Chapter Marian #2
The man’s gaze searched my face while I studied his.
The dark hair was nearly black, and his skin was deeply tanned.
His lips were on the thinner side, but his nose was wide at the bottom.
He reminded me of a bodybuilder, and from the hit, I didn’t doubt his size had everything to do with that.
His arms bulged through the sleeves as his forearm rotated to pull back his uniformed top.
I leaned in close, taking in the brand of the circle around an upside-down crown.
“What is that? I saw it on the door. What does it mean?”
He fixed his shirt, still reading my expressions.
“It means you’re home.”
“Home?”
The man reached up, grabbing my jaw to turn my face as I winced.
“This is The Order of the Unavowed. It’s a sanctuary for some; hell for you. In a few days, you’ll be sold. What happens to you is up to them.”
“Sold?” I pulled my face from the man’s grip. “Sold to whom?”
He shrugged, gesturing for me to continue walking.
“… Trafficked?”
“Sort of.”
Was there another way to state the obvious?
Tears left me again while I took in the torches and stone.
More doors. More hay. I blinked through the racing options, pouting my lip the smallest amount as I played on my femininity.
It was hallmark, and my mother swore by it.
It made up most of my training… along with a few tricks.
My voice softened. “Where am I going right now?”
The guard slowed, and he looked hesitant.
It had me rounding my eyes, using that doe-eyed expression I knew would pull him in.
It wasn’t just a look—it was a hook I’d learned from my hypnotist, psychiatrist mother.
She called it a sway, and I hadn’t used it since Drayton, so long ago.
I hated that I even had to now, but I didn’t have a choice.
I didn’t like the way he kept taking me in, but I needed answers.
I had to know what I was up against, and it was imperative that he warm to me.
The look would work. The mind knew it, even if he didn’t.
The only way to get him to speak was to initiate, and I needed him to soften.
“I’m about to take you to the inside. It’s not like out here.
They’ll brand you. Take your blood. You’ll go through a medical checkup.
It doesn’t take long. Once you finish, I’m to take you to meet The Unavowed.
You are not to speak to him unless spoken to.
You are not to go near him or touch him.
To do so would be a death sentence. Do you understand? ”
I swallowed hard, nodding.
“Were you here when I arrived? Did you see if I came in with anyone? Maybe a woman with dark hair?”
The man’s brows drew in, and we started walking slowly again.
More pause. He looked at me, going back to my stare.
Searching… for assurance. The stare was addicting.
Insinuating. He’d wonder if my look meant something special.
Something ‘more’. And he wanted it to on some level.
I could sense it. “You were here when I arrived last night. I came in to check on you. For the briefest moment, you opened your eyes. You don’t remember? ”
My lips parted as I took in his expression. What it held, I wasn’t sure, but I slowly shook my head.
“I don’t remember anything. I… I only just woke up.”
“It’s probably for the best. Let’s go.”
“I didn’t get your name.”
We headed straight and rounded a turn. I nearly gasped as we approached two large white French doors, glistening with gold molding.
“David. Now, listen to my warning. If you run, you get beat. If you speak to anyone, you get beat. If you revolt at any point and fight, I will beat you. There is no escape from The Order. None. To try could get you killed. Follow the rules, or it won’t go well for you.”
My heart was racing again. I nodded, not sure what to expect as we headed forward and he opened the doors. What I was faced with, I didn’t understand. Slowly, I walked forward at the loud buzz of voices, more in a dream than the reality I was forced to endure.
There were men—expensively dressed men sitting at dozens of thick wooden tables. There was a feast laid out along the length with multiple dishes and sides gathered in the middle. David pulled me forward like a child as I tried to process what was happening.
This couldn’t be real. This place, this…
punishment? Was I in trouble? What were these men doing, and where were all the women?
David said I’d be sold, but to whom? To these men?
For… sex? Worse? I couldn’t understand why I was here.
My mind still wasn’t clear. I could barely function enough to make it through the moment.
The hum of surrounding voices died out a little as we walked deeper off to the side towards stairs that led up to a second level.
Men were looking at me. Some even pointed.
My eyes were trying to take in everything from the large painted portraits on the wall to the sword and torture device décor.
There was even a large table in the back, elevated a good few feet from the others.
Movement on the ground stole my attention, and I sucked in air at the hand that was waving to me.
It was subtle, more towards the girl’s feet, but I knew from the dark hair that was covering most of her face who it was. I didn’t think. I couldn’t.
I ripped my arm back and spun, taking off at a sprint right to the one person I promised to protect.
Penny’s head flew up, and her eyes grew big as I raced in her direction.
She fidgeted, looking up to the chair she was sitting next to in a panic.
Her hand was going wild again, but it was waving me away.
It was telling me to stop. I couldn’t. Fear wouldn’t let me. Pride wouldn’t.
Fingers wisped and grabbed at the bottom length of my hair, and I pushed myself faster, but it wasn’t enough as I flew past tables. The man grasped and yanked, and I screamed, feeling myself get ripped back.
“Penny! Let go of me! Penny, are you okay? Penny!”
