The Slave Bride Ch. 14

Everyone is 18 or older. CONTENT WARNING nonconsensual elements as well as mentioned abuse. (CW incest and rape and murder for this whole chapter really)

...Sorry it took so long.

Enjoy!

Gisselle slept in the center of the bed. The sheets curled around her form, which was folding in on itself. She looked peaceful and he desperately hoped that she was finally able to rest. The gentle rise and fall of her chest tore something inside of him. Benjamin stood in the doorway.

The anger had fully faded now leaving only guilt and shame in its wake. He had killed her father. He'd enjoyed it. He'd savored every slice as he cut his way through the monster that hurt his wife. Wife. The word hits him like a ton of bricks. He feels the weight of what happened to her, and cannot help but blame himself. He had been careless. He had been appointed as her protector and he had allowed her to endure the most horrendous forms of pain. There was absolutely no atoning that he could do. Nothing would solve the terrible things that had been done to his wife.

His heart ached. He wanted to pull her close and whisper comforting words but everything he thought of felt hollow and meaningless when he couldn't - hadn't- protected her. He had failed. But worse than his knowledge of the failure was that Gisselle was paying the price for his mistake. The thought was a burden too much to bear.

He could hear Cadence's footsteps drawing near. His brother had always been more adept in comforting slaves. He had a talent for understanding what would put someone at ease in even the most difficult of circumstances. He handed Benjamin a glass.

Benjamin didn't need to ask what it was, he could smell the sharp floral scent of whiskey and tipped the glass back without so much as a moment's hesitation. Cadence took a sip, coming to stand beside his brother as they both stared at Gisselle's bed in silence.

"I told her she doesn't have to be my slave." The words come out harsh, yet hollow. There is an undercurrent of disappointment in Cadence's voice as he speaks in a low volume. He doesn't look at his brother as he speaks, "I told her no one could be expected to serve someone-"

Benjamin's stomach twists at his brother's explanation, the crack in his voice betraying his deeper emotions for the girl as he continues, "no one could be expected to serve someone who doesn't keep them safe. Its the very least of my responsibilities. And I failed her."

Benjamin swallows, he doesn't even reprimand Cadence for making such a serious decision without his input. "Yes. We did."

The two men stare at the body in the bed. The air between them hushed, as both brothers silently acknowledge their thanks that she is back home. The moment soured by the knowledge of what had happened to her. The senseless violence she had endured was unbearable and unfair and cruel. She had deserved none of it. She was kind and beautiful and gentle and she deserved only good things.

Benjamin shook his head. "I won't do that. She's my wife regardless of what happened and how I failed. If I have to spend the rest of our lives to gain back her trust, so be it."

"I didn't mean-"

"Do with the information what you will. I'm just telling you that I have no intention of releasing her. Not for even so much as a moment."

Cadence can see the exhaustion in his brother's eyes and he realizes that Benjamin was not criticizing him for freeing her; he was simply determined to fix his mistake.

"She needs room. She needs to feel like we aren't forcing her-"

Cutting Cadence off, Benjamin interrupted again. "I will not let her out of my sight. Not for a fucking minute."

Benjamin listened to his brother sigh in response. There is another beat of silence before he speaks again.

"Ben... She deserves to make her own choice about this. We didn't hold our end of the bargain. It's not right to keep her here as a slave or a wife."

Benjamin tore his gaze from the bed as his eyes pierced Cadence. "Are you suggesting that we just... what? Let her go?"

"Of course not. She should stay here. protected. But, she shouldn't have to be our slave. And we don't deserve her as a wife. Not in the least."

Benjamin considers this. He had certainly not intended on forcing Gisselle to do anything remotely painful or degrading after everything she had been through. He knew he couldn't bring himself to use her for his pleasure any time soon. The thought made him sick. He would never use her that way- her father had. But, Benjamin knew well that any advance he made towards her could be seen as predatory given the circumstances.

"Alright." He conceded, "I will not order her to do anything. Those rules we gave her- consider them voided. I will not release her from her position as my wife or as my slave, but I will give her as much time as she needs to recover. I will not push her or force her to do anything, but I will not let her go."

There is another long pause between the two men as the watch in silence. The young woman in the bed stirs, then lies still again. When they are both sure that she is resting peacefully, Benjamin speaks again, his voice low, barely a whisper.

"I love her."

Cadence's eyes snap up at the uncharacteristically soft tone in his voice. He had known, or suspected that his brother had deeper feelings for Gisselle, but it was another thing entirely to hear him say it aloud.

"I know."

Benjamin looks surprised, flushed, despite the dim lighting. He swallows.

"I love her too."

"Then why let her go?" his voice was a mix of hurt and betrayal.

"Because she deserves a say in this."

Benjamin's heart twists painfully as he recognizes the meaning behind his brother's words. Gisselle had no say in being sold. She had no say in being taken again by her father. She had no say in her many brutal assaults.

"Of course she does, but," Benjamin pauses looking at his wife once more. He considers how isolated she must have felt in that little room. He could feel the chill, the loneliness in her eyes in the videos he'd watched of her. He could see the hopelessness in her gaze during her father's attacks. He knew from then on, she would never have to feel that way again. Not if he had anything to say about it.

