Blood & Ivy

Fall of an Officer

 Josephine woke up screaming. She sat up in an unfamiliar bed, in a dark room, and to her upmost horror, only her chemise. She grabbed the large comforter and wrapped it securely around her and raced her eyes around the room, until finally they landed on green ones. “Wh-where am I? A-a-and what happened to my dress?” she choked out. Her voice was raspy from the pressure of Johnathan's hand on her throat and the muffled screaming. She was sure there would be a bruising. As her hand went to her throat, the  mysterious gentleman from the bar spoke, “I brought you to my suite after I removed that sadistic bastard from you. I intended that you'd feel safer here upon your awakening until the authorities arrived. I'm sorry to have you so scantily dressed; but that corset of yours was making it harder for you to breathe once more and by necessity I ripped the dress in the process.”

 His voice was as smooth as silk, a deep vibrato containing a slight accent, which brought indescribable goosebumps across Josephine's skin. She swallowed hard, the pain from the pressure and realization of what happened brought tears to her eyes, “Th-thank you, for s-saving me. I'm so embarrassed..” She whispered out, and tried to put the emotions behind that mask, but her body hurt and they had been broken down so easily during Johnathan's assault. Her savior sat up in the light of the candles from the chair beside the desk, his expression unreadable. But Josephine's heart jumped; not only were his eyes the most beautiful and mesmerizing orbs she'd ever seen, he was also just as beautiful and mesmerizing. His strong, square jaw beneath short, cleanly-kempt facial hair caught the dancing shadows of the flames, skin pale even within the dim light beside him, allowing his eyes to shine in contrast. His sharp eyebrows rest just below curly black hair, messy from the evening's activities. Josephine was awestruck, and couldn't remove her eyes from him. She silently begged for him to come close to her, for her to feel his hand on her body. She flushed with the suddenness of her thoughts. She thought she saw just a ghost of a smirk on the stranger's face like he could hear what she thought, before he got up and strode over to her. Her heart quickened and her breathing became shallower with each of his steps. He knelt beside her, reached out to touch her jaw but Josephine flinched at the movement.

“I'm sorry, darling. Please, do not be embarrassed nor afraid of me. You cannot control the actions of an animal, and that disgusting excuse of a man is exactly an animal. He abused his status of officer, and your trust as your escort. I am sorry you had to experience such an event. I am just glad I happened to be returning to my room and was able to rescue you before it went further ,” he spoke eloquently,  that hint of an accent danced his words. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, which caused Josephine's heart to skip just slightly. He spoke again, “How rude of me. My name is Keeran Murphy,” his hand held outstretched for her to place hers in once she was ready. She smiled meekly and placed her hand in his, “I'm Josephine McCallum.” She whispered as her hand was brought to his lips, the slight contact to his soft, full lips caused her heart to beat like hummingbird wings. She readjusted the blanket, her see-through chemise clothed breasts uncovered from the blanket by her movement. Keeran smiled fully, his straight white teeth showed for the first time,  “May I please check your neck, Miss Josephine? You have a fair amount of bruising, so I need to confirm if there requires medical attention.” She hesitated, before she nodded her head. She tensed slightly once his fingers lightly grabbed her jaw, but his fingertips were so feather light and caused enjoyable tingles down her spine, she relaxed as he turned her head side to side. His jaw tightened, anger flashed within his jade green eyes, before a small smile crossed his lips. “I am so sorry you had to experience this disgusting act, Miss Josephine. The fairer s*x should never be harmed by those who were created to protect them. Is there someone else I can contact? You were travelling, hence you have someone waiting on you, yes?” Josephine sighed, “Well, yes. There is someone I'm being forced to marry waiting on me, but I don't wish to go. I was hoping to make an escape from both that vagrant and the old bastard I'm being sold off to, like I'm just a sow needing to be bred. I've been a prisoner of circumstance, raised to be something that benefits another regardless of my desires. I can't live like that. I refuse to live like that anymore.” Her tears fell, her head dropped, her auburn curls covered her face. She hated to show emotions like this, but she couldn't hold it in anymore. Johnathan violated her, showed her how weak she truly was, how little control she had over the things that happened to her. Had Keeran not happened upon them, she would have been ruined for any man who she eventually chose to spend her life with. She had been so close to losing what little bit of herself she was able to control after her miserable life, she couldn't hold the tears back. She pulled her knees up to her chest, and turned her back on Keeran. “I'm so sorry Mr. Murphy, you shouldn't have to see me like this...” She sobbed out. Keeran stiffened beside her. She knew her display of emotions were a disappointment, but