AN 6.4.24: Friday is my birthday and this string of chapters is really meant to be read together so I decided that for this week....you will get a chapter a day! Its like a bday gift for my readers hehe. Hope you enjoy!❤️ This section of the book get's rough. Buckle up...

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Fearing too much attention I tried to help the girl remain as erect as possible, hoping no one would notice her condition and start asking questions. I knew bringing her to the nursery complex was my only option. Dreda had enough supplies to help Lina quickly without alerting any sibla overseers. She could hide her in her room with the infants she watched. Not that it mattered. Cedrick Dulane himself knew what had happened. My stomach churned at the thought.

    I'd pushed him. I'd struck my Master. There was no way I would escape punishment. And what of Lina? Would he simply forgive her? She'd done nothing wrong after all. It was merely one of his outbursts that had caused him to lash out so. I'd kept him from completing his aim. He'd been intent on practically killing the child in his rage-filled daze. Perhaps he could forgive my indiscretion because it had spared him a valuable slave? Surely killing viable human chattel over a minor offense would have been a poor, momentary, lapse in judgment. I wondered if there was any hope Dulane might see it as such once he calmed himself.

    Fearing that Garen might see us if we went through the main door I helped Lina around the back of the complex to the small kitchen where Dreda helped prepare the children's meals and warm bottles. There was a door there that would lead us straight to Dreda's quarters. With any luck, she would be overseeing dinner preparations for the toddlers.

    Leaving Lina propped up against the building, I went to the back entrance and opened the door with confidence, trying to affect a look of total calm as if nothing were out of the ordinary. The last thing I needed was to be caught by a sibla overseer or a nosey slave who might be looking to report trouble.

    "Miss. Alice?"

    I practically jumped at the sound of my name. Though my heart pounded in painful bursts against my ribs, I managed to turn towards the voice with some semblance composure, hoping it belonged to a friend.

    It took me a moment to register the tall woman who greeted me. Cacey. I remembered the tan skinned freckled face, though the girl before me was now fully grown.

    "What are you doing here?" she asked.

    "My goodness you've gotten tall," I said, deflecting her question. "I scarcely recognized you."

    Cacey stared at me uncertainly and I felt the discomfort growing in my stomach. Did the girl know I should not be there? I hadn't worked in the nursery quarters since Mary was a baby nor even visited in well over a year.

    "Casey, I came here looking for the nursery head. Do you know if she might be pulled away for a moment to come speak with me?" The girl's expression did not change.

    "Miss. Dreda is busy and we were told not to disturb her. You might catch her for a moment when she comes to help prepare the toddlers' dinner."

    I thought of Lina waiting outside, so vulnerable. If any were to see her in such a state. If rumors were to fly as to how she'd come to sustain such injuries...nothing would save us if our crimes became public. Dulane couldn't tolerate such subordination without action if the whole estate knew!

    "This is very important, Cacey," I answered, trying to infuse my tone with as much authority as possible. I was a head of house. I was older than her, a senior slave. There might be consequences for overstepping outside of my authorized domain of power, but she didn't know that. She couldn't risk offending me.

    "You will take me to Dreda immediately. I will bear the brunt of her anger should she be bothered in error."

    Cacey hesitated for a moment longer, no doubt assessing whether or not she could deny me without consequence. I hoped this was a sign of her loyalty to Dreda and that she would not be tempted to alert a sibla overseer to handle the matter. Relief filled me when she finally nodded.

    "She's in her room," she said, turning in the direction of Dreda's quarters. I was glad when she chose to lead me there, though I knew the way well. I couldn't have her spreading rumors of my presence before I could reach my former friend and ally.

    Breath held I watched Cacey knock upon the familiar door.

    "I asked to be left alone," came the voice from inside. "This had best be an emergency."

    Dreda's tone was at its sharpest, and I saw the young girl was audibly shaken by it. Of course I knew what was at stake.

    "This can't wait, Dreda," I replied on her behalf. The door opened a moment later.

    "Alice?" I could see the confusion in Dreda's eyes, then concern. She must have read my own expression. Still, I tried to keep up pretenses in front of Cacey.

    "Your assistance is requested, Dreda," I said trying to keep my voice steady. I thought of Lina, bruised and bleeding, entirely vulnerable. We had to get her inside before she might be discovered. "This is rather urgent."

    The woman nodded her head, composing herself quickly. Had she already guessed I'd come on behalf of Lina? There was little other reason I might be there.

    "Thank you for getting me, Cacey," Dreda said. "Attend to dinner preparations for the girls. I will return when I can to help but for now, I must go with Miss. Alice,"

    The young one eyed me strangely but deferred to her superior and left us.

    "Lina?" Dreda asked, her face awash in worry once again.

    "She's around back," I answered. "We need to get her to your quarters unnoticed."

    "What happened?" Derda asked as we walked, keeping our pace quick but steady. We couldn't attract attention.

    "Wait till she is inside and we can talk freely," I answered in a whisper. That was all I dared speak in public but I could see Dreda pale all the more at my words.

    By the time we reached Lina the poor girl had collapsed to the ground, though she'd managed to prop herself up to lean against the wall of the building. I was only grateful none had found her. Dreda immediately dropped to her knees, gathering up the child in her arms as Lina clung to her, tears streaming down her face.

    "Everett?" Drada asked, turning back to me. I wished it had been. Everett had a temper but Dulane... Dulane had all the power. I shook my head in response to her question.

    "It was our Master," the girl managed to squeak out.

    The horror instantly registered on Dreda's face and I felt nothing but sympathy for her and the poor child. Dulane had let her go, but that was no guarantee she would not be salughtered the very next day for her indiscretions. There was no guarantee I myself would be breathing by morning...

