Chapter 39
Soon I was Less kneeling and more sitting with my Legs underneath me.
The day ran through my head and I tried to make sense of it. I sat quietly and realized what I was now.
I was their pet. When I pleased them, they would primp and fluff me. If I misbehaved, they disowned me publicly and I would suffer. The choice was mine.
After the platform, I had no tears left. I couldn’t even sob as I realized that today was a death. This was the end of my freedom. I no longer had hopes or dreams, only prayers that my owners were kind.
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If I had more energy, I would have been having a breakdown. As it was, I just slumped lower and found myself inadvertently Leaning on Master Evan’s legs. My Life was over.
My old life was over, a small voice whispered in my head. I was not dead. These men wanted a healthy, happy slave. They didn’t want to hurt me. When I followed their rules, they treated me well. It was not the same, but it was something.
I had only one choice left to me. The first option was to fight them every step of the way. I could make it as difficult on them as it was on me. The alternative was to make the best of what I had left. Neither option was unflawed.
Fighting was the honorable way to go. I would be tortured however they wished for as long as they wished. If I kept fighting they may just kill me. However, I could be proud I stood up for myself.
Submitting was the other option. There was no honor in that, but I would probably live Longer. I wondered if it was worth it.
The submission they demanded was complete. I hated kneeling on a pad on the floor. Eating from their hands was demeaning. My brain rebelled against the ideas I couldn’t even look at another male without being punished, but I wasn’t ready to die yet.
I heard the men shuffling around and I looked up to find Master Damien watching me.
“Who takes care of you, Ciara?” he asked.
I knew they had put me up on that awful platform and I knew they would put me back if I did not please them. Now was the time to make my decision. Did I want to live like this or did I want to die?
“You do, Master Damien and your brothers,” I answered politely.
I would learn to live like this. There had to be a way to find happiness here. I just needed to Look.
Master Damien smiled benevolently down at me before he picked me up off the floor. He walked into their bedroom, which was quiet and much darker than the main room. Carefully, he placed me on their bed so I was laying on my hip.
“I’m glad you are learning, Ciara. Our mark protects you because we protect you, never forget that. You are worth nothing to the other men here. They will use you as they want, without consideration. Only your owners will care for you,” he said as he moved away. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Two warm bodies came and surrounded mine. Reaching out, I felt Master Bane’s fuzzy chest. I heard Master Kein’s soft voice behind me as hands brushed down my back. Both men told me to sleep well through the night.
Blankets were pulled over me to keep the chill away. I thanked them for the care and they seemed delighted. I snuggled into the softness of the bed and listened to the men’s slow even breathing. This
was my life now. I pulled the covers around my body and knew I would do my best to make the most of it.
I woke up and it was still dark. Master Bane and Master Kein were both stretched out and sound asleep on their backs. As often happens when I woke myself up at night, I had to pee, badly.
I tried to close my eyes but it didn’t work. I couldn’t sleep like this. Restlessly, I turned and was looking into Master Christof’s bright eyes across the bed.
“Bathroom…” I started to say and he held up a hand to stop me.
He got up and motioned me to get up, which I did. Looking back at the bed all the men had momentarily awoken. Once they saw Christof had risen with me four heads dropped back and I heard their snoring.