Angelina's Secret

by Diane Merill Wigginton

  I will kill Darcy Montgomery when I get my hands on him. The narcissistic man would pay. He thinks he will show me my place in the world. Hah!

  My eyes slowly began to focus in the darkness. My hands had been tied together above my head with a rough rope that was biting into my skin. I was lying on a mattress but, beyond that, I couldn’t really see much past the foot of the bed.

  Calling out again, “Hello? Is anyone there? Help me!” The words tore at my dry throat. I felt a hitch of pain in my tight chest cleared my throat and called out again. “Is anyone there! Hello!?”

  Three tiny dots of light lined a wall that led to what looked like a tunnel. My head ached and my eyes were blurry. I could hear footsteps and then lantern lights. Four blurry figures made their way toward me.

  “I am glad to see that you are no worse for wear, Angelina. Could I offer you a drink of water? Chloroform and ether can leave your mouth so dry, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, please.” My words came out in a whisper because my throat had completely gone dry.

  “I see we have learned some manners already,” Darcy said as his sugary sweet words held an undertone of menace.

  He snapped his fingers and the young woman who accompanied him ran to do his bidding. Putting the lantern and pitcher of water down on a small table next to the bed, she poured a cup of water, supported my head and poured a small amount of water into my mouth.

  I swallowed, then began to choke, coughing and sputtering water everywhere.

  “You imbecile, are you trying to kill her?” Darcy screamed at the woman, cuffing her in the back of the head.

  “I’m sorry, sir,” she said, ducking as she cowered from his abuse.

  “It wasn’t her fault, I just swallowed wrong. Please don’t hurt her.” I croaked through the spasms of coughs.

  Throwing a glass of water in my face, he caught me by surprise. “When I wish to hear your opinion, I will let you know. Since you are new here, allow me to give you your first lesson.” Darcy motioned to the two men who had accompanied him.

  The bigger of the two men untied my wrists as the other one took hold of my arm. Together they dragged me from the mattress, pushing me into a kneeling position in front of the bed.

  Glancing over my shoulder, fear began to take root deep inside. The perverse smile on Darcy’s face caused my blood to run cold. I tried to get up, but the two men held me down.

  “Don’t fight it, my dear, it only excites me more,” he said next to my ear as he untied the back of my gown. A shiver of revulsion crawled up my spine as he pushed the gown off my shoulders. “Hand me the cane, woman,” Darcy demanded.

  Searing pain ripped through my body as the cane struck me across my shoulder blades. He raised the cane high above his head striking me again. This time the pain was so severe I screamed out. His sadistic laugh ringing in my ears. Darcy struck me three more times before I collapsed, my body going limp as blood caused my slip to stick to my back.

  “I think that will conclude our lesson for today,” he cheerfully announced as if we were discussing how lovely the weather was. “Treat her wounds, woman. I would hate for that to scar. Tie her back up when you are done,” Darcy ordered the woman. “You supervise,” he said, pointing to the larger man.

  Walking away, he whistled a happy tune all the way down the corridor.

  The woman peeled my slip down, placing some sort of salve on my wounds. Then she gently helped me dress in a fresh gown and pressed a cup of hot broth with some bread in my hands.

  “Do you need to use the pot before he ties you back up?” she quietly asked, avoiding eye contact.

  “Please tell me your name,” I whispered, trying to make a bond. “My name is Angelina Stewart.”

  “I know who you are.” Her eyes darted back to the man standing guard at the end of the bed.

  “You have to get a message out to Lord Deveraux or my father, Lord Stewart,” I said, grabbing her hand when she turned to leave.

  She slipped her hand away. “She’s ready.”

  “Please, could I at least have a blanket?” I cried, my eyes pleading with her. “Please!”

  She removed the shawl from her shoulders placing it around mine before she turned her back to me. My hands were once again bound to the bed. The man picked up his lantern, waiting for the woman to catch up.

  She left behind a lantern on the table when she departed. “I am sorry,” was all she whispered to me as she turned to go.

