Isela's Love

by Sasha Cain

  “All right, all right, Roy. That’s enough fun for one day,” the warden said. “Let’s get these boys settled.”

  ****

  Isela turned her attention to all the hushed whispers and people gathering near the parlor door. She only saw the new prisoner from the back as they led him away to his cell.

  “I thought there were two,” she said.

  One of the servants sidled up next to her. “There are. One of them lipped off to the warden.”

  “Not very smart.”

  “He knows that now. He’s in the infirmary, unconscious.”

  “Is he going to be all right?”

  “What do you care? I’d think you’d be happy it was someone else besides you for a change,” he said. Then he ran off to follow the commotion.

  Isela stood there, stunned. Was Guarros’ treatment of her really that common of knowledge among the inmates and servants? That would explain the sympathetic looks she sometimes got from the old-timers.

  “I gotta get out of here,” she muttered under her breath.

  She gathered her cleaning supplies and moved onto her next task. She immersed herself in her work, not hearing when someone approached her from behind as she polished the trim. She whirled when she heard breathing from behind. Keeri stood in front of her, hands on her hips, staring daggers at Isela.

  Isela glanced around, but everyone had gone to check out the new inmates.

  “How long have you been standing there?” Isela demanded.

  “Long enough to stab you in the back,” she answered, acidly.

  “Again?” Isela asked sarcastically.

  “Fuck you, Isela.”

  “What is your problem?”

  “You. You’re my problem. Every time I get his attention, you steal it from me.”

  “Who’s attention? Who are you talking about?”

  “The warden, of course.”

  Isela took a deep, calming breath.

  “Keeri, I promise you, I do not want anything from that man, least of all his attention. Why do you want it?”

  “I told you, if I do things for him, he does things for me...but you’re trying to ruin it.”

  Isela’s anger erupted. She pointed her finger in Keeri’s face, standing taller. “No, you did that when you lied and told him I was jealous of you. What were you thinking? I want him to stay the hell away from me, and you just made him more determined.”

  “Well, you told him I lied and he...he...” She sniffled. “He was so mad. He came into my room and he took off his belt...”

  Isela interrupted. “I know, Keeri. You don’t have to say it.”

  She found herself feeling sorry for Keeri, remembering her own experience.

  “With these marks on my legs and ass, how am I supposed to get the new guy’s attention?”

  “Wait, what?”

  “You heard me. Thanks to you, I have to wait to make my move.”

  “Oh. My. God. And here I was feeling sorry for you because Guarros hurt you...and all you’re worried about is whether or not it will prevent you from having sex with someone, a complete stranger? What is wrong with you?”

  “Fresh meat doesn’t come around here that often. You gotta take what you can get.”

  “He’s a criminal, Keeri.”

  “So?”

  “So he could be dangerous.”

  “Around here? I hardly think so.”

  “And what do you think Guarros is going to do when he finds out you’re not exclusively his?”

  “Oh please, Isela. Who are you trying to bullshit? Everyone knows the only one Guarros wants to be exclusively his is you.”

  “I told you—”

  “I know what you told me. Point is he won’t care what I do. And if I miss my chance at the new guy, you’ll be sorry.”

  She turned on her heel and stomped away. Isela sighed, shaking her head, thinking Keeri was even more messed up than she was.

  ****

  Isela woke up to the sound of pounding on her door. She dragged herself out of bed and went to the door. Mae burst in a little frenzied. “What are you doing? Did you oversleep? Get your clothes on or Guarros will have your hide. You’re late, Izzy.”

  Isela shook her head, still fuzzy from sleep. Mae grabbed Isela’s clothes and shoved them into her hands.

  “The sun will be up any minute. You need to move.”

  Isela yanked her pants on, her nightgown off, and the tank top over her head.

  “I don’t know how I overslept. I never do that.”

  “As long as you get down to the kitchen, no one has to know.”

  They peeked out Isela’s door, making sure the coast was clear, before darting out the door.