"I cannot let her go through all of this alone." Benjamin continues, "She doesn't deserve to be alone any more. Not ever."

Cadence seems to understand now that his brother is attempting to help Gisselle by remaining close both emotionally and physically. It is a strange choice for him, the one who is usually calculated and distant. Cadence nods, knowing that he has to respect his brother's decision despite disagreeing on whether or not it was truly in Gisselle's best interest.

"Are you going to bed?" Cadence asked after a moment of watching Benjamin stare at Gisselle's peacefully sleeping form.

"Fuck that." He doesn't so much as turn to face him when he speaks. "Go if you want. I'll be here."

"I'm just doing what I think will be best for her. But don't think I'm not just as angry as you." Cadence said finally snapping at his brother's remark, "I'm glad you killed that bastard."

Benjamin's jaw clenches and he nods. "I'll see you in the morning," he speaks to Cadence, but his eyes are still trained on his wife. Eventually, he hears the footsteps moving away.

When the sun finally rises, Benjamin is sitting opposite the bed, his arms resting on his knees, his back against the wall. He rubs his eyes, listening to Gisselle, the calm and slow sound of her breaths, putting him at ease. She had made it through the night without a nightmare, and that was a blessing.

He stood quietly, knowing she was a light sleeper. As he left the bedroom to go to the kitchen. When he returned, he was carrying a small tray filled with fruits and pastries and freshly made coffee. He set it quietly on the table beside her bed. He pulled the quilt over her shoulder. Then he sat in the chair beside the bed, not sure if he should sit too close.

He recalled the words his brother spoke last night, about giving her space. It was so difficult when all he wanted to do was hold her hand and never leave her side. He watched as the little tendrils of steam wafted up and away from the coffee mug; the translucent wisps slowing disappearing into the air. He was relieved that she was sleeping for as long as she had. He knew her mind and body had to be exhausted. He blinked a few times, feeling quite tired himself.

Cadence knocked gently on the open doorframe, trying not to wake Gisselle, he whispered. "Get some rest. I'll stay with her."

Reluctantly, Benjamin stood. He did not want to leave, but he could feel his body beginning to give out. He looked at his brother before exiting. "If anything happens, get me."

Cadence nodded, taking Benjamin's place on the chair and looking at his slave. He had to remind himself that Gisselle was no longer his slave. She was just Gisselle, until she decided otherwise. He looked at the tray his brother had prepared. It had all of her favorites, cinnamon rolls, strawberries, sliced kiwis and peaches. The coffee smelled like a mix of brown sugar and pecans. He touched the mug. Cold.

He looked at Gisselle, then back at the clock. He stood to go reheat the coffee in case she woke up soon. When he returned, he saw her sitting up. She was looking at the tray of food. When she saw him in the doorway she flinched, blinked, looked around her as if she had momentarily forgotten where she was.

"You're awake." Cadence said handing her the mug, and gesturing towards the bed, "May I sit?"

She hesitated, then nodded. As he sat down he made sure not to sit too close. She sipped her drink.

"Thank you," Gisselle said, "For breakfast."

Cadence looked surprised. "Oh, no Benjamin made it. He wanted to stay with you all night. He just went to bed actually."

"He," Gisselle makes a puzzled look, "Stayed here? All night?"

Cadence gives her a sad smile. "He wanted to make sure you slept okay."

"Oh"

"What is it?"

"He doesn't want me to leave?"

Cadence lets out a dry laugh, "He most certainly does not want that."

"But you do." It was phrased as a statement but Cadence knew she was really asking for confirmation. Still, he willed himself not to try to influence her decision at all. "I just want you to have some semblance of freedom. Whatever it may look like."

She stares at him. Her gaze fearful and bewildered. She had been his slave, his wife. And now he was truly just stopping all of it. How had he managed that? It had to be an elaborate trap or set up. Would he punish her for getting caught by her father? Her father. Thoughts of him made the bile rise in her stomach and it burned its way up her esophagus.

Hurriedly, she put the hot mug down and ran to the bathroom. Cadence followed at the sound of her retching. But there was hardly anything in her stomach to start with. The acid burned her throat and brought tears to her eyes.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. She wasn't sure if she was happy to be released or if she was frightened. She liked the idea of autonomy but she was frightened at losing her protection and security. There was a part of her that had come to trust the brothers, especially Cadence. When he'd admitted that she would no longer have to serve him, it felt like a betrayal, even though he had done it out of sense of respect for her.

He continued to hold her hair back as she vomited violently. Her stomach cramping by the end of it. He handed her a towel and helped her to the sink. Wiping her tears, he got her a glass to use so that she could rinse her mouth.

Her hands gripped the countertop. She sobbed. "I don't want to go."

Cadence patted her back gently pulling her into his embrace. "Gisselle, no one is going to make you leave. I promise. You can stay here as long as you need-"

"Where is Benjamin?"

Cadence blinked, both at her interruption and at her casual usage of his name.

"Upstairs. Sleeping." He pulled back slightly, the tiniest bit of jealousy in his tone. He had always been the one to comfort her, not Benjamin, "Why?"

"I need to speak with him." Her voice was shaky but determined.

"Let's let him rest-"

"No." Gisselle said firmly, "I want to speak with him now."

Cadence looks at her hard. He grabs her hand, "Alright. Upstairs it is then."