Into The Woods: A Monster Anthology by unknow
Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-28T18:30:00+00:00
Chapter Two
"Hello, Alice," an amused voice came from behind me before I could leave Caterpillarâs room. A large smile appeared, followed by two villainous green, glowing eyes. He shocked me bad enough I jerked back, my hand went to my chest as I gasped. Once I composed myself, I was angry at being startled by Cheshire.
"I'm leaving," I huffed. Caterpillar looked greatly annoyed. One of his arms reached for the absinthe while another fiddled with the hookah bowl.
"Alice, Alice, Alice," Cheshire taunted. Something was off. I swallowed thickly, unsure of what to say or do. A creeping sense of dread was beginning to bloom in my stomach.
"Playing peeping tomcat? How vile," I said, trying to sound angry instead of nervous.
âVile? What a lovely adjective. I do more than peep, though. I keep a record. Donât you just love what you can do with cameras these days? Doesnât take long at all to capture a couple in an embrace.â A photo appeared from the smoke above my head and fell to the ground quickly. I could see from where I stood what it was. Me on my knees for Caterpillar. It wasnât the perfect picture, but it said enough, and everyone would want to believe the drama. It probably could have been a picture of two entirely different people but theyâd want it to be me and would eat up the story.
It didnât help how many people had seen me tonight. Add then the loose lips of Mad Hatter telling people about my interest in Caterpillar.
âBlackmailing all your clients canât be good for business,â I said in anger as he brushed against my leg.
âDonât be so humble, Alice. It's not just anyone Iâd blackmail.â He looked up at me with a victorious smile on his face.
âYou arenât supposed to be in my room,â Caterpillar said, with an unfriendly glare at the cat. His comment made something unclench inside me. I wasnât sure this was a regular thing and that heâd known the whole time. That Iâd been betrayed when I thought we had something special. Clearly, that wasnât the case, though. He seemed even more upset than me.
âIâm tired of you thinking you have any say in how I do my business. You are my product, Shaheen, and need to swallow the bitter pill of subservience. Having Alice in my close care will help get you in line, wonât it?â Close care? What did that mean?
âSheâs just another client to me,â Shaheen sighed, not looking at me.
âOh, Shaheen, donât be silly. Depositing eggs means something quite serious,â Cheshire purred. He padded over and then hopped up on Shaheenâs lap. Shaheen curled his lip and looked away while Cheshire laughed.
âSo Iâll tell you how this is going to go. Alice is going to be my newest employee,â Cheshire said. I gawped at him.
âExcuse me?â I asked in shock. This was not what I saw coming. Which made it perfectly in line with Cheshire. Money is what I thought, favours perhapsânot being his sex slave for hire.
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