Forever and Always

Chapter 25: Naked and Bleeding

"I told you before and I will tell you again, I will not work for you. You have kept me locked up in this place ever since Kitten left, what makes you think I'll work for you now?" there was a strain in the voice, like it hadn't been used in a long time, but it was still recognizable, even after all these years.

"Oh Jake, you always were so naive. You protected her like she was yours to protect. But she is mine and she always will be. Although, you are the only one she trusts so I have to keep you around." the cockyness in his voice was extremely annoying, but I couldn't even focus on that, all I could focus on is that Jake is here, after all this time.

"You will never be able to get her back. She found her Mate, and if you take her than she'll die, and what good would that be?" there was a panic dripping from each word, he tried to suppress it, but I could tell.

"She won't die if her Mate is killed," Kyle said matter-of-factly.

"What have you done?" he wasn't even trying to hide the panic now.

"I haven't done anything, I have my people," he chuckled.

"What kind of people?"

"People with a reason to kill. The poor thing would be devastated if her Mate was killed, wouldn't she?" sickly sweet and lined with ice, thats all he sounded to me.

"You wouldn't.."

Kyle simply chuckled and walked over by my cage, running his hand over the bars.

Jake rushed over and fell to his knees when he saw the shadow figure inside, "Kitten?" my heart warmed from the old nickname. Every time someone mentioned my real name I would always, and still do, flinch, so Jake never called me Becca, or Rebecca, or Becci, he always called me Kitten, cause to him, I was just a kitten. Slowly moving into the light, I made sure my hair covered my face, I didn't want him to see me like this. His breath caught as his fears were confirmed. There were tears in his eyes when I glanced up at him.

"I'll let you guys get comfortable, I want you to take her to the baths and have her in the showroom by tonight, any later and you don't want to know what I'll do. Security has gotten alot better since you were last here Becca, so don't even try escaping. You are mine now, forever," and with that, he dropped a key on the floor and walked down the long cement hallways, away from the cages.

Jake quickly slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. "Come here.." opening his arms, I crawled over slowly then proceeded to fall into his arms. "You're so cold," I didn't even notice that I had been shivering until he said something. He tilted my head up and I didn't have time to react before he saw the damage done to my face, "oh Kitten what has he done to you?" I just shrugged, it wasn't really that big of a deal. Pulling me to his chest, he pet my hair. "So the monster had your Mate killed?" looking up at him, I just shook my head. The pain that flashed through his eyes made me want to cry, but I didn't, I didn't want him to see me in pain on top of everything. "So you came here to die," I nodded, nuzzling against him to make him not as sad.

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We spent the rest of the time just sitting there. Jake told me about his time in the cages and wondered how I ever survived the time I was here. I wanted to remind him that he was locked up a bit longer than I was, but I couldn't. I just sat and listened. The story brought tears to my eyes, sad, horrified, and joyous. I wanted to ask about Brisingr, but I just left the subject alone, not just because I couldn't talk either. We both knew that it was going to be easier just to listen to Kyle so we headed to the bathing area.

There wasn't anyone is the room so I went to the baths and cleaned up. Jake waited outside as always and I just felt relaxed. A young girl came in and laid a pile of things next to the bath I was sitting in and hurried back out. Looking at the pile I noticed a razor and rolled my eyes, I'm a Kat, leave my hair alone. After finishing everything, I put on the robe that was the only other thing there, and headed out by Jake. We headed to the showroom and Kyle was standing outside of the main back entrance.

"I'll take her from here Jake, you can guard the grounds of the room, I need to get her ready," he dragged me away without waiting for an answer, and brought me up a flight of stairs. I had never been to this part of the building, "this part was put in a few years after you left, its my new favorite," well that explains it.

The stairs ended at a top floor. The only thing visible was a large bird cage in the middle of the floor. I was quickly led over to the mettle prison and Kyle turned me around, "you will come here every day, 5 minutes before 5 o'clock, no later and no sooner," he grabbed my robe and threw it to the ground, leaving me cold and bare, "you won't be wearing anything either." His eyes ran over my naked frame, making me uncomfortable. "Now, am I understood?" I nodded, but that wasn't good enough. Grabbing my face he made me look at him, "I asked you a question, you will answer me," the hardness in his eyes brought out the obedient side in me and it was hard to resist no answering his demands, but.. it would hurt. "NOW!"

"Yes.." that small word, squeaked out in fear, already had me wincing in pain.

"Yes what?" he wasn't going to just let it go.

"Yes sir.." some of the wounds reopened and blood started to drip down my chin, mixing with my tears of pain.

"Yes sir, what?" the fucking sadistic bastard was enjoying this.

"Yes sir, I-I understand," the twine tor into my flesh and the blood gushed down my face onto my exposed skin.

"Good girl," opening the cage, he pushed me inside and hooked my hands in cuffs connected to the top of the cage. "Such a beautiful specimen." The floor underneath the cage opened and I was lowered into the show room. I was right in the middle, where everyone could see me. Naked and bleeding.