Before Viserys, there was nothing.

When life arrived for Daenerys, it arrived with a very begrudging Viserys in tow. He'd probably been one of the first faces she'd ever seen...not that she could consciously remember from so early on. And try as she might, Dany could not remember a moment in her short life that was solely hers—a small, fleeting, yet noteworthy event in her entire existence which had not been forcibly shared. As far back as she looked, her older brother's face was always there, lurking in the foreground or background of every memory Daenerys could bring to mind. For he was family, and the only kin she'd ever known.

But what was family?

Dany was not so sure anymore. She thought it was just another word that people used for something they never truly understood or respected. Like love. Fate. Death.

The broken remnants of a long lost destiny, one which could have been but would never be, had somehow managed to seep deep into the very core of her forlorn little heart. Despite losing more hope with every maddening turn of the moon, Daenerys could never stop herself from desperately wishing she'd find a way back to the place her blood and bones called home...wherever that place might be in the world.

"Well, we're here." Maya's voice interrupted her thoughts, and Daenerys barely registered that they'd stopped walking and were, in fact, in front of her chamber door.

But then...

"Where are the guards?!" Her breath caught in her throat. "Tariq?" She had just bid him good day when she left her chambers earlier..."And Zellam?" He had smiled at her just this morning when she passed him on her way to her first meal. "They were supposed to be here, to guard me, protect me from him...and..." The look on Maya's face became so foreboding Dany bit her lip anxiously, realizing she should rectify her verbal blunder.

"Princess," the woman started, but the princess in question shook her head, her breathing coming out harder now.

"But the Lord promised." Dany knew she sounded like a bratty little girl, someone far below her age and upbringing. And yet she couldn't help it, couldn't stop the words that bubbled out of her mouth before she could control herself. "He promised he would instruct them to stand guard at these specific posts in order to—well, to make sure that my brother doesn't disturb me." She could feel her throat tightening up as a hot wave rushed over her whole body. "Why did Lord Vhalak remove the guards from our corridor? Without them here I'm—"

"Lord Vhalak didn't think the guards were necessary anymore." Maya's voice was calm, and it only drove Daenerys madder than ever. Did she not understand what this meant for her?! Dany could feel hot tears tickling at the corners of her eyes. "Excuse me for saying this, princess, but you're only prolonging the inevitable by continuing to avoid your brother. His grace needs no more reasons to be cross with you after everything that's happened—"

"That's exactly my point," she said desperately. Her vision started swimming. "I certainly don't need him being cross with me and now this will ruin everything."

"Nonsense," Maya said in a rare tone of motherliness which surprised Daenerys and certainly would have warmed her deeply in any other situation. "You will see his grace at some point this week and everything will sort itself out. We'll make it so that your hair hides it..."

Maya's long, fair face was etched with worry, and there was a look in her eyes that Daenerys could only ponder. Was it concern? Or rather like a message of pleading, a hidden supplication of sorts? I'm trying to help you, those eyes said. If she would only stop making it so hard for the poor woman...

Daenerys shook her head as if to clear it, steadying herself against the stone wall. Maya stepped forward to help but Daenerys shook her head with a weak smile. She knew she looked lost. She knew she looked desperate. And she knew the one standing there and worrying needlessly could see these things quite plainly.

For some reason she couldn't grasp, Daenerys did not want to say farewell. Or rather, she did not want to enter her dreary cold rooms alone and go to sleep alone and just...continue being alone, and...

Well, well, well...Queen of no one indeed. A princess who can't even find herself a friend?

Yet none of that mattered in the grand scheme of things, now did it?

And the princess suddenly realized she must contain herself in order to survive the insanely constructed scheme which was her life. She stood there for a few more moments, her eyes closed, simply needing the feel of the cool stone beneath her fingertips and the warm energy of another living being in her presence. Shortly she felt better, and so Daenerys opened her eyes. A small, sad smile stretched Maya's lips. There was no need to say anything more, not really, she concluded to herself.

"I will see you on the morrow, then," she finally managed.

"Have a good night, princess," and Maya's voice and eyes and very being were filled with all the genuine warmth and tenderness she had ever seen contained in one person.

From cold to warm, this one goes.

Daenerys found it very confusing, jarring, and almost an unbearable discovery in such times. She might finally have an ally in this place. Yet really no time to ponder any of this now...

...She needed something else. Half-remembered dreams tickled the back of her skull and the insides of her eyelids like invisible feathers.

