“Done,” Inayah huffed in exhaustion, sitting back on her heels and wiping saline perspiration from her forehead.
Her wary gaze scoured the foyer and hallway before her, the wooden floors scrubbed clean of grime and dirt. The wooden bucket beside her sloshed with murky brown contents as she tossed the brush inside.
Her whole body feels sore. The skin of her knees scraped, bruised and bleeding. Her arms numb from the strain of moving back and forth viciously struggling to clean the grime.
She blows away a strand of hair that falls over her eyes, momentarily obscuring her vision, then flexes her fingers, cracking each stiff knuckle.
Her legs ache with the need to rest, to find somewhere warm and cosy, curl up beneath a blanket and let her heavy eyes slip shut.
However, something terrible was keeping her from succumbing to sleep. Her stomach snarled then and from it came the not-so-subtle undertone of pain.
Inayah glanced up at the o
Inayah moved about the kitchen in a state of mild shock and hyper-awareness.Kade.Sin’s brother.Salem had a brother.She did not think it possible for such a man to have siblings, then again she barely knew him. Having only served for three days in his household. Yet Inayah could not help her state of numbing shock.In the dining room, Kade’s laughter rings out deeply. There is a certain mirthful melody to his voice, much as there is to those mischievous pine green eyes that danced with secrets only he knew. Secrets she found herself wanting in on as well.Something sharp nudged her ribcage, Mathilde’s scowling face dropping into view as she stared at the girl in impatient displeasure. “Hurry up, girl. They wait.”Obediently, Inayah reached for the tray of golden baked turkey with stuffings. The sight of it was mouthwatering and her stomach whined as the warm, decadent smell wafted through her nostrils.
Salem stood by the doorway, unsettlingly calm gaze on her.Inayah stood, half terrified and burning Bright red with shame at the notion of being caught not only eating forbidden food, but stuffing her face in the process, without so much of a care.She must’ve looked grotesque with grease and spices smeared across her mouth, cheeks bulging from being overstuffed and her hand… Inayah released the leg she had torn away and straightened, forcing herself to swallow whilst keeping a straight face.Her heart breathed into a paper bag of worry, shock roofing her to the ground. Words deserted her in that moment as she lay vulnerable before her master.Salem Watched her a moment longer, then straightened, “Come to my chambers after you are done.” Is all he says before pivoting and leaving her.Dread. That was all she felt and the food that once settled nourishingly sweet in the pit of her belly turned sour and churned about. She gre
Salem had officially won the worst companion to sleep with in the universe. Or perhaps it was his whole hardened demeanor, even in slumber, that denied Inayah of sleep.She lay awake trapped between his body and the thick mattress, struggling to loosen her muscles and even then, sleep had deserted her.Inayah was painfully aware of his breath against her temple, his heart that beat dully against her shoulder blade, every inch of his body down to the fine hairs on his legs. She lay stiff, hoping he would release her, and if not, praying for darkness to take over quicklyIt did not.Hence in the silence of the room, Inayah willed her mind to flee her current state as she thought of Sin’s recent change in behavior. His emotions gave her whiplash, racing from hot to cold, affectionate to distant.It irked her, and not in the good way.Being uncertain of someone’s emotions, let alone motives, made room for anxiety and panic. He
Inayah hovered by Salem’s study chambers. She wore the only other outfit she had, brown dress, scarf and boots. Her hair was slightly damp from the hurried shower she had taken, face flushed from the cold morning air.Kade had wanted to take her out of the mansion.She had not refused, and a slight thrill of finally leaving the boundaries surged through her. Thrill, then terror at the realization of having to tell Salem. Her master. What if he denied her of that right? What if he scoffed in her face? Better yet, what if he punished her for even tolerating the idea? She was a slave after all, and slaves do not seek the pleasures of the freed.Still.Kade was dressing in his room and Mathilde was banging pots and pans whilst moving about in the kitchen having nothing to do since Inayah had done it all in her moment of adrenaline-filled joy. She figured if she did all the chores before Mathilde woke then she would have no reason to interject Ina
Kade stood by the mansion’s entrance dressed in dark brown breeches, white satin shirt and coat. His hand idly brushes the hilt of his sword strapped to his hip, humming tunelessly as his gaze listlessly wanders over the forest before him.Despite his calm outward demeanor, his mind runs amok with thoughts of the girl. Sin’s slave.Inayah.It had been long since a female ever caught his attention in such a way. His attraction to her stemmed not from lust but curiosity.His brother had not brought up the purchase of a new slave, hence the sudden sight of her was surprising. It made him wonder why Salem failed to mention the new member to his home.That is until Kade spent a few hours watching the slave girl. There was something about the girl. Hardly nineteen years of age, with a little flower-like face, a small Greek head with plaited coils of dark-brown hair, eyes that were earthy brown wells of passion, lips like the petals of a rose.
