Page 7 of Grand Master

THE PENTHOUSE CAGE

Muthafucka’s always think that they can keep their light, I thought as I stood by the glass looking down at the L.A streets, the rain streaked my windows like tears from the city.

I could see everything from here. The blocks I owned.

The blocks I would be sure to take, and the bodies I had left to rot in alleys simply because certain men forgot who owned them.

Mira was here now, on my floor in the center of my board where I planned out my grand moves.

My penthouse was silent except for the soft shuffle of feathers behind me.

The owls moved along the steel beam that cut across the glass ceiling that opened when night fell.

Most of the time if I wasn’t here, I opened part of the ceiling from my phone.

Their yellow and orange eyes stared as their heads tilted.

They were watching me as I watched her. They knew exactly what she was.

A piece, maybe a queen but she was mine.

I took my eyes away from her to stare at most of my owls that I stopped counting once I passed twelve.

Majority of them end up leaving, besides one Owl, Josie.

She was family and hardly ever left my side.

Josie was the leader of all of them; she even killed a couple that she felt wasn’t fit to be around.

“Behave.” I told them lowly.

Mira started to wake up; a soft choke sound escaped her dry lips as she stirred on the floor.

Her wavy hair was dry; some parts were damp from the slobber and dry tears that she cried until the middle of the night.

She tried to move but winced out in pain.

Her wrists were red and raw from the ties that I took off her wrist, soon as the sun rose.

I imagined her body being stiff as well from being tossed like a rag doll into my world.

I watched her toss and turn, murmur things under her breath as she slept. I could close my eyes and still see all of her curves, her blemish free nutmeg complexion, and the lines of stress etched in her forehead. Mira was beyond beautiful; through life she wasn’t treated as such.

I got you now, little owl…

I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Tone.

“Yo.” He answered on the first ring.

“Did you get him?” I got right to the point.

“I did, but Grand…” Tone sighed as I gripped the phone tighter.

“No buts to it.” I replied.

“There is a but bro, I’m all for what you do…taking her wasn’t necessary at all to be honest, yet I was still down because I saw that she was the reason you kept coming with Dre and I to the club. She ain’t no fiend that needs to be saved.” Tone spoke his mind, in which I respected.

“What is your point, Tone?”

“I think it’s impulsive to snatch her dude too. I mean—we have a lot going and?—”

“I have a lot going,” I quickly corrected him. “I’m busy, Tone…put him in the slaughter den.” I quickly hung up and placed my focus back on Mira.

Finally, she opened her big owl-like eyes weakly. She eyed all the glass that she was surrounded by, the city, my room, and the continuous storm. Next, her eyes landed on all the owls… Three, two, one…

Her eyes snapped to mine; she gasped as her eyes darted around frantically.

She realized that there was no door she could reach, no window she could open.

Good. I wanted her to feel it, the weight of me, the weight of my board and how she was a prized piece that just got added.

I turned fully towards her, my black sweats hung low on my hips.

It amazed me given the circumstances; she was the best lighting to my dark room. That shift came again, the strong urge to touch and be near her stiffened me.

She tried to frantically sit up, but her arms gave out as her body trembled from being too weak and scared. Could she be having withdrawals? The process had already started.

“Please—”

“Don’t.” I said in a calm voice. I was tired of hearing the word please from her.

She froze like I expected. Her eyes lifted to mine helplessly. I eyed the tears that welled up in her eyes as she asked me why. They all asked why, there was no point in explaining when I could simply show. I walked to her, my owls shifted and watched intently.

She managed to scoot back until she felt the velvet black couch behind her.

She practically crawled up it until her back hit the cushion.

She pulled her knees up to her chest then wrapped her arms around them.

Slowly she started to rock back and forth.

I stopped in front of her and looked down.

I studied the way her breath shook, the way her hands clenched.

She was stubborn, her eyes refused to look away even though she was terrified. Fight, I love that.

I reached out; she flinched. I shouldn’t have smiled, it probably made things worse, but who gives a fuck? I squatted down in front of her as her tears spilled down her pretty round face.

