Author's Note: My apologies to my readers. Every now and again, something strange crawls into my mind. This story was caused by reading Anne Rice's book 'The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.' I thought the book was one thing, and found it to be something very different. It is out of my system now and I will return to my novel that nears completion. It will be on Lit in the coming weeks.
*****
The Neglected
My anger, suppressed though it was, built to bonfire heat. My knees ached as I watched my precious Master hold the lady's eyes. Her laughter was a curse to my ears, almost painful the way it echoed. Oh, how hurt some the smile he returned. I should have been looking to the floor, but so enthralled was Master, he had forgotten my existence. If it would not displease him, I would thrust a blade between the lady's ample breast, taking pleasure in her last breaths.
It was jealousy, something I never felt before, that clawed at my insides. My breasts were small, nothing like the lady's who sat playing Jackolink with my Master. I had plan hair, long black tresses that used to please him. Now those cornsilk curls held his eyes. He didn't even see my disobedient stares. Where was the paddle, the shackles? Was I forgotten, shelved for that blue eyed bitch? Yes, it was jealousy. Hate had formed and buried itself it deep in my stomach.
"A wager, my Prince," the lady said, a chuckle poised on her full red lips. My hateful eyes wondered how Master could stand her, clothed as she was. A billowing gown of white embroidered with gold trim. Her breasts pushed upward and thrust at his eyes. I was sure they sagged ghastly once her corset was removed. No one could be so perfect.
"You think you have me?" my Prince asked, his lips glowing. I felt the strength in his voice. I smiled, though I wasn't given permission, at the idea that the lady could best such a perfect example of a man. His brown eyes could dig deep into a woman's soul and promise pleasure with a mere glance. I re-grasped my hands behind my back as memories warmed the parts he had neglected since the lady had made herself known.
"I think I have a strategy you have not seen," the lady replied. Her eyes glowed as she bounced her eyebrows. She was so pretty that ugliness grew in my mind. I wanted to jump up and point out her faults. Tell my Prince of the evil she wrought in his heart. I felt my eyes water as he looked at her with those lovely eyes that were meant for me.
"And what would you risk?" my Prince wisely asked. I had seen the position of his pieces and knew the strategies and his skill. He had her in four or five moves. Whatever her wager, my Prince would take it. Secretly, I wished she would risk something valuable to her heart.
"Why, my family bracelet," the lady said, "it is wrought in gold and has jeweled charms added by each generation of mothers for the daughter that followed." I gasped as she displayed her wrist. It was more valuable than anything I could have hoped. I drove my eyes downward, thinking my gasp had attracted attention to my kneeling naked body. My shy eyes soon found that I was still ignored.
"For what stakes would you risk such a thing?" my Prince asked, his eyes wide in surprise. I too wondered at the peril she had placed herself. To return to her family without such heirloom would cost her more than I could imagine.
"Time, my dear Prince," she said softly, "a moment alone with your Angel." My breath caught, and I disobeyed with great prejudice. My eyes, unasked, boldly found the perfect face of my Prince. I awaited her chastisement. Some statement of how precious I was to him. His eyes found mine, and I melted before them. I pushed my naked breasts as forward as my kneeling would allow. My intent was to remind him who submitted, who pleasured him with every fiber of her being. Ignore this fine lady and see the softness that yields to your climax.
"Angel!" Master scolded. I dropped my eyes and spread my knees farther apart. I displayed my sex as expected, pleased at being remembered. The world heard an angry reprimand. I heard 'I love you, my precious Angel.' One word from that strong mouth and my moisture flowed. I prayed he would remember my insolence and punish me before he took me.
"My Angel is more precious than that bauble," my Prince stated. My whole body warmed at his words. He had not forgotten me. The lady was just brief entertainment. I didn't dare look up, but I knew what jealousy she must feel. I took pleasure in it. I spread my legs farther so that Master would remember what he owned.
"Surely," the lady responded, "but I risk forever for but a moment. What is an hour or two compared to eternity?" I tightened my hands together and pushed them into the small of my back. They would have shaken embarrassingly otherwise. A moment with me was surely worth less than a gold bracelet laced with jewels.
"I have a strong position," my Prince schooled her, "the chances of a victory are slim." I tried desperately to hide my grin. Maybe he would place the bracelet on me when he took me later. It would enhance his victory and further his pleasure. My grin faded when I remembered it had been nearly two weeks since he had forced me to bed. Two weeks in which the bitch had claimed his time.
"Than your risk is small," the lady said. I dared to raise my eyes. She was wearing a smug expression that I hated to admit looked charming. I wanted so much to use my fingernails to give her the ugliness her words awoke in me.
"It is a wager, my dear Lucinda," Master responded. He had bet me. I tried to hold them back, but they came none the less. Tears without pain. I loved my punishment tears, but these were so weak and horrible. It was the first time I had envisioned a dislike to my Master. I tried to think how I had displeased him. Nothing I had done warranted more than correction and certainly not the loss of love. I used all my muscles to close my jaw, but a sob escaped. I was losing the most precious thing in the world. I was losing my Master.
