“What’s going on?” The Mistress asks.
He whispers to the Mistress and then she looks angry too. I’ve angered them both! My eyes flit to Jack. He’s still unconscious. I really hope I didn’t get him in trouble again. Jack doesn’t deserve to be beaten again, especially because of me.
Master Adam turns back to me and I can’t hide my fear. I know it will only anger him more, but I can’t help it – I’m so scared!
“Sweetheart.” He kneels next to me and takes my hand in his.
He’s kneeling. He’s holding my hand. No master has ever done that. For a split second I feel the anxiety in my chest lighten. “We are not your masters. You are free. You’re no longer a slave. You will never be punished again. You can ask us anything and talk when you want to. You can do what you want. You can stay here or leave and go make a life for yourself out there. You can stay here with us as a friend, Sophia, not a slave.”
They’re not my masters! I’m no longer a slave?
I’m no longer a slave, because they don’t want me. It’s just like Master David said it would be.
It feels as if my heart is cracking and I whisper, “I understand, Master. I’m ugly and master doesn’t want an ugly slave.”
I suck in some air and I try to breathe past the shame and disappointment I feel for myself.
Master Adam drops his forehead onto the back of my hand and I hear him take a deep breath.
I feel something wet drip onto my hand. Master Adam looks up and I see the tears. Oh no! I quickly scramble to my knees. Pain tears through my body, but I ignore it. I scoot close to Master Adam, I bow my head low and whisper, “Please, Master, I didn’t mean to upset you. Please … keep me as a slave. You can punish me, I don’t mind. I’ll do anything to satisfy you. Please, Master.” I bite my bottom lip and hope I can make this whole confused mess just go away.
His arms go around me. He sits on the bed and pulls me against his chest. “It’s okay, Sweetheart,” he whispers. “It will please me if you call me Adam and not Master. It will please me if you look at me and don’t drop your eyes. It will please me so much if you rest and get better. I just want you to get better. We can deal with the other stuff later.”
He holds me to his chest and all I can do is nod. I duck my head under his chin and curl into him. If this pleases him, then I will do it and I will do it well. I just want to please him. I want to belong again. I want to mean something to someone again.
With everything that’s been going wrong it feels comforting to be in Master Adam’s arms.
For a moment I almost feel safe.
Adam~
I hold her until her breathing evens out. Once she’s asleep, I lay her down and cover her with the sheet. I’ll clean her back later. I just need a moment to deal with everything that’s happened.
I leave the room and walk over to my place. It’s not massive, just a two bedroom, but it’s mine and that’s all that matters. It’s the one place I can be alone to gather my scattered thoughts and emotions.
I walk over to my couch and lie down on it. I cover my eyes with my arm and I rest my other hand on my chest.
I let the silence of my home calm me. I need to stop getting so swept up in Sophia. I can’t be of any help to her if I’m a mess inside.
She’s been through hell and she now needs someone who can be calm, someone she can lean on until she can stand on her own two feet.
I’m going to have to be stronger for her. I’ll take it one day at a time. I need to slow down. I can’t push her into healing, she has to do that at her own pace.
After I give myself a good talking to, I return to the house. It’s late afternoon already. This day has just slipped by.
When I walk back into the room, I give River a smile to let her know I’m good. A look of relief flashes across her face.
I sit down next to Sophia’s bed and I gently pick up her hand. I hold it in both of mine and then I wait for her to wake up again. This time round I won’t allow myself to lose it.
“Jack?” River whispers suddenly. I can hear the hope in her voice. I glance at them. He’s awake! That’s a good sign.
River leans over him. “Can you hear me, Jack?”
He closes his eyes again and turns his face the other way. River sits back and I see the same worry on her face that I’ve been feeling since Sophia woke up. Can we help them?
Nanna breaks the heavy silence when she comes into the room. She places a tray with two bowls of soup down on the table between their beds.
She gives us a smile before she leaves again. I know it’s hard for her to see people beaten like this. Nanna has the softest heart.
