by Nicole Hill
He leaned against the door listening for Na-Lisa and could hear the water moving. She was bathing herself. Heat shot to his core and he clamped the feeling down as he turned to walk to her wardrobe. This poor innocent girl is in there in huge amounts of pain and misery and here he is lusting after her like a sex craved teen. He opened her wardrobe with the intent of finding her something decent to wear but stopped short. There were no clothes hanging in there. He looked around and walked to her dresser. He opened every drawer and found them all empty. “No way.“ He thought. They took all of her clothes! Left her in here locked up for an entire month with nothing but that poor excuse of a robe that was less than adequate. What were they betting, that he would in fact turn into a sex crazed teen and attack her? Well now. They obviously had no idea how well behaved a southern gentlemen could be... He hoped. He headed for the sitting area of her rooms where his bags were placed. His clothing was brought here because after all he was stuck here for a month. He opened his bags and found a white long sleeved under shirt. This should cover her up he thought.
The damn thing would probably cover all the way to her knees. He thought with a satisfactory smile. The less of her he could see, the better. He also reached into his bag for his can of salve. He placed the items on her bed as he headed to the washroom. She was in the process of trying to hold her arms up to lather the soap through her hair. William could tell that the action caused her pain. He grabbed her arms and lowered them slowly. Na-Lisa held her breath. “ I can do that for ya darlin.” He told her gently. She released her breath and nodded her head still looking down. He reached out and began to massage the soap through her hair, careful not to let his fingers get to close to the severe bruising on the top of her scalp.
When he was finally done with the task and was near his breaking point. He helped her to stand and wrap a drying cloth around her. He lead her to and sat her gently on her bed. He turned from her, in order to catch his breath. Being near her and touching her had undone him more than he was comfortable with. He silently reprimanded himself for the direction of his thoughts. He grabbed the salve and shirt that he had gotten for her and turned back to face her. “I need to put this on your back.” He told her showing her the jar. “It will help.” She looked at the jar and then up at him. She nodded her head but said nothing as she turned her back toward him and let the cloth fall to her waist in the back while holding up the front.
He had to catch his breath and swallow a few times before he was able to think coherently enough to begin to apply the salve to her badly battered back. He tried to be gentle but also needed to make sure the salve was rubbed into the bruises. So as a result with every wince of pain she inadvertently made his anger level grew higher and higher. He wanted to throttle the son of a bitch that dared to lay his hands on this small little woman. When he was through with her back he placed the jar on the table by the bed. He picked up his shirt and spoke to her over her shoulder. “I could not find any of your clothes so you can wear one of my shirts. It's all I have. Lisa. I am sorry.”
She looked at him over her shoulder. ”They took them all.” She answered in a hoarse whisper.
“I suspected as much” He answered as he helped her slide the shirt over her head from the back. When that task was completed as gently as possible, he helped her lay against the pillows and he brought the comforter over her body. “Are you OK.” He asked. She only nodded. He reached over and picked up the salve from the bedside table. “I am going to put some on your face OK.” He said asking her permission.
“OK.” She responded. He put some on the bruising on the left side of her face as well as the split in her lip. When he was done he replaced the lid and placed the jar back on the table.
“Get some sleep.” He told her as he stood to leave. If he didn't leave now he would probably crawl into bed with her in an attempt to take that broken look from her lovely face and end up scaring the hell out of her. Hell his errant thoughts were starting to worry him.
“You are leaving?” She asked quietly as he was almost out of the room. He turned back to face her surprised, his smile threatening to show itself. He like the thought that she would not want him to leave. He knew that was silly. She was a young innocent girl who trusted him to be a good boy. Being that he was not entirely sure that he could do that, he needed to be as far away from her as he could get.
“I will be on the sofa in the next room. If you need me just call.” He answered. She nodded and closed her eyes. William went to the sofa and tried to get some sleep. He was suddenly exhausted.
***
Na-Lisa lay in her bed staring up at the ceiling. This man was strange. She knew he was not from here. He was American but what was he doing here? He had helped her and did his best not to embarrass her. He did not look down on her or scold her or try to get what was his right to take. He had called her Lisa. She smiled at the memory of the intimate name he had called her. She did not even think he knew that he had done it. She had to admit, she like him. He was a kind man with kind eyes. But she knew that she could not grow to like him anymore. She would not risk her soul for even one moment of happiness. This was wrong and she would not do it. She drifted off to sleep with that assurance going through her mind.
