Lord Vance's expression was grim as he left the manor. The carriage disappeared from the compound until it was completely out of view. In a stupefied state, Madame Rhea stood with her lips parted in shock and her eyes widened.
Slowly, realization began to sink in and she found her fists momentarily balling by her sides. She gritted her teeth and swiveled on her heels as she attempted to locate the golden brown-haired girl and impart a memorable message.
Throughout the years she had been operating this business, there had been no complaints from her patrons about the services provided to them. Today's occurrence marks the first time in a decade that it has ever happened, and it was all because of that one girl.
Madam Rhea was aware of Lord Vance's ruthlessness. He was the most ruthless among the lords, and she knew he would not allow the girl's disappointment to go unnoticed.
Upon entering the chamber, her raging eyes met the girl she had been searching for, and her anger resurfaced once more. "You want to prove stubborn, isn't it?" Her eyebrows quirked up as she inquired from the little one.
At a sudden moment, she drew the attention of her infamous men, who were extremely disciplined, and requested that they inflict pain on Hermione, except for her face.
Hermione was again subjected to the merciless action of those burly-looking men. She was lifted off the ground and taken to another room.
Even though the room was barely lit with a few candles, her senses were sharpened as she observed the tools arranged on the walls. There were things she had already seen in drawing books, and others she had never encountered.
Hermione was forced to sit still on the chair despite her restraints.
Hermione was no match for their strength. Cherry was urging her to burst out and slash the men to pieces, but Hermione was hesitant to do it because the procedure was hurtful.
Hermione could only watch as the man tied her hands and chest to the chair. Next, he wore a handkerchief over her mouth to stop her from yelling during the disciplining process.
Hermione soon heard the sound of a machine whirring. Her eyes darted to the side to catch a glimpse of a drilling machine that was being brought by the other man.
What was he going to do!? She shrieked inwardly, her fearful eyes gazing intently at the man who snickered.
Her gown was lifted off her leg and her fresh thigh came into view.
Hermione shook her head, sensing the harm they were doing to her. Her heartbeat thumped in her chest a million times and she jerked on the chair but these actions were overlooked by the men who were bent on carrying out their duties, and loyalty to Madame Rhea.
He placed the drilling machine on her thigh, ready to start boring a hole into her lap when the door went open and Madame Rhea emerged.
Her presence halted the actions of the man for a while, as he whipped his head to the side to see his boss.
His eyes narrowed as if he had never seen her in a place like this. She never interrupted their work.
"I changed my mind. I want her to be flogged. 100 strokes without any miss" She instructed, her arms folding across her chest and a smile forming on her lips, as she saw the bewildered look on the girl's face.
"Yes, Madame" The man responded. He stepped back with the drilling machine and the other began to untie her.
Madame Rhea's eyes narrowed, "And not just her. I want all of the girls to be flogged 50 strokes" She added.
"If anyone shows a sign of rebellion, everyone would suffer for it" She made her statement clear, before swiveling on her heels and venturing out of the place.
Hermione was whipped with a cane, a hundred strokes without a miss. The other girls were caned as well. And everyone was starting to look at her with malice in their eyes for causing them pain.
She could only lower her head in shame. She felt apologetic and at the same time, she didn't regret her decision.
If there was anyone to place a mark on her, it ought to be her mate. Her mate, ALONE!
Celeste sensed the tension in the air and thought that it was a great time to bring up the discussion of escaping this hellhole.
The girls definitely would feel that Madame Rhea was unfair by punishing them when only one person went against her. They would want to leave without hesitation.
Celeste began, "I understand that everyone is hurting right now" Her violet eyes moved to scrutinize the girls. Luckily, most of them had wiped their tears away and were now baring their ears to listen to Celeste's words.
"And I apologize for everything that has happened since our arrival. But then, Madame Rhea was being unjust by punishing everyone, Isn't that right?" She inquired, her lips twisting to the side and her eyebrows knitted.
"Yes" every one of them chorused, except very few.
"I am certain that if unfortunately, it happens next time, we will be punished as well. We have feelings too and we're more than just dolls. We cannot let anyone be in charge of our fate. We ought to strive for our freedom rather than letting someone exploit us for their gain"
"That is right. We need to leave this place and return to our families"
Celeste was overwhelmed by the change of tides. These people who were once adamant about getting their freedom sensed the need to escape the unfair woman.
"Yes," Celeste bobbed her head. "We have to escape" She asserted.
The girls started to strategize their escape from the manor.
First, they were going to be well acquainted with every corner of the manor.
Secondly, they were to discern the placements of the guards and where they were less occupied.
Thirdly, they needed to know another way out, like a passage door. Because the front door was always guarded by Madame Rhea's men.
Fourthly, all of them were to work together to escape this manor.
After drafting their plan and listening to the ideas of every one of them on how to survive after escaping this manor, the girls made their move one night.
Unfortunately for them, Lavinia wasn't on the same page as they were.
Although she participated in the plan and gathered information, she went behind their backs to snitch on them.
Madame Rhea became aware of their every movement, she wanted them to fool themselves, thinking that they could get out of her grasp. When they were a little close to their freedom, Rhea revealed herself with her evil smile and captured the girls.
A heavy punishment was inflicted on them, and they were ordered to vow not to ever leave the manor.
But a determined Celeste and some other girls continued with the scheme. They were reluctant to let go of the idea of returning to their homes.
Each time, they failed woefully. One way or the other, the plan gets leaked to Rhea and she comes right in time to catch them. This tug continued for plenty of years and five years flew in a blink of an eye.
"This is our final chance," Celeste told the girls surrounding her.
Their squad had become few because most of them were affected by the punishments and would never go on the quest to seek out their freedom.
Hermione, Emily, Daphne, and Celeste were the only girls, stubborn to find their freedom at all costs. They swore to remain loyal to themselves, and not leak out the secret like others had done when they were still together.
Daphne, the daughter of a lord from a small kingdom had also suffered the same fate as the other girls. She wanted to return home, to meet her family, and be happy because she never belonged here.
She suggested, her blue eyes wandering from one to another, "Why don't we go in the afternoon?" she inquired, leaning closer to them, "Every time we plan, it's always in the night and Madame Rhea never fails to catch us" She reasoned.
Celeste bobbed her head. The night was a perfect time to escape because it would be dark and the guards would have a tough time searching for them. But their plans always got screwed by Madame Rhea.
Hermione tilted her head, "Madame Rhea I--is certain to be enveloped by her paperwork, and she would never think that w--we would choose to escape in b-broad daylight" She asserted.
Emily added, "Yes, she is right. But the guards would be on alert, their senses would be heightened"
"Let's not think negatively" Celeste politely hushed the girl, "If we plan to escape this afternoon. We must do it right!"
"It's now or never" Daphne spoke with determination in her eyes, likewise the other girls.
Picking up a charcoal, Celeste began to draw a map on a white sheet. She made it visible for them to see and guided them through the map. The easiest yet heavily guarded path was selected. They could only bet their lives on this very escape.
"I'll lure the guards and all of you will go this way" Celeste instructed. The rest of the girls were not optimistic about her decision because she was the very same person who had given them hope all these years.
After much persuasion, Celeste was able to convince them that she was capable of taking care of herself.
Later in the afternoon, the four girls executed their plan.
The manor was heavily guarded, with armed guards patrolling the perimeter and a high stone wall surrounding the property. The girls knew that they had to escape, but the odds were stacked against them.
They stood behind a pillar, dressed in cloaks to conceal their features. However, they kept their keen eyes on the watch.