The Unfortunates(37)

“In,” he demands, flicking his head toward the fireplace.

I peer into the misleadingly tiny space and my fear of confined spaces begins to rear its head. “In? As in… inside the fireplace?”

He looks at me as if I’m missing a few screws. I know he means the fireplace, I’m just hoping it’s a joke… then again, Kade doesn’t strike me as the kind of person that would play a prank on someone. “Get in or I send you straight to Vince’s room. I’m sure I can find another Unfortunate with pretty eyes and nice tits around here somewhere.”

My breath starts to come faster and I take hard, sharp draws of air as I try desperately to keep the panic down. “Please,” I beg, my eyes quickly gathering water. “I don’t like confined spaces.”

He smirks, his eyes flashing a knowing gleam. “You’re saying that sitting in a tiny space would be hell for you?”

“Worse,” I tell him as panicked tears dot my cheeks. “I can’t imagine anything worse than not being able to move.”

I’m aware I just told my ‘owner’ my worst fear and I’m aware I gave him a suitable punishment to control me with, but I don’t care. If confessing how terrified I am prevents him from sticking me in the fireplace for now, so be it. All I’m relying on is his humanity… something I’m certain is lurking under his hard exterior.

Kade points at the fireplace. “In.”

“Please, Master Kade, please!” I begin to sob, bunching his shirt up in my hands and crushing him tightly against me. “I can’t go in there, please, don’t make me.”

My heart slams into my ribcage, threatening to crack them as he snatches my wrists and pries my fingers from his shirt. “I don’t want to punish you, Unfortunate, but you have to learn.”

“I’ve learnt,” I assure him as he inches me towards the fireplace. I try to pull away, I dig my heels in and I shake my arms but I can’t break free. “I’ve learnt, I swear it. I won’t ever challenge you again.” He keeps tugging me closer and closer to the fireplace, and my panic bubbles to its limits inside my body.

“Kaden, please!” I scream and he lets my wrists go. Weightlessness seizes me briefly and I squeeze my eyes shut as I crash to the floor. Pain crepitates up my left elbow, but I ignore it. My wet back sticks to the wooden surface immediately and I sprawl backwards as quick as I can, not caring that he can see every inch of me. I don’t stop until I’m against the soft, velvety couch and I draw my knees to my chest. You’re not in a small place. You’re out here, where it’s big and open. After a few small eternities, I shift my sights from the fireplace to Master Kade. He’s watching me and the look in his eyes is neither concerned nor apologetic—not that I expected either emotion to come from a Fortunate like him.

“I’m sor—”

“Shut up,” he orders, his voice quiet and calm. Although quiet, it causes the tiny wings of fear to flutter anew. “Get your dress and get out.”

I don’t wait around to find out if he’s serious or not. I jump to my feet and walk as quickly as I can. As I pass him by, he catches me on the nipple. He grips it tightly like a goddamn clamp and I wince, gritting my teeth against the pain as he twists ever so slightly. Kade’s eyes flare, pleased by how much his fingers are hurting me. “If you ever, ever call me Kaden again, I’ll cut your tongue out of your fucking mouth.”

I nod and his fingers compress.

“Ouc—yes. Yes, Master Kade,” I manage to say through a sharp intake of air.

He releases me and the pain lets up. Ignoring the way my nipple hardens and throbs painfully, I rush into the bathroom, throw on my dress and flee from Kade’s room while he leans broodingly against his fireplace. As I close the door behind me, I lean against it and caress my sore nipple through the fabric. How dare he? Who puts someone in a small fireplace for punishment?

I’m startled from my thoughts as a door down the other end of the hall is closed and Thirteen limps awkwardly towards the stairs. She surrounds her naked body in a black, sheer sheet and clenches it to her body with a grip so tight, I can see her whitened knuckles. I start forward, taking her in inch by inch with every step I take. Her blonde hair seems lifeless and pale, her features much darker than I remember. The closer she gets, I notice bruising on her neck and a cut on her lip. She looks like hell… like she fought a bear and lost.

“Thirteen?” I say when she’s within five metres of me. “What happened?”

Tears spring to her eyes and she narrows them at me. “What does it look like?”