Dark Realm 72

“You shouldn’t ask too many questions,” Ottoline whispered from behind Isabella.

“Ew.” Isabella plugged her nose. “You stink.” Isabella backed up.

“You should be nicer to me.” Ottoline warned Isabella. “You have no clue where you are.” Ottoline laughed disappearing down a long dark hallway. “You better come on.” Ottoline clamped his hoof down.

Isabella followed him. “How big is this place?”

“It’s big enough.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Long enough. Elizabeth saved me.” Ottoline looked down at Isabella. “I was lost and afraid until she found me. She brought me here. The countess is my reason to be.”

“What happens to me now?”

“You sleep.”

“What do you do in the daytime while Elizabeth sleeps?”

Ottoline clapped his rough hand over Isabella’s mouth. “Do not ever call her by name. You are lucky she did not hear you. Come with me.” Ottoline pulled a confused Isabella down a second set of stairs toward a bustling kitchen. “This is where you eat. In here or outside in the courtyard but never upstairs unless our Countess tells you differently. Do not speak to her unless you are asked a question. This is Angie, she will tell you about all the female stuff I do not know. Come.” Ottoline opened a door leading out into the enormous yard. We are surrounded by a vast number of fruit trees. Our Countess does like the smell of budding fruit. Do not let this open space fool you, if you try to leave know this the woods are filled with dogmen.”

“Dogmen? What are they?”

“Large filthy blood-crazed animals. One thing that makes them scary… is their speed. You cannot outrun them. Once they catch you, they will rip your limbs from your body.”

“That’s horrible,” Isabella shivered.

“No, the worst place to end up would be there.” Ottoline pointed to the smelly, rotten heads dotting the gates.

“Oh my,” the banshee covered her mouth.

“Anger the Countess and you will wind up lining the gate.” Ottoline snickered.

Isabella shuddered.

“Enjoy your stay.” Ottoline chuckled. “Here Angie.” Ottoline shoved Isabella toward ginger ginger-haired older woman named Angie. “She’s yours now.” Ottoline grabbed a small brown bag and filled it with sweets then headed outside. “Oh, by the way,” Ottoline pulled out a tiny bracelet and tossed it toward Isabella. “Our Countess wants you to have this.”

Isabella caught the shiny trinket. “Thank you.”

“Put it on let me see how it goes with your unique eyes.”

Isabella and Gabriella suffered from a rare condition called Chimerism one eye was blood red while the other was clear blue. Having this condition made some beings bully them as they grew older. Isabella slipped it on. She turned to smile at the ash-covered faces of all the women slaves. “Hi.” She waved. “My name is Isabella.”

“You speak too loudly. Lower your voice. We will not be punished because you can’t follow the rules.” Angie pulled Isabella closer. “This is the kitchen we have regular rules. You cannot steal food. The punishment is high. Everything must go through me, understand?” Isabella opened her mouth to speak but clamped her mouth shut. “Everything is counted daily if we find something is missing even a piece of cheese you will pay the price. Be careful what you do and say around that deranged centaur. Just because he seems crazy doesn’t mean he is not dangerous. Be careful around everyone.” Angie sneered.

“I guess we can all trust each other, huh?” Isabella giggled.

“No, you can’t trust anyone, get that through your head. Remember my words or pay the price, that’s up to you. Now, come with me. I will show you where you will sleep.” Angie led the way toward the room, but a weeping woman stopped her.

“Help me. I’m so hungry. I want to go home now.” The haggard woman grasped Isabella's wrist.

“How can I help you?” Isabella asked.

“I want to go home. Please help me get home.”

Isabella stared at Angie. “What should I do?”

“Ugh.” Angie pushed the half-blind woman to the side. “Get back to your place, Molly. If Ottoline finds you, he will have your hide.” Angie kicked at Molly.

Angie pushed Isabella against the wall. “I will not be punished because of you. You’ve entered hell.” Angie pushed Isabella hard. “Come on.”

Isabella fixed her shirt as she followed Angie into a large open room. “This is the bed area. We have bunks and drawers, but we don’t have much room. Make sure you claim your space. Be thankful you are labeled as a turnaround.”

“What’s a turnaround?”

“Some of these girls are only here for our Countess can feed on. She doesn’t drain all of them. Sometimes she allows them to recover only to feast on them again. The women she feeds on wear different color bands from the kitchen help. And that crazy lady in the hallway, well that’s what happens when you die and come back. They’re all batty. Keep your distance.”

“But I have this.” Isabella held up her wrist with the pretty trinket.

Angie laughed. “You are so stupid. I do not expect you to live long here.” Angie held up her wrist. “We all wear them. Don’t you know what it does? No, I bet you don’t.”

“Angie, leave her be.” A woman with brown hair stepped forward. “You’re scaring her.”

“She should be scared. Don’t tell me you’re going to try and save this one too, huh?” Angie shook her head. “Look kid you either survive or you die, it’s your choice.”

“There are other ways to let her know her place without scaring her.”

“Oh, whatever.” Angie walked behind Isabella. “Mark my words, kid.” Angie brushed by Isabella, mumbling as she left the room.

Isabella opened her mouth to give Angie a taste of her sonic scream, but nothing more than a whisper came out. “What happened to my powers?” Isabella rubbed her throat.

“It’s the bracelet. If you have any sort of ability, the bracelet strips it from you. It also makes the wearer decile.”

“Angie doesn’t seem decile,”

The older woman giggled. My name is Hope. I will help you, but you must pick it up quickly. You are in the viper pit. All these women want to be in favor of the countess. Some women think it is better to be a turnaround, but to me, it’s all the same.”

Isabella searched around the room. “Is Angie always that way?”

Hope nodded. “Pretty much. Be careful what you do and say around her. She will tell Ottoline information about what happens here in favor of special treatment. Angie pretends to hate it here, but deep down she loves it. Try not to speak too much. Too many rules to follow. Here.” Hope gave Isabella a dingy shirt.

“Ew. It reeks.” Isabella turned her nose up on the shirt.”

“Don’t expect clean clothes.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You are one of us now. Keep quiet. Stay alive. Change clothes then meet me in the kitchen. I will make you some food.”

“Okay.” Isabella turned her back to change clothes while tears flowed down her face. “I’ll get you for this Gabby. I swear I will.”