Celna couldn’t get her hands out from the magna-cuffs which glowed slightly, illuminating her dressing room in a soft purply glow. She saw Tilo, smirking as he disrobed, revealing her his eager lust. She felt the panic surging within her as she screamed for help. Surely there was someone around who could save her from this fate! “Why?” she finally asked him, still fighting him as hard as she could, but he was stronger.

“Your family have always caused mine disgrace – ever since your great grandfather had an affair with my family.”

“That’s my ancestors, but not me – not even my parents!”

“Your parents made things worse – especially that aunt of yours.”

“What’s Aunt Melia to do with anything?”

“Everything!” he sneered cruelly as he settled over her, holding her thrashing legs out of his way. Her renewed scream was silenced by his mouth covering hers, his body dominating hers as only a cruel man could.

Celna Dellan sat upright, breathing heavily and tears streaming down her cheeks. She stood on unsteady legs. In the mirror, she saw the moonlight drape across her naked body. She was alone in her room at the top of the Casino. She was surrounded in luxury with no unmet material desires, yet still she was subjected to the terrors of sleep.

She walked to the bathroom and took a sip of the nightmare water the local stella had prepared for her. She shivered, but not from cold.

“Are you okay?” Seri asked as she came out of the bathroom. Her cousin had a nightgown on, but it was so sheer she may as well not have worn anything. “I heard you scream.”

“Yeah,” Celna replied.

“Another bad dream?”

Celna nodded.

“About him?”

Celna felt the tears leak from her eyes again. “They’re getting worse. Do you think Tilo is capable of… rape? Like his father?”

“I don’t know,” Seri replied. “I guess we’d better go and train this afternoon. Maybe Julleon was right about training. We all need at least some.”

Celna nodded. “I’m going to try to get back to sleep.” She reached her door, then turned back to her cousin. “Do you think he’s right? That our family is responsible for his disgrace?”

“Even if we were, what does that have to do with us? Tilo’s father died for his actions, not for any perceived disgrace,” Seri replied. “The fact that our uncle killed him shouldn’t have anything to do with us.”

“But it’s deeper than that. It’s not just that Uncle Yuri killed Tilo’s father. It’s apparently about our great-grandfather’s affair with his great-great aunt. She’s not even his direct ancestor! If anyone should still be angry, it would be the Jarlys.”

Celna nodded again. “You are right. I wonder why this dream keeps getting worse then.”

“You could ask the stella, I think Savai is meant to be in town later.”

“That’s a good idea. I could go to her after dance practice.”

“Good night,” Seri bade. “Or maybe it’s good morning.”

“Maybe. You too.” Celna shut her door and went back to bed. She tried to settle, but it was hard. Her mind kept going, thinking about how she would be able to counter Tilo if she needed to – after she had trained to defend herself better.

The full sized windows in the dining area had been a great idea, Espera Winters realized again. Fashi Wolfkin had made sure the windows opened at the top to let out the summer heat – the only way the room would be tolerable in the hot evenings. Belmara had insisted on developing an aquaponics system of growing herbs across the windows as well. It kept the air fresh with a constant spicy scent, even in the middle of winter. It also kept the dining room feeling just a little like a jungle.

Outside, there were birds and butterflies roaming their gardens. She was grateful that her older daughters had taken to looking after the plants outside. She wondered what her youngest would want to do. She rubbed her bump, pushing at a knee or elbow that was pushing uncomfortably.

Squabbling next to her brought her attention back to the present. The four-year-old was trying to avoid his next older sister who found it difficult to sit still. “She keeps bumping me!” Perron complained.

“Stop fidgeting, Marta,” she reminded. “Do you want to try shaze practice this afternoon?”

“Do I have to?” Marta asked. “I’d much rather play with the other kids.”

“You’re getting a bit old for that group. Maybe if you promise to help out with the babies.”

“Okay,” the child replied smiling a little.

The man who sat next to her a moment later was quite attractive for being in his late 40s. Belmara had once told her that the way to remain in her #1 position was to make sure she had a #2 that could work well with her. At the time, that had been Loti Savint, renamed Tilo Winters after he’d raped his sister-in-law. Though Belmara had insisted that he’d only done so as a mission, Espera had always had significant doubt about it – especially after a second attack resulted in his brother killing him. Later, she discovered that at least one of his other brother’s sons had actually been sired by him as well – helped by a drug given to his other sister-in-law.

“You are too quiet,” Iyan said, putting his arm around her. “That usually means that you’re dwelling in the past again.”

“Easy to do, some days,” Espera replied.

“After ten years with me, five children with me… you still think of him?”

“He will always be a part of me. Part of the children we had together. For all his faults, he was my husband.”

“And for all of that, I’m glad the Curator sent me here to be your #2,” he said, kissing her neck. He rubbed her tummy, prompting their soon-to-be-born third daughter to kick at his hand.

“Vesperine seems to agree with you,” Espera said with a giggle.

“She should do. She owes her life to the Curator and his policy of encouraging families,” Iyan said.

Espera watched Tilo, named after his father, come into the dining room, carrying his favorite sausages. She knew his thoughts dwelt on the previous night, his irritation at his father, Yurit Dellan, and the young woman who had rejected him again.

“Your thoughts betray you, son,” Espera remarked. “You have far too much of your father in you.”

“It would be wise if you kept a better rein on your impulses and desires, Tilo. Your father would have lived much longer had he learned this lesson,” Iyan added.

“Celna is the only woman I’ve ever wanted,” Tilo said.

“You mean she’s the only one you’ve desired who refused you,” Iyan corrected. “Now you stalk her?”

“That is an unwise goal,” Espera reminded. “You know that family as well as I do. Your father paid with his life for his uncontrolled lust, I recommend you learn his lesson.”

“You heard Yurit last night, Tilo. Next time, it’s the police. Back off of Celna!”

Tilo scowled, as he wolfed down his sausages.

“What are your plans for the day?” Iyan asked.

“Training. Maybe even a walk. I need to improve my strength and stamina,” Tilo answered, getting up and departing hastily.

“He thinks the twin cousins are going to be at afternoon training,” Iyan said. “I guess I’d better tag along.”

“Thank you,” Espera said.

“I know he’s special to you, but we need to let him face his consequences more. He’s spoilt.”

“I know,” Espera sighed. “I’ve never had that strong hand with him. Maybe it was because he was my youngest for so long, the only thing I had left of my husband after he died. For all his faults...”

“How many will pay the price for that?” Iyan asked pointedly.

“And now it’s too late,” Espera sighed again.

Iyan nodded gloomily and left.

♥♥♥

NEXT CHAPTER

Start over with chapter 1

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Other published stories related to this story... (all available in both digital and print formats.)

Maps and Guides

Map of Almara
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Map of Balan
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Map of Kranisis

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Map of X'lea

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Map of Atrua

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Please read my note on romance, teenage intimate relationships and underage sex. I apologize if my understanding conflicts with your sense of morality, but I'm only looking at things realistically, not ideologically. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!


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Lori Svensen
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