Chapter 5: Bargaining

!!!! **** WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATERIALS THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING! SUCH AS SEVERE ABUSE, VIOLENCE, AND BLOOD/GORE! READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED! **** !!!! ************************************ Clover's P.O.V ************************************ ~ Four days later ~ ************************************ Declan's really mad this time. I'd laugh if I didn't feel so weak. Angry Declan is usually unhinged, but this is a whole new level. Which is crazy considering all that I've already been through. Just like I suspected, I was whipped that night at the dinner table four days ago. Declan had his goons hold me down, but this time they stripped me down to my bra and underwear. Then I was whipped over 30 times. I lost track at one point, and my defiance only seemed to anger Declan more, so, at some point, he just let loose on me. By the time Declan was done, I was a bloody mess. I thought that he'd have me sent to my room with a doctor on the way like usual, but I was wrong. Instead, I was locked in the storage room, where I've been ever since. No doctor came to see me. No food was brought to me. They did throw a bottle of water in with me though, so there's that I guess. I only know how many days it's been because of the light that comes in under the door during the day. They didn't even give me clothes to wear. Which made the guards who brought me here happy. They got to fondle the bleeding, half-coherent girl before locking her in a dark, dirty closet. I don't care though. I could die right here for all I care. I'd be with Dad sooner. He wouldn't be upset with me for not living my life, for not staying alive. He'd be proud that I didn't fold and betray someone just to save myself. God, I almost wish I really would die. Everything hurts, even breathing. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the wounds on my back were infected at this point. Usually, Declan is very thorough about a doctor taking care of me after he does things like this. He doesn't want my body marked up. People would ask questions if they ever saw, and he does plan to marry me off eventually. I guess he didn't care this time. I feel so weak and almost delirious. I'm starting to wonder if Declan realizes a person can't survive without water for very long. If I'd known the bottle thrown in with me would be my only source of water for these last four days, I wouldn't have drunk it so fast. I am starting to wonder if they've just completely forgotten about me though. Suddenly, the door opened. Bright light shone into the small room. I winced against the harsh light, trying to blink it away. When my vision cleared, I could see Declan and the family doctor standing in the doorway. "Oh god..." Dr. Theadore Cross muttered with wide eyes. "She hasn't been seen in four days?" He asked as he got to his knees beside me. "She was being punished," Declan replied flatly. Dr. Cross didn't say anything, but his lips pressed together in a tight line. Declan didn't see, but I did. I've always known that Dr. Cross hated the way I was treated here. Yet, he's never done anything to help me. He's probably the one person who could easily get proof of the hell I've gone through here. But he hasn't. "She needs to be taken out of here," the doctor said. "I can clean up her wounds. Some of them look infected, but not terribly. We can reverse it. As long as she keeps them clean and applies the ointment I have, she'll be fine." "Get it done then," Declan said. "And make it quick. I need you somewhere else." ***************************** I passed out while Dr. Cross was cleaning my wounds. The pain and dehydration had gotten to me. I couldn't stay awake any longer. When I woke up, I was in my room with Joe watching over me and an IV in my arm. Apparently I was asleep for two whole days. I only know that because Maeve told me when she came in to help clean the wounds on my back. I could tell that she was worried about me, but of course she didn't say it. I really hate that I live in a world where showing basic human decency to each other is frowned upon. The day after I woke up, Joe had moved back to the hallway. He was as silent as ever. Maeve tended to me, hovering around me and checking on me more than usual. And thank god I have her because I don't know how I'd shower without her help. "Sir and Madam have requested you for dinner," Maeve told me as she helped me into some clothes that were comfortable and appropriate for dinner. I groaned out loud and unashamed. "Haven't they had enough dinners with me?" I muttered more to myself. Maeve didn't say a word as she helped me down the stairs and to the dining room. It wasn't like I was handicapped or anything, but it hurt to move around too much. Because I wasn't granted any pain meds, I think Maeve was just worried I'd pass out from the intense pain in my back. Luckily for me, I had a bottle of ibuprofen in my room. It barely makes a difference, but it's something. Enough to help me move around and sleep. "Good evening darling," Clara greeted me cheerfully. I ignored her as I carefully sat down. "How are you feeling?" she asked. I looked up at her with hard eyes. "Since when do you give a sh.it?" "Watch your mouth at the dinner table," Declan scolded me, but it wasn't like usual. His tone was gentler. Which made me narrow my eyes at him. "I wanted to return this to you," Clara said as she slid a small velvet box across the table. I carefully grabbed it, suspicious of opening it. When I did, a small gasp escaped my lips. It was the necklace she took two years ago. The one from my father. The little golden clover he said would bring me good luck. She fixed it and gave it back to me. Okay, that's not suspicious or anything. "Just tell me what it is you want this time," I said as I snapped the box shut and looked at them. Declan sighed as he looked at Clara. "I understand that I was perhaps a little too harsh with your last punishment," he finally said. I scoffed out a dry laugh. "I thought maybe if I explained things to you, you would understand why I reacted so harshly." "Alright," I said, taking the bait. "Explain then." "Truce is my only son," Declan started. "His mother died when he was very young. As you know, this family has a lot of expectations. There are also a lot of people out there who would take advantage of us, any of us. Truce has never seen that before. And now that he's gone and joined that hockey team behind my back, I worry even more about him." "Sorry," I said, holding my hand up. "You really expect me to believe that you're just worried about your son and that's why you want me to spy on him?" "It's the truth," Declan replied. "I might not be the best father, but I do care about my son. He's my only child." Right. Because I don't count. Not that I'd want to. "We're asking you one more time," Clara said gently. "Please just move in with them. Keep an eye on him. That's all." I opened my mouth to say no, but Declan started speaking before I could. "I will allow you to take that art class you wanted," he said, and my entire body went still. "Not as a major, but maybe as a minor. I'll replace all your art stuff that we destroyed before. I'll even pay for a studio to work in if you want. We won't worry about you running away either. No more guards. No more staying locked in your room." I stared at the two of them with my mouth open for a while. "You want me to exchange my freedom for spying on your son?" I asked. "I just want to make sure he's not being taken advantage of," Declan insisted. Yeah, I didn't buy that for a second. However, it seems that Declan really needs this. I wonder why he needs me to do it. I bet he's already tried to send other spies. Either they didn't report anything useful, or Truce found out about them. I must be the last option Declan has. Maybe I can use this to my advantage. "Fine, I'll go," I said, before quickly adding, "but I'm not going to spy for you. I'll keep an eye on Truce. If I see anything suspicious, I'll tell you. But if it looks like Truce knows what he's doing, I'm staying out of it." "Clover-" Clara growled, but was quickly cut off. "Alright, deal," Declan said. "You move in the Friday before school starts." I wonder how long this freedom will last.