ORS excerpt 4

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Note the following excerpt contains violence and rough sex descriptions, please stop here if these themes offends your sensibilities!

No idea what a hellfire club is? Check out wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfire_Club

Her attacker paid no need to her cries.

He had parted his robes with one hand and was stroking the weapon between his legs with the other. 

It was an ugly red monster curved like a scimitar that leaked fluid as it grew more erect. 

ORS excerpt 3

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Marguerite raised her head and stared in horror as the men swallowed drams of powder mixed into their cups of mead. 

Only the blonde leader abstained. 

The smell of male arousal swelled in the air and was overwhelming as the front of the men’s robes tented with obvious animal desire.

ORS excerpt 2

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Her eyes widened as she glimpsed the origin of the whimpers that prompted her return to consciousness. 

Stretched out and bound to wooden pillars on a raised platform was the lithe figure of her cousin, Cicely. 

Uncomprehending terror stared out of those beautiful green eyes, so like her own, as barely muffled screams alternating with whimpers streamed out of her gagged mouth. 

ORS excerpt 1

The Original Sin Part 1 is now out on Kindle, get unpublished details and immerse yourself in dark romance!

"Marguerite, wake up.." 

A light tapping of her face strengthened the effort to open her eyes, the struggle against heavy lids for vision.

"William..what is happening?" Marguerite hardly recognised her voice, a slurred wisp.

William had a wild look of despair in his eyes.

"I am so sorry. I should never have..."

Jamie taster 1

NSFW Jamie Crofts taster 1. For the full hot sauce, please visit AMAZON !

Waking to the glorious spread of red curls across his arms and chest made him smile and snuggle close to the beautiful hellion in his embrace. Giving in to temptation, he placed light kisses down her neck, moving slowly towards her breasts. The growing heat of her skin and the red flush painting the cheeks of the sleeping beauty was more arousing than he had ever expected. Heading straight for the rosy nipples that beckoned, he found himself beginning to breathe faster.

You are little better than a randy goat, Jamie Crofts. A mere slip of a girl reduces you to a bumbling young buck.


As he suckled and feasted on her breasts, light moans began to fall from her mouth. Rigid with desire, he moved to release her bound limbs.

Desire Flows

This is part 2 of Chapter 3 preview of the alternative story arc. Enjoy! 

What he had not anticipated was Marguerite thwarting his honourable intentions. Having reached the door of her bedroom, Henry had thought to end the kiss when Marguerite wound her arms around his shoulders and deepened the kiss, rubbing her tongue against his. Shifting a hand higher to turn the doorknob, the brush of her round soft bottom against his wrist made his blood sing with desire.

Henry barely remembered walking into the bedroom as his head spun with the heat of Marguerite's kiss. "Love, are you sure?" he mumbled between kisses as he slowly lowered Marguerite.

Marguerite's answer was a sensual glide of her hips as she slid down his body when he lowered her from his embrace. Pressing forward, she felt his body's answer in the growing bulge that she felt against her belly.

Feeling wanton impulse overtake her inhibitions, she moved her open palms from Henry's face to his broad chest, smiling at the quickening beat she felt beneath her hands. Tracing the path of her hands with her lips, she felt Henry tense as her hands moved past the top of his breeches and caressed his growing desire through the cloth. Henry's hands wound themselves in her hair as her lips closed upon the cloth-covered proof of his arousal. Undoing his breeches, Marguerite tried to conceal her nerves when he sprang forth, rigid and swollen.

Tipping her head up, Henry said in a voice gruff with desire, " Love, you do not have to.."

The thought died on a groan as Henry's tenderness proved to be the answer to Marguerite's nerves, her lips lightly kissing the head of his arousal before her tongue darted out to taste the pearly drop on its tip.

"Oh God..." Henry groaned as Marguerite licked and lightly sucked from the tip of his arousal to its base while her hands caressed the round sac at the base. To Marguerite's amazement, his arousal seemed to grow and twitch as Henry's stomach muscles trembled while his breath came out as a hiss.

Henry could feel droplets of sweat form on his forehead as Marguerite's mouth worked its exquisite torture over his throbbing organ. Feeling himself teetering on the edge, he tried to pull out of Marguerite's mouth. "Love, no, I cannot hold back..." Marguerite's hands held onto Henry's bottom, effectively trapping him.

"Love, no..."

