7. Sin
Chapter 7
Sin
26 weeks
I take another drink straight from the bottle of bourbon, not wanting to have to pour another glass. I’m covered in blood from my last victims, and I don’t care. I’m sitting in the library surrounded by all the books that Savvy has filled this room with, listening to the last playlist she made, My Darkness. It’s as if she knew something bad was coming and made a playlist for me. To help me get through it.
I didn’t even realize she had made another playlist until this morning when I logged into YouTube Music on the TV in the library. I’ve had it playing on repeat all day since Joe figured out it was new, and that maybe it’s her only way to communicate with us, hoping we would find it. Since we figured that out, I have been listening non-stop, hoping for hints or clues as to where she is.
She always made playlists for her moods. “Echo”, by Jason Walker fills the room, surrounding me with the warmth of something from Savvy. I let the tears fall knowing she is in more agony than I am because she has no one. I have our friends, but I can’t seem to allow myself to lean on them. I’m weak and I can’t feel anything but pain and sadness. I need to feel my angel again, to hear her voice, and hold her in my arms. To know she is safe.
I get up and walk over to Savvy’s favorite chair, I pick up the light blue knitted blanket that she loves so much and hold it up to my nose, breathing her in.
“Love You To Death,” by Chord Overstreet fills the space and I can’t take it. I look up to the ceiling and hit my knees in front of the fireplace, clutching the blanket for dear life.
“Please bring her back to me, I’ll do anything. What do I have to do to get her back? Please!” I pray and beg God for the answers that never seem to come.
A hand is softly placed on my shoulder, “We will find her,” Charlie says softly. “Come on, you need to get cleaned up and get some sleep. Its two thirty in the morning and I just got Morgan Rose put back down for the night.”
3 days ago
“Savvy is supposed to be with me! This isn’t right!” Cami screams and cries through the pain of another contraction as Charlie and Abby try to soothe her and get her to breathe. Abby and Cami have become closer since Savvy has been gone and Jill just keeps to herself most of the time. She is refusing to go into the room while Cami is in labor. She figured out that delivering babies wasn’t her thing while she was in clinicals. She doesn’t even know if she wants kids now and that is driving Joe crazy. They have been fighting a lot lately but I’m sure it’s just due to her having to be couped up in this house. He is still pissed that she keeps postponing their wedding date. It’s like she is avoiding marrying him altogether.
“Chamomile, calm down and breathe my precious girl. Savvy is with you in spirit. Think of her and her strength, she will help you get through.” I hear Rose tell her daughter and can’t help but break a little. Cami is Savvy’s best friend, and they are more like sisters most days than best friends. It’s rare when they don’t spend all of their free time together. Rose had been spending a lot of time with Savvy as well. She told Savvy she is a natural witch and just has to look deep for her hidden talents. I never discouraged her because it made her happy and who am I to tell her what to believe in. Rose had become another mother figure to Savvy, and I loved her for it.
“It’s almost time, she is dilated to a 10 and ready to push, help get her into the tub with Charlie.” Rose orders. I kept my head down and waited for instruction, promising I would help. I move over to Cami and help Charlie carry her to the tub, sitting her in the warm water in front of Charlie so that he can deliver their little girl. Once she is comfortable and I’m no longer needed I exit their bathroom with tears in my eyes knowing this is exactly how Savvy wants to deliver our son. I sit in their bedroom until I hear the cries of their daughter and go back down to the caves where I have three naked men hanging in the web I decided to weave like Savvy and the girls did with Bash. The guys already questioned them and got a lot of the same shit I already knew. Queen Fiona, Boudreaux, Bash, my dad, and Charlotte keep being brought up and I don’t know what to make of it. I guess I can go let my frustrations out on the assholes who work for the Queen. At least I know if I keep killing them, I will eventually get to who I’m looking for.
I crawl up between Savvy’s legs as she sleeps, spreading her thighs wide for me. I love that she always sleeps naked, ready for me to take her body any way I choose. This is her favorite way to be woken up. I delve my tongue in her tight cunt before licking her soft pussy up to her clit. She squirms, moaning my name. I feel her fingers slide into my hair gripping it as she holds my face in her pussy as she grinds into it. I slide two fingers into her making her moan as I pick up the pace.
“Sin. Please. I need you.” She pleads.
I pepper her body with soft kisses as I make my way up to her mouth. I capture her lips with mine as I slide my dick into her soaked pussy. “Fuck, angel, such a good girl, telling me what you want.” I praise her. I love the feeling of her hands gripping my ass pulling me in deeper. Our moans fill the room and are gone just as quickly as I wake up drenched in sweat and panting to the ringing of my phone. My eyes refuse to open due to the mounting throb in my head. I roll over trying to find it on the nightstand in the dark and answer without looking at who is calling.
“What?” My voice is dry and hoarse, I don’t even recognize it.
“Well, that’s no way to greet me when I call to give you an update about your wife and precious baby boy.” Everything registers at once and I sit up abruptly.
