“You’re going to bug me until I tell you aren’t you?”
“You’d better believe it. I just want to know everything about you.”
“The feeling is mutual. OK, here goes. I met Link when I was in medical school at Johns Hopkins University. He was my roommate my first year.”
“You’re a doctor?” He was confused by my awestruck tone.
“Yes, a surgeon to be precise. Why?”
“I find you to be more amazing with every minute.”
“It’s not a big deal, Lex. Just a few years of medical school is all it takes.”
“Yeah, for someone who is perfect and brilliant like yourself. That’s a really wonderful accomplishment. I’m strangely proud of you.”
“Well thank you. It really is undeserved admiration, but I appreciate it.” He was blushing with modesty. I squeezed his arm and gave him my most adoring look while batting my eyelashes at him.
“Lexie, stop it. You’re making it hard to concentrate.”
“We could always do something else.”
“Lexie, behave!” He purposely began avoiding my gaze. “Anyways Link had a knack for the research side of medicine while I had more skills with the people side. We went our separate ways during third year after he became engaged. I earned my surgeon scrubs and joined the Marines. It was a lot different from college, but after September 11th, I felt a calling to serve my country. I helped a lot of soldiers return to their mothers from Iraq.”
I sprang up with a look of surprise on my face. It startled him. “That’s where I know you from. You saved Lenny!”
“Lenny?”
“My friend Lenny. He would have died if it hadn’t been for you. I told Evie you looked familiar that night in the woods.”
“Evie? Who are Evie and Lenny?”
I sat silently for a moment. I didn’t know if I had said too much. I could trust Thane. He wouldn’t run to Link with any information I’d given him. “Lenny is my brother and Evie is my sister. We were created together only a few short weeks ago. Lenny is also my former fiancé. We served together in Iraq. I was there when he got shot. He actually took a bullet intended for me, and you saved his life. I remember it vividly when you came out to the lobby at the medical center to tell me he was going to survive. Don’t you remember?”
“Lexie, there were so many. I’m sorry. I wish I did. I can’t imagine not remembering someone as striking as you.”
“It’s OK. I was in fatigues and covered with blood and dirt. I’m sure I looked repulsive.”
“Highly doubtful. How many of you were created?”
“Six. There’s me, of course, then Evie, Lenny, Lance, Brent, and Paul.”
“Only six? I knew there was another female with you in the woods that night.”
“Yeah, that was Evie. She’s awesome! Please continue with your story. I’d like to hear more.”
“Wait, so this Lenny. You’re not together anymore?”
“No. He’s just my brother now, although I wished he would have chosen a different path.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’d rather hear about you first. We have plenty of time for my mundane old stories.”
“OK, if you insist. Link and I met back up a few years later. He’d been given a job with the CIA and was looking for physically fit specimens to undergo a genetic experiment he was working on. I was in between jobs and excited by his progress. The thought of becoming a human super weapon for the United States of America was very exciting. I fully understood the risks and agreed. End of story.”
“But why do you follow him? Why didn’t you end up fighting for our country? There has to be more to the story than that.”
“Lexie, it’s more than I can tell you right now. When Link is no longer a threat to you, I’ll tell you more.”
“But wouldn’t knowing keep me safer?”
“No, Lexie. The less you know the better, OK.”
“I know Thane, but I want to know everything.” I sounded like a spoiled child. “Why are there so many of you?”
“What do you mean?”
“There must be at least thirty half-breeds living on Links’ estate. Why?”
“Again, the less you know the better.”
“They’re all former military aren’t they?”
“Lexie, please. Enough!”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest and glowered at him.
“You can give me nasty looks all you want, but I’m not going to tell you anymore.”
“Fine!”
I got up from my seat and stomped over to the television, where I perused the Blue-Ray collection. I decided to pop in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a movie I was sure he would hate. I walked to the kitchen and got myself a bottle of orange juice, then settled into the sofa closest to the television and snuggled in for a long silent flight.
“Lexie, please don’t be like this.”
