Against Her Will

Chapter Sixteen

Temperance was beginning to slowly lose her mind. She had gotten accustomed to human contact while living out among the slaves and she missed that. Staring at walls and talking to dust motes simply was not the same.

Trevor's rough forcefulness each and every night and again every morning was taking a toll on her body. She was covered in bruises and bite marks, all in places that would be hidden by her dresses should she venture out and be seen by Tanner. Her core was so raw, sore and tender that it hurt to walk and she was certain that she had seen blood the last few times that Trevor had taken her.

He didn't care.

Temperance looked out the window, cursing the lock he kept on the French doors leading out to the veranda. She would love the chance to simply sit with the wind blowing against her face.

Temperance knew that even if she picked the lock and left the room there was a guard always posted in the hall. She would not make it far and the punishment would surely not be worth the small taste of freedom.

Her spirit had been quieted. She was at Trevor's mercy and she had once again run out of strength to fight him.

***

The night lay heavy outside. Crickets and frogs could be heard through the closed window. Temperance's body ached and throbbed painfully from the torment that Trevor had put it through just a few short hours before.

He was snoring now--sleeping peacefully with the help of nearly an entire decanter of scotch. Temperance wasn't sure what had had him drinking so heavily but it had made him even more violent than usual.

She gingerly laid her finger against her split and swollen upper lip and winced. She knew that while she could not see them because of the lack of light, her arms were covered up and down with bruises as was her neck. He had seemed to take pleasure in choking her until she was on the verge of unconsciousness over and over again tonight.

Temperance prayed that there was no liquor left in the house. She would not make it through another night of that--she simply couldn't.

Her bladder tightened once again, reminding her of one of the reasons sleep was still eluding her other than pain.

She bit her lip, unhappy that she would have to wake Trevor to escort her to the outhouse. Surely he would be angry and there was always a chance he'd be ready to take her again... Temperance shivered at the thought. But if she didn't wake him and she went alone and he awoke while she was gone.... Temperance shivered at that thought as well.

Temperance sat up and nudged Trevor's shoulder, "Master? Master, wake up."

Trevor merely grunted and pulled the covers tighter around himself as he continued to snore. Temperance rolled her eyes and knew that if she didn't get to the outhouse soon she was going to soil the sheets. "Master, I have to use the outhouse..."

"Then go," Trevor mumbled.

Temperance bit her lip. She knew the man was in a drunken stupor--a scotch induced coma--but then again she had promised to obey him. If he said to go.....

Temperance rose from the bed, pulled her robe over her bruised bare body and went to the door. If Trevor caught her gone from the room.....

His snores were the only sound filling the air and Temperance knew that he wasn't going to be waking up anytime soon. The man was out. And if she didn't relieve herself he would beat her senseless for soiling his bed or his rug.

Her every movement ached, burned and caused tears to gather behind her eyes as she reached out and opened the door. Temperance stepped out into the hall and closed the door silently behind her.

There was so much pain in her body that she found herself unable to enjoy her momentary freedom.

The house was silent as Temperance made her way down the hall and out the back door. Everything was eerily calm and everyone was sound asleep.

Temperance contemplated going to the barn, saddling a horse and riding out of here but knew that her body would never allow it. Just walking to the outhouse was proving to be a challenge. She stood holding onto the porch banister for several long moments, breathing hard against the agony in her body.

After making her way to the outhouse and then returning to the porch, Temperance remained there for a long while. She simply took in the feel of the warm breeze against her skin and listened to the sounds of crickets in the night. This plantation was beautiful and deceptively peaceful during the night. A person would have no idea as to the terror the place truly held.

With a sigh, Temperance decided it was time to get back to Trevor. She would rather not but her body could not stand the beating that would come if he woke up alone and angry.

Temperance slowly made her way back into the house and up the stairs. She was about to climb to the third floor where Trevor's bedroom was located when she heard a strangled cry come from a bedroom down the hall.

Listening intently, Temperance heard nothing and was about to chalk the sound up to her imagination when suddenly it reached her ears again. It sounded as if someone was being hurt and begging for mercy.

Temperance frowned and walked to the door that was between her and the noise. She heard the cry again. She was fairly certain that this was the room Tanner had been using.

Was he in trouble? Should she help him? This would give her the chance to finally speak to the man but then again if she was caught in his room.... It didn't matter. If Trevor caught her out of bed she was going to pay for it either way. She might as well go see if she could help Tanner and have that talk with him she'd been wanting to have.

Taking a deep breath, Temperance reached out and turned the handle. How could she have known that by entering that room that night everything would change forever?