Page 22 of Red Waters

I backed away from the bed, desperate to not have Yury insert the tampon. I never realized bleeding was such a personal time for a woman until the privacy was about to be violated.

“Link will be a valuable addition to my sales.”

My feet stopped moving.

“Shredding his pride during training will be a once in a lifetime pleasure.”

Walking back toward the bed, I felt Link’s freedom on my shoulders. It was eerie to offer myself, over and over, day after day, for someone I most likely wouldn’t live long enough to ever see again. But this someone was that special to me. This someone was my whole world.

Lying on the bed, I closed my eyes and visualized Link swimming in the blue waters…

“Open your thighs.”

The sun shined on his wet body as nature got to hold him, like I wanted him to hold me.

* * *

During my cycle, I had only two slices of bread, four pieces of cheese, and one bottle of water. Yury had also forced me to swallow a multivitamin. “Master, please, I don’t want to be drugged.”

“It is a vitamin. You look pale.”

Anger spiked through me as I grumbled, “I wonder why.”

Yury laughed. “Still some fire left. I like that.”

I swallowed the pill. He left with a huge smile.

Waking me was the door unlocking. Yury’s voice sliced through the darkness. “I have good news.” Again, I hadn’t been fed in two days, so the only news that would have been good was a triple layered cheeseburger.

Shielding my eyes against the light he turned on, I quickly got out from under the blanket and out of bed to kneel in front of him. I sat back on my bent legs, my bare skin breaking out in goosebumps due to the cold air and concrete under my naked body. I folded my hands in my lap, sure not to cover my privates because that was a rule breaker, and kept my stare down.

Yury was pleased. I knew this because, this time, I received no lecture on what I was doing wrong. Instead, he continued to talk. “In case I change my mind, and choose to sell you, you are still to enter training.” I jolted. “But,” his low voice rumbled, “you are pleasing me so much, already so obedient, that I will go easy on you.” I sighed. “And…” He paused, knowing the torture—the not knowing what was coming—was almost painful for me. “Let me see those eyes, Fire.” Slowly, I peered up to him. His shoulders softened. “You are a true beauty.”

“Thank you, Master.” My eyes locked on to a bottle of water in his hand.

He squatted in front of me. “One lesson before I tell you of your reward.” I nodded, my tongue bobbing in thirst. “Keep your knees apart.”

Full of shame because I knew I would follow his orders, I cringed.

“If I don’t keep you, your new owner likes to be teased so he can punish you.”

My bottom lip began to tremble as my eyes welled.

He winked. “Yes. Cry, Fire. I love it when you feed my darkness.”

I swallowed my fear and set my shoulders back, refusing to feed him shit because he didn’t fucking earn it. My knees parted.

Yury took a casual gander. “Fire burns everywhere.”

I bit my Whit tongue and stared past him.

“Oh, don’t disappoint me. Say it.”

Begging myself not to do it, I growled, “You already know this.” My voice was dry and hoarse.

Suddenly, I was on my back and he was on top of me, smiling. “Don’t let me break you.”

“Fine. Get off me.”