Elysium

By Robin Gilbert

A badly beaten prostitute dreams of a fantasy world in which she is a princess... or is Elysia the world in which she truly belongs and her current existence a nightmare?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robin Gilbert
• Release date: Jul 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465870247

Robin Gilbert

I was born and bred in South Wales (UK) but since 2007 I have lived in Brisbane with my wife and two children. When I'm not writing or trying unsuccessfully to outwit the possums, I work as a programmer for a games company. Thank you for visiting my author page! I do hope you download and enjoy all the free stories...

Book preview

Elysium

By

Robin P Gilbert

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011, Robin P Gilbert

License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free eBook. Although this is a free eBook, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

eBooks by Robin P Gilbert

The Serendipity Trilogy

Double Negative

Single Positive

Nothing Neutral

( Forthcoming in 2012 )

More free eStories by Robin P Gilbert coming soon!

Prologue

December grey weighed heavily on the land. Nothing stirred. Afternoon living room lights shone like beacons, guiding muffled figures safely home. Beyond the town icy waves crashed and bit into blackened rocks sending plumes over the coastal road.

Where’s my girl? A yawn.

Lucy Janus remained hidden behind the bedroom curtain. She swallowed, closed her eyes, tried not to breath.

There she is! Brian Janus slipped clammy hands around her seven year old waist and tickled.

Lucy chuckled joylessly.

Good day in school?

She nodded.

Come here and tell me all about it.

She sat next to him, on the bed, mentioned something about times tables.

"You know, love, when you grow up you can be anything you want to be. Doctor. Musician. Waitress. A laugh. Lawyer. Writer. Princess! Prolonged laughter. You’ll always be my princess, love. Princess Lucy, the prettiest, cleverest, kindest... strongest, fairest... little lady in all the land."

A tear rolled down her innocent cheek as he hugged her close and pushed a thick fingered hand beneath her skirt.

Twenty years later...

Nadir

Beneath the full moon the rooftops shone like silver, the freezing puddles glistened like mercury, homeward bound commuters puffed like steam engines beneath their woollens.

A lady of the night clip-clopped along the pavement resplendent in high heels, fish nets, short skirt and fake furs. How’s it hanging, Jimmy?

Fuck off, whore! replied the bundle of rags beneath the cardboard.

She laughed. Nice to see you’re feeling better.

A car crawled alongside. An electric window whirred.

Excuse me... Excuse me! Are you...

Am I what, love? Lucy asked without turning, without stopping.

Are you... free?

She stopped, laughed, turned. Not exactly. Look, I’m on my way to work. She fished a card from her red leather handbag, handed it over. Why don’t you meet me there later? Ask for L.

The suited man accepted the card. Thanks, but... could we go somewhere now? It won’t take long. My wife’s expecting—

Lucy interrupted. Fifty and you wear a bag.

I’m sorry?

Forget it! She walked on.

No! Wait! That’s fine.

Lucy slid easily into the front seat. Drive on. Take the next left. What’s you name?

Er... Bob?

Smile. Okay, Bob. Relax! This’ll be fun. She pushed her feet and hands toward the heater, shivered, lit a cigarette.

Would you mind... only I don’t smoke and people might...

Lucy chuckled, thought, what a prick!

They drove on.

Stop here. Get in the back. She lowered the window an inch and flicked her cigarette out of the gap. Experience told her that most men liked to be dominated, and dominating them, humiliating some, even injuring a small minority made her feel... powerful. She enjoyed the power, found it addictive.

But she sensed a difference in this trick. A naivety, certainly, but a dominance too. This guy was a lawyer, a broker, a politician,