Bayou Bishops Box Set: Books 1-12

CHAPTER 11

Maggie swallowed, watching Spook leave the room. Her legs quaked with every nerve in her body. Thank God she didn’t use actual heels in her little make Spook jealous slut ruse, or she’d have broken her ankle. Or neck.

What was he up to? He was acting different. Way different. Was he calling her bluff? God, if he did, she’d die. She only expected him to be angry. But he was being…very…sexy, maybe that was the word. He was surely sexy.

Her stomach nearly emptied at remembering she’d grabbed his penis. He was supposed to stop her and didn’t. Then her stupid impulse to touch took over. It was…so big and hard and she really wanted to draw that part of him now, but she hadn’t felt enough yet. Yet? What was she thinking, he’d never let her touch his penis.

She quickly changed into pajama shorts and returned to her place at the dresser, waiting. He knocked softly on the door and she called, “Come in.” back to holding the dresser knobs behind her. He entered the room with a single kitchen chair and rope. A lot of rope.

“Sit,” he instructed, after he set the chair in the middle of the floor.

She fought not to obey the way her body loved doing with him. She still didn’t want him to know how desperate she was to please him. She felt stupid now in the pajama shorts and slutty shirt as she made her way over to the chair, realizing how bossy he always was with her. And how much she loved that. She didn’t do well at all with authority back at home. Why was it different with him? Everything about him compelled her to do whatever he wanted. She sat in the chair and looked over her shoulder at him. Maybe he was a vampire. He was very white.

“I’m going to tie you up now,” he said behind her. “Are you ready?”

She nodded then added a whispered, “Yes,” remembering to use words. Did he like the way she talked? She still wasn’t sure. “I thought you had to capture me first?” she only half joked.

“I have,” he said, carefully wrapping the rope around her waist first. She looked down when his hands moved to the front, crossing both ends between her breasts. Behind her, he pulled till her back pressed into the chair and her heart raced. He passed the rope on both shoulders next and when he pulled them taut, her breasts pushed out between the binding, making her nipples tingle clear into her clit.

He was at the front again, sliding one end of the rope ends under her left knee. As he went back behind her, he pulled it, forcing her leg open. Oh God, what was he doing? He came around the right side and looped the rope around her other knee and did the same to that leg.

Sitting there, wide open, she panted in arousal. She gasped when his soft touch moved over her upper arms, taking hold of them, and guiding them behind the chair. She felt something silky this time, wrapping her upper arms then slowly pulling till she needed to moan from her breasts pushing even more between the rope.

He left the room and she glanced over her shoulder. What was he doing? He returned and put a chair right in front of hers, making it hot between her legs just having him that close while in that position.

“All tied up and helpless,” he said after he sat. He stared at her for many seconds. “Now, what are you going to do?”

The present tense part of the question made it feel urgent, but his relaxed pose said they had all night to figure it out and her body liked that. She wanted him to do this all night. Whatever training he had, she was ready to take her time doing it. “I guess…try to get loose?”

God, he was staring at her breasts again and they ached in response.

“You can’t get loose,” he said, matter-of-factly. “Not from what I’ve done.”

Her heart hammered as she wondered why he’d tie her so she couldn’t get loose in an exercise where she was supposed to try and escape. “So what…what am I supposed to do?”

His pretty blue eyes finally left her breasts and held her gaze. “Not what you’re supposed to do but what I’m supposed to do.” He scooted his chair closer. And closer again. He stopped when his chair touched hers, his knees pushing into her open thighs with his face only a foot away.

“What are you supposed to do?” she whispered, staring at his mouth. She suddenly wanted to see his entire face. See what he hid from the world. And the scar, she needed to see that. And kiss it and taste it.

“You told me some things at our hideout…and I want to talk to you about it.”

Her stomach flipped with the sudden raise of a mental flag. “What?”

“You said you wanted to marry touch me.”

Oh God. She swallowed feeling her head nod before she could decide if she should agree.

“So…I need you to know some things.”

“Okay,” she said on a light gasp, her mouth dry.

