Valeriya is reminded of her place
Valeriya had left dinner early in the hope of falling asleep before Radomir came to bed. She had seen him guzzling down ale and the thought of giving herself to him that night disgusted her more than usual. Not that she was really giving herself, rather he was taking what he demanded. She shuddered at the thought of his rough hands on her body. And she knew he would be rough tonight, he always was after he had been drinking.
She heard the sound of fumbling hands on the doorknob. She was too late. He finally managed to open the door and his hulking form burst into the room. He reeked of ale and sweat, she could smell him from across the other side of their small cabin.
“Valeriya my love, there you are”, he stumbled slightly as he came over to her.
He reached a hand up to roughly stroke her cheek. His hand was warm and clammy and his breathing laboured. She turned her face away from his panting, and slavering. He was repulsive, a dog of a man. How could she have ended up here when she had hoped for so much from her life.
“Come here”, he mumbled wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards his body.
Then his foul mouth was upon hers, his hands pawing at her so that she couldn’t breath. She tried to pull her face away from his but his mouth and his hot tongue were everywhere.
Then she made a mistake, she squirmed and tried to push him away. She seldom did this because she knew what the consequences would be, but she was half-panicked from the lack of air and the heat of his massive body.
She felt the slap across her face before she saw it coming. It was almost as though it were a reflex for Radomir now. Her head snapped back and she almost lost her footing from the shock. She tried to put some distance between them but he was too quick for her. Suddenly his voice was coldly sober.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you leaving the dinner early. You are my wife, you leave when I leave, I don’t care how tired you are. And if you thought to pretend to sleep you should not be so stupid. I will have you when I want, even if you are sick on your deathbed. You are mine and you should not be so quick to forget”.
“Now get undressed and lie on the bed”.
She turned away from him so he would not see the expression on her face, the tears pooling in her eyes. She would not let him see her cry. She would not give him that. He may take everything else from her but he couldn’t have that.
She slowly undressed and lay down on the bed, trying to cover her nakedness with the blanket.
He lay down beside her and tore the blanket off.
“Don’t cover up, I like to see you like this. You are lucky you have me, most men wouldn’t want to look at a body like yours”.
She knew this wasn’t true. Her body was still firm and supple. He told her these things to squash her personality further but she would not let him. She knew inside that she was worthy of love, no matter how many times he told her she was nothing.
He roughly grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her head towards his.
“And look at all those ugly freckles”.
This was the one thing he could say that would upset her and he knew it. She had always been self-concious of her freckles, ever since she was a little girl. She inwardly cringed as he thrust his tongue into her unresisting mouth.
When he was finished she crawled out of the bed. She would wait now till he was asleep and then she would quietly wash herself. He would beat her if he found out but she didn’t care. She would not have that man’s baby writhing inside her. She would not give him that.
Oh, poor Valeriya. That was very well written, Verity! I was feeling a little repulsed myself, the poor girl. Yuck. That’s just awful. I hope something ‘good’ happens here… ie Radomir is randomly consumed by spooky zombie things or something! Yeah, yeah… wishful thinking, I know.
I feel more than a little repulsed myself. Run away, Valeriya!
I always feel a little nauseous when I read a story like this; I can’t imagine being in such a powerless position. Poor, poor Valeriya. Grrr… Radomir is the evil and must die.
This made me squirm. I like how you compared him to a dog, both explicitly and through his actions. I nominate Radomir to be the island’s first victim.
Poor Valeriya, she seems she must be a sweet thing inside. But it’s good to see that she knows what he’s trying to do to her and that she’s able to keep some part of herself safe inside where he can’t reach it.
I also think that Radomir should be the first victim of the island. He is such a cruel man. The second to last picture is well done, I think it really shows their personalities and situation.
Wow lots of comments =). Radomir really is repulsive… I haven’t written him with any redeeming features yet and I’m not sure if I’m going to give him any. I found writing that post pretty intense… trying to imagine that kind of situation. It was so awful that in those days women were really couldn’t do anything if they were married to a dreadful guy and society wouldn’t do anything for them either.
I like that you guys have already chosen the first victim =). Maybe it would be too easy just to get rid of him though… I’m going to have to leave you guessing.
Ooo! Ooo! I have a different idea! Let him be taken over by one of the original island inhabitants. And let him be aware of everything while it’s happening. Completely aware but helpless! Let him know how it feels to have no control in your own life.
Especially if the spirit or whatever that takes over his body makes him be nice to people! Especially his wife.
If I haven’t commented on your story before, Verity, I really like your style. This last chapter was very intense and I agree with the others, well written.
Hey Lisa, sorry for not replying for ages but thanks, I’m so glad you like the style of writing and it’s great to have you reading =).
I agree with Lisa CeeCee… interesting idea
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Poor Valeriya! She’s very pretty . . . stupid Radomir. Valeriya has only one way to fight back, by not giving him a heir, and he’ll probably hurt her for it.
Yuck! That guy reminds me of Leofwine from Lothere’s story…god I hate guys like that. But kudos for her for not giving in to his demeaning insults. Hopefully the island’s first victim will be that jerk face.
You seem to have the same opinion as everyone else Tiana
unfortunately that jerkface is still around in present-time but who knows what the future holds (actually not even me… I have planned some stories but apart from that… we’ll just have to see what happens =).