Chapter 54
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“This isn’t good. This shouldn’t be happening.”
My words came out rushed as I glanced up to Eli, who was standing at my side. We were a few feet away from West as he continued his speech about the new Whitlock. The stage we stood on was centered in the middle of the field at City Center and master and slaves could be seen for as far as the green stretched out. I could already feel the energy of the large crowd shifting as our new leader’s statements darkened into ones these men could have only dreamed about.
“For too long you have been denied what you pay for. It never used to be this way. The Whitlocks started this place generations ago to cater to what we wanted. What we needed! Now we begin, again. With me, the old ways will return. To start my reign, I will hold the most elaborate, the most sought after, auction in years. The Cradle will be opened and from here on out, will thrive.”
Cheers roared in scattered locations, making the unease seep into my bones. I jerked my gaze to Eli and couldn’t stop the panic breaths from leaving me.
“Before we go more into that, let me ask you this. Does your slave have a problem taking orders? Have you been wanting to teach them a lesson? One they’ll never forget?” West’s hand shot up and a guard not a few feet away jerked a large white sheet free. “I give you our stalks. Lock them in. Remind them who the master is. I guarantee they won’t think twice about disobeying you again. Whip them. Beat them. Rape them in front of everyone. Let whoever comes along rape them. They’re your slave. Shouldn’t you be able to discipline them however you want?” He turned, glancing behind him. I couldn’t follow his stare. I already knew what was there.
“This,” he said, his arm rising to the gallows. “Is what used to be our foundation for entertainment. No more White Room private deaths. Trial and public execution. To make things interesting … and entertaining,” he said, smiling. “We’ll bring back The Wheel. Who remembers The
Wheel?”
Again, cheers echoed around. But it wasn’t from the slaves. Their horrified expressions couldn’t be hidden as they stared on. It was like a hit in the gut as I watched, terrified for them.
“With a spin of the wheel, their death will be chosen. Guillotine, the rack, impalement, rat torture, the tub, the breast ripper. You name it; we got it. I’ve even added in two of my favorites. Maybe there’s more than one master who needs to be rid of their slave. Let’s all be friends. Let’s have some fun. Ever heard of the republican marriage? Let’s tie them together and torture them as one. Drown them, or set them on fire. Your imagination is limitless. Maybe you can throw them in the tub and watch them slowly get eaten away over the weeks by maggots and pests. Whatever you like. Or, if you’re not ready to be done with your slave, you can always just silence the mouthy ones. Remember our tongue ripper? Haven’t heard of it? Ask around. It’s the long-term answer to all of your problems. And me, your new main master, is here to help however I can.”
“The auction! Tell us about the auction!” Someone yelled.
“Wife.” West motioned me over and for the life of me, I couldn’t move. It took Eli’s hand pressing into my lower back to get me heading to the front of the stage. Once I got to his side, he turned me to face the crowd. “Let me officially introduce all of you to my wife. That’s right, wife. The option was never available to you before, but that’s all about to change. Maybe you’re not into killing off slaves like others. Maybe you love your little pet. Marry her or him. You won’t be able to leave with them outside of these walls, but at least they’re yours like they’ve never been before. I cater to all of our needs. Including, The Cradle. For more information on our
auction, I hand over the reins to my wife.” My head quickly shook.
“Tell them what I told you earlier.” West’s voice was slow, yet full of authority … anger.
I swallowed hard, facing the crowd. The silence was damn near deafening as they waited.
“The …” I glanced over at West as he nodded. “The auction will be held in four weeks. It will only be for those in The Cradle.” My eyes burned as I turned to West, begging him with my stare. When his head tilted down for me to continue, I took a deep breath, going on. “It will be for all ages. Fourteen children, the ages range from five years old to twelve.” My voice cracked and I did everything I could to keep the tears in.
West made it to my side, kissing my cheek as he picked up where I left off. I heard nothing more. All I could see was the faces of the children I’d spent time with. Their eyes, their smiles. And now the man I was married to was hellbent on destroying their lives.
“I leave you all with what we have out so far. The stalks are for your personal use. Use them as you wish. We have one set up now, but there will be a total of eight before the day is out. If you wish for The Wheel and want to skip the White Room for your slave, put in a request with our high leader, Eli. We’ll prepare everyone for the show. Have a good one.”
The moment West’s hand rose to wave, the masters went wild. I didn’t hesitate to follow him off the stage. I wanted out of here. Slaves were already screaming and I could hear multiple arguments brewing in the distance.
“Shall we escort you to your quarters, Master?”
Although I heard the guard’s voice, it was West’s growl that drew me from looking at the chaos of a fighting slave being pulled toward the stalks. She was screaming, slashing her hands toward anyone she could get within reach of to try to hold on to.
“I’ll be going to Master Kunken’s quarters. Follow behind, but stay outside and wait for us.” West turned to me, speaking angrily under his breath. “He’s the main master under me and he wasn’t even here. That’s unacceptable. I want to know what was so fucking important that he couldn’t show his support.”
West guided me forward. His irritation had his pace almost impossible to keep up with. I was practically running to his side.
“Husband, please.” I fought not to fall from the damn heels he’d made me wear. Understanding seemed to dawn and he came to a stop. The battle was obvious in his features as he gazed at me. Rage—restraint.
Restrain won.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Here I am, dragging you behind me like a slave. Forgive me.” He leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine.
“I’m upset. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.”
“I only didn’t want to fall and embarrass you. I can try to keep up, but maybe at a little slower pace?”
He smiled, wrapping his arms around my waist as he eased me into him. “The only way you’d hit the ground is if I put you there. But I’d never let you fall.”
Heat engulfed my cheeks as my hate for him ignited. “Thank you, husband.”
“Of course. Now, come. We’ll meet with Master Kunken, and maybe you can visit with your slave friend, Red, while we go over business.
If, of course, he permits.”
“Red?”
“Yes. The red-haired girl.” Julie!
“Oh, yes. Thank you. I would love to visit her.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. He may not want her socializing with someone of your … independence,” he said, moving into my ear and tugging against it. “Let’s get this over with. I want you. I want to bathe you like before.”
My lids blinked slowly and the dread was all too real. “If it pleases you.”
“It would please me, immensely.”
Fingers dug into my lower back for only a moment before he pulled away, holding my hand as we began to walk again. When we came to a door, I couldn’t help the eagerness that began to push away the fear of what lay ahead with me and West. I held to visiting Julie like a lifeline. Like it was the only thing in the world that mattered. She could be my happiness.
My friend, in a time where no one was to be trusted.
West’s knocking was answered almost immediately. At the smell that met us, I felt my head jerk back.
“Master Harper. Please, come in. Master Kunken thought you might come.”
The shorter man stepped back, opening the barrier for us to enter. From the stench to the master’s guard before us, I suddenly didn’t want to continue.
“Thank you.” West nodded, leading us deeper into the metallic aroma. My apprehension only increased as I was faced with Julie. She was sitting at a table in the dining room, eating a large plate of fruit. Grapes and watermelon were like a mountain, piling high before her. She looked sick as she forced herself to swallow and wipe the juice from her mouth. A grin appeared but faded just as fast. Her eye was nearly swollen shut and her cheek was massively bruised with a slight laceration across it. My heart sank as I held tighter to West’s arm.
“Master. What can I do for you?”