All I can think about are his hands… his fingers… his delectable mouth.
“You should think about ditching the sarcasm. I’m sure I can still pinch them through that pathetic excuse of fabric.”
“Promises of torture before the party has even started, I’m so lucky to have you as my Fortunate.”
“I let you come by my hands today. You have no idea how lucky you are.” He grips my forearm, gently but firmly, and pulls me close. “You stay by my side tonight. Do you understand?”
There’s a clear warning in his eyes and I’m not the smartest girl on the planet, but I’m sure as hell not the dumbest. Playtime is over. “Yes, Master Kade.”
I follow closely behind him as he walks and talks to other Fortunates. They all love Kade and embrace him with open arms. Honestly, it’s quite hard to tell if their affection is genuine though, or if it’s the alcohol doing all of the talking. I observe Kade as he mingles. Most Fortunates move to start conversations with him and he only speaks when asked a direct question, or asking a direct question. He doesn’t participate in small talk or gossip or even express his condolences or congratulations if a particular subject comes up. It’s good to know he’s closed off to everyone and it’s not just me.
The night moves quickly and everything is going well, until I distinctly feel a hand press to the small of my back and glide over the curve of my ass. My eyes widen, but I don’t dare jolt away. Instead, I subtly reach forward and tug ever so slightly on Kade’s jacket sleeve. As he glances over his shoulder, the hand is gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Vince,” Kade states, speaking his name like he’s not welcome at his own party. “Happy birthday.”
I keep my head down, not daring to peek at either of them. The group of Fortunates Kade was chatting with have drifted off, giving the brothers some alone time.
“Why isn’t she wearing the dress, Kaden?”
Kade draws his glass to his lips and takes a long, pondering sip. “Because she doesn’t have to,” he says when he lowers it.
“Everyone else is.”
“Well, everyone else doesn’t belong to me. The way she dresses is an option I, and I alone, get to choose.”
Vince expels an offended air through his nose. “It’s my birthday and you couldn’t even give me this one thing?”
Kade scoffs. “I bought you two virgin Unfortunates and had them sent to your room earlier today. Not one, but two, so don’t talk to me like I haven’t done anything for you.”
“Virgins? I was done with them within an hour. You could have gotten me something a little more sustainable, like a car.”
Kade sighs and I lift my eyes just enough to see him swirl his drink and take another sip. “You’re not allowed to drive cars outside of the city, so it would’ve been pointless.”
“Whatever, man.” With a swift, harsh slap on my ass that makes me yelp, Vince strolled off. I glance over my shoulder, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and disgust as he slings his arm around a passing Unfortunate, one that graciously wears the dress he wanted us all to wear.
“Ignore him,” I tell Kade, who glares at Vince. “Asshole.”
He looks at me and for the first time, I see sincerity in his face. “Are you all right?”
I feel my eyebrows rise in shock. Is he asking me if I’m all right? “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I—I’m fine.” I rub the back of my neck. “Thank you.”
“There’s Albert.” Kade points out.
I follow the subtle point of his finger and spot a grey-haired Albert fifteen metres away, sitting alone and drinking wine yet again.
“I’m going to go chat with him. Alone.”
Out of panic, I grip his arm and his dark eyes zero in on it. I quickly pull my hand back. “What do you want me to do?”
He glances around. “Go stand by that tree and don’t move. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Wait, what about Vince?”
“Don’t worry about him. He’ll go to the Black House soon for his usual birthday antics, and other Fortunates like to watch, so the numbers will dwindle. You’ll be safe.” I open my mouth to protest, but Kade grabs my lips, pinching them together. I want him to know there’s a bad feeling swirling in my stomach that I can’t seem to shake. “Go and sit,” he orders. “I’ll be right back.”
He releases my mouth and turns away from me. I guess I don’t have a choice. Rubbing my mouth, I turn and saunter towards the massive oak tree. I sit in the shadows, away from the light to avoid anyone seeing me—especially Vince. I think I manage to go unnoticed for thirty seconds before I hear dry leaves crunch underneath a pair of shoes. Shoes. That means only one thing—a Fortunate. I hold my breath and don’t move, hoping he or she doesn’t see me, but when I see the moon glisten off of leather shoes as they stop in front of me, I know I’ve lost.