I feel Sophia’s hand move in mine and I lean closer to her. “Hey, Sweetheart,” I whisper. I brush some hair from her forehead. “It’s time to eat again. Can you sit up for me?”
She nods and struggles into a sitting position. I see the pain on her face. It’s going to hurt as the wounds start to heal.
I pick up the bowl of soup and sit down on the bed. She scoots close to me and it takes another blow at my heart. She’s like a beaten animal seeking love and it kills me to see it.
I scoop some soup into the spoon and then I start to feed her. She eats half of the soup which makes me feel better. I give her more painkillers with some lemonade.
When she’s all done I ask, “Do you want to sit or try to sleep again?” I’m testing the waters with an easy question, hoping she’ll make the decision herself.
Keeping her head down, she scoots closer until our bodies touch. This poor woman must be starving for any kind of affection. I take her hand again and let her sit close to me. If it makes her feel better, I’ll sit with her until she falls asleep again.
“Jack, would you like to eat something?” I hear River ask. “It’s Miss Ella’s famous recipe.”
I hear a slap and my head jerks to River. The bowl with the soup goes crashing onto the floor. Every muscle in my body tenses. My first priority is to keep River safe.
Jack’s gaze is dark on River. I can feel the anger coming off him in waves.
“You’re free, Jack,” she whispers to him. “You’re no longer a slave. You can stay here until you’re better and then leave, or you can stay and work here. You have a choice.”
I’m surprised when Jack gets up. His reaction is totally different from Sophia’s. He stumbles out of the room. Before I can go after him, Sophia slides past me and then gets up. My hand goes to her lower back as she sways for a moment. I steady her and then she limps after him. I’m the last one out of the room.
Sophia takes hold of Jack’s arm. Jack swings back and I rush a few steps forward. His eyes take her in and just her presence seems to calm him down.
“Come rest, Jack. Eat something, get clothes and then you can leave.” Her voice is soft as she talks with him, but it’s clear as daylight that they are comfortable with each other. “Not like this. You won’t make it like this.”
Taking his hand, she pulls his arm around her shoulder and her slender body takes some of his weight. She helps him back into bed and takes her bowl of soup. She feeds it all to him, the same way I fed her and then she gives him two painkillers.
“We will go get you some clothes today.” River suddenly says next to me. River leaves, clearly exhausted by today’s events.
I wait until Sophia is back in her bed before I ask, “What size clothes do you wear, Sophia?”
She frowns lightly and shakes her head. “I don’t wear clothes, but Jack usually wears jeans.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. It’s not easy staying calm when you hear something like that.
I reign in my emotions and then look at her. She’s a bit smaller than River so I’ll just get her once size smaller. Jack is taller than me. I leave hoping that I’ll get the sizes right.
Sophia~
When Master Adam leaves, I don’t try to talk to Jack. He’s very angry and I know everything’s my fault. I hope his painkillers kick in quickly so that he can s
leep again.
I keep dozing off, but being in a foreign place I just can’t sleep. I feel like I have to be ready for anything.
It’s dark when Master Adam comes back. He’s carrying bags. He places some at the foot of Jack’s bed. “I got you some clothes, Jack. When you’re ready try them on and let me know if they fit.”
My eyes widen when he brings bags to my bed too. “I got you dresses. I think it will be easier for you to put on and take off. When you’re better we’ll get you some more stuff.”
I watch as he pulls something light blue out of the bag. He comes over to me and holding the material, he asks, “Can I help you to put it on?”
Put it on? I can’t remember when last I wore clothes! Mamma was still alive back then.
Master Adam brings the fabric to my head and he slips it over. He then takes my right arm and pushes it through the soft fabric. He does the same with my left arm, and then he pulls it over my breasts and down my body. It’s the softest thing I’ve ever felt. It doesn’t hurt as much as the sheet does.
“There,” Master Adam whispers, “the blue brings out the color of your pretty eyes.”
