Scarred and Beautiful

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Scarred and Beautiful

By: Keaira Akuji

Chapter Four: Fight or Flight

“A bargain?!” Alexia stammered. “What kind of bargain?”

“A bargain of your life it would seem.” Tein answered smugly. “You came here because you cannot keep running. You come offering work but what kind of work can you even do? You are-”

“I can work as a farm hand, I did that for many years!” Alexia interrupted impatiently. How like a man to think a woman worthless. “I have also trained under a blacksmith! I can do just about anything needed of me!” Alexia continued to plead her case. What she would really love is to be out on the training field with the soldiers, but that would probably cause the poor lord’s heat to stop- seeing a woman wielding a sword.

Tein said thoughtfully, “I do not need a woman to do any of those things. You are a woman, as much as you try to make it otherwise. The men would not accept you in the stables or in the blacksmith’s hut.”

“But I-” Alexia tried again merely to be stopped by Tien’s curt voice.

“Silence! You are useless as a man here! I do not care what you have done elsewhere! Yet what of your worth as a woman?” Tein roared. She was the most infuriating thing! She spoke like gentry, yet lacked the manners. He wondered if sending her into his lord’s path was right after all, but his visions have never been wrong before.

Alexia glared at what she thought he implied. “I will not be used that way, sir. I would rather keep running.”

Tein sighed angrily. This woman was infuriating! Would he ever be able to finish a thought without her interrupting?! “No, it seems you have made yourself worthless in that area too.” He continued even though he saw her mouth open with what he was sure was another smart remark. “I can see the ink on your back. What man would want a woman that marks herself a man, dresses like a man, talks like a man? The man would surely want another man!”

Alexia felt a rush of pain go through her, as her own fears were confirmed.

Tien continued, “No, dear Alexia, I have another job for you. You will be the personal servant of our lord.”

“What?!” Alexia asked incredulously. “Surely he already has numerous personal servants. I know of no lord without one. You cannot possibly be serious.”

“But I am my dear. I, you see, am his only personal servant and his captain of the guard. The other servants will not attend him personally. Therefore, it leaves you with a job, hmm?”

“But why will none of the servants tend him?” Alexia asked.

“Well,” Tein began.

“Because I am a monster.” Came a voice from behind them.

Both Alexia and Tein turned to see Turles in the doorway. Obviously he had been there for quite some time, listening to their conversation. He was a tall man, massive actually. He would have been beautiful if not for the fact that his left side of his face was heavily scarred. The white puckered flesh stretched from his forehead to his neck, luckily missing his eye. Scars marred his arms and hands, stretching tightly over the joints. Alexia knew that he probably couldn’t even make a fist, the scars were too tight. She felt his pain, she too had her own scars, and she knew that scars like his went much deeper than flesh and bone. He as obviously tortured, and that left wounds where they would never heal.

Turles watched the woman study him. He had heard their conversation and could not help but wonder what Tein was up to. He had not had a personal servant since before he had been taken by Freezia. The servants were all afraid of him and his madness. The torture had taken parts of his mind and his control. They would not stay around him for long, and nether would she. He ran his eyes over her, watching for the cringe, the shock, the digust, the same emotions that ran over everyone’s face when they first laid eyes upon his marred face. He waited, and waited, but saw nothing in her face. She merely just looked. She looked at his face, his neck, his arms, and his hands. But still her face portrayed that same understanding, curiosity almost. Never had someone, let alone a woman, not show some sign of digust. Even his twin still flinched when he looked upon him.

Tein cleared his throat breaking the staring contest between the two. “Lord Turles this is Alexia, she will be your personal servant during her stay with us. I will outline her duties and her roles here.”

Alexia glanced at Tien and returned her gaze to Turles, “My lord,” she said, “I am here to serve and attend to you.” The politeness seamed strained. This was not what she had planned. This man was dangerous. His black eye continued to study her, making her heart pound. Surprisingly, it was not fear that sped her heart. She felt butterflies inside her, their wings brushing her secret places making them tingle. What the hell was wrong with her?

Turles lifted one eyebrow, she seemed uncomfortable under his stare. “And how, may I ask, girl, are you going to serve me? Attend to my needs?” He smirked as he made no secrets as to what he was implying.

Alexia growled. “Definitely not with my body, my lord,” she replied sarcastically, “I am no whore for your amusement. Even I have standards.” She dripped her voice with venom to hide her nervousment. This man was affecting her so, her body was racing, pulsing with, with, with what?!

Turles narrowed his eyes menancingly and took several steps towards her. “As if I would want a scrawny thing like you- the girl who pretends to be a boy?! You would never be able to satisfy me. You would break under me, even with all your bravado.”

Alexia ground her teeth. How dare he! He met her stare with his own lethal one.

Tein’s eyes bulged. This was not going to plan at all. They seethed hatred toward each other. “My lord, I apologize for her tongue. She is insolent and stupid.” Alexia started to speak, but Tien continued. “I will place her elsewhere in the castle.”

“No,” Turles smirked deepened. “I think I will keep her around. Let’s see how long she can survive the beast. I will take her, stupid and all.”

Alexia huffed and opened her mouth to defend herself, but Turles turned on his heel and walked away. Tein grabbed her arm, “Stupid girl, he could have thrown you out or worse. Our lord is not kind or forgiving. Do not rely on the fact that you are a woman to keep him from hurting you. He gives no coin to society and their rules.”

“I do not care.” Alexia stated. “Just show me my new duties and let me alone.”

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Alexa sighed at the sight of the food. It had been weeks- months, since she had eaten like this. She had just spent the last two hours with Tein going through her duties, and showing her around the monstrous castle. She had taken a platter of food to Turles’ chambers and deposited it there. Luckily, he was no where to be seen.

She was currently in her room, feasting her eyes on her own meal. She had brought the meal up from the dining hall. She needed a little time alone. She looked around her. The room was simple but clean. A bed against one wall, with chests for clothes at the end. Two chairs and a table rested against the another wall. A doorway leading to her private bathroom. And another door leading into Turles’s chambers. She glared at that door. She hated that she was in his private servant’s room.

A long noted sounded in her room. She growled. Tein had told her that the bell was her call bell when Turles decided he needed her. She hated being called like a dog. Setting her place aside she got up to go to him. Anger filled her as the bell sounded again.

…xxx.. End of chapter Four. Hopefully you liked it. R/R please!...xxx…