The feel of Marguerite's lips and warm mouth across half his length as she moved  her head in a dance around his arousal, concentrating on its sensitive head, proved to be Henry's undoing. Shouting his satisfaction, his stomach muscles shaking, Henry flooded Marguerite's mouth.

Realising she would gag as Henry's release threatened to overflow her mouth, Marguerite swallowed instinctively as she moved her lips to encompass his swollen tip, watching it jerk as Henry climaxed. His warm, salty essence filled her mouth as she swallowed as much as she could. Watching Henry's face, Marguerite marveled at the pleasure she had brought to her lover.

Pulling away after she felt his tremors subside, Marguerite was surprised to find Henry was still half rigid. Henry did not give her much time to wonder as he lay her on the bed, his hands making quick work of her clothes. Marguerite's mind  fogged over with desire as Henry's thumb teased a peak while his mouth closed in on her other breast, teasingly close to the peak but not on it. Henry smiled as the peak pebbled beneath his circling thumb and an involuntary moan escaped Marguerite's lips as he finally suckled the aching peak he had teased.

To be continued

Healing Part 2

The culmination of healing - ok bad jokes aside - think it's great that Marguerite is healing

Henry knew he was near spending as he jerked frantically in Marguerite’s mouth. Growing lust battled the initial surprise he felt when Marguerite took him into her mouth, she had been hesitant and reluctant when he had first taught her to please him that way. Now, she seemed almost desperate to bring him to climax in this fashion. A sudden flash of realization crossed Henry’s mind, she was trying to reaffirm herself as a woman. The emotional force of that realization barely had time to register itself in his brain before a rainbow of pleasure took its place as he exploded in her mouth. Marguerite swallowed the copious flow from Henry’s manhood, letting it chase away the bitterness of the attack, replacing it with the tart tang of Henry.

Pulling away at last, Henry lifted Marguerite onto his table, sweeping away all objects and obstacles before laying her on its surface. The beauty of Marguerite had never failed to amaze him and her delicate condition upon recovery merely enhanced that. As his semi-hard manhood started to flex at the sight of his fiancée spread out before him, covered only by a diaphanous nightgown that concealed but also suggested the treasures underneath it, Henry gave himself a stern warning to slow his pace lest he scare her. Kissing the mouth that brought him such pleasure just moments ago, he tasted himself and was surprised to find it more arousing than previous experiences had been. Skilfully using his hands and lips to bring her breasts and its sensitive points to aching desire, he sought to revive the desire that had lain dormant since the attack, buried under the pain, horror and fear that the attack had brought. Slowly and carefully, he raised and bent her knees before his lips moved down in a trail across her thighs. Feeling his lips on the raised skin of the hideous brand, Marguerite cried out in panic, “No!”

“My love, do not be ashamed of something you were not responsible for, let me love you and heal you.”

As Marguerite’s protests subsided, Henry moved to the apex of her thighs and started to explore her core, starting with her outer lips. Marguerite’s gasp of pleasure as his tongue licked skilfully at her portal, making the lips tingly and plump even as his fingers stroked across the nub hidden in her hood. Henry could feel her edging closer to climax as she bucked and thrust towards his mouth. He felt triumphant when she cried out in pleasure and her juices poured into his mouth.

Watching as the last tremors ran through her, Henry moved to place himself right at the entrance to her portal. While Marguerite did not flinch, her stiff stillness was clear indication of her fear. Henry watched her intently as he rubbed the head of his manhood across her wet lips and lodged just the head of it in her portal. Marguerite braced herself for the pain she expected but was surprised by the tiny sparks of pleasure as Henry glided slowly into her. All thoughts of proceeding slowly vanished as Marguerite raised her legs and locked him in.

“Love, no, I do not wish to hurt you…”

Henry’s voice trailed off into a groan as Marguerite began thrusting her hips towards him. Watching Henry’s face closely, Marguerite realised that the wonderful tendrils of pleasure spreading through her were mirrored in his face as he seemed to delight in her response. Though he was larger than her abusers, Henry was careful not to allow himself to hurt her. Thrusting slowly till he felt her impatience, Henry brought Marguerite to the brink of pleasure, without allowing either of them to tip over.  He softly asked her to open her eyes. “Look at me, love, from this moment, you will only remember me.”

Marguerite felt the moment sear itself into her memory as both were lost in the moment of pleasure. Refusing to let the precious moment slip from her grasp, Marguerite clasped both her legs around Henry’s waist, locking him within her. If only she had not lost the babe, she would have a small part of Henry for herself through all the dark years ahead, she thought with grief and bitterness.

