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…