Page 741 of Coal Hearts

Exactly as Victor commanded.

Chapter Seven

...............................

Henri

––––––––

I SANK INSIDE MYSELF AND surrendered.

I shut off all my humanity and became that shadowy beast within.

A beast that’d been collared by a new Master. A Master who told me when to eat, drink, and sleep. I didn’t question him. I didn’t bite back. I let him steal every ounce of dignity all because I loved another far more than I loved myself.

Days turned into weeks.

Evenings into nightmares.

The things he did pushed me to the brink of madness.

Things I erased immediately. Things I refused to accept were happening.

And through every one of his lessons, I didn’t look at her.

I didn’t seek out her gorgeous golden eyes.

Didn’t have the strength to be selfish enough to look at her even though every part of me was dying.

I needed to see her.

Needed to hear her.

Touch her.

Hold her.

But...we were kept apart.

Once his taunting and schooling finished for the day, I was thrown into that beige and black chamber. I was given just enough rations to stay alive. Told to stay clean and presentable for my owner. Ordered to kneel and bow and yield.

Ily and Peter were kept elsewhere, and most nights, I woke up screaming, begging to return to the dungeon where at least we faded together.

That had been hell, but this...this was fucking purgatory.

* * * * *

I huddled on the ground as Victor stood over me, watching his guards kick me like they had in the temple. Cupping my head and curling as tight as I could, I did my best to switch off.

Pain came in bursts.

Despair clawed at my soul.

I hadn’t done anything to deserve this punishment, but...I took it.

I took every little infraction he blamed me for.

I breathed too loudly at dinner.