Page 43 of Chosen
Nausea roils my stomach as the memories of the sick things I’d been forced to do came back to me. “As for how my back got this way is there was a new companion, she was freshly entered into the Registry. She was frail and delicate. The Master wanted her to perform a certain act in front of the guests at a party he was throwing. She was terrified so I tried to protect her by speaking up. It angered the Master to the point where I was stripped and then caned to within an inch of my life. I thought I was going to die. I wanted to die. But every day I woke up and I cursed not only my existence but every singlesuperiousout there.”
I wipe away another fallen tear. I’ve probably said to much and yet Draken doesn’t yell or get physical just as he promised.
“So is that why you murdered asuperious?” comes his retort.
He could have asked me any number of question but that was the last one I’d expected.
Chapter
Sixteen
JAMIE
“Ihear this party tonight is going to be full of important people from the region,” Rose whispers as we’re lined up to be selected for the event that’s about to take place.
I steal a glance in her direction and immediately feel pity. Just 18 years old, this is her first assignment from the Registry. I’ve already warned her that this companion assignment won’t be a cushy one as I know some of them to be, but she refuses to believe me. Since she’s arrived at the Master’s house, she’s regaled us in the stories of her sisters who were all assigned as companions and had lived comfortable lives.
Rose is petite with a small round face that makes her look even younger than her 18 years. She has beautiful curly auburn hair and the biggest brown eyes and a freckles spread liberally along the bridge of her nose. I know just from looking at her, she’d appeal to a certain type of party guest and I felt scared on her behalf.
She’s only been here for a few days and this will be her first party. I can only hope she’s chosen by someone who will at least go easy on her this first time around.
We’ve been given instructions by our caretaker Lynsey, an elderly homo sapien who is in charge of all of the companions, to wear our see-through dresses with no underwear, per the Master’s orders.
I fucking hate that old bitch and I wish daily for her to fall and break a hip. She’s just as bad if not worse than Master Fredresk, hurling abuse at us and calling us whores. If we ever talk back we are instantly punished with a sharp slap from her wrinkly hands.
For some reason she’s one of the few homo sapiens Master Fallen listens to. This old bitch constantly lies to him about misconduct one of the companions had committed just to get them in trouble.
She especially hates me because I’m constantly shooting her dirty looks. I can’t help it. How could another homo sapien do that to another one of their own? Even if she was technically over us, she was still a puppet for thesuperiousto use.
The Master didn’t throw ordinary parties. They started out normal enough with powerful couples in the community mingling amongst each other, making connection and discussing business. After dinner, the companions were led into the room and paraded in front of the guests.
That particular humiliation was only the beginning. The guests would inspect us like animals, making us turn around and parade our bodies. Some would even grope us beneath our clothing. If we resisted, there would be brutal consequences. We were just mindless toys.
My only saving grace at that point was the fact that the last beating I’d received had been so bad, it had disfigured my back. It wasn’t quite healed yet and looked horrible. I hadn’t been picked by any of the Master’s friends since then.
“Just keep your head down,Rose. Don’t make yourself noticed and maybe they won’t pick you,” I whisper back to her.
A smile curves her lips. “Why wouldn’t I want to be picked? Maybe I’ll get a gift, like a pretty piece of jewelry. My older sister gets lots of that kind of stuff.”
I can only sigh and hope for the best on her behalf.
Lynsey walks over to us and pinches my arm with her boney fingers so hard I know there will be a bruise later. But I dare not make a sound or even whimper in pain or else I’ll face far worse later on. “No talking you two,” she hisses at both of us but directs her ire only toward me.
I fucking hate her.
“Come along, companions, the guests are waiting.” She leads the nine of us down the spiral staircase into the mini ballroom where we’re met with dozens of superious guests. Some of them already have their own companions in tow.
Master Fredresk grins widely at his guests, dressed in an all-white suit giving him the appearance of on overstuff pillowcase.
“As you all can see, my companions are all beauties and they’re willing and eager to serve.”
My skin crawls at his statement and I want to be sick. I have to remind myself if make myself go numb, I can pretend what’s happening around me is all just in my head.
Once they see my back, no one will pick me and I can be sent back to my room, even if that means I don’t get a meal the next day as punishment. Since being in this household, I’ve learned the hard way that there are far worse things than missing meals.
Lynsey leads up to center of the room.
“Remove your dresses,” Master Fredresk orders.
