Gentle Beast by Margaret Afseth

Gentle Beast by Margaret Afseth

Author:Margaret Afseth
Language: eng
Format: epub


CHAPTER 25

Moriah half woke on a bed of straw. Still too sleepy to realize where she was, she stretched to ease the pain in her back, but kept her eyes shut, aware of the bright lights above, through translucent lids.

The stench of feces, urine and blood assaulted her senses.

Did I pass out at work?

Yet still, her eyelids felt so heavy, she couldn’t raise them, and Moriah remained unmoving, not making the effort to open them.

With a sight beyond herself, Moriah became aware of the room in which she lay; though her lids remained closed, she could see her surroundings: a sheet over her body, the wall across the way, and bars to the left side.

Bars? As in a prison cell? How did I get here?

I must be dreaming. Right?

Like a turntable carousel, the wall opposite began to revolve, until what was on the back of it was facing front. When it stopped turning, Moriah saw the large, black and silver, shorthaired, cat-like humanoid strapped against the wall, his legs and arms spread-eagle in the shape of an x. She heard the click, as the bands across wrists and ankles released.

For a second his image dimmed. Then he dropped to a crouch, rubbed blood from his hands along the straw on the floor, and suddenly he was beside her, crawling under the sheet with her.

He ran his one hand along her sore back, then across to her waist, and she realized she was naked. He cuddled, surrounding her shoulders, forming a comfort of warmth, like a second blanket from behind.

That feels so good.

His other hand passed over her breast to settle on her belly, and she realized she was heavy with child. She drifted off to sleep again feeling loved and safe.

****

The second dream came much more harsh.

She awoke, but did not open her eyes. She realized she was once again alone, and the pains of birthing were in progress.

As before, even with eyes closed, she could see the room about her, the bright light, the wall across from her. It was empty.

And once again, it began to rotate.

Shocked by what she saw, a scream escaped her.

Shiveron hung against the wall, this time unconscious. His body was slashed with deep bleeding cuts, up the legs, thighs, belly and arms. On his right cheek was an ugly oozing cut.

Tears sprang unnoticed, coursing down her cheeks and dropping from her chin. She choked back a second scream, knowing it would bring back the cruel tormentors.

All she wanted now was to go to him, get him down, and wash him.

Without opening her eyes, as if in a dream, she rose from the floor, moved over to a pail of water that contained a cloth. Moriah had a sense of de-ja vu, as if they were repeating an on going torture ritual, as she carried the bucket toward her male, and set it down to the side.

She was limping, as if she too had been hurt. Not looking down to see why her feet would not properly obey her, Moriah only had eyes for her male.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.