CHAPTER 1

ELIZABETH...

*** "How could you say this Dad? He is your own father!" I could not help the irreverence that came out of me.

"Father?" Dad snorted. "A father that only cared for an illegitimate child and named his fortune to her? I better off without one then!"

My heart bleed at his words. The illegitimate child he mentioned was me. "Dad please..." The apathy he showed for his own father was unexpected.

"Why now?" My stepmom barked at me. "Where did you lose the money he gave you?" Disgust rolled her tongue. "Get lost before I kick you out of my house which I should have done twenty years ago!"

Swallowing her bitter words, I pleaded to Dad, "Please, Dad. Save him, please... Agh!" My vision blurred with a slap from Mom. "Shut up!" She pulled my hair backwards and started dragging me toward the door.

I winced in pain, struggling out of her hold.

"Mila!" Dad's thundered tone stopped Mom, raising hope in me. Probably, I would be pitied now.

"Dad..." My soul anticipated.

He walked close to me pinching my cheeks, as a sharp pain forced tears off my Eyes. "You want money, huh?" I watched his lips curving up, "I happen to have the best solution for you, my daughter..." ***

Tears of remorse slipped from my eyes, encoring the day earlier and immediately sucked by the satin fabric used as a blindfold on me. The flimsy bedsheet was no help to the Cold tremor within me as I lay defenceless on the huge bed, naked.

The solution was to be a bed-warmer, thus my body was shoved on the man's bed who was rumoured ugly, ruthless, womaniser and eccentric at the same time.

The fourth son of the Moores was a shadowed evil they say. Hiding in the dark he ruins women every night. Some even disappeared and no one knows where they all go.

However, no one dared to raise their voice against the great Moore family, who single-handedly ruled the business industry.

Never in the nightmares, I had ever envisioned giving myself away on my twenty-third birthday.

I sang 'Happy Birthday' for others, but never for me. My birthday never brought happiness to anyone but grouch and disdain in the family.

I am Elizabeth Swann. The misbegotten child of Swanns.

My mother gave up on me with a note to my father's door one snowy night. My father and his wife argued over the illegitimate child and loathed me. Not to mention my resentful sister.

The only person who never treated me badly was my grandfather. The sole reason for my existence and laying on this bed.

My engrossment shattered when I heard some footsteps, mild, yet growing near. Freezing me on the bed.

He is here...

My entire body numbed. It felt as if bound by a spell. I could not move at all. The atmosphere of the room tensed more, leaving me with a racing heart.

The footsteps stopped. A second later, the bed bumped and my heart was gripped by a cold fist.

All I wanted to do was run away and hide in some dark corner, but, I couldn't. The pale face of my grandfather and the cruelty of my father floated around my mind, letting another droplet of tears roll from my eyes.

"Nervous?"

I gasped in silence at the voice, sucking in a nervous breath.

"Do you want to remove the blindfold?" He asked again.

The tone was deep as the ocean and melodious as waves.

The flow of his words made me wonder about his looks and I was almost convinced to nod. But the reminder of the wild description of appearance stopped me.

"N-no, Ple-ease, do-on't". (No, please don't.) I was unable to control the tremble in my tone.

He remained silent, then said, "As you wish..."

Did it feel the same to those women who laid here before me? Did anyone ever want to be unfolded? Probably some did, or else, how did they describe his ugliness?

"Ah!" I cried out when I felt the quilt slide a little.

After a brief silence, "If you're scared like this, how will I inspect?"

The touch of annoyance in his tone made me go steel. He couldn't be annoyed by me! If I failed to give in, I would lose the only person who ever cared for me.

"I- I am so-rry..." I apologised. "Th-is is -my first time..." I breathed out hardly.

He did not reply to my words and did not leave either. Only felt the quilt sliding away slowly.

My soul was crying, and I lay there defenceless, waiting to be ravaged. Time passed by, however, nothing happened and the quilt stopped right over my chest.

Still securing my private parts. Thank God!

As soon as the doubt raised that he might leave. Proving me wrong, his hot breath fanned over my face in the next second.

"You might be attractive, little girl." I heard him, instinctively, tilting my head to the other side. "But..." He suddenly paused, as if he was caught off guard.

I did not hear his voice anymore, only the sound of Our shallow breaths.

I was about to straighten my head but jerked up at the touch of his face in the crook of my neck. My heart burst and my head started spinning at his action.

Hoping him to take me wildly as they say, but... He seemed to stop only on my neck.

I gasped mentally when he started sniffing me. Dumbfounded, I lay there silently and let him do his momentary action.

"It's you..." He mumbled in a deep whispery tone, as if surprised and excited all of a sudden.

What is he saying!? I was confused.

Slowly, he moved. Instinctively, my head moved along and he paused to the other side, still sniffing!

