FIFTY

Kamilla Lopez

I turn my body and see his eyes full of hate, I get tense, he probably heard the conversation with Morgana. I knew that asking questions of the employees who work for Nick would be a very bad idea, however, for a moment I thought that Morgana would help me, I see that she is a great person, since I set foot in this house to take care of Erick she treated me well. But now, I see that I have no one to help me, I'm alone, helpless, desperate, the only people who would help me are being held captive somewhere.

Nick was wearing a black suit, his hair was damp and slicked back, for a while I think he'll be out, probably for work as a businessman or as king of the underworld. He takes steps towards me, I tense, my breath catches and I take steps back. A dark and frightening smile draws his lips, my fear gives him satisfaction, it will somehow be favorable for him.

— You ask a lot of questions, baby, dangerous questions.

— D— did you hear?

— Enough to piss me off.

— Nick....

In a single impulse Nick grabs my arm, that attitude scares me and I try to walk away, but he easily immobilizes me and makes me face him, my eyes' water with fear, I'm scared, terrified of his reaction and what he can do it to me, with that, I decide to pretend.

— II was just asking how big the property was.

— Spare me that bullshit, don't try to make a fool of me.

— It was just a question, nothing more!

— Shut up!

With that, Nick started to drag me out of the kitchen, trying to follow his steps or even let go of his grip, but the strength of his hand and the weight of it does not compare with all the strength that inhabits my body. I realized we were going to the office, I got scared, he opens the door and approaches me to a sofa throwing me on it, going back to the door he locked it and turned his body towards me. His implacable look of a true predator scared me, his eyes show danger, there is no compassion in that look, there is no kindness, there is nothing but the dark.

— I'll teach you that wrong questions have consequences.

In long strides he approaches me, I get up from the couch and try to get as far away from him as I can, however, his arms circle my waist and hold me in his body, with his hands on my shoulder, he whispers into my heard:

— Remember, everything that happens is your fault.

— What are you going to do?

— I told you that if you did something, there would be consequences.

— Y— you're wrong, I didn't do anything!

— Asking the maid where your little friends are is wrong.

— They're not my friends, they're my only family!

— I'm your family now, if you accept that as soon as possible it will be better for you.

Nick lets go of me and walks over to his desk, he turns on the monitor and presses a red button, suddenly cameras appear on the screen, they are due in two. My eyes widen with fear and confusion, I see Dona Carolina and Bianca in environments compared to a cell, they were trapped on a metal table with their arms trapped in handcuffs and their mouths covered with a cloth, they seemed to be unconscious.

— What did you do?

— I haven't done anything yet, doll.

I approach the monitor, my hands are shaking, and my legs are wobbly, for a moment I think I would pass out, but fear prevents me from doing so. I turn to Nick, he seemed to be enjoying what he was doing, my affliction somehow pleased him, it seemed he was waiting for some attempt to escape or to look for Dona Carolina and Bianca.

— Let them go.

— And why would I do that?

— Because they are my family.

— I'm their family now, and in their case, I have plans for them.

— Please don't hurt them, I just asked Morgana if there was anything else on her property besides the mansion and the servants' house.—

— Do you think I'm an idiot?— I know you tried to persuade my employees, you wanted to extract information!

— At....

— Shut up, but I answer you, they are not on my property, but in my underworld.

— No! If you hurt them....

— What are you going to do, dove?— If you do something I don't like, I'll take it out on them.

— Please do not.

I move closer to him, lean my body against his and tearfully hold him around, rest my forehead on his chin and cry, cry until the sobs escape my mouth. His hands circle around my waist and hug me tightly, his perfume penetrates my nose and I inhale the smell, my heart tightens for his actions, I love him but if he hurts them I will replace all this love with hate.

— Nick, don't hurt them, they helped me at my worst time.

