CHAPTER 4

__ I can't believe it, you so early ... __ he even ends when his brow furrows, staining his eyes with concern __. Are you okay? __ He ​​approaches with great strides and takes my face between his hands to impersonate him.

__ Have they done something to you? __ inquires.

__ Ali, n ...

__ Tell me and I'll kill the dog that dares ...

__ No one to ... __. It's frustrating that he doesn't even let me finish the sentence.

__ I'll cut you into pieces and ...

__ Ali! __ He ​​shouted. I have no choice or we will stay here for an hour.

__ Do not yell at me young lady, have respect for my gray hair __ he grumbles crossing his arms.

__ You did not leave me another __ I grumble, earning him to look at me badly for copying his gesture by crossing my arms and raising an authoritative eyebrow.

__ I already said that you are up at this time.

My chest compresses when I remember the reason that has brought me, talking about those things does not become easy with time. Ali takes my chin to see my eyes, it doesn't take much to understand.

__ Who? __ demand.

I feel like he struggles to contain his anger, it seems to stab him in the chest like a twisting dagger as it rips through the skin.

__ Ivana __ let out with regret __. Is very bad.

Ali purses her lips and nods __. I understand, tell me what you need.

__ His face is very swollen, I need ice to stop the inflammation until the medications take effect.

__ I'll take it to your bedroom, lock yourself up and don't leave there until I return __ he warns with a serious and concerned look before leaving for what is necessary.

I walk in silence through the desolate corridor, hopefully Ivana will be better for tomorrow, for now she must rest, and the girls and I will divide up their tasks. Surely Georgeo will send him a smuggling soup as soon as Caili tells him ...

Huge, sweaty hands grip my neck sending me straight to the wall. My eyes close at the impact of my head, but my nose does not. That disgusting smell of tobacco fills my nostrils, putting me on alert.

Argus has a huge smile that reveals his yellowish teeth. His body imprisons mine limiting my movements, his hand obstructs the entry of air to my lungs.

__ I thought I told you that one day this moment would come, little princess __. He spreads his laugh by raising his upper lip like a mad dog __. Now who will take care of you? Where is that old man to prevent me from doing what I please with you?

Each word is like a bucket of cold water, I am alone, cornered and defenseless. Everything he had wanted I just gave him on a silver platter. The opportunity to keep your promise.

Slowly, he brings his mouth to my neck, he brushes his nose over the globule of my ear, I feel faint with that gesture. His cigarette smell comes out stronger with each breath, added to the bad smell that his body expels.

__ Now what do you have to say, little princess? __ Loosen the grip on my neck a bit allowing my breathing.

My mouth opens in search of vitality, it is incredible how many hours we spend a day without remembering the importance of something as simple as air, but which, when we lack it, occupies everything in our mind. I am worshiping him as a God right now.

I try to get away, but he stops me easily, limits my movements even more by sticking his hips to mine, something hard hits my belly. His erection brushes over and over my body, the only thing that separates him from me is my nightgown and his pants.

I want to vomit, I want to run and scream for help, but he won't let me. My only hope is Ali, but it will take some time to return, I am alone, at my luck and at his mercy. This time I have no one, I even have my precious stick.

I only have me, and that will have to be enough.

__ I do not need anyone, I am enough by myself __ I mark each word with the hatred I feel, but I do not receive the answer that I expect from him.

Instead of being enraged, he chuckles mocking my pathetic conclusion. All the courage I feel (emphasizing that it is not much) goes to the toilet.

He comes even closer and licks my cheek leaving my face impregnated with his disgusting saliva. __ Suppose I believe you __ I am not overlooked by the mockery when speaking __. How could you?… __ He ​​gets closer to me __. Prevent me from doing what I want with you?

His hand begins to slide down my leg, he lifts the fabric of the dress, his fingers brush my skin slowly until they reach the edge of my underwear.

__ Answer back! __ A new blow against the wall makes my head shake causing a sharp pain.

This is the moment, not to do something, it will soon be too late, and his fingers begin to slip through the small cloth. I can't do anything else, I don't have anything else.

__ I'll tell Leceth __ loose with his voice as cold as an iceberg, causing his hand to stop instantly.

__ You can't do it __ provokes. But in his eyes I see the doubt planted.

This is my chance to escape.

__ I can and I will __ challenge looking directly into his eyes without hesitation.

His brow furrows analyzing each word __. He doesn't give a damn about a slave. When was the last time he worried about how you were?