“Be like what Thane? A prisoner who doesn’t deserve to know the truth?”
“C’mon, Lexie, you know it’s for your own good.”
“Since when do you decide what’s good for me? It’s all about trust Thane Ganyon, and you just proved to me that you don’t trust me!”
“Lex….”
“Shoosh, the movie is starting!”
“Fine, if that’s the way you want it.”
We sat in silence as the movie played out the backwards life of Benjamin Button. I was in tears near the end. I’d seen this movie a thousand times, yet I always cried at the end. I didn’t know if Thane watched the movie with me. I hated giving him the cold shoulder. It broke my heart, but I’d told him about my family, and I expected the same courtesy. The pilots announced that we would be landing. I sat up and fastened my seat belt, never looking back at him. We landed on a private air strip west of Lake Tahoe. I recognized the winding pathway that Highway 50 cut through the mountainside. Our helicopter was waiting on the tarmac. Thane exited the plane as I went to the back to get my bag. I freshened up in the bathroom by brushing my teeth and combing my fingers through my hair. I had to touch up my make-up due to the crying fit I’d had after watching Benjamin Button. Perhaps that movie wasn’t such a good idea. I reapplied eye make-up and blush before touching up my gloss. I threw my bag over my shoulder. Thane waited for me outside on the tarmac, his cell phone ever permanently attached to his ear. I listened for a moment at the top of the stairs.
“She’s on the plane right now……No, I think it is best to leave her here…..I don’t really see a point in bringing her up to the house…..I just think she’ll be more trouble than she’s worth.......You wouldn’t believe the trouble she’s been. It’s been a living hell keeping her in line…..As you wish, but I’m locking her in the helicopter.”
He looked furious as he punched the end call button on his phone. I could tell he was extremely agitated. I cautiously walked down the stairs of the airplane towards him. He didn’t even meet me to take my bag. He opened the door of the helicopter. I hopped up myself and tossed my bag into the back of the tiny cockpit. I buckled myself in and put on my helmet. He silently got into the helicopter and put his helmet over his head. “I don’t want any protest from you.” He was yelling into his headset as the propellers started. “When we reach the house, I want you to stay in here. Don’t get out for any reason, you understand?”
I nodded. “Link is at Domus Aurea isn’t he?”
His eyes filled with rage as he maneuvered the helicopter into the sky. He didn’t have to speak a word and I knew it was true. Once again I was being brought to Link on a silver platter, the only difference this time was that Thane was vehemently opposed to the gathering. He flew the helicopter in silence to the sprawling manor. It was even more impressive in the daylight. It looked more like a home to a Hollywood star than a deranged madman. He landed the helicopter on the tennis court and cut the engine. We both removed our helmets. I looked at him with overpowering fear in my eyes. I could see the worry in his.
“Lex
ie, if this is the one time in your life that you listen to me, please let it be now. Do not get out of his helicopter. I promise you that I will be back in fifteen minutes.”
He took my hand between his and lifted it to his face. He gently placed a kiss on the back of my knuckles before jumping out of the helicopter. I saw him running swiftly up the hill and out of my sight. The view of the lake was stunning from here. I watched the reflection of the clouds on its glassy surface as I counted the seconds till he returned. Fifteen minutes came and went. I began to panic at the half hour mark. That’s when I saw them. I was horrified as three shirtless members of Link’s horde approached the helicopter. I slunk down in my seat hoping not to be noticed. I could probably outrun them if I bolted now, but he told me not to leave the helicopter. I took a deep breath hopeful they would just pass me by. No such luck, the tallest one opened the door on my side and ripped me from my seat. He slung me over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes. I beat at his back as hard as I could and kicked my legs against him. My knee hit him square in the jaw and he dropped me headfirst onto the ground. I sprung up and immediately began running as fast as I could for the woods. Before I could climb the first tree I was hit from behind by a police issue tazer. Jolts of electricity cascaded through my body forcing me to my knees. I wasn’t about to give up. One of the henchmen grabbed me by the wrist. I flung my body around and drop-kicked him in the head. Another jolt of electricity sent shockwaves through my body. I was down on my knees again with three lumbering men pinning me to the ground. I kicked and wriggled violently under them, but I was no match for their strength and number. One of the men released his grip on my legs only to be replaced by another. The tallest one was pinning down my arms. I saw the man who’d just gotten up douse a rag with a liquid substance. The chloroform was coming again. I struggled not to breathe when he placed the rag over my mouth and nose, but it was no use. I lasted less than a minute before the chloroform took effect, then all was dark. I woke tied by thick steel chains to a cold metal table. My neck and shoulders were rendered motionless by a clamp that was attached around my neck to the table. The room around me was stark white and windowless. The fluorescent light above me glared through my eyes giving me an instant headache. My arm and legs were burning and achy. The cold metal table offered no comfort for my back. Although it wasn’t a torture chamber, this was not the kind of place I was accustomed to waking in.
