Chapter 18
There are now guards posted infront of all the mansion doors, even those leading to the back yard. Of course, just like Ivan said, they are here to keep an eye on me as I’m not allowed to step outside ammore
The more I think about it, the more become convinced that this is kidnapping. Nothing about what’s being done to me is fair or right. Yet, Dean’t go anywhere to get justo. Even if I managed to go to a police station, they’d make fun of me or call me a liar because God forbid, rich people committing any sort of crimes. But know better than them. I’m sure there are plenty of nasty skeletons inside the Whitlocks closet.
it was a safe space
The few belongings in ime room bave been move to Ivan’s and the door is now penmanently locked. It’s not like that the bedroom assigned to me was i but it was definitely better than the prospect of sleeping in Ivan’s bed.
When Valentino comes down for breakfast, he avoids looking at me and I find new bruses on his arms and face. I bet he had another fight with his older brother. Even Nico doesn’t pay attention to me. I suspect they have been endered noto,
Ivan and his father are trying to isolate me trom everyone just so I can accept to become their slave. I force myself to believe that will never happen but it doesn’t sound so convincing to me anymore. When I stand by myself in the kitchen, I can’t help but realize how nerve working it is to he socially isolated and cut out from
the world
myself desperate to
Try to start a conversation with Nien when I take him upstairs for his shower before school. The kid doesn’t reply to anything I say and I find my bear his voice, at least once. One reassuring word from him would help me go on for a little longer but he doesn’t spare me any.
“Please, Nico.Why aren’t you talking to me?” I sob.
He finally looks at me but not with the innocence and compassion I was expecting. Nico is clearly upset. He slaps away my hand as I was trying to fix the collar of his uniform and screams.
“You left!”
“You lett! You say you will take care of me but y you be, just like mama
He doesn’t give me a chance to say or do anything. Nico grabs his backpack and runs out of his bedroom. Of course,
I deserved that. It’s true that I ran away from this hell without a single thought for him or Valentino, even though I knew they’re suttering as well. I did it because I didn’t have the means to save my own self, let alone other people. But this knowledge doesn’t take away from the guilt. I still let them down
Before leaving for work, Ivan meets me by the stairs to give me his warnings.
→you better not try anything stupid, Catalina. The guards are keeping an eye on you. If I get the slightest information that you tried to aure to give you hell.”
run away again, I’ll make
“More than you already did?”
Ivan squints his eyes at me. I’m expecting a harsh reaction from him but he just sighs and finally leaves the house, I don’t feel any relief to know that I’m alone for the next few hours. I don’t want to be here.Plus, the old master didn’t go to work. He’s still in his room, too wealdto get out of bed.
I have to take breakfast to him and as I walk upstairs with the heavy tray of food, I curse him in my mind, wishing that he had died the last time.
And there’s a sort of satisfaction I feel when I open his bedroom door and see the gray and wom out shape of his body under the covers. Even if he managed to defeat death last time, I don’t think that master Whitlock has much time left. The pain evident in his face is enough of a sign. I can’t believe that I’m rejoicing another person’s misery right now but in my defense, he is not good enough to be qualified as a human being
|_ A crooked smile appears on his lips when I put the tray in front of him. His skeletal hand gets on top of mine and a chill runs through my entire body.
He says in his breathy voice.
My eyes get caught up on the butter knife. I want to stick it into this man’s eyeballs but for some strange reason, the sight of his ghostly face and the touch of his band have frozen me in tear
yasteat.” He commands.
“Please sit and keep me company as
Altube insults in my mind fall to pass the barrier of my lips. I draw a nearby chair close to his bed and sit, Master Whitlock gets started with his breakfast. Slowly. he puts butteron las tuast and pour himself a little bit of coffee.
“How’s your back?” He asks in a nonchalant tone, as if he’s just wondering about the weather. “Any better?”
“Not really spir through gritted ter
And of course, that’s an understatement. My lacerated back is paining me more than ever. I fear to see the extent of the damages and avoid mirrors like the plague. Master Waldock sipshisoutter withadelighted sinale.
Doljart worry, child it will seat soon and it’ll be like it never happened.
“I beg to differ. “I stup back, my voice Trembling with anger. “The wounds lett in my soul will never scar, master Whitlock. They’ll always be a reminder of how wwfully you treated me last nigla.”.
a sludd be a reminder of what caused such harsh punishment. Don’t forget that it all comes back to you”
“Yeah, I should blame mysell
bmming, away fromstyrants İilor yourself, right?!
