Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine by Jeanne G'Fellers (the rosie project .txt) 📕

“She’s a hostage I plan to keep alive as long as necessary. I won’t have her dropping off because of your blasted mouth. Her heart all but jumped from her chest when she heard your voice.” Cance wondered how much of the shaking was actually from the mental attack and how much was Brandoff’s doing. “She’s terrified of you.”

“It’s the prock,” retorted Brandoff. “She’s crashing.”

As the panic subsided and her mind cleared, LaRenna discerned a sick sense of pride exuding from Brandoff’s warped mind. Brandoff honestly enjoyed the pain she inflicted on others. It soothed away some of the agony of her own complicated life. Like the drug she was so reliant on, it made her forget. Cance’s emotions were evident too, differing from Brandoff’s though just as intense. They were a disturbing mix of obsessive affection and erotic desires directed toward LaRenna. She found pleasure in hurting others, but not for the same reasons as Brandoff. Pain was a weapon, a means of effective discipline, a teaching tool. She even used it in the name of love.

“Forgive my sister’s shortcomings.”

LaRenna knocked Cance’s reassuring touch away. “Why should you care what she does to me? You did it, too.”

“A danger of the post you took, young Kimshee.” Cance splinted LaRenna’s finger. “And may I remind you that I held my pleasures to the traditional way between Kimshees.”

“That was not pleasure.”

“Really? Then what would you call it?”

LaRenna remained silent for a moment. “Rape.” The word tasted a thousand times filthier than Tynnes’s single kiss. “It was rape.”

“Oh, I believe you’ve been misinformed. This seems to be an ongoing problem with my lovers. It might prove necessary to leave you alone with my twin when you are better healed. What she does is far and away more the definition of rape than what I enjoy. Maybe then you’ll change your description of the pleasures I offer.” Cance put an end to the conversation by moving to LaRenna’s ankle. “All right, old man. Let’s finish up.”

“Undo the bindings first.” Bane slid into Cance’s former position, his open mind projecting tender sympathies for LaRenna, scathing hatred for those holding them hostage. “She can’t go anywhere in her condition. You’ve both seen to that.” Cance flashed him a scowl but conceded to his wish. LaRenna moaned and shook as the renewed circulation caused the foot to burn and throb.

“We can’t set her ankle while she’s shaking,” said Bane. “Let me give her some wine to dull the pain.”

“No. She’s lost too much blood.”

“She’s well on her way into shock as it is,” he objected.

Cance clicked her tongue. “Very well. But give her wine, not liquor. I don’t want her heaving with broken ribs. Brandoff, bring that second crystal over here. Quietly, mind you.”

“Why should I?” Brandoff’s voice rose to a level she hoped would add to LaRenna’s agony. “If she goes into shock, she goes into shock. What does it matter? I got what I wanted once, and I’ll do it again later.” Her eyes slitted in direct defiance of Cance’s wishes. “Hopefully, it’ll kill her.”

Cance crossed the room in two powerful strides, wrenched the chair from under her sister, and tossed it down the stairs, where it splintered against the Waterlead’s doors. “Are you touched or just plain stupid? This happens every time I let you get your jollies. Damn prock fiend, you’ve lost all concept of reality!” Cance snatched one of the crystals, flinging it into the wall when she found it empty. It shattered above Starnes, showering him in a rain of fine shards. “Belsas’s daughter has to stay alive! She’s the ultimate trophy of our triumph.”

Brandoff pulled her knife as she rose. “Sister or not, I will cut you wide if you ever do that again.” She then leaned against the wall, eyes fixed on her Autlach-disguised double. “You want the girl because she reminds you of Chandrey. All of Langus heard you cry her name downstairs. She’s not a trophy to you. Your first life mate renounced you so you want another. Face it, Cancelynn Creiloff, you’re not fucking guardian enough to hold on to one.”

LaRenna craned her trembling head at Chandrey’s mention, only to be pushed back prone by Bane’s steady hand. “Don’t,” he whispered. “This isn’t the time.”

“Never mention that name! Its beauty is wasted in your stinking mouth.” Cance thrust the second crystal at Bane and hovered over LaRenna, her downward stare as longing as it was vexed. “Yes, girl, I know her. I was her life mate once upon a time. She’d still be mine if it hadn’t been for Belsas. Who knows, I might have been your guardian raiser if things had turned out differently.” Cance watched Bane fill his empty water glass with wine and hold it to LaRenna’s lips. “You act so much like her that it brought back memories. You’re very much her daughter. There is the same spark of disobedience in you both. I’ll simply have to remove it from you as well.” Bane drew LaRenna away from Cance’s gaze and encouraged her to drink deeply of the wine.

Brandoff sheathed her blade and turned toward the stairs. “Since you insist on giving the last of my wine to the whore, I’m going down for more.” Brandoff waited for Cance to answer, but Cance’s attention was still fixated on LaRenna. “Cance?”

“Yeah, whatever.” She dismissed Brandoff with a wave then knelt by LaRenna’s side to hold the glass. Cance’s seasoned face had softened with memory. “How is Chandrey? Does she still have that beautiful silver mane I fell in love with?”

So this was the reason Chandrey refused to speak of the Taelach civil war. “Belsas says she looks better than ever.” LaRenna stared at Cance, challenging her with the words.

Cance merely sniffed. “I’m sure she does.” She turned the glass up, forcing LaRenna to gulp. “Ease the pain before we set your ankle.” Her tone was quite tender, trying to love that which she could only rule