Page 9 of Saved By The King's Gamma

Kimmy scampers off to join the other children. More little ones descend the stairs, their excited chatter filling the air when Kimmy tells them they are having breakfast this morning.

Within minutes, the room buzzes with activity as I make my way down to the basement. The sight that greets me is chaotic and an utter mess. Flour is spilled haphazardly across the floor, evidence of their futile attempts to scoop it out with cups. Shaking my head at their efforts, I grab a fresh, fifty-pound bag of flour and climb the steps.

Liam reenters just as I drop the bag onto the bench, his eyes widening at the sight. “What’s with the flour? Planning to batter the old hag?” he jests, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

A snort escapes me before I reply, “No, Liam, the kids are hungry.” Turning my attention back to Mrs. Daley, I ask, “When does your staff usually arrive?”

“Katrina comes in at lunch,” she responds hesitantly.

“Call her in early,” I instruct firmly. Liam hands her his phone, and she dials the number obediently. As she carries out our orders, Liam takes it upon himself to count the number of heads in the room, determining how many pancakes would be needed.

“Who wants pancakes?” I hear him call out and all the kids cheer.

“Alright, alright, settle down. Uncle Liam is going to make them, so settle down and watch your dancing puppet show,” I hear him say. Then, a little boy stumbles down the stairs, a tattered blanket trailing behind him.

“One-hundred and three, fuck me, that’s a lot of pancakes,” Liam says, coming back in. Liam’s gaze shifts to him, and I catch a whiff of something familiar in the air. A rogue. Mrs. Daley growls softly before realizing who stands beside her. She flinches away, cowering in fear, and the young boy mirrors her reaction, whimpering as he tries to escape back up the stairs. Acting instinctively, I reach out and grab the back of his pants, plucking him off the steps. He can’t have been more than three years old, dressed in worn-out pajama pants and no shirt. Goosebumps cover his exposed skin, and he clings desperately to his dirt-stained blanket.

6

The rogue boy’s little arm has a deep, purplish bruise, causing him to wail in fear as I take hold of him, making me wonder if it is fresh since my grip appears to hurt him. “Shh, shh. What’s your name?” I whisper, attempting to soothe him. His gaze shifts anxiously toward Mrs. Daley, who sits nearby, emanating an air of intimidation directed at the child. The boy appears fragile, his emaciated frame attesting to a lack of proper care. Hollow cheeks and sunken eyes accentuated his desolate countenance, while his matted, knotted black curls cascaded down his shoulders.

“He doesn’t speak,” a young girl named Kimmy interjects, emerging from the dimly lit room in her tattered pajamas. She seems to be one of the older children here, a fact that struck me as peculiar because where are the older children?

However, seeing a rogue child is more bizarre, and I have a feeling it is just for show in case the king stops by. One thing is apparent—none of these children are cared for properly, and that really grinds my gears.

“Is he unable to speak, or does he not know how?” I inquire, my gaze shifting between Kimmy and Mrs. Daley. Kimmy shrugs, her eyes darting nervously toward Mrs. Daley. It is evident she fears the woman.

“Mrs. Daley is leaving today; she’s retiring. You can speak freely now; she won’t harm you,” I reassure Kimmy. Biting her lip, she hesitates before scratching at the tangled strands of her hair.

“I overheard Mrs. Daley arguing with Katrina. Katrina wanted to take him and his brother, but Mrs. Daley refused,” Kimmy divulges.

“He has a brother?” I ask with surprise.

“Had; we haven’t seen him in two days. He bit Mrs. Daley when she struck Oliver,” Kimmy explains, pointing toward the boy in my arms.

“His name is Oliver?” I confirm receiving a nod from Kimmy.

“And the brother’s name?”

“Logan, sir,” she replies.

“What about Katrina? Does she harm you?” I press further. Kimmy shakes her head, her gaze darting nervously toward Mrs. Daley, who stares vacantly out of the window above the sink. She knows she has made a grave mistake, and her death now will be painful.

“Mrs. Daley had the butcher hurt Katrina for defending them. He broke her arm, but she’s okay now,” Kimmy reveals, her voice laced with fear.

“Kimmy, could you find some clothes and socks for Oliver?” I request, to which she nods, extending her arms to take him. He timidly moves toward her, and she leads him upstairs while I maneuver Mrs. Daley’s wheelchair with my foot.

“Where is his brother?” I demand, my tone sharp as I confront the withered old hag.

“The kid is nothing but trouble; he bit me like a savage,” she sneers defiantly.

“Where is the boy?” I snarl, my patience waning. Liam glares at her, his knife twirling ominously between his fingers as a silent warning.

“You better answer him. We have no tolerance for child abusers, and you know that,” Liam cautions, causing Mrs. Daley to gulp audibly.

“He’s in the laundry room outside,” she finally admits reluctantly. Fueled by anger, I storm outside searching for the room, eventually discovering it hidden behind the shed. The sound of whimpering grows louder as I approach the wooden door. Pushing it open, my eyes fall upon another small boy huddled inside a cage beneath a bench next to the washer. A surge of fury courses through me as I crouch down. He appears to be around the same age as Kimmy, his frail form shivering from the cold, covered with numerous bruises and signs of mistreatment.

“Did Mrs. Daley do this to you?” I ask gently, not wanting to scare him further. The boy shakes his head, retreating to the back of the cage.

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