Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
She especially hates me because I’m constantly shooting her dirty looks. I can’t help it. How could another homo sapien do that to another one of their own? Even if she was technically over us, she was still a puppet for the superious to use.
The Master didn’t throw ordinary parties. They started out normal enough with powerful couples in the community mingling amongst each other, making connection and discussing business. After dinner, the companions were led into the room and paraded in front of the guests.
That particular humiliation was only the beginning. The guests would inspect us like animals, making us turn around and parade our bodies. Some would even grope us beneath our clothing. If we resisted, there would be brutal consequences. We were just mindless toys.
My only saving grace at that point was the fact that the last beating I’d received had been so bad, it had disfigured my back. It wasn’t quite healed yet and looked horrible. I hadn’t been picked by any of the Master’s friends since then.
“Just keep your head down, Rose. Don’t make yourself noticed and maybe they won’t pick you,” I whisper back to her.
A smile curves her lips. “Why wouldn’t I want to be picked? Maybe I’ll get a gift, like a pretty piece of jewelry. My older sister gets lots of that kind of stuff.”
I can only sigh and hope for the best on her behalf.
Lynsey walks over to us and pinches my arm with her boney fingers so hard I know there will be a bruise later. But I dare not make a sound or even whimper in pain or else I’ll face far worse later on. “No talking you two,” she hisses at both of us but directs her ire only toward me.
I fucking hate her.
“Come along, companions, the guests are waiting.” She leads the nine of us down the spiral staircase into the mini ballroom where we’re met with dozens of superious guests. Some of them already have their own companions in tow.
Master Fredresk grins widely at his guests, dressed in an all-white suit giving him the appearance of on overstuff pillowcase.
“As you all can see, my companions are all beauties and they’re willing and eager to serve.”
My skin crawls at his statement and I want to be sick. I have to remind myself if make myself go numb, I can pretend what’s happening around me is all just in my head.
Once they see my back, no one will pick me and I can be sent back to my room, even if that means I don’t get a meal the next day as punishment. Since being in this household, I’ve learned the hard way that there are far worse things than missing meals.
Lynsey leads up to center of the room.
“Remove your dresses,” Master Fredresk orders.
In the beginning I would have hesitated but now I obey robotically, allowing my mind to drift to another place. Now I’m even desensitized of standing in this seminude state in front of a bunch of leering strangers.
Even after I’m made to turn around, I feel the stare of one particular superious. His pointed stare makes me uneasy but maybe he’s only staring because he’s disgusted. He smiles at me with yellowed teeth.
And then the selection begins. He walks in my direction and his scent arrives before he does.
He reeks of alcohol and old food stuffs. I could smell him before he was even close to me. It’s clear he had been drinking heavily tonight from the appearance of his blood shot eyes and the smell of alcohol was so strong it was almost as if it was permeating from his skin.
“You,” he points at me with a wicked smirk and a gleam of anticipation in his close set eyes.
My stomach drops but I don’t have the power to protest.
I’m led to one of the private rooms. Once we’re alone, I expect him to order me to take off my underwear since I’d already removed my dress in the ballroom but instead he gives me a sinister grin.
“I think it’s time for you and me to have a little fun. We’ll play one of my favorite games. How much pain can you endure before you scream. I love that game. I can tell by the scars on your back that you can withstand quite a bit. I wonder what would happen if make those wounds every deeper.”
This disgusting pig of a man has truly lost his mind. Or maybe it’s just the way of things. He only sees me as a tool that he can do anything with.
I notice for the first time, the leather bag he’s carrying. He tosses the bag on the bed and opens it up to reveal serval sharp metal devices, including knives.
I gasp.
Did he mean to kill me?
For the first time, in a long time, terror struck at my core. The next thing I remember, he’s coming toward me with a metal device. I’m frozen in place, fear gripping me.