Looking at her now, it would be a good question as to how she'd survived as long as she had. But that was just it. So many years of restraint, years of biting her tongue because she had to. It was like a floodgate had opened and taken with it common sense. She had learned to shut up far earlier when she was younger. Always smiled and nodded even when she wanted to rail against the older man. She had fought back on more than one occasion and the end result was always the same.
Like it was now. But sometimes you just had to fight or lose yourself with your acquiescence.
Eliina's eyes squeezed shut as his hand curled around her throat and propelled her upward. She fought against panic as she felt her air restricted. Such lack of control triggered every panic element in her body, making air that much harder to come by. She tried to remain still knowing that struggling would only make it worse.
If she could have taken in a deep breath of relief when she was finally lowered, just close enough for her toes to reach she would have. One small bit of purchase, not enough but it was something. Anything was taken as he moved in so close, bearing everything that she knew could harm her. Harm her in ways she didn't like to remember. Her eyes squeezed shut, maybe she was just a coward underneath it all. But if he were going to do more she just didn't want to see it. What happened happened she knew she was powerless anymore.
His words stung, her eyes squeezing impossibly shut. They hit down to her very quick re-hashing memories that she so desperately wanted to forget. She took his advice for the first time that night and did as he requested. Her head nodded slowly, despite the pain that was rapidly growing throughout her head. She understood. She might hate it, but she understood.