Tarnished - Chapter 26

Viola narrowly misses another attack as she tries to learn more about what Korbin's plan is... Was she his prisoner?
My eyes fluttered open.

It took a minute to realize where I was...

How could this happen?! My mind screeched as I sat up in the four poster bed and looked around the room where my suffering had taken place last night.

I shook my head as Korbin walked in through the open double doors with something in his hands; I didn't care what it was.

"How... How the hell could I end up back here?" I whispered.

"I went into the water and found you. Then I dragged you back to the shore and gave you mouth to mouth until you choked up some of the water you swallowed... And then you fell into a deep sleep." He stated; walking over to me with the familiar lace and cotton strips I had used to lock him out of the room earlier.

He grabbed my arms and forced them behind me. I tried resisting but it was no use.

"What are you doing?" I yelled as he began tying my hands together. "Why are you tying me up you moron?!"

"I can't risk you running away again like you did earlier." He shrugged. "I'm too lazy to run into the sea after you and save you from drowning."

I felt tears emerge. "I'm not your prisoner!"

He pulled my feet together and began tying them up too. "No... But you are mine." His eyes flashed.

"I'm human! I don't belong to anyone! Especially not you!"

He laughed. "It's good that you know you're a human... So you won't do anything stupid again. If you run into the sea with your poor swimming skills, you're going to die." He walked away from me and started sorting out the bed covers.

I gave him an evil look. "You'll be sorry that you didn't let me die today."

"I've never been sorry about anything when it comes to you. I'm tying you up because I don't want to be responsible for the stupid things you do to yourself in your quick temper." He stated.

I began crying freely. "Why do I have to be responsible for the stupid things you do to me in your quick temper..." He looked at me, his eyes widening as he understood my meaning. "Why are you hurting me like this? You were never like this..."

"I'm not wasting my time arguing with you anymore." He shrugged off what I said, walking back over to a cabinet by the door. "I brought you some food. Will you eat?"

I swallowed some tears. "No!"

He turned around with a plate full of pasta in his hand. "But I'll let you eat it..."

"I don't want it!" I yelled.

He came walking back over to me and sat next to me on the bed. "But I want you to eat... So eat."

I didn't look at him. "No! I won't eat your food!" Wet tears and nose slobber were covering my face and leaking into my mouth. I couldn't wipe my face, and I felt sick to the stomach.

Suddenly his hand grabbed my face and forced my lips apart. I tried biting him but he was too quick, a large spoonful of pasta was shoved into my mouth.

I didn't chew it, I let it sit there.

"You should realize soon, that I always get my own way. You won't ever win." He smirked at me and then looked down again at the plate, obviously preparing the next spoonful.

I didn't think about it... I didn't need to... It was quick and easy. I spat the mouthful out at his face. I wished the slobbery wetness that flew out with it, could have been venom. I glared at him as he wiped his face and then looked at me daringly.

"You should realize soon... That you'll be sorry that you didn't let me die in the sea today." I seethed.

"Okay." The corners of his mouth quivered with anger. "You'll see... Who'll be sorry."

He stared at me for a moment or two. I stared back. Abruptly, he threw the plate across the room so that it shattered into a million pieces and mixed in with the pasta, all the while he stared at me. I raised my eyebrow at him. Was he ever going to say something?

Suddenly his hands were attacking the buttons on my shirt and his body was leaning on mine again.

"No! Stop please!" I screamed.

His lips attacked my neck while his hands traveled down my body.

"Please! No! I can't do it again! Please, I can't bear it..."

His pace slowed down, until his body fully relaxed. Our eyes locked on each other.

"Please... Don't..." I whispered, desperation oozing out of me.

"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." He hissed each word.

Abruptly he rolled off of me and stumbled out of the room... I didn't move... I stayed where I was... A knot formed in my stomach... I felt the urge to vomit, but my body wouldn't move... Instead, my sore eyes began vomiting tears... I shut my eyes to try to stop them... My eyes were stinging now... My head ached... Dread churned in my heart as he walked back in the room.

He was carrying one of his shirts and a pair of female shorts... Wait... Were they mine? How did he get them?

He walked over to the side of the bed I was lying on, I immediately began shuffling to get up, which was difficult and painful as my arms and legs were tied.

"What are you going to do?!" I squealed as he looked at me, throwing the shirt and shorts on the bed.

"Don't be frightened of me that much. I'm not a psycho or a murderer." He scoffed.

"No. You're more than that!" I spat.

