Page 34 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

Mimi,I think happily as I get up and walk over to let her in.

She smiles at me and holds out a couple of heavy plastic bags.

Taking it curiously, I glance inside, then blush. Mimi’s gotten me a pack of new panties, a few bras, and some tops and shorts.

“I would have gotten you socks too, but if you look in the dresser in the bedroom, there are a few brand-new packs in the top drawer.”

“Thanks, Mimi,” I say quietly as I lean forward and give her an awkward, one-armed hug.

“If you really want to thank me, you’ll take care of whatever chip has been sitting on your shoulder,” she states with a shrug. “Something’s been bothering you and it’s not something a shower and some new clothes will fix. If it has to do with that damn gala, then make sure you go in, own it, then wreck it before you leave.”

I blink rapidly a few times.

Mimi has never struck me as the vengeful type before, but she’s also the closest thing I have to a mother, so I think that’s maybe just her natural instinct kicking in.

The kind that defends her young, no matter how dangerous the situation may be.

“I’ll make you proud, Mimi,” I promise her with a nod as I shift the bags to one hand. “I’ll make sure that I have one hell of a story to tell you after.”

“Good,” she states approvingly. “Alright, honey. I’m gonna go downstairs and lock up, then head home. I’ll jot down my home phone number in case you need anything, okay?”

I nod as thoughts of Angie float through my head. I bite down on my tongue to keep from asking for more than I’ve already been given.

She’s in good hands,I tell myself as Mimi sticks a torn piece of paper to the refrigerator with a colorful magnet.

Besides, it’s not like she even knows about her.

No one really does.

___

An hour after Mimi left, I scooped up the crumbs that fell from the sandwich on her kitchen table into my hand, then dumped them in the trashcan.

Smacking my hands together quickly, I give the room another look-over, before I pick up the bags I had resting by my feet, and head into the magical bedroom she was talking about.

The one where little things like a new pair of socks mean more than all the money in the world.

I push the door open and inhale the sweet scent. It may not smell like anything special to anyone else, but to me, the clean scent is enough to make me damn near faint with happiness.

Tonight, I’m going to sleep in a big, fluffy bed, somewhere safe and clean. I’m going to wear brand-new panties to bed and leave the window open, basking in the cool night air, instead of having to be completely wrapped up and tucked away in the darkest corner of my little village in Skid Row where death is damn near guaranteed for looking at someone the wrong way.

Tonight, I’m Davina Parker.

The precious princess that Julius always wanted me to be.

I let out a sigh as I set the bags on the bed and quickly begin to pick through the items and pull them out of their packaging.

He may have tried to make me forget who I was, but I never really could, and that’s why tomorrow I’ll be Davina Creed.

The scared, angry little girl that got dragged out of a good foster home and got tossed into Hell.

And then I’ll go to the devil’s gala and find Satan himself.

Tick, tock, Parker Family.

The little girl you left to rot is coming for you.

___

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