Fae Nuptials: The Witch

Chrys: Chapter Seven

Chrys

I always wanted to travel. I dreamed of the day I would get to leave the Canyon behind on a trip with a new husband.

I wanted to laugh at myself the entire time as we left the Canyon, boarded a plane, and flew to what should be paradise. It was crazy, but the irony of it all was making me feel hysterical.

People looked at me the entire time as we boarded and flew. It made me feel self-conscious. I wasn't sure if they were looking at me because they could see the horrible stain of abuse stamped on me in the form of bites or because I looked different than everyone else.

I had different colored skin. I had silver hair and silver eyes. No other human than I saw looked like me. I was different and people were making it known. Eyes followed me and even know I was covered from head to toe, I felt like they knew. Did I look like a woman who was abused?

Probably not. Jacob was holding my hand with a smile on his face, telling anyone who would listen that we were newlyweds on our way to our honeymoon.

All I could think as I faked a smile at all of the congratulations was that I was trapped. That no one would believe me if I told them that I was a prisoner.

And the thing was, I was expecting the abuse to continue. I expected him to treat me like scum the way he had the night before. But since morning, he acted the way he did at the wedding. His eyes sparkled with mirth and he caressed my face now and then while we waited in lines and stuff like that. It didn't feel like he was putting on a show either. It was eery.

It made me wonder if maybe I had imagined the nightmare of last night. But I knew I didn't because I ached everywhere. My bites stung and my nether region felt like it had been beaten to a pulp. I was even still bleeding from what had taken place.

I didn't like thinking of the word. I had heard of r*pes happening in the Canyon. The perpetrators would either be imprisoned or banished with magicuffs. It all depended on whether the woman was married or not or killed. I just never thought it would happen to me.

"Come on, Little Flower. They called us." Jacob takes my hand and plants a soft kiss on my forehead as we go to board our plane.

Once on the plane, he offered me a window seat so I could see out of the window and when we departed, I started to cry. Not like full-out sobbing, but enough for Jacob to see and wipe them away. The thing was that everything I had dreamed of was happening but just in a f*cked-up way. I was leaving the Canyon. Jacob talked about his home in the Arizona desert and how much I would love it there, although I doubted it greatly. But I felt no joy in doing all of this now. I felt broken in a way I had never felt before.

Not only did he force me to have s*x with him, but he also took my magic. I felt the abyss where my magic usually lay. I felt the emptiness it brought in my soul when I willed water or fire or anything to come out of my hands. I wished that time would reverse and I could figure out a way to not have gone through any of the horrors I've endured in the past twenty-four hours.

And now I was going somewhere far away from home with a man I was sure could kill me. What I wasn't sure about was why. I knew he had a contract. But why did it involve me? Why was I here? Why was I chosen?

I wasn't the best. I wasn't the prettiest. I had no real idea why he even agreed to marry a stranger. Witches had choices of anyone else in the world. They were born with magic, but they could also teach magic to others. Why a Fae woman?

I looked out of my window for most of my flight. It was strange to be away from home. I thought I would be happier.

I slept the rest of the way. I was on a flight full of people. He couldn't hurt me. At least that's what I convinced myself when I leaned my head against the window and glanced at my husband. He was reading a book, looking like a normal person.

When we landed, he took me to a lavish resort. The air smelled like salt and the sun was warm against my skin. People wore skirts of grass and handed out necklaces made of flowers.

It was strange and beautiful. There were palm trees, bushes, and flowers that sparked my interest. I wanted to grow them myself. I wanted to feel the rough textures of their leaves and smell their different scents.

I was in awe of this world that I'd never seen. I couldn't stop staring around at everything. And Jacob watched me. We checked in and were taken to the honeymoon suite.

On our way up, my stomach began to ache. Memories floated through my mind of the night before and my breaths began to get harder. My palms were sweating and I felt faint.

But when we got to our room, Jacob set our bags down tipped the bell boy, and grinned at me, opening his arms wide.

"What do you think, Little Flower? It's great, isn't it?"

I press my lips together and nod tentatively. I watch his eyes but they remain light. Nothing scary. At least not yet. But I still don't trust it.

"Well, wife, where to first? We can nap or I can see what we can do around the island. Do you like pork? I think I heard there was going to be a Luau later."

He seemed excited and I couldn't understand. What game was he playing with me? He must know that I wanted nothing to do with him. How could he not?

