Chapter 5

Next morning, April lay on her thin mattress, her body aching from the abuse she had endured the previous night. The pain was relentless, a constant reminder of her new reality. Suddenly, a bucket of cold water was dumped over her, jolting her awake.

"Get up, slave," a rough voice barked. April blinked, shivering from the cold, her body protesting every movement as she struggled to stand.

She made her way outside, her steps slow and painful. As she exited the quarters, she noticed a girl with similar scars, her walk labored and unsteady. The girl’s face bore the same haunted look April had seen in her reflection, a look that spoke of suffering and despair.

Before she could approach the girl, a woman in her mid-thirties, with stern features and a no-nonsense demeanor, stepped forward. "I am Lydia, the chief maid," she announced, her voice carrying authority. "You will follow my instructions to the letter, or face severe punishment."

Lydia began assigning tasks to the gathered slaves. "You, clean the kitchen. You, scrub the floors. And you," she pointed at April, "will tend to the laundry."

April's eyes met the girl’s, who had been assigned to clean the stables. Summoning her courage, she approached her. "Hi, I'm April," she said softly, offering a tentative smile. "What's your name?"

The girl looked at her with a mixture of suspicion and weariness. "Jessica," she replied curtly, not meeting April's eyes.

"I know this is hard," April began, "but maybe we can help each other. It might make things a little easier."

Jessica's expression hardened. "There’s no helping each other here. Just do your work and stay out of trouble," she said before turning away, leaving April feeling even more isolated.

April sighed and made her way to the laundry area. She started her arduous task, scrubbing the dirty clothes with raw, aching hands. An hour passed, and despite the physical toll, she found herself lost in thoughts of survival and escape. Her mind wandered to her aunt, cursing the woman for selling her into this nightmare.

Hours later, the other maids cast furtive glances at April, their whispers laced with jealousy and spite. Her beauty, even in such a wretched state, made her a target. They hatched a plan to rid themselves of her perceived competition.

Later that afternoon, Lydia stormed into the laundry area, fury etched on her face. "April Lopez, step forward!" she demanded. April, confused and scared, did as she was told.

"You've been accused of stealing food from the kitchen," Lydia declared. April's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't—"

"Silence!" Lydia interrupted. "We have witnesses." Two maids stepped forward, smirking. April recognized them as the ones who had been whispering earlier.

"She took bread and cheese when she thought no one was looking," one of them said, her voice dripping with false sincerity.

"I swear, I didn't take anything," April pleaded, but her protests fell on deaf ears.

Lydia's eyes narrowed. "Lies will not be tolerated. You will be punished for your theft and deceit. Guards!"

Two burly guards grabbed April roughly by the arms and dragged her to the dungeon, her cries for mercy echoing through the halls. They threw her into a dark, damp cell, the smell of mildew and rot filling her nostrils. Her heart pounded in her chest as she heard the clanking of chains and the crack of a whip being prepared.

They tied her to a post, her back exposed. The first lash came without warning, the pain searing through her body like fire. She screamed, her voice hoarse, but the whipping continued. Each strike tore into her flesh, the agony unrelenting.

As the blood ran down her back, mingling with her tears, April's mind filled with thoughts of her aunt. She cursed the woman with every fiber of her being. "This is all your fault," she sobbed. "How could you do this to me?"

The whipping went on until her back was a mess of blood and torn skin. When they finally stopped, she was left hanging limply from the post, barely conscious. The guards untied her and let her crumple to the floor, her body wracked with pain.

Luciano appeared at the entrance of the dungeon, his face expressionless. "Take her back to the quarters," he ordered. "Let her serve as an example to the others."

The guards dragged April's limp body back to the slave quarters and dumped her on the floor. The other slaves looked on in horror, their own fears magnified by the sight of her suffering. Jessica, who had initially rebuffed April's attempt at friendship, felt a pang of guilt and pity.

Night fell, and the quarters were filled with the sound of rain pattering on the roof. April lay on her mattress, her body too weak to move, her mind a swirl of pain and despair. She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder and looked up to see Jessica kneeling beside her.