Henry roused himself, fearing he was crushing her. Marguerite’s refusal to release him brought a rueful smile as he shifted them onto their sides, still locked together. Perhaps there was a way to change her mind after all…    


To be continued...

Healing Part 1

Here comes the sexual healing part uno lol!

Even as Henry's hands wrestled with hers for control of the letter opener, Marguerite stared intently at his face and features, etching his image into her memory for all the lonely years that stretched in front of her in her mind's eye.

Henry's triumph at having successfully gaining control over her weapon was short-lived.

"Henry, remember your vow. You must fulfill your oath. If you do not, you will find me dead. You may watch me to prevent that but you cannot watch me all the time. "

The steely look in Marguerite’s eyes made Henry realise she was deadly serious.

Crushing her frail frame to his, he cried, “How am I to live the rest of my life without you? It is too much to ask of me. Please…”

Restraining the emotions and tears that threatened her resolve, Marguerite replied shakily. “We will learn to live without each other if that is what it takes to ensure you are untouched by this horror.”

Meaning to offer only consolation, Marguerite lifted her lips to Henry’s for the first time since the attack. The bittersweet kiss exploded into carnal desire as Marguerite sought to push the awful memories of the attack out of her head and Henry sought to reclaim what was his. As his lips trailed down her neck and his hands caressed her nipples into aching points, Marguerite drew back as apprehension filled her. Henry looked up with some disappointment, but concern quickly tempered his rampant desire.

“Did I cause you pain? I am sorry. Is it too soon?”

“No, no…” Marguerite moved to reassure him. “Do-ddon’t you find me dirty? All those men..that night,” she asked hesitatingly, her eyes cast down, in fear of seeing disgust enter his face.

Lifting her chin, Henry stared into the face of his beloved fiancée and said steadily, “No. And nothing will ever change what is between us. I was the first to take you and since then, nothing has or will ever stand between us.”

With tears in her eyes, Marguerite moved sensually down the front of Henry. She knew her boldness pleased him as he sprang to life in her hands when she freed him from his dressing gown. Staring at the growing proof of his desire, she willed away the unbidden images of the grotesque tools of the men of the Brotherhood who raped her. As her lips tentatively closed upon the bulbous head of Henry’s arousal, she heard a groan from deep inside his throat and was amazed how such a sound that had disgusted her the night of the attack was now reaffirming her prowess as a female. Desperately wishing to give Henry as much pleasure as possible, she tried to take as much of him into her mouth as possible, almost gagging as its swelling head hit the back of her throat.

Consequences

Warning: No sexual activity in this scene. Erotica doesn't have to be boink-a-minute! So romance fans enjoy! The sweet love scene will appear soon. 

The hysterical screams and sobs that echoed through the mansion brought Marguerite to her feet. Tearing through the hallway, she reached the guestroom where two maids, with the assistance of Mary, were trying to restrain Cicely who was in one of her outbursts that had grown more frequent in recent days.

"Begging pardon milady, Miss is trying to throw herself out the window again." A maid tried to explain after Marguerite had helped calm Cicely as they coaxed and put her back in bed. The pain etched on Cicely's face and the wild state of her hair brought new pain to Marguerite. Biting back useless tears, Marguerite stroked Cicely's hair, noting the new spots of blood that dotted Cicely's nightgown. Without flinching, Marguerite looked to check that the stitches on Cicely's mound had not been torn in one of her frenzied outbursts as had happened only three days ago. Cicely was starting to heal physically but Marguerite feared the same could not be said for her mind. Noting the worry on Marguerite's face, Mary tried to reassure her mistress. "My lady, do not worry, time will heal us all."

Grateful for the loyalty of her maid where only condemnation came from her own family, Marguerite hugged the maid who was barely a year older than her.

"Are you still troubled by those night fears?"

Marguerite asked with trepidation, knowing all three were plagued by night fears frequently in their first weeks of recovery. Mary shook her head even as her trembling hands proved her lie.

"Mary, you need not comfort me by concealing those fears," Marguerite said softly as she gripped her maid's hands.

"No, my lady, they are truly fading. I...I am uneasy because I have not had my courses since...since that night."

Staring in horror at Mary, Marguerite realised the import of her words. At Mary's pointed glance at Cicely, Marguerite's horror grew.

With some effort, Marguerite stemmed the bile that threatened to rise and reassured the worried maid that she would find a solution.

