Czar Gregovivk

My finger brushes the side of her face as I smooth her skin, which is slowly returning to a normal temperature. I can still remember how cold she felt, her trembling lips murmuring disconnected words when I held her in my arms. I was filled with anger, so much hatred, as I made my way to the club in search of her. I had just received the news that that bitch Freire had hanged herself; one of Ramsés's informants had called to inform him that she had been found. We had been searching for her for over two weeks, scouring every corner, trying to find someone who had seen her, any system she had passed through. But she had disappeared without a trace, and it was right there in New York that she had hidden. By the time I found her, she was no longer of any use to me. Still reeling from the anger of that news, I lost all control when Ramsés texted that Mabel was at a club in downtown Moscow. I left Sodoma seeing everything in red.
She only had to stay inside the damn house. That was one of the reasons I brought her to live with me. When I found her, she was broken, scared, like a child, clinging to me between tears and fear. I managed to pick her up before she collapsed to the floor. Ramsés's security detail, tasked with tracking Mabel, was ordered to find Sieta and bring her straight to me. I left there carrying the little bird in my arms, unconscious, back to my house. Before I could even stop the car at my door, Ramsés was already there waiting for me, along with a doctor he trusted. Mabel regained consciousness as the doctor was examining her.
Her screams echoed in the room as she slapped his face when she woke up, the doctor trying to touch her arm to check her pulse. She began screaming frantically, writhing in convulsions of cries and sobs, dragging herself toward the headboard and curling up her legs, closing her eyes. The doctor returned after preparing an intravenous sedative to inject into her vein, but Mabel screamed and shrank even further into the bed.
“Nate... No, don’t touch me again,” she murmured through her sobs. “Please, don’t...”
Her crying, mixed with sobs, sent a wave of pain through the room, making me realize her mind wasn’t here.
“Get away from her!” I ordered, pushing the doctor away as he attempted to approach her again.
“But I need to—” His eyes widened when I grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him back.
“I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM HER!” I shouted in rage, letting him see the depth of my fury.
I released him and shoved him aside, feeling a surge of hatred as he raised his hands in surrender, nodding slowly. I turned back and pulled Mabel close, sitting her in my lap. My right arm wrapped around her, and with the other hand, I brought her head to rest on my chest. She was still thrashing around, scared, curling up in my arms. I could hear her crying as only the same words tumbled from her lips, filled with pure fear.
“Mabel did something bad...” she cried, gripping my arms tightly, breathing heavily. “I did something bad, very bad.”
“Shhh!” I whispered in her ear, cradling her gently. “You’re safe, little bird.”
I lifted my face to the doctor and shook my head at him, stroking her back while murmuring that everything was alright in her ear.
“Give me your arm, Mabel,” I ordered, running my fingers through her hair while I slowly lifted her arm, stretching it out. “You’re safe. Trust me, don’t you, little bird?!”
She buried her face in my chest and dug her nails into my shoulder, murmuring broken words that were almost inaudible. Her body tensed as the doctor found her vein with the needle, making her cry out even more. I felt her body soften as she murmured unintelligible things. I gently released her arm and pulled her head back, looking into her dark, pain-filled eyes.
“Girl, don’t you dare mention God in here!” she murmured, closing her eyes as tears streamed down her face. “If God existed, He wouldn’t let us do this to you.”
“What are you talking about?” I held her face, trying to understand her words. “Mabel, look at me...”
I shook her body, wanting her to open her eyes and tell me where she had heard those words.
“I did something bad...” Mabel went limp, her head falling back as the medication took effect, leaving her doped up.


