Page 4

T he three who drove there were seated around the table when Pandora saw her new friend. Ela, please join us. This is Regis, and if you pass the vibe check, you will meet Ira.

The woman s appearance drew gasps from the others, and Regis covered her mouth in shock. Rex looked stunned.

Ela tried to cover her wrists and her neck in short, quick movements. I am sorry. They won t heal, so I am stuck with them. Her wrists and neck wore abraded bands that looked sticky with blood.

Pandora nodded. Her ankles, too.

Regis asked, Where did that happen?

I was bolted to a table in a salon for passing Elite. The abrasions were a side effect of the motion.

Regis was stunned.

How did you get away?

The table broke. I beat the client unconscious and ran. It wasn t until later that I was able to get the bands off. She asked softly, Do you have a medical kit or anything?

Rex got up and said, Come with me. I have a kit.

Ela nodded and followed. She was six feet tall and pearly white. Her hair was cropped against her head, and her eyes were crimson. There were bite marks and scars visible on her collarbone. Pandora s clothing just covered most of her, not all of her.

* * * *

E la was seated at a desk as she apologized. I am sorry if this is upsetting.

The woman with her brought out rolls of gauze. I have seen a lot of injuries, but few have made me this enraged. What happened to your hair?

They shaved it every two months. It kept growing back.

How long were you there?

Two years? I think. I am not sure.

You never got pregnant?

No. I didn t let them have that. I could control that.

How?

Ela paused. I just did it. My name is Elaheh. Ela for short.

I am Rex. It s short for Teagan.

Ela grinned. That s fun. T-rex.

Rex focused on winding gauze around the wounds. You got it the first time.

I was a teacher.

What happened?

My husband was having an affair and sold me to the salon so that he had enough money to live happily ever after. He tossed divorce papers at me, and the salon enforcers made me sign them. She glanced down. This happened afterward.

You mean your height.

Yeah. That was when they strapped me down and invited an endless wave of Elite.

Oh, fuck. I am so sorry.

Ela shrugged. It happened. It s over. But when I got loose, I had nowhere to go, so since I was being drawn this way, I kept going. Pandora found me in an alley with some kittens. The kittens went to the shelter, and she brought me here. She s very kind.

So, you were like this in the alley?

Ela blinked and made herself invisible. This is why they had to strap me to the table and keep me on a chain.

Rex stared at where she had been. Whoa. Right. I am sorry. I don t know what to say.

Ela resumed her appearance, and Rex kept wrapping. It s fine. I am either very calm or completely mad right now.

Are you dangerous?

To the women here? No. Absolutely not. If I find my enemies, I am guessing that I can be.

What is your attack?

I just do things with my hands, and things happen.

What?

I wave my hands, and things happen. It s why they locked me down.

Your wounds are infected. You will need to see a doctor.

Oh. It will be a while before I can work.

Rex smiled, knelt, and patted her knee. We will bring someone in. Now, your ankles, please.

Ela carefully put her socked feet up on Rex s knee. The wrapping made her wince, but the burn was welcome.

What was inside the cuffs?

Oh. Small teeth. Like a cheese grater. It was supposed to hold me still, but they put a moving section in the centre to open my legs, and it changed the angle, causing damage every time.

There was a soft gasp, and Rex s head came up. Ira. Are you eavesdropping?

Ela saw a small girl poke her head around the corner. The girl looked like a more golden version of Regis.

The girl looked at the ankle that wasn t wrapped. Someone hurt you.

Yes, but I am free now. Each day, I get better, and I have something I didn t have before.

Your hair is short.

I haven t had time to let it grow. If it distresses you, little miss, I can make it grow.

Ira touched the soft fuzz. Does it hurt to grow?

A little. I have been using my energy to keep from being infected.

Oh. So, someone did that to you?

They did.

Why?

They wanted to be mean. There were more of them than there were of me, so they won for a while, and then I got away. Pandora found me.

Oh, she s good at that. She found me when I had my leg cramping in the pond, and she picked me up before Mom could even react. That was when I met her.

The little girl stuck out her hand. I am Ira.

I am Ela. Ela shook hands with the little girl.

Are you staying?

Pandora is letting me get some rest and giving me some clothing, but I think your mother does not want me to stay near you. She does not trust strangers, and rightly so.

You aren t a stranger.

I am. You know better than to take kind words from strangers. Until your mother can confirm what I told her, you should not be alone with me.

Fine. Auntie, are you done with her?

