Chapter 14
Bram
I felt sick. Nauseous, as I replayed mine and Everleigh’s conversation over in my head. What the fuck had I been thinking letting her leave? What was wrong with me? My slave was barely in one piece. Her eyes still had broken blood vessels from Master Norris’s attack and her bandaged hand was almost always being held at her chest. I’d seen the way she had winced in pain, repeatedly. Had she even been aware how angry it made me?
Back and forth, I paced, watching the camera to where she walked. I took in her expression, the way she carried herself. God, she was gone. So fucking mentally battered that she didn’t even look like the same Everleigh I knew. Of course, I probably looked completely different, too. West had done a number on both of us. So why didn’t I put a stop to the torture he continued to put us through? I could have by keeping her. I should have.
“Fuck!”
I slammed the side of my fist against the wall. My plan of action was just as fucked as I was if I did anything to screw this up. Everleigh was meant to stay as far away from me as possible. That had been my initial thoughts. But she was right. I would have let her rot in the White Room so not to sentence her to certain death if West found me first. He was going to try to kill me. Given the condition I was in, he may very well succeed this time. But, my slave. She wasn’t behind bars now. He’d find her and he’d hurt her. Again. That new beating or rape would be on me. I had to put a stop to this. I had to at least try.
Everleigh strolled by her old apartment she’d had with Master Vicolette and I leaned more toward the screen, confused on where she was going. It didn’t take me long to figure it out. When she stopped at Master Yahn’s door, I was clutching the back of the chair so hard my fingertips went numb. I quickly reached out, putting it to full screen and increasing the volume.
“Mistress?” Master Yahn’s head peeked out and he quickly waved her inside. His confusion was evident as he led her into the living room. “My God, look at you. I saw you at the execution, but I was so far back, I didn’t realize how bad off you were. I’ve heard rumors of your time in the White Room, but nothing to this magnitude. Talk to me. What’s happened?”
“Oh, Master Yahn. It’s been horrible. I didn’t know who else I could trust.” Everleigh broke into tears, burying her face in her hands. His comfort to her was immediate. It poked at the deadness in me, bringing something to life as I watched the man’s arm wrap around her shoulders and pull her close.
“Shh. It’s okay. Talk to me. Tell me everything.”
Sobs shook her shoulders and she lifted her head. The eyes I took in weren’t right. Everleigh wasn’t the same and it scared me how much I didn’t know this woman.
“I’ve escaped my quarters inside our Main Master’s wing. He had me locked up there. I’m his wife and a Mistress and he treats me as though I’m a prisoner. This isn’t right. My attack on his person was justified within our laws. He’s raped me, beat me, had others attack me and rape me. This is not how Whitlock is meant to be led. West Harper is out of control. He is not Main Master material and needs to be replaced.”
“So that’s what he was referring to when he said he had demons. It sounded like a confession and I wondered as much at the execution.”
“Yes. The day I stabbed him and cut into his face, it started out as self-defense. He was raping me when I turned the tables. I know I got a bit out of hand, but I wasn’t in my right mind. It wasn’t the first time he did this. I know I have no weight with the board, but you do. You have to know that West is not the answer to Whitlock. If he’s capable of doing this to me, what of you? What of the other Masters?”
His head shook and I sat down, putting the laptop in my lap as I watched.
“I tried to tell them. I’m the best man for the job. I could make Whitlock better than it has ever been.”
“I believe you would try,” Everleigh said in a soft voice. “I think you would make a fair and fine Main Master, but I’m not sure that is your path. You are aware that there may be competition?”
“What do you mean?”
“I overheard Master Kunken and my husband talking while I escaped. You have a meeting tomorrow night. Is that right?”
His head cocked to the side, as did mine.
“That’s right.”
“I know what it entails. I know more than they’re going to tell all of you, that’s for sure.”
Master Yahn eased them to the sofa. He sat perched at the end, engrossed in Everleigh’s words.
“What is it you know?”
“A lot. But before I tell you, I need your help. I need you to fulfill Master Kunken’s promise. He gave me a slave and an apartment. Yet, he tricked me and put me back under West’s roof. We both know that’s not how it should be. I need away from my husband. I want a divorce.”
The greed the Master held shone through on his face, increasing my heart rate and burning my chest. Yes, there I was. At least a small part of me. How had this not been here before I physically saw Everleigh? I’d been slightly concerned as I watched over her. Enraged at what I witnessed on the videos. But now, seeing this stranger—this woman my mind told me I loved—manipulate this Master sent me into retaliation mode. I didn’t like this version of my slave. And it was all because of West. He’d destroyed her innocence. The purity she used to hold was gone and had I a heart that could feel, it would have been grieving for both of us.
