Broken: (Ignite, Book 2) Page 4

  Her knees shook and she struggled to still them. “What do you want, Cherry?”

  “I have what I want.” He glared at her.

  “What’s that?”

  “You.”

  “Why do you want me?” He was still pulling on her hair and her neck was beginning to ache, not including the pain he was inflicting on her head.

  He sneered. “Oh, you’ll find out. All in good time.” He released her head and stood back, taking a phone out of his pocket, aiming it at her head. “Smile.”

  She moved her head, covering her face with her hair just as she heard the click of the camera. He growled and yanked her chin towards him. He focused the phone again and forced her head still while he took the picture again. Then he pushed her face away.

  It dawned on here that he wasn’t going to let her go anytime soon. That he might even have other plans for her. Suddenly she felt cold and her teeth chattered. “Please. Just.” She struggled to get her mouth to work. “Just tell me what to do.”

  He grinned down at her. “You’re already doing it, babe.”

  He kneeled at her feet, shoved her knees apart and pulled the chair to him. She leaned back, struggling, but he tipped the chair so that she slid towards him.

  “Do you remember our last conversation?” His rank breath washed over her and she tried holding her breath. She nodded.

  “What did we talk about?” He seemed eager, too eager, and he licked his lips. Laura’s stomach dropped. She was going to be sick. “You told me why you have your stupid nickname.”

  He nodded. “That’s right.” He sat back, pondering and studying her. “Now, the question is… Can I take your cherry? Or am I too late?”

  Laura sucked in a breath. “That’s none of your business.” She felt sick to her stomach and tried to close her legs. She struggled with her bindings and the hair cut into her wrists, making them bleed. Ignoring the pain, she yanked harder, trying to pry herself free.

  Cherry laughed and stood back. “No need to worry your pretty little head just yet. Right now is not the right time.” He stood up and she breathed a sigh of relief. He walked towards the door.

  “Cherry?” Anguish broke out on her face. Would she ever see Jace again? What would happen to her family if she didn’t come back?

  “What?” He faced her.

  “Can I get a blanket, please?”

  He laughed and slammed the door.

  ❦

  Laura shook violently. Water from her hair dripped down her arms; every drop was ice. Her hands trembled and she gripped the edge of the chair, trying to control the shaking. She rubbed her knees together, anything for heat. She looked around the room, trying to find something that might warm her.

  She saw an iron poster bed, with sheets and a blanket.

  Hope blossomed in her chest and then she retched. Why was there a bed in this room? She quickly looked away. She didn’t want to know.

  Jace. Her heart burned for him. Ever since he’d come in her life, she felt like she had something to live for. Before, her life was dark. Hopeless. Anguish. There were nights when the hole in her heart was an anvil on her chest. It was hard to breathe. She would never lift the weight.

  And then she met Jace.

  It was a crazy blur of a dream. They were running and hiding behind that stupid sign. And then he was in her room and she couldn’t believe that she was opening her heart to him and showing him everything. And a little voice inside her head said, “Maybe you are worth loving.”

  When he’d told her his name, she’d seen every part of his life and, even though most of it was a blur to her, it was burned into her heart. But it wasn’t only that. Sharing his name had given her what everyone always wants in their love but never gets: she knew the thoughts and intents of his heart. She knew him, maybe even better than he knew himself. With Urban, it’d been different. Urban wasn’t as clear. He, himself, was muddled, lost and mixed. He loved Camilla, that was the only clear thing about him. But with Jace, he was so focused on the good of others, that there was no selfish hidden agenda. He was the best person she’d ever known.

  And he wanted her.

  Just the thought of it made her heart glow. She would never go back to that emptiness. She looked around the room. She would get out of here.

  ❦

  Her fingertips were turning blue. How long had she been here? Laura licked her lips, they were dry. How could she be so wet and yet so thirsty at the same time? She moved her head, flinging her hair in her mouth and sucked on the measly strands. It just made her more thirsty. Her whole body was weak; she just wanted to sleep. She looked at the bed again.

