Chapter Seven
I didn’t know how long it took, but eventually Strath returned. I don’t know if I really slept, or if I just thought I did. I was hungry. The hunger had turned from pain to nausea to a general unending ache. I was also terribly thirsty. My mouth was dry, my lips chapped.
“Stand, inmate,” a guard ordered. I glared at him and stumbled to my feet. My limbs were numb, my wrists were red and raw from the shackles. My arms ached from being tied to the heavy chains. I had to lean against the wall when I stood, my legs couldn’t hold me.
Strath walked in. He looked fantastic. His dark toga hung from his strong frame, his dark hair was shining and neat, his face was clean-shaven. He nodded at the guard who left and closed the door.
He walked wordlessly through the room, touching the chains on the walls and the torture instruments. But I was immune to that now. I had spent hours meticulously going over each and every tool in here. I knew them intimately now. I wasn’t afraid of them anymore.
I was waiting for Strath to speak. Why had he, himself, come down here? Why hadn’t he sent his guards to break the truth out of me? Maybe he was the kind of leader who liked to do this type of thing himself. The thought horrified me.
Finally, he turned to look at me, appraising me from head to toe. I stared back, unafraid, into his bright blue eyes.
“It pains me to see you like this,” he said. It was the last thing I expected to hear. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing. “The guards have been waiting. I can see it in their eyes. They are desperate to have you, to break you. That is why I hired them after all, to break people. Do you want to be broken? Do you want this hot iron burning your precious skin? These pliers ripping out your teeth and your nails? Do you have any idea how painful that is?”
I shook my head. I could imagine, but there was only one way to know and I was desperate to not know.
He moved in front of me, his thumb traced the outline of my lips. I closed my eyes, allowing myself this one moment to enjoy his soft touch. He was so tender and gentle with me. I never wanted him to stop, but eventually, he pulled away.
I opened my eyes and saw his blue ones staring directly into mine. “Tell me,” he whispered. He leaned into me, breathing on my neck, whispering in my ear. “Tell me where you were going. Let me help you.”
“Why do you want to help me?” I asked. “Why?”
“Can you not guess?” he asked. His hands were tracing the lines of my neck. I had to struggle to keep myself from falling onto him. I was ready to crumble and I wanted to just fall into his arms and let him take me from this place.
“I want you,” he whispered. His voice was so low and quiet that for a moment I almost didn’t believe him. “I found out you were the smuggler who was sneaking past my borders. I had my men track you down. When I saw your picture, I was stunned. You were beautiful and smart, but even more than that, you were free. Free like I am free.”
He took a step back and I longed for his comforting touch. The chains on my wrist were heavy, I was tired and hungry. From a bag, he pulled out a container of water. I couldn’t stop the whine that escaped my throat when I saw it.
He walked towards me but stopped a few feet away. Lugging my chains, I walked towards him and the water. The chains lifted off the ground, and then they were stopping me. My arms were pulled behind me as I strained towards the cool drink held in his hands.
Strath tilted my chin up and set the container against my lips. He allowed a small sip to enter my mouth and I swallowed it. I sighed, it was wonderful.
“More, please, My Lord,” I said. He brought the container up again and allowed more to enter my mouth. He let me drink my fill watching me all the while.
“It pains me to see you like this,” he said as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “But it makes sense. You are a bird. It was foolish of me to think that I could contain you.”
I opened my mouth to speak but then stopped myself. He saw the gesture and in two steps he was on me.
“What?” he asked me, “What were you going to say? Tell me.”
“It’s not that, My Lord. I just...I can’t just pick up and leave my life. I have people depending on me.”
“Who?” he asked.
I just shook my head.
He looked at me with a dawning realization. It came over his face slowly, like a sunrise coming over the mountains. He nodded and said nothing as I waited with bated breath. “And you are desperate to return to these unnamed people? So desperate that you would run from me?”
“I don’t want to. I have to,” I said.
I could see in his eyes that he knew. He must have guessed that I was with the rebellion. What would he do? I was ready for him to hit me, or tell me he had to turn me in, but instead he just stared at me. Looking into my soul through my eyes.
“You must? Is it that important to you?” he asked.
“Yes, My Lord. But if you let me leave, if you would let me do this one last thing. I would return to you, I promise.”
“You promise,” he echoed. He was looking into my eyes, searching for a lie, but at that moment, it was the truth.
“Yes, I swear it. I was grateful for your hospitality and I would gladly return to it. But I have something I have to do first.”
“Tell me what it is. I will do it for you.”
“No, My Lord, I must do it.”
He didn’t like that. His handsome face fell into an angry frown. He stomped away from me, walking to the corner of the room where he slammed his powerful hand on the wall. He let out a guttural angry yell and I turned my face away, terrified he might turn that anger back to me.
He nodded. “I am no fool, Andromeda,” he said through pursed lips. “This is a dangerous business and you have no place in it.”
“I’m stronger than I look,” I said.
“Tell me, how much is this worth to you? What would you do for freedom?”
“Anything,” I answered.
He was on top of me, his eyes searching my body and then he was pushing me back as if I was nothing. The heavy chains scraped across the floor and I shuddered when my back hit the cold, wet wall.
“Anything?” he asked. His face was only a few inches away from mine. I could have leaned forward and kissed him.
“Yes, My Lord,” I answered, my voice a heavy whisper.
“Give yourself to me,” he whispered into my ear. “For one night. Come to my chambers and submit to me and in the morning you can have your ship and you may go anywhere you would like. What do you think of these terms, Andromeda Nus?”
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.
He pulled back as if surprised by my answer.
“Very well,” he said and then to my surprise he produced the key to my handcuffs and undid them. I gasped as the heavy chains fell from my wrists. I stumbled forward, my center of balance off. I had grown used to the weight of the chains. Strath was there, he caught me and held me up.
“The guards will take you to a room where you can shower, rest and prepare yourself for me,” he said.
I looked up at him, so tall and strong above me. “As you wish, My Lord.”