Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Maurice closes the door and walks around to the driver’s side. He climbs in and starts the engine. I test the cuffs, knowing there will be no give. I wince as they tighten on my wrists when he takes the turn not too gently and I struggle to hold myself in my seat. There are no windows in the back of the van, but I see from the front windshield that the gates stand open, and we drive through. He switches on the radio to a country station and now and then whistles along with the tune.
We drive for what feels like an eternity and I wonder if he’s taking me to the compound. If I’ll be locked in a cell at The Tribunal building. Would Zeke find me there? But we turn in a direction opposite of the compound to an area I don’t know, to another set of gates and another estate set on private grounds. We pull to a stop behind the Rolls Royce and Maurice opens the back of the van, reaches in to unhook the cuffs from the beam and keeping them around my wrists, he wraps an arm around my waist to lift me out.
“Let me go, you fucking asshole!”
He doesn’t and as he carries me toward the house, I see the Councilor disappear inside. Maurice gives me a sharp tug when I manage to kick his shin. Again, my struggles don’t seem to impact him at all as he follows the Councilor up the stairs to the second floor, and down a hallway. He’s still whistling, that bastard. He opens the double doors at the end of the hallway and when Maurice steps inside, I quiet because we’re in a large, circular bedroom with a king size bed against the far wall, opulent bedding matches the window coverings in shades of white and beige, the sun shining in through the five windows bright. It’s a beautiful room. A very feminine room.
I realize why a moment later when a woman who looks vaguely familiar steps out of what I guess is the bathroom.
“Ines.” The Councilor checks his watch, sets his cane aside to remove his bespoke jacket. He drapes it over the back of a chair. “You’re late.”
“I needed to use the bathroom,” Ines says, her glance landing on me. I realize who she is. Why she’s familiar. It’s the woman from the photos who was standing between the Councilor and Antoine Girard. Councilor Augustus’s wife.
“Well, I’ll take that into account. This, my dear, is Blue Thorne. Fitting name.” He mutters that last part. “And today she will bear witness to your Atonement.”
Ines’s eyes flash back to his. “Why?”
“Excuse me?” he asks, sounding astonished.
She stands with her hands on the belt of her robe.
“You were saying, darling?” the Councilor asks, cocking his head as if he really is curious.
“Nothing. Of course. As you wish.”
“Maurice,” he starts, turning to face us. He sees my wrists are still bound and acts like this is an affront to him. “Unbind her. She is a guest.”
“Yes, sir.”
My wrists are freed, but I don’t run. I don’t do anything. I don’t know what the hell is about to happen, but I know I will need to see it through.
“Place that chair where Blue can have the best possible view.”
Maurice moves around me and carries a chair to place it at the foot of the bed. He stands behind it.
“Ines.”
At the Councilor’s word, Ines moves to the small, circular carpet set at the very center of the room and kneels facing the bed. She picks up the long, thin switch which I hadn’t noticed was on the carpet, bows her head down, sets her elbows beside her head and holds the whip in offering.
“She’s lovely like this, isn’t she?” Councilor Augustus asks, dragging his gaze from his wife’s prostrated body to me. My throat goes dry. He’s going to whip her and he’s going to make me watch. “Blue, if you will.” The Councilor gestures for me to have a seat.
“I don’t want to stay.”
“I’m afraid walking away is no longer an option. If I need to ask Maurice to take you to the chair, Ines will pay the price.” He begins to roll up his right shirt sleeve. Once it’s folded to his elbow, he raises his eyebrows to me.
Leaden legs carry me across to that chair and I take a seat. Maurice sets his hands on my shoulders, and I grip the edges of the chair.
The Councilor walks to his wife and takes the whip from her hands. She straightens, looks at me as she undoes the belt that holds her robe closed and pushes it off her shoulders. She’s naked beneath and I realize why her hair is up when she leans forward to offer her back to her husband.