“And here I was thinking he’d never leave you alone.”
I push back off of the tree, pulling myself to my feet. “He’ll be back any second now.”
He reaches forward and my blood runs cold as he runs an index finger between my breasts and up my the side of my neck.
“I don’t think Master Kade would appreciate you touching me.”
He jolts forward, his hand clamping around my throat. I feel blood build in my face as my air supply is cut off. He’s pushing so hard I’m certain he’s going to crush my windpipe.
“Is that a threat, slave?”
I shake my head as best I can. My lungs burn with lack of oxygen and his strength is much greater than I assumed it would be. In the dim light, I see his lips curve into a sly smirk and then, he releases me. I splutter as I gasp for air, forcing as much oxygen in my lungs as I can. My head spins and I curl over, using my knees for support. With a dark chuckle, Vince grips my shoulder and pins me hard against the tree.
“You wanna come party with me?”
I shake my head and cough weakly. I’m tired of playing Vince’s games. If he wants to toy with me, then he can deal with the consequences. Kade will defend me. No matter what I do, he’ll help me. He said he would.
“Fuck you.” My entire being begins to tremble as I hear the words fall from my lips. Shit. I think I just started a fight I’m not going to be able to finish. I hear an extra chuckle sound off on the sidelines and not a second later another Fortunate steps into view, one I’ve never seen before.
“She has a mouth on her,” he says and I take note of his short, curly brown hair. In the light, I can’t tell what colour his eyes are or what distinct features mark his face. I’m blind, caught in the darkness with enemies that want to hurt me. Vince sticks his finger in my mouth and the taste of whiskey taints my tastebuds. I try hard to spit it out, but he presses his finger down on my tongue and I’m unable to move it.
“Yes, she does.”
Left with no other option, I bite down. Swearing under his breath, he rips his finger out and I’m tossed to the side as his hand collides directly with my cheek. I crash to the ground, and as I lay, I feel my heart slamming against my ribcage, trying desperately to get Kade’s attention because my voice box isn’t working. It’s frozen, paralysed with fear. I whimper as Vince rolls me over onto my back with his foot and crouches low.
“I have a wild night planned for you, sugar.” He grips my face, squeezing my flesh against my teeth so I open my mouth. He drops something in and it lands at the back of my throat. It’s too far to spit out, but too dry to swallow. So I gag, trying desperately to get rid of it one way or another. I thrash, moving every muscle in my body until they burn, and Vince throws a leg over me, pinning me underneath him.
“Relax, baby, I’ve got something that will help that go down real smooth.”
I watch frantically as his friend hands him a bottle. The closer Vince draws it to my lips, the more distinct its smell becomes. Whiskey. I purse my lips shut, but he squeezes my mouth again, forcing it open.
“Don’t, please,” I manage to cry before the con
tents of the bottle are poured into my mouth and I’m forced to swallow. He keeps pouring until the liquid overfills my mouth, spills down my cheeks and fills my nostrils. Unable to breathe, I begin to choke. Then, and only then, does he let up. He rolls me to the side and I let the excess alcohol fall from my orifice. I cough and choke until my eyes water and my throat burns, and then I cough and choke a little more. I feel like hell. My nostrils burn, my throat burns, my lungs burn. It’s like my organs are on fire and I’m burning from the inside out.
“Please,” I mumble and my head begins to spin.
I can’t see properly—can’t tell which way is up. Then, weightlessness overcomes me as I’m thrown over a shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Wait, what about your brother?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got someone else that can take the rap for it. He can’t touch us.”
“Kade!” I call out, but his name is only a pathetic whisper on my lips. My eyes grow heavy, so heavy they hurt to keep open. He’ll save me. I know he will. He has to… he’s my protector. My lion.
Then my eyes close.
∞
“Don’t go sticking it in. Warm her up, touch her first.”
