🕸 XI 🕸

I left Miss Easter’s quarters a driven woman. Miss Easter took my advice and left to find Kathryn amongst the Vineharth maids. Whether or not those two became one was of no concern of mine at that point.

I wore slippers to not draw attention as I navigated through the dark halls of Longroper manor. I did get lost which vexed me to no end. I had to find the guest room Maggy and I were staying in. From there I could follow Lurkson’s instructions to his quarters.

I managed to find the guest room and discovered that the door was ajar. A few lanterns were lit and I peered in and saw Maggy. She wore her favorite fluffy white robe and she removed it in the most seductive fashion.

The Earl sat in a chair before her and he watched her with bulging round eyes.

Maggy wore her best white corset, white panties, white stockings with white garter belt. I swooned and bit down on my lip. I would have given my own life to be in the Earl’s place. His dimwitted expression was filled with uncertainty.

The Earl then said, “I think you are being rather forward, Lady Vineharth.”

“Of course I am but—you really do not find me attractive?” asked Maggy.

“You are but my heart is—” the Earl paused and became sheepish.

I knew why he hesitated and so did Maggy. She put her robe back on. She then became very blunt.

“It is that servant girl, yes?” she asked. “The one called Lydia.”

The Earl opened his mouth to speak but then shut up and nodded.

Maggy crossed her arms and said, “Well, it is unfair to a woman searching if a man has already made his mind up.”

“I mean you no offense or harm, Lady Vineharth,” said the Earl as he took a glass of wine and drank the whole thing in one gulp. “But I have known Lydia my whole life. And I have fallen for her so that I doubt I could love another.”

“You do not have to love me,” said Maggy sternly. “Business is business. All we need to do together is provide both our families with heirs. And we can have our affairs on the side.”

“You do not truly mean that?” asked the Earl.

“You are so naive,” scoffed Maggy. “My own parents have their secret lovers that they know about. Your own father clearly has a harem amongst the staff.”

The Earl seemed confused and poured another glass of wine. “You have to be mistaken. Marriage is all about love and honesty and—”

“What fairy tale life are you living? Marriage is a business matter to keep things in order,” said Maggy. “You cannot possibly believe that you would find a wife and she would love you and be faithful to you? That is not how reality works.”

The Earl took offense to this and he stood with his hands in his pockets. A sudden confidence then came over him. “Lady Vineharth, your views on the world are callous and unbecoming. And I refuse to believe that is how you honestly feel. Enough with this guise and please reveal your true intentions to me.”

His words struck a chord with Maggy. She slowly sat down and said, “Oh, very well, no sense in pretending anymore. Earl Longroper—”

“Please, call me Alberto,” said the Earl as he sat down.

“Very well, Alberto,” said Maggy as she crossed her legs. “My parents are pressuring me to marry and the goal is to aim high.”

“I am an Earl and I meet their requirements, yes?”

“You do but regretfully, my heart belongs to another that I cannot have.”

“Well, we have that in comment then,” said the Earl. “Then let us be friends and vent one another's woes. Wine?”

“Only a glass, my head is throbbing tonight,” said Maggy. “Could have been something I ate.”

The Earl then poured two glasses of wine and offered one to Maggy. I then took my leave. I was relieved that Maggy was not so careless as to give herself to such a bland nobleman. The Earl was so dreadfully honorable and virtuous that it made me nauseous.

I casted aside Maggy and all other things. I marched towards my destiny. Towards my Lurkson.

🕷

I made it to Lurkson’s quarters much earlier than I promised. I was too eager. I had to have my dark angel. I drooled for his flesh, his black heart, his dark soul.

I knocked and he answered.

Lurkson wore black pants that hugged his lanky form. He wore a white shirt with the collar turned up and his shirt was open. Music escaped from his quarters into my ears and I swooned.

A phonograph played in the dimly lit quarters. Every surface was blanketed in shadows. Only a single candle was lit on Lurkson’s nightstand. I clenched my robe as my fingers curled with anticipation.

