I collapse, and the last thing I feel are hands in my hair, yanking me back, and a whispered voice in my ear that says, “You’ll pay for that, Pet. You’ve been a very bad girl.”
Then the whole world tumbles into darkness.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Pet
When I wake, my bodyaches all over, my throat hurts, and my limbs are thick and heavy with misuse. I close my eyes tightly against the intrusion of light, and roll onto my side. The ground beneath me is freezing, and icy-cold water splashes my body. I jolt upright, only to crouch against the wall of my cell when I see him—Ares—straddling a chair before me.
“Morning, Pet.”
“I’m not your fucking pet,” I say through a raw throat and chattering teeth.
“I’m getting really fucking sick and tired of having to repeat myself, so let’s get a few things straight. You are mine. I’ll call you whatever the fuck I want. I’ll keep you as long as I need, and if I choose to discard you like the dirty whore you are, then that is also up to me.” He leans forward over the chair and tugs a strand of my hair playfully. “You have no options here but to do what I tell you, or to be punished, and then do what I tell you. Are we clear?”
“No! I’m n-not yours.”
He laughs. “It’s cute that you think you have a say here, but slaves don’t say shit. Slaves keep their goddamn mouths shut unless directly spoken to. Do you understand?”
“F-fuck y-you.”
“Do you understand?”
“I understand you’re gonna rot in hell. They’ll f-f-find me. They’ll never stop looking.” Surely someone must be looking for me. Someone must know I’m missing.
A rictus grin full of malice lights up his whole face. It’s terrifying. “No one is looking for you, Pet. No one. How do you think it is that you came to be in my possession? You’re a street rat. A girl turning tricks to support her addiction. Getting you alone in my car was easy.”
“No.” I shake my head. That can’t be true. I don’t do drugs. I don’t—oh god. The truth is I don’t even know. I have no idea who I am. No idea who I was. “No. You’re lying.”
“No, Pet. I never lie. I have no need of lies, because dirty little sluts don’t need pretty promises. They need their orifices crammed full of cock.”
“No.” I bury my head in my hands and sob.
He rises from the chair, moves it across the room, and slowly stalks towards me. So much rage and aggression are concentrated in this one human being. He grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet.
“Please, Ares, please stop.”