Luc allowed a smile to spread all the way across his face, hunger lighting up his eyes. He got up, coming around the side of the table to rest his hands on her shoulders. "You look tired, let's get you… into bed." His groping hands slid down, resting just beneath her waist.
((Sorry I poofed on you last night))
Winfred's body tense beneath his hands. She gasped and rose….all to quickly. Her vision whirled as she stumbled from her chair. She leaned heavily against the wall, her eyes narrowing on Luc. "I'm am no such thing, Lord Crenshaw. I am merely a bit dizzy. " She placed a hand out in front of her.
Luc gave her a smile like a predator closing in on his prey, all teeth and flashing canines. Easily taking hold of her outstretched hand by the wrist, he twisting it around and pulled her to him, trapping her against his body so that they were stomach to back. “Why don’t you come with me….” he purred, trailing his fingers down the curve of her hip.
Winifred stifled a scream as she was pulled against him, warnings blaring in her mind. She gritted her teeth. "You are making a very big mistake….Luc Crenshaw…." Her breathing turned heavy but she would not let it weaken her. She gripped the fan hanging with the folds of her and turned on him, slamming the object hard across his face, breaking away from him. She staggered and landed hard against the wall before gathering her bearings. She wasted no time though, lerching for the the table and grabbing a knife.
Without missing a beat, Luc drew his own knife, hidden beneath his vest. This was all a game to him, and an old one at that, she wasn't the first woman who had tried to fight back. She was fighting the hardest, that much was true, but he was more than confident in his abilities. "Winnifred, I'm not the one making a mistake," he told her, voice oddly soothing. "You cannot fight me with that dagger, I could easily bury my own in your throat from where I stand. But I'm not going to if you come quietly…. I don't know why you have such an aversion to a bit of fun, I can promise you that you'll enjoy every second."
Marcus's desperation was threatening to overflow as he flung open door after door, only to be met with empty rooms or servants. There was no sign of either his uncle or Winnifred, neither in a dining room or salon, or in Luc's bedroom.
Finally, finally, he heard a familiar voice ringing true and half sprinted, half stumbled towards the sound, barely registering the burning pain as he grasped the doorknob firmly and threw the other door open.
The words hit her like a blow to the stomach. In an instant, she was back there, back where she wasn't safe. Back where her body was not her own and she was used for the sinful pleasure of others. Where she had spent nights that seemed to last for years in this very state: Lost, frightened, and disoriented. That is where you are mistaken, Luc… She bared her teeth at him. "You. Disgust. Me."
Gripping her weapon, she backed away from and then her head snapped towards the door as it flew open. Marcus standing on the other side. She gave a cry of relief though she wasn't sure why, she wasn't out of danger yet.
It took exactly half a second for Marcus to take in the situation. It took another for him to take aim and hurl the dagger directly at Luc's chest.
Luc snarled, twisting out of the way and barking out a short laugh. The dagger imbedded itself in the wall, thrown with such force that it buried itself up to the hilt. "Oh look, the knight in shining armour has come to play." Marcus didn't bother answering, only pulled Winnifred behind him and towards the door. "Go, now."
Winifred stumbled a bit but she didn't let go of Marcus. "Marcus, you are not fit for this! You could get hurt as well. Let's go" she urged him, pleading with her voice. But he was listening. His eyes were trained on the monster before him. She saw it in his eyes, the promise of blood. "Marcus?"
Rage blazed through every fibre of his being, destroying every single shred of self control and mercy he'd ever possessed. "Winnifred." His voice was choked with a million different emotions. "Please, go. I don't want him hurting you anymore."
Luc let out another laugh, tossing his knife into the air and catching it effortlessly. "Well, this is cute. Heart-warming, even. But… Winnifred~" he sang the last word. "He has no knife, you and I both know he won't survive the night.."
Her body recoiled as her name rolled off his tongue. She narrowed her gaze on him, but he was right. Marcus wouldn't stand a chance. She tugged on his arm once more. "Marcus, please, let's go." She begged him. "Please…He isn't worth the air he breathes and you know it."
Marcus shook his head, keeping his eyes glued to Luc. Their chocolaty depths had gone black, but were alight with something akin to insanity. "It is definitely worth it. Winnifred, I'm begging you, just go. Please. I need to do this. For you."
Luc smirked. "Yes, Winnifred. Scurry off, I might still have a treat ready for you when I'm finished."
That was the last straw for Marcus.
"Don't you dare speak to her that way.*
He leapt forward. But Luc– Luc had a knife.
And he had nothing.