It feels like he's slapped me with all his might, I can't help but avoid his gaze. This is your chance, everything you needed and I just gave it to you.

__ You do not care more than any other of your friends. Absolutely nothing.

I freeze. What can I say to that? The mere fact that I became one shows how little my brother really cares about me.

But to some extent that is not entirely true, is it? Otherwise I would not have allowed my bedroom to be the only safe one among the slaves. In a wicked way, but he cares about me after all, especially on a day like today.

Because of everything that happened with Carla and Ivana, he hadn't remembered. But if there is a day in the year when Leceth worries that he does not have a scratch, that day is today and I am going to make the most of it.

__ You're right about something __ I grant with a big smile __. That my brother does not love me is not new to anyone __. I can't help feeling satisfaction seeing him smile triumphantly __. But after all, I am his sister. He will kill you when he learns that you have hurt me on the day my parents' deaths are commemorated.

It's like I've hit him with everything, he pulls his hand out of my underwear as if he's burned, but he doesn't let go of my neck. Everyone knows that on this day he makes a dinner with the partners, many of them were my father's, only a handful are new. Only the oldest are allowed such honor.

Perhaps most of these men are barbarians who have slaves who are treated the same way we are, although I don't know that. But even being the worst men in the world, if they found out that the princess of the Black Gold Tsar is treated as a slave, they would withdraw her society.

Even in hell there are laws.

The head of the family has to protect and provide for his own, a man who does not protect his family is not considered a man.

That is the mantra that governs any organization and I know that for these men those words are their religion.

His resolve begins to falter, but it only lasts for a few seconds __. It's true, but I can do what I want to you without hurting any area of ​​your body that is visible __. The man is not so gross after all to my bad luck.

__ You can, but that won't stop me from telling him.

__ He ​​won't believe you __ I fight back angrily by pushing me against the wall.

__ Yes when I show him the mark that should already be forming on my neck.

He releases his grip on me in terror, he never thought that his act of domination was what I needed to dominate him. From the way he looks at that area, I must have a deep mold of his marked fingers.

__ If you tell him ...

__ If I tell you what? __ This is my turn to make him feel all the fear that he has caused me for years. His constant harassment, his desire to look at me, all that and more were causes of torment in my dreams, havoc that fostered very vivid nightmares.

His nose opens and closes because of the abruptness of his breathing __. Your friends will pay.

I hadn't counted on that, and there is no point in denying how much I care about them, he knows that very well.

__ If you do that, I'll tell her that you hit Ivana so brutally that she can barely breathe. I don't know if you know, but she is in charge of cleaning the main rooms __. I can't contain the mockery __. What will happen when the classrooms are not ready today because she cannot fulfill her task, what happens when she finds out that you are the cause of her slave being unable to fulfill her job?

__ You are a bitch!

__ Go ahead and hit me! __ His hand stops inches from my face __. Give me the pleasure of seeing you sign your death warrant.

__ You are crazy __. He denies without being able to believe what is happening.

A simple slave like me is threatening him, a simple slave like me is teaching him a lesson that his pride will never forget. But later I will deal with those consequences, because I know very well that now more than ever I will have to take care of him.

__ Crazy __ I mock repeating his diagnosis about my mental state. Yes, maybe after all, after so much fear, after so much pain, my mind has embraced madness. Crazy, yes, but how can someone who admits his insanity not be sane? __ Let me show you what a madwoman is capable of.

With my right hand I expose my other arm, putting aside the sleeve, I bury my nails in the skin and slowly tear until I see the blood gush out. It burns like fire, while the pain intensifies as my nails gain ground. Argus starts to walk away from me looking at me in horror.

__ Stop, you're insane __ bellows __. Stop with that.

I swallow all the pain I feel, biting my lip to avoid letting out the scream of pain that is about to choke me. The satisfaction of seeing him this scared is worth it.

__ Hit them that way again and it won't be my arm that ends up hurt __. I bring my hand to my cheek pressing my bloodstained nails into the skin.

__ That's enough for God, you're a fucking crazy bitch __. He goes back without stopping to see me, he walks away as far as the runner allows him, as if he knows that if he doesn't, more blood will flow and his could be among her.

Only until I see him disappear down the corridor do I drop my hand and cover the wound on my arm, it hurts, but it was worth it. A hysterical laugh comes out of my mouth without being able to contain it. I lean against the wall trying to control myself, one of these days I will end up losing what little sanity I have left.