Shocked, my eyes snap up to his. He called me pretty. He thinks I’m pretty? My eyes start to burn and I quickly look away. “Thank you, Master.”
“Adam,” he gently takes hold of my chin and lifts my face until I’m looking at him again. “Say my name, say Adam.”
“Mas …” I start to protest, too scared to just use his name.
“No, Sophia.” He stops me and then he says, “It will please me if you say Adam.”
I so badly want to please him! I clear my throat and whisper, “Adam.” It sounds foreign not calling him Master. “Thank you, Adam.”
He smiles widely, clearly pleased with me and it makes my insides feel warm. I pleased my master.
~*~
Later that night it’s just me and Jack. My body is sore from all the lying. I’m sitting on the side of the bed, staring out the windows. It’s seldom I get to see the stars. I love how they blink.
I look back at Jack wondering if he can feel it too. It feels different here. The normal stiffness in the air is gone.
I bring my legs up and carefully wrap my arms around them. I rest my chin on my knees and then look back outside.
It feels so nice. Everything - the food, the clothes, the way Master and Mistress Ryland are with us – it feels like a nice dream.
“It feels different here. Master and Mistress Ryland seem nice.” I glance at Jack and smile. “I think we’ll be happy here.”
Jack turns away from me and growls, “In order to be happy I actually have to care about life.”
My smile drops from my face. Jack is angry and I don’t blame him.
The old woman from earlier comes into the room, carrying a tray. She places it on the table between the beds and then she pulls a chair closer to Jack’s bed.
“What’s this I hear of you wasting my soup, Son.” Her voice is gentle and I watch as Jack glares at her from over his shoulder. “My mama always said; waste not, want not,” she says.
“Now, I’ve brought you another bowl of soup and you’ll eat every last drop. I’ve also brought you some pills for the pain.”
I’m relieved when Jack sits up.
“I’m Miss Ella and that’s what you’ll call me. Don’t even try to call me Miss E, I’m nobody’s missy. My mama gave me the name Ella and I expect you to use it.” She starts to feed Jack. After a few bites Miss Ella asks, “What’s your name, Son?”
Jack just glares at her and I start to panic. I don’t want to upset any of our new masters. I clear my throat and whisper, “His name is Jack.”
Miss Ella looks at me and smiles. “Thank you, dear, and you are?”
Her words are so gentle. I’ve never seen anyone like her.
“I’m Sophia.”
Miss Ella goes back to feeding Jack. When he’s taken the last bite she says, “My room is the one right by the stairs. If the pain gets to be too much come wake me.” She places everything back on the tray then she looks at Jack, and then at me. “You need to eat all your food so your bodies can heal. There’s a lot of work to be done. Everyone works here to earn their keep.”
I’m good at working. Excitement starts to bubble in my chest. Miss Ella looks at me and says, “As soon as you’re up to it you can help me in the kitchen.”
She wants me to help her in the kitchen! I’m wanted by someone! The relief is intense and brings tears to my eyes.
She goes on talking to Jack. “River says you’ve been born with a green thumb. That’s a good thing because no one around here likes to garden, and I’m too old to be playing with flowers. We can do with some color around here, so as soon as you’re better you can fix the gardens up nicely. Now get a good night’s rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”
A huge grin spreads over my face. Jack will make the gardens pretty and I will help in the kitchen. Soon everything will be back to normal.
I lie down and it doesn’t take me long to fall asleep. I don’t sleep for long. When I wake up all the lights are off. My body is aching and Miss Ella said we could wake her if the pain becomes too much.
I struggle out of bed and walk to the door, only then do I notice Mistress Ryland.
“It’s okay. You can go use the bathroom,” she whispers. I feel bad for deceiving her as I keep walking down the passage. I reach the room by the stairs and I knock softly.
I open the door slowly and peek into the dark room. “Miss Ella?”
A light goes on and Miss Ella sits up in her bed. “Come in, dear.”
I close the door behind myself and then quickly sink to my knees.
“Oh, dear Lord almighty! Get up, child! I’m not one of those heathens.”