(just gonna leave that last bit up to interpretation :)
((Wait, what? Did Luc stab him? Did Marcus tussle with him? Does Winifred scream or does she scream?))
(oof sorry for that cliffhanger
if it makes sense, I stopped writing directly before anything happens, so any of the above are possible)
(if not I can edit)
(sorry)
((oof, it's all good. But, decisions have to be made. Marcus fails, but at whose expense, his or Winifred's? But Winifred will gladly give herself up to save his arse. Or does he take a few scars and Winifred's fear?"
(he fails at his expense, I think, Luc probably wouldn't dare try anything with Winnifred now that she's aware of her true intentions, he would play it safe until he could…. snatch her up, so to speak. He really is disgusting. Anyways, what if Luc tried to stab him but he missed and cut open his shoulder instead? Would Winnifred try to turn him in immediately or would he threaten her? Blackmail her?)
((OOOOOH! He can blackmail her. This is the part where it all falls together because he tells her that he knows exactly who she is, and who her family is. Lauren would have told him what her sister does and what she forced her daughter into. The truth comes out to Marcus as well. Thus the whole 'we-can't-be-together-we've-got-to-many-issues' comes into play!))
(oohhhhhhhhhh yessss
Plus, she's an illegal doctor! he could threaten to get her arrested, or returned to her mother?
PLUS Marcus's insanity has already shined through a bit…. hehe time for more)
((Scheming laughter Mhmmm, yes~))
(muahahaha)
((Alrighty, let's do this! Do you wanna go or do I?))
could you since I posted that last bit?
((I gotchu))
Winifred screamed as she watched Marcus launch himself at Luc. She wanted to pull him back, to keep him away, but she'd be putting the both of them in danger. She'd only distract him and who knows what Luc would try and do. Besides, what use would she be with this drug in her system? She could hardly see straight.
(thanks)
Luc thrust his knife upwards, barely missing a beat, but Marcus twisted away at the last second so that the blade tore open his shoulder instead. His blood spilled to the floor but he ignored it and wrapped his hands around his uncles throat. The dagger fell to the ground.
But the upper hand didn't last long. Marcus was still wounded, and there was nothing stopping Luc from shoving his fist into his nephew's chest wound, hard. He staggered backwards, black spots swimming across his vision as pain roared through him, and all Luc had to do was shove him violently against the wall, pick up the fallen knife, and hold it to his throat.
"What do you think, Winnifred? Should I cut him open? It's not like it'll reach the police…"
Winifred cried out as Marcus hit the wall, running – more like stumbling – to his side. She growled at Luc. "Let him go! You will never see the light of day as a free man again! I can promise you that much you monster!" Tears streamed down her cheeks as she screamed at him, her heart wretched in two as she watched Marcus bleed.
She had to get him away, back to her room where she could take care of him.
Marcus opened his mouth, barely conscious, barely aware of his surroundings through the pain. One thing cut through the endless red haze— or rather, two. First, his fear for Winnifred, terror that Luc would do something to her. Second, his hate and disgust at his uncle.
“Winnifred— get away— plea——“ He was cut off when Luc wrapped a strong hand around his neck and squeezed, grinning at Winnifred. “But I know your secret…. you can’t turn me in~”
Winifred blanked but was quick to cover her surprise. She narrowed her brown gaze on him. "You know nothing!" she spat. Her attention turned to Marcus. "Release him! NOW!" she demanded.
“Winnifred Darcy..” Luc purred with a sickening smile. “I know everything.” Keeping a hand on the knife pressed against his nephew’s throat, he reached out with the other to trail a finger down her cheek. Marcus thrashed in his grip, trying to shove him away, but he was too strong. “I know about your aunt. Your aunt, the one in the asylum. I’ve felt her body under my hands. I’ve read her books…. I helped with those books. I know about your mother. I know about how experienced you are unclothed, but not of your own will.”
Winifred eyes widened as she froze. Her world slow was lit aflame before her eyes. How did he know? How could he have possibly know about her aunt? Or her mother?
Or about me?
She took a step back, wiping his touch away. She fought for words, hell, she fought for air. "That mean n-nothing now!" she managed to force out, though her words had become a bit hoarse, losing some of their sting.
Marcus’s eyes widened, though he could barely breathe. “Wh-What? Winnifred— What is he talking about?”
Luc’s cruel laugh hung in the air. “Oh, this is precious. The hero doesn’t know about how is girlfriend is a whore. I’m going to have fun with this one….”
Marcus let out a tortured sound of pain and rage, but his uncle single slipped a finger between two stitches in his chest and ripped them out. A scream tore through the air.