Chapter Four
William woke with a start when he heard Lisa call out. He was by her bed in an instant; surprised he didn’t kill himself over furniture on the way, it was so dark. He could see her in her bed. She was still asleep but tossing and turning in her sleep, mumbling and sobbing. He was unsure of what to do but his mind was made up when she screamed in pain. He lay down beside her and gathered her into his arms. “Shh. Darlin. It's just a dream.” He told her quietly soothing her. She stiffed all over when she woke up fully. “Don’t be afraid. You were having a bad dream. It's over now. Go back to sleep. Lisa darlin. I'm right here and you’re OK.” He whispered in her ear as he continued to stroke the top of her head. She calmed down and within minutes was fast asleep. It took only moments for him to follow her. But not before he had the thought that she fit pretty well in his arms.
***
Na-Lisa awoke with the sun in her face. She stretched before she remembered about the bruising on her back and was surprised that she only winced a little. She looked at the bed next to her and saw that it was empty. She remembered waking with a dream the night before and William was there consoling her. She smiled a little and then shook her head sternly and sat up. Look at her acting like a goofy little girl. She could not fall for this man . How does she know that this is not part of her uncle’s plan?
That William is not a part of it. Take care of her be nice to her. Win her trust. She threw the cover over and got out of bed. She looked in the mirror. Her face was still bruised badly but did look better. It barley hurt at all. She turned around and paused before pulling Williams shirt over her head. It was huge on her. She looked almost laughable. She pulled the shirt over her head and turned her body so that she could see her back in the mirror. She almost sobbed out loud at the horror she saw there. Her entire back was almost black. Tears ran down her face. She let the shirt fall back down to cover it up. At least it didn’t hurt too badly. She went into the sitting room and saw that breakfast had been delivered. She sat at the table and ate while she looked out the window.
She felt so alone and did not know what to do. In the last few months since her father's sudden death, her life had been turned upside down and she had no idea where to turn. She huffed out a large breath and threw her pastry back on the plate. She was suddenly not very hungry. She decided to have a bath. After she was bathed, dried and her hair was combed straight she put Williams shirt back on. It was the only thing she had to wear besides the see through robe and that was not happening. She brought her covers and pillows to the window seat along with her copy of Tom Sawyer and sat down to read. She loved the playful childish antics of the boy in the story but eventually her poor battered worn out body won the battle and she slept.
***
He got dressed and got out of there. What are you thinking! He reprimanded himself all day as he pushed his body to its limits. You are a slave! She is a princess! Although her life sucks at the moment but still what is he thinking, that she will fall in love with him; they will get married, have a bunch of babies and grow old together? He slammed the side of this sword into the wooden dummy he was using to practice. He was breathing heavily and sweating profusely buy the time he headed to eat with the other Guards. He sat alone as he ate contemplating the night to come. He finished eating and went to the Guards wash room cleaned him-self and headed back out to finish training. He knew that he would control himself. He was a Christian and he would not take advantage of a woman. No matter what. Five hours later, he entered the princess' rooms and found her again asleep on the window seat. This time instead of the bible, she had a copy of Moby Dick by Herman Melville open on her lap. He smiled a small smile. He'd read that book cover to cover so many times, he knew the words by heart. His father had given it to him as a gift when it was first published in 1851. William had just turned 16 and was already tired of his parents friends and acquaintances who were just as uppity and stuck up as his parents were. He found escape in the pages of Melville's grand tale. William decided then, that he was not suited for his life of titles, arranged marriage and parties. He wanted to travel, to see the world. By the time he was 25, his father had already started to pressure him for the arranged marriage to their neighbor Sara that William had always suspected was his parents wish. He reluctantly agreed to the union. All William wanted to do was sail away. He took his first opportunity and was ashamed of secretly being happy for the excuse to postpone when the Civil war broke out in 1861. His family never survived the war. When William was first back home, all he did was mope around drink all day and party. all night. Until he was rummaging around in his parents attic one day and found his copy of Moby Dick, his fathers inscription still in the front.
For when you need an escape my son. So many of us often do.
Father
William sat in the library of his family home and read the book cover to cover. Two days later, he was setting sail and had yet to return to the place of his birth. All because of that book. The very same book, this Indian princess halfway around the world just fell asleep reading. William thought to himself as he shook his head.
She sure seemed to like American books. Maybe he would ask her about that. He got up and went into the sitting room and sat on the sofa. He could see that the table was set and that dinner had been delivered. In a minute. He thought. I'll rest for a moment and then go see if she is hungry. He must have dosed off because he awoke a few minutes later when the book slipped to the floor. He cracked his eyes open a bit and could see her sliding off the window seat. She was wearing his shirt and it engulfed her but instead of having it's desired effect, it only added to the fact that he knew what was actually under all that material. She stretched her arms over her head and the material of his shirt pressed against her small pert breasts . He could see her small hardened nipples and was instantaneously hard and ready to go. She suddenly winced and let out an unintentional small yelp of pain. He was across the room and at her side with his arms bracing her so fast that he startled her. “I am sorry.” He said. “I was trying to help.”
