The Long Road to Ruin Ch. 07

"Thank you, Caron!" She bounced about and kissed him. "Will these not be missed?"

"I doubt it. I won't note it on my inventory list. So what do you have planned this evening?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Not sure. A private place would be nice..."

He nodded. "It would, but I have work to do. I have to finish this and then there is something I must do for Master Nathan."

"Oh okay, well I'm going upstairs to speak to him about Vico." She kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later."

Caron nodded and she ran up the stairs, smiling at Wesh and Warent as she passed by them. They both greeted her. She made her way up to Master Nathan and dropped a curtsy before him. He gave her an expectant look as he glanced up from the ledger upon his desk.

She cleared her throat, "May I speak with you candidly?"

"Of course, Shiloh. What is on your mind?" Nathan asked her.

"You do know what Vico did to me that night?" She bluntly asked.

"Why do you bring it up now?"

Shiloh shuddered. "Because it was really mean of him and he hurt me. I was a virgin and..." she stopped and took a deep breath. "Well, over these past few months I've come to enjoy spending time with Caron. Vico has taken it upon himself to warn him off."

"Vico did come to me earlier. He informed me that he caught you and Caron in the sewers." Nathan plainly stated. "I am not your father, Shiloh, but I have taken you under my roof and I would encourage you not to court trouble. You should leave well enough alone."

"But why? I like Caron. Vico isn't my husband nor is he my father. Why is it that he can bully me around? He raped me. He physically violated me, and stole my innocence. I think it is rude that Vico did what he did and has the nerve to insinuate to Caron that I was willing."

"I am truly sorry about that, Shiloh."

"That's all you can say?!" Her voice rose two octaves and echoed through the room.

He glared at her sternly. "What do you expect me to do?"

"You are the boss. Talk to him, maybe. Vico does not own me. I am not a piece of his property. I am not some cute little toy that he can use at his leisure. I will not be treated like some brainless airhead to be fucked and cuddled." Shiloh's anger exploded instantly.

"Calm down, Shiloh! This was the first time anything like this has ever happened."

"And that absolves him of it? No, I won't buy that! That does not excuse the fact that he did what he did!"

"No, it doesn't. He said he was seeking revenge for that girlfriend of his that was killed that night, and that it was a mistake what he did to you."

"A mistake? That's a nice way to put it." Shiloh scoffed as she paced back and forth.

"Death sometimes makes a man blind with grief."

"And that isn't an excuse either. Let me tell you something, Master Nathan. Something that few people know. That little girlfriend of his was my half-sister. Shanna was my father's illegitimate love child. He had been having a long time affair with the woman who ran the kitchens." Shiloh retorted, her temper flaring. "So he made a mistake, but that does not give him the right to act as if he owns me, or to warn off another man who is interested in me. I have news for all of you! I like Caron and I will do as I please so you can call the dogs off!"

"Perhaps you should speak with Vico then. Let him know how you feel," Nathan suggested.

"After how he's treated me, raping me, spanking me after that last attempt to sneak out, and intruding on a private intimate moment with Caron, I really don't want to speak to him. I'd like to stick a knife in him!"

Nathan looked Shiloh straight in the eyes. "Hear me well, Shiloh. You will not court trouble with Vico. He knows you are under my protection and you can be sure that it will NOT happen again. However, if you start a fight with him, he will fight back. He is much stronger than you so I urge you to reconsider should you have any notions of that. It will not happen again. As for Caron, you both need to leave well enough alone. He knows better."

"And what does that mean?" She asked, curiously cocking an eyebrow at him.

"It means that Caron has his own issues to deal with," he replied.

"Fine! I see how it is. The poor little princess can't handle a man so she should be manipulated into bedding a WOMAN all for the sake of learning how to deal with a delicate situation. That was not fair either. I'm not interested in being with a woman. I like men!" Shiloh was furious. It seemed that the boss was against her getting involved with Caron or any man as a matter of fact.

"Then why are you throwing a temper tantrum over what Vico did to you?" Nathan asked as he sat his quill pen down.

"Haven't you been listening? I'm not having a tantrum! I am mad because that brute thinks he can run my life. He does not own me! None of you do and furthermore, all of you have seemed to forget who I am. I am the heir to the throne of Betancuria. One of these days the Dhorn will be gone and I shall reclaim my rightful place."

"Shiloh, you would do well to leave well enough alone where Caron is concerned. That is an order!" Nathan spoke up, silencing her tirade. "If you have no further business here, you are dismissed!"

Shiloh glared at him, her eyes narrowing. "Fine! I hate all of you!" She stormed out of the room, slamming doors as she went. She ran down the stairs, bypassing Caron without so much a look or a word in his direction, and entered the kitchen. She came face to face with Vico who flashed an evil grin at her. She marched over to where he sat at the table talking to Trissa and slapped his face with all the force she could muster. "Fuckin' stay away from me, you asshole!"

Vico burst out laughing at her before he turned his attention back to Trissa. Shiloh leveled a scowl upon him before heading into her room, slamming that door as well. Chella hustled over and let herself into the room. She watched as Shiloh stuffed all of her worldly possessions in a sack.

"Shiloh, talk to me. Tell me what is going on!" Chella voice was soft and sincere, her eyes full of concern.

"I am leaving! I will not be told what to do by anyone! I am tired of being treated like a child. I am not a child! I am a gods be damned royal princess and no one is going to tell me how to live my life! I have had it with that asshole out there trying to run my life! I am sick and tired of all of this! I will not have it!" Shiloh screamed at her, unleashing her fury.

"Now, now, dear, calm down and think about what you are saying. You have nowhere else to go. And telling anyone who you are could mean a death sentence for you. Certainly you don't want that." Chella attempted to reason with her.

"I will find somewhere else to go. Maybe I'll go shack up with some man!"

"Nonsense, child. Listen to Chella. Give me the sack and sit down for a moment. There is nowhere you could go in this city that we could not find you. You are safe with us. Certainly you know that. Now tell me what caused this tantrum?"

"I am tired of being told what I can and can't do. Master Nathan won't let me have a relationship with Caron. I like Caron, but Vico keeps interfering and he went to Master Nathan about it. They all want to try to live my life for me. I won't have that. I want to make my own choices and date whoever tickles my fancy. And I don't want someone making those decisions for me. It's not fair to me. Can't you talk to them? Can't you make them see that I just want to be normal?"

"I'll see what I can do, little Shiloh. Perhaps you should take a hot bath and get a good night's sleep. How does that sound?"

"Okay, Chella. I will." Shiloh hung her head in defeat. "Could you bring me some tea?"

"Of course, young lady."

Shiloh nodded to her and gathered the things she'd need for a leisurely bath. The tea helped quite a bit, but sleep ended up a long time coming. Her mind was far too busy. She knew something else would have to give before she had the freedom she so longed for.

O.O