My impulsiveness thumped throughout my entire being. I desperately wanted to lick up her salty tears then rip the middle of her shirt off to eye her luscious titties.

Self-control, Kenric. Patience is key. I told myself before talking.

“You should stop crying. You’re here now, it’s done.” I gave her a small smile.

Mira’s lips parted; a sob broke through as her body shook. She shook her head from side to side in denial as I shook my head up and down to tell her that this wasn’t some sick twisted nightmare. It was her new reality.

“Please.” She whispered.

“Please? Is that all you know how to say?” I chuckled.

“Help!! PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!” She mustered all the strength left inside of her to scream.

I looked at my owls and shook my head in disbelief.

“I told you in the alley last night, that your voice is too pretty, too sexy and soft to waste it on screaming.” I clicked my teeth.

“I hate all the fucking noise that you keep making, you must be punished for that since you keep doing it. The owls will now eat before you do.” I shook my head at her.

“This isn’t a game you can leave Mira.” I continued to warn her. I moved my face close, until it was inches away from hers.

She needed to etch me into the forefront of her brain, down to the shiny gold teeth in my mouth in each corner. I willed her mentally to look me in the eyes so she could see the truth in them.

“You stepped on my board the second you looked me in the eyes…weeks ago. Thank yourself…you just couldn’t stop looking.” I chuckled out.

“I don’t fucking know you!” She choked out.

“Mouth, Mira…Watch your fuckin’ mouth when you speak to me.” I reached out and softly pinched her bottom lip.

“It’s not lady like to curse.” I smirked. It’s also not ladylike to do fuckin’ drugs!

My eyes went to her full heavy breasts, her nipples stiffened although she had the nerve to have a frown on her face. Already reacting to my touch, little owl.

“Besides…you will know me. I can present to you the opportunity to know me for a lifetime if you are who I think you are.” I promised her.

My thumb brushed over her bottom lip where I squeezed; I pressed down enough to make her mouth open.

I listened past the owl’s feathers ruffling to hear the soft desperate whimper that slipped past her pouty pink lips.

I took my hands off of her and she fell back against the couch.

Her eyes went big as her hand flew to her mouth in shock.

I stood up and turned to pick her violin case up from the floor. I opened it slowly then held it out to her. She shook her head no frantically.

“No, I don’t want it.” She cried out. I knew that was a lie, soon I would know her deep connection to this instrument.

“I want you to play.” I lied partially.

I didn’t want; I needed her to play. It did something kind to my soul.

Kindness was hard to come by. I hadn’t had kindness since my younger years, before my mom got hooked on drugs then.

.. overdosed. The kindness that I received from the men and women I was surrounded by was forced by fear.

It wasn’t nurturing or comforting. Without my parents alive, I didn’t know what was sincere even if it was.

My parents never faked anything or lied to me to get my approval.

They didn’t give a fuck whether I accepted them or not. I respected them for that.

Mira squeezed her eyes shut; her lips mouthed what I assumed a prayer to a God that wouldn’t save her here.

“I said play.” I cut into whatever she was mouthing off with no words coming from her mouth.

She opened her eyes, broken and defeated, but still alive .

She reached out with shaking hands and took the violin.

For a couple of seconds, she pulled it to her chest and held it like it was the last piece of herself she could protect.

She lifted it seconds later and pressed it under her chin.

The bow shook in her hand before she played a soft broken note that cracked through the crisp air.

I looked down at her chipped nail polish, I wondered if her feet looked the same.

She’s poor, but rich in spirit… The thought made me crack a smile at her.

She played for me, and I stood watching her.

My favorite owl, Snow, landed on my shoulder.

She dug her claws in and looked at me with her big black eyes.

She felt what I felt, her claws was the pinch that I needed to tell me I wasn’t dreaming.

I felt a shift, a shift that I was sure she felt.

I shut my eyes and peace came next…the same kind of peace that I felt weeks ago for the first time in a long time inside of that chaotic strip club that she considered a job.

The longer she played, the more the word forever swam in my mind.

Mira was the piece that would become mine forever…didn’t matter if she liked it or not. That’s how life worked. One moment things are the way you like them to be…then the next… a shift that you can’t stop takes place.