Inayah sat on her bed, her belly of nervous anticipation.She had gone about her day in a flurry of sickening excitement, washing clothes thoroughly, scrubbing floors clean, polishing the silver all before Mathilde could command her to do so. By the time dusk began to encroach in the horizon, her whole body was sore, knuckles and knees bruised pomegranate red but she did not care.Be ready tonight. Kade had whispered in that mischievous promising way, I will return for you before midnight.Before midnight. Inayah glanced at the small clock overhead and cleared her throat. She smoothed both palms over the skirt she wore. It was not the most impressionable one she had, if anything it was the only piece of lower clothing she possessed when Sin had taken her.Rising from the bed, Inayah approached the small shard of glass mirror and raised it to her face, angling this way and that as she scrutinized her exterior. The excitement that bubbled within her began t
Kade rested a hand on the rough paintwork that coats the door and pushed. Rough wooden splinters cut into his palm; shards of black paint crumble to the floor. The hinges squeal as though they are a warning, but the plea is silence by a wall of noise. Laughter overpowers the music. Conversations swirl in a dirty cloud of smoke, the stagnant stench of cigarettes hides within the collaboration of mephitic odors.A sharp smell of drink wafted towards him, like black plumes bellowing from the windows of a burning house. There’s even a hint of sick tainting the fragrance of the room. Ignoring the curious pointed stares directed at the two of them, blatant outsiders, Kade inhales a lungful greedily and braces a palm against the small of Inayah’s back.“Welcome to my side of the world,” he commented with a wicked smile, ignoring the sudden weighted resistance of her body as she attempted at digging her boots into the wooden planks, leaning far back.
Oscar?Kade studied the pimply brute of a boy, medium height with a head full of brown curly hair and light green eyes. There was something odd about the mortal, perhaps it was the fact that he stood between three large men who eyed Kade distastefully.Or rather, it was the fixated way he stared at Inayah. His Inayah.“Inayah,” Oscar began, stepping forward then halted, eyes lifting to Kade who simply watched with an imperturbable expression.His bemused stare wandered between the two. “I have been searching for you everywhere.” The boy finally managed, still staring at Kade though he spoke to the girl.Kade’s head cocked to the side, studying the boy from the bridge of his nose. “Oscar.” he finally spoke, eyes glinting with fire and water, together in an unending torrent.The boy straightened, somehow gathering courage and finally regarding Kade head on, though he simply stood at five foot eight whi
“Well,” Lycus leaned against the wooden door, raising a challenge eyebrow, “what do we have here?” “Lycus,” Inayah groaned, dropping back on the bed slightly ashamed of the talk. Her advancements were obvious, why did he have to question? She heard chuckle and a heartbeat later, the bed dipped. Hands were reaching for her wrists, gently prying them away, still she did not open her eyes. Then he cupped her face and ran his fingers through her hair and all thought was lost. Lycus seemed fascinated with her hair, with her face, her body, her soul - and he thrums as she quivered before him. He took his time, fingers moving on to her mouth and he stayed there for a bit, thumb pressed against her lower lip in mild awe. Inayah's eyes opened then, and with her gaze locked on his, she pressed a kiss on his thumb. A pleasant purr reverberated from his chest and she exhaled as he moved on, her cheeks warm and tingling. Heart pounding ha
Inayah woke to rhythmic swaying, like that of a mother gently rocking her child to sleep in loving arms. Her eyes fluttered open, blurry with the remnants of sleep still desperately clinging to her, but she forced them wider. As her senses gradually grew clearer, the sound of crashing traced her ears. But... it wasn’t a violent sound. It was the musical notes of water, she realised, the percussion section roaring from the surface below.Sunlight bled and warmed her face, casting streaks of ethereal gold and comforting black across the bridge of her nose. As she slowly propped herself onto one elbow, she threaded her hand through her soft tangles and peered around the room. The swaying continued along with the water splish-splashing, and her location soon dawned upon her.The room was sparsely decorated, made of nothing but a chipped, wooden table to the right of her and a closet protruding from the wall in front. Dark browns painted the floors with the only sourc
Dinner drifted by in silence. Inayah ate but could not taste the food on her tongue. Each movement was monotonous, automatic -- the rise of her fork, the clink of her knife, she did not sip her wine for it resembled Mathilde’s blood which had soaked her front and part of the table cloth.The clatter of Salem’s utensils drew her attention back to him. She stared, pale as candle wax, and unmoving. Salem sipped his wine tentatively, seeking her eyes in the process. “I wish to apologize over my past behaviour and all that I had done to harm you.”Inayah remained silent.“I know I haven’t been the best caregiver, nor master,” he paused, “nor lover. But I have tried Inayah.” On cue, his gaze slid to Mathilde’s motionless body still strung on the seat, “It was my fault for not acting earlier and assuming the relationship between both of you had been anything but malicious and for that, I apol
