The Wolf You Feed
Chapter 61
Rowan realized immediately that crying wasn't going to earn her any mercy from her captors. These people not only killed Eric and Abraham, they beat them to death in the most brutal way possible and made everyone who loved them watch while it happened. So Rowan sat quietly, keeping as still as she could. She stayed in her seat and clung to Tank, grateful that she had been allowed to bring the large dog with her even though she was fearful of the motivation behind the seemingly kind gesture. It wasn't until they took her mother's crystal necklace away from her that tears began to fill her eyes and run down her cheeks.
The Saviors called their home the Sanctuary. Rowan had been weeping as quietly as possible during the long drive to get there. She had also been listening. The men riding in the large truck with her didn't offer up much information. But she had learned they had a main camp in addition to their many outposts.
At first, Rowan had tried her best to watch where they were driving in the hopes that she could escape and find her way back home. But after the first half hour she already knew her efforts were useless. They didn't take a direct route and for most of the time it felt like they were driving in circles, stopping occasionally for reasons that weren't explained to a lowly captive like her.
Once they finally arrived, Rowan was ushered into a giant building and deposited in a metal folding chair that sat facing a desk. The room was sparsely decorated and didn't appear like it had seen much use. Not recently anyway. There was a layer of dust on the top of the old metal filing cabinet in the corner. Tank laid down on the floor at her feet, lifting his head occasionally to offer up a low growl at the man guarding the doorway. David, the man with the acne scars that she had made tea for, had brought her to the room and deposited her in her chair. But once she was seated he was quickly relieved by another man.
This new man had facial scars as well. But his markings looked not only much worse, but they looked fresh and from a severe burn. Rowan observed the man for a while. Partly because she had nothing else to do. But also because she found the contrast in his aura and his body language interesting. His base was turquoise blue and violet. But this was clouded by a swirling sea of angry reds and browns. Despite this intense inner turmoil, the man leaned casually against the doorframe, his gun held loosely in his hands. Like he didn't have a care in the world. He had a large beak-like nose and since he hadn't offered her his actual name, Rowan decided that as far as she was concerned it was Okhata Chetan. In English this translated roughly to Angry Hawk.
A loud scuffle in the hallway quickly snapped Rowan out of her thoughts. She grabbed Tank's collar and made sure she had a firm grip on the dog. To Rowan's surprise, both Carol and her father were marched into the room and ordered to sit in the two metal folding chairs to her left. Carol was next to her and her father was on the other side of Carol. Rowan's father looked like he had been roughed up, but he didn't appear to be seriously injured. Carol sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap. Rowan's father got up from his seat and had to be forced back down into it twice. The second time, the hawk nose man remained close and aimed his gun at him.
"Just sit there and shut up," Carol hissed at him, "You're only making this worse." He grumbled a few curse words under his breath but Rowan was relieved to see that her father did as Carol ordered and stopped trying to fight. For now.
A few moments later, Rowan realized why they had been waiting in this room. Negan strolled in and sat down. Not with them. But behind the desk. He leaned back in his chair, which was not of the metal folding variety, and put his feet up on the desktop.
"WENDIGO," Grey Wolf cursed before he spit in Negan's general direction. Rowan's eyes widened as she wondered if her dad was actively trying to get himself killed. Carol was right. He wasn't helping.
"That's enough," Rowan spit at him. She spoke to him in Sioux. So that only her father would be able to understand her. "Do what Carol said and shut the hell up," she added.
"These people are weak minded," he argued, also speaking in Sioux. "I will kill this wendigo and earn their respect. Then Grey Wolf will be the leader here!"
Rowan snorted and fought the urge to bury her face in her palm. Not only was her dad talking about himself in the third person, which drove her crazy. He was also being absolutely unreasonable.
"They'll kill you before you even get over that desk," she hollered at him. "Not only that but you'll get me and Carol beaten up too. You are being foolish!"
Negan sat behind his desk and watched the show. People had many different reactions when they were brought into his office. Some cried. Some begged. Some even peed their pants. But having two people totally ignore him while they screamed back and forth in another language was definitely new. New and rather unpleasant. He really didn't appreciate it. Not one little bit. Not only was it frustrating not to be able to understand what was being said, Negan was also about fifty percent sure that some of the unfamiliar words were insults that were being directed towards him. Negan rose from his chair. He lifted Lucille. Then he brought the bat down on the desktop so hard he cracked the wood.
"ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKERS! DO YOU SPEAK IT?"
Rowan squeaked and jumped, almost knocking her chair over backwards. Tank leaped up and started barking. Rowan grabbed for his collar again and pulled the dog close to her. He gave one more warning growl in Negan's direction before sitting back down next to Rowan.
"If cujo there bites me I'm going to have a new dog skin rug for my bedroom, you understand?," Negan asked, pointing his bat at Tank. Rowan nodded her head and pulled the dog closer to her. "Good. Now let go of him and get up," Negan ordered.
Rowan reluctantly released her on Tank's collar and stood up awkwardly in front of her chair.
"Come over here," Negan told her. From his tone this obviously wasn't a request. Rowan hesitated for a moment, glancing at her father. His face was beet red and he looked ready to jump the desk Charles Manson style at any moment. She decided whatever horrible thing that was about to happen to her, she would rather get it over as quickly as possible. Then she hurried over and stood as close to Negan's chair as she dared.
"Have a seat kitten," Negan offered, gesturing to his lap. His tone implied she had a choice but Rowan could tell there would be consequences if she refused. So she stepped forward and sat.
In her hurry Rowan hadn't aimed well and almost went flying backwards when she landed on Negan's thigh. To her surprise, Negan caught her and wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her from toppling backwards a second time. With the other hand he held his bat menacingly close to her face. He stared at her father, daring the man to try something now.
Negan's arm was wrapped around her and his hand was resting flat against the hard swell of her pregnant stomach. He didn't grope her, but Rowan felt his hand move slightly. His fingers splayed out and his hand pressed in more firmly. Rowan felt her baby move inside her, pushing back against the sudden intrusion of pressure. Negan shifted his body and pulled Rowan closer. The way he was holding her felt almost protective, which seemed odd since he was threatening her with a barbed wire bat at the same time. Rowan shifted her body on his lap, trying to get his hand off her baby. All she managed to do was rub her ass all over the bulge in his pants. Which Rowan could feel was getting bigger and harder the longer she was close to him. Finally she shifted her weight back into his thigh and resigned herself to let him touch her stomach.
"What's your name kitten," Negan asked her. Rowan hesitated. The question seemed oddly timed and out of place.
"Uh…," she stammered, "It's Rowan." Negan repeated her name a few times like he was trying out the feeling of saying it. Then he gestured to the man with the burned face, signaling the man to step forward.
"Rowan is going to leave now and go to her room," Negan announced. He gave her father a pointed look before he added, "But if anymore bullshit starts happening in here then I will have D here bring her back. And if she comes back I'm going to have them beat the shit out of her in front of you. Do you understand me?"
Rowan's father nodded.
"You fucking answer me when I ask you a question," Negan screamed.
"Yes, I understand," Rowan's father answered. His body was tense and he was gripping the edge of his chair so hard his knuckles were turning white. He was on the edge. But he hadn't snapped yet. And for that Rowan was grateful.
