Chapter Twenty three

Still maintaining the position she had been left in, her hand pressed tightly against her chest as pained cries filtered out of the closed doors. It was so loud that the mental image of the vocal cords could be pictured vividly in the mind. Because of the intimidating guards parading the hall, voyeurs present in the establishment did not have the opportunity on coming to eavesdrop to satisfy their ears and minds.

Without a word, her feet led her away from there; she couldn't stand it, it made her feel bad about the thoughts she had. She had always complained of the position she held but she had never thought about the slaves and seductresses who were used beyond repair; people that couldn't oppose, people that couldn't do what they wanted to do, smile how they liked; even if they did, it was always filled with pain, pain that they tried hard to harbor and finally she came to the conclusion that she was an ingrate. With the awareness of the guards trailing behind her, she limped her way out to the establishment's compound but still stood on the top landing of the building's stairs with her head thrown back and her face up to the sky, receiving hues from the setting sun. With the guards right behind her she kept that position, waiting for Landmark. Her side profile could be seen in the distance with the rays of the sun highlighting and shadowing across parts of her face and her small pointed nose. Lady Genesis's thick black locks that had fallen behind her swayed lightly in contrast to the oversized coat she wore; that's what they all saw but no one saw her set a blazed chaotic mind running around. 

The sound of receding footsteps made Lady Genesis open her eyes with her head turned to the side, confused at why all the guards present on the ground floor dispersed, leaving the ground floor deserted. Taking a step at a time backwards, her confusion came to an end when she stepped on someone's foot and bumped into someone. Whipping herself around, she came head first against Landmark's chest who's reflexes were fast enough to steady her before she collided against him.

"My Lord". She took a deep bow, her locks following the movement to blanket the sides of her face. Her demeanor screamed apology but he just walked past, the heel of his boots clicking against the stairs when in contact.

"I'll escort you". He told her when he stood on the last step to the landing without turning back.

Holding open the carriage door for her, He waited until she climbed in but she didn't move only to turn to face him with her gaze to his boots.

"What's wrong?". Landmark signaled the coach man who jumped to action with just a nod to hold open the carriage door.

Lady Genesis shook her head while her hand moved to her neck with her fingers working their way to undo the knot of the coat.

"Keep it". He told her and helped her in without a word. When she settled in, the carriage door closed, separating the two with only a small head-sized window to see through. They held gazes until the carriage rolled out of the compound.

With shaking cold hands, Lady Genesis ran her fingers through her hair in apprehension, her knees felt numb and weak with every minute that passed and every roll the wheel of the carriage performed. They were on the path of the woods when suddenly the carriage suffered a violent shake and rolled to a stop, sending her against the side of the carriage that had a mirror. An unpleasant groan left her lips when the carriage door was yanked open while she tried to pick herself up from the broken shards of the mirror. Her hand held the side of her pounding head especially with the frenzy snorting of the horses that stomped their hooves in fear. The cold steel pointed at her throat brought her back with her eyes following the length of the sword to the disguised figure wearing all black and leaving no skin uncovered. 

"Not so bad". With the scratchy voice, she didn't need to be told the gender especially with the way she was yanked out and off the carriage floor, scraping her bruised hands against the broken glass shards on the floor. With the cold edge of the sword pressed against her throat, the disguised figure led her away and to the front of the carriage where four others stood watching the dead body of the coach man that lay in between them. Tears burned her eyes as she stared at the body sprawled on the floor; he had been butchered beyond recognition, lying in his own pool of blood. She still remembered his warm eyes and reassuring smile that reminded her that everything was gonna be alright someday; she still remembered his warm kisses on the head whenever she was punished and insanity clawed to take control; she still remembered him saying fate had something big for her but there he lay, her sanity, her father figure-the second person who cared about her in that mansion she could never call a home.