“I’m so glad you asked,” she says, her lips spreading in a dazzling smile. "It’s an extract of neurotoxins from anAmazonian snake. It kills the victim slowly, painfully. And the best part is that there is no known antidote.”
My heart squeezes in my chest.
This is what I’ve feared my entire life. She's going to kill one of us.
2
GRACE
My mother leaves the room with the syringe in her hand.
I start to hyperventilate. I hate feeling this way. I hate how helpless she makes me feel.
Before I can spiral, the door opens again. It's not my mother this time, but a tall woman I've never seen before. Her dark hair is slicked into a severe bun, her body draped in black from head to toe. Two young girls stand behind her, dressed in simple linen gowns, their heads bowed low. My stomach churns as I realize who they are.
"I'm Mrs. V," the woman says, looking at me through slitted eyes. "Do you understand why I'm here?"
I can't bring myself to speak, so I just stare at her.
"You're about to be presented in front of some very important people," she says. "Normally, that requires a few weeks of training, but your mother assured me it wasn't necessary."
My breath leaves my lungs in short punches, barely filling my lungs.
“You’re expected to follow all commands,” she says. "Any disobedience on your part will result in unpleasant consequences. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I nod.
She walks toward me.
I can smell the evil from her pores. People with bad hearts have a certain scent that clings to them. It's sickly sweet, lingering even under perfume. My own mother reeks of it.
She leans down and pinches my chin so hard that it makes tears form in my eyes.
"You're not as unattractive as your mother described you to be," she observes. "You could even be one of the headliners."
She unlocks the handcuff from around my wrist. I pull my sore hand close to my chest.
"Stand," she orders, stepping back.
I look up at her. She arches a black eyebrow.
A silent threat.
I stand.
"Strip," she says.
My mouth dries. I go to the happy place in my head—warm ocean breeze and sunshine on my face. I remove my nightgown.
"All of it," she says.
My chin trembles. The humiliation of it all makes me want to rage and scream, but I keep it contained inside me.
The repercussions aren't as bad when I just do what I'm told.
"I don't have all day," she says.
I unclasp my bra and let it fall to the floor. And then I step out of my panties. I cover myself with my arms.
