Noelle ran a hand through her hair and took a deep breath. “You used to try my patience like this when you were much younger, you know. You had a phase where you had to ask ‘why’ about everything, and it was infuriating. Good little killers don’t ask questions.” She chuckled darkly, striding toward me and walking around my stiff body. “But with the right words, we can be sure you don’t get too caught up in your own initiative.”
I didn’t remember hearing the phrase she’d used before—except I did. It hit me with a sudden chill. Those nonsensical words had fallen from Anna’s lips as she attempted to suck in her last breaths, to save me.
An even more chilling thought hit me. If Noelle could control me like this, would I even have been able to step outside my rooms without Anna saying that special code?
Noelle smirked, taking in my stillness. “Now, take a step forward.”
I willed myself not to do it. With every single ounce of restraint I had left, I rallied against the order and told myself not to obey. But my left foot—of its own accord—swung forward to plant itself farther forward before my right foot came to meet it.
“Good. Now follow me. We’re leaving.”
Noelle turned, and without any control over my own limbs, I trailed behind her. One foot after the other. On into the dim light of the alcove toward a metal ladder against the far wall that Noelle was approaching.
Panic rose in my chest. I was locked inside my own mind, unable to send any signal to the rest of me. I pounded on the internal wall that stood between me and my bodily functions, but it didn’t break. It didn’t move.
I didn’t recall a specific memory, but a sensation from a long, long time ago flooded me—one of helplessness. I could remember another time when I’d been out of control of my movements. I was young, and my limbs were restrained as my body was taken… taken somewhere I didn’t want to go.
As quickly as the memory came, it flashed out of focus, back into the depths of my mind. The reminder sent a jolt of fear and iron will through me, and I stumbled over my next step.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been able to make a choice for myself in the household, but right now, I had to resist. Noelle couldn’t do this to me. I wasn’t her pet or her possession.
I was my own person—a person who loved chocolate and the TV show Spy Time, who could take happiness from the simple pleasure of a breath of fresh air, who craved the brutal intimacy a man like Talon could offer. I was me, and no random combination of words could give her ownership over me.
With the force of that defiant thought, I came to a halt. I looked down at myself with a thrill racing through me.
I’d done it. I’d broken her control. I’d made my own decision.
I’d been directed by Noelle my entire life, but for the last week, even with the men deciding where we went and what they’d tell me, I’d been freer than I’d ever been before. I wouldn’t go back to being a puppet. I owed the household their justice.
I’d give them that. But I’d give it to them on my terms.
“No,” I whispered, my voice still difficult to use.
Noelle spun around and narrowed her eyes at me.
“Garlic. Milkshake.”
My body stiffened, but I forced it to relax. I was free. I would stay that way. I’d thought I could trust Noelle—I’d put all my faith in that fact—but I’d been wrong.
Trusting Noelle was worse than trusting the men. At least they were loyal to their own. After what she’d just done, I’d count on them to give me the real story about why they’d attacked the household before I believed any story she spun for me.
“No,” I said again, louder. “I have a say in what happens here too. I don’t belong to you.”
Noelle let out a sharp guffaw that made me want to punch her. As my hand clenched, she shook her head.
“We could have done this the easy way, but you’ve given me no choice.”
I widened my stance automatically, preparing for a fight. Noelle wouldn’t be easy to take down. I’d been able to for a few years now, but it’d often been tricky. And those times I hadn’t been working around a still partly sprained wrist. She might have weapons on her too.
I hadn’t considered that it might not be her fighting me at all.
Noelle made a brisk gesture with her hand, and ten menacing figures sprang out of the tunnels on either side of her, charging straight at me.