“You did say midnight, yes?” asked Lurkson. “You are early.”

“It is midnight somewhere,” I said as I pushed against Lurkson.

I forced him into the room. I then shut the doors behind me. And then locked them.

I turned sharply to face Lurkson. My hair whipped against him then covered half my face. With only half my expression showing, I made it very clear what I wanted.

Lurkson had a small, boyish smile on his face. His eyes spoke volume about how much he was willing to play. The music from the phonograph was familiar to me. It was a song I had practiced before.

“‘New Moon Midnight Stroll,’ how appropriate,” I said as I approached the phonograph. There was a small shelf with a collection of vinyls. “I have my own collection. After tonight's performance, I wonder how much our collections overlap?”

“I am curious as well, Gothia, you may browse to your heart’s content,” said Lurkson.

“My heart will not be content unless I have you,” I said bluntly.

Lurkson snorted and I took offense. He saw my hot glare and said, “Sorry, I was not expecting such boldness.”

“After all we have done and said today, you doubt me?” I asked.

“I had believed you were merely playing with me,” admitted Lurkson. “It is a common hobby amongst noble women to tease or so Raven told me.”

“Yes, I spent some time with Miss Easter and she told me of her tragic love life,” I said as I stared up at my dark angel’s eyes. “And I can assure you that I am no actor. I am here, willing and able, and as honest as Persephone's love for Hades.”

“Yes but would the seasons change if we parted ways?” asked Lurkson as his smile faded and a disgusting seriousness came over him.

“And what pray tell do you mean by such a silly question, dear Lurkson?” I asked nervously.

My heart stopped and my body became stiff. I sensed something in the air. Something that I did not like because it had the same weight as a calm before a storm.

Lurkson stood tall and held his head high. “My world would grow colder without you, Gothia Cordelia Vineharth. I have fallen for you.”

I smiled and said, “I have fallen for you as well, Lurkson Bram Dorian Longroper. Like Eurydice as she fell into Hades. Fall after me, my Orpheus!”

“Yes, I shall fall after you,” said Lurkson.”Forever falling into our dark abyss.”

“Then let us express our love by becoming an eruption that will rival that of the doom that befell Pompeii!”

I then disrobed and stood before my Lurkson like a sexual titan ready to tear apart our innocents and virtue. So much of my flesh was exposed even with the corset and other adornments. I eagerly waited for Lurkson to start tearing me asunder.

But time passed and he simply stood with admiration and nothing more in his eyes. I grew weary and bitter. I was in absolute shock and horror. My prince of darkness was hesitating.

But why?!

“What is the delay, dear Lurkson?” I asked with an impatient gaze.

“Forgive me, Gothia,” said Lurkson. “But I—”

“Choose your words carefully and speak honestly,” I demanded.

Lurkson licked his lips and said, “The carnal desire is there. I wish to ravish you and I shall. But I would like insurance.”

“What kind of insurance?” I asked as I sneered.

“After tonight we still keep in touch,” said Lurkson. “We shall write and put into words through pen what we fail to with our tongues and bodies. We express our wants and desires for the future. Our mutual feelings of—”

“You are being dreadfully sentimental right now, Lurkson Longroper,” I said in a huff. “And I do not mean that as a nicety. Damn it! You are like Miss Easter, so dreadfully sentimental!”

“Forgive me but I feel passionate about you and you would not be here if you did not feel the same way,” said Lurkson calmly. “Our love is—”

“Is becoming dangerously dull and samey,” I snapped. “I thought you understood me. Understood the blackness of my heart. And here you are going on like a girl smitten by an uncaring playboy.”

“I only express myself because I have fallen so in love with you,” said Lurkson as he reached out to me. “Please, Gothia. All you have to do is say yes to writing to me, to staying in my life after tonight, to telling me in words through pen how you feel. And after that, I will surrender to you—”

“I have a better expression of how I feel besides words of any kind,” I said as I marched up to Lurkson.

I then slapped him across the face.

