Chapter 4 (Deonna) – Sneaky Endeavor

Bob and Alex brought me to the slave shack in the gardens just as Marlon had ordered them. I heard the latching of the door as they locked me inside and went to meet with their father. I was relieved that I was alone; Alex found me some rags to throw on from a previous slave.

I didn’t dare ask what happened to that slave.

When Marlon told his sons to take me to the gardens, I was expecting it to be a lot prettier than it was. The garden itself was gorgeous; it was probably as big as the courtyard. I remembered reading a long time ago that the garden was one of Ashley Roessler’s prized possessions before she passed away three years ago.

It was filled with different varieties of flowers and plants. There was a cobblestone walkway that went through the gardens to make access that much easier. In one section were freshly grown fruits and vegetables. The sight of them made my stomach growl, considering I haven’t been fed yet. However, they were being tended by one of the gardeners and I knew it would be nearly impossible to grab anything.

I was placed in a holding cell, in a shack within the gardens. The chamber kind of reminded me of the stables, except instead of horses, there was emptiness. The cells were concrete with a small hay bed, equipped with a small pillow and a thin blanket. It looked more comfortable than the wooden beds we had to sleep on in my bunker. 

As they left me with only my thoughts, I thought about my encounter with Marlon. It was so strange. My wolf voice has been quiet and weak since my time on the slave farm; yet at that moment of meeting Marlon, it was almost like she was singing. I could feel her wolf body’s movement within my own and she was tugging me closer to him.

It made no sense though. He was a nobleman and would have nothing to do with a slave of my statue. For sure life with him would be a life of abuse and neglect. I survived on the farm after being ridiculed, beaten, and tortured, I wouldn’t allow myself to fall into a trap like this.

I’m not sure how much time had passed while being locked in the slave shack, but I wasn’t expecting Bob to return without Alex.

I struggled to scramble to my feet, more pain coursing through my body as I managed to keep my stance. Bob stood before me, eyeing me carefully for a long while. His face was difficult to read, which in my experience wasn’t a good thing. It meant he was planning something, and I would have no choice but to go along with it.

Even if it meant certain death for me.

“So, you know Latin?” He surprised me by asking. “What else do you know?”

I assessed his face carefully, trying to figure out what it was he was thinking.

“I’m not sure…” I stammered nervously, trying to maintain eye contact with him.

I felt weak and I thought I might pass out at any moment; I had to use the wall to keep balance.

“Slaves aren’t meant to know anything,” Bob said, his lip curling in disgust as he stared around my sweating features. “Why do you know things?”

I took in a shaky breath before speaking.

“I studied a lot when I lived with the commoners…” I answered. “Before I was taken…” my voice trailed off as my eyes fell to the ground.

He stared at me for a long while before responding. 

“You might just be useful to me after all, slave,” he said as he unlocked my cell.

“What is it that you want?” I asked in a whisper.

“My father is on me about failing my languages. Says I can’t make a proper heir if I can’t pass a simple test. So, I need your help to pass this test,” he said, stepping closer to me.

I tilted my head at him; trying to figure out if I heard him correctly.

HE was asking ME for help?

A slave?

A dirtball?

“Why would I help you?” I heard herself asking, my voice a bit louder this time.

Before another word was exchanged his grip was holding onto my neck, cutting off my air supply. He shoved his body against mine and pushed me against the cold and hard concrete walls. Wincing in pain as my frail body practically snapped in half.

I could feel his erection poking through his pants and shoving into my leg.

“Because if you don’t, I will keep having my way with you as I please. I will fuck you until there is nothing left,” he hissed in a low tone in my ear.

I gave him a shaky nod as he released me, allowing me to take in a mouthful of air. He watched as I knelt over and coughed. I rubbed my throat and grimaced at the pain he had caused. My body was shaking as tears ran down my face; I tried so hard to keep them tame, but I was failing miserably.

“Do we have a deal?” He asked as if he didn’t already know that answer.

“Yes,” I said, hoarsely.

“Good. Come with me,” he ordered as he grabbed onto my chains and pulled me along with him.

Walking through the gardens, we made our way to the back entrance of the manor. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew if Marlon Roessler finds me in his home, I wouldn’t live long enough to help Bob anyways.

The entrance led into a dark hallway, lit by only candlelight and decorated by a maroon carpet with a golden symbol stitched throughout. A symbol I recognized on the clothing of Roessler men including Marlon. The walls were filled with portraits of former Masters and Mistresses of the Roessler family. Including the beautiful Ashley Roessler with her golden hair and fair yet bright features.

We rounded the perimeter of the hallway and entered a more open room. I was instantly hit with the sweet smell of freshly baked bread and something that smelled like a pig roast. It was a mouth-watering scent that nearly made my stomach cave in from hunger. 

We must have been near the kitchen.

Pushing open a door at the far end of the room, was a smaller room. It was a plain room with no windows; there wasn’t much for decorations. The floors were made of rustic hardwood and the walls were painted a beige color. There was a small bed on one side of the room with a nightstand that held a candlewick lamp. There were a couple of wooden dressers and a vanity.

I couldn’t help but wonder who the room belonged to. It obviously wasn’t a room that was currently being used, or Bob wouldn’t have taken me here. I remembered Bob muttering something about a grocery room on our walk here. This confused me because there wasn’t any groceries insight. Then again, maybe it was called a grocery room because it was the room closest to the kitchen.

The smell of the food through the vents indicated that my theory was close in theory. 

“You’re going to sleep in here for tonight. You won’t make a sound. If they knew you were here, they’d have both of our heads,” Bob told me.

“They won’t find me here?” I asked, hesitantly.

“They don’t typically come into this room,” he answered. “My tutor will be here tomorrow for my lessons. We will go over the details in the morning, but you are going to help me cheat through it until my final exam.” I nodded slowly in agreement. “Get some rest; I need your brain to be sharp for tomorrow.”

Bob turned away from me and began walking out the doorway.

“Wait…” I said before he could disappear. He couldn’t see his face because his back was turned toward me, but I knew he had rolled his eyes by the way his head was thrown back in aggravation. “I haven’t eaten since the farm…”

He groaned.

“So?” He asked, annoyance in his tone.

I felt my cheeks flushing as my stomach growled; I held my stomach to keep it quiet.

“I won’t be much help to you if I don’t eat something soon,” I told him.

He turned back to me, assessing me quickly.

“I’ll find you something,” he finally said after a long pause.

I sighed out in relief; I didn’t even care what it was that he fed me. As long as it was something.

“Oh, and slave?” he said, as I made my way to the bed. “Don’t try anything stupid while I’m gone.” His warning lay thick in the air as he left me to sit here with my thoughts.