Ulrich lifted my chin with his strong fingers, wiping the refuse from my swollen, angry skin. "I am sorry you must endure this humiliation," he said, when he saw the state of me. "But it is the only way we can be together."
"I will endure it, my love, with a smile on my face, if it means I get to see you again."
“Your trial is tomorrow,” Ulrich said, brushing his fingers over my cheek.
My blood turned cold. My trial. That made it all seem real. When I was down here in Ulrich’s arms, I could forget that I was in danger. But there was no forgetting that the very next day I would be bound and shackled, forced to stand in front of the entire village while they listed every little transgression and sealed my guilt.
“It is a good thing, Ada. The village is in uproar. Their witch-fervour is reaching a crescendo. If I don’t give them their sacrificial lamb, they will start to accuse others. And you know who they will point the finger to next.”
My aunts. I was already sick with worry about my aunts. They had not come to visit me, which was wise. They couldn’t be seen to be consorting with me, or it would only put them in even more danger. I hoped they were keeping quiet and staying out of trouble.
“Of course you’re right,” I said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not afraid. These are the people I’ve grown up with, Ulrich. Many of them I considered to be dear friends. To see them turn on me like this is heartbreaking.”
"I know. And I’ll try to take your mind off it. I have something special in store for you today," Ulrich slipped inside the chamber, and swung the heavy wooden bar over the doors. No one could disturb us. Even through the pain of Heloise’s words, I could feel the excitement building in my belly. What did he have in store for me next?
Ulrich ordered me to kneel on the cold stone floor, and he pulled my smock over my head so I was naked before him. He bent down and kissed me, cupping my face in his rough hands. After being starved of food for days, my senses were heightened, and Ulrich’s touch sent fire through my body. He kissed me deeply, exploring every crevice.
After a few moments, Ulrich pulled away, breathing hard. "I thought we'd resume your torture right here," he said.
I watched, curious, as Ulrich reached up and pulled down a chain that hung from a loop in the ceiling. The end of the chain dangled in front of my face. He pulled a heavy metal ring from around his wrist and clamped that to the bottom of the chain. From his belt he unhooked a set of cuffs and clipped them on to one of the links in the chain, so they dangled a couple of feet above my head. Ulrich lifted up my arms and placed them in the cuffs, snapping them shut.
"I call this device ‘The Sling’," he said. "witch hunters use it to raise a victim off the ground, and drop them quickly, pulling their arms from their sockets. I've modified it somewhat, for our purposes."
Ulrich clamped the heavy ring around my neck. From the front of it protruded a coarse rope, knotted through the tight ring directly over my throat. He showed me how the rope had been woven with tiny metal beads. Using one hand, Ulrich parted my slit, dipping his fingers inside me while he fingered that little bud.
“Ooooh!” My core began to warm as he stroked me. I shuffled forward, trying to push myself against his fingers. Ulrich grinned at me, pressing his lips to mine. The air around us crackled with energy as the fire of his kiss coursed through me.
While he continued to kiss me, Ulrich pulled the rope down my chest and between my legs, pulling open my lips and placing it through my slit. The rope bit into me, and I gasped against his lips. Ulrich pulled the rope up through my ass crack, over my back, and fastened it through a loop at the back of the cuffs that held my hands.
The weight of the collar pulled my head forward, so I rested my face against his. As I slumped against my bonds, the rope rubbed my soft skin, the metal beads causing exquisite pain as they moved over my most sensitive areas. Ulrich laughed as he watched my face contort. He placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me gently backward. The rope pulled through my legs again, the coarse hemp straining against my clit. The knot bit into my throat, pushing the air from my lungs. My head spun and my body shuddered with longing.
"Does it please you?" Ulrich asked.
"It would please me more," I said. "If I could not breathe through my mouth."
Ulrich’s face broke into a smile, as he understood my meaning. He dropped my shoulders, so that I swung back, the rope rubbing my again, sending a shiver of delicious pain through my core. He stood in front of me, pushing me backward with the toe of his boot while he unbuckled his belt. I swung back and the rope bit and I felt another rush of pleasure. Ulrich dropped his sword belt to the ground, and unfastened the drawstring of his breeches.