“I want to marry touch you…more than anything in this world. That’s why I’m so angry. Because I want you…so fucking much,” he whispered, his eyes burning on her till she couldn’t breathe. Or see. She blinked away the sudden tears, needing to memorize his face while he told her this. Her stomach was sick with excitement and her chest ached as breaths shook from her.

“Me too,” she whispered.

He reached up and held her face with his warm hands and she gasped at the wonderful feeling, leaning into it. “I know you do.”

But what was he saying? Why was he telling her this? Why tie her up for this? “What…why are you saying all this?” she asked, her breaths hitching with fear of the unknown.

His thumb stroked her mouth and suddenly her lips were a primary mode of memorizing him. She gasped, kissing and tasting his thumb. “I’m sorry, I can’t…stop.”

“I don’t want you to fucking stop,” he said, letting her, watching her. “Ever.”

“What are you saying?” she gasped, opening her mouth and sucking the tip of his thumb, the pleasure between her legs a furious pounding.

“I want to marry touch you.”

“But you can’t,” she said between lustful sucks now.

He pushed his thumb in and out of her mouth, moaning. “I fucking can.”

“You can? Please,” she whispered when he pulled his hand away. “I need you to.”

“I know you do,” he said, back to stroking her face with his hands. “And I will.”

“When?” she asked, needing to get to the bottom of that right now.

“When you sign an agreement with me.”

“What…what agreement?”

He stared at her for many seconds, terrifying her.

“What agreement?” she demanded at his lowered head.

“Do you remember what happened when you were seven?” He looked up at her.

Her stupid head shook before she could think. “I don’t remember, no. But Uncle Wigs said it’s okay, that it’s normal.”

He studied her for many seconds. “I need you to remember.”

She stared at him, confused. “Why?”

He took her face in his hands and came close enough she could lean and kiss him. “Because if I’m going to marry-touch you, I have to marry touch every bit of you. There can be no dark places for demons to hide in Ma Belle Effrayer. I need you to agree to help me find these demons so we can fight them together.” Oh God his mouth was on hers.

“You’re…kissing me,” she gasped, ready to faint.

“I am,” he whispered, his fingers pressing into her face as he tasted her. “Say you will be Ma Belle Effrayer. Say you will let me marry touch every bit of you.”

“I will,” she gasped, opening her mouth as his kiss turned instantly hungry. His hands gripped her so tight now, his hot breaths reaching into her throat, “Oh God, yes, yes, I will. Every bit of me.”

She cried out when his hand yanked the material away from her breast and his mouth covered it.

“Spook! Oh my…oh my God, it’s hot!”

His hand went between her legs, fingers moving behind the material and stroking over her clit and opening. The fierce suck of his mouth on her nipple was so new and made everything combust.

He groaned and pushed his finger deep inside her as she came, his thumb against her clit. The ropes were so tight, allowing only the flick of her hips now jerking shamelessly.

Then he was kissing her again, his hand in her hair, pulling, holding her head still as he devoured her lips and tongue as if racing to eat her all up. And all she could do was cry and gasp and fight to eat him back.

When he sat back down, they were both winded. “When do I sign?” she whispered, ready to be untied so she could memorize every inch of him. “I need to…marry-touch you back,” she said, a happy laugh escaping her at the funny term that somehow became all theirs.

“You can’t marry-touch me until you sign,” he said.

“So, I’ll sign now.”

“Well…it’s not really a paper kind of contract that you’re going to sign.”

“What…other kind of signing is there?”

“I’ll untie you, but you have to agree no marry touching me till we both sign.”

“We’re both signing?”

“Yes, it’s a contract between us.”

“Okay,” she said, breathing faster. “Tell me what to do.”

“You have to orgasm again.”

Her breath shot out with the thrust of his finger inside her. “Isn’t… that marry touching?” she moaned, dizzy as she pushed her hips into his driving hunger.

“It is. But only when I fuck you with my cock is our marriage complete. Right now, I need to see you come over and over.” He swore the words right on her mouth as his fingers grazed over her nipples. God, the way he tied her made them so tight, she was ready to weep from the torment and heat. Her head fell back with moans and gasps and cries as another finger joined his first one, bringing her orgasm. “Soon, it’ll be my cock, Ma Belle Effrayer,” he said, eating up her hoarse cries. “You want that?”

