Page 82 of The Caged Girl

“I will grant you this wish, but not fully. You are still mine to keep. I just need you to go away for a bit as I do a trial with Layla, my other raven. I have been extremely stressed about inventory and need someone to go to Miami while I handle La Gabbia. You will be allotted one week away.” He clasped his hands together and eyed me.

“I think that time apart will do us good, Alister. It’s not that I don’t appreciate you and our marriage; I just think I’d like to be in the field more, and then when I return, if you still want me to be your wife, I will. If Layla is more suited, well, I’ll accept this heartache and serve La Gabbia to the best of my ability.” I bowed my head and prayed he’d believe me.

“You can take one of the private planes. I’ll be tracking you. I still love you and that pussy.” He patted the tattoo on my shoulder before wrapping his hands around my neck and tightening them. “See you in a week, wife.”

CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE

“Marcie,please let me see her one time before I leave. It’s a dangerous job that I’ll have. I’ve never gotten to even talk to her,” I pleaded with her as she brushed her blonde locks. My shoulder was aching as I decided to play a game of operation with myself. I had a large band aid covering where my tattoo was.

“Fine. Only if you’ll bring me back the new Louis Vuitton from Miami. I want the white with the colorful logo.”

I nodded eagerly. “Of course. Alister is letting me take plenty of cash.”

Squinting at me, she shrugged. “Let’s go.” I had tried everything to see Layla, but nothing worked. Alister had me on zero access to my sister.

I clutched the small tote bag to my chest. I was wearing my favorite lace dress with the long sleeves and slight high neck.

“Why don’t we have a quick drink? A toast?” I slid the two rosy champagne glasses between us.

Marcie paused as she held the white keycard in her hand. “You’re being way too emotional, Demi.”

“One last drink?” I nudged Marcie as she lifted it and swirled it around.

“You know I can’t pass up the glass of this stuff. I mean, it’s blended with the peonies that are grown on grounded up girls who were just too weak to survive heaven on earth. Imagine living at a resort and complaining?” She scoffed as she drank the champagne I had poured for her.

We chatted for a bit as I waited for the medication to dissolve. I didn’t want to kill Marcie; I just needed to have her sleep for a bit.

And it worked. As soon as she stood, she grew dizzy and slurred her speech.

“What… Demi…what did you do?” She collapsed onto the floor, and I tugged the white card from her hand. I didn’t have time. She’d be just fine, but for now, I had to see my sister and say my goodbyes.

The rush to get to Layla was one that went by in a blur. My white heels clicked against the cold floor as I kept looking over my shoulder and waiting for Alister or Marcie to magically appear.

But they didn’t. I made it. I slid Marcie’s badge over the keypad and waited for the door to slide open. It was the most deranged living situation. Alister Ivory was truly sick. Layla was asleep on a small cot in the middle of a life-sized bird cage. One small light flickered by her.

How afraid and alone she must have been all this time, being used to reproduce for elite couples and entertain the highest bidder as they gawked at her. I slid my heels off and walked barefoot against the cold, black marble. She was truly beautiful. Her long black hair hung over the pillow, and I watched her breathe softly. Tugging the cage door open after using the gold key I found in Marcie’s pocket, I halted as the creaking echoed and woke her up.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. Bruises covered her face. I’d have thought that Alister would keep her extra safe since she was pregnant, but I suppose he had allowed someone to have their turn with her for the right price.

“Demilion,” she whispered as she blinked faster and stood slowly as I entered my sister’s cage.

“Layla.” I fought back the tears and closed my eyes. I was taken back to the memories of us as little girls with big dreams. We thought we’d grow up and have a beautiful little shop on the beach, selling seashell jewelry. We thought we’d grow up and marry princes and buy homes next to each other. We thought we’d have a lifetime of memories being sisters.

“What are you doing here, my sister? I thought you went to Charlotte?” She glided over to me and lifted her hands, but didn’t touch me. She froze mid-air.

Tears fell from my eyes as I questioned, “Why won’t you hug me?”

She smiled with sorrow lining her lips. “Because I’m scared you’re not real.”

Throwing my arms around her, I squeezed my sister tightly.

“Why didn’t you go to Charlotte? Why did you not let them keep you as the favorite girl?” I sobbed.

“You were born to soar, my Demilion. You weren’t meant to be caged. Mama and Papa sold us…they tore us apart. I wanted to protect you, even though I knew it was the lesser of two evils.”

“I miss you…” I cried, unable to compose myself the way my sister was. “How can you be so calm?” I clutched her even tighter.

“I’ve been kept in the darkness most of the time, but today, my light is finally here…my beautiful light. We appreciate the light so much more when we’ve been trapped in darkness for far too long.” She held my face in between her palms and kissed my forehead.

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