and dash for the portal when Sebastian unexpectedly stepped before the destination with a chunk of bread and cheese in his hand. With a look of startled surprise, he took in the sight of Tanya and instantly dropped his basic fare before bolting forward at her.
Tanya speedily retreated with a squeak of shock. She darted down the passage to her side and hoped that she would not stumble into a dead end. She had little knowledge of this area of the house because her confinement had kept her largely below ground. The only times she had been up here was when she was handcuffed and on a leash and more often than not blindfolded and gagged as well.
Her nemesis was gaining rapidly as she dashed onward. This caused her to risk ducking into an open room to gain a few seconds lead. With a jerk of her body, Tanya flung herself aside and into a lounge. As she had hoped, her pursuer ran passed on his momentum.
Sebastian cursed vividly and skidded to a halt. He then turned and retraced his steps to continue the chase. Tanya sprinted for the nearest portal, threw it open and ran into the spacious dining room.
Windows permitted sunlight to stream in through the opposite wall. The clatter of horses and feet upon the street outside betrayed that the other exit on the far right wall could only lead to a front door.
Tanya charged forward without delay and reached out for the doorknob. The portal swung inward before she even made contact and the oak surface sharply greeted her front. A flash of white accompanied a wave of pain, which hurled her back due to the strike.
Tanya slammed against the table. The force of the connection caused her to tumble onward over the polished surface until her velocity was wholly spent. As she rolled across the tabletop and fell with a harsh thud onto the floor opposite, she saw Sebastian occupying the open doorway. Having declined the continuation of the hunt, he had cut her off and blocked her only route out.
An attempt to move, failed. Tanya's body was stunned by the fall. With a hiss of applied willpower, she made a more vehement demand of her frame and had it answer through sheer tenacity. Tanya rose awkwardly and faced her enemy across the table. His face was red and vexed at this unexpected problem in the otherwise smooth and profitable running of his operation.
"I'll whip you till I see bone, you little slut. Now get over here before I get really annoyed," he demanded.
Sebastian's words were as commanding as they were venomous and Tanya did not move. Her heart was racing. Her breath rushed in and out while she darted her gaze around and tried to figure out what to do.
"Tanya, please. Let's talk about this calmly. Come here. I promise I won't hurt you," he said sweetly.
Sebastian moved toward the table with a broad saccharin smile upon his face. Tanya backed up a little until her back brushed the wall. She knew him too well and refused to accept his transparent lie. He had trapped her once with that ruse and she was certainly not going to let him snare into it again.
"Dammit, you whore!" he roared and slammed his fist on the table. "Get your arse here now before I skin you alive!"
The prospect of such a fate sealed her decision and so, with a sudden lurch, Tanya streaked for the windows.
Sebastian launched forward. The man threw himself onto the table with arms outstretched so he could try to catch her. His fingers brushed her commandeered clothes but failed to snag her.
Tanya cast her arms up and did not slow down. She launched herself into the air just before she struck the glass and her arms erupted with fierce heat. The shattering of the panes and the lacerations it caused preceded a similar slicing of her body. The fine clothing she had stolen provided little protection from the trauma.
For a moment, Tanya felt the whistle of wind upon her airborne frame, followed by the brutal strike of cobblestones as she hit the street, bounced, and then tumbled to a halt.
The thunder of hooves filled
Tanya speedily retreated with a squeak of shock. She darted down the passage to her side and hoped that she would not stumble into a dead end. She had little knowledge of this area of the house because her confinement had kept her largely below ground. The only times she had been up here was when she was handcuffed and on a leash and more often than not blindfolded and gagged as well.
Her nemesis was gaining rapidly as she dashed onward. This caused her to risk ducking into an open room to gain a few seconds lead. With a jerk of her body, Tanya flung herself aside and into a lounge. As she had hoped, her pursuer ran passed on his momentum.
Sebastian cursed vividly and skidded to a halt. He then turned and retraced his steps to continue the chase. Tanya sprinted for the nearest portal, threw it open and ran into the spacious dining room.
Windows permitted sunlight to stream in through the opposite wall. The clatter of horses and feet upon the street outside betrayed that the other exit on the far right wall could only lead to a front door.
Tanya charged forward without delay and reached out for the doorknob. The portal swung inward before she even made contact and the oak surface sharply greeted her front. A flash of white accompanied a wave of pain, which hurled her back due to the strike.
Tanya slammed against the table. The force of the connection caused her to tumble onward over the polished surface until her velocity was wholly spent. As she rolled across the tabletop and fell with a harsh thud onto the floor opposite, she saw Sebastian occupying the open doorway. Having declined the continuation of the hunt, he had cut her off and blocked her only route out.
An attempt to move, failed. Tanya's body was stunned by the fall. With a hiss of applied willpower, she made a more vehement demand of her frame and had it answer through sheer tenacity. Tanya rose awkwardly and faced her enemy across the table. His face was red and vexed at this unexpected problem in the otherwise smooth and profitable running of his operation.
"I'll whip you till I see bone, you little slut. Now get over here before I get really annoyed," he demanded.
Sebastian's words were as commanding as they were venomous and Tanya did not move. Her heart was racing. Her breath rushed in and out while she darted her gaze around and tried to figure out what to do.
"Tanya, please. Let's talk about this calmly. Come here. I promise I won't hurt you," he said sweetly.
Sebastian moved toward the table with a broad saccharin smile upon his face. Tanya backed up a little until her back brushed the wall. She knew him too well and refused to accept his transparent lie. He had trapped her once with that ruse and she was certainly not going to let him snare into it again.
"Dammit, you whore!" he roared and slammed his fist on the table. "Get your arse here now before I skin you alive!"
The prospect of such a fate sealed her decision and so, with a sudden lurch, Tanya streaked for the windows.
Sebastian launched forward. The man threw himself onto the table with arms outstretched so he could try to catch her. His fingers brushed her commandeered clothes but failed to snag her.
Tanya cast her arms up and did not slow down. She launched herself into the air just before she struck the glass and her arms erupted with fierce heat. The shattering of the panes and the lacerations it caused preceded a similar slicing of her body. The fine clothing she had stolen provided little protection from the trauma.
For a moment, Tanya felt the whistle of wind upon her airborne frame, followed by the brutal strike of cobblestones as she hit the street, bounced, and then tumbled to a halt.
The thunder of hooves filled
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