***
“That’s OK.” Na-Lisa said startled. She didn't even know he was there and he had come out of nowhere. But she could see his concern for her in those oh so gorgeous blue eyes and she knew he meant no harm.
“Are you hungry? Dinner is here.” He said. She was starving. She had not eaten much more than half of the breakfast pastry all day. Her stomach chose that very moment to agree with her. Loudly. She put her hand to her mouth and gasped blushing. William chucked. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He said as he helped her walk to the table. They ate in silence for a few minutes before William finally broke the silence. “Na-Lisa” He said “Are you OK? Do you feel better today?” She nodded her head but then thought that perhaps he was looking for a verbal response. She was so nervous to be so near him.
“I feel better.” She told him. They fell silent for a minute or two. She secretly watched him. He was so big and strong and she remembered how it felt last night when she awoke from her nightmare to have his arms wrapped around her, protecting her. “William.” She said tentatively.
“Yes” He asked.
“Thank you.” She responded quietly. “Thank you for everything. I really do feel better.” William smiled at her and she smiled tentatively back.
“You’re welcome Lisa. I'm glad you feel better .” He answered her with a small smile. There it was again. He had called her Lisa. She like how it sounded when he said it. She liked the intimacy of him saying her name in short.
“Why do you call me Lisa?” she asked in a rush embarrassed but really wanting to know. He looked at her for a moment confused and then realization hit him.
“I did didn’t I?” He asked “I am sorry. I guess I kinda liked it. I wont do it again if you don't want me to.” He finished. Na-Lisa was thrilled. She had thought that he did it without knowing it. She had no idea why it mattered to her if he did it consciously or sub- consciously but it did.
“I don’t mind. I kind of like it also.” She answered. “ It was just that no one had ever called me that before.”
***
William had not even been aware that he had called her Lisa. But now that he thought about it, he did like it. And he really liked the way his name sounded coming from her lips. He had the sudden vision of her writhing underneath him calling his name over and over. He shook his head to dislodge the mental image. “If you are done, I will help you to the bed.” He told her.
“OK. Thank you.” She said as she stood to let him assist her. He got her to the bed and asked her if he could get her anything. “Could you bring me my book?” She asked him. He retrieved her book from the floor by the window seat where it has fallen earlier. “Thank You.” She said as he handed it to her.
”Do you like to read a lot?” He asked her sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Oh yes!” She answered and he saw a spark of life light her eyes. “Especially American stories. Ones of horses and plantations. Where are you from?” She rambled on before she caught herself and immediately looked upset with herself. “I’m sorry. I talk too much.” She said.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.” He answered. “I don’t mind.” He was rewarded with a shy smile. “I am from South Carolina.” He told her. Her eyes lit up “You know of South Carolina?” he asked her.
“Yes” she said. “Cotton.” She said. He laughed out loud right there. It had been a long time since he had really laughed.
“Yes. We grow cotton there.” He said
“I want to go to America.” She said. “How did you get here?”
“It is a long story.” He answered
“OH.” She said but he could tell she was disappointed. He sighed.
“I will tell you if you want.” She nodded her head.
“I want.” She told him. When he was done with his tail she had tears in her eyes. ”So we are both forced to be here.” She said desolation in her voice. He reached over and took her chin in his fingers and turned her to face him.
“Don’t cry Lisa.” He said. “Try to get some sleep,” She nodded and lay down. He drew the comforter over her and left to go sleep on the sofa. She lay there
for a few moments thinking about what he told her. He made it through a war and lost his whole family including his fiance, and made it through a shipwreck only to be captured and forced to serve in an army that wasn’t his own and now to be turned into a sex slave. His life was just as bad as hers. Some of her wanted to trust him yet there was still that small part that no longer trusted anyone. She fell asleep with that thought in her mind.
***
The next two weeks went on like this. William trained in the morning and spent the rest of the day with Lisa. They had eased into a routine. They played games, real ones. Not the kind in his dreams that forced him awake each night sweating profusely and hard as a rock with the image of her beneath him slipping away as dreams often do. Those he knew he would never play with her. She was actually pretty good at chess though. She had a wonderful mind and he was entertained by her always. He did not know what would happen at the end of the month but he knew that he would need to find a way to get her out of this god forsaken place.
He knew sadly that she had won him over. He was in love with her and even though her kingdom's customs were barbaric, she was a princess and he was no one. Just a slave. But for now, he enjoyed every moment he was with her. He was whistling as he entered Lisa's rooms. They were in the middle of a heated chess game that has lasted for three days and he was ready to win. He already had his first move picked out. He was talking to her as he entered the room not paying attention.
“I hope you’re ready to get beaten severely...” He said half laughing, looking up and stopping short as he saw a young Indian boy about the same size as he was launch over the sofa at him. William was knocked down and they were fighting. He could here Lisa screaming at the boy.