crusted, and my throat raw from my near-death escape. But I was alive.
Rubbing at my eyes, I tried to figure out what the horrible cloying smell was that was cloaking the room. I couldn’t place it, but instinctively knew it wasn’t good for me.
They replaced my red dress with a soft pink silk skirt with long slits. My skinny legs peaked through the fabric, the dark bruises on my knees stark compared to my pale skin. The short top scooped low, leaving my neck and shoulders bare while barely covering my stomach. Bandages covered the burns on my arms and my wrists, while my ankles were bound with silk.
The room spun, and I saw a woman sitting in the corner next to a lamp. The golden incense lamp had stars inside, and the scent was drugging me.
“Shh, my sleeping beauty. I’ve waited a long time for one like you to come along again.”
“No.” I fought against the drugs. “Don’t call me that.”
“Hush, I know how fond you are of that name. I plucked it from your memories. What’s his name? The tall golden-haired one, Liam. He called you that.”
The woman came closer, her hair the same pale color as mine. But her eyes were soft pink, like a rat. She looked to be in her forties. “You may call me Madam Esme, and I’m like you—an empath.”
My head bobbed on my shoulders as I tried to follow her movement around the room. She wore a silk dress with a long blue floor-length shawl.
“How are you still . . .”
“How have I survived this long without going crazy?” She laughed and puffed on a pipe that connected to a bubbling clear vase. She gave a puff and pink smoke tendrils filled the air. “It’s easy. I learned to not care.”
“How?”
She gestured to her pipe. “I no longer feel anything, and soon you will too.”
“Y-you’re mad,” I stuttered.
“Yes, I probably am. After all, our kind turn out that way. Except me. I’ve outlived them all.” She took another long puff. “I like you, Aurora.”
“Aura,” I corrected.
“Not anymore. In my establishment, we will call you Aurora.”
My head bobbed toward the silk-covered windows. Just outside the door, I could see a man standing guard.
“W-what?” The incense was making it hard for me to form words, but it dulled my senses and I couldn’t hear her thoughts. In fact, I couldn’t hear anyone’s. I was numb to it all, and for the first time since Liam, I was at peace.
“It’s my brothel, and you will be my newest addition.” She came and ran her painted fingers along my cheek. “Such a pity that I can’t debut you tonight. I’ll have to wait until your eye and the bruises on your body heal. I can’t have my star attraction sullied. And it was so nice of you to save yourself for me. I can’t tell how surprised I was to find out you’re a virgin.”
“You’re the devil,” I spat out and tried to fight against my bonds. “How dare you . . .”
“Relax, Aurora.” Esme came forward and pulled at the blue and purple drawstring pouch. Her hand reached inside. “You will eventually come to accept this new life. You will see. You’ll even thank me for it. Because empaths, even with our powers nullified, can’t help but please others.”
“I will never be a whore,” I gritted out, fighting against the fog. I tried to form a spell in my mind. “Incendi-”
Esme took out the powder and blew it in my face. I inhaled, and it immediately made me numb.
“Your magic is no more.”
The spell died on my tongue.
Esme sat on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs. “That, my dear, is a taste of devil’s breath. I heard about what you did to Bart and Smitty’s wagon. Not only are you an empath, but also trained in magic. And well, I can’t have you burning down my establishment. I will just have to keep you under heavy sedation at all times.” She patted my cheek. “Now be a good girl for Esme and go to sleep.”
I collapsed on the silk pillows, and my eyes closed against my will.
I woke up to someone stroking my leg. I jerked away and recognized the young woman with dark hair and freckles from the missing poster. Her eyes were glassy as she dipped a sponge into a bowl of water and reached out to run it over my arms.
“Hello?”
She didn’t answer.
I looked into her dilated eyes, and