“I’m sorry, good fucking morning. Is that better.” The words spill out before I can stop myself.
“Not really, but I suppose I’ll let it slide this once. I know you are under a lot of pressure and are going insane wanting to know about your Savvy girl. My guys keep falling off the face of the earth. You have been a busy boy taking out your aggression. Figured it’s time I throw you a bone.” She chastises.
“I want to speak to my wife. How do I know she is still alive? You haven’t given me anything, but your bitch boys have. Queen Fiona.”
“You still haven’t figured out the most important piece of the puzzle. All the hints I knew you would get out of the idiots I have working for me and the ones that I have given you. I’m disappointed to say the least. I’ll be having dinner with Savvy again tonight. I’ll arrange a call this evening around seven. Try not to be so hateful when you answer, Savannah has been a bit hormonal, and I will not have you upsetting her, it’s not good for baby Kohl.” She spits out coldly and hangs up.
Baby Kohl?
Is that what Savvy has chosen for our son’s name or is this just another way for the she devil to fuck with me? I decide Savvy chose it because she loves how one of her favorite characters grew because of the love he had for the woman he loved. I had my heart set on naming him Elijah, probably for some of the same reasons, but if my angel has chosen a name through all of this, then I will honor whatever she wants.
She doesn’t want her to be upset. Maybe the stupid fucking bitch shouldn’t have taken her from her home and family.
What the hell?
I get up and head for the shower, my dick still painfully hard from dreaming of my reason for breathing. It finally registers that I’m going to get to hear her voice tonight. I have been a mess. She isn’t hurting her. That is the one thing I have to hold onto. I think of Savvy saying the name Kohl instead of the haunting voice that just told me what my son’s name will be. I refuse to let that be the first memory of hearing his name.
I turn the shower on and undress while still trying to remember everything she said. My phone vibrates on the counter and my eyes fill with tears as I look at a picture of Savvy standing next to a beautiful spotted horse as she brushes it. She is smiling at the camera. Her eyes show it’s not real. She is smiling and giving it her best shot, but I know how her eyes squint when it’s genuine. This is an appeasing smile. Her skin looks like it’s practically glowing and her tiny bump is now huge. She looks so beautiful. I can’t take my eyes off of her.
My phone vibrates again showing me at the top of the screen another photo has come in. I click back and tap the picture to make it bigger. Savvy is with a young girl who looks just like her, but much younger. Her long straight black hair makes her look more like Charlotte did when she was a teenager. They are side by side with Savvy’s arm around the girl while the girl’s hand lays on Savvy’s belly. Jesus Christ, who is she?
The background is nothing but woods behind the girls. Savvy is smiling in this picture, a genuine smile. That’s my angel. The blue sweater she wears makes her eyes pop. She has her hair down and curly with minimal makeup. I let out a breath, put my phone back on the sink, get in the shower, and lay down, letting all the shower heads hit me at once. I lay there not allowing myself to break, but soak up the pain, and bury it deep, just like I did when Lottie died. I think of nothing but blood. The blood of whoever took her. The blood of who is keeping her. The blood of anyone who has touched her.
Nothing matters until I have her in my arms again.
I get up and finish showering, watching the blood of my victims from last night run down the drain, allowing myself to just breathe knowing she is okay. That is what I have to hold onto now.
I start getting dressed when I see my phone has another message.
Unknown: Jackson Square on the benches in front of the cathedral at seven a.m. You get to spend the day with someone important who can give you answers. Don’t be late. Come alone. Don’t make me hurt someone I have grown to care for.
It’s almost six-thirty. I head out of our balcony doors and take the stairs to the courtyard. No one is out here yet; breakfast is at eight a.m. sharp every day. The girls like the structure with the new baby and them not being able to leave the compound. They are starting to go stir crazy, and I get it. I continuously have to remind them that Savvy is in the same situation alone and they can suck it up unless they want to join her. Harsh but warranted. They usually shut up pretty quick after that and just try to keep mealtimes as scheduled so everyone eats together at least. Other than mealtimes, everyone just does their own thing. Usually on their phones. I head out to the back gate where I only stationed one guard. He is the easiest to get by just saying I’m doing my rounds, making sure everyone is alert, and not get stopped for bullshit.
I go through without a word and just eye him. He is the most alert motherfucker on the planet and says nothing but Sir. I go out and take a left towards the Cathedral. I’m sure Charlie will let everyone know I’m sleeping off a hangover after last night. They won’t notice I’m gone until noon. Even then I’m sure they will be thankful not to have to deal with my attitude.
I’m in front of the church doors just before six-forty-five. I grab the handle to the door and contemplate going in, but when I think about the last time I set foot in there, I let my hand fall, remembering the day I found my angel. She isn’t in there so what’s the point? I turn around and see the girl from the picture with Savvy taking a seat on the bench. She looks at me and waves me over. I take my time, taking in the tiny girl. The queen sent a child to do her dirty work.
I finally sit next to her and look straight at the cathedral, not able to look at this little girl, who looks too much like Savvy and Charlotte.
