38. Ellie

My head throbbed as I lay on the bed, the covers surrounding me like a cocoon. The entire week had been a blur, and I was only guessing it had been about that long. I had lost track of the rise and fall of the sun.

Odie always told me to keep track as best I could, but some days, I didn't see the sun shining through the window. With the drugs they kept shoving into me, I wasn't confident of anything.

At least they numbed me so I barely felt anything, and I remembered very little. Flashes came and went, but they were more emotion—fear and disgust—than true memories.

I curled into myself and buried my face in the pillow, thankful to have this time to myself. Lucinda refused to sell me, and that seemed like a big fuck you to my dad, but I didn't know why. Instead, I was used by her men to let off steam. The only rule I knew of was to do no permanent damage. Apparently, she didn't consider mental trauma to be permanent.

She also started the damage, not by dragging me into this world, but by drugging me over the years with some form of… she didn't give them a name. She barely mentioned it at all, but at least now I knew why my heats hadn't kicked in and why I couldn't control my pheromones. Whatever she had been sneaking into my system stunted me, and I had no idea if the effects would ever wear off. Not that any of this mattered at the moment. If I didn't make it out of here, caring about it would be a waste of time.

Sleep had taken me under many times, but I never stayed there long. I didn't remember any of my dreams, but I always woke up frantic and sweaty. There was no true reprieve for me here.

I knew Odie and the others were looking for me. I had no doubt about it, but they were taking so long. How was I supposed to survive this? The damage had already been done.

At times, I hoped they'd force a heat. That way I could fall into it, but thinking about enjoying any part of this made me nauseous.

They kept me fed and hydrated, so that was something. I had access to all the best products and spent a lot of time in the shower.

There wasn't a tub or anything that I could use to harm myself in any way though. I wasn't quite there, but I understood why Lucinda had this place set up in a certain way. Besides, I was always monitored. They didn't say as much, but they also didn't hide the security cameras around the room very well. They were everywhere, so I was always cautious of what I did and the angles they would pick up.

Even in the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel, refusing to give them more of a show than I had to. The clothing they gave me was miniscule. It covered enough that I wasn't walking around nude the entire time, but near see-through crop tops and lacy underwear weren't exactly hiding me away.

I walked around with a blanket more often than not, and I figured they'd be taken away eventually, same with the towels. Each time someone came in here, it was jarring, and I debated what way it was going to go. Were they here to take all the comforts I had been given, or was I being dragged away for more "fun."

That's what they called it, but they didn't know the meaning of the word.

My eyes pricked with tears, but I shoved them down. I had cried enough, and there would be plenty more tears after I was saved, whenever that was.

I hoped it was soon. I felt my mind slipping further into a dark place with each encounter. I couldn't read or watch TV to distract myself either. When I was in here alone, that was it. I could sleep or shower. I started playing movies I had seen in my head to pass the time when my body refused to sleep as I never felt safe.

My head felt heavy and sunk deeper into the pillow, and I covered it with the thick comforter, hiding away from the world. Sleep almost pulled me under when the door buzzed and opened.

Footsteps made their way across the small room and stopped by my head before my security blanket was ripped away, and I glared up into the eyes of my aunt.

"I have a surprise for you." She sounded cheerful, but that meant I was about to be in a new level of hell. She had only shown up one other time, and I shuddered at the memory. "Get up, and get dressed."

I sat up and flipped her off, knowing Mine would be proud of the small defiance. It got me slapped across the face, but it was worth it. My body was still numb. I barely felt the sting.

"They ruined you," she scoffed before entering my closet.

"No, you did," I said quietly enough that she couldn't hear me.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, letting the bare bottoms of my feet graze the cold ground. It was a shock to my system. I didn't know why they kept the room so cold. Having it warm so I wanted the blankets off of me made more sense. I refused to bring up that point though.

"Put this on." Lucinda tossed a "gown" on the bed next to me.

It had a corset top and flowy bottom, but the entire thing was see-through. It was a dark green, and I knew exactly why she picked it.

I put it on, going as slowly as I could get away with. Lucinda stood by the door the entire time, staring me down. I hoped this was some dinner where they could look but not touch. I could manage that. I could ignore their leering and black it all out.

"Hurry up, Ellery." She had started calling me by my full name. I didn't ask why and didn't care. It made it easier to pretend I was someone else.

However, when I made it out, I'd probably stab anyone who called me that. No matter what my father said, I was changing my name to Ellie permanently.

With the dress on and the cold seeping in, I turned and made my way to the door and followed Lucinda out of it and down the hall, scantily clad and shoeless, just how she liked me to be. Although my room was nearly a glamorized prison cell in concrete, the rest of the place was rather average for a mansion. I thought that's what this was, but I hadn't seen much of it that I remembered.