No reprimand came. No loving rebuke of my ghastly verbal display of emotion. I looked up as they resumed their game. I was neglected. A fate worse than death. My mind reeled at the implications. How would I live if this lady, with all her finery, took my place? My Prince had tired of me. It was just a step, a bet he couldn't lose, but I knew the direction. I would be lost soon enough. My throat tightened as my sobs increased. Neither noticed my tears. I could have risen and walked off and not even earned a paddle. I was becoming nothing.
The lady moved her warrior forward, orthogonal to my masters lieutenant. Master's victory was now guaranteed, yet the bet remained. He had never risked me before. The bracelet was a trinket. I was yielding love. Something that was given, not traded.
Master retreated his lieutenant, a losing move. I screamed. It came from somewhere deep and exited my mouth unbidden. He meant to lose me. There was no more time to alter his mind. He loved another. I heard the lady gasp at my cry. My Prince came running.
"Rumpelstiltskin, Rumpelstiltskin!" Master yelled as he rushed forward. My tears wouldn't stop as I rose. Even his arms and the word that released me from my bonds could quell them.
"You mean to lose me," I cried, folding into his strong arms, "send her away," I begged.
"My poor Angel," Reginald sighed. He encircled my small frame, pulling my naked form against his best clothes. The clothes meant to impress the bitch. "It was a ruse, I admit it," he whispered in my ear, "she desires your ear, and I wish to grant it. Now I wish I hadn't."
"You know," I said sobbing, "I give myself to you. Now you love another." I thought briefly of throwing myself off the balcony. My pain would be over in an instant. I could love no other.
I flinched when I felt a hand on my hip. Reginald's circled me, and there was only one other in the room. I turned my head and was surprised I had to look down. I blinked to clear the tears from my eyes and saw the lady, her dress wrinkling badly, as she knelt before me.
"Please," the lady begged, "a word alone." Her eyes watered like mine. They did not waver from my face, did not look at my Prince.
"I am yours," Reginald whispered in my ear, "that will not change." His lips found my neck and traveled with a caress only he could produce. My strength began to return. "She wishes only a word, a thing for you to consider," he breathed. I melted into the soft flicks of his tongue on my ear, a move that foreshadowed him claiming me.
"I hate that she lessens me," I admitted.
"Hear her," Reginald continued, "I will remember my duty and take pleasure from you tonight, I will do it hard as penance for the nights I have missed. I will correct your failings, make you perfect in my eyes as if you could be any other way." My body heated at his words. "I will strap you to the bed, the way that pleases me most, and thrust into you time and again." My sex was dripping, but I needed to know.
"And if I don't hear her?" I asked. My voice weak, unsure if it wanted the response.
"I will take you either way," Reginald responded. His smile quelled my tears. The tenderness in his arms was reserved for these rare detentes. His heart had not moved from mine. I looked down at the lady, who remained subservient on her knees. She wore a weak smile. Her eyes continued their pleading. I released my love, taking a step back.
"I will hear her," I said. I didn't enjoy my will being forefront. It was uncomfortable and forced decisions better left to others. I hated decisions. There was no point to them if my love was willing to make them on my account. I wished only to please, the perfect life as I saw it.
"Then I will leave you two," my Prince said, "when I return, your will drop to your knees or bear the consequences." A pleasant shiver ran down my spine. I wondered if I would be bold enough to defy to incur additional punishment. It had been a so long since he exacted a toll worthy of his dominance. My rear had felt so neglected of late. I watched him walk hesitantly from the room. I disliked how this lady's desire weakened him.
"Rise," I commanded the lady. An uncomfortable word that sent blackness through my mind. I prefer to be told rather than to tell. She rose with thankfulness in her eyes. She was so weak and weakened my Prince more in her wake.
"You dislike me," the lady commented, "my time with your master has worn hard on you." I turned away from her. My words would be strong, and I had little stomach for doing it eye to eye.
"I will love him to my grave," I said to the wall, "I expect certain things, acknowledgments that you have siphoned off. Could I claw your eyes, sometimes I think I would." I heard a loud sigh. I had expected an argument, which I would have honestly dreaded. I turned to find her sitting in the chair at the gaming table.
"You see me as a thief," the lady pointed out.
"Yes," I answered. A worse word I would have used, but it was sufficient for the conversation. There was a long silence. The conversation was her desire, so I waited, uncomfortably as an equal.
"You can not bear his children," she stated, "no one would recognize your offspring." I wanted to jump on her face and remove her eyes. I was not a royal, and everyone knew it. That didn't mean my love was any less grand. Nor my Prince's love for me. I nodded and held my tongue.
"My family and his have found profit in a union between the Prince and I," she continued, "do you deny that the kingdom would prosper from a child of our union?" I wondered how long it would take for her to die if I wrapped my hand around her throat. Wealth, status and magnificent breasts. Why was I devoid of all three? My anger rose.