“So much, please. I need to sign the contract. I’m begging you, I’ll do anything you say.”

****

Sahvrin spied the Revelator’s lil boat approaching the dock at the La Qui. He’d found out from 8-Bit that Zep was in town at Dupre’s Diner. He texted him again. Can you run down how many times Zep has visited this diner in the past six months?

“Thanks for coming,” Sahvrin said to Revelator as he tied his boat to the dock.

“All in a swamp-days’ work,” he said, hopping onto the pier, regarding the Swamp Dragon. “Haven’t ridden one of these in a while.”

Sahvrin eyed him, remembering his accident. “Is it a problem?”

He wagged his hand in the air. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

He nodded. “Good. I wanted speed.”

“Don’t blame you.”

Sahvrin felt his phone vibrate and pulled it from his jacket. I’ll run those coordinates against his tracking data for the past six weeks. That’s my limit due to data storage limitations. Give me thirty.

Sahvrin put the phone back in his pocket and set The Revelator up with a headset, explaining how they worked before hopping onto the driver seat and clicking on the com. “We ready?”

“Ten-four,” Revelator said with a thumbs up.

The fifteen minutes it took to reach the Dry Dock had Revelator looking like he’d kissed the feet of Jesus a couple times along the way. And when he was on land, he closed his eyes and muttered something, making Sahvrin chuckle and pat his back with an “Amen.”

Revelator followed him to the Black Bastard and climbed in the passenger side of the restored 1950 Chevy. “Been a while since I been in her,” he said, sliding his hand on the black leather dash. “She hasn’t aged a day.”

Sahvrin started her up and the Revelator grinned, nodding. “She’s still as sassy, I see.”

Sahvrin chuckled and revved the 350 V8 letting her clear her throat before taking off . Once on the pave, he opened her up and for the first minute they both enjoyed the roar of thunder surrounding them before he let off the gas.

“I’ll let you drive her back,” Sahvrin said.

“Now that’s the kind of payment I like,” he chuckled, flashing those perfect teeth. “What’s this I hear about your Belle Eveque and a Bat-tie?”

Sahvrin snapped a gaze at him. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Oh, it’s all over the Hatches,” he cried lightly with a grin. “T-Rooster is selling tickets and Me-Me Landry is getting the Bon Bouffes together for a cook-out. Old Man Foosay is doing a band with a dance even.”

“Tell me you’re kidding,” Sahvrin cried in disbelief.

“Nope. When they heard the Eveque’s new woman was Bat-tieing that which brought a King to his knees, well, it was like a Bat-tie between God and Satan himself.”

“This woman,” he muttered, shaking his head.

“I was hoping to hear it from the gator’s breath,” Revelator said.

“It’s true.”

He felt the man’s blue gaze on him, grin as big as can be, no doubt waiting for details. “I try not to listen to gossip,” the Revelator said, putting his arm on the door. “But rumor has it she’s Bat-tieing for all the families in the swamp.”

Sahvrin’s laugh burst out.

“No?”

“Well…” he said, realizing it was semi accurate. “Part of her win consists of Katrina writing a paper on the importance of family. And of course agreeing to do the chores on the farm kindly asked of her.”

Revelator shook his head real big as he stared out the window. “A true Belle Eveque she is. Can’t wait to see her in person.”

“You will tonight,” Sahvrin said. “Maybe I can take you see Maggie too.”

“I was out there today and talked to Spook.”

“You were?”

“Yeah, you mentioned he was watching her so I figured I’d go see what I could see. Was about to meet her when I got your text.”

“Ah. So you didn’t?”

“Nah. But…wasn’t time, either.”

Sahvrin glanced at him a few times. “How was Spook?” he wondered, hoping he’d divulge what he saw.

Revelator let go a low chuckle. “Worried to see me at first. Till I saw what was between them.”

“Him and Maggie?”

“I don’t like to tell secrets but since you’re The Eveque, you have a right to know.”

“I already do, he told me.”

He let out a breath and nod. “He’s a good man,” he muttered. “Happy to see what I did. Just wished I’d been able to see her.”