"It's good that you know that, so you don't piss me off again." He reached over and grabbed my arm. "I'll untie you now so you can go shower."

"I don't want to shower! I want to go back home!" I yelled.

"But you can't go back home." He spoke, putting on an innocent voice. "You've got to be here with me for a long time... And I can't have you lying by my side all stinky and sweaty. Go to the shower." He leaned in closer to me and began smelling me. "So you'll smell nice and fresh... You know I like it when you smell nice." He put one knee on the bed and began crawling over on top of me as if he was going to...

I began shuffling around as best I could do get out of his way but he had both his arms around me trapping me to him. I couldn't let him do this... I had to... "Untie me first!" I yelled. He froze. "Otherwise... How can I shower..." I muttered, angrily. If giving in and having a shower would save me from having to give in to his lust, then I would do it, grudgingly.

He smirked and began untying me, then he dragged me off of the bed and began walking me over to the bathroom.

"How long will you lock me up like this?" I whined.

"Until I'm happy." He said.

"Don't you think my mother will come looking for me? Don't you think she is wondering where the hell I am now?"

"So what?" He smirked. "You're a grown woman, and you're my wife. You're allowed to come away for some private time with me. It's not like I've got a knife to your throat. At worst, it's just a legal detainment... And I'm willing to pay it... For my satisfaction." He winked.

I pushed him away from me, forcing him to rebound off the wall. He glared at me as I spoke.

"I really want to know Korbin, what happened to the heart you once gave to me? Why are you being so cruel to me? You're actually going to lock me up like this and use my body, in return for a fine that's worth thousands? Do you think money can repay for what I lost because of you?!" I was practically screaming at him, if it wasn't for my tears.

"Yes." He said, carelessly. "Money can buy a lot of things... Including a girl."

His words stabbed my soul and they only forced more tears out of my eyes. "Are you insinuating that money could buy me?"

"I didn't say that, did I?" His eyes flew around the room as he avoided looking at me.

"Your money didn't buy me!" My eyes flashed at him. "Guess what, Korbin! I have money too... So maybe my money brought you!"

"Right... Just the way my father brought his gold digger wife!" He yelled.

I wanted to hurt him. "Your father brought her with love! Do you even know what that is? Have you ever felt love for anyone other than your pathetic self?!"

"My father looks so old that not even a woman his age would want him! How do you justify a twenty-year-old wanting to be with him?!" He leaned in closer. "Your stupid 'love'... it doesn't exist anymore. Not in this world. Stop imagining things."

"The one who is imagining is you!" I leaned closer to him. "You hurt me with your hatred... You use my body to take your anger out on... All the while you deceive yourself into thinking you have a right to!" I shook my head in exasperation and pain. "I can't make you understand, can I?!"

He stared at me as I gave up and walked past him into the bathroom. Suddenly he grabbed my arm.

"Wait!" He pulled me back slightly.

"What now?!" I yelled.

"I don't trust you." He smirked. "And I'm not gonna chase you around like a child again. I'll come into the bathroom with you to make sure you don't try anything."

I pushed him back again. "You'll do no such thing!" I squealed.

"Fine, then leave the shower door open."

I shook my head. "You psycho. You better stay out!"

He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him, kissing me dramatically. "Don't tell me what to do."

I pushed him away and walked into the bathroom. He began walking around the bedroom, tidying things up. I opened the shower door and left it there... Stepping inside...

"Take a shower thoroughly." He called. "Or I'll come in there and do it for you."

I banged on the shower door to make him shut up, he only laughed in return. I placed the clothes on the shelf in the cubicle and turned the water on quickly.

I stepped under the water and began showering quickly. Rinsing my hair and body. I wasn't planning on using shampoo until I saw a few bottles on the shelf... Bottles of my favorite shampoo... I had never been to this villa before... Why did he have some of my things here? My mind drifted back to the shorts, and now to the shampoo. I quickly poured some onto my hand and rubbed it through my hair. Rinsing it out quickly, I turned the water off and drained my hair so that there would be less water dripping out from it.

I swiveled around and stepped out of the cubicle, walking straight into him.

"Why did you stand right here?! You didn't need to be in the bathroom!" I shrieked, panicked.

"I was enjoying the view. You finished showering... I'll shower next." He smirked.

I walked past him but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back.



"You have to stand right here so I know where you are and what you're doing."

I blinked at him.

"And if you don't want to wait here, then you can come into the shower with me." He smirked and began pulling me into the shower with him. I resisted and pushed him into the cubicle alone.