***



" Jadiri said that only one young man approached her, but he wasn't a suspect, just a random person at the club. — I divert my eyes from the bookshelf and turn my chair to Ramsés, who is serious, sitting across from me, drinking his vodka. — Marali informed me that she will be okay. When she wakes up, she'll be a bit dazed from the medication but will be calmer.
I turn my gaze away from him and observe the small woman sitting on the couch in the distance, her shoulders slumped and eyes frightened. Ramsés' informant had followed his orders, bringing Sieta straight to me. I still hadn't spoken to her since leaving the room after confirming that Mabel was alright.
" She had a panic attack triggered by fear. — I nod in agreement and keep my eyes on Sieta.
" I know, the doctor gave me that information before leaving the room. I don’t know how to thank you for your help and your team's, Ramsés. — I see him get up and slowly bow his head forward, leaving his glass on the table.
" I’m a man of my word, Czar; we have an agreement, my Russian friend. — He gives me a brief smile and turns, walking slowly out of the room. — See you later, Sieta.
Ramsés says goodbye to Sieta and leaves slowly. Her thin face lifts, and she stares at me, looking scared, her expression worried.
" I had no idea this would happen, Greg — she murmurs, shaking her head. — I would never do this to her if I knew...
" Why did you go there? Why did you take her to a place where she would be an easy target, even knowing I wanted her here, inside this house? — I take a deep breath and clench my fingers. — Why did you lie to me, saying you would take her out to dinner? Why did you leave her alone in that place, to begin with...
" I didn’t know Mabel would have a panic attack! — She stands up, nervous, shaking her head. — I just wanted to take her out, to get to know...
" DON’T LIE TO ME, SIETA! — I shout angrily, slamming my fist on the table, making her sit back down.
" I didn’t intend to stay, I didn’t even mean to take her... — Sieta murmurs, looking down. — Caien called me last night, asking me to see him. Kaiser had reserved a VIP room for him and another guest. I just stopped by to drop off a listening device with Caien; he was going to infiltrate them when they gathered...
" Hell, Sieta! — I snarl in anger, closing my eyes, grinding my teeth. — Did it never cross your mind that she should be the last person there?
" He hadn’t arrived — she replies quickly, shaking her head. — Only his guest was there. Kaiser hadn’t reached the club when we entered. I didn’t mean any harm, Greg; I knew Ramsés' men were taking care of us and she was safe. — Sieta leans back against the couch and covers her face. — I was only going to go in and out quickly; we would go home afterward. I just wanted to check out Kaiser. He’s not the type to go to a club opening; the man he was going to meet is different; I’ve never seen him here in Moscow. I thought it might be some play of his with Morgana...
" I told you I would take care of everything, damn it! And you go acting on impulse, lying to me — I growl in hatred, feeling the blood rush from my face at just the thought of Kaiser laying eyes on Mabel. Sieta has been irresponsible and careless. — I asked you to stay with her because I'm trying to protect us, damn it, and you take her to the lion's den!
" I’m so sorry, Greg... — She looks at me, turning her face toward me. — I didn’t mean to; I knew we weren’t in danger, that...
" Freire is dead, Sieta! — I say seriously, letting her understand what I just said.
Her face goes completely mortified, her eyes widening as she sits up straight on the couch and stares at me.
" Freire, what do you mean...
" She was found dead in an apartment in New York, hanged — I explain, lowering my eyes to the table, staring at the documents.
" Christ... — She takes a deep breath and stands up, rubbing the back of her neck anxiously.
" I was trying to figure out why she did this when I was informed of your recklessness. — I close my eyes and shake my head, taking a deep breath. — What’s happening is not an episode of your investigative shows, Sieta, but a real danger. What do you think Kaiser would have done to you if he even suspected you were monitoring him?! You and Mabel would be two bodies of indigents that I would be hunting down right now...
" Greg, I just wanted to help you...
"Want to help me? Go back to the club and stay there until I call you again. — I clench my fists tightly, feeling my nerves tighten.
" But I don’t want to leave her like this...
" I GAVE YOU AN ORDER! — I divert my eyes from hers, sentencing her, turning on the computer.
I hear her breathing slowly release as her steps shuffle, walking through the library toward the exit.
" I’m sorry.
My cousin’s low voice sounds sad, and I raise my face to Sieta, seeing her with hunched shoulders and a defeated posture, making me recall the small, skinny girl with an adventurous and loyal spirit from our childhood.
" Do you know why I call Mabel "little bird," Sieta? — I ask softly, tapping my fingers on the table.
Her head shakes negatively as she looks at the open door.
" Because that’s what she is: a bird that was raised trapped in a cage, with its wings clipped and can never fly. — Sieta turns her face toward me and looks at me, confused. — The man Mabel was given to, he didn’t just initiate her into sadism; he beat her, raped her again, torturing her for an entire weekend, shattering her mind into fragments just as he tore her skin with a knife. And after that, she was released, left to fend for herself. Birds that don’t fly get lost and vulnerable on the ground when they’re not safely in a cage.
I see Sieta’s pale skin drain of color, her lips trembling, as her eyes blink rapidly, her pupils reddening.
" When she came to me asking for help, she told me she wanted to be normal, but I knew Mabel could never be a normal girl; that’s the truth. That’s why I keep her here. — I open my arms, showing her the house. — Safe and protected inside this cage...
" You didn’t tell her? — Sieta tilts her head to her shoulder and looks down, lost in thought.
" Mabel was raised to be an alpha submissive, not to be free like you. — I grind my lips together and smile ironically. — There will be no freedom for Mabel because she was resigned to have an invisible collar around her neck.