"I Own You" by Kirsten Rambo

[ShortStoryContest]

The following story has been selected as a featured runner-up in our 2015 short story contest (Contest Theme - "The Self-Destructiveness of Vengeance and Hate")

"I Own You" by Kirsten Rambo

I must say, I do enjoy watching you squirm, dear pet. It intrigues me, igniting senses that are often inaccessible to mortals. But of course, you aren’t just any other mortal, are you? You are perfect, aren’t you? Far better than the man you sit across from. If it weren’t for fate, you wouldn’t even be in this predicament, would you?
Now, you must understand, I couldn’t care less about your personal feelings. All you are to me is amusement. I feed off your negativity and it swells in my veins like blood. I taste your loathing for this man and it’s like exquisite champagne. For it’s all about this man, isn’t it? You want nothing more than to end him right here, to shred his flesh with your fingernails and feast upon his arrogant blood, but you hold back. I curse and release my grip. That thing that just made you give this man a pleasantly cold smile when he deserved so much more? That creature that lives side by side with me in your mind is your mercy. It’s a ridiculous part of your subconscious, but I suppose if I always got my way the world would be a much different, darker place.
You see, my dear pet, I own you. You might not think so; you might even believe that it is the other way around. But I find this notion ridiculous enough to be laughable. Have you ever had the ability to truly quell pure, mindless hatred?
Do you see now? Do you understand what I am? I own you because I am the easiest thing there is for you to feel. Any injustice, be it in the form of losing a precious stone or being murdered in the street, results in my playtime. Do you remember the first time we were formally introduced? You seem so quiet, pet. Is this man sitting in front of you so intimidating? Remember whom you are working beside, my pet. Remember my name. Now, most importantly, I want you to remember when we first met. It was such a delicious joining. I wish to relive it every day of our time together, so that you might never forget your master.

The princess noticed the guard mere moments before he noticed her. She was sitting at the head of the table beside her mother, engaged in idle, drab conversation with some lady or duchess. She gave little care to such banquets, but to voice her opinions would be to “tarnish the reputation of the kingdom”, as her mother would chastise after such events. But the young princess couldn’t help her yearning. She longed to run in the fields and play with the flowers like the noble boys did. But, as was stated, such behavior would tarnish the reputation of the kingdom. We mustn’t have that.
She suddenly realized she’d stared at the guard far too long, and not only he had noticed it. The lady—it was a lady—chuckled nervously beside her and turned to her husband on her other side. The princess was careful to wipe clean her features, feeling her mother’s distasteful glower on her shoulder. It was ridiculous, the thought that had suddenly entered her mind. A princess did not take such interest in the help.
But this guard did not look like the others. He stood protectively behind her soon-to-be fiancé, a scrawny eighteen-year-old with pale flesh and thin lips whom her father had taken a wretched liking to. The guard was the exact opposite of the young lord, his skin a dark bronze and rippling with traces of muscle. The princess was instantly in love, and when she dared glance back at the guard, she found he was gazing at her with a strange intensity.

My dear sweet pet, this is not what I want you to think of. Now remember when we first met. Travel through time and see our elopement. Do not fear. I am here to quell that, to turn that fear into something powerful.

The princess and the guard had spent many forbidden nights lying side-by-side, whispering sweet nothings in the darkness and cursing the morning sun that shooed him away. Every day they were apart was an eternity to both. Ah, to be young and in love, as the saying goes. The guard sometimes left her small presents when he disappeared in the wee hours of dawn, perhaps to remind her of his reckless devotion. Today’s present left her blushing brightly. A single white rose, the rarest in the kingdom. She could almost hear the guard’s smooth voice whisper in her ear, “I would travel to the ends of the earth if only to please you.”
Well, please her he had, and she left her chambers twirling the precious gift in her fingers. She didn’t care that such behavior was dangerous—perhaps even deadly—for the couple. She was young and naïve and in love.
Suddenly, one of the nosier maids crossed in front of the princess. “My lady, one of your suitors has sent for you. What should I tell him?”
The princess frowned. She’d never been able to remember the names of the help, and she certainly didn’t care to remember this one’s name. “Tell him to leave.”
The maid smiled, a dark thing with something sinister hiding behind the teeth. “Forgive me, my lady, but I think it’d be best to—”
“Daughter?” The princess felt a stab of dread as her mother’s sharp voice rang down from the top of the stairs.
The princess turned, “Yes, mother?”
The queen was a stern, uncaring woman who gave little to no attention to her daughter. “It is done.”
“What is done, mother?” The princess asked warily.
“Why, your engagement, of course. The king just informed me.” The queen smiled wickedly, or perhaps that was just the princess’s imagination.
“To whom?” The princess asked.
“The Lord of Mipoca, who else?” The queen snapped. “No one in the kingdom is a better match. You should consider yourself lucky.”
The princess felt a dark emptiness fill her chest. She had always known that this would happen, but the pain she felt was one of the heart. Her and her guard could never be, and now that fact was solidified.
“Forgive me, my queen, but the very same lord is here to see the princess.” The nosy maid said tentatively.
The queen turned her sharp glare on the maid. “Then send for him, by the gods! What is this standing about for?”
The princess gazed at the solid woman blurrily. “Mother, I—”
“What is this?” The queen was upon her suddenly like a hawk, snatching the rose out of her hand.
“It’s—it is—” The princess’s blood ran cold.
“My lady! It is such a beautiful day for a walk, would you not agree?” The Lord of Mipoca’s scratchy voice called.
The queen suddenly gripped the princess’s chin, digging her sharp nails into the girl’s skin. She hissed, “Do not think I don’t know of your disgusting escapades. I prayed for it to not be true, but that kind maid that just let in your future husband told me many nights ago of what she’d seen. You are a princess. That guard will pay with his life.” The queen released her daughter, sending her tripping back on her heels. “Now go for a walk with your betrothed. The king will announce the wedding tomorrow night.”
The princess felt something cold grip her chest when she looked into the eyes of the lord. Something evil and not at all princess-like clutched her heart. She obediently slid her arm through his and let him lead her into the courtyard.