***

Marguerite was not surprised to find Henry waiting for her outside the guestroom. They had become accustomed to these night rituals, Marguerite thought with bitter irony. 

The lines of exhaustion that ran along Henry's beautiful face brought a familiar ache to Marguerite's chest. They also brought an understanding that the present situation was untenable. 

Marguerite's request to retire to the study for a discussion surprised Henry. Seeing the firmness and resolve in her expression that had disappeared since that disastrous night brought both relief and unease to Henry. 

As he watched Marguerite seat herself across from him, Henry felt himself dreading what she had to say. 

Forcing herself to get the words out of her mouth rapidly, Marguerite spoke without hesitation, avoiding Henry's gaze.

"Henry, you must announce that our engagement is off." 

Holding up her hand to forestall his protest even as Henry jumped to his feet, Marguerite soldiered on. "You must, Henry. You know, the ton has heard the gossip that has spread since that morning I arrived on your doorstep with Cicely and Mary."

"You know I do not care for the ton or its opinion-"

"I care, Henry. And unless you wish to increase my misery, you will not insist on continuing our engagement. For all purposes, Marguerite Crofts, your fiancée, has ceased to exist since the attack."

"No, you are alive and I still love you, that is all that matters."

"Stop fooling yourself, Henry. You know that even your position and power cannot completely protect me from society. The best I can hope for is to disappear from society and for all to regard Marguerite Crofts as one who has never existed in this world."

"No! That cannot be. I will not allow that! No one would dare to insult me or my family, they will accept what I say."

Glancing with weariness at her fiancé, Marguerite knew he was in denial. "You know the truth is far from what you have said. The ton will condemn me if I dare to defy the rules and reenter society. A ruined woman will never be accepted back into its fold. This is something we have to accept. Not even a duke can change that."

Grasping desperately for a solution, Henry's next words came without thought.

"Why will you not reveal the names of your attackers? Surely you know some of them. Was William Wentworth not one of them? Marguerite, I heard his name among others that you kept repeating when you were in a delirium those first days after you returned. Once they are brought to justice, things will be…" 

Henry’s voice trailed off as even he realised how impractical his words were. No, Marguerite was right, the ton would never accept her again, however unjust it may be. 

"Henry, you have seen how my own father reacted to the truth I revealed of William. Do you really think society will react differently? Gentlemen are rarely doubted or blamed but for women, that is hardly the case. They will excuse William and the Brotherhood, but they will never excuse me for my loss of virtue even if I did not cause it."

"Henry, you must let me go. I could not bear it if I dragged you into the mud along with me." 

The stubborn set of Henry's jaw told Marguerite he was unconvinced. 

Swiftly snatching up the sharp letter opener on his desk, Marguerite held it to her neck before Henry could react. 

"Promise me, Henry, you will make the announcement soon." 

Fearful of triggering an act of desperation, Henry sought to distract Marguerite. "Where can you possibly go? You have seen your parents' reactions, they will not offer you safe haven." 

"They will, if you convince them. I doubt my father prefers ruin to sacrificing a small estate. Swear you will do what I ask of you, now, Henry."

Henry nodded slowly, hoping to placate her.

To be continued...

Aftermath

This post will mark the serialiation of Chapter 2 of the alternative story arc for Marguerite. A lo t more traditional romance, so be warned : sentimental mush ahead lol!

Ultimately, it was the stab of light that tore at the veil of darkness Marguerite had chosen to draw over her consciousness. The veil that blocked out the pain. The pain of memories, the pain that wrecked her body, the pain that was barely concealed in Henry's eyes every time she regained consciousness and gazed at his face. She did not wish to confront the darkness that had been visited upon her scarcely a month ago. She chose the darkness of sleep and oblivion. Burrowing deep into that black pit, she wished it would allow her to deny the tragedy of her continuing existence. And a tragedy it was, a lesson her own family taught her in recent weeks.

She remembered the first meeting with her parents after she was returned to Henry's estate. While her parents had been civil in Henry's presence, it had been very different when Henry excused himself to allow them some privacy. Her mother had dissolved into tears as she decried her misfortune in having such a daughter that brought disgrace and misfortune to the family. Growing increasingly hysterical, Lady Crofts asked what had been so wrong in Marguerite's conduct that brought such disaster upon her and her companions. The blame that Cicely's parents had heaped upon Lady Crofts for their daughter's suffering was unloaded in its entirety upon Marguerite. Not quite believing her ears, Marguerite looked to her father. A glance at his implacable expression made Marguerite's heart sink.

