The Chronicles of Lillith

[Alcaeus]

Chapter 1. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Lillith woke up, stretching her slender arms and blinking into the daylight streaming in through the window. Looking up from her sleeping mat she smiled, greeting her parents.
“Mornin’ mum, dad.” She beamed.
“Bout time ye got up, the chickens ‘aven’t bin’ fed an’ the wood ought’a be brought in for a cookin’ fire. “ Her father turned from the fire, giving her a distant look. Both he and Lillith’s mother had long aged faces. They were thin like Lillith herself, her father balding and her mother sporting the same thick healthy head of hair as her daughter. Obediently, Lillith slipped into her shortpants and a doublet and headed outside, quickly grabbing a bag of feed.
They lived in a small home of one room on the edge of a village, not too far from the city. It was a simple building with a small coup built against its side with a dainty fenced in area. It was such a nice day out, the sun high in the sky, everything fresh with yesterday’s rain. Lillith brushed a lock of her long auburn hair back over her shoulders as she bent to unlatch the gate of the chicken coup. It would be her birthday next week, her sixteenth year. Though she knew her parents would once more be unable to afford her a present, mum would definitely make one of her cakes. Oh, how those cakes tasted absolutely wonderful. No one in the entire world made them quite as good as her.
Tucking the empty feed bag into her pocket she picked up a daisy from the ground and turned towards the chickens, scattering them in all directions. She smiled, satisfied, and plucked a daisy which she slipped into her hair. She grabbed an armful of wood and began to head back inside. She stopped short of the door, the hushed and anxious tones of her parents touching her curiosity.
“He’ll be here to take her soon, best have ‘er shower and groomed else he changes his mind.” She could hear her father’s voice clearly.
“Maybe we should have told her... it isn’t that fair to her.”
“We need the money, besides the most she’s good for is bein’ another hungry mouth to eat away what little we have.”
“That’s yer daughter!”
“I see things like they are, I know what’s necessary. At least she’ll bring a pretty coin.” Her father paused. “Besides if she knew ahead of time she’d have only bin more trouble. Knowin’ she’s bein’ sold an’ all. Can’t have nothing’ bad happenin’.”
Lillith stood rooted to the spot; her stomach clenching tightly, a sickness spreading threw her. She bit her lip and blinked her tears back. She turned and ran in confusion, denial and fear driving her right into the robust form of a man.
Though his clothing was expensive, his hair and beard were untidy and his body wreaked of poor hygiene. “And where might you be going young lady?” His smile stretched his puffy cheeks and his bulging eyes burrowed into her. Lillith dropped her bundle of wood and tried to bolt, but the fat man was deceivingly quick for her and grabbed her firmly by the shoulders. Pushing her back into her home the man greeted Lillith’s parents simply. “Mister Xarok. Misses Xarok. Lively one you got here. I believe I am going to thoroughly enjoy her company.”
“’’Ello Benjamin.” Lilliths father avoided his daughters gaze. “Do you have the money?”
“Indeed.” The man nodded, withdrawing a pouch which hung from his belt and throwing it at the feet of Lillith’s father. Still avoiding his daughter’s horrified stare he threw himself upon the pouch, dumping the contents on the floor. His wife, who had been busying herself nearby, looked over with moderate interest at the sound of coin and turned away as she met Lillith’s eyes. “It looks as if we have a deal then?”
“Yes I s’pose so!”
“Well then. A pleasure doing business with you.” The man turned towards Lillith, grabbing her arm painfully as he led her out towards his mount. Lillith, shocked and stricken with horror managed to put up little resistance as she found herself pulled against the man’s back and riding into the noble sector of the city. Unable to decide what to do, Lillith soon found herself looking back as a huge Iron gate clanged shut and she was helped off the steed by another stranger, obviously a servant of some sort, and led down a hallway lined with small rooms. She was given one of them, not very big, but it was her first time having her own room. Not to mention, the bed was quite nicer and more comfortable than the mat she had back home.
Over the next few weeks Lillith found herself constantly doing some chore around the estate. Escape seemed impossible. The estate was surrounded by fences, impossible to scale and topped with barbed heads. At the front gate there were always two rugged looking armed men standing watch who neither spoke nor were often spoken to, except with Benjamin. Lillith hadn’t actually spoken with the man since she was taken by him. She didn’t really want to either. Being trapped her was not all that pleasing but the girl was glad she at least had a warm bed and three full meals a day, even though sometimes she had to be the one to help cook it. She began to make a few friends among the servants and even made a little money doing portions of other’s work and gambling every so often with the paid servants.
The estate itself was rather large, a great garden in which Lillith could avoid everyone and spend the scarce free time she had, or when she was sent out for yard work. There was a large kitchen adjoined to a dining hall in which the servants ate after Benjamin and his guests were entertained. There was a second floor however, only paid servants were allowed to go there. The rooms were spotless, made of stone and decorated richly with painting, tapestries and various antiquities. It was a rather nice place to live.
Things seemed to be looking up she thought as she slipped into the warm sheets of her bed. She curled up to her pillow and laid her head to rest.
Some time later Lillith found herself stirred from her slumber. Sensing another presence she slowly opened one eyelid. She could see a lumpy figure silhouetted in the darkness. Her nose began to catch a familiar scent as the man stepped closer.
Lillith could feel the blankets slowly being pulled from her body. “It is about time you make yourself worth the money I spent on you.” She heard him say. Eyes wide in fright she felt his grubby hands make their way up her calves, her thigh. She felt the shift of the bed as he brought one knee onto the mattress, his hands roaming closer to her chest.
With a great yell she swung her arm into her assailants face, bringing her leg up into his groin. She wriggled free of his grip and ran out the open door, knocking on the rooms of other servants calling for their help, but none came. He was upon her, pinning her to the wall. She was quicker this time however and managed to escape his grasp and ran toward the front foyer. She was in luck. The door had been left ajar, if she at least made it to the yard, even if she was unable to escape the garden was large enough for her to lose herself.
Benjamin caught her foot. Lillith went down, her head connecting with the marble floor with tremendous force. Her vision blurred, she felt herself drifting. No she must stay awake. He had her now, his hands on her hips pulling her into him. She almost gagged in disgust as she felt his arousal pressing against her. She bit her lip. Lillith was not going to give him the satisfaction of her tears. Benjamin rolled her onto her back and held her legs in place. Now she saw him, his greedy eyes bulging out at her. He moved in closer. “You have nowhere to go my lady.”
He felt his hands tearing at her clothing. Her eyes shut tight, her teeth clenched as she prepared for him. Then, there was nothing. No hands, no weight, just silence. She opened her eyes to the face of a lean man with a worn face kneeling over her, expressionless. Looking over she saw Benjamin lying at her feet, blood pooling around his face. Her gaze turned to the stranger once more as the pummel of his dagger came down upon her temple and she lost consciousness.