Time to go to sleep at last.

Dany was unusually tired, despite not having done much of anything all day long, acting very sickly and bed-ridden whilst reading a book on ancient world history beneath the covers. In fact, she'd only left the rooms because Maya had come to her in that usual serious, no-nonsense attitude, demanding that she eat immediately. A little while later Maya had been back to collect the bowl and certainly pleased to see none of the vegetable broth left, the woman had bodily grabbed Dany on her way out and implored her to logic and reason their whole reluctant walk to the baths...Well, reluctant on Dany's part anyway.

Daenerys snapped out of further thoughts and widened her eyes as she saw the disaster from afar...The door closed after her with a dull thud. The papers had been strewn all across the writing desk, as if someone had been looking for something and gotten a bit carried away.

But who had been in her room? And more importantly, what had he or she wanted? There would have been no point in stealing from her as she had literally no gold to speak of, no money. Viserys of course held that responsibility, and any person with half a mind could clearly deduce that without much effort.

She drew closer until she reached the writing desk.

A tickling in the back of her neck, like the kind one gets when being watched or followed, but Daenerys was still too engrossed in the scene before her to turn away just yet, especially since she knew she was safely alone in her room. Then a thought slammed into her. What if they'd been thieves? Or any sort of mad people like that?

Did these people not realize she truly had nothing?

She needed to tell someone immediately, she realized. Others in the mansion might already be in danger...!

Daenerys turned to do just that.

Viserys stood there towering over her, his eyes two lilac flames.

Her mouth opened in horror, and then it all happened so very fast. He'd pressed her too close to him, his hand covering her mouth none too gently. Bending his head so he could speak close to her face, "Hello, sweet sister."

It was a soft whisper. It filled Daenerys with so much fear she would've wet herself right then had she not taken care of her bodily needs so recently. There was something very strange in her brother's voice. A hidden need for revenge in it that disturbed her to no end.

Her puny "Please," against his hand did nothing but cause Viserys to issue a low and humorless laugh before pulling her against him so tightly she could barely find the strength to continue breathing.

"Oh, I've missed you, too, my little Dany." His voice sent shivers of terror down her spine.

And then she could feel it, feel him even through their layers of clothing, and Dany thought she might swoon from how alarmed she suddenly was.

Surprising herself, Daenerys kicked out at him as hard as she could.

Viserys was on his knees.

The prince was groaning and hissing and sputtering in pain, covering his mandhood protectively with both hands, looking like he'd give nothing more than to wring her very neck. Daenerys couldn't make out anything of what he was saying, and so he'd given up, shaking his head, now and again laughing like a mad man between the small interrupted sobs that broke free from between his lips.

Daenerys stood there, unsure of what to do.

Should she run and hide? Find a way out? Get away forever?

Kneel down and hold him? Comfort him? Help him?

No. No, what was she thinking? He'd tormented her mercilessly, taken her love for him and butchered it, picked apart at her heart until she could no longer even understand what it was she was feeling...He'd taken advantage of her ignorance, her childish ways of understanding, her innocence.

Too long had passed for her to say something; it would only seem odd and out of place after so many minutes of listening to his unmanly cries as he held himself while rocking back and forth. Daenerys assumed he wasn't doing it consciously, possibly not realizing she was still there and could see him, or possibly not really caring considering the state he was in.

"You..." Viserys finally spoke. It was a low, raw rumble, bordering a growl. " You..." he said again too gruffly before clearing his throat and straightening himself so he was no longer sitting like a child. "You...will pay...for this." He stood up faster than she'd thought him likely to, towering over Daenerys, causing a gasp to leave her lips. She took a few steps back, and then her body froze up in fear.

The prince was upon her in an instant, and Daenerys had turned quicker than she thought possible, trying to make her escape, trying to flee the coming storm, but he was stronger than her—too stong—so nothing she did caused him to waver in his grasp. Her back was against his chest; he'd lifted her so her feet were dangling in the air, one silver slipper threatening to fall, barely hanging from the tip of her toes. Daenerys could feel every breath Viserys took. These breaths told her he was angrier than she'd thought he would be.

Closing her eyes, she tried relaxing in his grip, thinking that thrashing about and trying to escape might just worsen her situation while he was so upset...It took every ounce of her inner strength to do so, to go against what her body wanted, needed her to do...