I get up as quick as I can and explain why I’m bothering her. “It hurts. You said to wake you if it becomes too much. I’m sorry, Mistress Ella. It … it hurts.”
I hear a sniffle and my eyes flit over to her. She’s wiping tears from her eyes. “Come here, child.” I walk over to her bed and watch as she opens a drawer. She takes out a holder and shakes two tablets from it. She holds them out to me and I take them gratefully. I place them in my mouth as she holds a glass of water out to me. I quickly swallow them down.
She moves back on the bed and holds the blanket up. “Come lie here. Miss Ella wants to talk to you.”
I sit down and then lie back, flat on the bed. I hope the tablets work fast, before we fuck.
She settles back on the pillows and then pats on her chest. “Come here, my sweet girl.” I position myself until my head is resting on her soft chest. Her arms go around me and then her hand starts to caress my hair.
“Now Miss Ella wants you to listen carefully,” she starts to whisper. “You’re safe here, child. No one is going to hurt you. I want you to think of me as your mama. Mama’s don’t hurt their children, we take care of our children. You and Jack are now a part of this family and that makes you my children.”
She presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Sleep, my sweet girl. Miss Ella will watch over you.”
I close my eyes and tears sneak out. Not even my own Mamma was this nice to me. No one has ever held me like Miss Ella and Master Adam does. They make me feel safe. I’ll do anything to stay here with them. I’ll make them happy.
I don’t want to go back to Master David and Master Sven. I pinch my eyes closed, as tight as I can. I don’t want to think of them right now. I just want to lie here with Miss Ella.
Adam~
When I walk into the room, I come to a sudden standstill. Sophia’s bed is empty.
“She’s with Miss Ella,” River says, and only then do I see her sitting by the wall next to the door, quite far from Jack.
I tip my head in Jack’s direction. “How is he?”
River shrugs, looking tired as hell. “He woke for pain meds right after Sophia went to Miss Ella’s room. He’s been sleeping since.”
“At least
he’s resting. He’ll heal faster that way.” I smile at River. “How are you?”
“It’s been rough, Adam. It feels as if I’ve aged a million years. I don’t think I can do this anymore. It’s getting harder every time.”
I know exactly what she means. “We’ll talk about it later. Go get some rest while he’s sleeping. I’m going to go check on Sophia.”
I leave River with Jack and head to Nanna’s room. I open the door slowly and when I see Sophia curled up on Nanna’s bed, I smile.
I close the door behind me and walk into the room. When I get close, Sophia’s head snaps up. “Master! Sorry,” she gasps. She struggles out of the bed, no doubt stiff from the beating.
She’s halfway to the floor, when I reach out and taking hold of her arms, I pull her back up. “No, kneeling. You need to concentrate on that for me. Call me Adam and no kneeling.” I point a thumb to the door. “I’m going to leave and come back in again. I want you to stay on the bed and just say good morning, Adam.”
I don’t wait to see her reaction. I leave the room, close the door behind me and then wait a few seconds. I open the door and smile when I see her sitting on the bed. Her fingers curl into the blanket as if she’s fighting against the urge to kneel.
“Good morning …,” she swallows hard and then whispers, “Adam.”
Hearing her say my name makes me smile even more. That’s a much better start to the day than yesterday.
“I see Nanna snuck you into her room. She does that every time.”
“Oh, it was me, Master! Mistress Ella was only being kind,” the words bubbles over her lips and I can almost taste the fear. She’s scared that she got Nanna in trouble.
What kind of life did this woman have?
“Nanna is not in trouble, Sophia. She’s my grandmother. It’s great that you’re spending time with her.”
I go sit next to her on the bed and take her hand in both of mine. “Sophia,” she scoots closer, her full attention on me, “I’m going to ask you some questions. It will help me understand you better. Is that okay with you?”
She nods and then smiles that brilliant smile of hers. For a moment I drink it in before I ask, “How long have you been a slave?”
Saved By Him (The Monster Series Book 2) Page 6