Waking to a nightmare

Welcome to the erotic fantasy journal of the author of A Step Into Darkness

The first treat for you is the preview serialization of Chapter 1 of Part One of A Step Into Darkness

Please note that this preview also appears on Literotica as The Original Sin Chapter 1 by Outofshadows

Marguerite was never quite sure what made her stir from the mists of darkness that enveloped her mind. The faint echoes of female whimpering or the insistent whispering of her name.

A light tapping of her face strengthened the effort to open her eyes, the struggle against heavy lids for vision.

"William..what is happening?" Marguerite could not recognise her voice, a slurred wisp.

William had a wild look of despair in his eyes.

"I am so sorry. I should never have..."

"Troubled by doubts, my dear Strafford?"

The note of mockery was unmistakable in the strange disembodied voice that suddenly rang out. William visibly stiffened at the sound of the voice.

"Please, let us stop this. She has not seen any of the members nor does she know what is taking place," William pleaded as he turned to face the speaker.

Marguerite faintly glimpsed a masked figure all in black that stood to the front of William. Abruptly aware of the strange surroundings, Marguerite tried to focus on the flickers of light on the unfamiliar walls. Walls that looked roughly hewn out of stone. The first slivers of panic sliced through her.

"Have you forgotten, my dear Strafford, how you were ranting about this whore just this fortnight past. How this faithless whore threw you over for a duke." The ugly sneer was clear.

"Have you grown soft? Remember, she weds Monmouth in a week."

William's face flushed a dark red as he snapped at the figure in black. "I recall all of that perfectly, but this was not what I had in mind when you proposed punishment. Nor did I think that this was what the Brotherhood meant."

Cold steel ran in the dark figure's voice as he gripped William's shoulder. "It is too late, my dear Strafford. The brothers have gathered and I would not try to deny them if I were you." The slump in William's shoulders reflected the triumph in the figure's voice.

"What is happening, William?"

Panic lent strength to her voice as Marguerite tried to make sense of a situation that was rapidly becoming sinister.

The tears gathering in William's eyes as he stared in defeat made her blood run cold.

Suddenly, she noted what had been a niggling thought at the edge of her mind. He was in black robes like the strange figure, only his face was not covered by a mask.

"Ahh, my dear, you've woken from your slumber in time to join us for the main event of our congregation."

As he drew closer, Marguerite noticed the ornate black mask that obscured half of the man's face, leaving only a glimpse of thin lips drawn into an ugly sneer beneath cold eyes. Eyes hidden in the shadows of the mask tied tightly over a head of light brown hair.

"Welcome, my brothers, as we celebrate this holy day, you are all invited to partake of this feast that our new member has provided for us as a fitting end to his novitiate."

The flare of light, as numerous candles were brought into the dark room, illuminated the dark room. However, the light did little for Marguerite, who found herself staring into a pit of black despair as she noted the group of nine men in masks and full black robes with the sign of a flame emblazoned on the front of their robes and masks. They were flanked by a larger group of men dressed in black shirts and breeches loosely secured by black ties roped around them.

Her eyes widened as she glimpsed the origin of the whimpers that prompted her return to consciousness. Stretched out and bound to wooden pillars on a raised platform was the lithe figure of her cousin, Cicely. Uncomprehending terror stared out of those beautiful green eyes, so like her own, as barely muffled screams alternating with whimpers streamed out of her gagged mouth.

Recollection descended swiftly to fill the blank of Marguerite’s mind as she took in details of the scene before her. William had begged for a meeting near the gardens they frequented as children after she had rejected his numerous letters pleading for her to call off the wedding. She had brought her maid and Cicely who was curious about his persistence, having met William briefly at her first ball in the last month. William had launched into the usual pleas and despite her kind intentions, Marguerite was starting to feel irritated. Before she could make her excuses and politely leave, they were set upon by three men, whose faces were concealed by handkerchiefs. As she started to scream, a damp sweet smelling cloth was pressed to her face and all faded into darkness.

As realisation dawned, Marguerite turned her head to stare accusingly at her childhood friend, who was studiously avoiding her eyes.

"Why?"

The question went unanswered as regret flashed across William's face.