“Why do you think it wasn’t time?”

He gave a grave, half head shake. “Not real sure,” he said, sounding a little perturbed. “Those two women have something fascinating to be seen and it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had my hands slapped.”

What the hell did that mean? “Not sure I understand.”

“Like it’s tellin me wait. For something, or some reason.”

Sahvrin nodded, still not understanding as he circled the block in town and parked on the backside of Dupre’s Diner.

“If he’s here, he didn’t come on his bike,” Revelator said.

“Didn’t see it either.” Sahvrin put the truck in park and pulled his phone out. “8-Bit’s checking to see how often he’s been here in the past six weeks.”

“You think he’s bouncing from here?”

Sahvrin put his phone on the seat, looking around. “Not sure.” He picked his phone back up and called 8-Bit.

“Almost done,” he answered.

“Tell me where Luseah is at the moment.”

“Hold.”

Sahvrin shook his head, not liking the feeling in his gut.

“Says she’s at the Library.”

“Headed there now.” Sahvrin started the truck.

“She in town?” Revelator wondered.

“Says she’s at the library.”

“Hmmm, she ain’t there,” he said.

Fuck. “I’ll double check just to say I did.”

“Understand.”

Revelator was right, she wasn’t there. He phoned 8-Bit. “She ain’t here.”

“She shed it then.”

Sahvrin and Revelator walked around the library, looking. At the sure steps of the Revelator, he followed to the back section. “I’m with The Revelator. We’re looking.”

“It’s there.”

The Revelator turned, handing Luseah’s bracelet to him still staring at the books, angling his head.

He pulled one out, then presented it to Sahvrin.

“Romeo and Juliette.”

“Forbidden romance,” Revelator muttered, sliding the book back in, his head slowly shaking. “Foolish, foolish child.” He met Sahvrin’s gaze with his own suddenly dark one. “Zep’s not at the diner either.”

A cold fear surged up his spine. “Tell me what you’re seeing Revelator.”

“Nothing good, Eveque.”

“Where the fuck are they?”

“I don’t know yet,” the Revelator muttered, his tone darkening. “Let’s drive.” The man’s coat flew with his one-eighty spin in the opposite direction.

“Revelator, if you see something I need to know before I get to it, you’ll tell me,” Sahvrin warned as he turned the engine.

“I will if I see it. Remember the word I gave you, son. You need to think before you act, you understand?”

“I do understand,” he said, throwing rocks as the Black Bastard tore out the parking lot. “But you had better get ready to stay my blood-thirsty hand, Revelator, I fucking beg you.”

“God’ll have to see us through on this one, Eveque,” he muttered like he needed the same help. “Go left,” he directed at the last second.

Sahvrin took the turn hard.

“All the way down,” he directed. “We’re close.”

Sahvrin looked around at the dilapidated neighborhood, his blood burning hotter.

“Another left,” he said, pointing. “Again, all the way down.”

“Better not be Bastards and Bitches,” Sahvrin muttered.

“Take a right here.”

Sahvrin took another hard right, not slowing down.

“Bastards and Bitches it is,” Revelator announced in a low tone.

That motherfucker. Sahvrin slowed as they neared.

“Park here,” Revelator instructed with rapid pointing.

Sahvrin hit the brakes and pulled off the road. “What you seeing?” he asked, shutting the truck off and opening the glove box.

“Son, I wouldn’t do that,” Revelator said when he pulled his Judge out.

He opened the door and moved the seat back, digging out his Bishop coat and belt, strapping it on tight while searching for bullets next.

“We’re not sure what’s here,” Revelator said while Sahvrin steadied his breathing as he loaded his gun then filled his belt pouch with spare bullets.

“I think we know exactly what’s here.” He slapped the chamber shut and shoved the gun in the holster, then spied his knife and added it to his belt.

“Give me a minute Eveque, let me see what I can see,” he half begged as Sahvrin put on his hat.

“Two minutes Revelator. Then I’m going in. You can come if you want, or you can stay.”

“I’m coming,” he assured.

“Good. Will be me, you, Jesus and The Judge then.”

“Stop,” Revelator ordered, grabbing his shoulder.