  I couldn’t tell you how long I lay there fading in and out of consciousness. It could have been hours or days. I had no way of gauging the passage of time in the dark. The lantern had run out of fuel while I slept, leaving me in total darkness with nothing but my own thoughts to keep me company.

  The bed I was tied to was an old iron bed that was badly rusted. I tried pulling on it to see if there was any give at all, but I felt weak and sick to my stomach most of the time, so I tried to sleep and conserve my energy.

  I maintained my sanity by recounting the passages from books I had read. Sometimes I sang to pass the time. When the truly dark moments overtook me, I thought of how many ways I would kill Darcy Montgomery. Those were the moments that brought me the most comfort.

  Sometime later, I heard footsteps coming down the tunnel before I saw the lantern lights as Darcy and the woman came with a tray of food.

  “Oh good, you are awake. I was hoping that you would be in a much more cooperative mood after our little lesson,” he said, coming closer to me with the light. “Is that light hurting your eyes?” What is that look for?” His words implied sympathy as I glared at him. “Are you feeling sad?” Darcy asked sarcastically, his words cutting me to the quick. I turned away just as tears sprang to my eyes. “Maybe you are thinking of someone you will never see again. Let me guess, is it your mother? No, your father?” He was getting such perverse enjoyment from taunting me he nearly crowed. Crawling up the length of the bed, he straddled my body. Leering at me, he crept inch by inch by inch, smelling me as he went. “Or could it be your fiancé, Lord Deveraux?” he said, licking my neck and then my cheek.

  “Did you kill him?” I asked, not sure I really wanted to know the truth. Liquid tears flooded my ears as I told myself to not cry. I took a deep breath to gain control over my emotions and stem off the nausea I felt.

  “No. He just had a very bad headache. I figured killing him would be too merciful an act.” His finger traced along my jaw line, down my neck and between my breasts. “And if there is one thing I am not, that is merciful. No, his true pain will come from never finding you again and knowing for the rest of his natural born days that he was at fault.” His sadistic laugh echoed through the cavernous walls. I began to breathe in and out through my mouth because his stench made me physically ill.

  “Oh, darling Angelina, just put him out of your mind, because you are never going to make it out of here alive,” he began to laugh again, while he untied me. “Maggie has provided you with something over in the corner to relieve yourself in. Then we will have a meal together. I am sorry if the accommodations are not up to your standards, but we do the best we can. Now hurry along. I hate to be kept waiting.”

  I tried to stand and would have fallen to the floor if it had not been for Maggie slipping an arm around my waist. She assisted me to the pot in the corner and even stood in front of me, providing a small amount of privacy. “Thank you for your kindness, Maggie,” I said as I stood up, grabbing hold of her arm for support.

  She walked me back to the table where Darcy had pulled out a chair for me.

  “That will be all for now, Maggie, you can wait for me back at the house,” he said in a dismissive tone.

  “Yes, sir.” Maggie bobbed a curtsy and scurried down the passage way.

  “Now, my dear, it looks like it is just you and me.” His sinister grin churned my stomach. The food smelled delicious and I was starving. My empty stomach gurgled.

  “It sounds to me like someone is hungry,” he said while removing t
he covers from the two plates. “I took the liberty of requesting finger foods. I hope you don’t mind.” He snickered with delight. “Your reputation with a knife precedes you.” He laughed to himself as if he told a funny joke. “My associates may not have been terribly bright, but did you really have to kill Roy?” he said, pausing a moment for his words to sink in.

  “You sent those men to attack me on the road?” I was stunned by his admission. I could not believe what I was hearing.

  “Yes. The two of them bungled the entire thing so badly. Too bad I had to finish the job for you. I couldn’t very well have Tommy talking to the authorities now, could I?” He smiled with satisfaction when I gasped.

  “You killed Tommy?” I cried, unable to hide my distaste and disbelief.

  “You dare doubt my word?” Darcy’s rapidly changing mood indicating to me an unstable nature.