Tightening his hold, Viserys lifted her slightly so he could speak directly into her ear. "Do not think that by giving in to me you are bettering the situation or lightening the load of consequences you have called into being..." His lips brushed against the shell of her ear, causing goose flesh to raise all over her body. Although she was sure that had something more to do with the words themselves. Something was hitting her legs, the colors were all moving—and Daenerys realized in her half numbed, half tingling and shocked state that Viserys was moving them toward her bed.

She wouldn't—couldn't—make a sound.

He twisted her around so she was facing him. She saw the lilac in his eyes deepen and darken as he placed her, much too softly, on her bed. Daenerys held her breath as he grabbed her ankles. She thought he was going to hurt her, but then Viserys just stood there, holding her feet. Daenerys propped herself on her elbows, watching him as he watched her. If the situation hadn't been so serious and terrifying Daenerys would've gigged at the silliness of it all.

But then all thoughts of silliness fled from her mind. Viserys was looking directly into her eyes with a renewed fervor, a blaze of determination and something Dany couldn't quite understand or recognize. His gaze was unwavering, making her deeply uncomfortable though she knew she shouldn't look away just yet—or was that the result of his hands which were moving slowly, gently, making their way up...? When he touched her calves and then the insides of her knees, Daenerys gasped out loud, tiny shudders of pleasure going through her entire body at the new sensations. No one had ever touched her there! And Dany was sure if they had, it'd been when she was a baby or small child.

He squeezed the muscles and rubbed the flesh, kneading it, caressing it, before bringing his hands around to trail his fingers over her knees. An unmistakable fire entered his gaze as he pushed up her thin dress so it pooled around her hips, revealing her bare legs bent at the knee, her small clothes now in plain sight.

Grabbing her knees and parting them slowly, Viserys awoke a fear so deep-seated and horrible it made Daenerys dizzy.

"What're you doing?" she whispered desperately, not wanting to raise her voice and break this sudden spell of soft touches, not wanting to remain silent and risk him hurting her in ways she could only imagine. "Viserys—"

He grabbed her cheeks tightly, palm pressed over her mouth, and then he was closer to her face, so close—too close, she realized, and then it was far too late—Viserys had already slipped between Dany's thighs and she was blinking up at him, trying to voice her alarm, questions and discontent through her pressing gaze. This time it was she who was unwavering in her relentless glaring at her older sibling.

His hand came away, and Daenerys breathed in deeply, trying to be very still as Viserys placed his arms on either side of her head. His face was closer. She turned her own away, felt his lips landing on her cheek. He was smiling, she realized, feeling the relaxed stretch of lips on her skin. Daenerys wondered what he could possibly find so amusing in such a moment. She became accutely aware of his middle pressed against hers, now sporting something hard beneath those trousers, and that hardness was pressing between her legs, legs which were open and relaxed and so still and—

Her mouth was so dry. She licked her lips but it did no good. This game he was playing with her, Dany was sure to lose it regardless of what she did...Didn't matter if she submitted or fought back, he was sure to find it perfectly reasonable to punish her whatever way he saw fit when it was all over...if not even sooner. Daenerys felt his nose graze beneath her jaw, felt Viserys breathe her in as if she were a bouquet of wildflowers, felt the shivers going down her spine as he placed a hand in her hair and the other on her hip, fingers sinking in. There was no reason to act the way he wanted her to act, or the way that would make any of this easier for him. It didn't matter what happened to her later. None of it mattered at all anymore compared to how she was feeling. How dare he...As if she were one of his common whores, to be treated with disrespect and used for another's pleasures...Unacceptable!

Her body tensed with the weight of her desperate decision. Viserys felt it too, and the look in his eyes warned her she'd best behave. Daenerys decided on issuing a warning of her own first. Although he rarely enjoyed playing fair, she rarely enjoyed not doing so. Her kicking him in the groin earlier was so out of character Daenerys still had trouble coming to terms with the fact that she'd done it. Albeit, not entirely of her own control and will but more as if her body had lashed out on instinct, knowing it needed to protect itself. Truthfully, Dany wished she'd hit him anywhere other than where she had...It was something which would cost her, she was sure. His eyes told her she was right as he pet her hair softly—that she would pay more dearly than she was ready for—and a gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it.

"Viserys, I'm warning you—I won't let you. Whatever it is you're here for, whatever it is you want now, thinking of punishing me for whatever and...no. I won't let you. No." She shook her head, feeling his fingers stop in her hair. "I won't." Her voice sounded small and pathetic even to her, and the whole thing had made more sense in Dany's head. But then Viserys grabbed her face in his hands, and there was no time to think about anything other than the perfect shape of his lips as he spoke.

