Aries

by Kim Faulks

  I didn’t have to wait for the pain—for it never left me. “How long?”

  A grunt was followed by heavy breaths.

  I stared at the ceiling. “How long.”

  “Four months…it’s been four months, Dragon. She’s not coming back. She’s gone.”

  Gone.

  I curled my shoulders and rolled. A grind followed a crunch down in the base of my spine. I could still feel the impact of the steel pipe.

  Four months. She’d be bigger now. The baby would be kicking, moving around inside her, growing bigger every day. The plate hit the ground with a clang and slid under the bars. Mack leaned to the side and winced. One arm hung like a dead weight at his side and the left side of his face was a damn mess.

  Something in my belly popped and flared as I strained to sit. “What happened?”

  He started to shake his head and then stilled. His eyes widened, lips parted. His olive skin paled, turning a sickening shade of yellow. He glanced up…and that was when I saw his eye. It was white, scarred by something…the bastard was blinded.

  I shoved against the ground, hate and hurt twisted something inside me. Mack had never hurt me…not like the others. “Who did this?”

  His white eye shone in the orange glow of the fire as he lifted his head. “I never wanted to be part of this…but they forced me, it was either this or die, seems like I made the wrong choice.”

  I clawed the stony floor, dragging my legs along the ground. The nerves were slow to mend this time. Each beating became more brutal, the wounds taking longer to heal.

  The Wretched had left me. He’d slipped away one night.

  The emptiness he left behind was cruel…and deserving.

  I’d done this. I’d failed to keep her safe, and so this place was only fitting.

  I looked up to the wolf and saw my reflection in the cloudy white of his eye.

  My stomach rolled. I looked away as Mack rose. Maybe it was good Joslyn was gone…it was good she never saw me like this…

  “Good luck, Dragon,” the wolf whispered and turned away.

  “You too.” It was all I had to give. One small nod and he was gone, leaving a cold slab of meat and thick, glutinous gruel underneath.

  “Wake up.”

  Someone kicked my foot. I groaned and rolled away. Blood stuck to the long strands of hair to cover my eyes.

  “Get up, or you’ll get the pipe, Dragon.”

  I winced and grasped my chest. Chains rattled and panic filled me. Not yet…not yet…

  “Mack said to bring you this.”

  The metal plate slid against the stones toward me. I caught a blur of white and smelled hot, fresh meat…my stomach howled. I licked cracked lips and raised my gaze. The wolf stood in the shadows, waiting. His gaze crawled like ants across my skin. I swallowed…something…a warning.

  Mack hadn’t come for two weeks now. Only those wielding weapons and the demons came. “How long?”

  “How long, what?”

  I squinted and tried to focus. The room swayed. I leaned to the side and reached for my shattered arm.

  “Christ you stink. Fucking disgusting.”

  Through the long strands of hair, I watched the shadow. “How long has she been gone?”

  “What the fuck are you asking me? Fucking crazy…fucking putrid and crazy. Eat the shit, don’t eat it. I don’t give a fuck.”

  The shadow turned and walked out of the cell next to mine…Joslyn’s cell.

  Tears carved warm lines down my cheeks. I slapped the hair from my face. My fingers tangled in the long strands…my chest tightened. A sob tore free. How long?

  Too long…too long without her. I tried to count the days but my mind wouldn’t work. I’d starved before. I’d hurt before…but never like this.

  The smell of the meat penetrated the air. I slid my ass along the ground and reached. The rim slipped under my fingers. I tried again, hooking my nails under and wrenching it free. The steak slid and hit the ground, just like it did all those nights ago when she was with me. Still she ate it…she ate it.

  I grabbed the warm hunk and brought it to my lips. My jaw was seized, clenched tight from the pain, my muscles never relaxed. I worked my jaw, opening a little each time until I could slide the slab between my teeth.

  I chewed and swallowed, barely registering the taste. She’d be bigger now…I could almost see her round belly. Was she happy, was she healthy? Was she eating the right things?

