Page 34 of Anorthic Anarchy

And with that, she gives me her back and waltzes into the master’s room.

As soon as I’m alone, a grin crosses my face. Peace and quiet…

In my bedroom, there’s a dresser, but the only thing in it is lingerie or the shift dresses like I have been wearing. Mine is red—to set me apart from the others, I guess. And I still cannot find any panties. Part of me wonders what these women do on their periods.

Or why they aren’t always pregnant.

Shrugging, I throw on my required uniform and take my first venture into freedom. Well, as much as the grounds will allow.

The first place I find is a set of back steps that leads directly to the kitchen. That’s convenient. Two cooks eye me suspiciously when I enter, their hands busy making dough on a large center butcher block island. One pounds the rounded mass loudly as I skirt past them to the pantry and try the back door. It’s still locked. But now, in the daylight, I spot a wall rack with some silver keys hanging from it.

“Can I help you, Mrs. Strauss?” a russet-faced woman, with black hair spiking in every direction, asks, some force behind each word.

As casually as possible, I smile and shake my head. “No, thank you. Just seeing where the snacks are.”

“We don’t do free food around here. The master doesn’t allow it.” She stares at me with her hands on her generous hips until I leave through the side door from where I entered.

Another set of steps leads down to what I assume to be the dungeons.

Sure enough, I exit into a stone hall near my old cell. Passing by, I realize…I don’t miss it. Not at all. Though some of the solitude was nice. I want to figure out a way to leave so I can find out what exactly happened to my brother. And if the master is lying to me.

My body jolts at the sounds of a man screaming and sobbing, followed by a deep, low voice and a whip cracking. Darting through the halls, I eventually exit into a large, open cavern with several dark wooden doorways. The noises are louder, and when I find the one it’s coming from, it contains a window with iron bars near the top.

Sneaking closer, I raise up on my tiptoes to look inside the room and almost shriek with horror at the sight beyond. My hands raise up to my face to stuff the scream threatening to escape me, but it’s too late…

The master’s fierce eyes spot me.

Chapter 15

Strauss

“Grab her,” I tell Sev with a nod. “It’s probably good she sees this.”

Sev hurries to throw open the door as the little snake tries to slither away, but he snatches her around the waist. She kicks and bucks against him as he drags her into the torture room, then slams the door shut again with the heel of his foot. After he drops her, he quickly bolts the door.

“Sit right there. And watch.” Snapping my fingers, blood sprays from them as I point to a bench along the far wall.

I saunter over to the high table and pick up a glass rod, holding it over the Bunson burner. The sound of the flames drowns out my wife’s panicked breathing.

“Who—who is that?” she asks, a shaky finger pointing to the far wall.

Brandishing up the long, clear tube, I smile at how it glows in the heat. Perfect.

“That!” I pause for a dramatic moment, letting the man’s eyes get reacquainted with consciousness. He fainted after the last bit, but I want him to fully be awake for this. “Is my latest toy! Isn’t he cute with all the suppurating sores, wounds, and welts?I feel like his skin is a nice rainbow of color now. But since he still refuses to tell me what Clavius’s next step is, we get to focus on painting his insides now. Maybe even spread them to the outside. What do you say, toy?”

He's still not talking. Head hung low in the stockade, he only whimpers a moan.

“Where did he come from?” Her innocent blue eyes won’t leave his form, so I grab a blade and swiftly move to her side. She flinches when I hold it out to her. “Why don’t you ask him? We found him lurking about during the breach on the property. Ask your questions and feel free to take off more parts when he won’t answer.”

She drops the knife, looking appalled. “I-I can’t do that.”

“Oh? Even though he was sent here to capture you? To take my wife away from me?” I laugh at his utter demise. “Stupid fool. No one will win.” After heating the rod a second time, I glance over at the little doll, who’s shifting uncomfortably on the bench as she observes me.

Spinning on my heel, I take a few steps closer to him and let the light dazzle his eyes as I flip the instrument in my hand. His worried gaze follows the motion as a ragged breath parts his parched lips.

Maybe I’m disturbed for getting so excited about the possibility of hurting him, but this is truly the only part of life I savor. Well, that and the inevitable cries of his agony, begging for me to stop. Somehow, it always settles me to understand how much pain I’ve caused. To be the commander of satisfaction or annihilation.

When I unleash, no force shall withstand.

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