Sahvrin regarded the freaky look on his face. Closed eyes and slow nods with that eerie smile, just like when he shook your hand and read your dirty soul.

He felt his phone vibrate and pulled it out, opening 8-Bit’s message. Only seeing four times.

Sahvrin texted him. The Revelator led us to Bastards and Bitches. Get The Twelve and their Hatchmen to the Land Hatches right away. Luseah and Zep are here. If I find what I think I will, I’m going in and taking prisoners, dead or alive.

I’ll sound The Reveille Alarm. Hold tight, Mah Eveque.

“Zeps here,” Revelator suddenly said. “But he’s not in the dark.”

“What does that mean?”

“He’s not part of the evil I’m seeing.”

“What is he part of?”

“I’m not sure. But you should ask him,” he said, nodding at his phone. “See what he tells you.”

Sahvrin opened his chat, not wanting to call. Where you at? Need to talk to you about Luseah.

He paced a little while the Revelator gazed at the run-down building. “I need to get closer.”

“Me too,” Sahvrin said, ready to get a lot closer.

Standing at the side of the building, Revelator nodded, winded. “Luseah’s in trouble. Pretty sure Zep is too. What’s the plan?”

“8-Bit is sounding the Reveille Alarm and sending The Twelve and their Hatchmen.”

“I don’t think we can wait, as much as I want to,” Revelator said.

He looked for anything on his phone from Zep then let 8-Bit know he couldn’t wait. He nodded at Revelator as he slid his phone in his pocket and cocked his Judge. “How about you stay out here.”

His head shook. “Never.” He reached behind him and pulled out a huge knife.

Sahvrin eyed it. “Nice blade.”

“Cuts real nice too.”

No doubt. “Bullets first, blades second,” Sahvrin said, making his way to the nearest window for a peek. Tables, chairs, bodies... all sitting or standing, some dancing. He passed the window and headed to the rear, stopping at the corner while trying to hear around the music and human racket.

Revelator reached over his shoulder and pointed at the wall they stood next to. “She’s in here. Not alone.” Sahvrin glanced over his shoulder, finding his eyes closed. “Three...six.”

“Three or six what?”

“Three in trouble. Six in the room.”

“Zep?”

He nodded.

Sahvrin shot a glance around the corner and pulled back with the mental snapshot. He flashed five fingers to the Revelator who nodded. “I have a sermon to preach,” he muttered, stepping around him. “You get inside while I do.”

He’d used his seeing tone and Sahvrin let him go, watching him walk up to the group near the door.

“Evening my wayward sons,” he announced. “I have a message from the Lord for each of you.”

Sahvrin made his move, casually heading to the back door.

“Hey, that’s not an entrance,” one called.

Grunts and half cries followed the distinct slurp of knife stabs. At the door, Sahvrin glanced over his shoulder, finding all the men on the ground and The Revelator wiping his blade on one before making his way to him.

“We need to hurry,” Revelator muttered, adding another chill to his spine.

Again he went ahead of Sahvrin. “Scuse us, we need to use the restroom,” he muttered to the men guarding the door on the left.

“This ain’t it. Keep moving.”

Sahvrin quietly holstered his Judge and drew his knife behind Revelator.

“I was told this was the pisser.”

“You were told wrong.”

At the first grunt, Sahvrin stepped around Revelator and plunged his blade into the gut of the second man, holding a hand over his mouth as he guided his body to the floor before dragging him out of the way.

Back at the door, he eyed Revelator next to him who whispered, “Let the Lord guide,” with a nod.

Sahvrin again traded weapons, gripping the butt of his Judge tight while carefully turning the knob. Unlocked.

He threw open the door and aimed the Judge at the head of the first dude as Revelator’s knife flew, embedding into the arm of someone gripping the head of one of three hostages.

“Tell em’ to back up to the wall with their hands up or I shatter your skull,” Sahvrin ordered the man in the long black cloak now slowly raising his hands and muttering something in another language.

“Fucking English,” Sahvrin barked.

“They speak in the devil’s tongue,” Revelator said, aiming a second knife at the third man. “They’re from the Noctambule.”

Sahvrin’s blood froze at that name. “Luseah, you okay baby?”

