I am deep into this Demon Heart story. I can't stop thinking about it, adding to it, taking away. It is consuming me. Here is a snippet of Married to Eternity a WIP.
Bright was permitted to sit up after he had prepared his pipe and lit the the tobacco. She had to wait three puffs to be able to put her cunt away and freshen up in the basin left for them.
Lord Second continued to suck his pipe while she stood awkwardly by the bed, wiping down her privates.
"You are from Feline, yes?" He asks, studying the flames in the fireplace.
"Of course, born and raised."
He waves her over, and patted the spot next to him.
This must be some odd form of pillow talk. He'd been otherwise dismissive outside of sex.
"You may speak freely." He says.
"Your coloring. It does not match your eyes and hair. Women of this village are pale, some sallow."
<i> And ugly </i> Thought Bright.
He takes another puff. "Your skin is brown. Even your nipples are dark." She flushes at this and he continues, "Fire hairs should be white as snow."
"I do not know why I look nothing like the other villagers."
"I wonder if our children will take after you in that regard."
If Bright remembered correctly, Lord Secord has 32 children all of them girls; statuesque with black hair and homely faces. Most if not all had been married off. She prays her first born is a boy.
"Only if he takes after all your looks." He says, matter of fact. He adds more flame to his pipe. This time Bright can smell the herbal blend added to the richness of the tobacco. It was spicy.
He opens his mouth and is cut short by the opening of the door. The butler arrived with a bottle of wine and a goblet. Sparrow was behind him.
"We can talk later." He says instead and dismissed them all with a gesture.
Bright followed the servants out into the hall and lets out a shaky breath. That was almost normal. Nothing about this should be never.
"Shall we be on our way, my lady?"
Bright is led back to the smallest suite. The fire has died down to embers, enough to keep the room comfortably warm while she sleeps.
"I'd like to get dressed for bed." Another bath wouldn't be remiss either but at this point her body craved rest.
"I can do it myself." Bright says and snatches the garment out of her hands.
Sparrow appears unsure and rings her hands nervously. "If the lady insists."
"She does. I've changed my clothes all my life on my own." The attitude was uncalled for, Bright knew it was not Sparrows fault.
Bright sighed and tore off the stained robe. She yanked on the night gown. The material was thick and soft.
"<i> Just </i> Bright. Please...at least when we are alone."
Sparrows eyes softened and some of the tension in the room dispersed. "Just Bright then." She turns down the covers, "You must be tired.
When Bright lays down, Sparrow fluffs the pillows and snuffs out the lamps leaving only the dying embers of the fireplace as light.
"Sleep well." She says softly.
Bright is asleep before her head hits the pillow. She survived the first night.