Chained
Part Two
by Kimra
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Daine came to consciousness instantly, her nose flaring as she breathed in the scents of the room around her trying to detect the reason for her awakening. Eyes flicking across the rooms floor boards to check for intruding feet. She didn't move, instincts telling her to keep herself hidden beneath the motley bed where she slept.
Her newly prized pillow was nestled between arm's, legs and tucked below her head, her body curled around it, head facing the door, back against the wall where it was cushioned by her old linen.
A rattle from beyond the door and her body stiffened, the noise familiar, and the reason for her return to the realm of the aware. She knew it was key's, but not at her door, not yet. She curled herself into a tighter ball about the pillow, keeping the whimper at bay waiting for that rattle to sound beyond the thick wooden door that signified the second layer of her imprisonment.
Boisterous laughter echoed from the hall, a chatter of conversation. Daine dug her fingers against the floor, eyes unblinking, mind haphazardly shifting through those plans of escape that always taunted her but never worked. She drew a breath into her tight lungs, small beads of sweat forming on her upper arms and the back of her neck.
She listened intently. Heard the click of heals that meant the raven lady was accompanying the group and a harsh male snort Daine recognised with disgust as her owner. She assumed this was the group the red head had been talking off, the important's that where expected.
The rattle sounded outside her door, the grating sound of the metal key sliding into the lock before the deafening click as it turned signalling the arrival of torment at her door. The wood swung open and noise from the hall thundered in shocking her delicate ears with it's volume.
"This one's for you sir. She's the favourite with all our best customers." The Owner blared with overloud enthusiasm.
Daine curled tighter into her ball, eyes fixed on the black polished boots that stepped through the open door.
"I have no interest in your best. I have women enough where I am from." The voice was calmly dismissive, but she saw the edges of The Owners feet lingering in the doorway.
"Of course you do sir." He sounded less sure of himself then usual, more willing to please. "But none of them would be so…" She could hear the smirk rise on his lips, had seen it enough times to know. "…energetic."
"We will send a girl to you to explain the room's amenities at your convenience." Was the crisp female voice of the Raven Lady. "But a word of warning, she's feisty, and has a tendency to scratch. So if you change your mind be sure to take complete control."
"Yes yes, but it's all very simple. Nothing an intelligent man like you wont be able to figure out should you change your mind." Again The Owner snorted and the rattle of keys spiked her attention. "The key to your room. I assure you, privacy is guaranteed." The Owner's feet stepped forwards, that rattle sounded again, and then the Owner was gone, the heavy door closing behind him.
A sigh escaped the man belonging to the black boots and she watched those feet move towards the door. Heard the keys twist in the lock and then the clatter as they where carelessly thrown across the room… away from her.
She didn't move, barely breathed, her attention focused and unwavering. Her fingers dug into floor and pillow alike, her eyes wide, alert, her body tense ready to react but reaction was unnecessary. Instead the man she was focused on, settled onto his own bed, the comfortable bed her chains never let her reach and soon after the night air was filled with soft snoring. But she never relaxed, she never moved, she never let her guard down.
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She was still awake when the sun filtered through the thick curtains, illuminating the room with a soft glow. The stranger man seemed unaffected by the sun, even as the temperature of the room rose with the passing minutes. She knew from experience that by midday the room would be stifling if the mage stones weren't instigated but the slumbering man remained blissfully unaware as he continued to snore softly.
Listening to the unwavering rhythm of his sleep, she gnawed at her lower lip, wondering exactly where he had put the keys. Perhaps it was silly of her, to even think of such things, but she could not repress those small hopes that wormed their way into her mind.
And raising to the last strands of courage in her body she silently shuffled out from beneath the bed, leaving the soft pillow and her haven. Her eyes went to the hidden form sagging in the midst of the giant bed, and she listened intently for the snoring to indicate he was still asleep, only content when the rhythm had been continued for some time. Then her eyes jumped through the rest of the room, scanning bench's and floor for the keys that symbolised one of her few hopes.
They where sitting on a table beyond her reach, gleaming in the lights reflections. Immediately she cursed her false hopes, wishing they would leave her to her misery, because it hurt so much more when she found them unfounded.
Attention removed from the keys she realised something was wrong, something had changed. The room was deadly silent. Her attention jumped to the man on the bed and found a pair of frowning eyes fixed on her. Fear coursed through her, a fear that left her unaware of anything but the knowledge that she was vulnerable, more vulnerable then when she hid below her bed.
As quickly as she could she dived back into her sanctuary, her chains tangling on the bed leg as she tried to pull herself beyond the reach of any man. She knew it was useless, she couldn't remember the number of times she had been dragged back out from her haven, but she was safer here then anywhere else, and it was the best she could do.
The man cursed loudly, but his feet did not leave the bed and he did not approach her escape.
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