A rose to grind

-6-

         "You insolent ingrate," a low, guttural voice sounded beside my ear, tickling the sensitive skin of my earlobe. I shuddered as the warm breath fanned against my jawline—well, a breath that was warmer than his own heart. And by his, I mean our loveliest and most innocent Etienne, the one boy none in the world would ever get tired of. "How dare-" his eyes flared with released anger that was bound to fire me up and I didn't mean in a good way. It was the kind of anger that burned you alive, your insides and skin, no matter how unsettling that sounded. "You fool me into conversing with a stupid child! How dare you leave me alone only to return with nothing in your big hands that despite their size, are as useless as ever! You deserve this, and you know that you brought the upon yourself....ingrate!"

Wow, this chapter had started off with a banger and once again, I was the victim of Etienne's tantrums. The thin whip against my skin sizzled with every beating and I could feel the everlasting effect of the friction from when it rubbed against my skin harshly. It burned, enough to leave marks superimposing the ones from years ago. I could never understand Etienne's fascination and infatuation with inflicting marks and bruises upon my skin—ones that Jacklin in the end, was the one to clean them all up. I wondered at that moment if he'd ever appear just like last time to bring more frustration to me. It was both a pain and relief to me when every inch of my body begged for his presence enough to the point where I'd spend hours and hours in the bathroom to keep me sane. From then on, I knew I had to keep in touch with the kitchen maid without Etienne's knowledge.

        Pying! Shhkk..! Breathless, ragged gasps escaped past my slit lips, blood staining the corners of my lips. I was once again pathetic in front of someone I begrudged most. Etienne's obnoxious laugh filled with pure joy and ecstasy at my suffering interrupted my rueful thoughts. He crouched low, grabbing a hold of my chin forcefully, and in no manner of netiquette, graceful. "Your pleas and breaths are music to my ears, Yugo. As expected, you still are my favorite, loyal dog. Look at you, so gorgeous with blood covering your skin...your beautiful sun-kissed skin. It's bare and all mine to gawk at. Go ahead and beg me to spare you some mercy. Then perhaps I shall save you the once more."

I gritted my teeth at his taunting words. Fool. You were a child trying to threaten the great, adult me. And to expect I'd end up begging for his mercy, begging for him to become my savior though he was no where close near that word. My fists urged me to allow them to meet his smooth, unblemished skin that were as shiny as jade. My body trembled where he touched, my skin burned. "No," I simply replied in the midst of my bitterness. It was once in a while that I had defied his command and surely, his cold eyes snapped to meet my own fiery ones. "I don't want to let you have the satisfaction of ruling over me with your cruel and sadistic tricks. Whip me all you want, fucker, I'm not submitting to your tyranny this time." I spat at his dress shoes. Expensive ones, must I add. His servants must have went through a lot of trouble to get those limited shoes and here was Etienne, strolling around with them on with no care for his underlings' efforts that were no in vain and for what? Acknowledgement? Money? Reason to hold onto the golden thigh?

"Tsk. Tsk," Etienne shook his head lightly, sweeping a hand under my throat and tilting my chin up to meet his piercing gaze. But my stubbornness refused to let me cower under the heated stare. I was determined in my mindset to show Etienne he didn't have complete control over my body and I. "I'm afraid a whip wouldn't be enough for your punishment. Let's see....how about...humiliation? For such a prideful creature like you, I'll step on your ego into a million pieces and have you begging at my feet like a stray dog for food."

My usually narrowed eyes went doubled it sizes, as wide as they could go. My breath hitched for a second before I pulled myself together to give a valid answer. "If not for my help, you'd still be a clueless, young child, Etienne. With my help, you'd be as proud as a beetle. You think you're so above everyone else just because you've taken my place as the rightful heir to the—" My words got stuck in my throat when Etienne intercepted me with his own, little speech.