She nodded, letting out a sob. “I’m so sorry.”

“Revelator, untie her and use the rope to secure the one my gun is on then put him in her chair” He eyed Zep. Fuck, he’d been worked over good. “Zep? Can you talk?”

He nodded his lowered head.

“What’s going on?”

“Luseah’s… been secretly dating the son of this man on my left.” He raised his head and Sahvrin’s stomach burned at seeing both his eyes swollen shut and his mouth lopsided, explaining his slurred speech. “Somehow they found out where she came from and… these freaks wanted her boyfriend to turn her over to them. The boy refused and this motherfucker on my left decided to sacrifice Luseah to protect his son.” He gave a winded chuckle. “But we both know devils don’t deal,” Zep said, spitting a mouthful of blood at the man.

Sahvrin caught the smirk of the one Revelator was tying and he walked over and slammed the butt of his gun into his forehead. “You won’t have a face to smirk with when I’m done with you,” he promised before getting back to Zep. “Why didn’t you fucking tell me?”

“Because…they came to me…to collect.”

“Collect what?”

“On a deal I made way back when.”

“What fucking deal you talking about?”

He shook his head barely. “I never told anybody. I was captured during that war. By one of the leaders. He let me live if I swore to be a link between the worlds.” He dropped his head and shook it. “I was scared,” he muttered. “I told him I would do it. Then I never heard anything from anybody all these years till right before…recent events. I was trying to find leverage is all,” he lifted his head, struggling to peer at him. “If I told…they said they’d kill our family. I was gonna tell, I just…wanted to find out what the fuck first.”

Zep would”ve been fourteen at that time, he realized. “Untie him and use the rope for the other two if you can.”

“I surely can,” Revelator said, like he’d been asked to slice bread for tea.

“Who are you?” Sahvrin asked the other one tied.

“Name’s Gordan. With the Booyies. We don’t have no beef with the Bishops. If I had realized that’s who she was, I wouldn’t have done what I did, I swear.”

“He tells the truth,” Revelator muttered.

“I do,” the man assured.

Sahvrin put the barrel of his Judge to his forehead. “Your honesty just testified against your guilty soul. You’ll face the Auditors and have the privilege to roll The Judgment Dice.”

“Dad, please,” Luseah gasped. “That’s his father.”

His heart clenched at the endearing title she’d called him once upon a time as he slid his gaze to her. “And you”re my little girl. But you”re begging the wrong father on this one.”

“Zep, sit on that door, will you?” Sahvrin used his knife to cut the shirt off one of the men. “Revelator, gag him. He’ll be our messenger. Gonna write a quick letter to their master.”

When the demon was gagged, he began carving his note along his chest, wiping the blood as he went. After completing the greeting, he straightened. “Dear Fucking Devil.” He looked at Revelator. “What do you think we should say?”

He stood, contemplating. “We can start by letting them know we have whoever this one is,” he gestured to the man in the black cloak. “Not sure how prominent he is.” Revelator turned to the other man. “Who might this man be?”

“You can ask me,” the man muttered, getting Revelator’s “shhhhh demon.”

Sahvrin punched him in the nose when he rolled his eyes.

“He’s Calyste,” the man said to Revelator.

“And how important is Calyste to the gang?” Revelator asked, kneeling next to him. “Speak truthfully,” he warned.

“He’s…not so important.”

He looked up at Sahvrin. “His lies are wrapped in a dark light.”

“Gag him,” Sahvrin said.

Revelator looked around for something.

“Zep,” Revelator said. “Might I borrow your sock?”

After removing it, he tossed it to Revelator who promptly stuffed it in his mouth.

Sahvrin plunged his knife into his leg, his muffled scream and thrashing feeding his lust for vengeance against these evil fucks. “Give him a minute and ask him again.”

He got back to his letter, deciding on what he wanted to say. You fight a losing war. The dark can’t hide in the light. I will always find you.

The Bishop

He added a cross next to his name like an exclamation mark then eyed the one he’d used as a notepad, tapping his face. “I’m mildly impressed you only pissed in your pants for that. Your master will be proud, I’m sure.”

