Chapter 18: A History of Ice

Silence cascaded upon the dining room. I looked down at my plate that sat upon the untouched mahogany. I heard Elle cough from her side of the table and my father carried on to a different topic. His mind was made, there was no point in arguing or venturing into negotiation. In the world I lived in, arranged marriages were the norm. In fact, I was reaching the age where I should already be thinking about children. Then my father so effortlessly pounded any semblance of hope with his hammer head.

"I'd like to be excused" my voice came out hushed. Enough so that the conversation carried on and the only person that heard me was Kitten beside my feet. I felt her fingertips touch my ankle and the sordid realization that I would be made to wed a woman that means nothing to me hit in full force.

"I'd like to be fucking excused!" I yelled out. The silence reacquainted itself and the echoes ran through the room. I looked up from my plate and saw my father's eyes set itself on me with hard lines. He had a look of fleeting anger before he composed himself.

"You will sit right there, Micah and finish this bloody dinner." his voice betrayed his composure. It came out strained and impatient. I could tell I was nearing the edge and after my outburst at The Ivy, I was already on thin ice. I could practically hear the surrounding ice crack around me, except the waters were filled with more dangers than the cold around me.

I laughed under my breath, pushed my tongue against my bottom lip and shook my head in bafflement. I pushed my chair back with such a force it fell over and Kitten scurried away on her knees. I couldn't sit there and hear my father plan out my life for me further. My whole life, I was on puppet strings and the moment I get used to the pulling weight, the strings tighten and my father reminds me my life isn't my own.

I heard him slam his knife on the table and look at me with fury flickering on his features. There's that first dent in the mahogany, Father. I could see Finn and Elle jump from across the table, but Kitten sat still, with her head still facing the ground and her palms still on her thighs. The tension was thick enough to suffocate on.

"Sit your ungrateful arse back down, Micah. Or so help me God, I will make sure your life get's taken out of liberty." He didn't move from his chair, I knew he wouldnt physically stop me from leaving the room. He always had the power of his mind and fear over me, that was enough for obedience.

The fact that he thought my life had any liberties would have been funny enough for me to laugh for the first time in a long time. "God wouldn't even be able to help you, Father."

I left my chair toppled over on the floor and walked towards the exit. As I reached the door handle and pulled to take my leave, I heard the small falls of footsteps come behind me. My first thought was Finn was going to come and convince me to just have dinner. Second, Elle would plead with me to apologize to Father and just swallow whatever he forced down my throat. Or even, Theo - just to have the satisfaction of calling me an idiot.

But when I turned my head an inch, I saw Kitten. On her feet and trailing right behind me, following me wherever I planned on going.

_______

"I want the carriage ready in a couple minutes, Link. If you even think of asking my father for permission, I'll have your head on a spike welcoming any future guests." I moved to the wooden shelf and took a random assortment of clothes down before putting them into a cotton bag. All the basic necessities and the plentiful money I had in my pouch.

I heard Link sigh and walk out to the hallway.

"Would I be accompanying you, Master?" I heard her soft voice come from the corner of my dark bedroom. I could never forget about her, not when she was in the same room as me. Not when my Father could have her killed for following me out the dining room.

I frown and see her submissive position on the floor. She had become this new creature, whom I could mold into whatever I wanted. Yet, that brimstone never left her eyes. She had purpose that constantly drove her actions, I just didn't understand what it happened to be.

"No," I answer briskly before returning my gaze back to packing. "I can't deal with your adventures in escaping tonight, I'm afraid." I breath out and felt juvenile in what I was doing. Only small infants and young women run from their homes. But, I wasn't running. I just needed the night. One night away from everything this house stood for.

"Perchance, this could be an opportunity where I can prove my loyalty to you, Master" she said. Her wrap had ridden up her knees and the milky flesh of her legs could be seen. I let out a frustrated groan before giving in. I was in no mood to argue tonight.

"Fine," I huffed. I turned and walked toward her slowly. Kneeling down, bringing her eyes to mind I let out in a tone more clipped than I anticipated "But try my patience tonight, Kitten and you'll see why death is almost easier in comparison to my methods."

I saw a shuddered breath escape her lips and it drew my eyes towards them. They looked plush enough for me to reach down and fit my cock in between them. Red enough for the stain of my release to be a stark comparison. Soft enough to bite and watch as she bled out.

She nodded her head and I reached my hand out to cup her cheek, but a rustle in the door caused me to turn back. Finn stood with his molly-boy at side carrying two cotton bags; likewise to mine in his hand.

"No." I say simply, before standing up and picking up my bag. Kitten followed me and I saw her look at Finn and his slave in confusion.

"Micah, you know what will happen if you don't plan on being smart about this. If I go with you, he'll decidedly care less."

"I'm almost certain it's quite the opposite, Finn. Take your slave-boy and leave. This doesn't concern you anymore."

I saw his face morph into one of determination and I knew I had no time for whatever he was about to vent on about. Finn was as stubborn as his second name entailed, he had a casual and less frontal way of approaching what he wanted; but he would get it nevertheless.

Before he could speak, I reached my hands out to my hair and groaned. "Fine. Fine" I seethed through my teeth, knowing Finn was one of the first people that needed a break from this place as much as I. "Let's fucking take this band of merry-men and get the hell out of here before I burst a damn vein."

All four of us trail out of my room and the stench of true liberty filled my senses. Finn and his slave trailed behind me and Kitten. I could hear Finn talking about something but chose not to pay attention. Once I reached the grand doors, I saw Link had a look of something trivial on his face.

Not taking it even for a moment, I opened the door myself. The cold night air pricked my skin and the weight of the cotton bag in my hand felt like wings. I saw the carriage and the driver waiting by the two horses. Letting all three of my company filter in to the carriage first, I turned to the carrier and pushed silver coins into his palm.

"Fourth Street Lodging Houses. Tell anyone of the company in the carriage tonight, and your balls will match the color of whatever carpet it falls on when I cut them off."

The rider nodded hurriedly and I entered the carriage.