she couldn't stop it. She suddenly felt a hand on her hair, as it pushed the long curls away from her back. She froze, tears slowly slid down her cheeks. “Josephine.... What happened? What are these?” Josephine couldn't react. She was so foolish to forget those damn scars, reminders to keep her mouth closed and emotions in check. She turned, so she looked into those beautiful jade orbs that burned with anger. She knew she couldn't get out of this. She brushed her tears from her cheeks, placed her hand on top of Keeran's soft, cold one. “Those are from a 'lesson' in learning to keep my mouth shut, and then keeping my emotions in check when I started crying after the first whip struck me. I was 13. My... Mistress who raised me is cruel, and uncaring. The bastard who forced himself upon me, is her son...” she whispered out. She looked down at their hands entwined, unaware she had both of her small hands resting inside his large ones until that moment. “That's barbaric. I thought society left whipping back in the Renaissance,” he sneered. A sarcastic chuckle escaped her lips, “You obviously don't spend much time in the Southern colonies here. Slaves and servants are still whipped daily. Children and teenagers are too, just not usually with a leather whip and they are afforded the privilege of leaving their clothes still on...” She whipped you, naked?” Keeran asked appalled. “As the day I was born, in front of every slave and servant on her property, including her son and husband when he was still living as that foul man found an unnatural s****l pleasure in the young girls, especially while they were in pain,” Josephine cried. “She made me sleep in the root cellar for 4 days afterwards, to 'be sure I didn't get an infection' since it was so cold down there, and so I 'wouldn't burden her or her staff to care for me after a deserved punishment.' One of the servants, Henrietta, cleaned my wounds and brought me blankets behind Mistress's back that first night. She never came back after she promised she would. I found out once I returned to my room that Johnathan caught her returning and r***d her for helping me...” More tears fell. She had never told anyone about the nightmares that happened within that shiny mansion behind those oak doors. Keeran looked disgusted, ready to explode with anger. Josephine braced herself for the inevitable outburst, but what happened instead were a pair of strong arms that wrapped around her waist, and pulled her into an embrace. She stiffened; unsure as to react as she'd forgotten what a hug felt like. Keeran's arms felt so soothing and cool against her, he smelled of smoke and fresh rain, like a campfire extinguished in a sudden spring shower. She leaned into him, and cried more. There was a harsh knock on the door, which make Josephine jump and Keeran's arms to tighten around her protectively. “Mr. Murphy, the officers you requested are here!” the barman grunted from the other side of the door. Keeran turned, “Josephine, please stay here. I will deal with all of this. Once I return I can escort you to your room. Please, rest.” Keeran's voice was soft, but firm. He looked into her dark, emerald green eyes with his bright jade green ones, and understanding reflected in them. She nodded slightly and wiped the tears from her cheeks before she retreated under the covers again. She blushed; she realized she was still scantily dressed in only her thin chemise and had been so close to Keeran. The pain returned to her body as Keeran walked out, and his enticing eyes no longer there to distract her. The silence enveloped her, and allowed her thoughts to race. Johnathan's murderous, blue eyes pushed to the forefront of her thoughts, then her breathing caught and her heart raced. The room spun, her skin flushed and blood ran cold, she gripped the bed as she tried to take just one, soothing breath in. Her tears she held back tried to come out all at once, and began to suffocate her. Her dizziness increased and she fell from the bed, into a heap on the Burmese rug that rested at the side of the bowl. There were dots in her vision and blood rushed through her ears, Josephine didn't even hear the door open. “Josephine! Josephine! Breathe. Shhhh, it's alright.” Cold hands were laid on her fiery skin, and brilliant green eyes came into her view. His voice was low and deep, soothing the high pitched pumping of her heart. Josephine focused on his eyes, then his face, willing them to stay still against the blur of the room. She finally managed to take in a few breaths and tried to sit up, her chemise stuck against her. She cried, the tears released. The tears from years of loneliness and abuse, from hating Mistress Mary and her vile son, from the violation Johnathan felt entitled to, and the anger that even once she was released from Mistress Mary's prison, the Baker family managed to seek control and ruin her life. Keeran never once moved; his large, cool hands soothed her back. After what felt like hours, Josephine's tears ceased. Her vision returned and her skin cooled. She sniffed and sat up to look at Keeran's serene face. He held empathy, without judgment or disgust at her blatant show of emotion. She met his eyes, and smiled meekly at him. “I'm sorry. I-I don't really lose control like that..” she whispered out. Keeran chuckled quietly, “Don't apologize for being human, Josephine. What happened today, was disgusting. I'm surprised you kept your emotions