New Backlash

“Ehhh, ehmm,” The next sound I heard after repeated taps on my laps.
I opened my eyes and sigh I know who it is, its been like this for days now, I mean I know she is doing her job but sometimes she does overdo it.
“you know its time for you to be up right.” She said, this means its probably past eight and I am the only one on bed. Sigh.

“You do know you don’t get paid for this right.” I said to sofia as she stood there looking at me.
“Yeah, I am pretty sure I get more paid than you so, lets see, is 450 dollars a week not something tangible.” She said as she looked at me wearing all seriousness.
“Just leave me alone sofia, I need to sleep more, I could barely sleep yesterday, he wa…” I was about to say when I stopped myself in my tracks.
“He was?” she said to me. She doesn’t know I went to his room so lets just say I didn’t want to tell her yet.
“You went to his room right?” she said as she squinted her eyes at me.
“Sigh.” I exhaled, holding on to my pillow. She has always been this smart.
“well, lets just say, you are a free living babe, amongst us who really don’t have much freedom, MS favorite.” She said, as she looked at me.
She was trying to get on my nerves and it was beginning to work.

“I am not so special, I am just like you all, I am expensive paltry, l know you know that, you of all people know that so don’t call me special.”
“Hey, hey, not in my house, I wont have all this negativity, come on Ariella, you have a lot of things that are great about you.” She added as she dragged the sheets off my grasp, it was about time I got up and she was not waiting anymore.
“Fine, fine, I am up.” I said, letting go of the sheets and sitting up. I stood up and then as I was about to walk to start my chore of the day,. In which I already knew, it was going to be my turn to clean the bathroom so i faced that direction but before I could take a step.

She dragged my hand and gave me a hug. “Don’t be little yourself because of anything, just keep your head up high okay, I believe in you and I am here incase you need to talk.” She said to me.. this gathered tears all over my eyes.
“Thankyou” I said underneath my breath.
“But can I not clean the bathroom today, I feel like the flowers calls me outside.” I said to her as my hug tightened.

“Ariella I see what you are doing.” She said to me .
“Oh you do.” I said, tightening my grip even more.
“Ariella, I can’t breath. Okay, fine, fine, go….cchhh..” she replied me barely able to speak .

“Thankyou my love.” I said jumping up in excitement and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Eww.” She said to me cleaning up her cheeks immediately.
Classic Sofia.

As I got ready to head out, the image of Sebastian, covered in blood and lost in his thoughts, haunted me. Something was wrong; I could feel it deep in my bones. I spent the morning in a daze, barely able to focus on my tasks.

As I worked outside, trimming the plants, I noticed Sebastian preparing to leave. He was alone, with no one following him. The sight filled me with an inexplicable urge to talk to him, to understand what was going on. I hurried over, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Sebastian," I called softly, approaching his car, he was getting some things arranged in his car.
He looked up briefly, his expression still cold and uninviting. "What is it?" he asked bluntly, continuing to arrange things in the car.
“oh um, how are you doing?” the next thing I said.
He barely glanced at me, his reply cold and blunt. "Fine," he said, not even looking up.

His words stung. There was no warmth, no recognition. Just an icy barrier that seemed impossible to penetrate. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

He stopped what he was doing and turned to me, his eyes narrowing. "Why do you care so much?" he asked, his tone sharp and filled with an edge of disgust.

His words hit me like a physical blow, and I struggled to find my voice. "I... I’m asking because your replies are blunt. It’s not like you. Since yesterday, I feel like something is wrong," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“so? What does that concern you?” he said to me his town unapologetic and his eyes cold.
“I…I am just worried that’s all, you know that y….” I was about to day when he stopped me in my tracks with a laugh.
He laughed, a cold, humorless sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You are a sex slave, remember? I own you. So kindly mind yourself. Or is it because I’ve made you feel special by saying no one else but me can have you?" His words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper than the last.

My heart began to beat faster, each word tearing through me like a blade. I felt a lump form in my throat, and tears gathered in my eyes. "Oh, yeah, that’s true. I’m sorry, boss, for ruining your morning," I said, my voice breaking.

“Know your place, you are for my pleasure only, kindly remember that, and please leave me alone till I ask for you.” He said to me, then he entered his car and drove off.

“….” I stood there for a while trying to process what just happened, that wasn’t normal? How did that happen? Why did that happen? …. The tears refused to stop filling my eyes, so I found a secluded corner and let the tears flow freely. The pain of his words was unbearable, a sharp reminder of my place in this world. I was nothing more than a servant, a slave. My feelings, my concern, meant nothing.

Hours passed as I sat there, crying quietly. Eventually, Raven found me. She sat down beside me, her presence a comforting balm to my wounded soul.

“What happened, Ariella?” she asked gently.

I shook my head, unable to meet her gaze. “I just remembered my family and some other things,” I lied, my voice hollow.

Raven wrapped an arm around my shoulders, offering silent comfort. “It’s okay to miss them. It’s okay to feel,” she said softly.

I nodded, but the numbness in my heart didn’t dissipate. After a while, I stood up, forcing a smile. “I’m okay now,” I said, though we both knew it wasn’t true.

She respected my response and let me go after that, she already caught me crying so she knew that something was off but she respected my expressions and chose not to ponder.

I walked back to the room, my heart heavy with unspoken pain. I forced a smile at Sophia, who immediately noticed something was off.

“Are you alright?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

I laughed it off, trying to sound casual. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

Sophia didn’t press further, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. I climbed into bed, the events of the day replaying in my mind. Sebastian’s harsh words echoed in my thoughts, a constant reminder of my place.

As I lay there, the tears came again. Silent, hot tears that soaked my pillow. I felt so helpless, so lost. I loved him, despite everything, and that love would be my downfall. I was a servant, nothing more. My love for him was a curse, a weight that would eventually ruin me.

I accepted my fate with a heavy heart. There was nothing else to live for. This was my reality, and I had to find a way to survive it. As I drifted off to sleep, the pain lingered, a constant companion in the darkness.