  “No! Of course not, it’s just that I didn’t know he was dead.” Quickly backtracking, I decided to appeal to his vanity. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how powerful you were, that’s all. I’m impressed.” Taking some cheese and bread from the tray, I ate a piece and slipped a few pieces under the table and into my pocket while he spooned soup into his mouth.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, noticing my hands under the table.

  “I was just massaging my wrists. The rope is so rough it has cut into my skin. See?” I said, bringing my hands up to show him. “And it doesn’t help that my hands are tied above my head. I have been trying to get feeling back so that I might be able to grip the spoon.”

  “Well, you won’t be uncomfortable for much longer, Angelina.” An evil smile formed on his lips. “It is almost a full moon.”

  “What happens when the moon is full?” I asked, swallowing hard.

  “We will be having a little ceremony, and you will be our guest of honor.” His words filling me with dread as he laughed to himself.

  I had to figure a way out of this. No one knew where I was. I didn’t even know where I was or what day it was. What I did know was, Darcy was insanely deranged and meant to kill me.

  “You just might want to keep me around for a while,” I said, feigning sweetness.

  “Oh, and why is that?” he asked skeptically.

  “Because I know what you like.” I looked at him through my eyelashes as I spooned some soup into my mouth.

  “Oh, you do now, and what is that?” He seemed amused by our little game as it made him smile.

  “I could make you feel good. That is what you want, isn’t it?” I said, trying to sound seductive. “You know I have only been playing hard to get because you like a good game.” I smiled suggestively.

  “Don’t try to play me for a fool, Angelina.” He suddenly turned serious as I plied him with sweet womanly wiles to get his interest.

  “No! No, I wouldn’t do that. I know how much you hate it. You are much too smart for that,” I said, placating his ego.

  “Sounds like this might have just turned interesting for me,” he said, grinning widely, like a cat playing with a mouse. “I hope you have finished your dinner, my dear.” Taking me by the arm, he pulled me back to the bed.

  I pleaded, “Wouldn’t you like a chance to clean up just a bit? We just finished our meal and maybe you would allow me to wash myself. I have been lying here for I don’t even know how many days. Surely you can understand that I want to be fresh for you.” My words rushed out as I tried to keep the panic out of my voice.

  “Of course, I understand, my dear. I will send Maggie back to get you ready for me. But for now, I am afraid I will have to tie you to the bed again.” His behavior was solicitous now as he gently tied me to the bed.

  “But how can I ready myself if I am tied up?” My childish pout meant to catch him off guard.

  “It is only for a short while, just until I return.” He leaned down and kissed my lips. I tried desperately not to flinch or shudder from the profound revulsion I was feeling. Instead, I smiled seductively at him when he pulled away. “Don’t be long,” I sweetly said. “I am already lonely for you,” I called to him as he walked away.

  Waiting a minute until I was sure he was out of earshot, I desperately began yanking at the bar I was tied to. I thought I had felt it give way earlier, but now my life depended on it. I could feel the slightest give as the rough rope dug into my skin, but I didn’t care. I had to get free. The very thought of him touching me in an intimate way made me sick.

  A few minutes later, Maggie came into the large room so quietly that I jumped when I looked up and saw her.

  “What are you doing?” she timidly asked.

  “I have to get free. Help me.” Desperation underlining every word I spoke.

  “I can’t. He will kill me,” she said, looking back at the entrance hall. I could see the fear on her face.

  “Not if I kill him first,” I said to her as I continued to yank on the bar.

  “You don’t know him like I do. He is a brick short of a full load.” Maggie looked over her shoulder again while putting the bowl of warm water down on the table.

  “Maybe so, but he is a man, and he bleeds just like the rest of them. Now untie me and help me find a weapon,” I told her. “I will die either way. If he touches me, the truth will be revealed. I am not that good of an actor. My total revulsion of the man will come out, and he will kill me. Please, Maggie, I will take you with me. I just need your help to get free,” I frantically pleaded with her.

  My pleads for help went unanswered. Maggie began to clean and ready me for Lord Montgomery.

  “Maggie, if you won’t help me, leave me alone. I beg you.”