I lift my eyes and look at his face transfigured by seduction and danger, his right hand goes to my chin and holds it firmly, his husky voice sounds with tyranny:

— My green eyes, manipulation doesn't work on me.

He breaks the hug and takes his phone out of his pocket, pressing some number, then his commanding voice echoes next to me as he looks directly at the monitor.

— You already know what you must do.

With that, a couple of men appeared on the screen showing Dona Carolina, they took her off the table and tore off the clothes that were on her body, then dragged her to chains and left her leaning against the wall with her arms and legs pulled by the chains. Chains, my shoulders slumped in helplessness.

— What are you going to do with her, Nick?

— Shh, princess, just watch.

— Don't hurt her, please.

— Shut up, now look at the screen.

I turned my eyes to the monitor and saw the men suspend a hose, then a strong stream of water was turned on and directed at his body. I hear his screams of pain and agony, my legs failed, before I fell to the ground Nick held me, with his mouth close to my ear, threatened:

— If you dare faint, I'll have you killed.

— No, please.

— Calm down my angel, it's just cold water, cold enough to hurt your whole body in a matter of seconds.

— She's a lady, Nick, don't do that to her!

She screams and tries to free herself from the chains, the men don't care, Dona Carolina drowns with water that wets her whole body, she asks to stop in the midst of crying and despair, the pain that the water is causing her.

— Stop it, Nick, make it stop!— I plead with tears.

— But already?— We just started.

— Please make it stop!

Nick hangs up the phone and orders them to stop wetting her, with the faucet off I stare at her body, it was extremely pale, she had passed out.

— You wretched monster!

Enraged, he turns off the monitor and turns me in front of him, with a clenched jaw, he says:

— That was just a sample of what I can do with those you care so much, if you try to be smart I'll kill them, understand?

— Why are you doing this? — I ask in tears, with tenderness he slides his hand on my face, drying my skin.

— Don't you see my angel? I want you to forget once and for all the attempt to escape that I know you're thinking about, if you do, I'll cause you pain, understand?

— Y— yes!

— Perfect, now go to your room, the maid will bring you breakfast, I'll have to leave, but remember, the house is heavily guarded, don't try to be smart, or it will end badly.

With that, together we left the office, next to the stairs Nick turned me towards him and kissed my lips, then left me standing in the middle of the room as he walked out of the mansion. I went to the bedroom, passing through the door I walked over to the bed and leaned over it, I started to cry from despair and distress, running away would be a mistake, I can't do anything, if I do, Dona Carolina and Bianca will end up dead, and I will, I dare not doubt it, for just asking Morgaine that was the consequence.

The door is opened, Morgana goes through it together with a breakfast tray, I looked at her movements until she approached a table, there she left the tray and approached me.

— Your breakfast.

— Thanks Morgana, but I'm not hungry anymore.

— You need to eat, you're pregnant.

— Don't worry, I have the rest of the day to eat.

With a simple smile she left the room, I spent the rest of the day in the room lying on the bed, I navigate in my thoughts disappointed with Nick who I now see as someone cruel, I can't believe that I am now doomed to this life of torment and affliction. I hear the door open, I take my eyes to it and I see the little being that can help me endure all this sudden transformation in my life.

— Hi Mom, are you sick?

— Not little one, why?

— You're lying in bed at this hour, at least you went to receive me in the entrance hall.

— I wasn't feeling well, so I'm lying down.

— I was crying?

— Not small. — I lie.

— Yes, mom, is it my dad's fault?

— Don't worry, little one, it was nothing.

He looked at the table, saw the whole breakfast, saw that I hadn't eaten.

— Why didn't you eat?

— I'm not hungry.

— But for you to feel good, please eat.

With those sad eyes I give a small smile, I realized that he still doesn't know about the pregnancy, but in the circumstances I find myself, it wouldn't be wise to tell him at this time. With that, I get out of bed and approach the table, with his company I started to eat and feel better than in the early morning, hours later we left that room and went to the garden.