Page 5 of Her Demon Daddy

I used to wonder where they went, why some came back but others didn’t. Some women say they shuffle us around between cells to keep us from forming alliances. I don’t know why they would. Most of these girls are scared of their own shadows at this point.

Like the blonde in the corner. I see her stir, the first time she’s moved since they dumped her in here. Not that she’s been unconscious. I honestly think she’s too afraid to sleep.

No, like most girls that get brought in here, she was too scared to move. She wouldn’t eat or drink. Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s because they fear what is in the provisions, or if they’d rather succumb to the terror slowly consuming them than keep living.

I’m pretty sure it’s the latter.

I shift forward. Someone needs to help the new girl, and the lot in here show no indication of teaching her the way we do things here. I doubt any of the guard rotations and food – if you can call it that – deliveries are the same, and knowing the schedule will help her hold onto her sanity.

And I want to see how much of it she still has. Sometimes they are so far gone they can’t register what’s around them. That’s when it gets dangerous for the rest of us.

Once they dumped a very frail girl in here in the dead of the night. She looked almost gone, she was so small and bruised. I went to help her, but the second I leaned over her, she latched onto my throat with a strength I didn’t expect her to possess.

I’m lucky that I’ve provided enough guidance to the other woman that they’ve deemed me worthy to save. I learned then to only talk to the new girls when others are watching.

It’s survival of the fittest in here.

Just as I start to cross the cell, though, I hear the familiar scrape of the door opening at the end of the hallway. They’re coming.

The other girls recognize it, too, stiffening up as the demons approach. Already I can hear the deranged cackling bouncing off the walls, and I square my shoulders as I stare forward.

“Look alive!” the bird-like demon squawks as he rakes his fingers over the bars. The harsh sound of his claws on metal echo through the room, making everyone shiver. “Why so glum? You aren’t dead…yet!” He howls with laughter at the last part, and I grit my teeth. They love to find enjoyment in our misery.

And it works. All the others tremble in their presence, but I refuse to. I won’t give them the satisfaction. They already took my freedom, my life, everything. I won’t give them this little bit of defiance I have left.

The demon bares its teeth at me, and I don’t flinch. I don’t look away or even blink. I just clench my jaw against the words I want to hurl at him as he leans forward and thrusts his hand through the slot at the bottom of the cell door.

I don’t let my eyes go to his hand as the hard bread clatters against the floor. My stomach may be gnawing itself but I will stand what little bit of ground I have left. I will fight for every inch I can get. Even as the stench of half-spoiled food fills the room.

“I can’t wait until they let you,” he hisses. “Hopefully, I get the leftovers.”

Now that almost makes me shiver. But I don’t let the disgust show. I only grin.

“I do hope we encounter each other without these pesky bars in the way,” I answer, and I know the threat is dripping in my tone. “I’d love to show you what I can really do.”

I expect him to come back with a snarl or a sick joke, but he only backs away, a low growl building in his chest. Good. He knows I am dangerous.

Without another word, he turns and struts down the hall, muttering under his breath. I think I catch a ‘bitch’ in there, but that’s about all.

Once the door at the end of the hall slams closed, the girls dive forward. I remain in place, stoic as they scramble for food. I will make sure everyone gets something to eat. Though sometimes I’m not sure if we’re better off getting sick from it or starving.

As everyone retreats, I look down to see a torn piece of bread, a handful of decent berries, and a suspiciously soggy piece of meat. Good. They left some for me.

The new girl is eyeing the food, and I realize that she’s holding something moldy in her hand, and I huff, moving forward to gather my items. Then, I take a seat next to her, ripping the bread in half.

“The only way we survive here is together,” I tell her as I extend the bread and half the berries to her. “I’m Siara.”

“Trinity.” It almost sounds like a whimper as she snatches the bread and curls in on herself. Well, at least she isn’t feral. “Thank you.”

“Look, I get that you’re scared, but they like that. The more timid you are, the most likely you are to be pulled from the cage.”

“Have you ever…”

I shake my head. “Nope. I stand strong, stare them down. They either know that I am too feral to let out or that I might be dangerous to them, and I make it a point to prove that every time they come down here. I won't be an easy victory, and if they tried me, I’d definitely do some damage. They don’t want that.”

I lean a little closer to her. “If you want to make it in here, you don’t need to be scared of them. You want them to be scared of you.”

Trinity snorts. “Scared of me?”