Inayah stood by the kitchen counter, staring at the vast array of knives spread before her. One knife in specific was double-edged and sharp enough to slice through the skin with ease. So much ease.“Stop lazing about.” Mathilde’s voice echoed from somewhere behind her and Inayah gripped the potato in hand. Inhaling a measured breath, she began to precariously peel the vegetable, gripping the knife handle tightly as the blade swept beneath skin. She was careful enough to cut out chunks of flesh lest Mathilde injures her again.Then again… Inayah’s eyes flickered to the fire hearth with a cauldron set atop, two pokers pressed into the bright orange coals that glimmered with embers of heat. She licked the back of her teeth thoughtfully.Completing the remnants of dinner, Inayah arranged the variety of foods on a platter and as she did, her mind wandered to Lycus who was caged in the basement. With an acerbic taste in her
Inayah treaded close behind Salem's figure. She fought the urge to reach out and grasp the lapel of his coat for guidance as he led her down a winding hall, down a descent of stairs and further past the cells he had her locked in.Inayah had stopped counting after four turns and followed obediently. He halted before a metallic chamber and pulled out a set of keys, wedging it into the silver door."This," Salem stepped aside and waved a hand like a magician who had just performed a trick, "is where I keep my enemies."Inayah's eyes widened as they took in the room all around.Silver. Everything was silver, from the walls to the floor and ceiling. Stone and silver hardened to prevent escapes. Four cells had been placed, each with large silver shackled embedded to the walls and what looked like a dog plate in each.
The week of torture drifted past in flashes of black and white.Salem kept Inayah locked in the cages intermittently, allowing her freedom to use the potty and eat before locking her up again. His torture knew no bounds, from whipping to shouting and sometimes daring to suffocate her in her food.All for one question."Do you like him?" Salem asked, lifting her head with his grip on her ponytail.Inayah blinked back nauseating tears and spoke. Her own voice sounded like it was tearing and unfamiliar. "No," she admitted for the tenth time that day."What were you planning on doing?""Running away," blood dripped from her nose from the stress her body tried to put up with, "he said we'd head East-""To the ocean
There was darkness. Voices. Dreams, dark and murky. Fear, pain. So much pain.Inayah opened her eyes, but the light hurt. She winced and tried to move. She could not. She was in a room, bright and open. She saw Mathilde come into view.Her first reflex was resistance, struggling to relieve herself of the chains and shackles that bore her to the bed. But her body seemed to have a mind of its own, completely slack and hot and in pain. Only her mind seemed hyper-aware of their enemy.Mathilde's cheek was wrapped in gauze, and she walked with a limp towards the bed. Her eyes held darkness equal to Salem's and hate, so much hate."There you are, child. Why'd you go and do such a horrible thing? Master has just been beside himself, he almost lost himself completely. It's such a shame what you did to him. I'd half a mind to let you pass on in your fever dreams, but he demanded I help you heal. I did
When Inayah came to, she was lying on a cold hardened ground. A soft groan of agony escapes her lips as she struggles to blink then roll over, now conscious of the world all around her. She blinked again then stilled at the sound of scurrying.A rat.Inayah shot upwards and glanced around at the darkness that consumed the reeking room. She raised a hand towards her pounding head, then faltered as chains around her wrists clattered noisily.Someone had shackled both wrists and ankles.But who-Lycus.The grimace that pinched her face suddenly tightens at the thought of him. Salem. Inayah shoots to her feet and stumbles forward, hands outstretched and blindly groping for something, anything. It was not until her fingers curled around metallic bars that Inayah heard the slamming shut of doors overhead.Footsteps echoed along the open hallway, drawing closer and closer still. Inayah blinked as faint yellow ligh
“Three hundred silver coins?” Lycus heard Inayah’s incredulous voice as she counted the coins set on stone by the steaming bath’s edge.He hummed in acknowledgement.“Three hundred silver coins,” she repeated, then shifted, the sound of water splashing her movements, “Kade paid you that much to find me?”“He did.”“Oh,” another shift. The tone of her voice had Lycus lifting one end of cloth placed over his eyes. He peered at her with one eye. She sat a few meters from him, steaming water rising up to her neck, sodden hair held up in a loose ponytail.The bag of coins he had given her was now open, coins spilled over the bathhouse edge. Her chin was set on the edge, flushed fingers pushing them aside one at a time.Lycus picked a stray coin and flipped it towards her. It landed with a soft plop beside her; “Penny for your thoughts.”