Salvation's Kiss (Tales Of Mython Book 1) by Kathryn Jayne (old books to read .TXT) 📗

earlier coffee incident. The touch was more restraint than he needed since she had already agreed to his demands. There was something about the way his thumbs rested at the base of her neck with a delicate yet controlling pressure that seemed almost familiar.

Focusing her attention to the creature on her arm, she watched with morbid fascination as its once-tiny form became swollen and its opaque texture turned red with the colour of her blood. Bile burnt the back of her throat at seeing it there, on her flesh. Despite feeling no real discomfort, she began to squirm, her eyes transfixed upon the creature.

“Hold still. It doesn’t take long.” She felt the pressure on her shoulders increase, a frown creasing her brow as she realised he was rubbing them gently. When the creature disengaged, he placed another in its exact location. She could feel the small resistance as it suckled, its small form swelling like her own nausea. “If anyone asks, you’ve been donating at the Taphouse for money, got it?” he whispered, placing the lid on his collection of blood-filled creatures. He placed one in his mouth and the sound of the fluid popping in his mouth turned her stomach almost as much as the sight of the blood-stained teeth he bore at her in a smile. For a moment, she dared another glance at him, at his smug expression.

“You have what you came for, now get out,” she growled quietly, wiping her tear-stained cheeks.

“I’ll see you again in a few days.” He left the way he had entered, pulling the door behind him. Sinking to her knees, she looked at the wound before wrapping her arms around herself, hoping to still the tremors that assailed her.

Emily watched the hypnotic flickering of the lights that dotted the false ceiling of the new room. She believed she had been moved here just yesterday, but time had possessed no meaning for what felt like a lifetime now; for all she knew, it could have been a few days ago, she couldn’t quite remember. Unlike her old concrete cell that had made her feel alone and isolated, there was nothing here but the wide open space between herself and the other Tabus who had earned the master’s favour. The world seemed so large now, so full of light and luxury.

Master had said that since that she’d been a good girl, she should be afforded some small luxury, like being able to move about. Her shaking legs hadn’t obeyed his desire, no matter how much she had attempted to please him. As a result, she heard she was to be given an increase in her nutritional feed, and had noticed her master looking on with approval at her latest blood results.

The single metal shackle around her ankle was weighted with a heavy chain. She often allowed her gaze to follow the winding path of the dull links to where they came to rest affixed to a metal plate within the wall. The chains sang softly with every movement she made, keeping her safe, and ensuring that when she was strong enough to stand without aid, she wouldn’t accidentally stray beyond her space. Glancing towards the bandages on her wrist, she noticed the yellow staining from her sores no longer marred the clean dressings, although there was a tender swelling around the place her needle was inserted. She knew from this that it was almost time for them to change its site. The thought caused pimples to chase across her heated flesh at the thought of the long, shiny skewer they would thrust within her.

With a slight wriggle, Emily felt her skin peel from the plastic coating of the soft mattress that now supported her weight, easing the pressure on her sores. It was one of the things she liked most about being a good girl. The soft foam was heaven, and now she had a catheter inserted, the cold hosings were a thing of the past, replaced by soft, warm flannels and soap that smelt of perfume and antiseptic.

The most disconcerting thing had been to find she was not alone. There were two empty beds to her left, but just beyond them there was an older man. While she couldn’t see anything specific, she could hear the occasional chime as his chains alerted her to movement and the slightest impression of a figure lying prone, but her tired, unfocused eyes could discern nothing more. When she had first been brought here he had tried to speak to her, his whisper too loud and abrasive against the silence that was expected. He told her Tabus who had graduated to this area were allowed to talk. But she had ignored him anyway, waiting until the master gave her permission to break one of the first rules he had given her.

She had tried to speak to him today, but since waking he been unusually silent. She wondered if he was dead, or if he had been moved during one of her dreams to the new households he was forever talking about.

Once a day, or so she imagined it to be, someone would come to her, lifting her moods and dismissing her into a world of bright and beautiful hallucinations. There was no pain in this magical place, just wondrous visions. She no longer felt the creatures being attached and removed from her like she had in the world of nightmares and horrors, where her mind had made them grow in size and each second was burning agony. She now knew only the bliss and euphoria of the dreams her master had seen fit to bestow upon her.

But she was awake now, trapped in her weakened body, awaiting the time she could once more fly. If she turned her head to the right, the haunting darkness from her old concrete cell could be seen, swallowing the room beyond its metal bars. Its darkness seemed all-consuming, like a gaping mouth open and awaiting for her to