  Luckily, they made it to the kitchen unnoticed. They slipped through the side door, bustling around with everyone else.

  Isela hurriedly mixed ingredients together in order to get breakfast ready on time. Mae shot her a look as she slopped batter over the side of the bowl.

  “Be careful, Isela,” she warned. “Otherwise you’ll get put on cleanup.”

  Isela took a breath. Mae handed her a rag so she could wipe up her mess before the supervisor saw it. Unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough.

  “Isela!” she bellowed. “Step forward.”

  Isela stopped mixing. She stepped away from the bowl, turning around to face the gruff voice. The supervisor was a stern, churlish woman, probably in her sixties. She demanded perfection, tolerating no mistakes.

  “Yes, ma’am?” Isela asked.

  The woman looked behind Isela at the spill on the counter. She shook her head, pursing her lips. “What do you call that?” she asked.

  Before Isela could answer she moved within inches of Isela’s face. “Sloppy, that’s what. Apparently someone needs a reminder of how to keep things neat and tidy around here.”

  “No...I—”

  “Oh, and now she wants to argue. I don’t think so. You will finish your duties preparing breakfast. Then instead of having yours, you will stay for cleanup as well. Am I clear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good.” She smirked. “I’d hate to have to go to the warden with this.”

  “You won’t, ma’am.”

  The supervisor dismissed her with a wave of her hand. Isela returned to her bowl and began mixing again.

  “I’ll stay and help you,” Mae offered.

  Shaking her head, Isela sighed. “No, Mae. Thanks, but I’m okay. You go eat.” She grinned at her friend. “Just save me something, huh?”

  Mae nodded.

  As soon as everyone had been fed, the cleaning crew came in. Isela had already started gathering dishes. A group of inmate women gathered at the door, whispering and giggling.

  “He’s so cute,” one of them said.

  “He’s adorable,” chimed in another.

  “And that body.”

  Isela rolled her eyes, chuckling. The new inmate must’ve been assigned to the cleaning crew.

  “You all do that every time we get someone new,” Isela pointed out.

  “It’s different this time,” one of the women argued. “He’s really, really cute.”

  “I’m sure he is,” Isela answered, setting a stack of plates into the sink.

  “Don’t you want a look, Isela? Aren’t you even curious?”

  “Not in the slightest. I have work to do.”

  She began pumping water into the sink. The young women ogled for a few more minutes until the supervisor shooed them away from the door.

  “Get to your duties,” she ordered. “Or you’ll be doing double time like Isela here.”

  They obeyed, their eyes cast downward. The supervisor went back to the dining area, the door swinging shut behind her. Isela heard her scolding the new inmate about the way he was scrubbing the floor. She glanced up toward the door, feeling sorry for him.

  After loading another stack of plates in her arms, Isela made her way to the sink. The supervisor swung the door wide open to check on
them, giving Isela a clear view into the dining room. She gasped, dropping the entire stack of plates.

  All she could hear was her own heart pounding in her chest as the plates crashed to the floor, shattering to pieces. He looked up, meeting her gaze. It was him. Oh God, it was him.

  She wanted to run, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away. She stood rooted in the remains of the dishes she’d been about to wash, staring at the most handsome face she’d ever seen, the face from her visions.

  The supervisor yanked Isela forward, snapping her out of her trance. Reflexively, she tried to jerk her arm free, but the large woman held on.

  “Now you’ve done it,” she snapped, dragging Isela through the dining area. “We’ll just see what the warden has to say about this. He’ll punish you good, I’ll bet, you clumsy little twit.”

  The new inmate stood up and said, “Let her go.”

  The entire room stilled. The supervisor smiled smugly, never loosening her grip on Isela. She motioned to a couple of the guards. “Bring him. He obviously needs to see how things are done around here.”

  The guards grabbed the man. He didn’t fight. They each had one of his arms, leading him to the warden’s office. Isela’s heart raced, not in fear of Guarros, but of this man. What did his presence mean? She wanted to turn around, to get a better look at him, but she didn’t dare.