“She’s finally awake,” a male voice gruffly grunted from behind me in the room.
“Hello my kitten.” I shuddered at the mere sound of his voice. “Did I not tell you that if you misbehaved your punishment would be severe?”
He stood over me with a maniacal grin on his face. I’d forgotten how menacing his purple eyes could be.
“Perhaps a cold bath will help you to remember your manners.”
The tall man from the earlier fight stood behind Link now with a large metal trash can in his hands. Link flashed a pair of scissors for me to see. He began cutting away at my jeans removing them with ease as the heavy chains rendered me motionless. I felt his fingers under the thin piece of elastic on my lace panties. “Please.” I begged him.
“Modest aren’t you kitten?”
He snipped the thin strip of fabric and removed the sheer piece of lace. He removed the pink cardigan from my arms. He then began cutting my tee shirt in half, even snipping through the center piece of my bra. He removed the left side of my shirt while the tall man removed the right. I was completely exposed and helpless. I could feel their eyes boring through my naked body. I flushed hot with embarrassment yet trembled from the chilly air swirling around my bare skin.
“What a shame that I have to do this kitten. Maybe next time you’ll mind your manners.”
My body continued shivering from cold and fear.
“Dante keep dousing her with ice until she is ready to behave.”
The first bucket of ice sent shockwaves throughout my body. The icy chains and steel table remained cold long after the ice had melted. My lips quivered from the cold. Again and again Dante poured the huge can full of ice and cold ice water over my exposed trembling skin. Link watched me intently for any sign that I was ready to apologize. Hours passed as the torture continued. Where was Thane? Why wasn’t he rushing in to end my horror? I was sure my lips, fingers, and toes were blue. The violent quaking of my muscles was causing the steel neck brace to cut into my skin. I could feel the warm blood trickling down my shoulders and onto my back, only to be replaced by freezing water and ice. The chains were rubbing my skin raw.
“Are you ready to apologize to Dante now, or should we add salt to the water my pet?”
Hot tears of rage began to flow from my eyes. I nodded. My lips were trembling so hard from the cold that I was unable to form words. He placed his hand on my cheek. His touch was still icy even though my body temperature must have been near freezing.
“Now apologize!”
I looked at Dante who had an evil smirk on his face.
“I…I….I’mmmmmmmm Sssssssoooorrrryyyy.” I didn’t know if he could understand through the chatter of my teeth, but Link seemed to accept what I had nearly incoherently stated. He ordered Dante to unchain me. Link helped me up from the table. My legs were quaking so badly that I was unable to hold my own weight. He placed a warm pink robe around me and picked me up into his arms. He walked through a set of metal doors and into another room that smelled like chlorine. He removed my robe and gently set me down into a bubbling hot tub.
“Warm up kitten. There is a change of clothes in the closet over there. I’ll be back for you soon.”