Rex sighed. Ela, do you have any other parts that need bandaging?

Ela looked at the little girl. Yes, but she should not be here for this.

Ira frowned. I can do first aid.

Not this much. Please, Ira. Go to your mother and meet the other ladies.

Ira scowled. No.

Rex said softly, Ira. You might be an old soul, but you are still eleven. If she doesn t want to show you, it is an adult thing, so leave her some privacy.

Ira sighed, nodded, and left them.

Ela set her feet on the floor, pivoted, and unbuttoned her shirt. Rex gasped in shock.

Rex, if you have some cream to spread on the scars that opened, I can reach forward and do my chest.

You... you re covered with scars.

It was years, and I did not cooperate. For some of the clients, the pain was what got them off. That was why they had to shave my head. The hair got in the way of the whip.

Fucking hell.

Yeah, that does sum it up. Ela sat while Rex went over her opened scars and then took the tube from her to get the ones on her lower abdomen. It looked like her skin was suffering from frost. Scars bloomed into other scars and crept into the loose trousers.

How far down do they go?

To the knees, but the skin is thicker past my hips.

Win can probably heal you. She s familiar with this sort of extensive scarring.

There is another?

A few others. None with your identical circumstance, but yes. Rex sighed. How can they do this and think it s okay?

I am the wrong person to ask. She handed Rex the tube back and put her shirt back on.

At least you aren t actively looking for a mate. Rex sighed.

No. I am not. I have had enough sex for a lifetime. Well, they had sex. I was just in the room.

And some were just there for torture.

Yeah, the dark mages. They also paid for my hair and my blood.

Rex paused. You definitely need to talk to Win. When we get downstairs, I will call her. This is something she needs to know.

Fine. That is fine. Now, Pandora said she would feed me, and I am very hungry.

Rex paused. You aren t showing me what you actually look like.

Of course not. There is a child in the house. Pandora can make an image if she likes. Ela stood up. She has described me as a walking skeleton with a tennis ball for a head. That made me smile.

Ohmygod.

So, I am going to go eat. She s promised to feed me.

Oh. Please.

Ela smiled and walked back down to where the other ladies were waiting and eating. Pandora smiled. Eat what you like. When you are ready for more, it will be there.

One of the women was staring at her with wide eyes. Ela knew that look. Pandora had it, too. You can see me.

The woman nodded. I can.

Rex spoke to Regis. I need to call Win. There are... issues.

Regis nodded. Make sure she arrives after dinner.

Rex agreed and went to make the call.

Ela didn t know who Win was, but it seemed she had experience with scars. Ela began to eat, and when she got tired, Pandora brought her a cup of green tea and a slice of dessert.

She was able to continue, and her body broke everything down as it entered her. The other ladies helped and encouraged her. She was able to continue longer than she thought while Regis spoke to the others about the upcoming plans.

A beta wearing jeans and a tee shirt came in and greeted Regis. Regis smiled and introduced the others, ending with Ela.

Win, this is Ela. Ela, this is Win. I believe you have a lot to talk about.

Ela grabbed her tea and a handful of cream puffs and followed both Regis and Win into an office.

Win looked at her. You are bleeding energy.

Am I?

Yes. Out of the scars. What did they do to you?

Regis leaned against the desk, and Ela shrugged, explaining it all. She defined where, what, and by whom. Win paused and nodded. Got it. I can t help now, but if I stretch out, I will. Regis, are you going to blur my memories of you again?

Of course. That is what the palace is for.

Win chuckled. Elf tricks.

Correct.

Win sighed. Well, Ela, I have a similar situation. Nothing scars our flesh more than an Elite. Well, it should begin to heal once you have transformed, but your healing is delayed due to your physical condition.

Ah. Their feeding of me had to be administered by hand, and they forgot. They also forgot to bathe me or allow me normal toilet functions. Ela grimaced. They cleaned me when the next client was at the door.

Win sighed. But they took hair and blood?

They did.

So that is how they are drawing your energy. We can stop the draw, but we need a more powerful mage who isn t Elite. I just happen to know one.

Win picked up her phone and spoke, Hey, Wren? Can you come to the new palace? We have a vulnerable victim with an active energy drain who needs help. I can t do anything unless I shift, and I am not going to do that without making a bloody mess.

There was murmuring from the other side, and Win smiled. See you soon.

She smiled at Ela. She s on her way. If you stop the power bleed, it is easier to regain weight.