  The supervisor knocked on Guarros’ door. They heard some shuffling then a female servant, a couple of years older than Isela, opened the door. She kept her eyes on the floor, her face flushed. Isela clenched her teeth, knowing what Guarros had been coercing her to do. At least his victims were old enough to give consent, not that it mattered. He was still a degenerate. Waves of loathing and disgust rolled off her.

  “What is it?” Guarros barked without even looking up.

  The supervisor cleared her throat. “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we had a problem with these two.”

  Guarros finished tucking in his shirt, shaking his head. “It is your job to handle the prisoners, Harriet. If you can’t manage—”

  “One of them is your servant, sir.”

  Isela cast her a hateful stare at her use of the words your servant.

  Guarros glanced up, smiling broadly. He sauntered over, shamelessly looking Isela up and down, his hands behind his back.

  “Well, well, Isela, what have you done this time? Terrorizing the newest member of our little family?” he asked, tilting his head toward the new inmate.

  “No sir,” the supervisor said, “First of all, she was late.” She gave Isela a smug look, “Yeah, I knew. She carelessly did her work, making a mess out of the kitchen. I assigned her extra duties at that point. Then she dropped an entire stack of dishes. I think she did it deliberately.”

  Guarros nodded at the supervisor to release Isela. As soon as she let go, Guarros grabbed a handful of her hair. He hauled her to him, holding her hair so tight it brought tears to her eyes.

  “Is that true, Isela?” he asked.

  “No, no, it’s not.”

  He released her so suddenly, she stumbled. “So you’re saying your accuser is a liar?”

  “No—”

  “Then you’re lying.”

  “No, I’m—”

  Reaching out, his hand as quick as a snake, he slapped Isela open handed.

  “My people do not lie to me, Isela. But you do, don’t you?”

  He turned his attention to the new inmate, who stood glowering at him.

  “What’s his story?” Guarros asked, glaring back at him.

  “He defended her,” the guard said nodding toward Isela.

  Guarros raised an eyebrow. His lips curled into an evil smile. “Really? How gallant of you...what was your name again?”

  “Brendan Malone.”

  “Well, Brendan Malone, since you’re new here, we’ll assume you’re unfamiliar with the rules. A mistake I’m sure you won’t make again.” He turned to Isela, grabbing her chin in his hand. “Watch, darling. This is because of you.”

  Guarros punched Brendan in the gut, doubling him over. He then, took Brendan’s head and slammed his face into his bent knee. Isela looked away.

  Brendan stood, struggling to breathe, his nose and mouth bleeding. He looked Guarros straight in the eye.

  “We do not interfere when another inmate or one of my servants is being disciplined. Is that understood?”

  “She didn’t do anything wrong,” Brendan replied.

  Guarros punched him in the face. Isela looked at him desperately, her eyes pleading with him to say no more. He met her gaze, nodding slightly.

  Guarros got in his face. “Are you slow, boy? I don’t care what you think. That’s why Harriet is my supervisor and you’re not. Get it? She decides who needs to be punished and who doesn’t. End of story.”

  He took a step back, clapping his hands together. “What did we learn here, boys and girls?”

  Isela resisted the urge to scream, “That you’re a filthy, heartless pig.” Instead, she answered for the two of them to spare Brendan further abuse at Guarros’ hand. “We learned to be careful and prompt when it comes to work and we don’t interfere.”

  She looked over to Brendan, giving him that same pleading glance.

  “And you, boy? Do you agree with our lovely Isela, here?” Guarros asked condescendingly.

  Brendan nodded, his eyes still locked to hers.

  Guarros clapped his hands together again and smiled. “Take him back downstairs. Leave her with me.”

  Isela’s heart sank. She’d have rather worked all day and night than to have to spend one minute alone with Guarros.