My eyes shoot open and the blurry lines of the world begin to sharpen. I peer at the wooden banisters that hold up the ceiling and then tilt my head, focusing on the small to medium gathering of people to my left. What the hell? Something brushes against my vagina and I jolt upwards on my elbows. My brain rolls violently in my skull, blurring my vision again. I quickly lay back down, hoping to make it stop.
“Wh—what’s happening?” I groan and attempt to roll onto my side, but heavy hands on my thighs prevent it.
I freeze then and peer down the length of my body. I see him, the Unfortunate poised between my legs with an excited gleam in his eyes. I shriek and pull my knees up before sending my feet crashing into his chest. Despite my rolling head, I roll off the table and crash to the floor. Pain shoots over every inch of my body, but I can’t pinpoint where. I hear scrambled laughter as I desperately try to crawl to my feet. I can’t, my head is woozy, my limbs sluggish and drugged. As I manage to force myself onto my hands and knees, I see two leather shoes, no, one leather shoe by my face, and then I hear Vince’s voice.
“Nine, what are you doing?” he asks, his voice light with amusement.
“I-I’m l-looking for Kade. Where is he?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own. It’s slurred, incoherent.
Vince chuckles, but I don’t see his face. I can’t muster the strength to lift my stare from his shoe. “Don’t you worry about him, baby. You have a show to put on.”
Weightlessness seizes me again as Vince scoops me into his arms and lays me back on the table. I phase in and out of the situation. I hear myself call for Kade every now and again, but he never comes. Surely, he knows where I am. He said Vince would be here… hasn’t he put two and two together? Where is he? I squirm as the Unfortunate’s finger brushes against my entrance, slowly, a touch that is barely there. I shoot up and he keeps his hand lingering on my centre as he uses the other to untie my dress from my shoulder. The fabric slides off my shoulder and he pulls it from my body, leaving me bare and exposed. After that, I’m pushed back down and my head hits the wood, causing my brain to roll.
“Move,” Vince demands. I open my eyes enough to see the Unfortunate move back.
I close my eyes again and even now, I feel Vince’s gaze crawling over me. “You’re quite the woman, Nine. It’s a shame Kade doesn’t let us see you like this more often.”
I open my eyes at the mention of his name and desperately search for my Fortunate’s face in the crowd. I see Albert, then, watching intently from behind Vince’s chair—his throne. Surely, Albert wouldn’t let this happen to me? I wince and scream as a dry pain shoots from my centre with no warning. I dig my heels into the table, desperate to get away from the pain and I snap my attention to the Unfortunate’s face. A lump chokes me when my stare manages to focus on his heavy eyes and slight smirk. He pushes his finger in deeper, as far as he can, and grabs my hip with his free hand, pulling me even closer to him. This doesn’t feel like it did with Kade at all and the palm of my hand burns as I slap his hand away from my hip and try to sit up again.
“You will lie still!” Vincent booms, making everyone in the room jump.
Tears begin to pour from my eyes and burn down my cheeks as I let my hands fall by my sides. I close my eyes and sobs choke me, cramping my throat. The Unfortunate pulls his finger out torturously slowly—the complete opposite of the sudden, fast entrance. It’s almost all the way out until he thrusts it back inside of me with speed to match the first. Pain burns me and I dig my fingers into the wooden surface. Nothing has entered my vagina before, ever, and the sudden friction is causing me more pain than anything I’ve ever felt.
“Please…” I whimper only to the Unfortunate torturing me, feeling more tears trickle down my cheek. “Please stop.”
The Unfortunate ignores me and I don’t know if it’s because he’s doing what he’s told and trying to save his own life or if he’s actually enjoying it.
“You think she’d at least pretend to enjoy it,” I hear a woman mutter somewhere in the crowd and my chest constricts. I bet she’s never had to do something she doesn’t want to do. I bet she’s never had someone she doesn’t even know—or love—shove dry, hurtful fingers inside her. No. They get what they want and force me to have things I don’t want. I’ve never wanted to die… I’ve never thought I could hurt myself, until now. I want to die. I want to drive a knife through my heart or jump off a cliff to save myself from this humiliation and pain.