I opened my mouth wide, and he pushed himself inside, sighing with ecstasy as I wrapped my lips around his huge cock. I swung forward again, sliding his shaft further into my throat, enjoying the deep, salty taste of him. He pulled on the chain and I swung gently back and forth, my lips stroking him with each swing. I moaned against him as I felt the metal beads find their target, and their rubbing caused a great warmth to spread out from my core, creeping down my legs and across my stomach. Soon, I would orgasm with my lips wrapped around Ulrich’s thick cock. It was perfect.
"Oh, Ada," Ulrich moaned, his fingers clawing at my hair as I sucked him deep into my throat. I felt his cock stiffen, and could taste the first of his juices against my tongue. He was close, too. "Ada-"
"Well," a chirpy voice said, "This is interesting."
Ulrich leapt away from me, yanking his cock from my mouth so fast he knocked my teeth. I jerked my head up, fearing what I would see.
There in the doorway, silhouetted by the flame of her lantern, was Rebekah. She stared at us and sneered. "I was coming to deliver some food for you." she said. "Even though you’re an evil witch, you’re still my friend, and I didn’t want you to starve. But I see you've already eaten."
"Rebekah, don't-"
"Oh, shut up." Her words cut through me, as if she'd slapped me. I’d never before heard her speak with such a cold, harsh tone. "Just wait till my father hears about this."
"Rebekah-" Ulrich reached for her, but she shook her head.
"Clearly, even our witch hunter is under her spell. Good luck protecting your precious plaything in the law court, Ulrich. You're going to need it."
Rebekah spun on her heel and stormed away.
I let out a sob, my anguish strangled by the rope biting my throat. My whole body turned cold with dread. Ulrich removed the rope and unlocked the cuffs and I collapsed against him, sobbing into his shoulder. He patted my back awkwardly, as if he didn't quite know what to do. I guessed in his line of work he didn't often deal with comforting sobbing women.
“Ada, it’s going to be okay, you’ll see.”
"I'm going to die," I wailed. "They're going to, going to-" I thought back to the last witch burning in the village, from when I was a child. The unfortunate woman had been tied to a stake over a huge pyre, and everyone in the village had thrown lanterns on the pyre and danced around her, cheering and chanting prayers while she howled with agony. I remember her clothes catching fire and her hair going up with a poof. And most of all, I remember the smell, like roasting pig on Midwinter Solstice.
That will be me up there, roasted alive. I buried my face in Ulrich’s shoulders, my whole body shaking with sobs.
"No, Ada." Ulrich pulled my face to his, pressing his forehead to him. He wiped the tears from my eyelids, and said. "I won't let them burn you. Rebekah may be the magistrate's daughter, but as a scharfrichter, I represent the hand of divine justice, the Lord himself. My word on these matters is law. We will try for justice for you in the court."
"It’s no use, Ulrich. They won’t listen to you. The village wants a burning. They will find me guilty."
Ulrich pulled me close, and wrapped his arms around me, his fingers tangled in my hair. "Then we will run away before that can happen," he said. "I will take you, and your aunts, far away from this plac
e, and I will make sure no one ever does harm to you again."
Ulrich
I didn’t want to leave Ada all alone, but I had no choice. Reluctantly, I pulled her hands from around my neck, set her on the floor, and closed and locked her cell door. She stared up at me with those wide, frightened eyes, and it took all my will not to fling the door back open and scoop her into my arms. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I said. “But I probably can’t return before the trial. I have to figure out how to get them to acquit you.”
Ada opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a strangled sob. With a final, lingering look at her, I turned my back and left.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I saw the front door of the hall swinging open. A tray of food and a pitcher of beer lay on the table, the stew already going cold. Rebekah was long gone. I sighed. There was only one thing left to do.