"You seem to think you have a say in any of this." His eyes were wide as he studied her, tracing her every feature. Daenerys wavered slightly under his gaze. Her brother frowned. "You're a fool if you truly think such a thing, my dear sweet sister."

"No more a fool than you if you think I'll stand for this any longer. I'm done being the toy you take out all your anger on...Get off me."

"No, I don't think I will, I'm actually quite comfortable," he said almost playfully, his eyes dark and mischievous.

"Get—off!" Daenerys snapped, and then she was pushing and pinching and slapping at his chest and Viserys sneered in distaste as he grabbed her wrists.

"Do you see these?" he asked, tightening his hold on her. Dany bit her lip nervously. "I could break them in an instant. Look at how thin they are, Dany. How small all of you is." Viserys was right. He could break her with a few well-placed touches and movements. His fingers wrapped around and overlapped too much—her wrists looked like a child's in his hold.

Daenerys could feel him hardening against her again, as if threatening her and seeing the fear in her eyes was all that which he'd craved from the start.

"You wouldn't," she whispered with dread, barely finding her voice.

Viserys brought her wrists up, pinning them above her head in one hand while the other came down to wrap around her neck.

"I wouldn't, of course not, Dany..." A terrible look entered his eyes. "But there are other things I would."

He was kissing her then, soft and sweet, the way she pictured all girls wanted to be kissed. But it was too unlike him, too forced and nice—Daenerys had a feeling he'd rather be kissing her much differently...She tried breaking free but his hand slipped up her throat to lock beneath her jaw and he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth. The sudden shudder that ran down her spine was certainly not one of fear. Daenerys could scarcely breathe, realizing she was not only accepting his kisses but giving her own in return.

What was she doing?!

She broke free, gasping for breath. Viserys pressed his face into her neck, his lips continuing to scatter her mind. She realized her legs had become locked around him. One of her slippers was missing.

"Viserys." Daenerys swallowed nervously. "Please..."

"Please...what?" His nose skimmed along her jaw, down her neck, and then his tongue was dipping into the hollow at the base of her throat. She made a small, desperate noise, struggles renewed as he let out a low chuckle and continued feasting on her flesh, the hand holding her wrists tightening painfully.

"Please, stop this madness," she cried. "Is there truly no compassion left in your heart for me? No love?"

That did it. Viserys pulled away so he could study her. Moments passed yet he said nothing, just continued to look at Dany as if he'd enjoy breaking her into a thousand pieces.

"Love." His voice was vicious, sharp eyes and teeth gleaming in warning. For the first time in her life, Dany couldn't help but think Viserys looked exactly like the dragon he had always claimed to be. "And what do you know of it?" His face twisted into an ugly mockery of a smile. "Was it love that kept you from me? That caused you to request guards be placed at your door?" His teeth were bared, the mocking smile turning into a savage grin. In the dim candlelight, the effect was horrifying. "Days I waited...Weeks! Was love the thing which made you hide away and ignore my messages, ignore my repeated yelling at the guards outside your door, and...Really, Daenerys. You're lucky I don't bend you over my knee right now for what you did."

Daenerys let out a nervous little laugh at the ridiculousness of what he was saying.

She was snatched roughly and far too fast for comfort, and then she found herself draped over his lap like she'd been when she was younger.

"You thought that was funny?" His tone was different—dangerous—and the princess shivered. The smooth material of her dress tickled her calves, the backs of her knees, her thighs, and then her behind as Viseys lifted it slower than Dany had anticipated. Perhaps there was a part in all this which he secretly enjoyed...The thought made her shiver again, but for a much different reason this time.

Daenerys was suddenly aware of his hand caressing the sensitive skin of her buttocks—the bastard had removed her smallclothes while she was lost in thoughts she should never have had! The worst part was that whatever he was doing felt positively wonderful...Dany could feel all the tiny, fine hairs on her body stand at attention. Wasn't he going to spank her..? The whole point of this had been to punish her, cause her pain, yet Viserys was doing the exact opposite. Or perhaps this was the punishment—confusing her, playing with her mind and disrupting her inner peace, turning it into a suffocating inner turmoil the likes of which she couldn't and didn't want to make any sense of...

"Who accompanied you to your door?"

His voice was calm and low, but in the silence they'd sunken into it sounded like a shout to Daenerys. She didn't have much time to process his question and work out what he wanted from her. A sharp sound filled the air, fiery pain bloomed in her bottom, and Dany let out a terrified whimper.

