I get a new pair of panties from the bathroom and pull them on before I slip back into Ivan’s sweatpants and shirt. Taking my normal seat in the center of the mattress, I wrap my arms around myself and wait. I listen to more doors open and closing, voices, cries, and screams for a while before the hallway returns to its normal silent state.
Unable to tell how much time has passed, I sit, waiting. I wish I had a watch. At least then I would have an idea on when it's close to dinner time.
All I can think of is Ivan and how he made me feel last night and this morning. I close my eyes and see his face. Lifting the shirt I’m wearing to my nose, I take in his lingering scent and imagine him being here, sitting next to me.
My daydream comes to an abrupt halt when I hear footsteps approaching. The sound of jingling keys fills the room, and then my door is being unlocked. I’m jittery with excitement. Ivan must have decided to come early. I almost jump up in glee but then the door opens and instead of happiness, I feel pure terror.
A man I’ve never seen before walks in, and one look at the evil grin on his face and my blood turns to ice. I scoot back to the end of the mattress until my back hits the wall. I realize then that I've backed myself into a corner and there is nowhere else for me to go.
“I was really hoping you wouldn't pass the test so I wouldn't have to pay for you. Turns out I’ll just be changing the info on the doc’s paperwork.” When I hear his voice, I know exactly who he is.
Yulie.
Everything inside me is telling me to run, but it wouldn't matter. It won't change what's going to happen.
“Please... don’t do this,” I beg, even though I know a man like him is not going to listen. His eyes light up with unbridled desire when my plea meets his ears. He undoes his belt buckle and pulls his belt out with one tug.
“My plaything broke a few days ago so I have some pent-up aggression. You are going to help me loosen up.” My chest heaves but I can’t get any air into my lungs.
I look up at him, unable to move as I watch in horror as he swings the belt in the air. The leather lands against my face before I have a chance to move my arms to protect myself.
Pain explodes across the left side of my face and a scream rips from my throat. I manage to bring my arms up to my face before he strikes me again, this time hitting me across my shoulder.
I turn away from him as much as I can and the next one comes down on my back… then another and another. My skin is throbbing, and tears slip down my cold cheeks.
He stops for a brief moment, just long enough to rip the shirt off my body. I try and move away from him but I'm in so much pain, I know I wouldn't be able to fight him.
“Your skin looks beautiful covered in my marks.” His words drip with venom.
As I lay in the fetal position, naked from the waist up, he continues whipping me with the belt. I lose count of how many times he’s hit me, each strike hurting more than the next. I try to hold the pain in, biting the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. Then, as if someone heard my silent prayer, Yulie stops.
“What are you doing here?” Yulie growls, and that’s when I realize that someone else has entered the room. I twist just enough so I can look over my shoulder. Ivan is standing right behind Yulie, and he is holding the end of the belt in his hand.
I look up to meet his eyes but what I find looking back at me is not Ivan… it’s a wild animal about to go in for the kill.
10
Ivan
Every fiber of my body vibrates in anger. Fury like I’ve never felt before consumes me as I look at Violet’s body huddled on the mattress. Ugly welts mar her beautiful skin. I promised her I wouldn't let anyone hurt her and I failed. I failed her just like I failed my sister.
I feel something inside me snap. All thoughts but one leave my mind. One single thought that digs its claws deep into my skin.
Kill.
I pull the belt from Yulie’s hand with one quick pull.
“What the fuck, Iv—” Before he has time to turn and face me, or even finish saying anything, I have it slung around his neck. His hands grip onto the belt, trying to loosen it, but I already have it tightened. Lifting my foot, I kick him in the lower back, and he falls to the floor with a grunt.
Once I have him where I want him, I move on top of him. Digging my knee between his shoulder blades, I grip the belt tighter, watching as the leather digs into his flesh. I lean into him so I can watch his ugly face start to turn blue. He’s gasping for air and trying to say something, but I don’t give a fuck about his words or excuses. In my eyes, he's already dead.
I’ve killed before, many times, but nothing ever felt this fucking satisfying. I smile, watching as his eyes bulge out of his head. I grip onto the belt, tightening it, enjoying every second of his feeble attempt to fight for his life. Power surges through my veins, a darkness filling my insides like a venomous bite.
His movements underneath me slow until they stop altogether. With one last pull, I release him, letting his face fall to the cold concrete. I exhale, taking a staggering step backward. I feel her beautiful blue eyes on me and when I turn to look at her, they're full of fright and terror. I'm afraid that I've put those emotions there.
“Kitten…” I call out to her like I'm trying to corral a scared animal.
She huddles deeper inside herself, and I feel my heart shatter. This is my fault. Had I come sooner, maybe he wouldn't have had the chance to hurt her so badly. I stare at her shaking body for a long moment. I've killed for her now… I've betrayed all I've ever known for her. I knew it before, but now I know without a doubt that I will not send her to the auction. She’s mine. Mine to protect, mine to keep. I look over at Yulie’s dead body... Once it’s discovered that I killed him, I'm as good as dead.
I need a plan, and I need one fast if I want any chance of us coming out of this alive. I glance back at the body, then scan the room, trying to figure out what to do with this scumbag. A million scenarios rattle through my mind. Oh, how I would love to burn his fucking body or hang him from the ceiling. But none of those things will work. I continue to let my mind work until I think of something that’s good and wouldn't have me leaving Violet in here the rest of the day. The thought alone is almost unbearable.
I look at her, as she is staring at dead Yulie. I lower myself next to her on the mattress, holding up my hands to show her that I won’t hurt her. She doesn't move at all for a second but then her eyes gaze up to mine and the next moment, she is in my arms.
Her small hands grab onto my shirt and pull me as close as she can get me. She buries her face into my chest and starts crying. Her whole body is shaking, and I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around her tightly, but I’m scared of hurting her back. I gently cradle the back of her head and let her cry for a minute. I look past her next to the mattress and spot the pill bottle tucked in between the mattress and the wall.
“Kitten,” I whisper in her ear. “Listen, I need to hide the body.”
When she doesn't respond, I gently nudge her shoulders. Careful not to hurt her, I push her away from me so I can take her face in between my hands. I tilt her face up so she has to look into my eyes.
“Listen to me, Violet. I need you to trust me right now. I have a plan to get you out of here. I just need you to trust me… okay?”