by Skyla Madi
Her injuries seem to worsen the longer I look at her. Vince has hurt her. “But you… you’re a kitchen hand?”
“Yeah, well, if you’re ever being held down while someone tries to jam their penis in you, don’t use that excuse. It doesn’t work.” Her voice cracks and her bottom lip trembles. I can feel her anguish and her pain radiate from her in epic waves. They hit me over and over, drawing my own tears from me. I step closer and she snaps away from me… as if I’m a bowl of hot soup she’s unknowingly put her hands on.
“Don’t touch me!” she shouts and I flinch as she slaps a hand over her mouth. She’s shaking uncontrollably and I don’t know what I can do to help. “This happened because of you. He made that clear to me the whole time.”
My heart rips open and my chest aches for her. Silent tears spill onto my cheeks. Right now, Thirteen is the embodiment of hatred. She hates me… what Vince did to her, she blames on me. She turns and limps down the stairs, taking them one by one. I remain standing in my spot long after she’s gone. Other Unfortunates pass, doing their daily chores without saying a word to me. I’m not going to lie… it hurts. Just like that, I’ve become an outcast… even to my own people.
At some point, I get the feeling someone’s watching me and I peer over my shoulder. There Kade stands with his hands in his pockets. For the briefest moment, he looks sympathetic, but the second I see it, it disappears and his serious expression returns.
“Heaven or hell, Unfortunate,” he says. “It’s your choice.”
Chapter Eight
Kade
Her red-rimmed eyes stirred a feeling Kade hadn’t felt in such a long time—sympathy. He hadn’t felt this way since his mother was still around. He didn’t like the feeling. It made him feel weak.
Kade saw Thirteen… he saw what Vince had done to her and heard what she said to Nine. It was nothing new. Vince had always been the kind to play dirty both in and outside of the bedroom. Many Unfortunates had suffered at his hands and many had died at his hands, but there was nothing anyone could do about it. That was the way the new world went… Unfortunates were disposable. One day they’re here and the next they’re not.
Kade slipped back into the solitude of his room and closed the door. Immediately, his eyes flicked to the fireplace. What was he thinking letting her go without punishment after she said no to him? He should’ve forced her into the fireplace while she was kicking and screaming, and he should’ve left her in there for the remainder of the day.
He pushed off of the door and stormed over to his desk. He hated that he was treating Nine like precious cargo, but he didn’t know how to stop it. This was why Kade didn’t want an Unfortunate in the first place. He could play cold and callous all day every day, but when it came down to hurting an innocent… he knew he couldn’t do it because of the foundation of kindness his mother built deep inside him as a little boy—the foundation that he thought he tore down, the foundation his father was making sure didn’t come back. ‘There is always an opportunity for kindness, Kaden. Even something as small as a smile can brighten another’s day.’ An angel, his mother was. It was surprising she lasted as long as she did in a world that doesn’t hold humanity in high regard. Kaden… He clenched his jaw. That was his biggest issue with Nine. He could stand her questions, her disobedience, and her glares. It was the repeated use of his full name that he couldn’t stand. Kaden. It reminded him of the boy he left behind, the weak boy who wanted to help humanity, just like his mother. When his father took her away somewhere in the city and she never returned, he buried that name with her. Hearing it brought back painful memories… memories that tortured his soul. He turned his back on his mother’s cause and he treated every Unfortunate that came through his door like shit. It was his only defence against breaking face and protecting them all. In order to survive here, Kade had to kill himself—his real self—and Nine would not be the one to revive him. Not now, not ever. Kade was going to take over his father’s empire and move into the city, and nothing was going to get in his way.
He dropped into his chair and flicked on his computer screen. His fingers moved smoothly over the glass, clicking on tabs and opening the blueprints of his main mine. Four tunnels in total were lost. He clicked on the CCTV footage and watched as the walls collapsed without warning. There was no explosion, no earthquake and no visible weak point in its structure. Of course, he could only see it from one angle. He needed a moderator he could trust to get inside. Soyer was out of the question, he was a moderator loyal only to his father. He needed someone who wasn’t as well known as Soyer… someone who would know that Kade was next in line to take over all of the Sario properties and businesses and would do anything to be a part of it. As Kade pulled up moderator profiles, he thought about the tunnels and how they led to a main centre. A centre with more than enough space to house all of the current twenty-seven Unfortunates that have gone rogue—assuming of course they all made it as far as the mine without dying. It was a tough trek, even with food and water.