He was acting as if last night didn't happen. He was acting as if I didn't try to burn his face off just this morning. I pressed my lips together and felt the soreness all over my body.

"We can't go to the spa. I have marks all over my body."

He frowns and walks over to me. I flinched from him as he reached for me and his frown deepened. But he continued anyway and slowly began undressing me. I shook hard and felt a sob build up in my throat.

But when he saw the bite marks on my shoulders and the bruise marks his fingers left on my wrists and hips.

"I can hide them. No worries. Beach? I packed you a sexy little bikini. Or not me, but the Fae that gave you to me. Or is the spa something you wanted to look into?"

I grit my teeth as I slowly pull my clothes back on. I'm confused. So confused. I shake my head slowly, feeling a tear track down my cheek. His smile falls as he studies my face and then swipes a thumb over my cheek.

"You're tired. Get some sleep and I'll find us some food to eat for after." I grit my teeth and swipe his hand away.

"Stop. I don't know what game you're playing but stop it. Tell me. Tell me what it is that you need from me. Tell me what is in your contract so we can finish it."

He raises his eyebrows and a shadow passes over his face. Fear strikes me deep in my chest and I instantly regret opening my mouth. Fae women don't question their men. Fae women obey, serve, and give their men children. That's all we are made for.

But the shadow passes and he smiles. "Wife, you will find out in time. In the meantime, enjoy the good times as they come. You never know when it will be your last."

With that, he turns around and leaves the room. My heart thunders so loudly I can feel the pulse in my ears. The threat is plain as day and I feel my hands begin to shake. I don't know what to do or say.

I turn in the room and start looking for anything to use as a weapon. My eyes dart across the room, panic rearing its ugly head in my body until I see the phone.

I exhale loudly and run to it, practically crying at the handheld device as I begin punching in one of the only numbers I know by heart.

I hold the earpiece to my ear and wait as the dial tone rings in my ear.

I needed to get out and the person on the other end would be the one to do it.

"Hello, this is Skylar Weirwood speaking."

I let out a shaky breath. "Daddy?"

There's a sharp inhale on his side but I don't wait for him to address me. "Daddy, I need your help. I...they took me! They took me and gave me to a witch. He's a bad man!"

I cringed at how hysterical I sounded even to my ears but held the phone tightly to my ear. "I-I am currently in a hotel in Hawaii. In Oahu. He's just now left me alone. He hurts me. He...please Daddy. Come get me. Take me home."

A soft chuckle comes through the line. "Chrysanthemum, you...Are you supposed to be calling anyone? I'm sure your husband wouldn't like it if he knew what you were doing."

I bite my lip. Of course, I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but I still had to try.

"No. But...they forced me to marry him, Daddy. He's a horrible person. I want to go home. I-I promise I will do everything I'm supposed to and whatever you need, Daddy. Just please, come for me."

He laughs outright, a sound I have never in my life heard him make. "You're delusional, Chrysanthemum. Do you think that I would go save you after I was the one who sold you? You're a married woman now, girl. You belong to him. I have no say in what that man does or doesn't do. We don't need you anymore, Chrysanthemum. You are doing the Fae realms a service by participating in this experiment they are conducting. If you so much as put your foot out of line and embarrass the Weirwood name... Well, you know what will happen to you. You're better off with him. Don't call me again."

My jaw drops as the line goes dead and I slowly put the phone back in its cradle. I take a shaky breath and sit on the edge of the cushy mattress. His words play in my mind as I wipe my face. Sold. Experiment. Embarrass.

I don't know what came over me but I began laughing. It started small but before I knew it, I was clutching my sides, laughing hard with tears streaming down my face.

When I was through, my husband looked down at me with a perked eyebrow and it sobered me up fast.

He places an unopened water bottle next to me and then a couple of pills. "You're tired. Take these and when you wake up we can go out. And the next time you use the phone without asking me...let's just say I won't be so lenient."

I take a deep breath and nod slowly. There was no way out. Not without my magic and not without anyone around to help me. Maybe it would be easier if I just did what he wanted. It wouldn't be much of a change from what I was used to. Just a different man to tell me what to do and when to do it.

So I took the water and the pills, then let him tuck me into the bed, wondering if this was how my mother felt before she decided she didn't want to be around anymore. If so, I understand it now.