“Let’s try that again,” Revelator nearly cooed as he worked the sock out of the dude’s mouth. “What’s Calyste to the gang?”

“He-he-he-he-s number six,” the man finally managed.

Sahvrin punched Calyste twice in the mouth at the first utter of his bullshit in another language. “Zep, give me your other sock.”

“Number six of what?” Revelator asked. “Of seven? Twelve? A hundred?”

“I’ll do it,” Luseah whispered, kneeling next to Zep and pulling off his boot.

“Toss it here,” Sahvrin instructed next to his messenger boy with his knife, waiting for the rest of his message.

“Of thousands,” he strained, beginning to laugh.

“Gag that motherfucker,” Sahvrin ordered. Revelator barely managed to stuff his mouth again as he plunged the knife into his other leg, clear to the chair. “So what you’re saying is number six here is just a little peon. Useless. Disposable. What about you, what number are you? Give him a few more seconds,” Sahvrin muttered, eying the terrified father, wanting to beat the evil right out of him.

“Alright, son,” Revelator cooed once more, working the gag out. His shuddered breaths hitched with guttural groans. “Now we know covens can have many members but what’s the number of Calyste direct family?”

“Th-thirteen.”

Revelator nodded. “He speaks the truth.”

“So you were halfway up the ladder,” Sahvrin said to Calyste. “How many girls you have to rape and kill to get there?”

The man began to laugh before looking up at Sahvrin. “More…than I can count.”

Sahvrin”s fury unleashed, and he spent a solid minute letting him taste it. His fists burned and bled as he beat him, knocking him and the chair over several times and jerking it back up. He finally shoved it against a wall then got back to it, letting Beth’s bloodied face cycle through his head.

He felt a tug on his shoulder and turned. “He’s gone,” Revelator said.

Sahvrin gasped air into his burning lungs, glancing down at his bloodied knife then at the mutilated flesh hanging sideways in the chair.

He turned at hearing sobbing, finding Luseah’s face in Zep’s chest, his hand hiding the sight of him losing his fucking shit.

“You heard him,” Sahvrin said, heaving. “You fucking heard what he said.”

They all nodded, even the father.

Sahvrin dropped his head and closed his eyes, still winded.

“What’s that?” Luseah whispered at the sound of thunderous pops getting louder.

“The Twelve are here.” He looked at Revelator. “We’ll have our messenger dropped off on the long bridge. The other one goes to the Weigh Station.”

“You got it, Boss,” he said, walking up to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. Sahvrin braced for whatever he might say but he only patted him then got busy with their prisoners.

The sound of twelve Land Dragons announced their presence outside the building, shaking the walls and air. Sahvrin went to Zep and helped him to his feet.

“You okay, bro?” He rubbed the back of his lowered head and gave his shoulder a squeeze.

“I’ll live.” He looked at Luseah. “You alright, sha?”

She nodded, hugging him. “I’m sorry Uncle Zep.”

He patted her. “You alright. That’s all that matters.”

Sahvrin felt dirty for the thoughts he’d had about his brother now. A loud knock shook the door. “Who is it?” Sahvrin called.

“Big Bad Wolf come to blow your house down.”

“Hurricane,” he muttered, opening the door and letting him in.

“Holy fuck,” he said at seeing Zep, then turned. “Double holy fuck,” he said at the dude covered in blood in the corner. “And what kind of holy fuck is this?”

“He”s our Messenger,” he said, still catching his breath. “He gets dropped off on the long bridge. That one gets brought to the Weigh Station.”

“And this one?” he said, pointing at the father.

“He goes to the Weigh Station too.”

“Revelator,” Hurricane greeted with a salute as he got the father ready to be moved.

“How’s it going, Pusher?” Revelator asked, standing The Messenger up.

“Can’t complain,” he said, eying the one dude’s legs. “Damn. Gunshot or knife?”

“Knife,” Revelator said as Sahvrin pulled Luseah into a hug.

“You alright?” he whispered at her ear, hating to ask but needing to. “They do anything to you?”

She shook her head. “Slapped me a couple of times.”

She broke down again and he shhh’d her while leading her out the room. Fuck, what a night it turned out to be.