Chapter 4 Chapter four

TRIGGER WARNING

I pressed myself against the far corner of the leather seat, as far from him as possible as the cramped space would allow. But it wasn’t far enough. I kept my eyes down, my fingers interlocked together as I cursed everyone who was involved in my suffering right now.

Whoever they were. Wherever they were. I hoped each and everyone of those bastards rot in hell. Assuming there was still a hell in this damned world. If there were, I bet it would have been empty, because all its inhabitants were in this world.

Barron Von Furstenberg, that was his name. I’d come across his profile far too many times to count. If there were a list of vile and untrustworthy politicians, his name would easily be among the first five. He’d taken off the over-the-top gold mask he was wearing, and his face was just as I’d expected it to be. Round, flushed with tiny beads for eyes that tracked my every move.

“Comfortable?” he asked, his legs spread wide as he puffed smoke from his cigar into my face. I turned my head to the side. My fingers are gripping the fabric of the dress tighter. The carriage hit a bump in the road and I had to grab the seat to keep from sliding toward him.

“You know,” he started when I didn’t answer him. “I’ve been collecting rare humans for nearly a decade now. Seen hundreds of humans being passed through those auction halls. But you?” he let out a low whistle. “You’re something special, Crystal Noir.”

Barron chuckled as he reached his hand out to touch me, and out of defensive instinct, I slapped his hand away. “Keep your mits to yourself, you pig.” I sneered. My words are dripping with hateful venom.

“Don’t say my name as you know me.” I spat the words out through gritted teeth.

“Hah, but I do know you. We’ve never met, but I know you very well.” he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small folder, then flipped it open. “I know everything about. Crystal Noir, attorney at Covenant City legal aid. It says you specialize in human rights advocacy. Isn’t that cute?” he chuckled as he flipped through more of my records that should have been more or less private to the public.

“How did you get that--”

“Ah--This is interesting.” he crooned, his eyes lighting up as he sifted through the information in the file.

“What?!”I snapped. What could possibly be so interesting that he looked like he had just found oil?

Barron slowly looked up from the file in his possession and met my annoyed gaze with a vicious grin.

“It says here that you’re a virgin.” his lips split further into an ugly grin and my face burned bright red.

“A virgin?” he laughed. “With looks like yours, I could have sworn you were a little whore.”

“Fuck you,” I spat. “Not everyone can be as disgusting as you.”

He laughed louder, a wet horrible snorting sound as his real form began to show. Tufts grew out of his mouth, the suit he had on strained even more, and his skin turned pinkish. So that’s what he was, a hog beast.

“Oh, you will. Soon enough.” he licked his mouth and I felt my stomach drop when the carriage lurched forward.

Before I could react, his thick hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking me across the carriage and I slammed into his barrel chest with a yelp. But before I could move out of the way, his arm wrapped around my waist, trapping me against him.

“Ew! No! Let go of me!” I struggled, pushing against his chest, but the bastard was like a brick wall. His fingers dug into my arm hard enough to bruise.

“Yes, that’s it.” he snorted. “Resist me.” his cold pig nose brushed against my face and I squirmed.

“You can’t do this to me,” I continued to struggle. “I’ll fucking sue you into the ground. I’ll--”

“I like your fire.” His laugh cut me off. “It only makes me want you even more.” his breath was hot and reeking of cheap wine that made me want to throw up. “The little human attorney who thinks she can change the world. Tell me, how did that work out for you?”

His large hand grabbed my backside, while the other one still managed to hold onto my arm. I was finally able to twist out of his grip, managed to get one hand free, and swung at his face with all the strength I had left. My palm connected with his cheek with a satisfying crack that filled the space around us.

But his head barely moved.

The smile slid off his face. His grip on my arm tightened until I gasped in pain.

“Now that,” he said quietly. “was a mistake.”

He shoved me back against the seat so hard all the air in my lungs rushed out and before I could fully recover from the impact, he was already on me. The painful sound of the fabric of my dress tearing made me cry out.

“Wait. Please stop. I’m sorry.” I pleaded with him. This wasn’t how I wanted to remember my first time. I’ve handled r@pe cases in the past. Each story was more painful than the last, but this…this experience right now, it was far more terrifying as my innocence flashed before my eyes.

A single tear drop rolling down my cheek.

“Please…”