I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. The warm water was stinging my skin. It took an eternity for me to stop violently shaking. I must have looked like a rabid Chihuahua while on that table. I dipped my head under the boiling water to get warmer. It stung the gaping wound along my collarbone. I popped my head back out of the water and noticed that I was still bleeding. The warmth of the water caused the trickle of blood to flow faster. Why hadn’t Thane come? Had he been watching in the wings laughing at my pain? There was no other explanation. He had only used me and my naivety to gain information about my family. I was such a fool to fall for his charms. Someone like Thane Ganyon would never really want a hood rat like me. I was lost in my own self pity, and nearly warmed back up when Link returned. He was barely visible through the steam emanating from the hot tub. Like a pouting child, I scowled at him thinking he could not see me.
“Perhaps another ice bath for you kitten? You should be more appreciative of my generosity. You have yet to thank me for the wonderful treasures I left for you at my estate. I see you’re wearing some of them on your ears.”
I put my head down and stared silently at the bubbling water. I did not want to be punished again.
“Come now kitten. You’ve been in the bath long enough. We need to nurse your wounds.”
He wrapped a towel around me as I stepped from the hot tub.
“I’m glad to see your modesty is disappearing. You have no need to be embarrassed around me. Your body is a stunning work of art. I am honored and humbled that you are so willing to show it to me now my pet.”
I stood motionless as he placed his repulsive lips to my neck and began licking and kissing. I could feel the vomit welling up in the back of my throat as he began to suckle and consume the blood from the wound I suffered at his hands. He grabbed the back of my hair and yanked my neck forcefully backwards.
“Would it be too hard for you to reciprocate my affections for you kitten?” He released my hair. I stared forward silently. “In due time kitten, you will give yourself to me of your own free will.”
I wanted to scream in his face and tell him what a bastard he was for stealing my free will, but I was overcome by fear. I now understood why Thane feared his wrath. Link was deranged. He lacked a conscience. He only lived for the conquest. If he found someone to be more exquisite than I, he would dispose of me like yesterday�
��s newspaper. I was merely an object to him, another pretty piece to add to his collection.
“Come now kitten, we have another matter which we must attend.” He slipped the robe around my shoulders as I let the towel drop. “Exquisite” he muttered under his breath.
Link led me back into the room with the cold steel table. I shuddered just looking at it. He grabbed some large gauze bandages and white sterile tape. He gently placed the gauze over my wounds and expertly taped them up.
He grabbed me by the elbow and led me through a maze of hallways leading to an elevator. Never releasing his grip on my arm he pulled me into the open elevator and pressed the button for floor three. I stared straight forward, but I could feel his eyes on me. The door opened to a lavishly decorated bedroom. The mahogany floors were the same as my room at the house on Lake Superior. A gigantic wooden four poster bed dominated the center of the room. An ornately decorated red and gold comforter covered the bed. A fire roared in the oversized fireplace. Floor to ceiling glass doors flanked each side of the bed offering stunning lake and mountain views. Link tugged my arm, pulling me into another room which appeared to be an office. The walls were wood with built-in book shelves. A large highly polished cherry wood desk sat in the center. Blood red plush carpeting covered the floor. He sat me in an overstuffed brown leather chair in front of his desk. He walked around to the brown leather executive chair behind the desk.
“Now my pet, Fallon has brought some very disturbing news to my attention. Fallon why don’t you join us?” Fallon emerged from a doorway behind his desk. Her face looked menacing and evil.
“Have you been participating in any extracurricular activities that I should know about?”
I shook my head no, but I knew in my heart that Fallon had seen us. She had run right to Link. It was probably all planned from the beginning. This would just be his excuse to get rid of me.
“Perhaps the little surveillance video Fallon has brought me will jog your memory.” Link picked up a remote control that was sitting on his desk and turned on the flat screen in the corner. A very clear video of Thane and me in my bedroom began to play. It was from the previous afternoon when we were still able to show enough restraint to stop ourselves from going to the next step. He paused the tape just after I had made Thane stop. He was looking directly into the camera. He must have known it was there. Seeing his piercing blue eyes on the giant flat screen brought tears to my eyes. My heart was broken in two. I pulled my knees to my chest and held them there with my arms. It was all I could do to keep from falling apart.
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