Thyra's POV
"Of course, madam, please excuse my ignorance!"
It still felt strange wearing these heavy extravagant gowns, lifting the thick, multi-layered skirt to curtesy for this old woman.
"Hmpf. Young lady, that excuse will only take you so far! To show how sorry you really are, improve!!"
Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air with its sternness.
"You are right, as always, madam. I will work harder and show my gratitude for all your hard work."
Filled with disdain, she scoffed, and without lifting my gaze from the shiny polished floors, I could imagine her facial expression. See the way she looked down on me like the dog shit she almost stepped in, see how her boney long fingers turn white around the cane.
"Betty, Betty! You never stop impressing me; you have done it again! You are gifted beyond my imagination in this field."
"Thank you for your kind words, my lord, but I am sorry we didn't get her better than this. She was a hard one, and I have to admit, I doubted it could be done. "
It was a little slip; my hands clutched the thick fabric of my dress before I could control my reaction. It didn't slip her hawk eyes, and I bit my tongue not to cry out as the first strike burned over my fingers. The second, third, and fourth broke the skin on my knuckles, but I didn't move a muscle. I didn't lift my gaze off the floor.
"Please excuse me, madam. I am lazy and tired. May I please be excused from the room? Thank you for spotting my error."
The swishing sound of the little wooden whip sang through the air before I was finished speaking. This time, I fell to my knees, and no amount of self-control could hold back the whimpering cry that slipped between my lips. The cane broke the skin on my bare neck. The pain was immense! Rippling down my back like raging lightning bolts, dancing down along nerves and muscles, striking down to the bone.
The mirror-like floors turned pitch-black, and small white spots blinked. I think I gasped for air, and I don't know. I don't remember. I think my brain completely cut off everything that was considered unnecessary.
"Betty!"
A roaring male voice boomed through my pain just as the sound of the cane flew through the air again. It stopped. The striking hit never came, and I thanked whatever higher power that might exist for that. Because I don't think I could have survived that.
"I have always admired your work, every single bit and outcome, but this? What are you thinking?"
Tears burned in my eyes, and a lump formed in my throat. He defended me, he stopped her! The relief and joy shocked me. Blood trickled down my neck, and sweat formed on my back as the pain from the first strike still lived inside of me, on my skin. It was still devouring my senses, and still, that's not why I cried. Someone defended me, me!
"Never, I repeat, NEVER! Do that again; that is unacceptable! Has the teacher forgotten what she once learned herself?"
"I am so sorry, my lord; I temporarily lost my temper. I should never. I .. Please forgive a strained old lady, my lord!"
"I will see past this incidence, this time. But I also suggest you begin training your successor. You are, after all, old. Your body and mind are crumbling."
The man paused for a second before his steps echoed down the room. Squeaky but still soft steps on the perfectly over-polished floor tiles before he spoke again, and gratitude exploded inside my chest.
"Send her to the chamber to clean up and wait. Order me a cup of the purple tea, and let us talk."
She rushed over to me and poked me with the pointy shoe. Whispering through clenched teeth,
"You heard him! Get up!"
With shaking hands, I pushed myself up. My head started spinning when I got to my feet, but there was no time to faint or collapse, and it was like my body knew this and pulled me through it. All I saw was the back of the man as he walked up to the dining table before Betty grabbed my arm, dug her nails into the tender skin on my arms, and dragged me to the door.
"Take her to the chamber and lock the door. Oh, and get that medicine boy over here to treat her neck. And a new dress, she ruined this one. Make sure she showers; she reeks of sweat! Disgusting, no lady behaves like this! Fix it. NOW!"
The guard only grunted in response before grabbing my arm and leading me out of the grand hall and down the corridor. The moment I saw straight again, the very moment I could, I ripped my arm out of the guard's grip and glared at him. We have danced this dance before; he knew, as well as me, that all that courtesy and shit was a play. A play for the old hag, a play to survive, a game I didn't have the energy to hold up in front of others. The guard was as worthless as me here, and his power over me, was restricted.
"Fine! Wabble on your own. You heard what to do, and I will lock the door!"
"Whatever!"
I didn't even stop to hear him finish. I knew where my so-called room was, and I knew there was no way out of this freaking hell house right now.
I looked at my hand as I reached out for the doorknob, still shaking, and bright red lines and small drops of blood had created small lines over my pale skin.
"You should show me respect, you know! I can make your life so much harder just by telling the madam how you really are! Actually, you should lick my freaking ass, so I don't!"
My eyes rolled so far up my head, for a second, it hurt.
"We both know you already have that part of your kinks covered."
I got a glimpse of his gaping pale face just as I turned around and closed the door. After a couple of seconds, I heard the key click in the lock before heavy footsteps disappeared down the hall, a little faster than usual. Left alone, locked in my room, the silence yanked away my last dignity. Punched the last of my energy right out, and I let my body slump against the cold door and slide down. Everything broke free, poured out of me like a wild stream just ass the dam collapsed. The little lump in my throat escaped my mouth disguised as whimpers and some deep moaning-like grunts that reminded me more of a dying animal. Tears streamed down my face, and an aching spot grew deeper and deeper inside my chest. I just wanted to scream, yell, and roar it all out. Let the painful pressure that has increased out. I just wanted it out before it consumed me.
*Knock knock*