When she stopped speaking, I looked down at her. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. My heart bled for this woman, not knowing what I could do to stop her pain. “Ella?” I wiped her tears with the pad of my thumb. She took that hand, kissed the back, and snuggled into the crook of my neck. “You want to stop?” Even though I knew she had to get it out, I still asked.
“I have to tell you,” her raspy reply shredded my hold on my sanity anger was fast obliterating. “Because there was no calendar or clock, Cinder and her mother never knew what day or time it was...”
Jesus Christ. The more I heard, the harder it became to cage my ire. My heart hammered against my ribcage, a furious barb of adrenaline tossing it into a chaotic upheaval on the inside, yet on the outside, I merely clenched my teeth, refocusing my attention on Mikaela.
“Cinder never uttered a sound when she was born. That and her dual-colored eyes fascinated Master. Sixty said he called her his little angel come to save him and the reason why there were no more children after her.”
That share piqued my attention. Mikaelawasborn in captivity. Even though I’d expected it, my mind wasn’t ready for the confirmation. It begged the questions, who was her father, when was her mother kidnapped, how many kids did the bastard kidnap, and was what she said true? That his fascination with her stopped more kidnappings. Why, hung in the air in capital letters.
“Then came the day Cinder feared.”
Her sudden shudder yanked my focus back to her. I looked down. Face cast in fear, she was reliving some terrible moment. I could do nothing to help her except tighten my hold around her.
“Guests,” she said on another tremble, leaving me curious but not enough to watch her agony.
“You don’t have to go on, love.”
She lifted terror-stricken eyes to me. “You have to know,” the words trickled out with a sob.
“Okay.” I gave her a small squeeze of reassurance, reminding her she was safe.
“Master ordered Sixty to get Cinder ready for his guests. Cinder knew guests was a bad word because whenever Master fetched her mother for his guests, she always returned bleeding, passed out, or crying from pain. Cinder tried to care for her mother as best as possible. But there were no soothing balms, bandages, or painkillers, just her little fingers, and cold water.” She paused for a moment. I knew what came next was taking its toll on her emotions. “When Cinder was ready, Master returned with his guests—” Her words broke into loud sobs before she slipped her arms around my neck and held tight.
“It’s okay, love.” I crushed her to my body, soothing her with soft words. “You’re safe, Ella. No one can touch you now.” She sobbed louder. Lead filled my aching heart, weighing it down with her tears. Caressing her back, I reached for the phone on the nightstand and dialed housekeeping. “Bring me bottled water and a cup of sweet black tea, please,” I ordered when Beth answered on the second ring.
“Right away, sir.”
“It all came back,” Mikaela mumbled against my chest as I set the receiver back on the cradle.
I frowned. “What came back, love?”
“It came back,” her words swam in her tears.
“Ella,” I coaxed, loosening my grip on her.
She leaned back, her eyes red, swollen, her nose puffy. I reached for tissues from the box on the nightstand and gently wiped her face.
“The memories,” she sniffled. “I remember everything.”
At first, I frowned before realization dawned. Something happened that day that she’d mentally blocked out. Either her interaction with Andrew or her dream had unleashed it. “You want to tell me?” Slowly, she shook her head and clasped her hands around mine, guiding the tissue I held to wipe her falling tears. “It might help,” I offered.
Dropping my hand to her lap, she traced the veins on the back, saying nothing. I chose not to push. Another minute or two later, Beth entered the room with a tray and set it on the nightstand.
“Thank you, Beth.”
She smiled, casting a troubled look at Mikaela. “Is she all right, sir?” John and Beth did very little to hide their affection for Mikaela, and I welcomed their concern. It gave me peace when I was away from home.
“Memories,” I said with a smile I didn’t feel like sharing. Beth didn’t appear convinced, but she accepted my word and left. “Drink this.” I brought the tea to Mikaela’s lips. She took a small sip, licking her lips to catch the residue. “Another?” She shook her head. “It will help calm you?” I suggested. She nodded this time. Then, with eyes lost in haunting memories, she sipped the hot drink, unaware she’d finished it until I said, “good girl.”
She blinked, staring at the empty cup. As I set it back on the tray, she began speaking again. “All her life, Master promised Cinder if she was his perfect kitten, he would bring her mama back. He never did. Now, Cinder knows...” she trailed off, rolling her finger over the back of my hand again.
Speaking about herself in the third person seemed to be helping her tell the story, so I didn’t push.
“Now, Cinder knows the truth.” One minute she was calm. The next, screaming, “Cinder caused her mother to go away because she wouldn’t listen to Master.”
Before I could anticipate her move, she jumped off my lap and ran. Startled, it took me a second to respond. In that moment, she bolted out the door and down the landing.
“Mikaela!” I gave chase.