"It seems you decided tonight the perfect night to wake the dragon—"

"Maya! It was Maya," Daenerys gasped, not wanting to provoke him further. She didn't want to wake the dragon—she never wanted to do that, because she wasn't lacking in wits or sanity. She hated his sarcasm, his ability to make her feel so small and stupid—and then Dany let out a sob as a second slap followed, and then a third much harder one, effectively scattering her thoughts and pushing her into a fit of shaking.

"But I told you—I gave you the answer!" she cried, grabbing the sheets and squeezing them in anger. Her vision blurred and she grit her teeth at the sting in her flesh. "Why?! Why would you—"

"One, because you interrupted me so rudely," he snapped, "and two, because you are mine and I'll do to you whatever I please."

"I'm my own person," Daenerys said quietly, tears finally spilling over. Fearing that he'd hit her again she twisted slightly on his lap so she could see his face, look into his hate-filled eyes as she told him, "You will never have me, Viserys. No one will. Because I am not a slave." His gaze narrowed but she couldn't stop herself. "I am your sister, a Targaryen princess...And one day, I shall be queen."

Viserys laughed then, truly laughed, deeply and loudly like she hadn't heard him do in ages. Before Daenerys could figure out what was so funny he'd shoved her face down, his hand striking her exposed flesh once, twice, thrice—burying her face in the bed, she screamed from the agonizing burn of his hits, screamed from the anger at the horrible injustice of it all, screamed from the loathing she felt for her brother.

Her tears had soaked through the bedsheet, and Dany clung to it, hating the pitiful proofs of her weakness which trailed down her cheeks in ridiculing rivers.

A soft, teasing stroke against her abused flesh, and flames of stinging and throbbing intensifed in its wake.

"Please," her breath came out on a hard shudder, "no more. I'll answer anything you ask. Please, Viserys."

"Yes," he hissed maliciously, "beg for it. Beg, my little Dany—it's pure music to my ears."

"Please," she continued, ignoring the twist in her gut caused by his words. "Please...stop."

"I don't think you mean it enough," he said softly. "I don't hear you actually begging me."

And then he was hitting her hard—harder than before, harder than he'd ever hit her in her entire life; Daenerys had never felt anything so painful! She lost track of how many times he struck her, one after the other, there was not a moment of respite—she heard a scream, curses mingled in from another voice, and she realized she was the one screaming but she just couldn't stop, there was too much pain—her bottom was on fire—

A hand came around and cupped against her mouth, trying to keep in the noise, and Dany felt his other hand wrap around her waist before Viserys pulled her closer, gathering her to him. Dany yanked desperately at his wrist—she couldn't breathe properly through her nose from so much crying—and he let go of her face, allowing her to bury her face in the covers once more and drown in her tears for a little while longer.

Soon her sobs subsided. Daenerys was about to turn and look at his face but then he was touching her wounds—for she was sure there were wounds there now because it felt as if someone had skinned the very skin off her buttocks—and Daenerys couldn't stop the terrified mewl that broke out of her.

"Ssshh, hush now," he admonished, as if she could help herself.

Daenerys shook her head, hoping he saw it, hoping he knew she wouldn't just let him continue hurting her. She had to find a way to stop him—

"I'm waiting, Dany."

And in that whispered offer of forgiveness Daenerys found herself stripped of all pride as she replied in a broken voice, "I beg you, Viserys. I beg you...I beg you..."

"What do you beg for, my sweet?" His dulcet tones offered no comfort, only darkened and deepened that pit of hatred within her. Much as she wished horrible things on him, not choosing her words carefully would surely mean nothing good for her.

"I beg only that you stop hurting me." Dany took a deep breath. "I will answer any questions you have, and do whatever you like, just please...no more."

"Oh, really..." Viserys was caressing her throbbing flesh, and she bit her lip anxiously. One wrong word, move, or breath on her part and he might easily go back to torturing her. "Whatever I like, Dany?...You're sure?"

He lowered his hand to the backs of her thighs, his fingers traveling slowly and gently across sensitive skin. Daenerys found she couldn't stop shaking, tiny, uncontrollable tremors moving through her body.

"I do hope you are...because I like many, many things, sweet sister."

That was the only warning she received before Viserys started Dany on her journey of losing her precious innocence...one intimate, shudder-inducing, moan-eliciting stroke at a time.