A rose to grind

-3-

      To start off with a kick, I did regret my rash action afterwards. Etienne was absolutely right, since the moment I was dragged down to the basement, I let out screeches similar to that of a dying dog. Perhaps that perfectly explained my situation right now. That bastard.  I used to be so high and mighty, proud and indifferent to any consequences since I had everyone wrapped around my finger. I used to be somewhat similar to those kinds of 'male leads' with a life lavished with riches and women fawning over me, and would gladly lick my dress shoes for the slightest hope that I would pay them the littlest of my attention. With a face that seemed so cold, I succeeded in life. I brought my knees closer to my chest, tears welling at the corners of my eyes which I wiped away with a shaky, bloody hand.

I did not deserve this. I lived life like a saint with no desire of women but only work. So why was I the one to be bestowed this chance of reincarnation though I had not even requested for it one bit. I tucked my lips between my teeth, ice flowing through my blood. My hatred for Etienne, the so-called step mother and the biological father must have been a side effect of the reincarnation process since I was seething in anger and bitterness, both at my pathetic situation and because of the whirlpool of emotions inside Yugo's childish body. It was mostly negative and the thoughts made my nails dig into my skin out of spite.

        I trembled at the thought of entirely becoming someone entirely different. It felt as if bugs were crawling up my skin until I slowly slipped into oblivion. My chest heaved up and down as I pressed a hand against it. The fresh wounds stung, prickled. The pain was too much for me, someone who hadn't had a hand laid upon their body. My safety was always top priority, but now it was up to debate since the moment I found my soul in Yugo's body. Death was painful no matter how much I brush off the topic. I really wasn't willing to experience another one. Perhaps in the future, but not now. I had came to that conclusion while the whip beat my skin mercilessly, leaving scars and marks of which I would remember every time I see Etienne's beautiful yet so disgustingly hateful face.

The door creaked open, and a red-haired entered, appearing in my line of sight that was getting hazy and blurry due to the dim lighting and the threat of my consciousness slipping in and out. "You do know who I really am, right?" The soft and feminine voice stiffened me almost immediately.

        I decided to act coy. "Yes. I do know that you're the young master of the house and I had disrespected you. Please forgive me, young master, this lowly servant did not know his manners."

"You," the small figure wrenched my head back, pulling harshly on my hair and spat. "Really are not as dumb as you seem, Yugo Karrina. I'll give you that, but you are less smarter than the average person. Have the cake got to your head and block off your rationality? Answer me," he paused and added. "Truthfully."

        I released a hearty laugh. Maybe the cake really did block all my rational thoughts. "To be frank, Etienne, yes I do know who you are. Etienne Karrina. Child of such a rotten woman inside out. Who knows if you'll turn out to be just like your mother. So what are you going to do to me now? Whip me? Threaten me?" I shifted uncomfortably on the cold stone floor, some bits of dirt smeared in my face, along with blood. I could feel its metallic taste on my tongue, and that only further disgusted me.

Etienne examined my every features carefully, not wanting to miss out any details and I allowed him. It was much better to follow his supervision now, since my fate was in those small, childish hands of his, as much as I hated to admit it. Etienne really was crucial at this time. His soft fingers pressed against my busted lip, and I pulled my lips warily up in return against his finger.

          "Your skin. They blend in well with the blood and scars," he commented and I lifted my eyebrows. "Like an exotic bird, you really differ from most of the people here, but that's why you're such an eyesore. So different it pisses me off so much." I felt his hand trail down my neck. With my hair pulled to the back, I had no choice but to look into his misty doe eyes. However, instead of appearing innocent like they always had been, those pair of eyes sent shivers down my spine. Dark. Cloudy. Those eyes screamed dangerous. I asked myself how on earth no one noticed this.