The Criswell's Curse

Mace’s feet stomped hard on the ground, pushing the dirt into the thick mold of his sole. Ralph’s body was meters away, lumped into a ball, his fingers taking the life of innocent pieces of grass by the sidewalk. Hearing the galloping sounds of the horse, their stance changed, focusing their attention on our figures, becoming closer by the second.

“Ophelia!” The eldest yelled, rushing towards the strolling mare.

Almost automatically, I jumped down, landing perfectly on my feet. The maid grabbed my hand, slowly pushing her body onto the ground.

“Ivy.” Was the first word escaping my lips. She shrieked. Weak and slightly dazed, the maid lost most strength, swinging back and forth, hands covering her tomato-colored right cheek born from the sudden impact. “Who do you serve?”

Her eyes glanced at me, horrified. Faint blood drops fell from her bottom lip, tainting her snowy complexion. She gulped. “I serve you, milady...”

“Did I command you to leave the mansion?”

The maid’s chocolate pupils wandered around, jumping from window to window on the mansion’s silhouette. Time had stopped for everyone as shadows lingered behind the half-opened curtains, disdainfully glaring down, as if they were Gods entertaining themselves with such shallow amusement.

“No, milady.”

No one here could question my judgement. Other than myself, the only person who she ought to report to was the Duke, and yet, she refrained from doing so. Her actions were treacherous, but I understood her reasoning. Terrel may not possess full control of the mansion, but his supporters grow by the day. Women don’t have a choice; they need to fight for their survival within this forsaken land.

I wonder how long it will take until she breaks...? Unconsciously, my mind had created psychotic scenarios, situations where she would lose all her reason, turning into a lifeless doll just as I once was.

“So, tell me, Ivy... after your betrayal, how do I know where your loyalty lies?” I approached; she hasted back. Her trembling hands grabbed her dress, crumbling it within her grasp. “Are you running from me?”

“Milady...”

As she was about to speak, I darted my body forward, gripping her wrist strongly. She gasped, eyes widened like an owl’s. “Tell me, who are you truly loyal to? Me? Terrel? The Duke? Or is it... my father?”

“I would never betray you, milady! Please! Believe me! I wouldn’t... I never...” Almost immediately, her knees sunk on the floor, tears flooding the dirt. Ivy’s figure trembled, her voice stuck in her throat as if another thought had stolen the words from their belief.

“Ophelia... she just returned, calm down...” Mace intervened, yet the maid’s head remained pressed against the hard dirt floor. Her beautifully crafted dress was now dirtied from the environment I had forcefully placed it in.

“I was wrong... maybe you are loyal to Terrel...” My figure approached hers, kneeling right by her side, leaning forward. With the help of my fingers, her head rose and, seductively, I whispered into her ear. “Should I send you back there again?”

Ecstasy flew through my body as I could only imagine the face she was making. Was she terrified? Or perhaps horrified at the thoughts running through her weak brain? Regardless, no words left her mouth, no breath escaped her lungs.

“Wouldn’t you be happy to have your master take your first time, Ivy? Tell me, wouldn’t you like to be pregnant with Terrel’s child?” With every mumble, the maid’s body stiffed. “I can help you achieve such dream.”

“Ophelia, you are being too harsh on her... it wasn’t her fault...”

“Not her fault? Then who is to blame? The Duke for not educating the maid properly? You for not preventing it from happening?” In mere seconds, my height rose, eyes locked into the eldest son’s figure. Deafening silence followed. “My maid, my responsibility.”

The younger sibling hid behind his brother, slightly scared by the scenario unfolding before him. “Come, Ralph, we’ll play with Ophelia later...”

Mace leaned into his sibling, whispering a handful of words before embracing his frail body in his arms. Their figures slowly headed towards the mansion, disappearing after the loud sound created by the closed entrance door.

“Ivy... tell me, why did you do it?”

Her eagerness to cooperate had disappeared. Tears twinkled in her eyes, her knuckles paled compared to the magenta dress covering her body. It wasn’t enough, nowhere near enough.

My figure lowered to her level once again, facing her pale expression. My hands seized her attire by the collar, pulling her face closer to mine. Her eyes widened seeing the wide grin on my lips.

“I heard a rumor the other day... Terrel seems to enjoy planks and whips... how about it? Becoming a masochist doll, beaten and bruised as he leaves his seed within you. Don’t you yearn for it, Ivy?”