“Three!” Master laughs. “What do you think, pet, that I’m just going to watch these fuckers take my prize. The special kitten I raised for me. We’ll share.”
“No!” she gasps, slapping a hand to her mouth, her eyes on me. “You’ll kill her.”
I start to shake harder, my knees wobble, and I fall to the floor. Mama reaches for me, but Master yanks me up by my hair.
“Ow,” I cry as he shoves me back to the other man, who grabs my wrist. I struggle against his hold, pulling back and scratching at his hand while I look at her. “Please, Mama.”
She wipes her eyes. “Let me calm her then,” she says, her voice quieter while I can’t stop crying now.
Master looks at the two of us. “Fine.” He nods to the man holding me.
As soon as he lets go, I fly into Mama’s open arms, dropping into her lap. “It’s okay,” she soothes.
“I don’t want to,” I sob into her chest.
“Cinder, you have to listen to me,” she says. I look at her with wet eyes. Then she leans forward and whispers in my ears. Because she doesn’t have time, her words are quick. When she finishes, I don’t like that feeling in my chest. It’s like I can’t breathe. Not believing her, I slowly shake my head. Her sad face tells me it’s the truth. I drop my head to her chest, crying harder.
“Get your fucking whore under control, Kabir,” someone says behind me. “I thought they obeyed you.”
“Sixty!” Master snaps.
Immediately, Mama pushes me to stand, and even though I fight her, she forces me back. “Look at me, Cinder!” she scolds.
I flinch. Mama never scolds me. Unable to stop the tears, my watery eyes open. I choke on shock. Master is standing behind Mama. One of his hands is on her shoulder, the other is holding a knife to her throat—the one I saw him use on Mama before, but the way he’s looking at me, I know this time if he hurts her, it will not heal.
“No.” I shake my head, my eyes flying between the knife and Mama’s face.
“It’s okay, Cinder,” she says, grasping my hand. “It’s okay, baby.” I feel her palm press into mine, but I keep my eyes on hers. “Remember what I taught you?” Slowly, I nod. “Then don’t forget it, okay? And what I whispered now, use it to live, baby,” her voice sounds funny, like she can’t breathe. I don’t understand it.
That man grabs my wrist again. I look at him, then at Master.
“Go with him, kitten,” his voice is different, angry but sad.
“Please don’t hurt Mama,” I cry, pulling at the hand the man is holding. Then I feel it, the soft satin in my clenched fist. I look down. Mama’s pink ribbon unrolls over my hand. I look at her.
The tears running down her cheeks, she slowly nods. “It’s yours now.”
“Go, kitten!” Master roars, dragging the knife across Mama’s throat.
“No!” I scream and scream until the sound dies in my chest, the tears stop flowing, and my eyes stick to hers.
“I love you, Cinder,” she smiles as the blood rolls down her neck and her body tips over.
I just stare. I don’t move. I don’t cry.
“You took her away, kitten,” Master says. I lift glassy eyes to him. “You did this.” He points to Mama’s body, now lying on her side, her eyes still on me. “You took her away from me,” He sounds sad, but his face is twisted, cruel like the evil stepmother. His eyes are blacker now. He’s saying more words, but I don’t hear them.
The man holding my wrist drags me backward toward the red room, the other two men following. I don’t make a sound, my eyes on Mama until I can’t see her anymore.
Still, I stare. I don’t make a sound. But I feel.
Feel the tunic leave my body, feel the rush of cool air glide over my skin, feel the soft mattress against my back, feel the pull of my legs being stretched wide open, feel the weight of hands on my body.
Still, I stare. I don’t make a sound. But I feel.
Feel the satiny softness inside my clenched fist. Feel the caress of Mama’s hands through my hair the way I like. Feel the touch of her kiss on my forehead when we sleep. Feel the tickle of her laugh in my chest.
As hell closes around me, this time, I make a sound. One small sound before my tongue bleeds my pain like she said it would.