Pushing the profiles to the side, Kade accessed the footage to the main sector inside the mine. Conveniently, the image was scrambled, showing nothing but a vibrating image of white, black, and grey. He returned to the profiles page. Something was definitely happening inside his mine and he was going to figure it out. If they come back with something, Kade would travel to the mine and kill all of the Unfortunates himself. If they came back with nothing, then the only option he had left would be to purchase one of the Knowles’ mines and abandon the last. The Knowles were the only other family that owned mines. They had four less than the Sarios did, but they were much more modern and safe. The price of a mine so well structured would cost a lot—probably more than the Sarios had. Then it hit him, if he offered something he knew Albert Knowle would like—a young, auburn-haired Unfortunate with violet eyes—perhaps Kade could negotiate a price drop. Albert Knowle was known for wanting things no one else had and his selective tastes in Unfortunates. He liked unique. He liked alluring mouths, big breasts, and slim hips—he liked to be seduced and sucked, not fucked—out of respect for his lovely wife, of course. It was perfect. Nine could take Albert in her mouth as many times as he wanted in exchange for a cheaper price on a new mine. Then, under Kade’s rule, the Sarios’ income percentage would increase, not decrease because of the loss of a mine. Kade leaned back in his chair and smiled; it was almost too easy. Quickly, he selected the third moderator down on the left. He was relatively new, but had more muscles in his neck alone than Kade had in his entire body. He’d do just fine. He tapped the ‘summon’ button and entered tomorrow’s date. Once he set the time for quarter past twelve, he closed all of the tabs and shut off his screen. Now all he had to do was teach Nine exactly what he wanted her to do. He knew she wasn’t going to be willing to do it. Not after the disagreement they’d just had, so Kade decided to wait and let her cool off. Tomorrow night, however, she’d learn. Kade would tie her up and force it on her if he had to. Forget being kind, forget doing what’s right. Kade needed to think about his future and the future of his family name. He couldn’t afford a distraction, not now. Not when he was so close to securing everything he’d worked so hard for…
∞ Nine ∞
(The next night)
I lie on my bed with my feet on the cold, concrete wall, mindlessly counting the cracks in the white paint. I went the whole day without seeing Master Kade. The silence last time persisted two weeks and I hope it happens again. I still haven’t gotten over the fact he tried to shove me into a fireplace or the fact I wouldn’t let him. Any other Fortunate would have killed me, or worse, humiliated me. Master Kade is different than the others and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Sure, he’s aggressive, inappropriate, and demanding… but he’s something else, as well. I wonder if his inability to hurt me is actually because he’s planning to use me, or if he simply can’t bring himself to hurt me. That, of course, would be completely out of character for a Fortunate, especially one born into the system
and taught how to be… inhuman. I expected Kade to be more like his brother Vince. I shudder at the thought of the poor innocent Unfortunate that’ll be assigned to him in the coming years—not that it matters. I don’t get it… I don’t get why Fortunates receive their own Unfortunate for their twenty-fifth birthday when they can use any Unfortunate in the house anytime they want. Greedy, that’s all the Fortunates are. I can’t complain about my Fortunate, though. It’s been weeks since the ceremony where I had Kade’s symbol burnt into my flesh and I still have my virginity intact. Surely, that has to be some kind of record? He’s clearly getting what he needs elsewhere… with Elizabeth. The thought sends a harsh prickle of jealousy up my spine. Who would’ve thought I’d be jealous because my Fortunate hasn’t touched me? A soft knock at my door snaps me back to reality. I swing my legs off of the wall and onto the floor, sitting up. The door opens and Thirteen’s pretty, but bruised face peers in. When her stare settles on me, they water and narrow in. The look of her makes my heart ache with guilt. Here I am feeling a little jealous because Kade has sex with Elizabeth when I’m sure Thirteen would give anything to be in my position. I get left alone for the most part… she did too, until Vince wanted to get back at me.