At this point, I felt like a dog owner, instead of a bed-warmer! Happily sniffed by my dog! Things were not going as they should be.

Or maybe, I concluded too soon... In the next second, his lips started moving on my naked flesh, nibbling the place.

I lay there tightly, clenching my fists and forcefully shutting my eyes under the blindfold. trying hardest, but still couldn't help the nervous gasp when his warm hand slightly touched my bare breast.

That's it... It all ends here now.

However, he stiffened... Then suddenly moved away from me, letting the cold air touch my skin, making me shiver in the darkness.

Please! Don't be annoyed! My mind screamed.

"M-mr. Moore," I wanted to apologize, but already felt the bed lightened. "Pl-ease, I- I won't re-esist any-more..."

I only had one chance and I ruined it.

"We are done here..." his deep melodic voice rolled again... Curt and Rigid.

Did he just reject me? No!

My lips parted, ready to beg him again for my misbehaviour, yet the sound of the door opening stopped me and then it was closed.

Immediately I sat up, holding the quilt close to my body, I hastily removed the blindfold only to be greeted by the dimly lightened room...

********

After a while,

I stood before the huge mahogany double door that touched the ceiling. A little eroded by the situation.

When I thought I was rejected and about to leave, I was summoned again by the mysterious man.

"Master is waiting for you." The housekeeper's discreet tone pushed my thoughts away.

Swallowing, I closed my eyes, You're doing this for Grandpa, Elie. I reminded myself for the nth time and stepped in.

Immediately, the door closed behind me and I was greeted with a dimly lightened atmosphere once again.

I tried to adjust my sight in the low light and succeeded slowly. It seemed like a study room, huge undoubtedly.

My wondering eyes paused on a dark figure. His back was facing me, probably looking out of the window.

"Y-ou wanted to see me?"

His tall figure did not move, nor try for once. Started heightening confusion if the figure was even real, when, suddenly,

"I am not searching for a bed-warmer, Miss Swann, but a wife." He spoke. The same deep, melodic tone and unexpected words.

"You need money, and I need a bride." He continued, "A perfect cooperation it could be." He paused briefly before adding, "Are you ready?"

I stood there, speechless. I was only informed to be on his bed. For a night, precisely.

When he left without doing anything, I thought he was dissatisfied with me. Now, suddenly, he is asking for a bride?

"I am waiting, Miss Swann."

The dominance in his voice caught me. My lips parted hesitantly, "I-uh, I wasn't informed about this... I only..."

"Only wanted to warm my bed?" He snatched my words.

I never knew those words would make me feel like a hoe. I felt humiliated. For him, I was just a woman who was ready to sell herself for money.

Clenching my fists tightly on my dress, I nodded, "y-yes." And watched myself crushing the lump of dignity.

"It was a show to find a bride." He admitted, his tone dangerously low, yet dominating the entire atmosphere of the darkness.

"Now you know, what's your answer?" He asked again.

I remained silent for a few seconds. Looked up and tried to see the man in the dark.

He was rumoured for lots of things and all were negative. However, he did nothing bad to me yet. This man is secretive. Very mysterious in appearance.

Closing my eyes, I gathered my courage before speaking, "I didn't even see you. How can I...?"

"is it all recline on my appearance?" He stole my words. Creepy enough, but yes, he is right.

"Little bit, yes." I agreed, trying to maintain my calm.

"If I am going to marry a man, no matter in what circumstance, I wish to see him at least."

He did not speak for long, testing my patience. The grieving silence was getting on my nerves.

"Fair enough..." His words wavered in the air.

The dark figure moved a little. I blinked, it might be my omission. However, proving me wrong, the figure turned around, increasing the level of my heartbeat.

The dimly lightened surroundings still weren't enough for my eyes to catch his features.

Slowly, he started walking toward me. The force in my fists grew. Only one thought kept me standing steel.

Grandpa... Everything I am doing for him only.

The dark figure stopped a few feet away from me. My eyes were trying to watch the mysterious man. Sharp and alert of the situation.

Suddenly, a snap of light flashed as my eyes shut closed. I did not expect the light and it affected my nerves.

"Didn't you wish to see me?" I heard him.

Nodding slightly, I gradually opened my eyes...

"Ah!" A loud gasp came out unfiltered as I almost threw myself away, hitting my back hard in the door.

Oh, Lord!

The man in front of me was not ugly, but the scariest one I have ever seen!

Four-third of his face was wrinkly all over as If it was burned badly and shrunk! The smooth part got a scar, starting from the edge of the forehead to an inch lower than his cheekbone. The scariest part of all his eyes! The ruined part got a marble stone for an eye and the other part was cold blue-grey.

It seemed someone just walked out of a horror movie!