Chapter 7 Rules

• Dane led the way, Maryanne followed. I trudged along from the back. After what that young man had said about Dane, I was worried he would suddenly brandish his whip and hit whatever was next to him. From the back, he did not look scary. He looked like a regular rock music-loving tall guy with lean muscles and beautiful long hair. If I didn’t know any better, I would feel like getting to know him better.
• Maryanne, on the other hand seemed confident as if she was not a bit scared. I was starting to realize that Maryanne was not what I initially thought her to be. She was a not weak and whiny damsel in distress. She was a strong young woman willing to take on the world and defend herself. It appeared she was only a mess at the time because Angella, the person she loved most in the world, had been taken away from her.
• In the women’s building, Dane opened a door to reveal a staircase at the foot of which was another door. Opening that door, he ushered us into the red room. The hairs on my skin stood up when I scanned the room.
• The red room was not far from what I’d imagined. What with all the weapons hanging of its walls. There were axes, machetes, swords, whips, daggers, knives, among other deadly weapons. Metallic chairs with ropes and chains attached to them were scattered all over the room. There was a table with an assortment of surgical tools and an empty one next to it. I shuddered, imagining what was done on that table.
• On one corner was a folded red polythene sheet. Next to it was a first aid kit. Near them was a shelf with bottles each filled with either liquid or powder.
• On another part of the room was a bed with red hot sheets. It had chains hanging off its frames. Right above it was an assortment of whips of varying colors and shapes. A few meters away from the bed was a silver cage. Silver can weaken werewolves even to the point of death.
• No, the red room was not the most appropriate name for that room. The death room or torture room suited it better. I figured it had been named in reference to blood, because it would be a miracle to leave that room without shedding some blood. Maryanne and I knelt on the green carpet in the middle of the room because it seemed like the safest place. After some minutes, Kayla and Letty arrived and joined us.
• Dane locked the door and walked over to where we were. “What did I tell you about the induction of new slaves, Letty?”
• “New slaves should be inducted as soon as possible,” Letty said with a shaky voice. “But-“
• “No excuses.”
• “Understood, Master Dane.”
• “You,” my heart nearly exploded when he stared at me with his cold, menacing eyes.
• “Yes, master.” I managed to croak out. My body was shaking so much I was afraid I would keel over.
• “I didn’t hear you.”
• “Yes, master Dane.”
• “Learning fast, aren’t we.” He said. “Stand up.”
• I stood up.
• “Take off your clothes and sit on that chair,” he pointed to a rickety-looking chair with a weird contraption near it.
• “What?”
• “What did you say?”
• “I will take them off, master.” I said, ambling away from the group. My heart was pounding so fast and loud I was afraid it was going to explode. My knees had lost all strength but I managed to push myself forward.
• “You two, go and pick the smallest knives from the operating table.”
• Kayla and Letty got up and rushed to the table. Grabbing what was needed, they returned.
• “Sit,” he ordered and they sat on two chairs, not very far from each other.
• “One stab to your thigh,” he said.
• I gasped. This man was a monster. Pausing my undressing, I stared open-mouthed as the two girls dug the small knives into their thighs. I could almost physically feel their pain.
• “Bring the first aid kit,” he ordered Maryanne who ran to get it. She placed it in front of the girls who started applying pressure on their fresh wounds and dressing them.
• He turned and I quickly got rid of my blouse. He had started walking towards me when someone started banging on the door.
• “Who’s there?”
• “Jeremy. Alpha Ridian wants to see you right now.”
• “When I see them next, they better be knowing everything about this pack,” he told Letty who nodded vigorously.
• “Yes sir.”
• No sooner had the door slammed shut than Maryanne started laughing.
• “You’re all pathetic,” she said. She looked at me.
• “You ran so fast to get the first aid kit when Dane told you,” Kayla said.
• “I only ran to save you from bleeding out. If this guy thinks he’s going to order me around, he better think again. He should ask the slave traders about me, and they’ll tell him what I’m made of.”
• “I admire your strength. I was once like you too but now I stab myself when someone orders me to. Let’s wait and see where this stubbornness will get you to.”
• “You wait and see,” Maryanne said before turning to me. Look at you, you were willing to whore out yourself at the first chance. You think it’ll get you favors, don’t you? I’m pretty sure all the slave girls have tried it. I wonder why you think you’ll be the special one.”
• No one dignified that with a response. Kayla who had already wrapped a bandage around her thigh started to walk out.
• Letty stood up. “Let’s get out of here and get over with your induction.”
• “Rule one,” Letty said. We were in her room. She had finished giving us a brief history of the pack and an introduction to how things were run. “You do not go to the pack house unless asked for. You will not leave this compound and go past the trees without permission and work to do. Since your work for now is limited to this part, you will always stick to these parts.”
• “Rule two,” she continued. For the next thirty minutes, Letty ran down all the important rules for us.