Serenity: An Ilmarinen Prequel

By Marilla Mulwane

Serenity just wants to find a good, wealthy husband to take care of her. Instead, she finds herself prisoner of an immortal man in a world far different from her own. Serenity makes choices that affect the future of this strange world. In the end, she unknowingly helps to create a prophecy that will change everything. It is the beginning of the end.

"Serenity" is a prequel to the "Ilmarinen" series. Learn how Serenity helps to create the Ilmarninen prophecy and get a glimpse of the world and its inhabitants. Check out "Edin" for the other side of the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marilla Mulwane
• Release date: Apr 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301049523

Marilla Mulwane

There isn't much to say about Marilla Mulwane. She comes from a small town in upstate New York where she writes, reads, plays video games, and makes crafts. She just wants to be a writer and for folks to read her work. Nothing fancy. Of course, if it leads to fame, fortune, and world domination, she won't complain.

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Serenity: An Ilmarinen Prequel

By Marilla Mulwane

Copyright 2013 Marilla Mulwane

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Cover Art By Elisa Ferguson

Copyright 2013 Elisa Ferguson

Chapter 1

It probably wasn't such a good idea to have kicked the man. Well, to be honest, it probably wasn't such a good idea to have called him an ignoramus, either. But, Serenity had been accosted by many men in her young life, and had always dealt with them in a similar manner. This man was different.

What was impossible to believe was that the man was anything more than a grotesque libertine, a fool entranced by her beauty and feisty behavior. Which he was, but he was also more.

Much more.

His eyes glared up at her. That was when Serenity began to regret her actions and to see that this man was not like the others. She had nowhere to run, but also knew that was her only chance of escape. Home was nearly a mile away, and they stood together in the middle of an open field. Serenity still held her bouquet of wildflowers that she was picking for the dinner table, and her hand clenched tight to them, as if they were really the hand of someone with her, someone to protect her.

Serenity refused to glance toward the safety of home only because she didn’t want the man to know she planned to escape. Instead, she stood petrified in place, and made her body shake with fear. Since his prisoner was too afraid to try anything, the man reached down to his hurt leg to check for any bruises. The skin looked unharmed, which bothered Serenity, because she knew she had kicked him hard.

How glad I am that the women we are raising are not so obstinate, he said but not really to Serenity. It is so bothersome to deal with.

While the man was preoccupied with talking to himself, Serenity took the advantage and ran. Her wildflowers fell to the ground, and Serenity used her empty hands to pick up her skirt so she could run faster and not trip. She hoped that the kick to the man's leg would hinder his ability to chase after her, but because he was unharmed, he managed to catch up with her in moments. With a forceful push, the man tossed Serenity to the ground and returned her attack on him by kicking her hard in the side.

Your disobedience is what has brought this on you. Although you are beautiful, you are perfect for my needs, and I would love nothing more than putting you in your place and watching you as you realize you are not so mighty. Someday you will know you are nothing but a lowly woman, and you will grovel at my feet and submit to my every whim.

Serenity refused to cry, or even so much as whimper. She wasn't sure what the man was talking about, but only knew that she would never give him what he wished. She was not a dog to roll on her back and show submission. While the man rambled on, Serenity felt a rock beneath her body and she slowly grasped it with her hand. So that when the man stopped his tirade, she quickly jumped up and brought her hand down upon his head with as much strength as she had in her.

And then she ran again. She didn’t stop to see if she even dented his skull.

It will take much, much more than that to kill me, Serenity, his voice said from directly behind her. She hadn't gotten more than a few feet.

His arm wrapped around her waist and pressed her back up against his chest. With his other hand, he traced her cheek and neck with his fingers. When his fingers touched the material of her dress, he moved his hand to her head, burying his fingers in her hair.

Such beautiful hair, he whispered harshly. With his fingers buried tight in her long brown hair, he jerked her head back. The forcefulness ripped strands from her head. Will you beg for me to let you go?

She refused to answer.

I want you to ask me to take you.

Serenity flinched. She didn't want to know what he meant by that.

I want to hear your voice, Serenity. Speak to me.

She pressed her lips together to show she would not obey.

Tell me you want to come with me.

Serenity gave her reply with a small vigorous shake of the head.

The man pulled down on her hair again. He yanked her head so that it was forced to rest on his shoulder. He slowly moved his lips over her jaw-line and cheek, and Serenity had to close her eyes tight as he used his