Dark Confrontations a work of Fiction by Fizzy (Filiz (Felice) Vaiani) This was my second semester creative work for my first year Lit course in 1997. I received a HD+, if there is such a mark *smiles*. It has been edited for grammar and impact. A tale of Love in a Painful surround. Enjoy. The sun rose in an orange blossom, filling the sky with hope and new life. She listened to him softly breathing next to her in their bed. The knife twisted deeper into her psyche, but it may as well have been her heart. The infantile sunlight made his face and body shimmer sickeningly. He looked dead and her soul fearedÖfeared a fate worse than death for her Lover. Today was Judgment Day, the first Meeting between her father and Rick since she had taken to him Intimately. 'Rick honey', she said as she reached down to caress his sepulchral features, 'wake up angel!' His green-flower eyes opened and his long blue-black hair streamed down his torso. He wore his Slave attire, leather pants and vest. 'Tanya babe, it's 5 am, I can't get up now!', he whispered groggily. He caressed her thigh lovingly and kissed the red welt on his own arm from last night's "fun." She put her hand gently on his neck and ran her fingers down his spine, making him shiver slightly. 'Hon, just look at that sunrise, isn't it gorgeous?', Tanya knew what was coming next... Rick smiled and said pseudo-sweetly, 'Just like you, sweetheart!' Tanya lifted herself into her wheelchair, then pulled on her top and jeans over her leather corset. 'Breakfast, Rick, are you coming...we have a busy day! My parents' house remember?' Her lover rolled over pretending to be unconcerned about the time, then looked up protectively at the woman he couldn't bear to let go. He could, however, bear to do without her family. 'Well, you make it babe, then I'll come eat it!', he said a little too harshly. Tanya rolled her eyes emphatically, she didn't expect this. 'Yeah, RichardÖwhatever!', she said with mock-hurt in her voice. She took Rick's arm and kissed the welt softly, and then slightly grazed it with her teethÖhe flinched in delight. Falling back on to the sheets, Rick smiled, calmed and at ease, but as soon as Tanya left their bedroom, he began to tense. It was the feeling of the cold shock of inadequacy coursing through his arteries. Outside Tanya pondered, A woman's work is never doneÖeven if you are the apple of his eye. She threw on some eggs and coffee and blasted her favourite Nine Inch Nails song "Dead Souls" through the houseÖand the lyrics spoke to her, acting as a sympathiser. The lyrics rang out: 'Someone take these dreams away/That point me to another day/A duel of personalities/They stretch all true realityÖ' What was going through Rick's head?, she asked herself. Paranoia was her MasterÖ and it wouldn't let her off the leash. She felt something was wrong and she attempted to ignore the pit deepening at the reaches of her stomach. Why was he treating her like such an objectÖwhat went on behind closed doors was totally opposite. He knew they had to drive hours to see her parents today, he knew he was going to be the object of ultimate scrutiny under her father's eye. None of that had seemed to matter before, he paraded as a strong man. She just didn't understand a thing about the one Lover she held true. Today, he was someone elseÖshe was still right there. Just as the breakfast was cooked and ready, she turned up the song and spun in circles, miming the lyrics. Pulling out the leather band holding her hair back, she let the blue-black silkiness free and spun till she saw stars in front of her eyesÖthe southern cross in all its sick glory. Her top found its way to the floor and the leather corset clung to her again. The dizziness was sweet, intoxicating and the kaleidoscopic way the room warped and re-figured in front of her echoed the sentiments of her own life. She did not see or hear Rick walk into the room. He was now dressed in button-fly pants and a simple black shirt. 'Stop screwing around hon! Is breakfast ready yet?' Tanya heard the automatic response for the day issue forth like a ghost's voice, 'Yes, and just the way you like itÖ' Rick picked his Mistress up out of her high-powered restraints and took her in his armsÖcurious to know what thoughts were racing through her beautiful mind. He was dreading meeting her parents, since he now was the Demon who led their pure daughter astray. His fear stung the back of his throat like absinth, just like the fact that he'd have to "pretend" in front of them. It was bad enough that he and Tanya lived in sin, let alone that they loved flirting with it. He kissed her fully, warm and lingering on the lips, holding her close in an attempt to hide his real pain. 'Tanya sweetness, I'm so sorry I was a jerk before! It's just my goddamn nerves!' She reached across and turned off the stereo with her Slave cuddling into her chestÖmoments pass too quickly. They might have had these defined roles in intimate moments but she knew she would cease to exist if they were forced apart by her father's mental instability. Her father was Jekyll And Hyde manifested into her once sheltered lifeÖaching to regain control of his little girl. 