r – The Cha

n when the door to the g

voice

other girls scrambled to their feet, still sore fr

entered and poin

ne

e floor cold beneath their bare feet. Finally, they entered a large room with a long wooden

ather gloves even though it wasn't cold. H

flatly. "I handle th

've made it past Day One. Some don't. Now

t them, slow

fferently than you. They get better rooms, better clothes, more food. B

wallowe

-haired girl. "You're on kitchen duty.

anded on Belle.

d up, confu

bed her chin, making her look up. "

d fast. "

girls. You're not one of them. Yet. But you'll clean their floors, bring them food, run when they

stomach

ne: you don't disobey the favorites. Two: you don't interrupt the master

found in the forest with a broken leg and no tongue.

ls stoo

s once. "Dismissed. W

quickly and f

and smoke. She passed doors lined with gold handles. Some were half open. She saw g

d in front

ry morning. Clean. Serv

obe, her long black hair falling down her back like ink. She was

lista. Mr. Luciano's favorite.

head down. "Goo

softly. "She's

he's new. Don't break

hen her tone changed, sharp like g

le. "Say 'Yes, Mis

ta," Belle repea

miled. "F

without an

om. It had deep red carpets, tall windows with heavy cu

said. "Quietly. I don't

Miss C

you run. If I'm angry, you apologize. If you ever touch Lu

uickly. "Yes,

e noticed you yesterday. But don't get ideas. He notices a lot of g

n the floor. Her hear

ista said.

ted to t

grabbing the sma

es and wiped the table. Calista drank tea by t

or creaked

d by instin

with his sleeves rolled up, his eyes scanning the roo

d walked up to hi

eek lightly, the

ady working

ning," Cali

ard Belle, his eyes

" she w

k at

id, s

her, quiet,

away. "Good.

ike that,

econd, then turned back to Belle

aid softly. "When Luciano looks at so

't know wh

knew o

deeper into a world s

e was no

***********

she wiped down the edge of a glass shelf. Calista hadn't moved much

foot

of amusement-or perhaps cruelty-in her eyes. She crouched slightly, bring

first, but firm enou

ace," she said with a low,

confused, lips

g sound. "What a puppy. Scared,

p and took a step

rp as a blade. "Would you mind bendi

heart

sta, stunned, unsure

ised one b

es wide. "I'll never do that,"

s smile

es dar

ey me, Belle?" she asked

didn't

ence wa

e rose. "I sai

he room shattere

nto Calista's eyes with a new kind of fire. "I'd

choed throu

epped back

tbeat, all

he tension as the door swung open. Severa

anning the room before settling on Calis

efused a direct order. I told her to show

Belle, her face unre

er chest rising and

oice calm but full of w

hook he

he said

ned. "Do it," she r

tood he

aid

the door. One of them stepped in, holding a long leather whi

old. "If she refuse

rd nodd

ack at Belle.

her eyes shining with

ac

under. The first lash struck her back,

landed, har

ingers clawing at the rug as

some covering their mouths, others look

rd didn

ai

ag

the skin split open as

sion b

eath h

n was t

e shouting again, but

as the whip

ang out.

to

thing

p didn'

head, to see who had spo

orld

en, da

the floor, blee

d was the sound of heav

er through

o the east