The crack of the whip.
My scream tears from my throat and laughs ring out around me as my back bows. I swore I wouldn’t cry if he ever did this to me again. I’d be silent, hold it in, and not let him see me break.
That’s impossible.
Crack.
The agony roaring out of me from the last lash never had time to die before the next joins in. The laughing grows louder as another piece of my shirt falls away.
“Let me have a go, Mel. I’m the one she punched anyways.”
It was an accident…
My voice wants to shout out my defense, but I can’t get my raw throat to work.
I didn’t mean to hit Jeremiah.
He stepped in front of me to block Kuthro.
How could he, they, do this to me? After everything…
Crack.
Another cry pierces the air.
“I do love the sounds you make, sweet T.”
My head shakes, clearing the flashback that’s taken hold. I beg my eyes to gain clarity, realize I’m in my new bathroom, not the arena. Marble flashes across my sight momentarily, but not enough to keep me from sinking right back into my despair.
“J-Jeremiah, please.”
“Don’t please me, Thayla. You did this to yourself. You spoke out against the gods and have rioted against your punishment ever since. Give in and we may start going easier on you.”
“P-please.”
“What are you doing? Stop!”
A choked gasp falls from my lips at the sound of Lambrit’s voice. Fear and relief mix with the pain coursing through every inch of me. He shouldn’t concern himself with this. They’ll hurt him.
“Get the fuck out of the way, Lambrit,” Jeremiah barks.
“Mellcom, stop this. Look at her, she’s had—” An oomph falls from Lambrit as he’s shoved to the ground and another scream belts out of me as I crane my head around as far as I can.
“Don’t. Jeremiah, don’t hurt him. Mellcom, stop him, please.”
Those green eyes lock onto me. How can he look so sad and angry at the same time? How can he love me, yet do this to me?
“Enough, Jer. Let’s go.”
Jeremiah scoffs, kicking Lambrit over as he comes to crouch beside me. “See you at home, sweet T.”
I jerk my head away as he lays his lips to my cheek. The movement causes pain like no other to race down my spine and his laugh has my heart cracking open.
“Thay,” Lambrit sputters as he catches his breath and crawls to me.
“Why are you here? You shouldn’t have come looking for me.”
“You didn’t show up at the library on time. I knew something was wrong. Hold on, I’ll get you down.”