  It had to be worth it.

  She scooted the chair, it was so heavy, trying to move it bit by bit towards the bed. She barely moved. Ugh. It’s so frustrating, I can’t even get a blanket. She shoved harder, using every ounce of strength she had. She moved a millimeter.

  She stopped, breathing heavily. I’m too tired to do this. Her thoughts were slow, sluggish and her head hung.

  What am I doing here again? Am I waiting for Jace?

  Her body was still shaking.

  No, Jace wouldn’t leave me here like this.

  Would he?

  “Run.”

  Laura looked up. There was no one else in the room.

  Was she going crazy? She swore she heard a voice.

  “Run. Run as hard and as fast as you can.”

  Laura shook her head. The words were familiar.

  Promise me. Say you promise.

  She looked around the room, trying to find something to cut the angel hair. She looked at her bindings. If angel hair was stronger than rope, could it…? She moved her wrists up and down the wooden arm of the chair, creating friction. The hair bit into her arms, rubbing the skin and making her bleed. Determined, she rubbed.

  ❦

  Finally, she was getting somewhere. The hair was cutting through the chair. She pulled tight and cried out. The hair was going to cut through her bone. Blood ran in rivulets, dripping down her pajamas and onto the floor. She could see the layer of fat between her bone and her skin. She winced. Copper filled the air and her nostrils flared with the intrusion. Can’t think about the pain. Have to get out. She pulled harder and heard a splintering noise. Hope sparked and she yanked harder, screaming. A sharp pain shot up her arm and she almost passed out. Gaining her strength, she cradled her bleeding wrist to her chest and now, blood-soaked shirt.

  Jace’s shirt.

  Where is he? Did he even know I’m gone? What time is it?

  There were no windows in the room. She didn’t know if it was dark or light, day or night. Have I been gone hours? Or just a few minutes? It felt longer than a few minutes.

  She hung her head, smelling the crisp linen and metallic smell of his shirt. A tear tracked down her face.

  She wondered for the hundredth time. Would she ever see Jace or Kayla again? Or my family?

  She used her other hand that was still bound to the chair to wrap the bottom of Jace’s shirt around her bleeding wrist. She reached forward, almost toppling over, and managed to grab the door handle.

  She pulled with all her might, dragging the chair towards the door. It squealed as she pulled herself, inch by inch, forward.

  Finally, breathing heavily and exhausted, she made it to the door.

  What now?

  She avoided looking at her wrists and tried the knob. It was locked. She pulled against it, using the chair to leverage her position, but it wouldn’t budge.

  She studied the room, noticing things she hadn’t seen before, looking for anything that could help her. The room was a pale green, with peeling paint and mold. There were drawers right next to the door with a pack of cigarettes and a lighter next to it. She gripped the dressers and pulled, and they scooted towards her. She grabbed the lighter and, clicking it, burned off the rest of the angel hair.

  Not strong enough!

  Jumping up, she gripped the door knob and pulled. It still did
n’t budge. She looked around the room, searching every inch of the wall for an opening or some way out but it was completely enclosed.

  Despair overcame her and she fell to the ground, shivering again. She crawled with one hand towards the bed, still cradling the other hand, and gripped the blanket, dragging it around her. It warmed her a little bit and she closed her eyes, trying to calm down.

  What the hell is going on? Why did Cherry need her? Was it just so he could rape her? Or was it for something else?

  Anger flooded her body. She wasn’t going to let him get what he wanted. She shot up, grabbed the chair and, ignoring the pain shooting up her arm, slammed it against the door.

  It crashed, splintering bits of wood flew everywhere. She raised it again and smashed it, over and over, against the door, yelling. “Let me out! Let me out! Let me—”

  The door ripped open and Cherry charged at her, grabbing her by her arms and shoved her onto the bed. He climbed on top of her, holding her arms down and steeled himself against her bucks. He grit his teeth and growled. “Calm down.”