"Why are you here?" April whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jessica's eyes were filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry I was so harsh earlier," she said. "I didn't want to get attached to anyone. But seeing what they did to you... no one deserves that."

April tried to smile, but the pain was too much. "Thank you," she managed to say.

Jessica stayed by her side through the night, tending to her wounds as best she could with the limited resources they had. The small act of kindness was a lifeline for April, a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had consumed her life.

Next day, April slowly recovered. She remained cautious, knowing that any misstep could lead to further punishment. The other maids continued to resent her, but she learned to keep her head down and avoid their traps.

Despite the harsh conditions, a fragile bond formed between April and Jessica. They supported each other in their tasks and shared whispered conversations when they were sure no one could hear. The camaraderie helped them endure the relentless brutality of their captors. They made sure to stay away from trouble that lead to brutal torture. 

Night fell, they lay side by side on their mattresses, April whispered, "We have to find a way out of here."

Jessica nodded, . "We will," she replied. "We just need to be smart about it." She added her voice filled with determination.

★★★ MIKHAIL'S CHAMBERS ★★★

Mikhail sat in the room, nursing a glass of whiskey.  Vladimir had left to handle urgent matters, leaving Mikhail alone with his thoughts and his growing frustration. His wolf, always lurking beneath the surface, growled with impatience.

He picked up his phone and dialed Luciano's number. "Bring me Jessica," he ordered, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Minutes later, the door creaked open, and Luciano appeared, dragging Jessica behind him. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wide with fear. Luciano shoved her forward, and she stumbled, catching herself just before she fell.

"Here she is, boss," Luciano said, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He enjoyed the power he held over the slaves, reveling in their terror.

Mikhail's eyes raked over Jessica, taking in her trembling form. "Leave us," he commanded, waving Luciano away. The door closed with a soft click, leaving Mikhail and Jessica alone in the room.

Jessica stood frozen, her mind racing with fear and dread. She had been here before and wasn't pleasant, she's still feeling pains from the other night. She knew what he wanted, and the thought made her stomach churn.

"Come here," Mikhail ordered, his voice soft but filled with authority. Jessica's feet felt like lead, but she forced herself to move forward, her steps were hesitant.

When she was within arm's reach, Mikhail grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. She let out a small gasp, her body stiffening at the contact. He ran a hand through her hair, almost tenderly, before gripping it tightly and pulling her head back to meet his gaze.

"You know what I want, don't you?" he asked, his breath hot against her ear.

Jessica nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, sir," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Good," he said, releasing her hair and pushing her to her knees. "Make me forget my troubles, Jessica."

Jessica's hands shook as she reached for his belt, her mind screaming in protest. She forced herself to focus, to do what was necessary to survive. She had learned long ago that resistance only brought more pain.

Mikhail watched her with a predatory gaze, savoring her fear and submission. He reveled in the power he held over her, the way she obeyed his every command. As she began to pleasure him, he closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh, allowing himself to momentarily forget the chaos of his life.

Soon he tore off her clothes and threw her to the bed. 

Without warning he slammed his dick into her.

" Ahhhhhh" she screamed painfully as tears fell freely from her eyes. 

" Urgggg........ So tight " he grund enjoying every feeling of it. 

" Please....." 

" Ouch...." 

" Am dieing" she cried as she felt his dick growing inside her.

Hours later, when he was finally cum, he pushed Jessica away. She scrambled to her feet, trying to cover herself with her tattered clothing.

"Get out," he ordered, his voice cold once more. "And remember, the earlier you get used to it the better it's gonna be us "

Jessica nodded, her eyes filled with tears. She fled the room, her heart pounding with relief and shame. She knew she had to endure this torment, but she also knew she had to find a way to escape. 

* Why do you keep keep hurting our mate and making her cry?* Throne, his wolf, asked sadly. 

" Because I don't want a weak human as a mate. I fuck her until she becomes useless and kill her then maybe the goddess will give me a new mate or I find one my self" Mikhail replied coldly, going to wash off himself with a disgusting expression on his face. 

* Fuck you Mikhail* Throne said sadly and and went mute.

" Deal with it buddy" he smirked turning on the shower.