Caretaker only sniggered, amused. He turned toward the door, his steps unhurried.
“Come along,” he beckoned. “Dinner should be served soon, and I’d like to show you what happens when you disobey.”
Chapter 57
Violet
Jürgen was silent as he walked behind me, forcing me to follow Caretaker through the winding corridors of the estate. The entire place felt off. As if everything was just too perfect.
Or that could be my anxiety creeping in, making my palms slick as I tried to keep pace without stumbling. Ornate paintings lined the walls, and gold accents trimmed every corner, every handle, and every edge. It was as if someone had gone to great lengths to project wealth and taste.
And yet… the windows were still boarded shut.
Finally, Caretaker came to a stop before a door with a hunting painting hanging heavily beside it, all teeth, blood, and grinning hounds. Without looking back, Caretaker slid a keycard against the black panel mounted in the frame.
A soft electronicbeep, followed by the sound of whimpers.
The door opened with a quiet hiss, and I found myself moving forward as if my legs didn’t belong to me, looking over the metal banister to stare at the row of people chained to the wall a floor below.
Jürgen cleared his throat behind me, urging me down the stairs.
“What is this?” I asked, my voice painfully quiet.
“They’re the newest trainees,” Caretaker replied smoothly, almost bored. “Their owners have handed them over to me temporarily.”
My stomach lurched. “Owners?”
“They’redolls,” he said with open disdain, glancing down at the nearest woman.
She wore a choker similar to the one still tight around my throat. Her mask was gone, her dress torn at the shoulder and eyes wide with terror.
“Please…” she whimpered, snot smearing her upper lip. “I’m sorry… tell him I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” Her trembling hand reached toward his shoe. He sighed, as if it was an inconvenience, and stepped on her fingers instead.
“Stop it!” I cried as she screamed, the others recoiling instinctively. Five women. Two men. All of them shaking. “They’re not toys to be bought!”
“I don’t buy them, but theyaretoys.” He pressed harder until with his heel, breaking her skin when he removed his foot. “I’ve been hired to train these dolls. My programme is rigorous, and I always deliver results. They arrive weak, undisciplined. But some time under my regime will fix that. They’ll become obedient. Silent. Ready to fulfil every demand placed on them. Only then will they be returned.”
“They’re people!” I screamed as a hand encircled my upper arm, and I was dragged back up the stairs, Jürgen keeping me tight to his side as we returned to the hallway.
“They’re nothing but holes,” Caretaker said coldly, closing the door with a click behind him. “They exist to be used. Bred. That’s all they’re good for.”
This couldn’t be real.
“Das Abendessen ist fertig,”Jürgen said beside me, pushing me forward.
“Ist unser Gast vorbereitet worden?”Caretaker replied, almost as if it was a question. At Jürgen’s nod, he added,“Sehr gut.”
I would’ve stumbled if not for Jürgen’s iron grip hauling me upright. Without slowing, he shoved me forward into what appeared to be a dining room, a long table dominating the space, set with a golden candelabra that cast wavering light across polished wood.
“Mum!” I screamed, finding her on her knees, head bowed forward. I shoved at Jürgen, breaking free, only to fall before her. “Mum, are you okay?”
She didn’t react when I reached for her, brushing her hair from her face to find her eyes were wet, hard.
“Sit down, Raena,” Caretaker ordered, voice stern.
“I’m not fucking Raena!” The words scraped out of my throat.
Jürgen yanked mum’s head back, forcing her to look up while I was dragged to my feet.