“If Master Kunken and Master Harper have an inside deal concerning you, you can guarantee I will squash it first thing in the meeting. Every Master there will know the truth. Let them try to explain. Let them try to hide you away, then. It will be impossible when you’re there to defend yourself. And we’ll make sure of that. I’ll bring the others together. We’ll fight for you.”
“Not just for me, but for yourselves. They think you’re all fools. They hide a secret so big, they wouldn’t even be telling you if not for the fact that it may be true.”
“You’re killing me. What secret is this?”
“Bram Whitlock.”
Master Yahn’s head reared back and he shook it more confused than when he’d seen Everleigh at his door. And me, my heart was running a marathon.
“M-Master Whitlock? I don’t understand. What does he have to do with anything? Have they learned something on him? Or … discovered something?”
Everleigh paused, suspiciously narrowing her gaze as she watched his expression—guilt, fear. Even I saw it.
“There’s word he may be alive. Here, even as you and I speak, he could be watching us. The evidence began when I discovered a poem in Bram’s book. You see, Lyle, the old High Leader, told me when I was alone, I needed to read it. There was a message on a marked page and I was told to hold to hope. Well, after weeks of West hiding it, I finally managed to get my hands on the book. It was the day my husband attacked me. I took that rape so I could discover the truth of our Main Master. In that poem, Bram admitted he was alive. Whether it is true, I do not know. But others say they’ve seen him in the halls. The buzz is getting so big that they have no choice but to tell you.”
A quick shake was thrown at Everleigh and Master Yahn stood, running his fingers through his short, balding hair. “I can’t believe it. He faked his own death?”
“No, not precisely.” she rushed out. “Not like you think. He was attacked, but he was stabbed because my husband wanted him dead so he could take over Whitlock. My husband tried to have him murdered.”
Master Yahn spun around so fast, I almost couldn’t believe he could move at such speed.
“Attempted murder? Are you positive of this? Master Harper told you that?”
“Yes. And Master Kunken knows the truth, too. They plan to kill Bram for good if they can find him first. They even mentioned having everyone who followed Bram killed as well. They were referring to all of you on the board.”
Everleigh’s lips parted and she gasped. Her hand shot to her mouth and she looked up, scanning the top of the room in a panic. I knew she was looking for the cameras. She was looking for me.
“Oh, God. I forgot. Master Kunken. He’s done something so horrible that if our real Main Master is indeed alive, he … God, I don’t even know how to say it.”
“What? What is it?”
“Master Kunken. He’s had Bram’s cousin taken. That’s all I heard, but if this is true, our Master will not be happy. It’s a little boy. I don’t his name.”
I heard no more. I heard nothing but the crashing of blood against my eardrums. Rage associated with physical pain cramped in my chest and I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the sharp electric-style twinges. It was too much on top of what happen to Everleigh. I had to calm. I had to block away the emotions and the way they affected me. I wasn’t ready for my heart to give out again. I had too much to lose. I’d come too far to die now. And I could if I didn’t take it easy. I shouldn’t have even been alive, more or less going through all of this.
“They’ve gone too far. They have to be removed from authority as soon as possible. I need to speak with Master Kain. He and I will take care of it. We’ve had our disagreements, but in truth, we’re very close.”
“The more support we have, the better. But I have to be honest with you.” I glanced back at the screen, trying to decide if I could listen to anymore. My mind said I shouldn’t, but for the life of me, I couldn’t turn away. “Whitlock has always been about blood. And not just about what is spilled within these walls. Blood has held this place together through leadership. The Whitlock’s are the foundation. Bram is meant to rule, and he will again if he’s alive. But with my husband’s betrayal, there’s only one positive I see coming out of it. Me. Through law, Whitlock’s rule is always taken through relation. Help me denounce my husband’s rule and let me lead Whitlock until Bram returns. If, he returns. There’s still no evidence he’s alive, but in my opinion, I think he may be. I can do this until he’s ready. And I can do it with you at my side, leading the board.
Master Yahn stopped pacing, staring over at Everleigh with his fist at his mouth. Calculation. I could see it sparkling in his eyes. “A woman has never led. We haven’t even had a female Mistress in … years. Men might not be willing to follow you.”
Everleigh pushed to her feet and I knew power when I saw it. Who was this woman? This fighter … this killer. “They will follow because I will leave them no choice. Look at me. Do I look like a woman who can’t push when it comes to shove? They will accept my place as Main Mistress or me and the guards will force them to their knees and make them. I am no slave like they think and soon enough they’re going to find that out. Now, are you with me? Will you stand as the new board leader and help me?”
A good minute went by before Master Yahn nodded. “I’ll make the call to the other Masters. I do believe it’s time for a change.”