I found Tjard and Clarissa in our cabin. Clarissa ducked under the blankets when I entered, as I had taught her to do. “It’s just Ulrich,” Tjard poked her, until she pulled her head out again.
“You look upset,” she said. “Is something the matter?”
“I’ve fucked up,” I growled, grabbing Tjard’s skin and tipping the last of the mead down my throat. “I’ve fucked everything up.”
Quickly I told them about Rebekah’s threats, and her finding me and Ada, and about the letter from Lord Benedict, and how I had promised Ada I would have her acquitted of her charges.
“There’s only one thing to do,” Tjard said. “You have to get her convicted.”
“Didn’t you just hear what I said? Ada must live!”
“I did hear, Ulrich. That’s exactly why it’s vital that you are the one to sentence her to death. Rebekah was the only one who saw you two together, and while her father might believe her wild story, it is unlikely all the village elders would believe a gossiping girl over a scharfrichter. You convict her, thereby restoring your status in the eyes of the village and silencing these rumours of your enchantment. Then, Clarissa and I set up the ruse, just like we always do, and we get Ada to safety, just like we’ve done a hundred times before.”
“And my father?”
“You’re right. You have to kill him. We will go to Rotstrom castle together, and I’ll keep Willow waiting for you for a quick escape.”
“I don’t like it. I don’t know if I can convince the elders that I wish Ada dead.”
“You have to. What’s the alternative? You know how these trials work. They won’t convict Ada on facts, but on gossip and superstition. If you defend her against the charges, they will say it is because she has enchanted you, and all your evidence will be voided. And then neither you nor Ada will be able to be saved. The only way is to get her convicted.”
I turned to Clarissa. “Is this your council, too?”
She stared at me strangely. “What do you care? You’ve never asked for my opinion before.”
“I care, Clarissa. Please.” I could feel my voice catching in my throat.
She sighed. “Tjard is right. Our best hope is to go through with the original plan. But Ulrich, you’ll really have to convince them.”
“If it will save Ada, I’ll convince them of anything.”
Clarissa gave me a strange look, but I ignored it.
That was a big mistake.
Ada
I didn’t even try to sleep. The fear clutched at my stomach, gnawing and twisting my insides around. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Rebekah’s face, twisted into a cruel scowl as her eyes darted from mine to Ulrich’s.
Why would she do this to me? I have done nothing but be a loyal friend to her all these years. I had fond memories of us playing together as girls, making straw dolls to play families, and stuffing our faces with Aunt Aubrey’s honey cakes. What had I done to turn her against me?
“You watch that Rebekah,” Aunt Bernadine had warned me once. “She has naught but her own interests at heart.”
“Rebekah’s my friend. She wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Rebekah is your friend because it suits her,” Aunt Aubrey had replied, in her kind voice. “But one day, when she sees that you outshine her, she will turn on you.”
Looking back on their comments, I felt a strange sense of finality. My aunts had been right all along. But how had they known? Was that just my aunt’s keen observations of Rebekah’s character, or did they foresee this?
My trial was set for mid-morning, so that the whole village would be able to attend after they’d completed morning chores. At midday, Waltraud appeared at the door to my cell, whistling a jaunty tune while he twirled a set of shackles on his ringers.
“Where’s Tjard?” I demanded, worry twisting in my belly.
“Silence, witch.” was his reply.
Waltraud’s broad body blocked the entire cell door. There was no point trying to escape him, and even if there was an opening, I was too terrified to move. He leered at me as he grabbed my wrists and latched them behind my back, and he pawed at my breasts as he pushed me out of the cell.
“Maybe they’ll be kind enough to let me have you, before they burn you.” he sneered. “That way, at least you’ll have a pleasant last memory to take to hell with you.”
My cheeks burned with shame and anger, but I was too frightened to speak. Waltraud pushed me up the stairs and into the hall.
