58. Chapter 58 - Kaitlyn

CHAPTER 58 - KAITLYN

A brOTHEL IN STAUNTON, VIRGINIA - 1775

I felt Magnus’s back tense as footsteps crossed the floor above us. There was more light, streaming through a crack in the door. He lumbered to his feet, and moved to the blade. I scrambled up and stood behind him. “You got it?”

“Aye.”

The bolt slid on the hatch and the doors swung open.

I looked up at the morning light, blinking — so thirsty.

Magnus tensed, ready to spring.

I had my hand on his hip. I knew the drill, as soon as he sprung into action, I would run. That was how I would help.

Asgall stepped down the steps, a gun drawn, pointing at Magnus. I hadn’t really gotten a good look at him, he was wearing the white, high-collared shirt from yesterday, open at the neck, wrinkled and crumpled, and the cream colored breeches, and high leather boots. He was big and ugly, his beard wiry and sparse. He said, “Ye found the blade? Och ye are verra resourceful, seems a shame tae kill ye.”

I said, “Why are you killing anyone? I thought you were ransoming us?”

He sneered, his gun leveled on Magnus. “I hae sent my demands, Magnus, yer bitch mother best not make me wait.”

Magnus shrugged. “She does how she likes.”

Asgall said, “As do I, Katie, come here.”

I shook my head.

His brow went up. “Nae? Ye say nae tae me?”

Magnus said, “Daena go with him.”

Asgall said, “Ye just proved yerself clever, Magsie, and now ye are ill-advisin’ yer wife! Let us work it through — ye are guests in m’home. I am Emperor Asgall, I hae asked yer wife tae come with me. What makes ye think ye can refuse my request?”

Magnus was breathing heavily, and looked furious. I did not want to go with this guy up into his brothel, but it was the only way to survive this encounter. “Okay, I will.” I put up my hands.

Magnus’s eyes were locked on Asgall. “Nae, Kaitlyn, daena.”

Asgall said, “Hands on yer head, Magsie.”

Magnus put his hands on his head, “Och nae.”

“Och nae is right, Magsie, but daena fret, if yer wife is forthcoming I will give ye some food and water. Twould be a good thing, daena ye think?”

I stepped around Magnus and went to the stairs.

He groaned behind me. “Kaitlyn, be careful.”

“I will be.” I climbed the stairs.

Asgall grabbed my arm, yanked me up the steps, and slammed the doors shut on my husband’s face. He bent over the trap doors for a second to lock the bolt.

I thought, jump on his back, strangle him, fight for the gun, but he stood up and looked at me with a laugh.

“Ye arna strong enough.”

“Likely, but there is a chance — I’m the mother-fucking matriarch and you’ve taken me away from my babies. I wouldn’t turn your back on me again.”

He shoved me in through the back door of the house and down the hall into a living room. The room was decorated with ornate wallpaper, carved wooden furniture, cherry wood stain, and upholstered seats. The end tables held oil lamps.

Everything fit olden times, except for an iPhone and a full ashtray of cigarettes on the coffee table. He sat down on an upholstered, claw-footed chair, and patted his knee.

I shook my head. “No way.”

“Aye, come sit here on m’knee.” He gestured with the gun still in his hand.

“I don’t want to.”

He fired the gun at the wall. I clamped my hands over my ears and shrieked.

From under the floorboards I heard the muffled voice of Magnus yelling my name.

Asgall gestured at his lap.

I shook all over as I stepped forward and perched on his knee. The proximity made me gag.

He put the gun down on the table and picked up the phone. He held it out like he was posing for a selfie. “See how handsome I am?” He raised his chin, as if he were searching for his best side. His nose was misshapen, his face rounded, he was flabby instead of fit.

He hit record. “How are ye doin’, Katie? Tell Lady Mairead.”

I paused.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back, hard.

I sobbed, “Not good.”

“Lady Mairead shouldna take time with our negotiations, daena ye think? Time is of importance. Would ye like her tae go fast?”

He yanked my hair back even more. It hurt terribly. Tears rolled down my face. “Yes, please.”

He twisted my hair even more as he leaned forward. “Grab that newspaper.”

I pulled the newspaper to my chest, but couldn’t look down on it. I was arched back, facing the ceiling, my eyes watering, clamped tight in pain.

He said, “Turn it over so she can see the date.”

I turned it over. He said, “Fine, tis good enough.”

Then he said, “Lady Mairead, ye see I winna take hesitation kindly, I hae yer son and yer daughter-in-law. They are at my mercy. Ye must sign the contract.”

He put down the phone with a slam on the table.

I said, “Owie, owie, my scalp, it hurts.”

He let go of my hair with a shove on the back of my head, knocking me forward. He grabbed the newspaper from my grip and tossed it on the table.

I got a quick glimpse — The Virginian, or something. That old drawing of the snake cut into parts, that was revolutionary war, right — not civil war? Then a flash, near the title: 1775… Virginia in 1775, that was helpful.

He drew his fingertips across my shirt, and fondled my breast through my dress. I shoved his hand away and tried to get up but he grasped my wrist, yanked me back down, and stuffed his hot sweaty panting mouth beside my ear. He started kissing me there. His other hand fondled my breast and I whimpered, stop, please stop, but it seemed to drive his excitement, so instead I stared right at his cheek. I stared at his swollen pock-marked pig-face, and didn’t move, submit, or struggle, I just glared.

Finally he pulled his face away from my ear and looked at me. “What?”

I glared back.

“Och nae, I knew ye were a bitch.” He shoved me hard off his knee.

I fell on the ground, hitting my back on the way down on the edge of a coffee table. “Ow.”

“Get up. I’m bored of ye.”

I scrambled up, even though the pain had knocked the air out of me. But then —the gun! I dove forward and grabbed it.

I held it up, my arms shaking and tried to steady it.

He laughed.

I squeezed the trigger, but nothing happened. It was empty. “It’s not loaded?”

He got up fast, grabbed my wrists, and twisted hard, until the gun dropped, then shoved me to the wall. I stumbled and fell. He yanked me up and shoved me again, banging my shoulder and head. I fell forward onto a knee.

“Ye are so clumsy, Katie, so unattractive.” He yanked me up and shoved me against another wall, and another. “Such a clumsy bitch!” All the way down the hall he shoved me against the walls, until I ached all over from the knocks and bangs.

“Yer husband is goin’ tae hate that ye dinna even bargain for a meal or a glass of water for him.” He shoved me against another door jamb.

I collapsed down the wall, crumbling on the floor in a heap. “Please, can I have a drink for Magnus? Please, we’re thirsty.”

Another man walked down the stairs from the upper floors. “This the Queen Bitch?”

Asgall said, “Aye, if ye are finally finished with the girls upstairs ye can make yerself useful and return her tae the cellar.”

The man was disgusting, he leered with wet lips and the stench of sex. “Want me tae teach her a lesson?”

“Later, put her in the cellar for now, I’m tired of lookin’ at her.”