in as long as you did. Tears were created for release; they aren't a weakness, they're a cleansing. Cleansing your soul of the grief and emotions your heart can't handle at once.” His response had her staring at the man before her incredulously. He told her the exact opposite of what she'd been raised to believe; that emotions made you weak, and viewed as mentally unstable. She blushed, and sat up straighter on the beautiful Burmese rug beneath her. She noticed her chemise was now wet, and even more see through than it was dry. She noticed Keeran's eyes run down her body, each movement took in more of her curves. She crossed her arms across her chest, and grabbed for the sheet from the bed to wrap herself while the blush returned to her cheeks. Keeran had a smirk on his face, as he enjoyed the see-through garment Josephine wore, but knew better than to do or say anything to the lady in front of him. “Mr. Murphy, do-do you think I could have my belongings? I-I have clean clothes I wish to change into, something that would be more appropriate in present company,” she said, unable to hide her blushed cheeks. Keeran simply smiled a flirtatious smile, and nodded before leaving the room. Josephine wrapped herself within the sheet more, thankful for the thick cotton material. Within minutes, Keeran arrived with her travel bags, “Miss McCallum, I will be just down the hall speaking with barman. Johnathan has been arrested and we are going to speak with the coachman you both traveled with. I will return once you're more, appropriate,” he smirked. Josephine nodded, and the Keeran stepped out. She searched through her bags for a clean chemise and dress, forgoing the corset she had grown accustomed to wearing around Mistress Mary. The dress was with rounded, short sleeves in a dark purple from when she accidentally spilled wine all over the white skirt, and she fell so immediately in love with the color, she was able to clandestinely get 3 bottles up to her room where she proceeded to cover the gown in the liquid within her washing basin and hung it outside to dry on the clothes line. It's been a favorite since then; her slight rebellion from Mistress Mary and her own ingenious at getting a colored dress she wanted made the clothing significant in her eyes. Once dressed comfortably, she opened the window to look out at her surroundings. The sun was finally setting behind the horizon, the dark indigo sky coming down behind the last streaks of pink and orange light. The tall, green trees were lush with summer, cicadas sung their songs from behind the leaves. The wind was light, and the air was warm. She hummed contentedly, the heaviness from the day's events lightened with her long release of emotion. Perhaps Keeran was right; humans are meant to convey emotions, not shove them down inside. She continued humming softly, when the door to the room opened again, and soft footsteps came closer to her. “It's beautiful,” the deep voice uttered. “Mmhmm, it is. Summer is my favorite,” Josephine whispered back. She felt a tall presence behind her, which grabbed a few of her curls to inspect. “I meant you, Miss Josephine.” Josephine turned around and looked up into Keeran's face. His gorgeous face held a softness in it, one of which Josephine had never experienced. He held her long curls between his fingers, his bright, jade green eyes looked into Josephine's emerald green ones. “You are beautiful, Josephine. Forgive me for being so brazen, but I felt you needed to be told. Your hair is beautiful down, the curls seem to glow in the sunset light. Those green eyes of yours remind me of emeralds, bright and precious stones, even with the iciness to them to hide your desires, but when they flash through, sets them alive. You, are a masterpiece,” he said as released his fingers from her hair and down to her petite hand, before he brought it up to his lips. The tingles she got from his lips on her knuckles were like miniature lightning bolts sparking across her skin. Her heart beat faster as his lips maintained contact longer than was usual, his eyes seared into hers. She felt her cheeks turn red with bashfulness, as no man had ever told her she was beautiful, let alone the way Keeran had said it. His lips separated from her knuckles, a crooked grin on his face. “I shall take my leave, Miss Josephine. My room is directly across from yours now, should you need any assistance throughout the night. Good evening, and pleasant dreams,” Keeran cooed as he bowed, before turning on his heel and exited the room. The darkness overtook her, as did the cold from Keeran's absence. Josephine crossed the room to light the candles, unable to even desire sleep at the moment. Candlelight flickered across her button nose, green eyes appeared black in the dim light. She looked out the window again, a full moon had risen. It called to her, just as it always does. To go seek the moon light in the forest around her, to dance beneath it. She pushed the desire away, just as she had done every full moon since she was 10. She took the one chance to dance beneath the full moon at 10 years old, only to be caught by Mr. Baker who locked her in her room for 3 days without food. As Josephine's mind wandered, eyes focused on the moon, she didn't notice the time pass. After several hours, the moon higher in it's position and her mind still wandered, Josephine didn't hear the door to her room creak open. There were no sounds with