  She screamed. “Get off me!”

  He slapped her face and pain burst through her, leaving a burning rash on her cheek.

  He held her arms together over her head and she squirmed under him. He pulled out a small circular plastic container and ripped a thin, floss-like strand out. He grabbed one arm and pushed it against the post of the iron-wrought bed.

  “No!” She pushed weakly against him with her injured hand. There was a pop and pain shot up her arm. Her wrist flopped uselessly.

  “Cherry, please stop.” Giving up her struggle, she broke down. Large tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why are you doing this?”

  Cherry ignored her, tied both hands to the bed and turned his back to her to tie her feet. “Cherry, please.” She hiccuped.

  Realizing that her pleas weren’t doing any good, she bucked her hips and he bumped his head on the bed post. He squeezed her leg tighter and it was like a vase crushing her leg.

  “Stop Cherry, that hurts.”

  “You don’t know what hurt feels like.”

  “Yes I do!”

  He turned to snarl at her. “You have no idea.”

  “Then tell me. Why are you hurting so much? What did I do to make you feel any kind of pain?”

  He jumped off the bed and marched out of the room. Then he returned with her jacket, the one she wore the night he ripped it off her. He waved it in her face. “Remember this?”

  “Of course I do. That’s my jacket you ripped off me.”

  He shoved it under her nose and the oily smell of Camilla’s blood rolled over her and she choked.

  “Remember whose blood covers your coat?”

  She turned her head to the side. “Of course I remember.”

  He leaned over and his breath washed over her. “I want to hear you say her name.”

  “Ca— Camilla.” She was choking on the reek of Camilla’s blood and his breath. She closed her eyes; she was starting to feel faint.

  “That’s right.”

  “So what?”

  He was silent and she peeked at him. A tear was running down his cheek. Oh hell. Seriously?

  She felt a pressure in her chest. “What, Cherry?”

  “Camilla is—was—my sister.”

  Laura reeled. “How was I supposed to know that? I didn’t kill her. And Jace only killed her because she was going to kill me.”

  “You don’t matter. You shouldn’t matter to him, you’re just a human girl. He loved Camilla, how could he kill her?” His eyes darkened and he looked at her with such loathing. “For you.”

  He was going to kill me. He’s waiting for Jace to show up and then he’ll kill me in front of Jace. She squirmed against her bindings, violently bucking.

  “Let me out of here!” She screamed and kicked and the bed rocked. “Cherry, don’t do this.”

  He climbed on top of her, trying to hold her still, and her desperation grew. She bit his arm and he cried out. She pulled herself up and bit his chest. He yelped and jumped off her and she tore at her bindings. She felt like she was going to rip her hand off. Cherry darted from the room and returned with a bottle of water. He climbed on top of her again and forced her head still with one hand while jerking her jaw down with the other. He poured the water down her throat and she spit it on him. He wiped the water off his face and growled. “Hold still.”

  She shook her head from side to side, convulsing and trying to buck him off her. He grabbed onto the wall for support and waited. Then he put his hand over her mouth and nose and pushed tight. She inhaled, trying to breathe and sucked against his hand. She tried to move her head but he held her tight. Her lungs burned, she was too worked up to calm down.

  Air. She needed air. Please Cherry. Her eyes begged him. He held the bottle to her mouth and released her. She sucked in air and water and coughed, spurting water. Her lungs burned and she tried to breathe. He held off for a second, waiting for her to finish coughing, then pushed her forehead to the bed. He stuck the neck of the bottle in her mouth and water guzzled down her throat. She bit the plastic but couldn’t shut her mouth. Her throat involuntarily swallowed and choked until the water was gone.

  When she was done he jumped off her and watched her, breathing heavily. Her head felt heavy and her eyes drooped. The pain from her wrist grew into a dull throb. “You’re gonna have to let me go to the bathroom, now.”

  The last thing she saw was his sneer and then she was out.

