Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Ariana
The sound of the door opening jolted me awake.
For a second, I didn’t know where I was.
My heart slammed against my ribs as I jerked upright.
The instant I did, pain flared through me, reminding me exactly where I was.
And what I’d endured.
The brand.
The belt.
The mindfuck.
I must have fallen asleep at some point. I hadn’t intended to. Didn’t think I could with the pain consuming me. But eventually, exhaustion must have won out.
A part of me wished I hadn’t fallen asleep. Because in sleep I wasn’t here.
I was with Henry. In his arms. Surrounded by his love.
But now I was back to reality. To this hellish prison I currently found myself trapped in with no idea if I’d ever be free.
Footsteps echoed against the hardwood floor, unhurried and deliberate, each one becoming more and more ominous, causing my pulse to increase. I scrambled backward until my shoulders collided with the wall, and I drew my knees into my chest to protect myself.
From what, I wasn’t quite sure.
When Father came into view, his eyes found mine, a furrow creasing his brows.
“Why are you on the floor, Seraphine?”
My jaw tensed, and I had to bite back the response on the tip of my tongue that my name was Ariana. As much as I wanted to resist, to fight, I knew from experience I needed to pick and choose my battles. If he wanted a compliant woman who obeyed him, that was what I’d give him.
For now.
I’d lull him into a false sense of security. Make him think I’d been reformed. That I’d seen the light. That I was willing to repent for my sins and find God, or Jesus, or whatever.
Then I’d fucking kill him.
“I… I had trouble sleeping.”
“Yes?” He lifted a brow.
I shook my head, confused.
“I had trouble sleeping…,” he prompted, his tone lifting at the end as if expecting me to finish the statement.
“Father,” I answered quickly, remembering his demands last night. “I had trouble sleeping, Father.”
“Good.”
The approval in his tone made my skin crawl. As if I were a trained dog who had just performed a trick correctly.
“You’re a fast learner.” His lips curved into a smile. “That’s good, Seraphine. Because tonight is a very special night.”
Heat crept over my face, a chill rushing down my spine, especially with the way his eyes lit up.
“May I ask why, Father?”
“Because it’s family dinner night. I’ve brought you something to wear.” He placed what appeared to be a folded white dress on the ottoman. “You’ll need to bathe first and fix your hair into a low bun. The Lord rewards cleanliness, Seraphine. Someone will be here to escort you in an hour.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“Of course, Seraphine.” He crouched in front of me, pressing his hand to my cheek, forcing my eyes to meet his.
His thumb brushed across my skin, his touch gentle. Almost affectionate.
Which somehow hurt more than when he’d hit me.
“Do you see how much more gratifying this can be when you obey?” He looked at me expectantly, scrutinizing me.
It was a test. Everything here was. Every word. Every glance. Every breath.
“Yes, Father,” I forced myself to say.
“Good. I’ll see you soon, Seraphine.”
I didn’t respond. Just stared into his eyes with the same vacant look I’d mastered over the years I’d spent with Victor, refusing to give anything away.
Finally, he released me and stood, each step echoing like a gunshot as he moved toward the door. When I heard it close, my entire body sagged, the air easier to breathe without him in the room.
But his presence seemed to linger, my mind reeling.
Family dinner? What was that all about? With who? And why did it sound less like a meal and more like some twisted ritual?
I brought my hand up to the wall and tapped lightly at it.
“Sarah?” I said loud enough for her to hopefully hear but still trying to keep my voice low. “Are you there?” I tapped the wall once more.
“I’m here,” she responded softly. “I assume you've heard the news? Family dinner night.”
“What is that?”
“A mindfuck is what it is,” she bit out.
“How so?”
“Josiah. He’ll—”
“Josiah? Who’s that?”
“Father. He’ll make you think everything’s normal.
He’ll smile. Ask questions. Make you think he’s genuinely interested in what you have to say.
Everyone will sit around the table pretending we’re one big happy family.
In reality, it’s a test. He’s looking for anything to use against you later.
From the way you sit, the things you say, the food you eat, the amount you eat, the way you look at people, the way you don’t look at people.
If he thinks you’re lying, if he thinks you’re being disrespectful, if he thinks you’re ungrateful…
” She trailed off, but she didn’t need to finish.
I already knew what would happen.
More correction.
I doubted I’d get off as easily as a belt against my ass. I sensed that was just a tiny peek into what other forms of correction he was capable of.
“Any advice?”
“Just…be careful. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I pushed out a sigh, a ball of dread forming in my stomach. But I swallowed it down.
“Sure thing. See you soon.”