Deliberately avoiding even looking in her direction, Lord Crofts announced in a dispassionate and cold voice that Marguerite was henceforth on her own, disavowed by the family and forbidden to contact or make claims on them.

Stunned into silence, Marguerite tried to defend herself. "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"

"It is not my lack of...morals, or my behaviour that brought this disaster. It was William, the son of your friend, who caused this. He kidnapped Cicely, Mary and me and offered us to the Brotherhood... All because I refused his offer of marriage."

Marguerite fairly screamed those last words as tears obscured her view of her parents.

Her father's shaking of his head and the look of disbelief on his face brought a wave of nausea that almost overwhelmed Marguerite.

"No, William is too honourable a young man to have done what you accuse him of. I have known his father for decades, his son will never do something so despicable. Marguerite, how could you cast such imputations upon the character of such an honourable gentleman just to save yourself. Do you really think anyone will believe the lies you weave?"

The look of disgust and the cruel sneer upon her father's face, accompanied by her mother's endless sniffles, made Marguerite double over in dry heaves.

Fortunately, she was spared the need to respond by Henry's sudden entry. The punch he threw at Lord Crofts made it clear he had heard much of the conversation.

"What is the meaning of this, your Grace? Surely, you do not believe the lies of this little trollop. She is merely attempting to rescue herself."

"You, sir, will leave my estate and never set foot upon it for the rest of your life. And if you ever besmirch Marguerite with your blind aspersions, you will suffer the consequences."

"Your Grace, surely you do not believe her or intend to continue the engagement, not when she has been so disgraced. She will only bring dishonour upon you." Lord Crofts continued unwisely, as he lay sprawled across the floor.

"You will leave before you test my patience any further. I will communicate in future only through my solicitors." Henry pronounced coldly as the sputtering Lord Crofts was assisted by his wife.

"And Crofts," the duke continued, fixing his glare on the man who he once regarded as his future father-in-law. "You will do as I say or face ruin. And you know I am certainly capable of ruining you."

Henry watched dispassionately as Lord Crofts paled. The old man evidently wanted to defend himself but thought the better of it and scurried out the door with his wife.

The tension in Henry's shoulders ebbed slightly as he turned back to Marguerite, whose dry heaving had turned to silent tears. Uncertain of what he could possibly say to comfort her, Henry could only hold her till her tears ceased.

When Marguerite moved out of his embrace to sit upright, Henry spoke his first words after the altercation with her parents. "My love, have no fear, I will ensure your family accepts you once again. I will do all within my power.."

Marguerite's finger against his lips stopped Henry from speaking further.

" No, Henry. That is of little use, I have lived among strangers all my life it seems and I have no wish to foist myself upon them any longer."


The silent question of what Marguerite's future would be lingered in the air between them. Aware that Marguerite did not wish to address that issue at present, Henry gave Marguerite her dose of sleeping draught that had become almost customary. Trying not to show his awareness of her shrinking away from his touch, Henry pressed a chaste kiss to Marguerite's forehead before leaving the chamber.

Into Darkness

"So the rumours are true, you are no virgin, you are a dirty whore!", he leered as he laughed derisively in the direction of William. "She's been plying her wares for the duke, my friend. You were right to bring her in for our feast. We will punish this dirty whore as we enjoy a duke's preserve!"

Marguerite sought to detach herself as the assault continued, willing her body into unresponsive numbness and filling her mind with images of her fiancé's beautiful, kind face.
When her attacker grunted and came in her, she barely flinched. Even as the rest of the leaders took their turns rutting on her, she was unresponsive. Only when William took his place between her thighs, did she allow any expression to cross her face. The look of contempt perversely triggered the hidden cruelty in William, who poured the rage, jealousy and disappointment of the last months into his rape of the woman he believed he loved above himself. Mindless thrusting and punishing her, he came without joy. Terrible shame followed as he snapped out of his madness and was aware of Marguerite’s scorn and hatred. He looked down at himself with disgust as cum dripped off him.

"I_I_ am so sorry..." he stuttered.

"You animal..." Marguerite spat out before merciful darkness claimed her.

***

Searing pain brought Marguerite back to the nightmarish world she had briefly escaped. The source of it was made clear when she raised her head and saw the red brand on her left thigh, it was the flame that marked the masks and robes of the Brotherhood. They had marked her like an animal.

