Page 4 of Savage Love
“Why did he hurt me then?”
“Because women are not allowed pleasure,” she explains. “The Master has expectations that you are required to follow, even with him knowing that it is beyond your control.”
“He wanted to hurt me?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says simply. “You will learn how to take the pain.”
“Are you allowed to talk to me?” I ask.
“No, and you are not supposed to question your master,” she retorts quietly. “Sometimes we are wiser than our surroundings, yeah?”
She is like me. How many others are like me? I’m concerned about the surveillance, but I’m more concerned that he won’t kill me quickly enough. I don’t want to live like this. I understand now what Margot meant when she said that death would be preferable. I would rather die than be touched by my husband again. Maybe I can make friends with the cannibals and savages?
Chapter Three
Zev
It both infuriates andsaddens me how brainwashed this population is. Unfortunately, they don’t know any better. They are forced into a subservient position through mind control. Men are taught to abuse women, and women are taught to accept it with grace.
There are several individuals who are resistant to the mind control hidden within their daily Hydrovita combination. The government of Ossara isn’t aware that the genetic mutation is still active among its people. They are under the assumption that when my people were banished from their land, it solved the problem of disobedience. For a while, they were right. The mutation ceased to exist, but in recent years, it has re-emerged. We are finding that for the last fifty years, these individuals have been put into the categories of chosen wife, civil servant, andservant. They are objects to be used rather than fulfilling the peak of their true capabilities.
The individuals who have this genetic mutation are taught by genetically similar caregivers from a young age to rely on subservience to survive. Once they are older and can grasp the severity of the situation, they are taught the truth. Their government is corrupt, and the only way out is death.
My group is trying to change the narrative and free the people of Ossara before they overtake our land. We call ourselves the people of Torvex. When our ancestors were banished more than two hundred years ago, they took to the mountains before eventually taking over an island off the mainland. Ossara might have the technology to keep its population subservient, but we have the power. The genetically mutated people of Torvex hold special abilities, unique to each individual. Humans are known for adapting, and this is one of the many amazing ways that the human brain maintains survival. Ossara officials are aware of these powers, but they do not know to what extent they exist. We have had spies within the walls for over two decades, and they are clueless about the mutants. Unfortunately, the disgusting sludge that they feed their people is actively suppressing the abilities of the mutated. They might be resistant to mind control, but their abilities are severely underdeveloped, making them easy to unknowingly suppress.
I have been leading missions for the last ten years, helping the mutated find their way to freedom, but I am lucky if I can help one a month. I manage to get home every other week, but I am determined to help as many find freedom as I can. They understand the risk when I approach them, so it takes awaysome of the guilt when they inevitably are caught attempting to escape and killed.
My main ability is telepathic telekinesis, or mind manipulation. I am also telepathic, but all of the genetically mutated are. I refuse to use it in a way that harms others unless I do not have any other choice. I am known for being a cruel man, but not without reason. I could easily manipulate someone’s thoughts into suicide or murder, but I will not stoop to the level that the government of Ossara has.
Our rations are scarce but sufficient. We have found a way to eat a minimal amount of food without resorting to consuming Hydrovita. Many of the spies disguise themselves as servants for government officials, police, or military, so we are lucky to have inside information. They make sure that no one catches them eating their ration bar, but the Hydrovita is destroyed. This allows them to keep their abilities and communicate with those who do not disguise themselves.
I have had my eye on a young woman for the last few weeks. It is plain as day that she is one of the genetically mutated, but she hides it well. If it weren’t for the fact that I can read her mind, I would never know. Whoever her caretaker was got the point across on how important it was for her to play the role that she is supposed to.
Ren, my second-in-command and brother, has learned that her name is Astra. He has the ability to manipulate electronics, so he is essentially a walking computer that cannot be traced. She is the chosen wife of the upcoming leader, Vinny Black. I can hear her thoughts, and I understand the cruelty that she isbeing subjected to. Her mind is strong, though. Her caretaker, Lyra Baron, is one of us and can manipulate sound. This allows her to talk to Astra without government surveillance listening in. She’s ensuring not to throw too much information at her at one time, but Astra is already understanding of how corrupt the government is. We cannot risk telling her about the mind control or the method in which they are doing it. One mistake could lead to Vinny Black becoming aware of our presence, and she would be tortured for the information.
I am drawn to this woman in a way that I cannot explain. I know that the genetically mutated are drawn to one another in the sense of them being soulmates, but I won’t know until I can physically touch her. She will not feel the connection until I am positive that we are connected. Even then, she will not become fully aware until she accepts. She has every right to reject me, but I pray that she will not. I, as well as all of the people of Torvex, am primal by nature, so it can be frightening for someone who has never known anything other than Ossara. Rejection or not, I am saving her from this life.
“Hey,” Ren says, clapping me on the back. “Still listening to Astra?”
“Her thoughts are interesting,” I say. “She is far beyond anything that she’s been taught.”
“What do you mean?”
“She is very perceptive. She seems to understand the severity of the situation, but the reality of the situation is right in front of her. I find myself wondering why she doesn’t see it, but shedoesn’t even know that it’s a possibility. She is still under the assumption that beyond the wall is riddled with cannibals and savages,” I explain.
“Well… We kind of are savages,” Ren chuckles. “She’s scared of the unknown. It’s normal for her to be blind to the absolute truth. Even if given the information, deciding to go beyond the wall would still be a challenge. Most of them find comfort and protection from the unknown, despite the abuse they endure.”
“Abuse,” I huff. “You know what this little fucker did to her this morning?”
“What?”
“He throat fucked her while not allowing her to breathe. When she eventually passed out, she almost aspirated on his come. Lyra getting to her immediately after is the only reason she likely didn’t die,” I say angrily.
“Hmmm. Makes me want to stick a drill up his ass and teach it to go deeper,” Ren remarks. “When are we going to extract her before she’s killed by him?”
“I asked that Lyra meet us. She should be here soon,” I say, trying to pull my mind away from Astra’s. She is about to get assaulted again. I hate myself for listening in on this, but I don’t want her to be alone. She has been alone for her entire life, and I can be with her, even if she doesn’t know it. The discomfort that I feel listening to that is nothing compared to what she feels. She and Lyra have this routine that after he assaults her, she healsher and puts her to bed to rest. Vinny only goes to her to find pleasure, so it will allow a window of time to meet us.
“Why do you torture yourself like this, brother?” Ren asks. “All it is doing is causing you pain.”
