Page 751 of Coal Hearts

With that cryptic whisper, she slipped out the door and vanished.

* * * * *

Christmas is in two days.

Christmas is in two days.

I couldn’t stop Faiza’s fervent whisper echoing in my head.

Constantly.

Morbidly.

Christmas is in two days.

Yes but...Victor punished all the jewels. I’d seen the scars on them. Seen how those still alive cowered by their Masters. How they barely lifted their eyes anymore. No one looked at me or Peter. Not a ripple of rebellion existed in the energy flowing in the ballroom night after awful night.

And yet...

Christmas is in two days.

I glanced at Peter across the huge banquet and prettily dressed tables.

He stood in his usual spot. Kept apart from the other jewels. Separated from their quarters. No longer allowed to talk to them.

He gave me a questioning look as I narrowed my eyes, trying to read his body language.

Did he know what was planned?

Did he know the jewels had rallied and kept going?

How did they? Why did they?

A second attempt would be suicide if Victor ever found out.

He shrugged as I studied him far too blatantly. We barely looked at each other anymore just in case Victor took offense and took it out on Henri. His collar remained hooked to a matching chain, our places on either side of the stage almost comfortably familiar at this point.

Out of all the jewels serving the many Masters, we had it easy.

We were the pawns. The collateral.

Henri was the prize.

Apart from a few pinches in private places, a few slurs, and a few leers...the Masters knew better than to touch us.

For the past month, while Victor dallied with Henri and Rachel steadily grew bigger with their baby, I’d caught a few Masters whispering about their leader. Men flew back to their families while others flew in to indulge in sin, yet all of them watched Victor with a glower that wasn’t there before.

Their secretive glances hinted they were no longer happy to leave Victor in charge. No doubt chaffing at his many rules and wondering why Victor could harm and brutalise a jewel, yet they never could.

Victor hadn’t noticed. Too wrapped up in his games with Henri.

But I had.

I had nothing but time to notice while chained to this wall and watching.

Sick amusement filled me at the thought of the Masters rising up and killing Victor. I almost wanted it to happen. At least Henri would be safe.

But that was a lie I couldn’t swallow.