“Master Kade wants to see you,” she mutters, pushing open the door.
I peer out the dusty window. It’s dusk, the sky is a beautiful inky shade, and the stars glisten like diamonds. What does he want with me at this time? Dread settles in my stomach and pushes out all thoughts of jealousy.
I push off the bed and thread my fingers so Thirteen doesn’t see my trembling hands. I’ll never get used to this… being summoned at any time of the day for god knows what. My blue dress brushes against my knees, causing goosebumps to erupt. On my chest, I can still see the stains from Kade’s berries. Thirteen eyes my dress and then glances down at her worn, white tunic. My wardrobe is filled with varying colours. Master Kade wants me to always look fresh and untouchable, like a Fortunate without the title or the privileges. I hate wearing the dress. I see the way the other Unfortunates look at me. They avoid me. They even go out of their way to create work for themselves to get out of a conversation with me. I’m used to it, I suppose. The only real friend I have here is Portia, but she runs the kitchen and I hardly see her.
My bare feet press against the cool stone floor as I follow Thirteen towards the stairs. She’s not limping as much as she was yesterday and it fills me with relief. Hopefully, Vince is done with her. When we reach the top of the stairs, Thirteen hesitates, glancing cautiously at Vince’s door at the end of the hallway. She whips around on her heel and speeds down the steps, going as fast as she can to avoid Vince. I freeze when I see Vince smirk and lean against the railing at the bottom. I want to alert her, but she’s moving too quickly to see him, keeping her eyes on her tiny cloth shoes as she patters down the stair case. When she reaches the bottom, he steps in front of her and she slams right into his tall, hard body. My heart races for her. It threatens to smash through my ribcage as she bounces back, tripping over the bottom step and landing awkwardly on her ass. Vince crouches low, letting his predatory stare flick to mine briefly. He speaks in a low tone and I can’t hear it from where I’m standing. A few second later, Vince proceeds up the stairs and Thirteen pulls herself to her feet. My blood runs cold as she hugs herself and proceeds back up the stairs. No… she keeps her stare on her feet again, not glancing up for anybody. I should disappear into Kade’s room, I know I should. I should mind my own business, but I don’t. I stand still and watch the terrifying events unfold in front of me.
“Evening,” Vince says as he passes me. His dark eyes flare and his lips curl into a cruel smile that turns my stomach.
“Good evening, Master Vince,” I reply, trying my hardest not to glare at him.
I relax minutely as he ventures closer to his room. As Thirteen walks by, trembling hard, I snatch her wrist. “Thirteen, you don’t have to do this.”
She snatches her hand back and bares her teeth. “What do you expect me to do?” she snaps in a harsh whisper. “Fight him? Run?” Tears fall over the rim of her big, blue eyes. “Leave me alone.”
I watch them, painfully raking my teeth over my bottom lip until they shut themselves in Vince’s room. Feeling dejected, I drag myself to Master Kade’s door and knock. I wait roughly eight seconds and finally open it. Kade is sitting at his desk, typing away on his large glass screen.
“Come in and shut the door,” he orders, without looking up.
I do as I’m told.
“Lock it.”
I move my hands towards the lock and then I hesitate. “Lock it?”
His black irises flick onto me from underneath his brow. The warning in them is clear. I don’t want to fight him, not today. I lock the door. As it clicks, he pushes off his chair and begins rolling up the sleeves of his light blue button up shirt. His thick, strong forearms are revealed the higher he folds the fabric and the skin on his arms is a nice tan. Overtly, he looks at my chest as he steps closer. His steps are calculated, I can feel it. He has something planned… something I’m not sure I’m going to be comfortable with.
“Couldn’t get it off?” he asks. I know he’s talking about his name on my chest.
Heat creeps into my cheeks and Kade’s full lips twitch at the sight of them. “No, sir.”
“There’s a bowl in the bathroom. Fill it with warm water and soap, and bring it back to me.”
With a nod of my head, I do what I’m told. When I return, Kade is sitting on one of the large, mahogany couches, twirling a piece of fabric around his finger.
