Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
A new voice scowled, “You will be punished!”
I jerked back. “For a kiss?”
“The verdict for you voluntarily and knowingly defying your councils’ orders and warnings is the punishment of lashes of correction.”
I didn’t say a word.
“Ten,” another voice added.
That time, I didn’t hesitate. “And if I refuse?”
“Then you will learn the punishment for challenging your council instead of just disobeying it.”
Before I could object again, the doors opened, and two men entered. Unlike the Brotherhood, they wore pressed black shirts, trousers, and leather gloves. No mask hid their faces. They wanted me to see who was going to torture me to degrade me, causing me to bow at their feet.
One was holding a cat-o’-nine-tails, the other a wooden restraint board. It was low to the ground, designed for me to lay my chest, face, and arms on while extending my arms above my head to lock them into the holes so that I couldn’t escape or move.
“Take off your clothes from the waist up, then get on your knees, Onyx Devereaux.”
This wasn’t the first time I went against the council, but it was the first time it’d been for something like this. Never for a woman.
Although it went against everything I believed in, I surrendered, mostly to end this bullshit trial. Slowly, I slid off my hoodie and shirt, tossing it aside before lowering my knees onto the board.
“Chest down and arms up,” the same voice ordered.
I did as I was told. After they secured my wrists through the openings at the top of the board, they tested the restraints.
“Comfortable?” a new voice mocked, recognizing it was my father.
“Like a pig in shit.”
Thinking I’d cower, my father tried one last time, “Last chance, do you regret your actions on kissing the girl?”
He didn’t use her name on purpose, knowing it would piss me off. I could’ve lied. It’d been easy too. All it took was one word, one apology, and I’d receive mercy.
I didn’t, because fuck that shit.
Instead, I chose the hard way and responded, “No.”
I heard the whip rise, whizzing through the air.
Crack!
The first lash tore across my back, and my entire body jerked against the restraints as I sucked in a sharp breath, refusing to give them any satisfaction. They were a bunch of fucking voyeurs and sadists. They were getting off on this shit.
“One,” my father remarked in a cold, detached tone.
He didn’t give a shit what they were doing to me, under the delusion that I deserved it.
Crack!
Heat spread across my skin.
“Two.”
They wanted me to understand that every decision came with a price. I wasn’t allowed to think for myself. When they were halfway through, my skin was broken open, and I felt the blood dripping down my back.
Crack!
“Still believe it’s not that deep?” my father taunted.
“Yeah,” I stated, my voice came out strained. “I do.”
The next lash came down with such force I thought I was going to pass the fuck out.
“Six,” a new voice counted.
“You can stop this,” my father coaxed out of nowhere. Maybe he was starting to feel bad. “Just apologize and beg for mercy.”
Without missing a beat, I clenched out, “Is that all you got for me?”
Crack!
“Seven.”
I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood.
Crack!
“Eight.”
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The room began spinning, and everything started to slow down, the chamber getting darker by the second. I blinked, and the room tilted to its side.
Crack!
“Nine.”
My stomach roiled. The world was hazy, and I found refuge in that. Until finally…
Crack!
“Ten.”
I fought with the desire to tell them to fuck off, but my body had gone numb as the room spun in crazy, fast circles. I caught a glimpse of the council as the men opened the lock, gripping my arms to stand me up. I tried to find my bearings.
One right after the other.
It was no use. My breath disappeared, and darkness immediately took over. I passed the fuck out.
* * *
And only then did I find any peace.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Onyx: If you expect the world to be fair with you because you are fair, you’re fooling yourself. That’s like expecting the lion not to eat you because you didn’t eat him.
“This is fucking bullshit!”
I came to with Deja screaming.
“Look at him! Just look at him, Caspian!”
My eyes fluttered open, groaning to wake up.
“How could you let this happen?” she asked him.
“I’m not his keeper, Deja.”
“No, but I thought you were his best friend!”
“Deja…” I grumbled, shaking my head. Blinking a few times, I tried to find her.
Slowly, the room came into focus for me.
“Enough,” I added.
“Enough?” she spewed. “Just wait until you see what they did to you!”
“I was there. I’m fully aware, Deja.”
Her eyes widened. “You voluntarily went through this?”
I didn’t reply, too exhausted.
“Oh. My. God! What the fuck is wrong with all of you? You seriously need to get your head examined because this is not okay! Do you understand me? They could’ve killed you, and then you would’ve left me all alone in this fucked-up world, asshole!”