Crimson Vows

12: Little Brother

Anya’s POV

The guard’s fingers bite deep into my arm like hot iron as he drags me down the long hall with no mercy. Cold water drips from my soaked hair in steady streams.

Each drop hits the marble floor with a sharp splash. My black dress clings to every inch of my skin.

Wet, heavy and cold.

The fabric sticks to my thighs, my stomach and my breasts.

The silver collar presses tight around my neck. The hard metal rubbing my skin raw. If he was going to remove the chain why did he not just remove the collar with it?

I can still taste the bitter water Nikolai poured over me. My chest rises and falls too fast. Shivers run through my body, not just from cold but also from fear, from hate and from everything that happened.

I could not speak, I could not complain, I could not whine. Who is he to treat me like this?

I see a man walk past us. He is tall, his dark hair cut sharp, he is putting on a black suit which fits him perfectly but anyone coming in here to see Nikolai can’t be good. As they say, birds of a feather flocks together.

Suddenly he stops dead and turns slow, his eyes locking on me. They move over my body like hands.

My wet hair. My shaking legs. The collar around my neck.

His mouth curves into something dark, not a smile but something cruel.

“Little brother’s pet looks wet,” he says.

His voice is low and smooth that it crawls under my skin.

My face twists hard. Little brother?

My heart slams against my ribs. Nikolai has a brother? This man is Nikolai’s brother?

My mouth opens wide. No sound comes out. My eyes go big.

Confusion floods me like fire. Hot. Sharp. Burning.

Who is this man? Why is he here? Why does he look at me like I am nothing? Like I am meat on a hook?

Then heavy boots pound behind us, fast and angry.

Lev runs into the hall. His scar looks red and ugly in the light. Sweat shining on his face.

“I tried to stop him,” he says. His breath coming hard. He looks at the man, then past me.

“Pakhan, he came through the east gate. The men did not see him until it is too late.”

I turn my head fast. Nikolai is standing outside his study door. When did he come out of his study? After he told the guards to take me away or when he heard the commotion?

His shirt is open at the neck. His eyes cold as winter ice. He looks at the man, then at Lev.

What annoys me is that his face shows nothing. No anger, no surprise, just calculation.

The man laughs low. The sound echoing off the walls.

“Easy, Lev. No need to panic. I am family.”

“Family, my foot.” Lev spats then steps closer to Nikolai. With his voice low, he utters, “He brought two armed men. I told the gate to lock down.”

Nikolai nods once. “Good.”

The man speaks again, thus time louder.

“Heard you collared the Volkov girl. Father’s debt? Nice touch with the silver.”

My blood runs hot. I jerk hard.

The guard’s grip slips for a second. I pull free. My wet feet slide on the floor as I run toward the man.

My voice breaks out. “Who are you?” I scream.

My hands reaching out. “Who are you?”

He Ignores me. Does not even look, his eyes staying on Nikolai.

Nikolai’s voice roars like thunder. “I SAID TAKE HER AWAY.”

The guards grab me fast. There are two now. One on each arm. Their fingers dig deep and pain shoots up.

I fight, I kick, I scream, I bite. There is nothing I did not do but they were stronger than me. I was only fighting a lost battle.

“Let me go!” My voice cracks. Tears burning in my eyes.

The man laughs loudly again.

“Not too fast. I am here for her and for that Sonya doctor.”

My heart stops. Sonya.

My chest tightens. Fear explodes inside me. Raw, hot and sharp.

Where is Sonya? What does he want with her?

Nikolai glares at the guards. His eyes screaming fire.

The guards shake as fear shows on their faces. That only made them to drag me away harder.

My feet leave the floor, I was kicking air but I did not give up.

“Sonya!” I scream.

“What did you do to her, where is she?”

My voice breaks. Tears fall hot.

The man looks at Nikolai. “Oh, the little pet knows the doctor too? This is interesting. Is it a buy one, get one for free?”

Uh! What is he talking about. I could not turn back to ask him.

Then I heard Nikolai speak, his voice dangerously flat and cold.

“Whatever the doctor has with you is not my business. But right now, I can’t deliver her to you.”

The guards pull me down the hall. My body twists, I tried fighting again but what is the use? I am only tormenting myself as the collar chokes.

My wet hair sticking to my face.

I hear the man’s laugh fade away and the study door shuts hard.

The guards open my room door, making the wood creaks so loud. They throw me inside like a plank of wood and I fall hard.

My knees hit the floor. Pain shoots up my legs. They slam the door and lock it. I know they locked it because I heard it click.

I stay on the floor. Wet. Cold. Shaking. The collar burns my neck. Tears run free. Hot. Salty. My chest hurts. Fear. Anger. Confusion. All mix inside me. Where is Sonya? What is her relationship with that man? Little brother. Family. Debt. Doctor. The words spin in my head. I pull my knees to my chest. The wet dress sticks. I cry. Raw. Deep. Silent screams inside.