Two by Day, Three by Night Page 3

  As the two Marcas’ retreated to the study, they glowered hatefully at each other, disgusted by what they both saw. The monks had called it the Curse of Mirrors, splitting the individual into two separate halves at sunset and rejoining them at sunrise. It forced them to struggle with their own strengths and weaknesses and literally watch the truth of their nature come to life through the night. The sides often warred with each other, both believing theirs was the strongest and most useful. The only time they did not battle was when it came to Sebastian and the love and respect held for him.

  Marcas had known Sebastian since he was a young boy. The monk had been an old friend of the late Baron Kalnovky and took the child under his wing when the man had been killed in a political skirmish. Marcas had been a boy of complexity… his soft, gentle and loving side towards children and animals, and the fierce, raging and violent side to those who had been wronged. The circumstances of his father’s death divided him even more so. While the two sides of Marcas’ personality made him the perfect candidate for cultural ambassadorship and country representative, they were also the hub of the young man’s greatest struggles. As he matured, the sides developed their own strengths and interests, conflicting with each other as he challenged his own wants and desires, warring between recklessness and practicality. He began to fight for balance that he could never find, and cornered himself within a world of black and white, with no gray area to be seen. His inability to find peace within himself left him a young, lonely man, who despaired of ever finding a companion to love and accept both the public, and private, parts of his life.

  Following Marcas’ accident, and after hours of listening to Sebastian reprimanding him for his foolish and arrogant behavior, it was decided to take a trip back to the monastery from where Sebastian had come to seek answers to Marcas’ dilemma. The young man’s behavior had started to change and Sebastian was concerned that there was more to the accident that what had been seen. It took them one week on foot to reach the high peaks of the black mountains, and roam over the narrow paths to where the old stone building was nestled. The monks immediately embraced their long gone brother and then turned to Marcas as he sat brooding in a darkened corner of the room. They began a meticulous search through old books, badgering Marcas with embarrassing questions, including the depictions on the vase, his lifestyle, and his feelings.

  A discovery was made. Their research led the Brotherhood to believe that Marcas had been exposed to an ancient curse that was born of pride. The brothers approached Marcas with instructions to cease warring with himself before it was too late, stating that the time would soon come that he would have to face who he was. Not willing to consider the underlying warning in the man’s words, Marcas ignored the warnings, calling them silly and ridiculous. Three days later, as the sun set on the evening of the full moon, Marcas underwent his first, agonizing rending. He screamed out as his body and soul were torn in two, and came face-to-face with the hatred he held for himself. Sebastian and the Brotherhood watched sadly as the young man fought against himself through the night, the two sides beating furiously upon each other until they merged again at sunrise, bruised and broken.

  Marcas had, indeed, been engulfed by the Curse of Mirrors. His only hope was to discover the perfect, unbreakable bond that neither side could survive without. The strength of that bond was the only chance of ever bringing both sides back together again and force them to live in peace and acceptance.

  “She’s going to run,” Marcas advised his impulsive side, “unless we make it safe for her. We can’t do that by threatening to spank her.”

  “I promise, I don’t threaten. And if she doesn’t mind me…”

  “Stop it already! Are you too stupid to see that she’s the one Sebastian has selected? He believes her to be the treasure we’ve been seeking. I never thought I was capable of being such an obtuse idiot.” Marcas threw up his hands in disgust.

  “You seem to think that you will win your way by promising flowers and chocolates. No woman with a brain would fall for that,” the other hissed back. “She is too intelligent to be wooed by bribes. She requires direction and a firm hand. She is too independent and has forgotten how to be a woman in the truest sense of the word.”

  “A true woman does not need to be dominated; she needs to be nurtured, and to be cared for as she cares for others.”

  “A true woman does not need dominance, she desires it. It allows her to release her control and gives her a sense of protection. And I will give her that.”

  “You are a stupid fool, know that?”

