Marianna awoke with a start, the sunshine pouring through the window warming her body. Keeping my eyes closed, I stretched, unfamiliar muscles screaming out in protest. Wondering at these mysterious aches and pains I opened them to foreign surroundings. The breath hissed out of my throat, my feeling of well being evaporating immediately. I made the sign of the cross without hesitation, rising to my knees to cry out to God.
'What further evil has been wrought against me?' I railed silently. 'Has not enough misery been rained down on my head?' I received no answer.
Scrabbling around on the bedclothes I left it to find my belongings and to leave this strange place. Escape uppermost on my mind. My rapid expirations making me slightly dizzy. I grasped the bedpost to steady myself. Looking down I was struck by the fact that I was in a most beautiful white lawn nightgown, something I didn't own. My fears escalating with each passing moment, my body jerking frantically at how I arrived here.
Forgetting my purpose of finding my own clothing I raced to the door, stumbling when I tripped over the hem. Falling heavily against the door I scratched at the doorknob, knowing instinctively I was locked inside. Angry and frightened tears streaming down as I faced the implications of my imprisonment. I turned to study the window, realizing that there was no escape there but moving towards it to see for myself. Dejected I sunk to my knees as I gazed at the ground at least forty feet below. I stayed here incoherent and inconsolable until I realized that my arm and fingers were burning from the directness of that beating sun. Glancing down, noticing the reddening skin I hastily moved away, memories of the previous night flooding back. In horror I relived them.
*****
Stephanos slumbered undisturbed as his body was rejuvenating. He had swept Marianna away in the dead of night to his castle. Watching her shallow breathing as she nestled against him unknowingly brought him new resolve to keep her with him forever. He had swathed her in the sheerest of nightgowns and kissed her brow. Replete with the good he had done for them both this evening past. Once he had settled her into her new home, he had gone to lock himself away until the next sunset. Rest imperative as the first fingers of dawn were spreading across the sky. His last thought before succumbing, that he had gotten himself a hellcat!
Marianna scrubbed ineffectually at her eyes as if to erase the memories. All this served to do was to reinforce the blinding headache I had. Unsure of my next move I sat scrunched up into a tight ball, making myself as small as possible. Forlornness etched on my face. Plaintively I craved the return of my life before it had been turned upside down. I frowned in concentration knowing there was something or someone I had forgotten. Struggling inanely I remained ignorant. Whatever it is it will return. I had to remain hopeful.
*****
Startled that my thoughts had wandered so far away, I was surprised to see that darkness was forming. I had been sitting all day. Cramped beyond belief at my bent posture I rose awkwardly to my feet, observing for the first time the basin of water in the corner of the room. I shuffled over with the intent of washing away some of the residual stickiness. Stickiness I knew to be spilt virgin's blood on my thighs. Suddenly enraged at what I had lost, I scrubbed furiously as Lady Macbeth had done fruitlessly wringing her hands.
Sensing his presence, incensed at my captivity and vulnerability I spun around to face him. Letting out a heart stopping cry I launched myself at him, nails curled to rake against his face. All my fury centering on his arrogance and presumptions. Stephanos easily captured my hand and pulled it high up behind my back bringing me against him. Chest heaving I glared at him, thoughts of spitting at his face, then I thought better of it, eying his volcanic expression. Mutinously I tried to stare him down, haughtiness evident in every line of my body.
Stephanos laughed! Appreciative of her spirit and thinking her beautiful in her fury. Knowing she would rather claw his eyes out he knew he had to put a stop to this rambunctious and futile endeavor immediately. Intent on bending her to his will he leant in, causing Marianna to bow her body backwards. A small sharp cry crossed her lips. She struggled to no avail, whimpering, the rage seeping out of her body at his determination to dominate her. Satisfied that she grew cognizant of his power and her helplessness had him straightening once again. Reveling he sunk his fangs into her breast, her crucifix swinging wildly with her jerky movements. She soon settled down and let him drink his fill.