"Just showered already! I'll wait here and won't go anywhere!" I yelled.

He laughed loudly at my reaction and took his vest off. I avoided looking at him as he threw it on the ground, and began pulling down his shorts. He stared at me the whole time.

I eventually had enough of the awkwardness and pulled the shower curtain closed. "Hurry up you lunatic!"

I heard him chuckle as the water turned on.

Soon he was done showering, and after getting dressed he made me sit back on the bed again while he finished buttoning up his white shirt. He laid some jeans on the bed and then began tying me up again.

"I'm going to buy some food at the market. What do you want to eat?" He asked, finishing the knot on my hands.

"I won't eat!" I muttered.

"Are you sure you won't eat?" He leaned his face closer to mine. "Do you remember what happened the last time you didn't eat?" He moved his lips an inch away from mine, while I stared at him in horror. "Will you eat or not?" When I didn't answer his lips began brushing past mine, increasing in vigor each time.

"Just buy whatever you want! I don't mind, I can eat anything!" I yelled at him, moving my face well out of the way of his.

He chuckled. "See? Not so bad, is it?"

He got off of me and smoothed the collar on his crisp white shirt. "While I'm not here... Don't make trouble." He said, threateningly.

I looked at him in disbelief at the words coming out of his mouth.

He walked out of the room, closing the double doors behind him. I heard the rattle of keys as he locked the door. I shook my head at the hopelessness of the situation. I heard his car rev off the wooden bridge and saw it drive down the lane through the large window. Sighing, I looked down at my feet on the bed... A short distance away from my feet laid Korbin's jeans... And hanging half out of the pocket of those jeans was his mobile phone...

My heartbeat picked up.


Shout-outs - Lucy, Rafia, Xeneb, Ishaqzaade and Sasha. Thanks for the helpful and insightful comments!

You all take the time out to read my story - So I take the time out to read your comments and try to adapt my story to your wishes. Many of you said that 9 chapters is such a long wait... I agree. I didn't realize this until after I read your comments. So I apologize and thank you for making me aware of that. The reason I placed Korbin's chapter later on, is so that you'll see a lot of character development before you even get to hear his thoughts. Sorry if you're impatient - but that's how it's going to be, and you'll understand why, when you read it.

I've uploaded 5 chapters today, so we're all waiting for the genius iBuzzle to make them viewable to you readers. Maybe you were expecting this chapter to be Korbin's POV... But that's how I roll... I will always give you the unexpected. So right now you may be thinking: "Oh God... When is this going to end? When will she stop suffering? The constant suffering is getting boring. When will we get answers?" Ladies and Gentlemen, I can now tell you that this is the moral of the story - 'Patience is a virtue'. Look beneath Korbin's cruelty... Look beneath the suffering... What do you see? Maybe the sneak peek below will help you out.


As requested by Xeneb; here's an exclusive Sneak Peek... Because I take your comments extremely seriously.

Chapter 34 (Will arrive sooner than you think)

Korbin's POV

I changed my position so I was lying behind her. I stroked her arm, softly. She was so cold.

Why was she so cold?!

I nudged her softly with my hand. "Vi..." She didn't respond. "Viola...?" Again I nudged her but no response. I placed my hand on her shoulder and shook her gently. "Viola?"

She stirred... She didn't open her eyes but I could tell she wasn't asleep anymore...

"Hey..." I whispered. "Wake up."

She swallowed loudly... Her eyebrows creased and she moaned softly. Suddenly, her lips parted and she seemed to be gasping for air.

My heart raced... What was wrong with her?!

She moaned again.

"Hey... Come on... Wake up now... I'm really scared baby, open your eyes..." I whispered, wrapping my arm around her body to give her some support.

She coughed mildly. It was as if she had something in her throat. I moved the back of my hand to her forehead.

She was burning up... But the rest of her body was ice-cold.

"Oh God... What have I done to you baby..." I leant my head down and placed a kiss on her shoulder... On her cheek... On her neck...

I pulled back. I had to do something for her... I had to help her... I had to help my wife... My wife... She was... My wife... And I had hurt her... Hurt her... For... For what? Why did I do this to her? All of this spite... All of this crying... All the things I said to her... Why did I do it? I pretended I was strong but secretly I was dying... Dying as she cried all night... Dying as she screamed and shouted at me.

I slammed my hand to my forehead... What did I do it for...?
Published: 9/18/2012
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