8. A father's curse

CAMILLE

The last thing I saw through my blurred teary lens was his back turned as he walked out. Last thing I heard was his cold order to bring me. Last thing I felt when I tried to run-- to leap out of danger and make a run for it, was a harsh smack at the back of my head from a pistol and I blacked out.

Now my eyes flew open with a loud gasp, heart jumpy as I looked around, deafened by my own gasps.

Where was this place? I didn't recognize the large room but it screamed luxury. It was nothing like the one room I shared with Dad.

At the thought of him, my heart skipped-- "D-Dad," I whispered, trembling on the bed. Everything played back, the fear, the anxiety, the nervousness-- him.

Him.

Oh God! I've gone and done it. I've brought trouble to my doorstep. Not just mine, but dad as well. All his cursing and worries finally came to pass.

A whore? Check.

Led his enemies right to him? Check.

A useless daughter who couldn't even protect her father and only family? Check.

The tears spilled over my eyes as I clutched the sheets but I knew I couldn't remain here longer. Everything that was supposed to look inviting and relaxing felt like a shackle on my ankles.

I pulled the sheets off and started to get up but I was suddenly aware of the cold metal on my ankle. I looked down and almost choked on my own heart-- a thick black chain sat there, binding me.

A strangled cry escaped and I slapped my hand over my mouth to shut myself up. No one came bursting into the room, I believed no one heard. It was morning. Did they abandon me somewhere?

The chains weren't heavy but they were a hindrance and they made a noise as I walked, no matter how careful I tried to be.

I gave up when I saw it was futile and went to the door, whispered a prayer to the God I've never prayed to in all my life since my mother left, and finally poked my head out.

Fear left me when I beheld the hallway. Everything looked classy. The cream walls, the tiled floor-- even the air smelled fresh unlike the smell of meth back home.

The only way to go was down the twirling glass stairs. Twisting the hem of my gown, a tight knot kicked my stomach. Wait, what was I wearing? It was like a pink sack down to my knees. Who changed me?

He didn't… Did he? I descended the stairs, hoping the blush would disappear soon. The silence of the house made me hear my racing heart a little more.

My chains announced me before I even touched down the stairs and thought to look around the fancy place when I saw him sitting at the dining table and flipping a newspaper.

It was a little different seeing him in the morning and without his suit. Despite what he's done to me, I couldn't deny that he looked yummy.

How did I not see he was a gangster all these time? I knew but I had pussy for brains so I couldn't think straight. All I cared about was getting rammed and held up in those arms heavily covered with black tattoos.

"Don't just stand there," he flipped a page and glanced at me. "Take a seat."

His eyes were still cold just like last night. The mistake I ever made was lowering my guard and thinking he was a normal person.

Those men from last night were obviously acting on his command. He was their boss.

"What do you want from me?" I staggered back. "These chains… I'm not an animal. Where's my-"

"Father?" he arched his brow. "You'd still call him that? Don't you understand how that term works or you prefer playing dumb and living in denial?"

I gulped at his words, feeling attacked and insecure. I knew my father was far from what a father should be but he was my problem to deal with and no one else's.

"Where is he? What have you done with him? Where am I-"

A woman stepped out from the kitchen with a large tray. She served quietly, ignoring my presence that I almost felt like glass. The whole time she took, he carefully folded the papers and kept it aside, holding my gaze till I looked away and stared at my bare feet, reminded of the chains again.

"Is there anything else you'll need, sir?"

"No, you're done for the day, Martha. You may leave."

We said nothing until I heard the door shut and looked towards the door. There it was. My escape but with these chains-

"Go ahead. Give it a try on an empty stomach and with your feet bound together. Let's see how far you can run."

He was different. Nothing like the stranger I knew and let into my body last night.

There were two dishes served and my stomach grumbled greedily.

"My father-"

"Is at the doctor's waiting in line to be thoroughly examined,” he threw it just there like it was a regular checkup.

My heart sank. "What? You can't be serious-"

“For my money, I am.”

"I can work," I quickly offered. "I have some money saved up. I-I can take up extra hours-"

"The food's getting cold," he spread some mayo on his bread and glared silently at me, enough to shut me up and drive a shiver down my spine.

"The extra hours you mentioned are nothing but peanuts. Can't even cover up the interest." he dashed my hopes and threw my confidence to the wind.

"B-But… why am I here?" I knew father already offered me up but he had no reason to take me against my will. This was bigger than me. I should feel ashamed to deny him but I wasn't about to have my life ruined for him. "His debt has nothing to do with me. I didn’t borrow the money-"

"You are my repayment."