the impact of the feet against the floor, until hands grabbed Josephine's shoulders. She screamed a blood curdled scream, and the hands spun her. A hand came out of the shadows to cover her mouth, as she screamed louder. She blinked a few times, before she saw piercing green eyes that started directly into her soul. Josephine stopped screaming, the hand removed itself from her face. “Josephine, it's just me. I'm sorry I disturbed you,” Keeran whispered. “Are you crazy?! You terrified me, not disturbed me!” she harshly whispered back, as her hand rested over her breast, the gesture trying to calm her racing heart. Keeran's mouth turned up slightly at the corners, the shadows danced across his skin and made him look so dangerous in that second, Josephine shivered. “I couldn't sleep, just wanted to see if you were okay. I also had a thought that I wanted to share with you,” he whispered again. “You're forgiven. I'm alright. What are you thinking, Mr. Murphy?” “You travel with me. The coachman you arrived with has been sent back to the hell you came from, with the news of that bastard's arrest to deliver to Mistress Baker. I refuse to allow you to travel alone, especially to an old man who you didn't chose just to be treated as a dog to be bred for his benefit.” “Travel.. with you?” Keeran nodded at her, hesitant. Josephine thought, this was her chance to get out. This was her chance to run away from the marriage that was arranged behind her back, without a thought to what she wanted. No money was sent, no documents signed. She was free. She was free! When that thought smacked her back to reality, she jumped into Keeran's arms and wrapped her own around his neck, reaching as high as she could. He tensed up with shock, before he quickly recovered and pulled Josephine closer into his body. He smelled her as her petite body touched his, like magnolia flowers and peaches. She barely came up to his throat, so he was able to rest his cheek on the top of her head while barely bent over. The pair stayed embraced like that for just a few seconds, until Josephine realized what she had done and pushed herself away. “I'm so sorry. I lost my composure there for just a second,” She whispered while she blushed profusely. Keeran smiled sweetly, before he grabbed her hand and pulled her into him again, “It's okay, Josephine. I enjoyed it immensely.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, while her head rested against his chest. Underneath his jacket, his muscular arms ensnared her petite frame around the shoulders, and savored the sweetness within her touch. Unbeknownst to Josephine, Keeran fell in love the moment their eyes met, in a single heartbeat he was hers. He couldn't get her out of his head, and no matter how many times he tried to keep himself away, he couldn't. When she told him of her Mistress setting up a marriage, his heart broke until Josephine cried out she didn't want to get married to him. He knew he had to help her escape, he had sat in his room until the idea to offer her a travel companion occurred to him. He knew she knew he would protect her, as he already did. He knew that she knew he respected her, as he hasn't made any moved towards her unwanted. He pulled her to arms' lengths, and stared into her watery, green eyes. The green gems shone with the candlelight and welled up tears. He hoped she would say yes, unable to shake the beautiful Josephine McCallum from his mind. Josephine's eyes were welled up with tears; this man who she had just met only hours before has showed her more genuine care and affection than she has ever experienced within her 18 years of life. She was still young, but felt as if she had lived a thousand miserable lifetimes without the affection she so desperately desired, and hoped that just maybe, Keeran would be the one to continuously show it to her. He set her soul on fire already, and for once she had the chance to act impulsively, to live her life her way without worrying about what tomorrow's gossip mill would say about her. “I would love to travel with you, Keeran. Thank you, so much. You have shown me more kindness than I have ever known,” she whispered, sincere in her words. She held back the desire to kiss his full lips; she refused to allow herself to get that swept up in someone's kindness just because the Baker's were such horrible people. She was shocked at herself, that after the events that happened to her,  she could still allow herself to have such a desire for a near stranger. The way Keeran looked into her eyes, her heart felt as if she had known him for a million lifetimes already, and she was simply meeting him again, as if no time had passed. Keeran's soft hands enclosed around hers, the gesture intimate and sweet, his hands conveying the truth that he will always keep her safe. The bright moon light showered down upon the pair, both of them content with the presence of another. "Please, just sit with me. The moon is beautiful and I am unable to sleep," Josephine whispered to Keeran. He smiled softly, and nodded wordlessly. They placed the large armchairs on the balcony that overlooked the woods and mountains, the almost full moon at her peak, and their hands intertwined. Josephine decided in that beautiful, still moment as she looked at Keeran's beautiful face, she would never let anyone tell her how to live her life anymore. While Keeran, vowed to always love and protect the beautiful human beside him.