Chapter 4

Emjay

Thirty-five years ago

"It matters not how many people I'm surrounded by. I'm alone." ~ Emjay

"Des, wait up," young Georgia calls after me.

I don't stop. I must bring in enough water for Anna's bath before Basil is ready for her, or I'll find myself tied to the post with my back bare before the herd while he issues my punishment.

I would give anything to return to Poppa's tent and suffer his chastisement over Basil's. Poppa never whipped me until the skin on my back ripped open.

After every ovulation cycle, Basil prays to Helios for a son. The day he smells my monthly—he knows his prayers went unanswered. He blames me.

I stopped screaming and begging a year ago. It only fueled his anger at my inability to conceive.

Basil has planted his seed in my womb one hundred and eighty times over the last five years. Once a month, for the three days of ovulation, I lay underneath him while he rapes me.

Tonight, it's Anna's turn. She's his favorite because she's given him two daughters. I don't envy her.

While I despise the pole, I thank Helios that the monster's spawn has never grown inside of me.

The day Momma ripped the call to my mate from my soul, she told Poppa to send me to Basil's tent.

I loved her until that fateful day.

I hid my smile the day Poppa whipped her to death when he found out she'd never give him another child. A fitting end to her stealing my only chance of ever getting out of this labyrinth.

"Des, slow down," Georgia demands, panting. Her little legs struggle to keep up with my pace.

"Georgia, I have no time for this. It's your mother's night with your father, and I have to prepare her bath."

Basil has four women in his tent, and two daughters. We're forced to huddle in the corner and watch him as he rapes each of us during our fertile period every month. Even his daughters sit with us instead of staying in another tent away from the horror.

He's the only one with a mattress in the tent.

The six of us sleep together on the hard ground.

"Did you know that the Fates have blessed each of us with a mate? One who won't beat us?"

I nearly drop the buckets I just filled. "Who told you that?"

"Momma. She was crying, and I asked her what was wrong. She pulled me into her lap and told me she dreamed of the day the Fates would send her mate to rescue her."

Who am I to squash Georgia's happiness?

"Georgia, you can never tell your poppa what your momma told you. He would definitely send her to the pole. He might even kill her."

A tear slides down the young girl's cheek. "Like your momma."

I take a deep breath and pour the buckets into the metal tub for Anna. "Yes, like my momma."

"I promise Des. I'll never say anything."

"You're a good girl, Georgia."

She smiles up at me with a toothless grin before I make my way to the well for more water.

The next three nights, Georgia would sit with me while I cover her mouth to keep the child's screams from interrupting her poppa. Her younger sister isn't old enough yet to understand the horror we're forced to witness.

I say a brief prayer to Helios that one day his mercy will shine on all of us. Whether in this life or in death.