Ah, that is it. That is the moment you learned who I was, my pet. Do you remember it now? Do you yearn for its touch again? Come to me, my sweet pet. Don’t forget you are mine. From the moment you gave your anger a face—the face of the Lord of Mipoca—you knew who I was. You knew how powerful I could be if you only sank into my arms and let me carry you. Perhaps that reality scared you. Perhaps a princess could never be strong enough to wield the power I bestowed upon you.
No matter. I have you, my pet, and that’s all I need to get what I want.
So here we are. Sitting across from the wretched lord. He dare make claim to what is rightfully mine. You seem troubled, my pet. Is it the guard? Is it because he isn’t here, and I am kindly reminding you why? Your lover is dead, but perhaps it’s all for the best. Now you are mine and mine alone. For you could never love this man you sit across from, could you? Nay, our matrimony is safe.

The king rose out of his chair once the feast had begun in earnest and the chatter of the noble crowd slowly died down. The princess sat rigidly upright like a proper lady, but inside she was sinking through the floor. Once all was silent, the king boomed, “We are all here to celebrate a tremendous occasion. My daughter, Princess—” Now, now, naughty pet, we mustn’t speak your name. Names mean nothing when they hold no value to the one who is your master, and I can’t find any reason to be affiliated with your name “—of the kingdom of Rahlyn, is to be wed to Lord Carac of Mipoca.” I will allow his name to remain. After all, he is the one I have to thank for our joining, isn’t he, my pet?
The announcement caused a great uproar. Lord Carac smiled cruelly—or perhaps it was only her imagination—at the princess and she fought down the bile that rose in her throat. She returned the gesture and looked down at her plate of delicacies, no longer hungry. She could think only of her beloved guard.

You really are a proper princess, my pet. It astounds me that you can paste a smile on your lovely features and accept the congratulations of the fat nobles, all while I’m screaming for you to strangle each and every one. It seems mercy still has the upper hand, but that is only a temporary setback, dear pet. Once tonight is through, I shall conquer the castle of your heart.

After the noblemen and women departed, the princess roamed into the garden, gazing mournfully at the stars. So distraught was she that she didn’t notice the other presence until he was right upon her. “My princess, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
The princess turned to her betrothed. “Nothing’s the matter, my lord. You may return to your home.”
Lord Carac suddenly gripped her arms tightly, getting very close to her face. “I killed that disgusting man, princess. The queen told me of your engagements and I slit his throat. If you ever breathe a word of your sinful actions, I will do the same to you.”
The princess gazed at him dizzily. “Yes, my lord.”
The lord released her roughly. “I will leave now, but never forget this.”

Oh, don’t worry, you pathetic urchin, she never will. I will make quite sure of that. I must thank you, though you cannot hear me, for you have aided me in ways you’ll never understand. I must admit, I was struggling, but now I alone own this girl’s heart.

The princess retired to her bedchambers, quivering beneath her blankets. The cold nipped the air tonight, but it wasn’t the chill that made her body quake. It was done. There was no way to stop the horse she’d just been thrown on. The only way to end her pain was to—

No, my pet, you mustn’t do that. Such a beautiful face mustn’t be tarnished with the shrapnel of a broken heart. Ending your life would be nice for you, but as I’ve previously stated, I don’t care about your feelings. All I care about is that you are mine, and I will feed off this anger until I’m full. Then, my sweet pet, you may die, and believe me when I say you will most certainly wish to die. When I am through with you, you won’t know what to do without my clawed touch.

