Her head falls to the side and I can see a sliver of green peeking from her swollen eye.
“I’m here, Momma.” My voice is thick with tears. I gently pat her hair, the same way she always pats mine when I’ve hurt myself. I wish I could hug her, but I’m scared I’ll hurt her.
“Promise … me, Jack,” she whispers.
“Anything, Momma,” I say quickly. I’ll do anything to see her smile. My momma has the prettiest smile. It always makes me feel safe.
“Promise … you’ll … look after … David.” Her breaths wheeze in and out, making whistling sounds.
“I promise, Momma.” Her mouth twitches as if she’s trying to smile so I quickly add, “I’ll look after David.”
The words work and a smile pulls at her bloody mouth.
She keeps smiling for a long time, while I sit by her wiping the blood from her face and arms. As long as Momma smiles, everything will be okay.
I must have fallen asleep next to Momma because as the door slams open, I’m woken with a fright. I quickly turn around and see him walk toward us. He always looks angry. He stops next to me where I’m kneeling on the floor and he looks at Momma. He leans over her and takes hold of her jaw, making her smile disappear. He turns her face the other way, his grip hard.
He lets her go with a shove and then shouts out, “Sven!”
I watch as Sven comes in. Sven and Eduardo are always with my father. I’m scared of them. They look scary and mean.
“Yes, Sir?” Sven asks as he stands by the door, his hands clasped in front of him.
“Go burn the body,” my father says with a dark voice.
I blink a few times as Sven comes toward us and then he picks up Momma and tosses her over his shoulder. My eyes widen and a scream is torn from my throat. “Leave her alone!” I run after Sven and slam my tiny fists into his back. I have to make him stop. “Put Momma back on the bed! She’s sleeping!”
A hand clasps hard around the back of my neck and I’m yanked backwards. “It’s time for you to become a man,” my father growls. He then shoves me forward and I have to jog to keep up with his big steps. We walk out the back door and past the pretty flowers Momma loves so much. She always stops to smell them. We keep walking, further than I’ve ever walked with Momma when we come outside for walks. I see a building, the brown one I’ve never been too.
Sven opens the door and goes inside. As my father shoves me inside, I see Sven throw Momma on the floor. She falls with a loud thud but doesn’t move. My eyes are huge and burning. I have to bite back the tears.
I watch as Sven opens a heavy steel door and then he picks Momma up and puts her in the tiny space. It looks like a huge oven.
I can’t see what Sven does because his big body blocks my view. Suddenly flames jump out of nowhere, all around Momma. I yank away from my father with a loud scream. “Nooo!!” I grab hold of Momma’s foot and start to pull. I have to save Momma!
The flames lick at my hand and it hurts so much, but I don’t let go. A hand grabs hold of my neck and I’m flung backwards, slamming into a hard wall.
My father is huge and scary as he towers over me. He looks at Sven when he says, “It’s time for the boy to start earning his keep. Put him with the other slaves.”
I don’t understand what that means. My eyes fall on Momma and the flames eating at her. I can’t tear my eyes away from her. My eyes burn from the fire. My hand burns from the fire. My heart burns because I know that I won’t see Momma’s smile again.
Everything burns.
~*~
Chapter One
Jack~
(Twenty-seven years old…)
I wipe the corner of my mouth and throw the napkin on the plate before I go back to staring out the window. Winter is almost over and then the roses will bloom again. I need to go trim the bushes and trees.
It’s one of the few pleasures I’m allowed.
If I cooperate then I’m allowed outside so I can tend to the gardens and my greenhouse.
If I cooperate then David is safe and taken care of.
If I cooperate then I’m allowed to move freely around the estate.
But if I don’t cooperate then those three privileges are taken away and I’m beaten. If I don’t cooperate then they threaten to sell David into a life of slavery.
So I cooperate. I promised to look after my baby brother and as long as it’s in my power to keep that promise, I will.
I have a need to be close to Momma. Not a day has gone by that I don’t miss her. Years later and I still have nightmares of that horrible day. I can still smell her burning flesh.
I leave my room in a hurry to get outside. I go straight to my greenhouse. It was given to me when Cameron realized he could make a lot of money with me. He won’t admit it to me but I’ve heard him brag that I’m his greatest asset.
I start to water the plants, it always calms me. Here and there I remove a dead leaf. I love being surrounded by nature. It reminds me that somewhere there is life, even though I’m dead inside. I get to live through nature, draw off its energy and vibrant colors. For a moment I get to forget where I am and what my life entails. Yeah, I’d rather be a flower that only blossoms once before it dies, and then nourishes the ground with its remains - than this empty soul that’s stuck in a dead shell.
There was a time I thought Cameron was my father but after Momma died he told me that I’m not his son. Only David is. He said Momma had me before she married him. I don’t know who my real father is and I don’t care. All I care about is David and keeping my promise to Momma.
When I’m done watering all the plants and my small collection of bonsai trees, I decide to go work in the rose garden. Because of all the gardening I do, I’m built well, and because of that I’m in demand with Cameron’s clients, men and women alike.
Mistress Claire especially likes me. She always asks for private visits with me. I don’t mind her so much. She may be much older than me but at least she’s gentle.
Master and Mistress Westbrook are the ones that make my skin crawl. I’m normally good at switching off, but with them it’s hard.
A few months ago I stopped getting hard and none of the clients could get me to climax. That certainly wasn’t good for Cameron’s business, so now I have to take medication. Before parties I have to take two pills. It gets my cock hard, but no one has been able to make me come. It feels as if I’ve regained some power over my body. They can fuck me all they want, but I get the satisfaction of not coming- not giving in.
I get lost in tending to the rose garden and work until sweat is dripping into my eyes. I stand up and take off my shirt, wiping my face and neck. I should most probably go get ready for tonight’s party.
I hear voices and turn to see Cameron heading in my direction. As always, Sven, Eduardo and Luca are flanking him. Luca joined his team of bodyguards four years back. Sven and Eduardo aren’t that young anymore so Cameron is bringing in fresh blood. I’m surprised that he has kept Sven and Eduardo for so long. Nothing lasts around here.
Today there’s a woman with him. A man is hovering to her left. He must be her husband or perhaps her bodyguard. The man looks like a guard, he gives off that vibe. I’ve learned that the worst of the worst have guards to protect them, because they have so many enemies.