Page 5 of Villainess's Redemption
She spat at my feet as I retreated. The door slammed behind me, the sound echoing in the empty street.
I leaned against the tavern’s outer wall, trying to catch my breath. This was bad. The tavern job had been our main source of food. Without it…
No. I couldn’t think about that now. One problem at a time. Right now, I needed to get to the mines. I’d figure out the rest later.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon as I made my way to the outskirts of town. The mine loomed ahead, a gaping maw ready to swallow me whole. I squared my shoulders and marched forward. Whatever lay ahead, I’d face it. For Seb. For Mother. For the family, I’d nearly destroyed.
It was time to pay my dues.
* * *
I collapsed onto a jagged rock, my muscles screaming in protest. Sweat stung my eyes as I wiped my brow with a grimy sleeve. The mines were a special kind of hell - dark, damp, and dangerous. But I could handle it. I had to.
“Water?” A gruff voice offered. I looked up to see Greta, one of the older miners, holding out a ladle.
“Thanks,” I croaked, gulping it down. The lukewarm liquid tasted like heaven.
Greta nodded, moving on to the next miner. She’d been here longer than most, her weathered face a map of the harsh life we now led. I admired her quiet strength. She was also one of the only ones in this village who was treated worse than us but she still remained kind throughout all these years. I didn’t know if I would be as kind as her or sane at her age because I didn’t see any escape from this place. I’d die here one day.
“Well, well. What do we have here?”
I stiffened at the oily voice. Slowly, I turned to face Overseer Bren, his bulbous form blocking out what little light filtered into the cavern. His beady eyes raked over me, lingering on my chest in a way that made my skin crawl.
“Just catching my breath, sir,” I said, forcing politeness into my tone.
He grinned, yellowed teeth on full display. “You’re a right pretty thing, aren’t you? Even covered in muck.”
I bit back a retort, reminding myself that antagonizing him would only make things worse. Instead, I stood, ready to return to work.
“Not so fast, sweetheart,” his meaty hand clamped onto my arm. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”
“I’m not interested in any propositions,” I said firmly, trying to pull away. His grip tightened.
“Hear me out,” he leered. “You’re struggling, ain’t ya? Barely scraping by on what we pay you a lot. But I could change all that.”
My stomach churned as his meaning became clear. I’d dealt with lecherous men before, but this was different. More dangerous since there was no one to save me. No power. Nothing.
You deserve it.A voice whispered.
“I could make things real easy for you,” he continued, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “More coin than you’re making now, and you wouldn’t have to break your back down here. All you gotta do is warm my bed.”
Rage and disgust battled within me. How dare he? Did he think I was so desperate, so broken, that I’d sell myself to the likes of him?
“No,” I spat, yanking my arm free. “Never.”
His face darkened. “Now, don’t be hasty-”
“I said no!” I snarled, loud enough for nearby miners to glance our way. “I’d rather starve than let you touch me.”
Bren’s piggy eyes narrowed. With surprising speed, he grabbed my chin, fingers digging painfully into my jaw. “Listen here, you little bitch-”
I didn’t think. I just reacted. Gathering what little moisture I had left in my mouth, I spat directly in his face.
He recoiled, releasing me with a roar of outrage. “You’ll pay for that!”
As he wiped his face, cursing, I felt a surge of wild satisfaction. But beneath it, cold fear gripped my heart. What had I done?
“I’ll see you whipped for this,” Bren growled, advancing on me again.
