Ultima, Octavia Of The Black Moon

Chapter Four- Heart Break

The brown Wolf's fur is patched in some areas and it looks wounded. I almost feel sorry for it before hysteria sets in to the six hundred guests that have attended. People begin running away in all directions but mostly they are trying to get to the castle. Mother grabs Tessa's hand pulling her away from the alter and the dangerous beast.

The huge Wolf ignores Riley going straight for Garrett. Riley snaps at the beast and manages to latch to its hind quarters before being pulled off by the Wolfs teeth. The beast showed him no mercy as it bit down, crunching on Riley's spine. The sound of his bones breaking and flesh being ripped from him as he was thrust out of the Wolfs jaws, sent my body into action.

I didn't know what I was going to do but that Wolf was going to suffer for killing my Riley! I ran forward lifting up my dress to move quickly toward Garrett who had begun to fight the Wolf with a sword someone had tossed to him. Flash backs rushed through me of my Papa's death.

The blade impales the Wolf through its stomach, it just as swiftly throws itself at Garrett with a wide open mouth. Its exposed fangs shredded through his neck with ease, biting Garrett's head from his body before the rest of the men finished stabbing the Wolf to death.

I don't remember when I stopped breathing only that I started breathing once I felt those eyes on me. I glanced to my far left to see Lord Eso still seated watching everything, unphased, with no emotion. His eyes fixated on me. I ran to my Lord Garrett's body but Father ran up and stopped me with his embrace.

“He's gone Octavia, He's gone”

He turned me toward the castle and had his body guards escort me. I turned to look at my beloved but was caught off guard to see Lord Eso approaching my father and the other men surrounding the chaos. Mother ran out and grabbed my shoulders looking me over.

“Octavia, Octavia I'm so sorry my sweet sweet girl. This is just horrible. Come lets all go calm ourselves with some tea.”

My voice was but a whisper “Tea won't help me this time mother. My heart is broke and this pain I feel, I fear will kill me by nights end”

I stared off blankly as the words escaped my lips. Her eyes widened with worry bringing her closer to me. Holding me as we walked together to a room filled with the guests. Their shushes and murmurs all muffled together with their words and questions. I didn't want to hear any of them or to be standing here before them in this dress.

Moments ago I felt like the most beautiful creature in the all of creation and now I feel like the demon Despair himself wrecking everyone else's emotions and thoughts. I just want it to end, I want the pain to stop, I want to be back in his embrace, to see him laugh one more time at my quick wit and how I wish I had never turned away at his kisses and just once had felt his lips upon mine. Even in with his death that was taken from me. I will never love again. Ever. How could I when I don't even want to live anymore.

“Darling just take a few small sips, Nanny made you this special. Its a root blend to help sooth your broken heart. She says you will enjoy the taste. She put cinnamon and apple cider in there to make it taste good.”

I took my sips mindlessly as the rest of the men entered the front doors and greeted each other with hopeful expressions. Father and Mother whispered before leaving but Tessa came to hold me tight by my waist. I could feel her fear wash over me snapping me out of the darkness I was being sucked into. Tessa needs me to be ok. Tessa was likely reliving moments of when we lost our family, she's suppressed it this whole time growing up but I haven't seen that look on her face since we waited silently in those bushes all those years ago.

I wrap my arms around her returning the comforting embrace but I don't feel anything right now. My mind is numbing all this pain now and I am grateful. This means my body isn't giving up, just my mind is but now that I am holding Tessa, my mind wont let me give in to Despair.

“It's all going to be ok Tess. I love you”

“I didn't see what all happened this time, I lost sight of you, I wont ever do that again. I promise” She squeezed harder burring her face in me to hide the tears welling up. Tessa is always so poised like a lady should be, she never shows these sides of herself aside from me and Mother.

“Come with me” Mother was standing beside me though I hadn't noticed when she got there.

“Where to?” Tessa questioned looking to see her face, I noticed it too, she was distraught.

“To your Fathers study” she solemnly replied.

Instead of waiting to answer any more of our questions, she walks towards the staircase and we follow her up to our Fathers study. We have only very rarely been in, as it is for business only. We enter to see father standing with several men. Some I know, some I don't but the one that stands out is Lord Eso. His gaze is intense causing Tessa to hold my hand but he does not phase me.

“Octavia my daughter, I know tragedy has struck but it is to be amended in some small way for you. I know you had feelings for Lord Garrett but Lord Eso has graciously offered still to wed you himself”

My head turns to Lord Eso with my angry eyes “No.” I state.

His stance hardens and I can tell he is not pleased with my answer but I don't care. Father keeps his eyes on me, “My hands are tied little fawn. You will be married to Lord Eso.”

“I haven't even mourned the loss of my Riley or my beloved and he expects me to accept his purposal?!”

“No...” I hear his deep purring voice state to me. I slowly look to him locking my eyes with his deep blue ones, “...I expect you to marry me now”

Anger rises in me but words fail me, "What is going on here?"

I look to Mother for help “Darling, Lord Eso is... very persuasive with more power than we have.... He is very insistent...,” she spits her words at him as if they were poison, “...that you must wed today, or else...” she looks sad and drops her head

“or else what?” I ask the room before turning to Lord Eso to hear it for myself. He is still staring at me, his eyes flickering up and down at me in this dress. Me looking ravishingly beautiful for my rightful husband, not him. His eyes meet mine again before he answers me.

