The music inside was growing faint with the hours becoming late in the evening. She took a deep breath and looked up at the dark sky. Stars hung brightly in the dark blue and the moonlight rested on the ocean waves. The water were turned into a blue silver color and the sand rested warmly around her feet. She held her dance shoes in her hand and closed her eyes. Tuning out the indoor music, she focused her ears on the quiet ocean lullaby. She could hear the tales of the day being sung by the waves. Marine life sent out their evening goodbyes and a soft smile captured her face. She felt a cool breeze wrap over her exposed skin and opened her eyes. A chill ran up her spine and she glanced down the beach. She met brown eyes and felt her blood beginning to race. The man stepped closer and her hand tightened on her shoes. She watched the drunken idiot stumble up to her and waited. "I can't stand those things either." "You should be in bed." He smiled and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. She watched him finish off a glass of wine and raise the empty drink to her. "A toast to the loveliest woman of the evening." Her eyes narrowed and he sighed "If only she would've graced me with a dance." "You should head back inside." He laughed and the sound grated on her nerves. She watched him toss the glass into the sea and closed her eyes. The drunken men always caused harm to her home. "Several men got to dance with you tonight." "You're too drunk." He held out his hand and said "My cousin was good enough for you." She stepped back at the insult and he snatched her wrist. The grip was hard and cold. "I just want one dance and then I'll go." Her eyes met his blurred brown eyes and she jerked her hand free. Glancing down at her skin, she saw the mark slowly wrapping around her wrist and glared up at him. "Did I hurt you?" She let her anger loose and her palm struck his jaw. The sound echoed like gun fire in the quiet evening and he cupped the burning cheek. His eyes were wide in shock and she stepped back. "This is your final warning." He laughed and reached for her burning wrist. His hand circled the tender skin and he stopped her retreat. Jerking her still, he held her firmly in front of her and looked into her ocean eyes. "I know why you won't look at me without hate in those pretty eyes of yours." "Tell me." He leaned in and whispered into her ear "You are afraid you'll enjoy what I can offer you." She jerked her head back and stared up at him. The calm waves began to roll with strength and he glanced out at the churning sea. "Now Princess you know better than to let your emotions take over." She jerked on his hold and said "I'm not worried." He laughed again and said "I'm sure you say that all the time." His hand captured her chin and she swatted it away. Bringing her shoes up, she hit him in the groin and his hand released her. Stepping past him, she headed for the bend and felt the arm circle around from behind. The pain flashed before her eyes and he covered her mouth to keep her cry hidden. He drug her further down the beach and she felt her body burning up. Her strength began wavering as they moved and her hand released her shoes. Everything grew dark as the man stopped walking and released her. She fell into the sand and tried looking up at the monster. "No one will save you this time." Biting her lip, she let the new pain clear her head and filled her buried hand with sand. Christopher knelt down next to her and ran his hand along her face. "It's a real shame you like to resist me." "Don't do this." He smirked and said "I have no choice my Princess. You made the deal with her. I'm just following her orders." He caught her chin again and she threw the sand into his eyes. He screamed as he jerked away and tried to clean his eyes. She rolled onto her stomach and forced herself up. Stumbling, she found a boulder nearby and made her way to it. "Get back here!" Keeping her back to the man, she forced her way to the boulder and felt him closing in. Her pulse was racing and every inch of her was on fire. Resting her hands on the boulder, she took a deep breath and felt him right behind her. His hands gripped her shoulders and spun her around. "That was dirty." She looked up at him and said "It suits you." He smacked her across the face and she slowly looked up at him through some fallen hair. His hands captured her hips and she bit back the scream. "Let me do this and you will never feel this pain again." She turned her ocean eyes up to him and growled "Never." Taking a deep breath, she placed her hands on his covered chest and pushed. Her hands cried in pain but she kept summoning her strength. He couldn't move and stared at her with eyes of horror. His body went rigid as the power was ripped from him and he stumbled back. Her hands fell limply to her side and she collapsed into the boulder. Christopher stumbled to the water and dropped to his knees. He tried catching his breath but felt his heart racing. "What did you do to me?" She slid down into the sand and said "Released you." He looked back at her and she closed her eyes. She heard him trying to regain his balance and failing. He screamed in frustration and she felt the darkness pulling for her. It was wrapping itself around her when she heard Tanner's bark coming down the beach. She tried to push the darkness away but felt her body falling into the unknown.