  I grabbed a fistful of sticky rice and slammed it against my lips. Grains fell to the ground, most toppled into my mouth. I scraped and swallowed remembering her eyes, her smile.

  The warm food hit my belly. I closed my eyes and leaned back as a bitter taste bloomed in my mouth. It wasn’t the taste of meat, nor the rice.

  Now, you listen, and you listen well…you eat only the food I bring. Understand? It’s not safe for you here. Mack’s warning came far too late. The bitter taste took hold as a snigger filled the cavern.

  “She’s not coming back, Dragon. Your bitch’s long gone. She left you here to rot.”

  I shook my head as the words wormed their way into my head. She wouldn’t do it…she wouldn’t leave me here like this.

  “She’s having a good ’ol time with the wolves. They’re loving that ripe, round belly of hers, ridin’ her like a fucking bull, I was told.”

  And as the drug raced through my system allowing those words to take hold…I had a new question, a burning question…

  Why?

  12

  Joslyn

  “You’ve got such pretty hair. Long, beautiful hair.”

  I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice and stared at the green overhead light.

  “My beautiful Cherokee girl, aren’t you?”

  Ice raced through my veins. I turned my head to the mesh-covered window. No…not again.

  I heaved myself upright and slid my legs over the side of my bunk. My feet hit the cold concrete floor and I stilled, grasping the edge of the bed before I found my balance.

  “So pretty…so very pretty.”

  I shoved myself from the bed and stumbled for the barrier, spearing my fingers through the mesh. He was nothing more than a shadow bending over her, revulsion rode my stomach. “Get the fuck off her!”

  Silver eyes found me in the dark. Shadows moved as he turned.

  “Get the fuck away from her. She’s just a kid. You sick piece of shit!”

  His growl echoed through the divide.

  I held on as he stalked toward me. I clenched my hands tightening my hold. “I see you, you sick fuck. You leave her the fuck alone.”

  He came closer. I knew him. He was a wolf and not one of the soldiers—I glanced at the bed—not this time at least.

  “Careful who you piss off, bitch.”

  I swallowed hard, and held his gaze as he slunk toward the door. “X, honey. You okay?”

  She was nothing more than a tiny shadow curled on the bed. The lock snapped open and her abuser was gone. I listened for his steps and turned my head, staring at my door.

  “He won’t come for you,” she murmured. “He’s not like that. You don't have to worry.”

  “You okay?” My question hung in the air as his footsteps echoed, falling away. “Did he…did he hurt you?”

  “Yes. They all hurt me. But that's why I’m here, isn’t it? That’s why I’m still alive.”

  My chest ached. I shook my head. “No, that’s not why you’re here. You’re here because these bastards keep you here, for no other reason than that.”

  She turned over in the bed and faced the wall. “Save your breath, and save your screams, for someone you can save.”

  I released the divider and stepped away. The walls seemed to close in. The green nightlight now too dark and too light all at the same time. I reached for the wall. It’d been two months since that day X first spoke to me…two months of one word clipped answers…two months of me fighting to have a connection.

  And now I finally unde
rstood.

  To X, she was already dead. My belly rolled, bowing out to the side and then dropped back. A hard kick was followed with a flutter. I reached for the tie around my waist and backed onto the seat.

  A dribble stopped and then started. I waited for the pressure to ease and rubbed my side. “This is kinda getting ridiculous now, don’t you think?”

  My stomach bowed, jittered. He was far too active, far too strong. I followed the contours, dipping in and then out all the way up to the underside of my breasts. The hard edge of what felt like an elbow pushed against my fingers as though he wanted to fight his way out of there.

  “Hold on a little longer, okay? Not here…not in this place.”

  My bladder relaxed. I snatched a handful of paper and wiped. An ache settled into the small of my back. I winced and rose, tying the lash under my stomach, and stepped close to the grill.

  Soft sobs echoed. I never lingered, moving to my bed. There was no privacy here, no fucking peace. The last thing I wanted to do was invade. So I sat there and listened, desperately wanting to reach out to someone who wanted no contact, like she wanted to share no name.

