I'm His Property

he Me

heavy as they

ce again, her mind concentrated on numbing the pain. And as it d

th

blac

The pain that followed was far less intense th

ng in pain and loss. But what h

dn't she

yer a

st Sophia heard before she shot up in

ands blindly wiped her damp curls off her forehead. Her bed bounded as her dog

was not new to her for it was not the first that she had to wake up from that

s it turned on but her sight remained in utter darkness. She could not seem to shake off the habit of turning the bedsid

nt

to allow her sight to focus on the shadows. Aabha's white form was still on the bed. A sma

sheets, Sophia uttered and whispere

k to sleep, another dream

ighting a whimpered cry as her skirts were pushed up to her hips,

ed to whisper to the crying Sophia, kn

r slamming against the wall came and the painful grip of the man

e dream Sophia asking the

othing voice said, "but

in her sleep, soothing the girl in th

ith me," the stra

he raw fear in her voice was undeniable. Go with hi

ll work

ame the dream So

promise, Sophia mur

a far more in

the safety of her bed, comforted by the memory

*

like any brothel

re would be enou

giant wall of rock, the process had gained great attention. But before it was even completed, the

deal home envisioned by its previous owner but in

hers and distant relatives secretly loved the idea. They clamored to gain membership, fully aware that t

les women, most of them would often go home disappointed, cursing the pl

se they wish to welcome into the chambers-the richest, the best of rakes

and gentleman who walked out from any of the chambers were greatly satisfied, causing those who w

and flattery thrown at them by eager, rich men. The Rock'oles women could socialize and pretend themselves

ir generous customers, all the while scouring the g

iful mistresses in the gaming halls. In fact,

er door. Yet most would be requested to leave by the notorious guards. Not all were lucky for there were merely a few who could tell what she looked

t dare talk about her fo

e to be in the midst of

en in the gaming halls. Hers wa

h

er could be counted in one's pair of hands. Among

rd her chamber door open. Stanle

ia," Standley's voice ut

of footsteps before she

nce was enough for her to recogn

f smoke. And since secrecy was the ultimate rule of her

for you today, my d

placed in her palm. She set it aside and blindly smiled. She knew he

next and she almost agoni

had turned on the bedside lamp but the ceilin

t was all that they had always been doing: wait. Wait until it was ti

my lord?" she ask

well, Sophia, dear.

her h

owed before he an

say, although the doctors

d, she pointed to where she believed the liquor cabin

he gaming halls would surely question why I would rather drink spir

can always tell them that you

hearty laugh. "No,

do me the honor of continuing the

yes, of

d pushed the book on the

nd leafed through the page

ne-hund

escue the maiden, yes, I remember. I was

osed her eyes as

ually made for himself, Lord Cigar stood from his seat

ithout another word, Lord Cigar's footste

**

he woman on his lap to fall on the floor if his r

the gami

d but he ignored her by plant

sonal business, my dear," he whispered

mber waiting for you then," she said without questionin

to be in her chamber today. He stood up and exited the ga

s about along the empty corridor,

e end of the corridor. He walked toward it and knocked

ugh for the mysterious woman inside the chamber to hear

e ones owned by the other women were scatt

ager you will not even if I am lying bleeding out

year now, in fact. I have been talking to a door or this wall," he said, slapping the one b

time I heard you

from his pocket an

a bright ceiling lamp hovering above him and he scoffed. She could clearly see him. Unfair, really, for he was here standing under such bright light while he was yet to see even a glimpse of her shadow. At the thought of that, he wondere

and his sister-in-law's husband, Maxwell Everard. Yet Tania banned him because her pride was hurt, not because she found Nicholas revolting or that she no lo

ther blind or had an oddly bad taste in men. The proof of that was Lord Baldwin himself. The man was no

t he also reeked

man was intensely lacking in senses or if she was truly p

e." He tilted his head to the right, acting as if he was expecting her to answer. He let out a dramatic

, telling himself that he

ever was hiding there-was the ans

*

ear from her line of sight befor

ay was finally over and she

the secret door that connected

ng, a warm smile on her lips as

efore the ceiling lamp flickered and Sophia blinked to open her eyes to the little light she could see. It

ned, "and Aabha needs the smaller lamp." S

," Marcus Durley commented. "And s

Ralph Everard to regain their membership in Rock'oles?" When he failed to reply, she added further, "Was it not you who had been waiting for the day that they wi

to keep my enemies

consider them

als are naught but enemies, my dear," he

alized I do need

rakehell Nicholas Everard?" she asked with

eath but did

letter. She heard him unfold the paper to read its contents before he said,