I held back this time for reasons I could not explain. He barely turned his head, it was such a light strike. I then grabbed his collar and tore at his shirt.

His pecs and abs were lean but well toned. He was as fit as Hades himself. Lurkson did not resist as I took off his shirt. I then sank my teeth into his chest. I made certain to leave marks.

I pulled down the top of my corset, forcing my breasts out. I grabbed Lurkson by the neck and forced his face into my bare bosom. He licked and bit me and left marks in return.

I then pushed him aside but still held onto his pants. I made my way to his bed and lay eagerly. I then struggled with his belt. He moved my hands away and unbuckled himself.

I removed my panties and spread my legs wide. I watched Lurkson as he removed his pants. And out it came, fully erect and standing tall like a lone oak tree in a graveyard. A very, very, very tall and thick oak tree.

I lay my head down and held my breath. I was so small and yet Lurkson was so big. I knew internal damages awaited me and I did not care. The added pain would elevate the pleasure tenfold.

Lurkson took hold of my inner thighs and spread my legs further. The tip of his long erected oak tree glided along the mouth of my chasm. My fingers wrapped around the sheets, my teeth sank into my lip, and I closed my eyes.

And I braced myself for my apocalypse.

There then came a loud bang against the door. I stared up at the ceiling in despair. Lurkson let go of me and stepped away as the doors flew open. I then heard a scream.

It was Maggy.

“You fiend! Get away from her now!” shouted my sister.

“Lurkson! What the devil are you doing? And what is—oh, dear,” said the Earl.

I sat up and first saw Maggy, her robe opened revealing her corset and undergarments. And she held a sword with both hands. The Earl stood behind her and he held a shield.

“Did you two just break down my door?” asked Lurkson cooly as he continued to stand fully exposed and erect. “That is very barbaric of you. Yet I am both proud and impressed, Alberto.”

Maggy then pointed the blade at Lurkson’s throat. “You keep quiet and put that damn thing away! I knew something was not right when Gothia did not return to our room. What have you done to my sister, you ghoulish cretin?!”

I slid off the bed and grabbed at Maggy’s arms in an attempt to get the sword away from Lurkson. “What are you doing, Maggy?! Have you gone mad?! This was a consensual encounter and you ruined it!”

Maggy then asked, “You mean, he did not—?”

“No, you stormed in right when we were about to make love!” I said.

Maggy then looked relieved, much to my frustration and rage. “Good! Now, get yourself back in order and leave,” ordered Maggy.

“No!” I shouted.

“You are my retainer and you will obey me!” cried out Maggy.

“There is no need to shout, Lady Vineharth,” said the Earl. “No real harm was done.”

“Brother, you have a lot to learn about women and fury,” said Lurkson.

“Silence, all of you!” Maggy then took a deep breath. I was so furious with her that I ignored her bosom rising and falling. She then spoke with a quieter yet harsher tone. “Gothia, put your clothes back on and go to the room, right now.”

“Make me,” I dared her.

Maggy then stabbed the sword into the floor. She proceeded to grab me by the hair and forced me to the bed. She ordered the Earl to retrieve my panties as I struggled under her grasp. Lurkson said a few words to try and mitigate the situation but they fell on deaf ears.

By denying Maggy, I incurred her wrath. The Furies themselves would have fled from her. A small part of me was actually enjoying how forceful Maggy was.

My panties were forced back onto my person. My breasts were stuffed back into my corset. The black robe was wrapped around me. Maggy let go of my hair then she grappled my arms with all her strength.

She then dragged me away from my dark angel’s den.

I was in tears. I was so close to that perfect dark ecstasy that I so craved. I even managed to evade Lurkson’s serious desire for honest and true courtship. Such a thing terrified me.

So close, so very close to embracing my dark angel. Then Maggy came and “rescued” me from my prince of darkness. That night my first love stole me away from my true love. I wondered, as Maggy dragged me back to our room, how the night could possibly get worse?

But that dreadful night was still young . . .

🕷