Page 25 of Uprising

I think my heart stops. My breath catches in my throat. How the fuck do they know that? It’s not in my notes. I know that.

I panic as Darius turns his head, fixing his eyes on me. “An IUD?” He repeats.

My mouth goes dry. I can feel my fear multiplying.

His hand lands on mine and he squeezes, demonstrating in that moment all the anger that he will unleash upon me as soon as he is able to. “If we wanted it removed, how would we go about that?”

“Gynaecology can do that. You can make an appointment…”

“We’re here now.” Darius states.

“No.” I gasp and Strauss looks at me before looking back at Darius.

As he opens his mouth Darius cuts across him. “I’m the Governor of this city. I decide what funding this hospital gets, it would be a real shame to see that cut, wouldn’t you agree?”

Strauss narrows his eyes for the tiniest of seconds before nodding. “I’ll see if I can get someone now.”

“Thank you. You’ve been most useful.” Darius says in a tone that makes the bile rise up in my throat.

I’m so fucked now. So utterly fucked.

As soon as the door shuts he gets up, putting his hands either side of the headboard, all but encasing me. “You have an IUD?” He growls.

“I…”

“When were you going to tell me that?”

“Please…” I whisper. “I don’t want another baby. I don’t want…”

“I don’t give a fuck what you want Rose.” He slams his fist into the wall creating a crater from the impact as I shrink further up. “You’ll do as you’re told. How hard is that for you to understand?”

I can feel my chest tightening again. Maybe it was a panic attack, maybe that’s exactly what it was, my heart, my body, all of me physically reacting to the awful situation they’re holding me in. That they expect me to accept as normal.

When the gynaecologist walks in, I lose the pretence. It doesn’t matter now. Darius knows enough to make me pay for this and I’m not going to let my fear stop me from fighting now. From taking the chance that one person around me might just have a conscience.

It’s clear the man has been prepped. That he understands exactly what this situation is because he doesn’t speak to me, doesn’t even look at me, in fact he’s doing everything he can with his body language to pretend that me as a person doesn’t exist.

Darius is the one to yank my dress up. I try to fight him and he backhands me before asking the doctor if they have a sedative.

Thankfully the doctor decides that’s not an actual request but he doesn’t do anything, he just watches as Darius half rips my wedding dress because it’s so damn tight, and then they strap my legs into the stirrups, tie them in when I resist, and as I’m half screaming and Darius is trying to cover my mouth to keep my quiet while simultaneously holding me down, the doctor is there, between my legs, taking away the one tiny bit of control I had in all this.

When it’s out Darius holds it up in his hands, taunting me with it. It’s tiny. Almost insignificant to look at.

“Having my child will make everything better.” He states. “Because then you won’t want to escape me anymore. Then you will give in. And then you will be loyal.”

I hang my head. I can’t reply. I can’t do anything but let the tears fall again.

Roman

We’re back at the ball. Only it’s not quite the same as it was. She’s in my arms and we’re dancing, laughing, showing the world what we really are.

My heart feels lighter than it’s ever been.

I swirl her around, admiring the way her dress both covers and hints at her beautiful body beneath.

When I catch her in my arms she all but blushes.

“Rose.” I murmur before leaning into catch her lips.