A/N: So, here's part three! Uh-oh... methinks Jemima's in trouble! O.O

Thanks to all who have reviewed so far! ^_^ Hope you all like this one! ^^


~~~~~Part Three~~~~~

"Jemima." His voice spoke her name with authority, and she cautiously approached the desk. "Your brother has reported that you two have met your quota for tonight. Now, I would like to ask you a question. Come, give me your blades." Jemima hesitantly placed both her scissor blades on Burroughs's desk, then quickly backed up a few paces.

"Now, Jemima... how many did you kill? Or did you leave all the work to your brother again?"

Jemima flinched slightly. "No, Master... I killed one."

Burroughs's eyes narrowed. "One," he repeated. Jemima could sense anger beginning to flow into his tone, and retreated even more. "One? Come here, Jemima!"

Fearing what would happen if she didn't, Jemima quickly scampered up to the front of the desk. Lord Burroughs's eyes filled with anger, and he reached up and violently slapped her across the face.

The girl fell to the floor as he stood up and walked around from behind his desk. She quickly tried to scoot away from him, but he kicked her in the stomach, keeping her on the ground.

"You worthless girl!" he yelled, kicking her away from him. "What kind of killer are you? The only reason I keep you here is for your skills!"

He stormed over to her, grabbed hold of her hair, and violently forced her onto her feet.

"You stupid, insolent, worthless, useless girl!" Lord Burroughs shouted, punctuating each word by slamming Jemima's head into a nearby bookcase each time.

Tears stung her eyes as she silently wished for him to stop. She dared not sob or cry out in pain in front of him; she had learned the hard way what the consequences were the first time.

"Killing one isn't good enough!" More slams into the bookcase. "Why can't you do better?" Turning around, being punched in the eye and mouth. "You don't deserve to live here anymore!"

With that declaration, he finally threw her away from him, and she tumbled across the floor. Jemima staggered to her feet just in time to see him grab her blades from the desk and stalk over to her. She swallowed in fright, willing herself not to cry.

Burroughs reached her, propping up her chin with a blade. He then suddenly swung the other one and made a cut in her stomach.

Pain roared through her, even stronger than it had before, as blood dribbled down her pale skin. She bit her lip again, trying to keep the tears from falling and herself from screaming. Burroughs swung the blade again, this time slicing through her thigh.

Her leg twitched as she felt a powerful wave of pain again, and Lord Burroughs's eyes narrowed. He then punched Jemima in the side of the head. Bright lights spotted her vision as she landed on the floor yet again. Her master glared down at her, and slashed her in the shoulder.

Jemima's entire body shuddered, and Lord Burroughs threw her blades down next to her, barely missing stabbing her hands.

"Don't fail me like this again," he growled ferociously. He kicked her one last time, knocking the breath out of her, then stormed out of the study. The door slammed, causing Jemima to flinch, then the front door slammed, showing he had left the manor.

She lay there for a moment, struggling to regain the ability to breathe. The study door suddenly opened again, and Lord Burroughs's last living maid rushed in. She was the only one outside of Burroughs and Jemima who knew what occurred in the study, and she ensured that Ralph was kept in the dark about it.

"Jemima!" the maid cried, kneeling next to her. She helped the girl sit up, and soon afterward, Jemima was coughing.

"I was worried he'd killed you this time!" the maid exclaimed, beginning to clean Jemima's wounds. They were never bandaged; this was to prevent any suspicions from being aroused from Ralph and to prolong Jemima's suffering on orders from Burroughs.

Jemima took a breath. Now that her master was gone, she was free to cry... and cry she did. Tears poured rapidly from her eyes, and quiet sobs emanated from her as the maid stopped her bleeding. Her entire body severely hurt, and she felt it would kill her to move... but she knew she had to get out of there before Burroughs returned.

After a moment, she picked up her blades and used the wall to get to her feet. Her body instantly screamed in protest at the action, but she ignored it as she struggled to make her way out of the study and back to her room.

"Make sure Ralph doesn't see me... like this..." she told the maid as she opened the door. The maid nodded and left the study, presumably to find Ralph and keep him occupied.

A few minutes later, Jemima struggled up the stairs, clutching the banister in one hand and her blades in the other. Each step sent a shock of pain through her, and several times she had to stop, her eyes screwed shut in agony.

She was almost at the top when the front door opened and slammed again. Jemima looked fearfully behind her and saw that Lord Burroughs had returned. Her heart raced anxiously.

The abusive man looked up at her and met her eyes. The light she saw in them was so terrifying that her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed onto the step. Fear grew in her as she heard his heavy footsteps come up behind her, tensing as he lifted her into his arms.

To her mild surprise, he carried her the remainder of the way to her room, and once there, laid her tenderly in her bed. He then left the room without another word, and before she could do anything, Jemima passed out from exhaustion.