  “Then that makes us quite the pair now, doesn’t it?” the rash half grinned sardonically.

  * * *

  Courtney rose shortly after sunrise, groggy from too little sleep, sleeping in a strange bed, and dealing with even stranger events. She rummaged through her bag and slipped on her running shorts, T-shirt, and shoes, checked on the sleeping Sebastian, and slipped out the front door. Inhaling the cool, crisp mountain air, she stretched carefully before trotting off down the wooded road, hoping to find a house or gas station to help make her escape from this insane asylum.

  She frowned as she jogged, noticing that there were not only a lack of homes, but that the streets were not well marked. She flipped on her phone to check the GPS and discovered that she had no cell signal!

  “Damn son of a bitch!” she swore, stomping her foot angrily. No car, no phone, no sense of direction… Her only chance was getting to the phone in the basement and call 911 from there. Keep your cool, she reminded herself. You’ll find a way out. If you can find your way back, you big dumbass.

  Grateful that she had remembered her water bottle, Courtney finally sat on a log to catch her breath and try to gain her bearings. She was hopelessly lost and, since had driven there in the dark, did not recognize any landmarks. She remembered the advice given to her when she was young and had gotten lost during a family picnic. Hug A Tree. Her mind drifted to the tall, wooden faced, brutally handsome man back at the Baron’s house… that was one tree she wouldn’t mind hugging, that is, if he wasn’t so psychotic! There was something about the vexatious man that pulled her towards him as much as that which repelled her. He had said he was ‘complex’, and Sebastian obviously trusted him without reservation. Still, it disturbed her to no end by her inability to control her own libido.

  Courtney pondered over the events, playing with the notion that perhaps Marcas was a twin, which would account for the two completely different personas and the fact that she had heard two sets of voices arguing in the study the evening before. But which twin did she feel this attraction to? Both? Courtney chided herself… the lack of sleep, having nothing to eat and lowered blood sugar was making her lose her senses. What the hell was she thinking? Marcas, twin or not, was going to force her to stay with him!

  So she sat, wondering if Marcas would even notice her absence or bother to come after her. As minutes ticked into hours, she started to worry for Sebastian, hoping he was resting well and without pain. Guilt began to play on her conscious as she realized that she had been more concerned for her own personal agenda than the dear old man’s level of comfort. Her thoughts sailed to the things she had seen in the basement. The suggestive carvings of smooth, round bottoms raised high in air and waiting to be smacked by a large, broad hand or a long, thick paddle. Other images of voluptuous women offering their sweet delights under the sting of a leather strap or a bundle of twigs played in her mind. And the restraints… every position one could imagine, and even some that one could not.

  Her hand touched the area where Marcas had smacked her while carrying her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes. She felt herself growing wet as she recounted the endless scenes portraying pain and pleasure. A groan escaped her lips as an uncomfortable need for release began to smolder within her. That was her deepest secret, her fantasy… the part of her that no one knew existed. She had worked so hard for her independence, yet she desperately desired to give it all up just once, and
know what it was like to not be in control. Courtney sighed, knowing that this desire would never be anything but a fantasy. Control was too important for her survival and she would give it up for nothing, and no one.

  It was well after noon when she heard the sound of a car coming towards her. She jumped quickly to her feet to wave it down and hoped the driver could help her escape the trap she was caught in. A dark windowed Cadillac rolled up to her and came to a slow halt.

  “Please help me. I’m lost and… oh, it’s you,” she said, leaning into the driver’s window. She was able to see the intricate details of Marcas’ handsome face and the silver gray of his eyes. Eyes that looked both incredibly worried and equally angry.

  “You are lucky I found you. I have been searching for hours. Get in,” he said firmly, slipping on his glasses against the streaming sunlight. “You should know better than to wander in an area you don’t know.”

  “I would have found my way back had I been able to get a signal around this place!” Courtney snapped, sliding into the back seat and crossing her arms. “I’m fine, by the way. Thank you for asking.”