The princess had a lavish wedding with Lord Carac. It drew out the finest of nobles from beneath the rocks all mortals squiggle under. The princess smiled softly, bearing the ring heavily upon the hand she had secretly dreamed giving to her guard. She danced with Lord Carac and laughed with the maidens. When she caught her mother staring at her, she found the woman held a faint contentedness in her features.
No one would ever know that she was slowly shattering inside like stained glass. No one would ever know until they were stabbed with the pieces.

Good, my pet. You understand the severity of the situation. Further proof that I am the only one in this broken mind fit for the job of living your life. I’ll always be here, sweet pet, you can rest assured of that.

Lord Carac pressed the princess against the wall of their bedchamber. “I shall take back what that disgusting guard took from me.”
The princess opened her mouth to respond, but the lord slapped her hard across the face. “You are a whore and it’s because of me you aren’t hung for your crimes. Don’t forget that.”
Later, as the princess gazed at her sleeping husband, she thought of her guard. She crossed to the balcony and stared at the sky, wondering briefly if one of the stars was her lost lover. Vacantly, she blew a kiss to the heavens and retreated back to the bed. She fell asleep thinking of how her lord whispered in his sleep.

Listen to his murmurs, my pet. Does his voice not shred through your eardrums? When he looks at you, does it not fill your mouth with bile? Together, dear pet, we will end this man. In one glorious burst of hate, we will avenge your lover. Is that not what you want? Yes, I can feel it boil in your blood. You want this man dead more than you’ve ever wanted anything.
Well then, pet, together we shall see it done. Consider it my…gift to you.

Lord Carac stayed true to his vile promise. Late each night the princess lay beside the man with a hollow soul, too exhausted to summon the courage to sleep. Instead, she listened to her lord’s whispers. He spoke of another woman, mewing his mistress’s name into the night. The princess was too deep in her misery to call forth new anger. She knew who the woman was, but she was too tired to make a problem of it. Even if she dared speak of the lord’s incidents with the nosy maid, it wouldn’t have mattered. He could easily expose her as well.
Watching her heinous husband slumber, a dark voice whispered to her and tonight she was too dismal to ignore it.

My pet, now is the time. Kill him as he sleeps and all your woes will disappear.

The voice lifted a bemused smile on the princess’s face. Perhaps, dear friend, another night would be better.

Do you fear the repercussions? Dear pet, with me wielding the weapon, no one will be the wiser. Act upon this gift I’ve given you and your dreams will come true.

The promise was enticing, but the princess knew that such mad behavior was bound to put her in the asylum. Voices don’t whisper to girls in the night unless they were the voices of demons.

A demon? My sweet naïve pet, you know that’s not what I am. I own you because I am you in your purest form. I am your hatred and I am the strongest part of you. Never underestimate me, my pet. It will be your downfall. Now kill him, give in to your most animal desires. He took your lover from you. Avenge your guard.

The princess had unwittingly stepped closer to the lord. She stayed her hand, though, and simply watched his sleeping form, listening to his whispers about the nosy maid. She sat down on her side of the bed and stared at her hands, wondering where the knife had come from. Did she wander to the kitchen and steal it unknowingly? Had she truly gone mad?

You’re upsetting me. Kill him. Feed me the anger I crave. Do it now, pet. Don’t forget my name. Recall it and whisper it into the night. I am hate, your hate, and I demand to be felt.

The princess turned her gaze back to her husband. She thought of her guard and fury deluged her mind, muddling all thoughts. Unwittingly, she raised her arms above her head.

I told you, my pet, I own you.

The first thing the princess noticed was that hot blood was splattered across her face, burning like acid. Glancing at her lord, she gently set the knife down on the dresser. The voice was gone, and with it the rest of her soul. She was a hollow husk now. She was free.
The princess stood and crossed to the balcony’s doors, throwing them open. Casting a final glance at the stars, she searched one last time for her guard’s. Then, giving up in her search, the princess gazed down at the frozen earth far below and unceremoniously threw herself from the balcony.

[abowen]

thanks for sharing. I liked this

[Jenn_Jenn]

When I began reading this, I was put off by the constant use of the nickname "pet" or "my pet" it seemed entirely too constant and a bit redundant, to the point that I almost gave up. However, I feel like any writer deserves people to read their work in its entirety, so I did that and kept an open mind.
There were a few confusing points - such as the way she moves back and forth between "scenes" although once I got to the end, there was an impressive "AHA!" moment and it all suddenly fell into place.
All in all I enjoyed the read, and am happy that you shared it, because I know sharing your writing can be like revealing a piece of your soul. I like your writing voice and style, and look forward to reading more from you.

[ct-95]

Good story. Thank you for sharing.