Page 17 of Bloody Bones
Briella
With my arms wrapped tight about my nakedness, I shuffled after Acco, my head down. I wouldn't look at him. I wouldn't be able to look at another living soul for the rest of my life. Keeping my eyes firmly on my bare feet, I didn’t even realise we were back in the corridor where my students were caged until a cry went up.
I didn’t lift my head, but my arms did tighten some more, trying to cover my more intimate areas from their eyes. It was bad enough that they had to see me nude, they didn’t need to know what had just happened to me. They didn’t need to know how bad it had just been. Which meant I had to pull myself together.
“Acco.” I couldn't seem to lift my head. My eyes swam with tears. My tongue felt thick in my mouth, and I fell silent. Shaking my head, I closed my eyes. I didn't want to ask him for anything. I could feel his eyes on me, those strange reptilian orbs taking in my nakedness. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth and brought attention to myself again. All I wanted was to be away from him. To hide myself away in a corner and try to process what had just happened.
I wanted to be alone.
“Ask your question.”
His very voice sent shivers running up my spine. I couldn't help the sob that tore its way from my lips. “Clothes. I need clothes.” Shaking myself, I let my eyes dart upwards and quickly lowered them back to my feet when I found him staring straight at me. “It doesn't matter.” I shook my head.
“You don't need clothes, not with a form as tasty as yours.”
I swallowed the vomit that filled my mouth at his words. I knew the kids were listening in. They would know by my lack of clothes and his words that something terrible had happened. They would be afraid. I didn’t want them afraid, at least no more than they already were.
“I don’t want to be naked around the children…” I paused. “It's not right.”
“They aren’t children. They are young adults.”
“They are children and I…”
Acco’s hand closed around my throat, and he lifted me off my feet, slamming me against the wall with such force that stars erupted behind my eyelids. I couldn't breathe. My toes scrambled to reach the floor as I clutched at his hand.
He held me easily, his arm outstretched and there was no humanity in his eyes as he stared at me.
“You will not question me. You will do as you are told or you will be punished.”
I couldn't speak with his fingers digging in around my windpipe. My eyes bugged. He was going to kill me. Right there, in front of the children, without even meaning to. All because I had dared ask him a question.
What had happened to my questions were delicious?
Still maybe death was the better option. It sure as hell would be better than the feel of his wet tongue lapping at my body.
“Miss!” Dimly, I heard a girl scream. But it seemed to be from so far away. A jumble of voices that I couldn't quite make out. And that was ok. Even when my lungs were screaming for oxygen my brain was telling me it was going to be ok.
My hands fell, limp and almost lifeless to my side. What was the point of fighting the inevitable?
“Let her go. You’re killing her.”
I tried to concentrate on the words, to get my fight back but I just couldn't. I didn't have the strength anymore,
The fingers around my neck loosened, and I fell into a heap. Gasping for air, retching, I spat bile onto the flagstone floor. Lifting my head weakly, I looked into the cell and the terrified faces that were staring at me.
“It's ok,” I rasped. “It's going to be ok.” But I knew it wasn't going to be. I had tried to keep hold of hope, but it was impossible.
Roughly, Acco dragged me upwards by my arm. His face was still a mask of fury. “Do you understand?”
Mutely, I nodded. I didn't want to talk. My throat felt raw and swollen.
“Go and rest now, wife of mine. Get the children ready for tomorrow and the start of their new lives.”
An icy chill ran up my spine. Tomorrow? He had mentioned something back in his room, but I had been too busy trying not to vomit from his tongue on my body. I needed more time if I was going to get us out of there.
If they were being sold tomorrow then I was out of time and most definitely out of hope. Not that I’d had much of that anyway.
I had known the moment I had seen Acco’s face that hope was useless. I had just been clinging to it for the children. I was too tired to cling any longer. There was nothing I could do to help myself, let alone them.