  “When we get back, young lady, you and I are going to have a very long talk.”

  “Good. I have a few things you need to hear. Starting with the return of my car keys.”

  “So you can desert Sebastian? He needs you,” he asked quietly.

  “I had no intentions of deserting Sebastian, you big lug!” Courtney snipped angrily.

  Marcas’ stunning eyes appeared to look at her in the rear view mirror. “Desert me, then? I do not want you to go. I enjoy your presence here.”

  “I am not here for you, Marcas.”

  “Actually, you are,” he said softly, pulling into the wooded driveway that was well-shaded by heavy branched trees. He opened the car door for her and waited for her to exit, watching as she stomped towards the house, her firm round backside filling her running shorts nicely with a tiny peek of the bottom portion of her cheeks teasing his eyes. She was a sight to behold, especially when angry. He followed her quietly into the house and watched as she shot upstairs.

  Sebastian was sleeping comfortably with no hint of pain on his old, weathered face. Courtney touched his brow with a gentle caress, smoothing back the wisps of gray hair before quickly checking his pulse and blood pressure. A partially empty tray told her that he had eaten and his change of clothing indicated that Marcas had taken care of his morning needs. With a satisfied sigh, she turned to go to her room and collided into Marcas.

  “Will you STOP sneaking up behind me?” she demanded. Marcas gently cupped her chin in his right hand and lifted her face to look at him. Courtney felt her body tremble under the hold of his steely eyes. “Excuse me, I need to shower.”

  “Very well. Once you are done, I expect to see you in my office. We have some things to discuss.”

  “I thought I made it clear to you last night that I do not respond when summoned. You had best learn to ask me politely if you want anything of me,” she responded. “Now, please get out of my way.”

  “My office when you are done. Please.”

  Courtney slammed her door in his face, clenching her shaking fists. The silky smoothness of his low voice, coupled with that sexy rolling accent, made her swoon like a lovesick school girl. And his body, even dressed in the dark trousers and white linen ‘pirate’ shirt, sparked her appetite for adventure. She was surprised to see a tray set up with breakfast items waiting next to a steaming tub scented with lavender oil. She checked her blood sugar, administered her insulin, and then proceeded to nibble on the sliced fruit and cheese. With a grateful sigh, she climbed into the hot water and sank back to enjoy the warmth.

  Closing her eyes, Courtney imagined what he planned on doing to her after being caught ‘running away’. Would he again threaten to ‘warm her bottom’? Or perhaps he would trap her in a corner and kiss her. She was undeniably attracted to him, despite his obvious personality quirks. What if he really was a twin? To have two of him at once… that was too much for any girl to dream of.

  Once again scolding herself for her total lack of professionalism, and the fact she was essentially a hostage, Courtney dried her body rapidly and donned some loose fitting sweats and sneakers. She dried her long, rich golden waves and plaited a quick braid over her left shoulder. After dabbing on some light pink lipstick, she exited her room. The house was still fairly dark, even mid-day, with streams of sunlight strategically lighting darker corners and walkways. Courtney ran her hand down the staircase railing, noticing that the furnishings were sparse and the rooms largely undecorated. Except for the basement…

  “Come in, Miss Wells. Please, have a seat,” Marcas’ warm voice responded as she tapped on the door. She slowly entered the darkened room, taking a moment for her eyes to adjust.

  “Where are you?” she asked, settling into a large, cushioned arm chair in front of the desk.

  “In the corner. My eyes cannot tolerate light.”

  “What happened?”

  “My foolish desires got in the way of my senses. An unidentified powder was blown into my eyes when I opened an ancient, sealed canister. The one downstairs, next to my divan.”

  “That’s a very… unusual piece. I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” Courtney said, watching as he sat down across from her.

  “Did it frighten you?” Marcas asked, studying her carefully.

  “I’m not frightened easily. I’m a combat veteran… I’ve seen some pretty horrific things.”

