Page 7 of Darkened Promises

I don’t know how I didn’t feel it before, but now that I know it’s there, I can feel its heavy weight. The material’s warm against my skin. There’s a metal tag and bell I can’t see but can hear and touch, that sits at the front.

“What a naughty pet. I found you. I rescued you. I could’ve picked any other pet, but I picked you. And you repay me by trying to run away,” he tuts, walking around to stand in front of me. I don’t have to crane my neck far; he’s only a few inches taller than me.

“Good thing I collar and leash my pets.” He waves a hand that has pink leather wrapped around it. It tugs at the collar, and the movement nearly unbalances me.

I follow the trail of it, leading all the way up to my neck.

“Now, on your knees, kitten,” he snaps, tugging again.

I stumble forward, my throat screaming in protest as I gasp for oxygen through the bruising. He’s always looked slim, wiry even, so I never expected him to be able to hurt and yank me around so easily.

I don’t obey. His hand snaps out, pinching the skin on my arm, and twists hard. A pained scream leaves me, and I drop to my knees.

I don’t think I can do this.

“Naughty kitten. That’s rule number two and three that you’ve already broken. Now crawl. I bet you’re thirsty for some water, and you have a pretty bowl ready for you.”

My eyes shutter closed while a breath saws in and down my abused throat, pushing away the humiliation that sweeps through me. He’s right. My throat’s raw, my mouth dry and desperate for a drink.

So, I do it. I crawl.

Each shuffle cuts away at me, which seems stupid and superficial, considering who I’m with. And that he has a knife. Except it hurts to be pushed back into feeling so insignificant.

“Such a pretty kitten. Look at you crawling for me.”

He tugs me to stop when I reach the water bowl, and I obey. It’s a delicate pink, with “Kitten” written in neat white letters around the side. It’s a stupid thing to notice, but it scares me even more.

How long has he been planning this?

All the times I came to work, not knowing this was upstairs waiting for me. Or is this all from previous women he’s taken, and I’m just another in the long line of “pets” he’s acquired?

Until he’s done with me, and what happens then? It doesn’t feel like he’ll just let me go.

“I’m going to start thinking you aren’t thirsty…”

I lower, arms bending to support my weight, and lick at the water. I don’t have a cat’s abrasive tongue, so lapping at the water doesn’t quench my thirst, but I keep going, needing to drink as much as I can.

“Ah, not too much now, kitten. Don’t want you to be too greedy.” He tugs on the leash, making me crawl back towards him.

His black-clothed legs grow closer; the shoes I’ve seen him wear regularly so close to my face it’s surreal. It never would’ve occurred to me that I’d see them here, like this, the shiny brogue pattern in such fine detail.

A hand fists my hair, pulling my face up. My eyes flick down to the pink pen he holds in his right hand. He holds my head still in a tight grip, then draws a shape on the tip of my nose. Then he swaps the pink pen with a black pen from his pocket and draws lines across my cheeks.

I bite back a sob at the realisation. Whiskers.

His tongue traces across his lips. “I think I picked the right pet this time; so pretty in pink. So perfect for me.” He trails a hand across my head, then runs it along my back, stroking me. “However, seeing as you broke the rules, you do require punishing.”

He pinches my back and twists before I can even brace myself. My back arches and pain reverberates through my body. He finally lets go, but the burning sensation lingers, and I pant heavily, head falling forward.

I’ve never been hit before, but it feels like it would be the better option than this.

He plucks another area of skin at my waist and twists hard. I’ve still not caught my breath from the first one, so there’s no stopping my loud screech this time. I can’t hold it in. All my nerve endings light up, and I curl my fingers into the carpet.

It burns.

I can’t. This is…

My skin smarts from his cruel touch.