No. no. no.

"Consider yourself a walking debt until someone pays up and I always recover my money," he growled. "Eat."

His hostile treatment and venomous words snagged my breath. Was he always like this? I didn't know a thing or two about him but it was hard to believe that the same man who saved me from being raped was into organ harvesting.

Did he know about me earlier? Did he have fun watching me blush and act like a fool around him? I came to him all on my own, made myself available. His mission was my father but I guess 'fuck the girl' since she's offering, right?

Get pussy and your money.

I knew I shouldn’t mention it but… "Last night-"

"What about it?" He looked right at me and I saw someone unrecognisable. "Sit down, eat some food and then we'll talk. Unless you want a redo or last night. Here's the good news, that's one way you can bail yourself out of this."

"What?"

"Your father put you as his guarantor-"

"That was forced!" I screamed. I only signed because he wouldn't stop hitting me and had me trapped in the house. It was either I signed or I died there by his harsh blows.

The tears streaming down my face did nothing to him. His glare didn't disappear or take pity on me. I knew where he was driving at by mentioning last night and I didn't want to hear it. I was already disgusted by myself and ashamed of everything. Please don't make it any worse.

"A signature is a signature," he shrugged, driving the invisible spear deeper in my chest. "Should've kicked him out when you had the chance, don't you think? But what do I know about saving the only family one has left?" he mocked with a mischievous sneer on his lips.

"But what's wrong with my offer? You had no problems spreading your legs just last night and you know nothing about me. It'll be the same. If you want, I may even stay in the same room and watch. Seeing me could get you turned on-"

"Fuck you," I whispered but he seemed amused instead, feeding off my misfortune and shattering mental health. He was a devil. He didn't care about anything. "I was nothing but a tool you used-"

"Ah-ah, let's not get carried away. Let me get one thing straight," he began. "You were nothing."

I waited for the rest of the sentence but it was a hard blow that it never came. That was it. I was nothing.

"A random fuck. A good time for the hour. Now it's back to business and well… " he spread his arms. "Here we are."

Devastated to a point of no return, I held back the tears as best as I could but they managed to spill over. "I'm not… I'm not sleeping with you. I won't be your-"

"Camille," he called in a calm tone that almost had me falling. "I'm not asking for your body, I already own it, tasted it, claimed it… you belong to me now and it is my decision to do with you whatever I deem fit."

There was something in the air that plagued me, that caused it hard for me to breathe and made my knees tremble. It was this man. He made the air turn to needles that pinched my throat and my lungs.

"I prefer to work," I tried again, wiped my eyes clean to accept the new world I've been thrust into without warning.

"That's thirty years at most," he drank his tea and gently put down the mug. Such gentleness from a man this evil. Nothing was truly as it seemed.

"Just fuck."

"N-Never. I can't." I won't be the whore my father thinks I am. I'll never succumb to the evil he's always wished for me. "I won't sell myself. I've never even… before you…" my cheeks flushed warm. "I've only ever… liked you."

I sounded dumb but what I felt was nothing compared to how he stared at me now and I felt twice as dumb for saying that out loud.

"What did you think was going to happen after last night?" he cocked his head, making me feel small and insignificant. "A date? Walk you back home every night, fuck you every day and kiss you on your way to your part time job-"

The fact that it had crossed my mind was shameful.

My heart broke before he even opened his mouth.

"I've fucked plenty. It's all just the same hole. It's all the same moan. It's nothing special. You're not special. You only have three line of work; strip, fuck or sell your organ-"

It couldn’t get more heartbreaking than this. My tears were uncontrollable and my sobs, "Please, no. I can't do it. I can't." but I knew my right to an opinion died when they knocked me out and carried me here.

Henceforth, I lived by his will and decision. It was the hard, bitter and scary truth.

"We'll try stripping first," he said regardless. "See how you do around the pole. I'm a bit sceptical about giving you a room. You don't have the experience those men need," he folded his arms, evaluating me and I wished I could hide from his prying eyes.

An idea struck me. A very dumb one but it was the only shot I had left. "Can't I…" the words were heavy to let out. "… be yours instead?"

His brow arched in silent question. He sized me up once more, then frowned, "No."

"But-"

"Getting back in my bed would take forever."

"I-I could-"

"Seduce me? You wouldn't be the first who has tried. The answer is no," his voice was serious, warning me to stop.

I thought of what else to say to try and convince this man, but he obviously had his mind made up. Nothing I said or did could change that.

"Now, if you’re done with all the questioning, eat some food, go upstairs and get changed, we're going out.”