“See you,” I responded as I slowly pushed myself to stand.
Every inch of my body ached, not only from the beating Josiah had given me but also from sleeping on the floor. I walked toward the bathroom, stopping when I looked down and saw the chain had been removed from my ankle at some point.
Thank God for small miracles, I supposed.
I briefly considered trying to escape. Was the door locked? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t remember hearing the click of a lock when Josiah left. I had a feeling this was yet another test.
As much as I wanted to make a run for it, I had no idea what was outside that door. I needed to be smart about this. It was the only way I’d have a chance at surviving.
Instead, I slipped into the bathroom and turned on the bath, thinking it would be better than a shower right now.
As I carefully slipped out of the nightgown, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
I almost didn’t want to look, scared of the sight that would greet me.
But I needed to see. When I was married to Victor, I’d avoided looking in the mirror.
I refused to let anyone have that kind of power over me now.
I drew in a deep breath and lifted my head, the image staring back at me stealing the breath from my lungs.
Bruises painted my cheek and jaw in shades of purple and yellow, my eye swollen. My hair hung tangled around my shoulders, droplets of dried blood caked by my lip. But none of that held my attention. It was the angry red symbol branded into my chest, the edges puffy and raw.
Over the past several weeks, the scars Victor had carved into me had faded. In time, most would be nothing but a distant memory.
But this?
This would always be a part of me.
And I hated Josiah even more for this.
A sob rose unexpectedly in my throat, and I pressed a hand over my mouth, but it escaped anyway.
Small.
Broken.
Pathetic.
Just how I felt right now.
Tears blurred my vision, not simply because of the pain, but because I’d be forced to carry the reminder of this place long after I escaped.
If I escaped.
I squeezed my eyes shut, suppressing the thought.
Not if.
When.
I would get out of here.
I was not going to die here. I refused to give Josiah that power over me.
I drew in several shaky breaths, getting my emotions under control. Once I did, I stepped into the bath, wincing from the welts on my ass. But I was desperate to feel some sense of normalcy. Even if that normalcy came in the form of a warm bath that made my backside ache.
I made sure to wash every inch of myself as carefully as possible, especially after Sarah’s warning that Josiah would use this upcoming dinner to find fault with everyone. I wasn’t willing to be the compliant, obedient sycophant he hoped me to be. But I’d play along.
For now.
After enough time had passed, I got out of the bath and toweled off, careful around my brand.
Remembering Josiah’s instructions, I pulled my hair back into a low bun.
Then I unfolded the white dress. It had a high neck and fell to just below my knees.
I wondered if showing your knees would be considered a sin.
I had a feeling this guy made up sins to suit him.
I gingerly stepped into the dress and pulled it up my arms. The instant the material rubbed against my burn, I nearly bent over from the pain.
It was so much worse than I’d expected. I’d gotten used to the ache, but I’d spent most of the day with the front of my nightgown open so nothing would rub against it.
I wasn’t sure how I’d get through dinner without wanting to sob.
But I would. I had to.
Victor prepared me for this, too. I’d spent ten years pretending everything was fine. Pretending my dress didn’t hide welts and scars and burns.
What was one more night of pretending?
God, I prayed it would only be one more night.
A knock sounded on the door, pulling me out of my thoughts. Before I could answer, it opened, and a figure appeared.
But it wasn’t Josiah.
Instead, a young woman stepped inside. She couldn’t have been more than twenty.
Her blonde hair was arranged in a bun like mine, and the same white dress covered her body.
She smiled the moment she saw me, and something about it immediately made the hairs on my arms stand on end.
“You must be our new sister, Seraphine.”
“I- I am,” I stuttered.
“I’m Tabitha.” She moved toward me and embraced me, leaving space between us, as if mindful of my brand. I could only assume she had one, too. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“You…are?” I asked.
“Of course. Father will protect you now. You were chosen.” She clasped her hands together, her eyes bright with excitement.
I stared at her, trying to understand. Trying to figure out what her angle was.
“You seem very happy here,” I remarked cautiously.
“What’s there to be unhappy about here? The outside world is cruel.” Her expression fell. “They hurt people out there. But inside these walls… Father protects us.” She reached for my hand and grasped it in hers. “He’ll protect you. Are you ready?”
I blinked, rendered speechless by everything she was saying. If she had been abducted like me, why the hell was she singing Josiah’s praises as if he were God himself? Unless that was his goal. To fuck with our heads until we willingly complied with his every demand.
Well, that wouldn’t be me.
“Seraphine?” Tabitha said, grabbing my attention.
“Of course.” I forced a smile. “Lead the way.”