“Sit,” he says, tapping a long, thick index finger on his knee.
I swallow hard, but I don’t protest him. Sitting on him beats sitting on coal locked in a fireplace. Holding the bowl tightly in my hands, I lower myself onto Kade’s hard lap. I shuffle, without spilling the water, until his legs are firmly between mine and my knees dig into the back of the couch. He holds my weigh on his legs without strain. I slowly expel a breath of air in an attempt to calm my racing heart as Kade takes the bowl from me and sits it on the neighbouring cushion. I watch, cautiously, as he dips the cloth into the clear water.
“Dress.”
I drag an inhale through my nose, a failing attempt to seem confident, and slip the thick twists of blue fabric off my shoulders. It pools at my waist and exposes my chest to Kade. He doesn’t do a double take, he doesn’t even look at them. Instead, he acts as if they don’t exist and begins rubbing the warm cloth against my chest, unaffected by my bare flesh. Drops of water run down my skin as he pushes ever so slightly. I look past his head, focused on the painting of a forest. The greens swirl so beautifully with the brown and I’m lost in the painting, until the cloth leaves my chest and the water cools, hardening my nipples. He dips the cloth in the water and brings it back to my chest. I watch this time, as he circles the faint berry marks on my skin.
“Why are you rubbing it off?” I ask. “I thought you liked it.”
His lips twitch—a subtle movement I almost miss. As soon as it happens, it disappears, hidden under a frown.
“Your skin needs to be flawless,” he says. “Because there’s something I need you to do for me.”
My entire body tightens, and if he noticed, he chooses to ignore it. I won’t panic, not yet. It could be something as simple as wearing another revealing dress. I stay silent and watch his face as he scrubs my skin harder, starting on the beginning of his last name now. In his wake, he leaves violent looking red marks that still spell out his name.
“Are you ill?” he asks, clearing off the ‘s’ and ‘a’ letters.
“No, why?”
“I tell you I need you to do something for me and you remain silent. Not your usual behaviour.”
I shrug. “Do I really have a choice?”
“Everyone has a choice. It’s just in your case, the wrong one will get you killed.”
I know, deep down, that I’m too stubborn to let a Fortunate kill me. I
’d fight them down to my last breath. Despite my silent thoughts, there’s a depressing, deflated feeling floating around my stomach… the feeling of loss.
“It makes you happy? Sharing me with others?” It’s a question I never planned on asking, but around others, he seems territorial of me and I can’t help but wonder if he’s even capable of sharing me.
“I don’t like sharing my things, but this is business.”
Business. The relationship between my Fortunate and me is strictly business… that has to be a first, surely. At the end of the day, I can go into this willingly. I can squeeze my eyes shut and open my legs and wait for it to be over, or I can fight it. If I fight, I’ll suffer punishments worse than I ever imagined. If I’m useless to Kade, he’ll get rid of me… he’ll put me in the ‘black house’ (whatever that is) or worse, he could give me to Vince. Despite it all, I want to please Kade. I want him to be proud of me and I want to know what it feels like.
“If you do this for me, I’ll promise you something in return.”
I frown. “You want to strike a deal with me?”
I find it strange he would offer me something in return when I don’t have choice but to do it anyway.
“I’m not totally selfish. What I’m asking will be difficult, especially for someone like you.” He pauses, his beautiful brows furrowing. “If you do this for me, I’ll give you a way out of this life as an Unfortunate.”
Bullshit. “There is no way out.”
He nods, finishing off on the ‘o’ of his last name. “There isn’t, not literally. I mean, I’ll keep you. I’ll make sure you don’t get passed down to Vince or to anyone else. Once I take over my father, you can live with me in the city. Of course, you’d have to do things I ask when we’re in public, but when we’re home, you’d be free to do whatever you want.”
Why? Why would he do this for me? My chest tightens as hope tries to force its way in. If there’s a soul killer more potent than a Fortunate in this world, it’s hope. He is my Fortunate, but I can’t trust him. I can feel that he’s different… I can feel it in my stomach that he’s not like the rest of them, but I’m smart enough not to trust him wholeheartedly. He quirks an eyebrow and the movement slams into my chest, shortening my breath.