The man kneeled for the briefest moment, slamming me to the ground as he did. All air left me as stars danced in the blur that rested above.
“I apologize, High Master—Unavowed. She doesn’t learn.”
Footsteps sounded as I tried to curl on my side. The throb in my head was back in full force, and I felt sick as I coughed and tried to catch my breath. Penny was sobbing and yelling.
“Mercy! Please, anything! Mercy!”
“Stand her up.”
A loud cry left me from the pain racing through my body.
The room spun, and I was placed and held upright.
Hard eyes met mine. To say the man was handsome was an understatement.
He reminded me of Bastian with his black curls and deeply tanned skin, but this man’s face was hard angles where Bastian’s had more softer edges.
He was beautiful… and terrifying with his empty hazel eyes.
“The infamous Marian LaRoe.” He smiled, not at all nice. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”
“Waited? I don’t know you.”
His head slowly shook back and forth. “No. But you know her.”
Penny was still on her knees, her arms stretched out towards us. She was in the same slip dress as me, but Penny already had an upside-down crown burned into her chest. It had me breaking inside even more.
“I promised to protect her, and I will.”
“Protect her from me?” His smile grew wide. “But she’s mine.”
I glanced to Penny, only to come back to him. “Look at her,” I sobbed. “Look at Penny and tell me she looks happy to you. Tell me that’s a woman who feels safe. This is how you treat a woman you claim is yours?”
He looked over to her, his face turning hard as he came back to me.
“Penelope must earn her right at my side. Until she does, she will hold her rank.”
“She hinted you might love her,” I breathed out.
The man’s face softened the smallest amount.
“I love her, too. She’s my friend. Please, at least let me go check on her.
I don’t understand what’s happening, but I’ll do whatever I can to work this out.
Just… please. She’s been through so much. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
The sly smile returned, full of threats and horrors.
“Penelope’s wellbeing is no longer your concern. If I were you, I’d focus on yourself. The Order is not a safe place. It is not friendly to enemies.”
“Enemies? I… I don’t know what you mean. I don’t know you.”
“Your mother did. She knew a lot of us,” he said, gesturing around the room. “And her sins are now your own. Your mother—”
“She’s not a good… She… She—My mother…”
I blinked through the flashes of the signing. I could see the phone again in my memories. I reread the words that were only now coming back. The man’s head cocked as he lowered to peer into my face, but his words barely made sense.
“Your mother is dead. Your own Main Master killed her. Elec. Elec Wexler.”
My eyes shot up at the familiar name. A childhood friend. Once… so long ago.
“There it is. Recognition with confusion. Fascinating.” His smile grew wide again. “There’s such mystery surrounding you. It’s all so intriguing.”
“Please, I know my mother did things.”
“Your mother was a very evil woman, Marian. She was corrupt and got what was coming to her. Your entire family—” he laughed.
“Well, from the video that was leaked, their deaths weren’t pretty.
But… you’re still here. And you do owe me.
I had to ask myself, what would someone pay for the last of such a prestigious line?
For revenge from such a manipulative mother?
Sure, you belong to someone else, but that means nothing when there’s a debt unpaid.
And I always get paid, Marian LaRoe. Not only did your mother lie to me, but your security, that building you live and work in…
” He laughed, gesturing and shaking his head in disbelief.
“You’d think me or my men would be able to get through, but no.
No. Do you know how much money I’ve spent trying to get Penelope back?
How creative I had to become? Debt. I’ve subtracted some.
I mean, Florida, really? That was too easy. Not that I’m complaining.”
I flinched as his hand came out, swiping blood from under my nose.
“Your little outing was exactly what I had been waiting for. You took my dear Penelope with you, and let’s be honest.” The man shrugged. “With how I found you, I probably saved you from a worse fate. Look who you were going to marry. I saved you.”
“From Bastian Allard?”
A look swept over his face, and his laugh was genuine. Even slightly shocked. “You really don’t know anything that’s happened, do you?”
“I know some psychopathic couple lured me near an exit so they could kidnap me. I know the man’s phone read that my parents were dead. But then they pulled me through the door and shot me up with something. That’s when you showed up. I remember nothing after that. Is that man here?”
“You didn’t know about your family’s death? They’ve been dead for more than a week.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“No one… contacted me. My parents never answered when I reached out. I thought—It’s not unusual for them not to take my calls.”
“This keeps getting better and better. They kept you in the dark. This changes things. For the Council to not bring you in immediately.” He stopped, expressions flashing through his thoughts. “They debated their choice.” The last was quiet as he looked down.
“Who debated? The Council? I don’t even know who that is? I’ve never heard the term before. What choice? And… you called Elec my Main Master. What is that? What the hell is going on?”
He gave a hard shake, looking at the guard behind me.
“Start the process. When she’s done with Medical, bring her to my private quarters.
With help. She’s been trained to fight. She is not to be approached without at least two guards.
For her… the more the better. Be sure to spread the word, and don’t hesitate to remind her where she is.
If she fights or runs again, break her foot.
If she continues, break them both. I don’t need her to walk to auction her off.
I’m pretty sure they’d prefer she didn’t. ”