Locksleigh

Chapter Six

The Day ended with me no closer to a roof over my head than when we started. Garth said it was because of my big mouth, to which I told him what to shove in his big mouth.

Garth hadn’t taken off the ropes around my wrists and by this time I was sure my wrists were bleeding, I didn’t know what I was doing. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure I was even thinking anymore. Thinking was what got me into this mess. I didn’t trust my own thoughts anymore.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked when dusk settled and a pinkish hue licked the clouds. It was beautiful, I had to admit. I watched them from my van every night before I made my rounds in the city. They didn’t hold the same sort of peace now, instead they felt cold and distant. They were nothing like the disformed figures that usually kept me company.

“Back to the fucker who dropped you off at my doorstep. Maybe he’ll take pity on you.”

“Do you really believe he’ll take me?”

“What do I look like to you? The bearer of good news?”

“You look like a lot of things but something that positive is not one of them, no.”

“Humour me, little Rabbit with the big mouth, what do I look like to you?”

“Crazy?” I shrugged as a vein bulged in his neck. “Delusional?” I considered for a moment. “Stupid?”

“That’s it-“

“Enough!” Ash’s voice seemed to echo through the settlement. It interrupted Garth’s reach towards my neck. I smirked at him and he turned red in the face.

“What did you do now?”

“Me?” I feigned innocence. “This bozo attacked me out of nowhere!”

“She called me crazy and stupid.”

“Did you?”

“To be fair, he did ask.”

“This is why you’re not getting a house.” Garth accused.

“She didn’t get a house?” Ash asked.

“That’s what he said.” I confirmed. I really wasn’t thinking anymore.

Ash’s eyes turned into blazing orbs and he stepped aside, revealing the inside of his house. “Get inside.” His voice was low, daring me to disobey. I stepped behind Garth, as if he’d protect me. I should have known the traitor would’ve done anything to impress his leader. So instead of protecting me like a normal male was supposed to do, He pushed me towards Ash and scowled at me.

“Next time you decide you insult someone, think of what the consequences will be.” I did the only logical thing I could do, and stuck my tongue out at him. Ash slammed the door before Garth could kill me.

“What the actual f**k? I’m giving you a chance here.”

“A chance to w***e myself out or die?”

“Yes.”

“That’s f****d up!”

“It’s how the world works.”

“No, it’s how you decided it works.”

“Listen, Locksleigh and listen closely. Those men out there are out here for a reason! They were kicked out of the Empire because they are dangerous and they will watch the world burn without a second thought. I am trying to change that.”

“By giving them women? Really? s*x is your solution?”

“By giving them an outlet. Most of them have turned their lives around and deserve to be back in the imperial but every appeal has gone unanswered. Every single f*****g time.”

“Have you appealed to get back in?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because like you, I chose to leave the Empire.”

“Why?”

“You ask a lot of questions but offer no answers in return,”

“Ask me then.”

“You were absolutely terrified of me even before I brought you here. Was it the stories you heard that terrified you so or was it something else?”

“No stories can tell of the horrors you put people through.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I shot him an incredulous look, raising an eyebrow and gesturing at my naked body and tied hands with my head.

“You were afraid before I did this to you.”

I kept quiet.

“Tell me why.”

“Because…”

“Because what?”

“Edith.”

“What?”

“Not a what, a who.”

“I don’t understand.”

“My sister.” I started. “We- she stole a lot of things. When our grandmother died, she took it upon herself to take care of the two of us. It started in the empire in the district our alley was, then she expanded and she end up the most sought after thief in the entire empire. We got a little apartment, had a hot plate of food every night and life was starting to look up. But then she got wind of a bigger job outside the walls and…”

“She got captured by the bandits.”

“That’s what they told me, yes.”

“Who told you?”

“Her crew.”

“So her crew survived stealing from us but we only took her? Please tell me how that makes sense.”

“I don’t…”

“If you’re talking about who I think you are, then your story is mighty messed up.”

“What?”

“There’s an Edith hanging around here. She comes and goes but stays out of our way mostly.”

‘That’s impossible.” I said. “They told me you tortured and killed her.”

“They lied.”

“But why would she leave me? Why would she leave without a word? It doesn’t make sense. You’re lying.”

“What would I get out of lying?”

He had a point. There was no use in him lying. “When will she be around again?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can I see her if she comes back?”

“When. And on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“You help us get back into the city.”

“You want my help?” He gave me a long, contemplating look.

“Not as much as your knowledge, but you actually helping could be useful.” The look he gave me told me that if I tried anything, I would regret it.

“Fine,” I finally relented. If it meant I could see Edith again, I’d help these psychos get back into the empire. Seeing the destruction they could cause in the pompous, marbled streets of the inner city where the rich dwelled could actually be fun.

Ash gave me a satisfied smirk that gradually shifted into something else. He was suddenly standing very close to me.

“Seeing as I need you alive for this, I can’t let you sleep outside, now can I?” an uneasy feeling settled in my gut.

“And seeing as no house would take you, I’ll have to let you sleep here.” He put his hand on my shoulder in a possessive way and pulled me even closer.

“Not that you’ll be getting much sleep.” And without me even realising when he’d undone his zipper, he shoved his c**k into my unsuspecting p***y, rough and hard.