Today was Melani's eighteenth birthingday. It had started as a great day, her family arriving from the neighboring villages to join in her celebration of womanhood. Even her aunt Trudi had come from Vail, a distant city Melani had only heard of from travelers and any correspondence aunt Trudi took the time to send their way.
Melani had always loved her aunt Trudi and looked forward to the rare times she would come to visit. Trudi was never afraid to state her mind and had the eclectic personality of one who refused to conform to anyone's lifestyle in order to gain their respect. Trudi had the full body that came from mature womanhood and Melani had always envied that.
Melani had been in this very room when Trudi arrived. She had been fastening the last button on her birthing dress when the knock came at the door. She opened it wide to come face to face with aunt Trudi's glorious smile. Trudi bustled through the doorway and wrapped her arms around Melani.
"Oh, look at you," Trudi went on, "You have grown into a perfect woman! Has it been so long since I saw you last?"
Melani blushed. "It hasn't been that long aunt Trudi. A few summers. You were here when Momma passed. You and father were up 'til dawn making arrangements for us."
Trudi averted her eyes for a moment. "Yes, your dear mother," Trudi began, "Merin would be proud of you, Melani. You have been through so much. And there is so much ahead of you. I have something for you."
Trudi led Melani over to the window seat and sat down next to her. She removed a small, neatly wrapped package and handed it to Melani.
Oh, aunt Trudi," Melani smiled, "I am so happy to see you! That is gift enough."
"Hush, child," Trudi replied smiling back, "I could not come to you on a day like today and not offer something of myself. Open it before I jump out of my skin from the wait."
Melani tugged the ribbon from the package and unwrapped the box. Inside stood a small box crafted from leather. Lifting the lid she gasped. Inside lie a tiny silver dagger hanging from a chain. She lifted it out of the box and held it up to the light.
The dagger spun on its chain as it caught the light and cast it outward. At first glance it appeared silver but as it captured the light it seemed to cast all the colors of the rainbow forth. There were runes carved into the small silver sheath the blade was nestled in. Melani gazed intently at the symbols but did not recognize the language.
"Aunt Trudi, it's wonderful! Thank you," Melani placed the silver chain around her neck. The dagger nestled between her breasts, chilling her flesh from the cold metal, causing her nipples to momentarily harden with the change in temperature.
"I thought it might come in handy," Trudi said, "In the days to come."
Melani frowned at Trudi. "What do you mean, in the days to come?"
Trudi gripped her hands. "Your father has surely told you," Her voice trailed off.
Both women jumped as the door flew open. Melani's father stepped in to the room, a sneer on his face. Trudi and Melani rose to meet him. Melani felt the cold sting of his hand against her face as she fell back on the bed.
"Father?" Melani's voiced trembled as she touched her aching cheek, "What is the matter?" She struggled to rise from the bed but she could not. Something was holding her in place. It took her a second to realize Trudi had a hold of her shoulders.
"It's best not to fight this, my dear," She said. Trudi moved her hands off of Melani's shoulders and wrapped them under her chin. Trudi's forearms touched Melani's cheeks and her hands linked under Melani's chin to hold her immobile.
Melani did not understand what was happening. Her father stepped to the foot of the bed. "You evil little bitch," he spat as he spoke, "Your mother's death is all your fault. Had it not been for your evil ways none of this would have happened."
As he spoke she could feel Trudi's fingers working their way down her throat, along the curve of her breasts. Her hands followed the curves of her breasts, trailing along the underside of them and lifting them up slightly. Melani could feel the warmth of her hands even through the fabric of the birthingday dress she wore. Trudi's forearms continued to lie across her shoulders and neck, forcing her down into the mattress.
Suddenly her father reached out and grabbed the dress where her beautiful breasts met. He took one side in each bear like paw and pulled with as much force as he could muster. The material ripped as the buttons pulled loose, flying away to the four corners of the room to strike with such an impact she thought they must have lodged in their surroundings. Although her mind was reeling from all that was going on, she continued to look at those hands and think how little they looked like the ones her father had used the evening before to slice the bread.
"No more," Her father panted as aunt Trudi continued to fondle her breasts and speak in hushed tones of the greatness to be bestowed upon her. "You took my love away from me," Her father snarled as he gazed down at her, a desire she had never seen now present on his face, "And I shall have that love back. You shall take her place in the kitchen and in our bedroom."
Melani blinked and her father was over her, no longer dressed, his weight pressing against her. She could smell his breath, like something filled with rotting meat. His flesh seemed to change as he spoke to her.