    "Let's get you inside and tend to those wounds," Dreda managed, reigning in her emotions as only she could and taking control of the situation. I was grateful, fearing the adrenaline that had carried me thus far would fail and I might collapse to the ground. Nonetheless, I managed to help shoulder the girl's weight once more, along with Dreda, as we made our way to the older woman's private quarters and locked ourselves inside.

    Lina collapsed onto Dreda's bed as soon as we sat her down upon it, her mouth emitting small moans of pain.

    "What supplies do you have here?" I asked, going to Dreda's store of herbs and medicines before she could answer.

    "There are bandages," she answered, sitting beside Lina and stroking her hair to calm her. "I have some antiseptic as well."

    "Do you have any true medicine for the pain?" I asked. I knew Dreda sometimes hoarded sibla medications to distribute at her discretion. Pills that would be stronger than any herbal remedy I might be able to produce. Dreda didn't hesitate.

    "The drawers," she answered. "There's a false bottom in the last one."

    Rummaging through Dreda's supplies would have felt strange under any other circumstances, but clearly, there was no time to be concerned with formalities now. I tried to focus on the task at hand, seeking to quiet the alarm bells of danger running in the back of my mind.

    How long would it be before Dulane's men came for us? He would surely guess where I was soon enough. And if I did not return for my shift in the kitchen, I would have to face Rin's wrath as well. Not that it mattered considering the gravity of my transgressions against my Master himself. I couldn't help but think of the cruelest punishments I'd borne witness to in my life. The whipping, the flaying of skin, humans set upon by dogs until no meat remained on their bones...There was no end to the horror that might soon befall me. Lina had committed a minor transgression but I had pushed my Master. Attacked him. Nothing would save me.

    Finding the pills I read the label before pouring two into my hand and retrieved a glass of cold water. Dreda helped the poor child to sit up well enough to swallow the medicine.

    "What happened?" Dreda asked, turning to me as the child sunk back into the pillows again, her eyes closed against the pain I was certain must be unbearable.

    "I wasn't there to witness the offense," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. With the immediate danger gone the full reality of my situation was solidifying in my mind.

    "Lina had broken a glass? More than one? When I found them..."

    I trailed off, the horror of the scene replaying in my mind. I'd assaulted Cedrick Dulane.

    "Alice!" Dreda's voice called my mind back to the room, her hand on my arm. "What happened when you found them?"

    I realized my whole body was trembling. What would happen to Mary now? I was bound to suffer death for this. What if he took his anger out on my sweet girl as well!

    "Breath," Dreda encouraged, helping me to take a seat in the old wooden rocker as I did when Mary was still just an infant. "Let me get you some water."

    Taking the cup she offered in shaky hands I swallowed the cool liquid and tried to obey Dreda's command, letting a few deep breaths pass my lips before I tried to speak again.

    "Dulane was beating her for the offense. There was nothing I could do but watch. He wouldn't listen to me. He wouldn't stop. And then." I stopped again, fearing to speak the truth allowed.

    "What?"

    "He broke a chair leg and wielded it as a weapon, he was aiming for her head."

    The old woman's eyes opened wide in horror but she hadn't even heard the worst of it yet.

    "I pushed him Dreda. He was going to kill her. I had no other choice!"

    An audible gasp escaped her lips as she stared at me, incredulous.

    "He fell back," I said, unable to stop the words now that the story was flowing from my lips.

"There was blood on his hands. He was so angry. I could see it in his eyes. I've never seen rage like that before. I knew he would kill us both. I was so sure he would."

As sobs took my words I felt Dreda's strong arms wrap me in a tight embrace, trying to comfort me though even I knew there was no comfort to be had. My life was surely over. I had done the unforgivable.

    "Promise me you will care for Mary," I said when I finally mastered myself enough to speak again. "He won't let me live after this."

    The older woman wouldn't quite meet my gaze, her own eyes wet with the threat of tears in an uncharacteristic display of emotion.

    "Don't speak so," she said. "He let you and Lina go. There is a chance, however slight, that he too will wish to forget what has transpired. That he will not make it public."

    "Please, Dreda," I said. "I have to know she is safe no matter what happens." The woman nodded.

    "I promised you long ago that I would protect your daughter as best I could. The vow remains." She stopped, her eyes finally meeting mine. "I'm so sorry, Alice," she said. "I never wished to put you in any danger."

    I only shook my head. This was not Dreda's fault nor was it Lina's. We lived under the rule of a cruel man. One with a horrific temper. I was not sorry that I had fulfilled my own vow in helping Lina.

    "I would never have let him destroy her without a fight," I answered. "I acted of my own free will."

    Dreda stared at me, her expression unreadable. Was it sorrow or guilt or pride I saw on her face? I couldn't be certain. Perhaps a mix of all three.

    "You are a good woman," she said finally. "I am grateful."

    A good woman

    It wouldn't help me in the end but at least I could die with a clear conscience. Perhaps if there was truly a heaven as my mother and Dreda believed, this act of mercy towards another might gain me a spot there in spite of my former transgressions.

    "You must get back to the kitchen now," Dreda said. "If there is any chance this will be forgiven, none can know of what transpired. Go to your job."

    I nodded my head. She was correct. I had already been away from my work too long. I went towards the door but turned at the last minute, a strange unexpected thought holding me back.

    "Pray for me," I said. I didn't know if the God above was real. I didn't know if he would willingly protect one who had never been a believer. But for the first time in a long time, I was willing to have faith again. In this my moment of most desperate need. My daughter's most desperate need. "Pray that I might remain with my child. That I might be forgiven." A sad smile broke across Dreda's lips.

    "I pray for you every day," she answered.