I mindlessly walked behind her until we entered the dining room. It looked like it had been more of a small ballroom at one time to host guests, but it had been transformed into a dining hall. Perhaps it had multiple functions and this was what they were using it for at the moment.

The ceiling was high, the walls were a shimmering cream, and the floor was intricate pearl tile. It was revolting in its monotone design and made the dark wooden table and chairs all the more stark.

In each of the chairs sat a man in a tuxedo. Most were in black, but there were a few who went with a flashier style and color. One, specifically, was in a dark green velvet suit, and I recognized him immediately. The others seemed familiar, but I refused to dig deeper to figure out where I had seen them before. In each lap sat a man or woman in clothes similar to mine. Some held their heads high and waited for the festivities to commence, but others had their heads hanging low, hoping that no harm was going to come to them tonight.

I chose to be the former. I had to appear strong, or I'd break under the pressure. That's exactly what Lucinda wanted, a broken niece that was nothing more than a doll for her men to use.

The man I recognized was the Omega who had helped Vaila kidnap me. Once again, his face was void of emotion, but the way his fingers gripped the armrests of the chair told a different story. Just as Vaila hadn't noticed before, Lucinda was blind to him.

I had seen him once before while I was here as well, and it was the oddest thing. No drugs were injected, and he didn't touch me at all. He simply watched me from across the room and asked if I was okay. When whatever arbitrary time was up, he simply left. Some of the tension I had been carrying left thanks to his actions, although I doubted I would ever forgive him for his hand in bringing me here.

A thought had crossed my mind as I eyed all the sex slaves. Were they all useless like me, or were they Betas and Alphas? How many people had Lucinda bred for this life? How many lost their—

My thoughts were cut off by Lucinda grabbing my arm and dragging me to the man in the green tux and shoving me into his lap. I never learned his name, but to me, he was a Dandelion because although he was a weed, he was okay. She leaned forward and gritted out, "Behave, and I will reward you."

I'd try my best, but I made no promises. I was thankful that Dandelion was the man who I was given to. Some of the others had already started groping their toy for the night.

He adjusted, and I startled before sucking in the gasp. "I requested you for tonight," he whispered in my ear. "You deserve a reprieve."

I stared up at him with wide eyes.

"My name is Alastor, by the way, but to follow the rules your aunt has set, call me Master." He scrunched his nose for a split second. If you hadn't been staring at him, you would have missed it, and that was the goal. No one else could know that he was being nice to me.

I didn't say it out loud, but I'd be referring to him as Dandy or Alli because I had to take the humor where I could.

Lucinda got our attention from the head of the table by clapping her hands. "Welcome! I hope you all are pleased with your present for the evening. Enjoy them however you see fit within the rules that you all know well." She didn't address the slaves. We all knew what was happening. We behaved and didn't get punished. That was the game. "Dinner will be served momentarily." She left, and we didn't see her the rest of the night.

Was this some sort of thank you to these men? What was this event supposed to be? It seemed rather boring and ridiculous to me.

Dinner and drinks were served, but we weren't the ones eating. We fed our "masters." Well, everyone except me. Alli demanded I also eat, so I did. I wasn't about to argue with him on that.

He kept his hands to himself and took what I gave him from the plate. Each person had something different. Some had steak and asparagus, which was an odd choice. Others had soup or chicken or pork. It was a wide variety.

Alli had chosen a large pot pie with veggies, and I believe it was turkey instead of chicken. It was easy enough to feed him and myself, and I figured he'd planned that as well.

When he leaned forward this time to whisper in my ear, I remained still without cringing. "They will all start to leave soon." I glanced at him, not understanding what he meant. "We will leave as well." The emphasis on the word "leave" made me think he meant much more than everyone adjourning to their respective rooms.

I nodded as hope filled my insides. I crushed it down until I was certain of what he meant, but some remained.

Alli had a plan, and I was beyond ready to get out of here.

Thoughts of it being a trick flitted through my mind, but I was to follow every instruction my "master" gave me tonight, so I was only following the rules Lucinda had given us. It would be her fault if I escaped, and a small smile crossed my lips as I took another bite of the pot pie.

Just as he had said, everyone finished their meals and left. Eventually, there were only three pairs left of the near twenty we had started with.

Without a word, Alli took the fork from me and set it down. He stood and helped me to my feet before gripping my arm and half dragging me out of the room. Please be for show.

We exited the dining room and took a right. Going left led back to my room and the others.

He didn't speak as we rounded corners and he pulled me along.

Finally, I saw a large door in the middle of a large foyer.

"Get ready," he ground out as we were a few feet from the door, but a voice stopped us, and my heart plummeted into my stomach.

I was never going to make it out of here.