Page 53 of The Vicious Defender

The dogs aren't here, and I remember they stayed in the dungeons with Xavier. I run to the door and try the handle. Predictably, it's locked. I let out a scream and bang my fists on the wood, hoping the sound will draw attention.

It does.

The lock clicks, and the door opens. My mother steps inside. She's dressed in a tight red dress, her hair and makeup done perfectly. She smiles at me, a sinister twist of her lips.

"Where's Xavier?"

"In the dungeon, where you left him," she smiles.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, backing away.

"I'm just the messenger," she shrugs. "Don't blame me."

"Then tell me," I snap.

"Xavier has been punished," she says simply. "For what he did to you."

"Punished?" I hiss. "What the hell do you mean, Mom?"

"His eye," she says. "His eye has been removed. As his wife, it will be your duty to take care of him, and his wounds."

"What?" I roar.

"He'll have a glass eye, so you can't see the difference," she adds. "But it's gone. And that's the punishment he was given."

I stare at her, and then, I fly at her.

"You bitch," I snarl, but my mother is a small, lithe woman.

She steps to the side and my momentum carries me into the wall. Pain flares up in my head and my shoulder, and she grabs me, pulling me back.

"You will not disrespect me, Tallulah," she hisses. "Especially not over the man who hurt you."

"He didn't hurt me," I hiss.

"Oh?" She arches an eyebrow.

"He saved me. From this. From you."

"You don't mean that," she says. "He's brainwashed you. He's made you his little sex slave. I will not let that stand."

"I don't give a fuck," I snarl.

"Oh, honey. You should."

"What else are you going to do? Kill him?"

She shrugs, and I realize the answer is yes. "I'm your mother. Your loyalty is to me, not him."

"I'll never choose you," I hiss.

"That's a shame. But you don't have to. The decision has already been made."

She smiles, softly touching my cheek. I grimace and force her palm off me.

"Worse things will happen if you disobey," she says, her smile cruel. "Xavier is the example. And it's working. You're being very well behaved. I'm proud of you, Tallulah."

I turn away. I can't stand to see her face, let alone look her in the eyes.

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