  I’m here X…all you have to do is call my name.

  My back spasmed as I eased back down to the hard mattress. Those soft sobs haunted me, raked me with every muffled whimper. I stared up at the green glow, and hated that she couldn’t have peace…hated that she couldn’t do a damn thing with a soldier watching her every…

  I stilled. My heart slammed against my chest. Every time I went to the toilet, someone slid the viewfinder across and watched me…every damn time.

  Until now.

  Footsteps sounded. The thunk of a viewfinder echoed like a shot before it was closed again. I wrenched my head to the divider. “X…”

  Boots pounded the concrete floor, coming closer. Muffled voices. A slap of skin on skin, just like a handshake. The hard thwack from my door made me jump. Dark eyes peered into my room.

  When he comes for you, and he will come, you pretend you’re asleep. You don't move. Don't open your eyes. Don't say a word. No matter what he says or does, you got it?

  My stomach tightened. Acid rose in the back of my throat. I swallowed, and swallowed. The viewfinder slammed closed. The rattle of keys followed.

  My hands shook. “X… X…”

  A thud came from her room as the lock snapped open. The door swung in, shadows crowded the doorframe.

  “Hello beautiful,” the mammoth soldier murmured as he stepped inside. “I’ve been waiting for a taste.”

  I kicked my feet against the mattress and scampered from the end.

  “Remember what I said,” X hissed from behind the divider.

  I closed my eyes while my heart hammered, shaking my body with every thunderous boom.

  Lay still, my mind howled. Let him take what he wants…don’t fight…don’t fight.

  Think of the baby.

  My hand fluttered to my belly as he stepped inside.

  “Stay away from her, Diamond,” X growled, and this time it was her fingers piercing the divider. “Get the fuck out.”

  He turned his head. The green overhead light splashed against his face. The corridor outside was empty. Brothers in arms…brothers in blood—as long as it was someone else’s.

  “S-stay away from me,” I whimpered as he took a step closer. “Please…don’t. My baby.”

  He turned to me. His dark eyes shone and then he dropped his gaze. “You must be pretty far along now, aren’t you? Six months…seven? I bet those breasts of yours are ripe.”

  He widened his hand. I dragged my knees close and wrapped my arms around my chest.

  “I always like my women with bite marks,” he snarled. His chest heaved as he inhaled. “I think I’d like them on you.”

  My mind raced, filled with my own screams.

  “You gonna scream for me,” he murmured and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, peeling it from his muscled torso. “I bet you are…I bet you’re a screamer.”

  Zadoc reared in my mind, powerful and strong…and nothing like this pathetic piece of shit. “You ever seen a man on fire?”

  His hand stilled.

  “I have,” I whispered and lowered my hands to grip the mattress. “I’ve seen men on fire. I’ve seen a wolf flailed right down to the bone with the flick of a tail. Have you ever seen fur peel from muscle like an onion? I have. I watched a wolf as his guts spilled out, and I stood behind him as he tried to shove them back inside. I’ve seen it all.”

  He stilled, waiting.

  “I’ve seen a beast unleash a horror you could never imagine—a Dragon,” I whispered and slid from the bed. My stomach tightened, fire filled my veins. “A Dragon that is merciless and terrifying. I’m in love with that Dragon,” Fire filled my veins as I took a step. “And he’s in love with me. So, if he’d do all of that just because he was trapped, just think about what he’d do if you laid a hand on me.”

  He crossed the room faster than I could blink, grabbing me around the neck and bending me back as far as my belly would allow.

  “Was that supposed to scare me?” He moved in close until I smelled the onion on his breath. “Where is he…this Dragon of yours? I want him to watch.”

  His hand clasped over my breast and kneaded. I couldn’t move, couldn’t fight. Couldn’t do anything.

  “He’s gonna come, Diamond. He’s gonna come and I’m gonna laugh when he does. I’ve heard of those Dragons. They're called the Guardians, they protect the weak and exact revenge. You have no idea what you're getting into…no fucking idea.”

  “Shut up. You shut your fucking mouth,” he snapped and whipped his gaze toward the divider.