  ❦

  Laura heard a voice through the fog.

  “Of course I drugged her, she was going to…”

  She felt a binding on her wrist and vaguely realized that her hands were over her head, tied to the bed post. But her body was warm; she had a blanket tucked around her.

  “I told you, I know what I’m doing. He’ll come for her.”

  She turned her head and his blurry image stared down at her, his hand to his ear. His voice droned on; he sounded like the school teacher in Charlie Brown. Wat wah wah. Wah wah. Her lids were heavy and she fell back asleep.

  ❦

  Laura’s wrist throbbed and pain shot up her arm. Fingers rubbed her forehead and she blinked open her eyes. Cherry sat next to her, stroking her face and hair. He was mumbling to himself.

  Laura pulled back. “What are you doing?”

  His eyes connected with hers. “Do you know why Jace likes your hair?”

  “How did you know Jace liked my hair?”

  He stood up and walked towards the dressers. He grabbed the lighter and flicked it. “It’s obvious.”

  “Why?” Her throat was dry and it scratched roughly as she spoke.

  “He has a niece with hair the same color as yours. They’re best friends.”

  “He’s best friends with his niece?”

  “Well, it’s not like she’s young. Or blood. She married into the family.”

  “Oh.” Laura eyed the empty water bottle and licked her lips.

  “What does that have to do with my hair?”

  “Some people say that he’s in love with her.”

  She jerked her head towards him. “I thought he was engaged to Camilla.”

  “He was.” He pulled out a cigarette and tapped it on his palm.

  “You smoke?”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes. If I’m bored.”

  She swallowed hard. “If you’re so bored, why don’t you just leave?”

  He grinned. “Nice try. You would never make it out of the lake on your own anyway.”

  She stared at the edge of her bed, her mind working furiously. “So Jace loved both of them?”

  “Nah. I don’t think he was really in love with his niece, that was just rumors. I don’t know if he ever got over Camilla.” He lit the lighter. “Until you, that is.”

  A warmth blossomed in her chest. She struggled to hide how his words had affected her. “Why didn’t he just let Camilla go? She didn’t love him, why didn’t he let her and Urban get marri
ed?”

  “He did. Of course he acquiesced. But the council wouldn’t let them break their engagement. It was too important to the bloodline.”

  “What?”

  He laughed. “Yeah.”

  “You guys have some ancient rituals going on there.”

  “Well, it was hundreds of years ago, so yeah, I’d agree with you there.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Hundreds?”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Something like that.” He put the cigarette in his mouth and Laura hoped he wouldn’t light it up. It was hard enough to breathe in here without the fumes from a cigarette. He rolled it on his lips.

  “How old is Jace?”

  His eyebrow lifted. “He didn’t tell you?”

  Laura looked down and mumbled. “No.”

  “Ha. I don’t blame him. He’s much older than you.”

  She lifted her chin. “That doesn’t matter.”

  “It might matter. One day. If you manage to live through this, which I doubt.”

  She swallowed hard. “What’s going to happen to me?”

  He grinned slyly, his eyes glazed over and Laura regretted asking. “I’ve got something very special for you.”

  “Are you waiting for Jace? Why don’t you just kill me now?” Her heart thudded in her chest. She didn’t know which answer she wanted.

  He stood up and sat on the bed next to her and she scooted towards the wall. Her senses awakened and she tensed. She heard her heart in her ears. His eyes slid over her and she stiffened. She didn’t look away, but met his eyes.

  If he was going to rape her, he would look her in the eyes and do it.

  He stood up, pulled the blanket down and the cold wafted over her. She shook as his eyes raked over her body.

  “You are fascinating. Alexander says you can’t be entranced. Is that right?” His breathing increased and he inched forward.

  Fear washed over her and she struggled to control her voice. “I guess so. I’m not really sure.”

  His hand rested on her knee and it jerked. “Alexander entranced your friend, didn’t he? Kayla, was it?”