The Rozzers dragged Esper out of her cell. Blood stained her clothes from childbirth, and her face was swelling from their violence. She held a very small baby tightly in her arms, pressed against her chest, with the umbilical cord still attached.
Seda gasped and withdrew her hands, her fingers still curled into the shape of the bars, unable to relax her stiff joints.
Esper tenderly kissed the baby’s forehead as they pulled her away.But she looked up at Seda, their eyes meeting. Seda felt her stomach drop.
For the first time in months, she saw her friend—beaten, broken, dirty, and severely malnourished.
The sound of the metal door closing blocked out all remaining light. The room was once again bathed in a low, crimson glow from Elco.
Seda’s shock and fear were replaced with fury that seeped into the depths of her soul, and a familiar vibration echoed within her chest.
How dare they hurt her friend! How dare they put their hands on a grieving mother! How dare they deprive her of enough food during her pregnancy, force her to carry this child, and make her endure these conditions! How dare they hurt innocent people!
She began breathing heavily through her nose, and her chest rose with each furious breath.
Elco looked at her, and his eyes widened. He slowly backed away from her cell.
“Moon-flutter…” he whispered as he faded into blackness.
She would stand up for her friend, shielding herself and others from the darkness that consumed them, and do everything in her power to avenge those who had hurt them.
As her anger intensified, devouring her submissive obedience like a monster itself, she promised herself that the feeble Seda from before was gone, replaced only by a relentless, wrath-filled drumbeat.
The useless Seda of the past was dead.
Chapter 22
Seda
(Some time later)
“I’m baaccckkkk,” Alexi called in a sing-song voice to Seda as he twirled the keys around his finger. “Sorry that took me so long. I know you must be thirsty and hungry. And as much as I would love to spend some special time with you,youhave an important date ahead and must clean up.”
Seda remained sitting on her filthy bed, staring at the opposite wall. She did not give Alexi the attention he so desperately wanted from her. Let him come in. Alexi clicked the lock open and walked to her, bending down in her face, his red hair falling over his brow.
He stuck his nose onto her throat, right below her ear, and breathed her in. “Fuck, how do you smell this good after being here and covered in his disgusting filth?” He reached down into his pants and grabbed himself, groaning. “I wish I had more time, darling, butLord Mordred wishes to see you.” He removed his hand from his pants and gave her left breast a tender squeeze.
Seda did not shirk away from him and instead remained staring blankly at the wall. The events from earlier replayed vividly across her mind.
“Do you hear me, you fucking weirdo? Lord Mordred is here and wants to see you. Get up.Now.”
Seda shifted her focus to him, and he gasped, stepping back. “What thefuckhappened to your eyes? They’re glowing!”
She had no idea what he was talking about, but she didn’t give two fucks what he thought he saw. She glanced back at the wall and slowly got to her feet, holding out her wrists for Alexi to unlock the chains.
“Do you no longer talk? I asked you what happened to your eyes.”
When she didn’t answer, he slapped her across the face. Her head jerked to the side, and she gradually turned her eyes back to him, holding out her wrists once more.
“Whatever. I have to get you to Mordred. He can handle your insubordination.” He inserted a key into the lock on her wrists, and the chains clanged off. She barely registered the relief on her bloodstained wrists from the removal of the tight cuffs. She followed him out of the cell and past Elco, who was asleep at the end of the long, vast hall. She looked at him as he opened one eye slightly and watched her pass.
Alexi opened the metal door, and the hot, fresh air under the blazing sun assaulted her skin. She squinted and looked at the scene ahead. The central courtyard was large and covered with sandy ground. What caught her attention was not only the number of Rozzers hanging around or the many malnourished people sitting in small circles, but also the serpent-like monsters dressed in the same Rozzer uniforms patrolling alongside them. Of-fucking-course there were monsters here.
They had blue scales and walked upright like humans. Their teeth were sharp, and they carried a variety of weapons. She narrowed her eyes when she saw one of the monsters whip a screaming man tied to a post at the end of the courtyard.
She did not look away.
The courtyard was lined with rows of metal doors, much the same as her own, and at the far end of the yard was a large metal door with a golden handle.
