Chapter 3 – IVY
Chapter
Three
IVY
I’ve been through so much shit in my life; a self-centered prick doesn’t faze me anymore.
I rub my aching ass from where I landed when he dropped me like I was nothing more than trash, then look around the small room, finding it completely bare of anything. The room doesn't even have any windows.
How long does he plan on keeping me in here? I suppose it’s better than a hole in the ground or chained up like an animal.
As far as captives go, he’s already better than them.
Although, things could always get worse.
They do always tend to get worse, don’t they?
Another thing Venom has over my other captives: looks.
I’ll admit it—he’s a good-looking guy. Annoyingly so.
Obnoxious, even. Platinum-blond hair, light blue eyes, a sharp, defined face and that villainous, cocky smile that must make women throw themselves at him. Me? It just makes me want to slap him.
I might be annoyingly all too aware how attractive he is, but he certainly knows it as well which just makes me hate him even more. No good can come from a man looking like that.
He may be insanely hot, but the guy is still an asshole.
I hit the door once more. I got a taste of freedom and now I’m a prisoner again. My life is truly a fucking joke.
Maybe I can get the sweet woman to help me. Although, with how adoringly she looked at Venom, I doubt she’d take my side with anything.
At least I’m not in a dirty hole in the ground. That’s what I have to keep reminding myself of. I’ll happily take anything other than that again.
I’ll be ready though when he opens the door.
I’ve spent most of my life as a prisoner, with shitty foster parents, then with one of the worst men I’ve come across, then that twisted couple.
My accommodations are better here, but I won’t be a captive any longer, even if I have to die.
At least in death, I will finally be free.
I lie down near the door, curled up with my back to the wall and close my eyes, trying to ignore how my stomach aches from only having water and gummy bears.
I jerk when I hear the door unlocking.
Jumping to my feet, I brace myself against the wall. The door opens and Venom takes one step in before I launch myself at him from behind the door.
He’s quick. Ugh, why is he so damn quick!
I land hard on the floor, knocking the air from my lungs. Before I can even catch my breath, Venom’s strong thighs are on either side of my body, holding me in place while his hands hold my arms above my head.
Fuck!
“Tsk, tsk. Now here I thought you were going to behave after I gave you some time to think about what a bratty little creature you’ve been.”
“Get off me!” I growl.
“Not yet, darlin’. I think we need to establish some rules first.”
“Fuck your rules. Just let me go and you’ll never have to deal with me again.”
“That’s no longer an option.”
I hook my legs and shove, every muscle screaming, but it’s useless. He looks down and smiles, like he already knows how small and pathetic I feel.
“Keep throwing your hips into me and I might get the wrong idea, darlin’.”
“Ugh! I hate you!”
“Yes. I think we’ve established that. Let’s move on, shall we?
Rule one: keep your hands to yourself. If you attack me, I will hurt you.
Rule two: snoop all you want but try to leave and I will kill you—slowly.
Rule three: you can lash out at me with that vicious tongue, but you will not, under any circumstance, disrespect Evelyn. Do that and I will kill you.”
“Why would I disrespect her? It’s you I hate.”
He rolls his eyes and continues, “Rule four… fuck, what’s rule four?” he muses, looking thoughtful. “Well, damn, I’m out of rules… for now.”
Before I even agree to his rules, he releases my arms and slips his hand into his pocket. When he moves to dismount me, something pricks my side.
“Ow, what the fuck was that?” I move to stand and lift my shirt, not caring that my underwear is on full display. I spot a thin cut just below my ribs, slightly red with blood. “What the fuck was that?”
He casually flips a small blade in his hand twice before placing both his hands into his pockets and leaning against the wall. “Rule one.”
Heat rushes through me, then fades just as quickly, leaving me lightheaded.
I stumble back, reaching blindly for the wall, but my knees buckle, and I hit the floor.
Panic creeps in as my body grows weaker with every second.
“What did you do to me?” My words slur, my tongue thick in my mouth as I try to will my body to stand, but it won’t obey.
“Instead of telling you, I thought I’d show you. Sometimes lessons are better taught that way, don’t you think? And I do like playing with my food.”
I look at him through fuzzy vision. Fear blooms inside me. “V-Venom—”
He squats in front of me, and I can still make out his satisfied smile and bright baby blues boring into me.
“Mmm, not much to say now, darlin’? Agree to my rules and I’ll give you the antidote.”
What choice do I have anyway?
“O-okay.”
“Okay what?”
“I-I a-agree!” The words tear out of me, desperate, broken, as tears threaten to spill from my eyes.
His smile widens as something cool presses to my lips. “Swallow.”
I obey, the liquid sliding down my throat.
“That’s a good little beast.”
Relief trickles in as the sharp, slightly minty liquid burns down my throat. He walks out of the room without another word, leaving the door wide open.
It takes me nearly an hour before feeling close to my normal self and before trusting that I can stand on my feet again.
The bastard poisoned me. It happened so quickly, I never saw it coming. He could do it again. He would do it again. Fuck. I’m going to have to rethink my strategy here.
Three rules.
I think I can manage that.
Unless he pisses me off again, which is highly likely. And then my damn mouth and anger will get me completely at his mercy again.
Asshole.
On shaky legs, I walk out of the room. I didn't get a welcome tour, so I have no idea where I’m going. As I pass by a room, I spot two couches facing each other and a large fireplace against the wall. On a mantle above are pictures.
I step closer to inspect the photo, lifting it carefully.
Two boys stand in a sunlit field, blond hair shining, blue eyes unmistakable.
One is a foot taller, grinning wide, while the smaller one stares at the camera with hollow, joyless eyes.
Brothers—Venom and his kin, though I can’t tell which is which.
Someone taps my shoulder, and I nearly shriek. I spin around to find Evelyn wearing an apologetic smile. "Sorry, you startled me."
She lifts her hand, motioning for me to follow. I follow the older woman up a flight of stairs and down a hall before she leads me into what I assume is a guest room. Too nice.
“This is where I’m staying?”
With a smile, she nods and then opens another door connected to the room. Peeking inside, I find a bathroom with a large enough tub for four people and a glass shower stall that could fit even more. I look back to Evelyn as she hands me a towel and lightly pushes me toward the shower.
Ok, I get it. I desperately need a shower. I look disgusting and I certainly smell worse.
“Thank you,” I tell her before she leaves.
I strip off my filthy T-shirt and underwear and step into the shower. The water hisses hotter as I crank the handle, wishing I could burn off a layer of skin—take the grime and every unwanted touch from that hole with it.
Small bottles line the corner, like this place is some damn hotel: body wash, shampoo, conditioner.
I snatch the shampoo first, working it through my thick hair until the suds sting my eyes.
The conditioner’s next, and I already know I’ll drain the whole bottle.
Finally, the body wash. The citrus scent blooms around me, orange and pineapple, sharp and sweet, like I’m somewhere tropical, not here.
I close my eyes, let the steam wrap me, and stand under the rush of heat as if it could wash away nine months of hell.
After staying in the shower longer than what’s probably considered normal, I make my way back into the bedroom to find clothes laid out for me on the bed.
It’s nothing special—black yoga pants, a tank top, a sweater, socks, even new underwear.
As I slip them on, everything but the sweater clings tighter around my hips and breasts, though not uncomfortably.
I’ve lost so much weight, yet my wide hips and heavy breasts remain, only now with sharper bones beneath the curves.
Now, it’s time to find some food.