But what if thatwasn’t enough? What if, even after I successfully escaped, Darrenstill found them? I couldn’t force my family into that kind oflife, of running all the time, if it could be avoided, especiallyif it meant Darren would eventually find them anyway and then makeme watch them die. I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t surviveit.
Maybe what Ireally had to do was just bite the literal bullet and accept mylife as it was. Maybe if I made a deal with the devil andsacrificed myself for them, he would spare them and I couldlive on knowing they would,too. Maybe that would finally be enough for me.
After what feltlike days later, Darren finally returned to me. I remained in thesame position, curled up on my side, my arms wrapped around myselfas I stared off into the distance. I refused to even acknowledgehim.
I heard himrelease a heavy sigh as he reached down and unlocked my cage,opening the door and waiting for me to exit. I stayed right where Iwas. Even though my body was sore and cramped from the small space,I’d rather stay in there for the rest of the day then spend asingle moment with Darren.
“Come on, Jaden.Let’s go,” he urged me, snapping his fingers. His voice was soft,but I could tell he was losing his patience. Still, Iremained.
Another sighescaped him as he rolled his eyes and bent down to the opposite endof the cage. He quickly lifted it up with one hand and I inevitablyslid out of the cage and onto the carpeted floor. Darren was quickto seize me before I could retreat to the safety of my cage andhauled me to my feet. I tried to jerk away from him, but his handsheld my upper arms, preventing me from moving.
“Stop it,” heordered softly, annoyance tagging along in hisvoice.
I halted myprotest, finding it pointless as I stared off blankly at his chest,my lips curling back in disgust. I felt his warm hand gently grip my chin and lift myface toward him, exposing my bruised cheek so he could get a betterlook. He stared at it for quite some time, and I noticed somethingin his eyes that I had not expected to see—regret. Did he actuallyfeel bad for hitting me like that? I’d never seenhim care after he’dbackhanded me, but I guess actually punching me with a closed fistwas something entirely different to him.
I took this momentto examine his cheek as well, the one I had slammed my elbow in. Hehad a small purple and red markonthe bone, but it apparently didn’t botherhim as much as mine did.
Darren lightlytook my face in his hands and sprinkled tiny kisses against mybruised cheek. I felt my body tremble with anguish as he tried tocomfort me for what he had done. A single tear slid down my cheekover my bruise and Darren kissed it away, his thumbs tracing alongmy jaw, making it that much harder not to crumble before him. Itjust made me sick to my stomach.
“I’m so sorry,Jaden,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean for this tohappen.”
“Like this is theworst thing you’ve ever done to me,” I repliedbitterly.
He could punch mein the face as many times as he wanted. I could take it. As long ashe left my family alone, I would take it.Gladly.
“And it probablywon’t be the last,” he replied softly, his lips against my temple.“Especially with an attitude like that.”
“I want to make adeal with you,” I said seriously.
Darren pulled backand looked at me, an intense look of surprise across hisface.
“You want to makea deal with me,” he replied, narrowing his eyes atme.
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure youhave much to bargain with,” he said, regarding meclosely.
“I have a lot morethan you think,” I replied with confidence.
“Well, let’s hearyour proposal,” Darren said with intrigue.
“You have me, thismuch is obvious, but what you don’t have … is me voluntarily.”
Darren raised anyeyebrow at me, but I could tell he knew where I was going withthis.
“Not yet.” Hesmirked.
“Precisely,” Ireplied. “If you agree to leave my family alone, to let them liveout their days without harm, then I will remainyours voluntarily for aslong as you want me.”
This time, both of hiseyebrows raised.
“I’ll obey everyword you say without question or complaint. I won’t argue, I won’ttry to run, and I won’t fight you unless you want me to. I’llsurrender my subconscious to your rules and become the perfectlittle princess you’ve always wanted. I’ll walk down that aisle ina white dress or nothing at all and give you asmany sons as you ask of me.You’ll be able to trust me to leave yoursightand return to you without command orcoercion. I will be yours for the rest of my life and admit it toyou every day without revulsion and replace it with pride. All Iask of you in return is that you simply let my loved oneslive.”
That was it. I hadofficially surrendered my soul to the devil to spare my family historment. I felt my heart break as I realized what I was giving up,but in the end, knowing they would live would be worth it no matterthe sacrifice.
Darren stared atme for a good long time. I pleaded with my eyes for him to take myoffer. He had to have known his life would be so much easier if Iwas cooperative and accepting of what he wanted from me. This