  “It that why you isolate yourself?” he asked bluntly, catching the woman by surprise.

  “What kind of question is that? And what I do with my life is none of your business. What did you want with me, anyway? And where are my car keys?”

  Soundlessly, he reached into the drawer and placed them on the desk. “I apologize for this. It was poor judgment on my behalf. I was fearful that you would try to drive when you were so tired.”

  “I can’t believe that the baron would condone such behavior from an employee. He seems to be a respectful and courteous gentleman,” Courtney scolded.

  “You misunderstood, Miss Wells. I’m the Baron Kalnovky. Sebastian is a friend, a companion and teacher from my youth.” He gave Courtney a moment to let the information sink in, her mouth hanging open in surprise. “You are in no danger here. I want to assure you of that. I also, upon Sebastian’s insistence, wish to make amends to you for my ill treatment.”

  Courtney drew in a breath, composing herself . She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin to look at him. “While I understand that you are stressed and afraid for your friend, your treatment of me has been abhorrent. Not only have you physically forced me to remain here, but you struck me! And then, threatened to… to…”

  “To spank you. Yes,” he sighed, looking down as he considered his words. “I’m afraid it’s somewhat of a habit of mine. Old-world values. I must keep order in my home and I find that is a way that works admirably well, particularly with naturally submissive women. I do apologize for being so forward with you.”

  “I am not a submissive woman, Baron Kalnovky. I have control over my own life and am highly educated, independent, self-sufficient, and have my own thoughts and opinions…”

  “Of course, and those are all admirable qualities that make you interesting and unique. However, there is a part inside of you that secretly longs to relinquish your strength to a man who will allow you to be soft, feminine and cared for. And be taken in hand and held accountable for your prideful behaviors. Deny my strength and your own needs, Miss Wells, and we shall let this subject rest,” Marcas said firmly, locking her eyes with his. Courtney swallowed hard as she reddened, her stomach fluttering as she felt wetness spread beneath her.

  When she did not respond, Marcas smiled gently with a nod and continued, “I am drawn to the submissive as strongly as they are drawn to me. You have no reason to be ashamed of being what you are. However, while you fulfill your contract here, always remember that we ea
ch have our roles and I will not hesitate to take hold of my position. Even on your bottom, if I must. With that said, do not leave this house again without letting me know. Nor will you skip meals. Yes?”

  Courtney gulped, shivers traveling down her arms and she fought not to break eye contact with the overpowering man who exuded pure strength and raw sensuality. “I will not be kept prisoner here,” she forced out, trying to hide the desire to flee like a frightened rabbit.

  “You are not a prisoner. You may come and go as you desire, only let me know your whereabouts and be back to care for Sebastian. Because the light is so painful for me, I would prefer you take his care in the daylight hours and permit me to resume it at night. Would that be reasonable?”

  “Yes, very much. Are you saying I don’t have to stay here if I don’t want to?”

  “Yes. If you honestly wish, you may leave. But you must truly desire this in your heart. If I read you correctly, your integrity will prevent you from leaving for reasons related to your pure stubborn pride.”

  “I don’t get paid enough to deal with this crap. I’ll get him stabilized and then I’m out of here.”

  “Very well. Again, if this is your heart’s desire, you may go. I will deal with your chastisement later, after you have rested,” Marcas announced, crossing his arms as he studied her.

  “My chastisement? You have got to be kidding.”

  “I am a man of my word. Are you a woman of your word as well?”

  “You will not touch me.”

  “I asked you a question. You promised to stay to stabilize Sebastian. Will you do so or will you run?”

  “I don’t run from anything, Marcas. You don’t frighten me.”

  “I bear to disagree. You are terrified. But not of me…” he peered into her face, “you are afraid of yourself. The part you cannot control; the part you haven’t come to peace with.”

  “Have you had your eyes looked at?” Courtney forced out, changing the subject from his insane threats and attempts to manipulate her.