“or else I will cease any and all trades with your father and his allies. Among other things”

“We will make more allies and trade with others” I snapped at him.

My father went to speak up but Lord Eso's hand was brought up in a way to gesture him to be silent. “I have more powerful allies than your father. They will agree in no longer trading or exporting your goods and as your father has no fleet, your estate will decrease in capitol until it dies off.”

“Then we will put forth our efforts in building our own fleets, ending the need to use yours.”

“Make your own fleets." He chuckles. "It would strengthen your seas defenses, I encourage this. But don't forget who knows how to navigate those waters and deliver on shipping deals. Who's family is scattered with the trading posts in the island chains. And I certainly wouldn't want my family or allies to feel I have been slighted in any way, having Lord Harth refuse my purposal to his oldest daughter,” he grinned manically “that could start a war. Or worse, if boarders are breeched by the vampires again who will aide your fathers estate this time?” he added threateningly.

I fixated my stare into his. I was furious. I could tell he knew it, and he was enjoying this. I hated him for doing this to me. Why!? Why!? “Why?” I yelled

“Why what?” Lord Eso responded

“Why do you insist on marrying me!” I demanded

His grin widened and with that possessive tone he keeps using, states simply, “Because. You are MINE”

“I am not yours! I am LORD GARRETTS!”

His grin left swiftly and his eyes blackened, “Lord Garrett wasn't worthy, he couldn't even fight off a wounded Wolf. You are MINE now! So I want no more talk of the Lord Garrett ever again.” His voice deepened into a low growl like sound. It was eerie and frightening.

I heard Tessa's small whimper behind me just as my Father spoke up, “Dear sweet Octavia I am sorry to break my promise to you and your Mother. It pains me so but he is a good man, a well made man, you will find happiness in this new life with him I promise.”

His words were like daggers, betraying our bond and tainting our ties. He is not to blame though, this monster is. Threatening my family with war just so I marry him. And why me? Cause he says I am his? What kind of answer is that? I am not property, you can't own me and now what will happen to Tess? What happens when some other man pushes Father into a marriage for her? Will he resist? Or hold his head telling her the same sorry's he is telling me?

His deep voice fills the room again “Lets hurry ourselves, I plan to be leaving here shortly.”

My eyes shoot him a shocked look “Fine, I will marry you now but I have some conditions”

His chuckle at my words caused a delightful flutter in me that turned sour. “Lets here your demands My Lady Octavia”

“First do you give your word to honor them?” I reply coolly raising an eye brow to him

With out hesitation he answered, “I Lord Eso Diatrox vow to honor the matrimonial requests of my Bride, Lady Octavia Harth, As we agree upon them. If my vow to her is not honored I shall end my life. Satisfied?” He raises an eyebrow to me attempting playfulness

I nod before I reply “My sister is to come with me under the circumstances she is treated equal to me and under NO circumstances is she to marry or be with any man whom she does not choose.”

Mother gasped “No! Octavia No let her stay here..”

Eso now raised a hand to her which she quickly respected but with shaky hands raised to her lips and tears dropping from her cheeks. I know this is hard for her, but I know given time she will understand and be grateful.

Lord Eso studies me “and this will make you happy?”

“Greatly” I quickly reply

“I will honor your request with only one revision. She will not be treated as your equal as she is not equal to me, but she will be treated as an extension of you. I will not force her to marry any Man. Can you agree to these revisions?”

“Yes Lord Eso”

My eyes look from him to my Father and the other men standing around who have decided my fate in this mauve colored office. One man moves from the back of the room towards us, the minister. Ready with the set of rings my mother had hand crafted for Garrett and myself. This is the first I have gotten to see them. They are very lovely, mine looking delicate, braided silver vines with small jeweled flowers around it. His was to be thicker, tree branches stretched across each other with leaves and no dainty jewels as Garrett didn't care much for them. They were perfect, mother really made sure every detail of my day was perfect, it just didn't go as planned. I laughed to myself.

The minister said words and I repeated my part, when Lord Eso went to slide the ring on my finger he dropped it shocked, “Not gold?” he questioned me

“I don't like gold, mother had them made with silver instead”

“We will skip the rings for now until I have our own set made” He stated.

I looked around to see if anyone would protest but no one budged. Instead the part came where we were to kiss and I wasn't paying attention. I was still staring at everyone when he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in for a deep kiss that I tried to push away from but he was way too strong. He kissed me. My first kiss was with this cruel older man. His lips on mine reminded me of the crucial point, I was his now. To do as he pleased. Those thoughts were causing me to shake in fear.

What would happen tonight was all I could think about as Tess and I were escorted to the steam powered cars awaiting guests to transport. I tried to go in the same one as Tessa was in but I was ushered to go into a separate all white one. Moments later Lord Eso climbed in, grabbing me by the waist and sliding me up against him, resting his other hand on my lap.

“Don't be afraid my little apple bud. I will not hurt you, you are MINE now”

He put his face to my head and breathed me in deep. I felt uncomfortable and invaded. I wanted him to stop but I know it will be useless. My shudder causes him to pull away, “You will see my pet, your place is with me.”