The room was packed with people. Despite the bitter cold outside, the doors had been thrown open, and I could see the square outside was also crowded with onlookers. They hooted and gasped as Waltraud brought me in, and placed me in a wooden chair that sat in the centre of the room. My chair faced a table, behind which sat Rebekah’s father, along with the other village elders who were acting as jurors. A long sword was laid across the table, representing the Elder’s divine justice. I gasped as I recognised the elaborate design of the crucifixion etched into the blade. The sword was Ulrich’s.
I glanced around the room, hunting every face for my scharfrichter. He would never be far from his sword. He must be here somewhere, he is the only one who will speak for me against Rebekah … but I could not see his face.
Elder Ernust banged a gavel on the table and called for silence, but the crowd was too riled up to pay him any heed. Finally, Waltraud placed his two fingers in the corners of his mouth and let out a piercing whistle. Everyone settled down enough that Elder Ernust could begin.
He stood, his beady eyes glaring at me as if he might turn me to stone with his gaze. "This court will now decide on the matter of the Church verses this unfortunate woman, who has been accused of the crime of witchcraft."
“Guilty!” yelled Heloise. The crowd took up her chant, stamping their feet and banging their fists on the tables with such fervour that it took several minutes for the Elders to regain control of the room.
"Has the accused signed a confession?"
"She has.”
I gasped. I recognised the voice. I spun around. There, standing in the door of the hall stood Ulrich, his arms folded across his broad chest, and his black cloak flapping menacingly around his frame. He wore his executioner’s mask, the peaked nose held high in the air.
Ulrich strode across the room to stand in front of the Elders. He did not once glance my way. What was he doing? He was supposed to be helping me. I never signed a confession.
My chest tightened with fear as I watched Ulrich pick up the sword from the table and turn it over in his hands. Elder Ernust looked ready to protest, but he held his tongue.
“I have here in my hands Ada’s signed confession.” Ulrich drew a folded parchment from the folds of his cape and tossed it on to the table in front of Ernust. The Elder picked it up and scanned the contents, nodded slightly before passing the letter to the other men.
“I never signed that!” I cried, leaping to my feet. What is he doing? This isn’t what he said would happen. He was supposed to be getting me acquitted, not condemning me!
The villages screamed and jumped back. Waltraud swung out a
nd pushed me back into the chair again.
I tried to meet Ulrich’s eyes, but still he refused to look at me.
“After extensive torture, I have coaxed the demon that had penetrated deep into this unfortunate girl.” said Ulrich, his voice cold and cruel. “The creature did admit to sending the Great Pestilence to this village, and to fornication with animals, and to attempting to Seduce Waltraud and Simon, and cursing the fields, and hastening the death of Heloise’s child, Ida.”
“I didn’t do these things!” I cried, but my protests were lost in the clamour of the villagers.
“Check her right thigh.” Ulrich ordered, “And you will see all the evidence you need.”
“No!” I leapt from the chair again, but this time, Waltraud was too fast for me. He grabbed my hair and pulled me back, lifting my legs above my head. I screamed and kicked and thrashed, but strong hands clamped down on my legs and pulled them apart, yanking up my skirts. My face burned with shame at being exposed to everyone in this way.
A collective gasp ran through the crowd as they laid eyes on the birthmark.
“The Devil’s Mark!” cried one.
“It truly does look like a wolf!” screamed another.
Tears burned in the corners of my eyes. Ulrich, why have you done this? Was this your intention all along? You had your fun with me in the dungeon, and now that Rebekah discovered your game, you’re getting rid of the evidence. Is that it? Was everything a lie?
"I have administered every torture my dungeon is equipped for, and in each one the demon within her proved remarkably resilient.”
"Every test?" Elder Ernust leaned forward. "And fornicating with the witch hunter is a test these days, is it?"
My blood froze. I knew it was too much to hope that Rebekah wouldn’t tell. She’d just hammered the final nail in my coffin. I glanced over at my former friend, who was seated behind her father, wearing a satisfied smile across her face.
"Your daughter is mistaken in what she saw." Ulrich said, his face stoic.
Witch Hunter: dark medieval paranormal romance (Witches of the Woods Book 1) Page 18