'I guess it's okay, baby...just be brave if Dad bothers you for information, okay?' Rick smiled just a little painfully, 'No problem...' The darkness filled their soulsÖ A while later, in Tanya's parents house things seemed fine. In the pastel living room, her mother did her usual mothering thing, which was serving enough food for the UN troops. Tanya was wearing dark, loose clothing as if to substitute for her Mistress underclothes. She needed all the power she could summon to face "the enemy", that was the man who had brought her up. To Tanya, he was the Pope and she, with her chosen lifestyle, was defying not only normality but the very foundation of her upbringing. 'It's great to see our girl again, happy and healthy!' Her mother's bright voice seemed to complement the streaks of light coming through the window, the rays lightly decorated with specks of dust. 'No Margaret, in factÖ' The gaze shifted and the father-judge peered straight in the eyes of the Sacrificial Lamb. 'She looks a little pale and anaemicÖis that your fault Richard?' Her father said this in such a tone that it was hard for the interrogatee to distinguish whether the question was serious. Rick gave a nervous laugh and said seriously, 'No sirÖshe's feeling fine and if I'm to blame for that, so be it!' A small smile appeared on the judge's face, as if any further exertion would cause him to crumble like a sun exposed Vampire. He was a Vampire of sorts for he had been sucking his daughter void of experience for years. At the age of 20, only a few months ago, Tanya had chosen to build a castle with RickÖand leave the High Tower her imposed virtue had imprisoned her in. This fact ate at her fatherÖ Tanya's father took his daughter in a long enduring embrace. 'DadÖdad I'm fineÖreally I am! Talk to the both of us, that is why we came to see youÖ' A plea for understanding had to be really direct in this house of moralityÖ. The parents sat side by side, waiting for the other to speak. It was her mother that finally did the deeper quizzing, 'Both of you are such good, kind young adultsÖwhy must you live like this?' Tanya looked nervously across at Rick, who opened his mouth to say something and then closed it as the inadequacy seized his soul again and again, a tight noose in a stranglehold. Forgive me Father, for I have sinnedÖ 'Mum, live like howÖin our house, in our own bed, having our own intimacy? We are mature adults, or have you forgotten that your little girl is a Woman now?' Mother blushed a Virtuous shade of red and Father stood up slowly, trying to remain composed, 'Tanya, pleaseÖno details. Why can't you just come back home, Tanya? Why do you have to wither away with this boy?' Darkness threatened once again. A bolt of inner strength hit Rick almost instantaneously; they were treating her like the child they once had absolute power over. A wave of protection filled his entire body, stronger than ever before. This was not rightÖ 'All due respect, Mr. Carling, why is our relationship any of your business, aside from making sure she is happy?' The Imprisoner looked at the mere mortal challenging his motives, 'That answer is simple Son, I love her and I can't watch her waste her life with you...nothing personal.' Nothing personal, were the Father's exact words...everything was personal when it concerned their love. Rick was no longer Slave, but reigning Master. 'Please leave us alone! Let us Love!' Rick's gaze demanded that he be heard but the Father would not be convinced. 'Son, stay out of this. We didn't invite you into our family! She brought you hereÖ' Tanya's mother frowned and pleaded with her husband to calm down. 'Now DavidÖdon't be so harshÖplease!' This plea was the final push for Tanya, she eased closer to Rick and kissed him with all the passion she could muster. Taking her Lover's hand, they pushed past her parents and made to leave the House where she had learned about Life. Tanya's father reddened with anger, the vein bold and dark in his temple, he said one simple word. 'Don'tÖ' Tanya began tensing in rage, 'Dad, we're leaving...NOW!' She hugged her Mother close, 'I'm sorry Mum, but I have to go..' The Lovers charged out the door, Guilt was left to mourn the death of a follower. The last scorn to burn Tanya's heart was her Father howling, 'Get back here now, young lady!' They keep calling meÖ Echoes of a past long goneÖgoodbye, farewell... Tanya's mother smiled though the tears welled in her eyesÖhere's to the Future, my baby. Back in their own house, they relaxed in the knowledge that they had faced their worst obstacle, THE FATHERÖ Their love was warm and sensual and they could enjoy PainÖnot avoid it ever again. I love youÖI doÖtill death do us part. *Excerpts from 'Dead Souls' by Nine Inch Nails used without explicit permission from publisher. Created on Mon, 26 Jan 1998 and last modified on Thu, 19 Feb 1998.

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