“Get it over with,” Vince orders my abuser and my chest heaves as heavier sobs shake my chest. “If Master Kade isn’t going to use his plaything for what she’s intended for then someone else will.”
The spectators murmur their agreement.
“What a waste. Father should have given her to me. I would have seen her to proper use, but now we have to waste her on this… Unfortunate.” He spits the word and my stomach clenches as the Unfortunate pulls his fingers from me. I don’t have time to squeeze my legs shut before he’s forcing himself between my thighs.
“No!” I shout, trying to slide back, I will protest this even if it kills me. “No!”
“Shut her up.”
The Unfortunate backhands my face and I feel my lip split against my teeth as my head is tossed to the side. Blood trickles into my open mouth and rolls out again as I cry. I feel him… his penis, poised at the apex of my thighs, and there’s no stopping what is about to happen. He drags it up and down the outside of my lips in an attempt to draw moisture from my core. He doesn’t get anything. My body rejects him and I clench my jaw against a bout of nausea. Hot flashes come in bouts as anxiety begins to rear its ugly head.
“Please… anyone.”
I peer bleary-eyed at my crowd. They’re watching intently—completely aroused by the scene before them—by my rape—and I’ve never felt so sick in my life. How could I have walked around so blind? Just because I’m Kade’s doesn’t mean I’m untouchable… I was so naive thinking I was safe being his. Where is he? Why did he leave me alone? I close my eyes and bite my lower lip against my sobs as he strokes me with his penis one last time. My hands involuntarily tighten around the edges of the table and my entire body is taut and rigid, waiting for him to enter me… then, the sound of a wooden door splintering as it slams against the concrete wall forces my eyes open. I snap to a sitting position, dangerously teetering on the edge of the table. I draw my knees to my chest, cowering from the angry growl that rips through the room. My blood sings, calling out to him. He’s come to save me. Our spectators gasp and move out of the way as Kade yells and swears, demanding to know where I am. Sudden, irrational panic grips me. He’s going to hate me. He’s never going to touch me again…
“Where is she?” he shouts, his voice booming, sending my heart rate through the roof.
I want
to call out to him, to run to him and have him take me away from all of this, but I don’t. I sit, shaking on a table top, waiting for him to see me. Then, I see him push through three Fortunates and step into the light. His eyes widen as he looks at me from head to toe. He looks taller than before, meaner than before, and as he approaches the table, he ignores Vince. The closer he gets, the more I see in his face.
The rage.
The disgust.
Even in the dim light, I see his eyes darken and his eyebrows pull together. He hates me… Slowly, he turns his attention to the other Unfortunate and he takes a small, regretful step back. I want Kade to hurt him, to make him suffer the same pain he made me suffer.
“You touched her?” The question rolls of Kade’s tongue quietly, but I know it’s the calm before the storm. Kade can do a lot of things, but controlling his anger is not one of them.
The Unfortunate lifts his hands, exposing his palm to Kade like he’s a wild animal. “Please, sir, I was only doing what I was told.”
“You touched her?” He booms and in the distance, I hear a few chairs scrape the floor as random Fortunates flee the scene.
“Please—”
Kade launches forward, driving his fist into The Unfortunate’s face. Electricity crackles through the room and the gathering of Fortunates grow excited as they watch a Fortunate beat an Unfortunate. As the Unfortunate falls and hits the ground, Kade grabs him by the scruff of his neck and punches him again. The Unfortunate curls into the fetal position, whimpering as hard as I am… and strangely, it makes me feel better. It makes me feel… content.
“Who told you you could touch her?”
“Relax, brother. It’s only harmless fun.” Kade’s shoulders square and he drops the Unfortunate. As his body becomes rigid, he turns around, slowly, like he’s giving himself a few seconds to calm down. “You’re not using her, and I feel bad Father spent his money on something you refuse to use.”
From the side, I watch Kade’s jaw clench and relax, clench and relax. “You have no business touching my things.”