The wedding was over and Snow White was married. She still couldn't believe it had happened. And to the man with the slate gray eyes, no less. She now realized that trusting fate and her stepmother's cruelty to keep her out of Prince Cassius' clutches had been a mistake. Instead of calmly allowing herself to be led to the slaughter she should have been running away as fast and as far as she could.
Well, she wasn't going to be idle any longer. Everything for her escape was ready. Her bag was packed with only the essentials, a few drab peasant dresses, food that she had managed to steal and sewn in the hem of her skirt were coins and jewelry she would need to survive.
Creeping through the dimly lit corridors of Prince Cassius' castle, Snow White couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. Each time the feeling intensified she would turn around to look only to find an empty hallway.
With a sigh of relief, she finally reached the door that would lead to the castle gardens and her escape. Pushing against the door, she winced as the old unused hinges proceeded to creak and groan. Opening it only enough for her to inch through it, she left the door open rather than risk someone hearing the creaks if she tried to shut it.
A sense of exhilaration and freedom came over her as she ran through the night- shrouded gardens. Soon, soon she would be free.
When she reached the maze of shrubs at the very back of the garden Snow White turned once more to make sure she was not being followed the then silently. Pulling a scrap of paper out of her pocket she carefully looked over the map she had managed to draw earlier that day. Satisfied, she headed forward while the sounds of crickets singing their night songs eased her fear.
CRACK!
The sound made her jump and fearing pursuit Snow White ran, constantly looking over her shoulder. Unfortunately with her attention distracted she was not looking where she was going and as she rounded the next corner she ran straight into a hard, powerful body. Her scream echoed through the night as arms of steel wrapped around her.
It was her husband, Prince Cassius, looming over her like a dark apparition. His hair billowed in the gentle breeze wafting through the tall shrubs, the white and black strands shimmering together. His slate gray eyes glared down at her, intimidating her, daring her to struggle. And even though the warrior toughened body against her own was relaxed, Snow White could still feel the powerful muscles bulging in readiness.
"You seek to escape me." Cassius stated.
"I will escape you." Snow White retorted with a confidence she did not fully feel.
"Such delicious spirit. I have chosen well. But you would be wise to learn some discretion." His eyes grew fierce, the corneas rimmed with fire. "I am not a weak-willed man nor are my powers insignificant. Remember that the next time you try to sharpen your tongue on my hide." He released her and took several steps back. "But, because you do not know me and because I do not want my bride to be constantly running away from me in fear, I will offer you a deal. If you can escape this maze, I will let you go free. But there are conditions." Cassius warned.
Snow White's eyes lit up with triumph.
"First of all, for each time I catch you in the maze I will remove one piece of your clothing. Second, you must have at least one article of clothing on your body at the time you exit the maze and if you are naked before exiting you will willingly pledge yourself into my keeping for life. Do you accept my offer?"
She mulled it over in her head. Undoubtedly, he knew this maze like the back of his hand. It was almost certain that she would lose at least one article of clothing before reaching the exit. On the other hand, he didn't know that she had a map that would make reaching the exit fairly easy. In the end though, she really had no choice. It was the only chance she would likely get to be free of Cassius.
"I accept."
"Then be off, my dear. I'll be seeing you soon."
His mocking laughter followed her, like a bad omen.
Transporting himself to the center of the maze, Cassius thought to himself, such a na‹ve little bird. She wouldn't escape him. The maze had been made with his own magic and what his little bird did not realize was that every time a person entered the center, the exit was magically changed to a different location. Snow White would never find her way out. She was his.
Moving to a bench that would be hidden from his bride's view, Cassius sat and prepared to wait.
* * *
Snow White paused to look over her map one last time, double-checking her directions before taking the path that would lead her to the center of the maze. It was a pity, she thought, that she couldn't take the time to enjoy the maze, she quite enjoyed puzzles of this sort. As the end of the path drew closer, her confidence grew and the taste of freedom was sweet on her tongue.
"I think we'll start with the skirt first."
Stunned, she turned around to find Cassius sitting on a bench in the center of the maze with a victorious grin on his face. Studying him, she wondered what he would do if she ran.
"You won't make it." He stated simply.
Admitting defeat, Snow White dropped her bag onto the ground and moved to stand in front of her husband. She reached for the buttons on the back of her skirt, hoping to get it done and over with quickly.
"Stop." He said. "You will allow me to have the honors, please."
She dropped her hands and looked above his head, embarrassment tinting her cheeks a light rose.
"Hmm, should I take it down or should I take it up. Decisions. Decisions. I think I'll take it up. Such a delightful way to draw out the suspense."
Warm, calloused hands gripped her ankle beneath her skirt. Traveling upwards, they moved at a snails pace, pausing every now and again to squeeze and mold her soft flesh. Upon reaching her thighs the hands repositioned so that one was touching her outer thigh and the other her inner thigh.
"You have such soft, yielding skin. I'm sure I will enjoy sampling a taste of it. You'll moan for me when I do, won't you, wife."