  Her fingers curled around the thick mesh. “He’s gonna fuck you up. But be my guest, keep going. Show her what a big man you really are.”

  His grip tightened on my breast. I winced at a hard kick low down in my belly.

  “She shouldn’t worry anyway, right? What’s between those legs of yours isn’t anything to fear, it’s laughable.”

  He stiffened, and then reached between us, pushing his meaty paw between my legs.

  My muscles tightened. My baby kicked, shoving and pushing. Terror was in the driver’s seat now, punching the pedals of panic. I swung my hand through the air and hit his cheek with a crack. My palm burned as it dropped by my side.

  His lips curled, white teeth shone in the dark. He dragged his hand from between my thighs and reached for his cheek. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

  “Joslyn…run!” X screamed and lunged at the divider.

  I cocked my fist and punched, hitting him in the chest. The brunt made him stumble backwards. The door hung open. Salvation lay in the bright white lights.

  I stumbled, driving my feet against the slick floor and charged.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  He grabbed my hair and yanked. Heat lashed my scalp, still I kept pushing, clawing for the doorframe just out of reach.

  “Let her go, Diamond! Let her fucking go!”

  My spine bowed, stretching my body tighter. I couldn’t breath, couldn’t see. I reached, flailing for the door while he lowered his head. Dark eyes sparked in the gloom. “You’ve got some fire in those veins, I’ll give you that.”

  “I’m going to fucking kill you!” X screamed.

  The shrill sound cleaved my head. I wouldn’t win, wouldn’t survive…not out there in the white lights, and not here in the dark.

  I dropped my hand and buckled my knees. Agony lashed my scalp. The sound of tearing filled my ears. I dangled in the air tethered to his hand and the straining strands of my hair.

  The shrill sound ended. X’s threat turned chilling. “I’m gonna kill you, you small cocked motherfucker and I’m going to laugh while I do it. They laugh at you, you know? The other guards…they call you a damn joke. Talk about you behind your back.”

  Through the blur of my tears, he wrenched his head up and focused on the divider. “Shut the fuck up, I�
�m not going to tell you again.”

  “They laugh, we all fucking laugh. I hear them saying you like to perve at them in the shower…how you’re ‘in the closet.’ Are you in the closet, Diamond? Is that why you can’t quite…get…it…up when you come to me? Is that why you need to hurt?”

  His grip eased. Strands squealed as my hair slipped through his fingers. I hit the floor hard, belly first. Something tore inside, pinching, twisting until I couldn’t breathe.

  Footsteps thudded. I gripped my stomach and stared at black leather. I clawed the floor as he swung his boot back in the air and took aim. I opened my mouth, desperate for air, hands over my belly as he let his foot fly. The impact was brutal, his boot catching me under the chin.

  My head snapped back, stars collided as I hit the doorframe. Agony flared in the back of my head, tearing down my spine.

  Green overhead lights blurred as he stepped around me. I slid to the floor, reaching for his boot as he passed. Warmth spread low down, something was wrong. My baby…my baby…

  “Please…”

  “Get the fuck off me.” He wrenched his foot away.

  My hand hit the concrete floor, fingers curled as he stepped around me. Darkness descended, closing out the white hallway lights. The door slammed shut, and the lock snapped in place.

  His footsteps echoed out in the hall and the sudden click of a lock sounded. “X… X.”

  There was no reply, only the scraping of her fingers as they slipped through the grate between our rooms.

  Agony flared in my belly, pulsing with a savage bite. I reached between my legs and touched something warm and slick.

  My blood shone black against my fingers. I slammed my palm to the floor as the wave of agony increased, building…building.

  The door to X’s room thudded closed.

  A moan wrenched from my lips as the wave crested. Bloody prints were left in my wake as I clawed for a hold. Boots thudded in the room next to mine.

  “You gonna scream this time X? You gonna scream or just lay there?”

  There was a muffled reply as I kicked my foot against the floor. I slammed my palm against the wall. “Help us! Someone please help us!”