  “I am sorry. I fear him and what he will do to me if I help you,” her words spoken so quietly I almost missed them.

  “I had a dagger in my pocket when Lord Montgomery captured me. Do you know what happened to it?”

  “The gold one with jewels on the handle?” Maggie asked.

  “Yes, that’s the one,” I said with a glimmer of hope in my voice.

  “He has been wearing it in his waistband.”

  “I didn’t see it tonight,” I replied.

  “He is afraid of what you might do to him if you get your hands on any knife, let alone your dagger,” Maggie said with awe as she looked at me now. “He said no one could have a weapon on them around you.”

  “Is this what you were looking for?” Darcy’s voice startling us both as he brandished my dagger in his hand.

  Maggie instantly gazed downward and shrunk back in fear.

  “Thank you, Maggie. That will be all. I will deal with you later.” Darcy’s sinister message registering with Maggie instantly as her entire demeanor changed.

  “Run, Maggie, and don’t stop,” I whispered to her.

  I could see her mind racing as her breathing came in small gasps like a mouse trapped by a cat. She scurried away with the bowl and rag, ducking her head as she went. At least she could leave. I was tied to this bed with nothing to defend myself.

  Desperation gripped my throat as my mind began to race. Pulling on the ropes, now tied to the metal headboard, the bar giving just enough to cause a glimmer of hope but not enough to free me, I felt my heart sink.

  “I was suspicious of your motives when I left and now I see my suspicions were warranted.” Darcy’s crooked smile spoke volumes as he came to stand by the bed, looming over me.

  I could feel my heart beating in my throat as fear made my head light and my entire body began to tingle. I tried to slow my breathing down in hopes that he wouldn’t realize just how scared I was of him.

  “You know, I think I like it when you struggle.” He chuckled. Climbing on to the bed, he straddled my legs. Darcy trailed the dagger down the side of my throat and between my breasts

  “So what else do you like?” I asked, trying to buy time while I continued to struggle with the bar.

  “I like the fear I see in your eyes, knowing I hold your life in my hands,” pricking my chest with the dagger, which made me cry out
in surprise. I glared at him defiantly. “But mostly, I like it when you get angry and fight back.”

  Rage caused my eyes to tear up because all I could think about was how many ways I wanted to kill him.

  “Oh, did I hurt you, my dear?” Darcy said, feigning sympathy as he slid his finger along the trail of blood dripping from the cut he inflicted and slowly placed it in his mouth. Then closing his eyes, he savored it like it was dessert. A morbid moan of ecstasy escaped his throat.

  “You truly are sweet to the taste and I now see your appeal,” he said in a perverse, sadistic tone.

  “You are a cruel, ruthless beast,” I screamed at him as feelings of sheer rage broiled inside of me.

  “Is that the best you can do, my dear? I have heard worse,” Darcy taunted, grabbing my face with his hand. “So tell me how you really feel,” he said, leaning in closer. The stench of him made me want to puke when he brutally kissed my lips.

  Struggling to break free of his contact, I began to scream and struggle. Breaking free of his kiss, I spat in disgust. “Why don’t you take these ropes off and find out exactly how I feel about you?” I challenged, glaring boldly at him.

  “Now why would I want to do that when I have you exactly where I want you?” Darcy answered, a lecherous half smile playing across his mouth. Brutally slapping my face, he snarled at me. “You are a lying, manipulative bitch, and you will die by my hands just like the others.” He leaped from the bed to glare down at me.

  I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly because of the ringing in my ears. Turning to look at him, I spat the blood out of my mouth. “Did you just say others? As in you murdered others?” I asked with a deliberate tone of disbelief.

  “Yes, I did. And tomorrow night you will join them.” His laugh sounding especially loud as it echoed off the walls.

  My skin crawled as I looked into his evil eyes. “What others?” I asked, trying to hide the revulsion I felt toward him.

  “The night of the king’s party when you and I had our little disagreement, I followed you around that night. I saw your little tryst with Lord Deveraux in the boat. How you begged him to take you just like the little whore that you are,” he spat the words out as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.