“Who are you?” I ask with venom in my tone.
“That depends. Did you knock up my mother when she was fifteen or did your brother? The details are sketchy and that’s the only question I have for you since I know you didn’t know about me.” She chuckles slightly when she is finished, I’m sure, at the look on my face.
“Pick your chin up off the floor, daddy, it’s a girl.” Her smile looks almost evil after the words fly out of her mouth.
“I don’t know what you have been told, but I would never have had sex with a fifteen-year-old. Now who the fuck are you?” I try to keep my voice steady but I’m starting to get really pissed.
“Wanna bet? If we took a paternity test right now it would show you are my father regardless. That’s how twins work. So, Sebastian was the right Deveraux. Too bad he is already dead. I never really got to know him. So, Uncle Sin, Auntie Savvy says you know where to get the best coffee and food in town. Wanna spend the day getting to know me, or would you rather go home and wallow in the fact that you still have no idea who you are dealing with. I have been given strict instructions only to let you know what the queen wants you to know. First lesson, the queen gets what she wants, the cost be damned.” This girl is acting like this is all completely normal.
I stop and think about when Lottie was about sixteen and her parents made her go to boarding school for a year after she got caught partying. We didn’t get to talk to her the whole time she was gone, and she never came home on breaks. She was different when she came back, her spark was gone. That’s when the ruthless girl who never wanted to be held came to be. She was docile and waited for instructions on what and who to be.
I look at the girl knowing it’s true. She looks just like her mother; the difference is she still has a spark; way more than her mother ever did.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. How about that breakfast?” I ask her, hoping to at least find out more about Savvy. She has been spending time with her. She is my niece. I thought that I was Charlotte’s first, when she was eighteen.When she told me she was ready.
“My name is Magnolia June. You can call me MJ. I have never liked my name. Unfortunately, it’s the one thing about my upbringing that Fiona decided she would let my mom have. I chose to go by my initials when I started school at the age of four. Mark would take me sometimes and scare any of the little kids that messed with me until we convinced Fiona to let me be home schooled when I was twelve. Can we have beignets and coffee at Café Du Monde? Savvy said it’s to die for and I promised her I would have the guys take her some home.” Her bright blue eyes look into mine and I can’t tell her no. Charlotte always sang a song about a little dark-haired beauty named Magnolia June. She said she was the most beautiful little girl in the world. What were the words?
“What makes the queen think that I won’t take you and hold you hostage to get Savvy back? Or follow you back where you came from to find my girl?” I ask as I get up and head towards the river.
“What makes you think that you wouldn’t be squashed the moment you tried. I have people spread out all around us. We could take you and anyone else I saw fit. If we wanted to. This is a game, play or not, it will have the same outcome regardless.” She moves to walk past me with a snide smile. I grab her by her throat, bringing my face closer to hers, “they aren’t fast enough to save you little girl, so watch your mouth.” I let go and watch as her smile widens.
“You have a pussy grip. Savvy said you don’t have it in you to be a Dom, she’s right.” She grabs my hand and places it back around her throat standing on her tiptoes trying to get in my face, “Listen, I have had men bigger, and much meaner than you, punish me for the things that my father and mother did since I can remember. My entire life has been this right here, so do your worst and it still won’t come close, you pansey ass bitch.” She makes her point and I back down first. This is my niece and I saw that Savvy cared for her in the picture. She is only doing what she is told. She is as much Savvy’s niece as she is mine and a victim. She needs help.
“MJ wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that you were actually part of the sex ring. You know it’s not your fault. What they have done to you. There is a way out and I promise I will help you.” I try to be what Savvy would want me to be to this poor little girl too grown for her time.
“Savvy said that you would say that.” She shakes her head and smiles to herself.
We make it inside the small restaurant, and I can see the same wonder on her face as I did the first time I brought Savvy here. Okay angel, I’m listening.
She makes her way over to a table by the wall and plops down. She is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt with boots and looks like a typical teen other than her properness. She carries herself more like an old soul.
“I can honestly say that I thought I took Lottie’s virginity on her eighteenth birthday. I am most definitely your uncle. Lottie sang a song called Magnolia June. I thought it was just a song I had never heard, but I think she sang it when she thought of you, which was a lot. She had it in one of her diaries I found but I never read past it. Savvy and I kept saying we were going to, but we didn’t make it that far.” I try to ease her mind about her mother.
“The little girl with raven hair has fireflies in her eyes as she chases butterflies all the way to the bayou, while I chase the night skies to be able to see the same moon as my Magnolia June. Fiona sang it all the time when I was little. She said my mother sang it to me every day until she had to leave me and go grow up. I’ve had nine nannies and countless teachers. Fiona has threatened a million times to send me away, but she never does it. I can’t be trained properly if I’m not under her thumb. Come February, I will marry Alec, who out of everyone, chose me. I’ve been groomed since birth to be exactly what I will become when this is all over with. No one can save me from my fate. So don’t bother trying to be a hero. You will lose.”