  Guarros shut the door behind the guards then turned to face her. The angry expression on his face told Isela this wasn’t over. She tried not to wince as he approached her, his fists clenched. He walked a complete circle around her, stopping in front of her.

  “You don’t think I saw that?” he hissed.

  She blinked nervously a couple of times, unsure of what he meant.

  “Oh, what? You’re going to pretend nothing’s going on?” he demanded.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Isela whispered.

  He nodded, tapping his lip, pacing back and forth in front of her. “I see. So you haven’t taken a shine to the new inmate.”

  “What?”

  “He hasn’t been here long enough for you to have screwed him.” He stopped, pointing his finger at her. “You must’ve told him you’d screw him.”

  “No, I didn’t! I don’t even know him.”

  He laughed bitterly. “You expect me to believe this young man, whom you’ve never met, just stood up for you for no reason.”

  Isela gritted her teeth. “Maybe he’s just a good guy, not like you’d know anything about that.”

  He raised his fist, pulling back his arm. Isela squeezed her eyes shut, cringing. Guarros stopped. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

  “Do you see what you do to me?” he yelled. Taking a deep breath, he pressed her against the wall. His eyes boring into hers, he spoke quietly, but in a tone that made the hairs on Isela’s neck stand on end.

  “I will not tolerate it, Isela. If you allow that man to touch you, you’ll sentence him to death. Do you understand me?”

  Isela nodded, afraid for herself, but more afraid for Brendan.

  Chapter Ten

  Mae was pacing up and down the hallway when Isela returned to her room. Mae rushed up to her, flinging her arms around her friend.

  “Omigod, omigod, omigod,” Mae chanted. “I was so scared. Everyone said you and the new boy had a problem. What did he do to you?”

  Isela hugged Mae back, shushing her, trying to get her to calm down.

  “Let’s go inside,” she said, glancing around.

  Mae followed her in, flopping down on Isela’s bed, wringing her hands. Isela sat down next to Mae.

  “Mae, I’m fine,” Isela lied.

  Her heart raced and her mouth was dry. Every time she
thought about Brendan, her mind wandered back to her visions. She felt hot all over.

  “So, tell me about the new boy,” Mae said.

  “He’s a man, Mae, not a boy.”

  Mae looked at Isela, puzzled. “Okay, he’s a man. What did he do to you?”

  “He didn’t do anything. He defended me. He stood up to the supe and told her to let me go.”

  Mae blew out a breath.

  “What?” Isela asked.

  “Um...you tell me. You had this weird, dreamy smile on your face when you said that. Are you all right?”

  Isela shrugged. “I don’t know. It was nice to have someone speak up for me for a change...Oh my God, Mae. He got his ass kicked for it. We have to find him. I need to find out where his cell is.”

  “Why?”

  Isela jumped up. “I have to get into the kitchen.”

  “No, no way. You’re in enough trouble. Why do you need to go back into the kitchen?”

  I need to get some towels...and something to clean his wounds.”

  Mae stood up. She stepped in front of Isela, grabbing her hands. “Isela,” she said softly. “Stop. What are you doing?”

  Tears filled Isela’s eyes. “I had a vision, Mae. Just like before. Red haze and everything. I couldn’t save my mother, but I will save him.”

  Mae tried to hug her but she pulled away. “Please Mae, help me. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I need you to trust me.”

  Mae nodded, dropping Isela’s hands. “I’ll go to the kitchen. You stay here. I’ll get the things you need and I’ll find out where the new bo...new man’s cell is.”

  “His name is Brendan.”

  Mae nodded again. “Stay here, Isela. I’ll be back.”

  ****

  Brendan dabbed at the cut above his eye. The prehistoric mirror in his tiny cell barely allowed him to see his face, which he guessed was a good thing based on how much it hurt. He didn’t think his ribs were broken, but they were definitely bruised.

  Nothing like drawing attention to himself on day one. “You’re supposed to be undercover, dumbass,” he said to his warped reflection. Why had he opened his mouth? He knew why. He couldn’t help himself.