The Blood of the Rose

The Pub

The pub was more rowdy than normal. Must be a very important card game or some boring thing like that. I went to sit on the cot bed as I pulled back the worn duvet with patches falling off from countless times it had been sowed up. The worn mattress was stained with dried blood. I sighed as I got into bed, wincing at the pain as I was pretty sure a scab fell off.

I was just about to settle down for the night when the door flew open as Adreaus stood in the doorway, his shark like face menacing in the candlelight. Even from here, I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

'It's your fault I lost the game tonight.' He said as I wondered why he was blaming me for.

'Maybe you are so bad at it.' I said as I wished I’d kept my mouth shut as he picked up a crowbar by  the fireplace before coming over and grabbing my chin roughly.

'You know the rules about back chatting.' He said before raising the bar above his head as it whistled, coming down before I heard a sickening crack as it made contact with my ribs. 'Don't even think about screaming. No one is coming for you.'

I looked at him with nothing but pure fear as I felt his hands make contact with different parts of my body. I wanted to scream when an agonising pain ripped through me. It was the same pain I felt eight years ago. The pain of down there being stretched to breaking point. I prayed it would soon be over, and I could try and get some sleep.

'Get dressed.' He barked at me as I could feel a wave of dizziness coming over me. 'Don't muck around. Carlotta is waiting for you.'

'Who is she?' I asked as he looked at me before grabbing me roughly by the shoulders. 'Oww, that hurts.'

'What did I say about speaking out of line?' He asked as I lowered my head. I really didn’t want another beating.

The forest was gloomy in the moonlight as Adreaus was dragging me roughly by the arm as I could hear the sounds of coyotes howling and witches cackling.

'How far is this Carlotta’s home?' I asked as Adreaus stopped as he turned to look at me as his glassy green eyes were cold and hostile.

'Will you stop with the questions?! He exploded in pure rage as I shrank away from him. 'I will be glad to get rid of you.' He said stomping off ahead as I ran but stumbled a bit trying to keep up