THE ESCORT

ELEVEN | WEAKLING

Few minutes later, just as she promised, Mercedes returned.

Elodie had retreated to the head board, eyes glued to the door, legs curled under her butt.

If the bitch wanted to have a go at her, then she'd work for it.

She clenched her fingers around the mouth of the plastic spoon, keeping the tip away from her body. It wouldn't do a lot of damage, yes, but it'd buy her time at least.

Mercedes stopped at the foot of the bed, eyes going straight to the tray.

Elodie's eyes roamed all over her face, taking in the cool expression, while her own heart threatened to burst out of her chest.

"I see," murmured the other woman.

Elodie licked her dry lips, and spoke before she could stop herself. "I told you to take it away, didn't I?"

"You're one stubborn girl," Mercedes said. "But, I must admit that I was expecting this."

Elodie tightened her fingers around the spoon. "What do you mean by that?"

Instead of answering, Mercedes snapped her fingers twice.

Immediately, the door was thrust open and three ladies in uniformed maid attire in black and white colors entered the room. They stopped behind Mercedes and bowed at the waist, fingers crossed below their hip line.

"Hold her down."

Elodie's eyes widened. "W-what?"

She watched as the ladies started towards her—one of them approached from the right, one from the left, and the other from the foot of the bed.

Trapped, she whipped put the spoon, pointing it in all directions at the intruders. "Don't you dare come closer."

Mercedes scoffed at that, crossing her arms across her chest. "You're so pathetic, it's painful to watch." To the maids she added, "make it hurt."

"No," Elodie yelled, "don't come near."

Just as the maid from the right gained in on her, Elodie leapt forward with the fork, and only managed to swipe her below the eyes before the other two grabbed her wrists and pushed her down onto the bed.

"No," she said, kicking her foot. "Please. Don't do this."

"Lisa, hold her mouth open."

Lisa, the maid she'd injured with the spoon, straddled Elodie's waist, grabbed her cheek in one hand and pressed down.

Elodie thrashed as much as she could, whipping her head from side to side, trying to escape, but the three were stronger and held her still.

"Pleath," she whispered as tears blurred her vision.

She saw Mercedes approach the bed with the glass of juice from the tray, and began to struggle in earnest.

"Plug her nose."

Lisa did as asked.

Elodie choked on the sweet citrus as it was poured down her throat. Some escaped down the sides of her face, and she took down many, too.

After what seemed like eternity, she was released all at once.

She scrambled up the bed, gasping and coughing, while wiping her eyes furiously with the back of her hands.

Mercedes had returned to the foot of the bed with her minions, and was watching her with a smirk. "I warned you, didn't I?"

"You bitch!" It came out weak and whispered, but she heard Elodie, because her smirk dimmed a bit.