Page 3 of The Caged Girl

“You’d be gorgeous with black hair, my beautiful Demi.” My original hair was long and black before the Ivory family bleached and cut it. Now here we were, doing the same thing.

Alister dismissed Kandi from the room before he approached me. I looked at her as her bright green eyes widened as she shut the door behind her.

Alister had to be in his early forties at most, and the only reason I even knew for sure he was related to Ian was because of Bradley telling me about him, and seeing the photos in the abandoned album on the boat I barely survived.

Brushing his fingers against my cheek, he smiled at me. “I’m sorry.”

I swallowed as I turned to face him, and he licked his lips.

“For what?” I asked, hoping the shake in my voice wasn’t noticeable.

Opening a drawer from the vanity in front of me, he pulled out a tube. Unscrewing the top, he squeezed some of the clear cream out. My shoulders tightened as I watched him rub it between his fingers and dropped down on his knees in front of me. Leaning back into my chair, I held my breath as he began gently brushing the cream against my neck where the rash from my necklace had grown larger and itchier.

Why is he being…kind?

“I’ll have the doctor start you on some kind of healing antibiotic. The tattoos are done when you are sleeping, so it may be done a bit hurried.” This was the same man who kicked me in my ribs for not cleaning up a pool of blood fast enough.

“It’s fine,” I answered as he finished up and stood.

“Demi, the people who found you stranded in the ocean knew who you were. There was a tracking device on the boat that you and Bradley were on, and…well, I figured if you could survive my brother, then you’d be the perfect person to work here.” Alister reached his hand out. I looked at his palm, not sure what he wanted me to do.

None of what he was saying shocked me, because I always knew there were no coincidences in this family. I knew when I was instantly transported to Ivory Island—the privately owned island—that I was there for a reason. Even if they didn’t find me first, I’d have found them.

“Ian and Daphne were monsters. They crafted brides to marry wealthy men and suffer for the rest of their lives. I, on the other hand, believe in pleasure and then…” He paused and folded his hands together.

“Well, you don’t need to know all this right now. Why don’t you let Kandi fix you right up, and then you’ll need to head to orientation with the rest of our new team members.”

Tracing my lips with his finger, he leaned back down and locked his lips against mine. Gasping, I pulled back.

But he pushed forward and bit into my lower lip, letting out a soft chuckle.

“Shh… You can never say no to pleasure here, Demi. This wasn’t our first kiss but rather a first taste.” Clenching my eyes shut, he bit into my bottom lip so hard that I tasted blood.

Releasing me, Alister left the room and I refused to open my eyes until Kandi shook my shoulders.

“Demi, here.” Shoving a handkerchief at me, I could see pity in her eyes. She was Marcie’s roommate before me, and I wondered what happened between the two of them. All I knew was that I couldn’t trust anyone.

I looked into the mirror and watched the blood drip down my chin and onto the white dress Marcie told me I needed to wear, along with the white shoes that had a thick padding in order to not emit any sound. I’ve already seen the rest of the girls wearing them. “I have something else for you to change into, don’t worry.” Kandi instructed me to tilt my head and let her do my hair. Orientation would start in a few hours, and I had to look my best. I needed to be the submissive, perfect woman in another Ivory world.

CHAPTERTHREE

“Hello everyone.My name is Suzanne. Today, we gather to learn how to welcome, care for, and appreciate our guests at La Gabbia. This resort was built from the ground up by Alister Ivory, and is invite-only to guests who need an escape from reality.” The woman standing on stage had straight, black hair and was wearing a black ball gown. Her thin fingers were covered in gorgeous rings with various diamonds.

“Your group is known as the doves, and your counterpart colleagues, who are in orientation after this, are known as nightingales.”

I brushed my finger against the raven tattoo on my shoulder. Looking around the room, I was surrounded by women in all white, with their hair chopped into a stark blonde bob that matched the wig on my head. Every single girl had a tattoo of a dove in the exact same place.

The difference between the Ivory estate back in Charlotte and here was that I was no longer alone. Part of me also rationalized that this was safer somehow. This was a resort, with actual guests who were here for vacation. There had to be some kind of regulation by the island, but then again, my former boss, Dr. Ian Ivory, was running a deranged human experiment and ‘business’ from the comforts of a Charlotte, North Carolina suburb.

“Hey.” A light tap against my legs shook me from my thoughts and I looked at the woman next to me. “This is weird, right?” She brushed her hand against her blonde hair and then reached to touch mine. “Why do we all have to match? I?—”

Clearing her throat, Suzanne was looking straight at us.

“It is crucial that you all listen carefully to what your assignments and roles at La Gabbia are, my precious little doves.”

My heartbeat grew erratic as chills splattered against my arms, and I locked eyes with Suzanne.

A small, sinister smile grew across her bright red lips. Dropping my eyes down, I focused on my breathing.

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