Before pain sent her back into oblivion, Marguerite glanced round and glimpsed the horror that had been visited upon Cicely. Blood smeared her mound and covered her legs, forming a pool intermingled with white cum. Her pale, lithe form was covered in bruises and bites. Her swollen mouth covered in crusts of dried blood and cum. Her eyes, while open, were blank and unseeing. Only the slight rise of her chest as she breathed indicated any signs of life. Even when they applied the brand to her, Cicely made no sound. Mary, who appeared in a similar state, had curled up, her limbs not being bound to the pillars as Marguerite’s and Cicely’s were. Her eyes were closed as tremors shook her body and her face contorted in pain. A hoarse croak of pain barely audible came from the girl as they branded her.

“I said no one was to leave any marks on her,” the blonde leader roared in fury as he returned and saw the brand that had been applied to Marguerite.

The argument between the leadership made little impression on Marguerite as darkness started to reclaim her senses.

When Marguerite woke to the new dawn on the steps of her fiancé's residence, she found herself gripped in his shaking embrace. The new dawn had brought the darkness of the new life that one fateful night had bestowed upon her.

Hellfire Club Nightmare

The sneering figure in black stroked his fingers down Marguerite's chest, bringing instant recognition of her state of undress. Panic coursed through her veins as she realised she was bound like her cousin and spread naked in front of the restive, leering male audience. The smell of fear mixed with that of male arousal as Marguerite struggled in vain with the ties that bound her to the wooden pillars of the surface she was laid out upon. The sneering figure raised the wooden support under Marguerite's neck and shoulders, giving her a clearer of the audience and her cousin.

"You should not waste your energy, my dear. You will want to conserve your strength for enjoying the festivities of the night," he mocked as he proceeded to pinch her nipple. He cruelly increased the pressure of his grasping fingers as pain flashed in her eyes.

"No!"

That scream merely brought laughter from the male audience surrounding her.

Another figure in black emerged from the group and addressed the audience. The air of command was unmistakable in his stance. Light reflected off his blonde hair and the ring on his hand, swallowed eventually by the black robes that swirled around him.  

“Our brothers, as you have probably heard, our latest member and the master celebrant have arranged a surprise for our celebration this Midsummer’s Eve,” he announced amid cheers from the audience.

"However, this surprise necessitates some special rules.” Looking at each of the leaders, he continued in deliberate, harsh tones that brooked no argument. “This lady is the reserve of the leadership of our brotherhood and the member whose guest she is. No one, not even the leadership, is allowed to leave bruises on her in any way."

He held up his hand as murmurs swept through the crowd, halting the rising dissent that had the sneering figure starting forward in protest.

"You do not wish to challenge me, do you, master celebrant?" The menace in his voice and manner warded off further protest from the brown-haired figure with the ugly sneer. Sulking, the master celebrant backed off with obvious reluctance.

Hope rose in Marguerite's heart as she pleaded with the blonde leader who was inexplicably familiar. "Please, please, cease this and release us, we will never mention this to anyone."

The blonde man visibly winced as he cast his eyes upon Marguerite and glanced round the audience. In a soft voice laced with regret that reached only her ears, he crushed the last flickers of hope in her breast. "I am sorry, my dear, making you the reserve is the best I can do. There is nothing I can do to completely deny the brotherhood its enjoyment of the Midsummer feast."

As Marguerite's eyes went flat with despair, he sought to increase what little comfort he could throw her way.

"I will not be part of it, but I cannot say the same for the rest of the leaders or," he flicked a scornful glance in William's direction, "indeed, your friend who has brought you and your companions as sacrifice on this day."

Marguerite turned her head away in fear and despair.

The clink of cups brought her attention back to the scene. The sneering figure was raising a toast, "Drink up my brothers, for our annual feast shall begin." Marguerite raised her head and stared in horror as the men swallowed drams of powder mixed into their cups of mead. Only the blonde leader abstained. The smell of male arousal rose and was overwhelming as the front of their robes tented with obvious animal desire.

Despite her determination not to allow visible signs of her fear to appear in front of the audience, the blonde leader saw the slight trembling that had began in her limbs. Taking pity on her, he brought a cup to her lips. "Drink this, it will help. A sedative has been added and it will help with the pain. You do not want to be fully conscious for what is to come."

