Pain pricked me all over. From my head to my shoulders to my legs and toes. It took a tremendous effort to open my eyes. The lids felt glued together and when I managed to separate them, a film across blurred my vision.
I was in a dark room. In the distance, through my half-opened eyes, I saw orange flames on a short white candle perched on a wooden stool, flickering from the soft wind from a small window behind it.
I gasped as delicate warm hands massaged over the aching wound on my thighs.
“Quiet child.” A silken voice murmured. The hands still moved over my body and wherever it went, a deep heat penetrated me from the spot. Then whatever was happening got to my stomach. I screamed.
A menacing sound of an animal rent the air as I jerked upright, feeling the warm liquid of my blo
