Chapter 8:
He grabbed me by the ear and pulled me along. I wasn't sure how far he would take me; however, I knew it was still by the house. Once outside he found a tree that was not too far from the view of his bedroom window. There was no glass or stone to indicate it was a window, just an open hole that made the night breeze seem even cooler inside. I knew that Yeul had retreated back to her chambers, so she would not be too far from the events that were about to unfold. I guess Caius thought that I would be the one physically punished, while she would have the emotional punishment. I doubt he would ever admit that she was being punished for anything though.
I was thrown to the ground; my shirt being tugged at violently until it was over my head and discarded. In seconds I was being strapped to a tree by a buckle, my wrists screaming in agony before the actual punishment had even begun. He leaned close to my ear before whispering to me. It didn't sound like the rough kind that he always had with me. It seemed as though he was hesitant to say anything.
"Try not to scream too much."
I turned my head the other direction to escape from his lingering words. What did he mean by that? Why did he hesitate to say those threatening words? I closed my eyes; ready to endure everything that he thought I deserved. I felt the clashing leather whip against my skin. The tears formed at the bottom of my eyelids; threatening to fall at any given moment. It was one of the most painful experiences that I had ever had to live through. Desperate tiny screams escaped my lips each time it came down harshly against my bare back. I knew these would be imprinted on my skin for a long time, a kind of keepsake that would remind me that I was nothing more than a slave. I tried to hold back my tears, but they fell down my cheek with no mercy. I knew I shouldn't have kissed her. I should've just let my own feelings stay hidden. Maybe then she wouldn't have to hear my cries for help. Maybe then she wouldn't feel so powerless. She couldn't help me, even if she wanted to; I knew that from the start.
I felt like I was about to pass out from the abuse I had taken. Caius kept hitting me for what seemed like years to me, but was probably only a few minutes for him. I didn't know when it would finally stop. I sat there on my knees, tied against a tree, thinking. Yes, I was still crying from the pain and praying to Etro that she would help me, but my thoughts were devising a new plan. Instead of hating Caius or purposely doing things that I knew would piss him off, I thought maybe I could turn my attitude towards him around. Even though, I loved to think that I had done absolutely nothing to deserve what he was showing me, I realized that maybe he wouldn't have to punish me or "punish" Yeul, if I could just learn to be good. The only problem was that I didn't know how to please Caius. What kind of slave does he want me to be? How could I ask him without him thinking I was being disrespectful to his wishes? My mind wandered, until finally the whipping stopped. I snapped out of my thoughts immediately. It hurt to turn my neck, but I managed to slightly angle it to see him from the corner of my eyes. For a split second I thought he looked displeased, almost like he wasn't quite satisfied.
He untied my wrists; they were bloody and slightly swollen. The lines where the belt had dug into me were evident. I just sat there, frozen from the shock that my body had endured. I was waiting for him to show his signature smirk or for him to say something rude and threatening. I didn't hear a thing from him, just silence. Is there more torture and pain to come? I knew that my physical body didn't matter, he could never pierce through to my soul, but not even that thought comforted me. Had I become so accustomed to the pain, that when it wasn't there I felt empty inside? Finally the next move he had struck at full force. The necklace I had treasured for all these years, something that connected me to my village and my family, was torn off of my neck. There was nothing I could do about it. I had no words to speak. My mouth was still dry from the whipping, but now my mouth was dry due to the shock. Why would he take something so precious of mine? Was I broken? Was he the one who broke me?
I wanted to scream out. To shout at him until he gave it back, but I knew that would all be for nothing. I had to make sacrifices if I was going to survive my masters. All I could do was watch him go back inside the house with my necklace, as my body slumped more into the grass. I looked up at the sky and smiled. I didn't know why I was smiling. I had just been through hell and I was still in hell, but yet when I looked up it felt like there was nothing to worry about. I guess I realized that the necklace didn't define my love for my village or take away any memories I had. They were all still wrapped inside of me. Each and every one of them made me who I was.
A/N: I would like to apologize for my long absence… school. I know this chapter was dark, I'm sorry Noel we all still love you. Anyway, this chapter took me such a long time, I just didn't know how exactly I wanted it to fold out, but then I just decided to stop planning it and just write the thing.