Although she turned her head away from the cup, the man held her nose and forced half the liquid down her throat. The glint that played off the ring caught her attention, but the numbing effect of the drink and drug took effect even as she tried to recall where she had seen the ring.

A terrifying scream tore through the air as the blonde leader turned away from Marguerite. Her head whipped round as a scene of terror unfolded before her eyes.

Waking to a nightmare

Welcome to the erotic fantasy journal of the author of A Step Into Darkness

The first treat for you is the preview serialization of Chapter 1 of Part One of A Step Into Darkness

Please note that this preview also appears on Literotica as The Original Sin Chapter 1 by Outofshadows

Marguerite was never quite sure what made her stir from the mists of darkness that enveloped her mind. The faint echoes of female whimpering or the insistent whispering of her name.

A light tapping of her face strengthened the effort to open her eyes, the struggle against heavy lids for vision.

"William..what is happening?" Marguerite could not recognise her voice, a slurred wisp.

William had a wild look of despair in his eyes.

"I am so sorry. I should never have..."

"Troubled by doubts, my dear Strafford?"

The note of mockery was unmistakable in the strange disembodied voice that suddenly rang out. William visibly stiffened at the sound of the voice.

"Please, let us stop this. She has not seen any of the members nor does she know what is taking place," William pleaded as he turned to face the speaker.

Marguerite faintly glimpsed a masked figure all in black that stood to the front of William. Abruptly aware of the strange surroundings, Marguerite tried to focus on the flickers of light on the unfamiliar walls. Walls that looked roughly hewn out of stone. The first slivers of panic sliced through her.

"Have you forgotten, my dear Strafford, how you were ranting about this whore just this fortnight past. How this faithless whore threw you over for a duke." The ugly sneer was clear.

"Have you grown soft? Remember, she weds Monmouth in a week."

William's face flushed a dark red as he snapped at the figure in black. "I recall all of that perfectly, but this was not what I had in mind when you proposed punishment. Nor did I think that this was what the Brotherhood meant."

Cold steel ran in the dark figure's voice as he gripped William's shoulder. "It is too late, my dear Strafford. The brothers have gathered and I would not try to deny them if I were you." The slump in William's shoulders reflected the triumph in the figure's voice.

"What is happening, William?"

Panic lent strength to her voice as Marguerite tried to make sense of a situation that was rapidly becoming sinister.

The tears gathering in William's eyes as he stared in defeat made her blood run cold.

Suddenly, she noted what had been a niggling thought at the edge of her mind. He was in black robes like the strange figure, only his face was not covered by a mask.

"Ahh, my dear, you've woken from your slumber in time to join us for the main event of our congregation."

As he drew closer, Marguerite noticed the ornate black mask that obscured half of the man's face, leaving only a glimpse of thin lips drawn into an ugly sneer beneath cold eyes. Eyes hidden in the shadows of the mask tied tightly over a head of light brown hair.

"Welcome, my brothers, as we celebrate this holy day, you are all invited to partake of this feast that our new member has provided for us as a fitting end to his novitiate."

The flare of light, as numerous candles were brought into the dark room, illuminated the dark room. However, the light did little for Marguerite, who found herself staring into a pit of black despair as she noted the group of nine men in masks and full black robes with the sign of a flame emblazoned on the front of their robes and masks. They were flanked by a larger group of men dressed in black shirts and breeches loosely secured by black ties roped around them.

Her eyes widened as she glimpsed the origin of the whimpers that prompted her return to consciousness. Stretched out and bound to wooden pillars on a raised platform was the lithe figure of her cousin, Cicely. Uncomprehending terror stared out of those beautiful green eyes, so like her own, as barely muffled screams alternating with whimpers streamed out of her gagged mouth.

Recollection descended swiftly to fill the blank of Marguerite’s mind as she took in details of the scene before her. William had begged for a meeting near the gardens they frequented as children after she had rejected his numerous letters pleading for her to call off the wedding. She had brought her maid and Cicely who was curious about his persistence, having met William briefly at her first ball in the last month. William had launched into the usual pleas and despite her kind intentions, Marguerite was starting to feel irritated. Before she could make her excuses and politely leave, they were set upon by three men, whose faces were concealed by handkerchiefs. As she started to scream, a damp sweet smelling cloth was pressed to her face and all faded into darkness.

As realisation dawned, Marguerite turned her head to stare accusingly at her childhood friend, who was studiously avoiding her eyes.

"Why?"

The question went unanswered as regret flashed across William's face.