He shakes his head and I wish I could join j
“I knew you’d be a great entertainment from the first time I saw your picture, Miss finez. I met a woman just like you in the past. She shared the same feisty energy…..She was incredible, of course Believed she could move mountains. But you want an advice in an old dying man, Catalina? This attitude won’t take you anywhere because that woman. She roded up very poorly thanks tucher ligh standards i moukihate it. it that happened to you too.”
My hands turn into lists over my thighs. Master Whitlock sets his dead eyes on me
- Chapter 18:
“Ivan is still a boy and has much to learn about life. That’s why he’s tolerating you so far but I know a day will come when he’ll grow out of his feelings and that day is very near, Catalina. It will be up to you then, to decide how you want to spend the rest of your life…He told me you refused sexual services to him?”
“Yes, I did. If your son wants someone to fuck, I’m pretty sure there’ll be plenty of choices in open houses for him.”
“Oh, so you think you’re any different from the women who work in those places? Not really, Catalina. They all started just like you, you know. Dysfunctional families, poverty, lack of skills…”
Sarat trickles down the side of my face despite the fact that I’m freezing in this bedroom
“You just might end up in the same place as them, child.” Master Whitlock adds
I choose to ignore him. Keeping up a conversation with this man is a waste of breath.
the way
What did I tell you about giving me toast for breakfast?”
and
Ch. My recent escape made me forget about this teensy detail. Master Whitlock had told me that he only wants porridge for breakfast. I try to give him a take apology but look up just in time to avoid the cup he threw at my face. I hear it crash behind me. White with fury, the old man smashes his tray on the floor an jump out of my chair in borror
“Clean this up, you stupid bitch!” He yells. “And bring me my porridge.”
I think it’s the tear that operates my body at this point. I get on my knees to pick up the broken pieces of glass and between a few trips from the kitchen to his bedroom, 1 manage to wipe and clean his mess and to come back later with his porridge. Luckily for me, he doesn’t ask that I stay and watch him eat this one. Only an insane man can change his mood so abruptly
I can’t seem to help my tears from pouring for the rest of the day. None of the guards ask about my well being, even when they see me bawling my eyes out. I know they’ve been ordered to not approach me. I miss Ricardo now more than ever. If he were still around, he’d have defied the orders to come check on me.
I really hope that he’s still alive somewhere…
Ivan doesn’t come home at his usual time. After dinner, I wash all the dishes in the sink and go down the hall to my old bedroom. It’s only when I find the door locked that I remember that this is not my space anymore.
Itremble on my way upstairs to Ivan’s bedroom. I’m glad that he isn’t home yet but the sight of his lang size bed is still frightening to me. I shower quickly to make sure that he doesn’t arrive while I’m unclothed. I perform my night pray and get to bed. I try to make myself as small as possible, hoping that he’ll forget about my existence when he comes
I go in and out of slumber for hours before I hear the door to the chamber unlock. A quick glance at the alarm clock tells me it’s a little after two in the morning. Where has he been?
I want to tum and look at him but the urge to pretend that I’m still sleeping is stronger. I frown when I notice that there’s more than one footstep coming from behind me. Then, Thear the distinct laugh of a female.
“Shhh…We have to be quiet.” Ivan says.
My eyes widened when I hear them lossing. Ivan has brought a friend home and I’m here, in his bed. Did he forget that? What am I supposed to do?
They come closer and I feel the other side of the bed moving. The woman giggles again and it’s like she’s laughing in my ears. I sit up abruptly and she screams at mysight. I throw quick glances in her direction. She’s very pretty, even though I can’t see her properly in this dim–lit room. I note traces of bright, red hair, a pointy nose and full lips. Ivan has set her on the bed next to me and is standing there with his eyes boning into me.
“W–who’s this person?” The girl asks.
Her initial surprise has now turned to curiosity. Ivan starts to play with ber hair.
“This is the maid, Cammen.” He responds in a low voice.
“oh But what is the maid doing in your bed?”
Carmen can’t seem to stop giggling and I finally notice the strong smell of vodica on her.
“shebere to watch us?”
Ivan is still looking directly at me as he gives his reply:
“Yes, Cannen. She’s here to watch and we’ll give her a show that she’ll never forget, won’t we?”
