My angel

Chapter 2

I gasp awake and gaze around the dark cellar. Was he real? Is he real? I don't know... I will probably never know.

I stretch and stand. I would rather not be on the ground. The rats will have feeding time soon, and i wouldn't want to be the main course. I walk to the wall and climb up the bars to a small loft.

I don't sleep up here because its just that. A small loft. I only have enough room to curl up into a tiny ball and waiting. I have tried sleeping up here, but its small and this is the only area that is hot. it feels like a baker's oven.

Then the scurry of feet sounds. Thousands and thousands of tiny feet, scrambling around, eating anything in sight. I have been caught in that swarm multiple times. I would have nasty welts and bite marks all over me. I would rather be baked than be down there.

Soon, the scurrying of feet dissipates until only a few squeaks are all i hear. I slowly climb down, shivering as the cold hits me. Its quiet again. Im too awake to sleep... I don't want to sing right now. Master might hear me and punish me again. I don't want that.

I walk to the side of the room and pick up a loose slab of stone. Underneath is a sharp stone. I pick it up and walk back to the center of the cellar. I sit and start drawing in the rough stone.

~~~~~~~~

I slowly open my eyes. Huh. I guess i fell asleep. I look around. What time is it? I sit up, wincing in pain as one of my wounds open. I shift and look around. Master never burned away the scars. It's been about one day. Maybe a day and a half. Its so hard to tell down here. I get a few strands of light, but it could be moonlight or sunlight. I don't know.

I hear the click of a lock and look up at the door. It opens, showing Mary. "Master told me to fetch you. I need to burn away the scars." She say softly, and walks to me. I gulp and stand. She softly grabs my arm and leads me upstairs.

The sun is just over the horizon. Red rays gleam through the windows as she leads me through the maze of halls. She leads me to an empty room, with only a fireplace inside. The room is warm from the blazing fire.

She leads me over to it, and sits me down. "I'm sorry..." She whispers, and grabs a hot blade from the fire. I close my eyes and wait for the pain.

Once the metal touches one of the wounds, i scream through clenched teeth. I wont allow myself to be heard. The smell of burning flesh fills the room as Mary burns away the scars. After the first few, i struggle to keep my eyes open. The pain is so bad, but right now, it is like a temptress, begging me to sleep. I want to give in, but i cant. Master wouldn't be happy.

She finishes, and I let out a strangled moan as the burning metal leaves my skin. I fall over, pressing myself against the cool wood floor. Anything cold feels magnificent. A cool breeze wafts through the window, soothing my ravaged skin.

Mary clears her throat. "There has been a change of plan..." She says quietly. "Master wants to leave today. He heard something from one of his 'business partners'. He wont say what, but he keeps saying 'The dog is loose'. Whatever that means."

She softly helps me up, being careful not to touch my burned skin. "Master told me to bring you after I finished burning you..." She whispers and slowly leads me out of the room.

I want to respond, but i cant. The pain is still coursing through me, like fire. It burns all the blood in my veins, evaporating it. I can feel it. Its a miracle I'm not dead yet.

She leads me to the carriage, where master is waiting inside. She softly opens the door, and helps me inside. I curl up into a ball, as i was taught to do. Mary softly closes the door, after giving me a sympathetic look.

Master gazes at me impassively. "You will be punished once we have reached the new house. You did not serve your full time in the cellar." He say. I whimper. "Y-Yes master. Please help me fulfill my punishment." A ghost of a smirk crosses his face as he looks down at me. His eyes are greedy.

"I won't use some of my...traditional methods when we arrive by tomorrow evening. I plan to do something more... special." His eyes darken as he says this too me. My eyes widen as i understand what he means. The coach lurches to a start, effectively silencing us.

Master... He plans to take my virtue. I-I can't allow that. No! I don't want that to be stolen by him. The man who has given me nothing but pain my entire existence. I would rather die!

I begin to hyperventilate. Master kicks me. "Silence!" He growls. I don't want to listen to him! I don't want him near me! I-I...I want him dead!

The carriage stops suddenly, throwing me into the wall. Master falls ungracefully to his face. He growls and stand. "What the bloody hell is going on?!" He throws open the door and climbs out.

All is silent. Not a single chirp, or a rustle of the leaves. All I hear are the pounds my heart makes against my chest. Five minutes pass. Still nothing. I slowly crawls out of the carriage.

The fist thing i see is Mary. She is against a tree, her head bleeding heavily. Her lips are blue, and she looks stiff. She...shes dead. I know that. Im in too much shock to react. I look around, my eyes landing on a very peculiar sight.

Master is against another tree, holding his shoulder, which is bleeding heavily. A navy haired boy stands in front of him. He looks about my age, but oh so much richer. He wears a navy suit, and a black top hat. In his hand that isn't holding the gun, is a cane.

Next to the boy is a tall man with raven black hair in a tail coat. He looks familiar, but i would need to see his face to make sure.

"Two-Faced Jackson." The boy growls. "By order of her majesty, The Queen, I am here to kill you. You are the leader of almost all of London's underground societies." Master blanches at the boy. "D-Don't kill me! I will give you all the riches you want! Anything you wish for, it's yours!"

The raven haired man chuckles. "My young lord is not interested in your possessions." It really is him. My raven haired angel.

Master sees me. His eyes widen. "A life for a life then!" He shouts suddenly. I pale as the boy look at me, following my master's gaze. His blue eyes, or should i say eye, looks me up and down. He is quite handsome, even if he has an eyepatch. My angel looks at me also.

The boy looks back at my master. "And what is that supposed to mean?" He asks. "Kill her or take her! Whatever you wish! Just dont kill me." Master is almost sobbing. The boy's frame shifts slightly, becoming more ferocious. "I will not treat her like an object, even if i don't know who she may be." He shouts as he pulls the trigger.

The sound echoes off the trees and master slumps forward. I squeak and press myself against the carriage.

The boy and my angel look at me. "What shall we do with her, Young master?" My angel asks. "Leave her be. She isn't our concern." The boy says. "Alone in the woods? You have gotten cold." My angle smirks as he looks down upon the boy. "Fine. We will bring her along. But you get to deal with her when we get home." The boy scoffs.

My angel walks to me. "What is your name, Madam?" He asks softly. I look at him for a moment, before i speak quietly. "I don't know."