Chapter 17 Presley
Presley
“You both failed. I should’ve known you’d be a disappointment. Please, you came from the Radleys. That entire bloodline is a disgrace!” Master scolds as Axel rocks beside me, screaming. What did I do? I thought this would set him free. I haven’t seen him act like this since… Amber. FUCK!
“Shh, it’s okay. I promise I won’t hurt you,” I whisper, trying to reassure him.
“Axel, it's me, your Angel Baby. You’re safe. I promise you’re safe.
” But his head snaps up and his eyes pierce through my skull.
All I see is hate and disgust. I shake my head as tears fall from my eyes.
I can’t stand the look on his face. I can’t take the way he’s looking at me, but most of all, I hate what I did to him.
I hate that I touched him without his consent.
I fucking killed Amber for this very fucking reason, and now look at me. Fucking disgusting.
“I wanted him to submit, and now it seems neither of you completed your tasks. There will be consequences for that!” Master continues to berate us, but I ignore him.
His words don’t cut deep enough for me to care.
I’ve already heard it all before. I just keep trying to console my Fallen Angel, but he’s wrapped so tightly in a ball, shaking and screaming.
I don’t know what to do. This is all my fault.
“Get him to shut up! For heaven's sake, and do it quickly before I do it myself!” he orders, but I can’t.
My touch is tainted. My voice is stained red—much like the rest of my body from Axel's brutality. I revel in it though. Master doesn’t understand or maybe he doesn’t know that we both love the pain.
We are cutters. It's what landed me here after all.
As I stare at Axel, wishing he would look at me, my hands shake as blood drips down my arms and onto the white floor.
It’s the first time since entering this room that I notice how white and clean it is.
Except for now. The white against the deep red shines so brightly it’s almost too bright to look at.
I shiver in my gown, wanting to take it off and wrap it around Axel’s trembling naked body.
I just wanted him to be free. Master ripping the blindfold from Axel's eyes made my heart drop and I wanted to vomit. The crazy look in his eyes frightened me to the core. I’ve never seen him look like that, but what did I expect?
I touched him. I forced him, just like they’ve forced me all these years.
Did I really expect anything less? He should’ve slid that cutter through my neck and just taken me out of my misery.
What do I have left? Axel will never fucking forgive me.
I don’t think I will ever forgive myself at this point.
Between him and Braxton, I deserve everything that’s coming—everything.
Taking off my gown, I wrap it around Axel. His eyes snap to mine and furrow, but he’s not really looking at me. He’s looking through me like I’m a stranger, and that’s okay. I deserve it.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, but he shakes his head. God, I miss his words, but I did this. I created this wall between us, and I promise to work every day for the rest of my life to break it down if that means I can have him back.
“Did I tell you–you can undress?” Master scolds as I stand, jutting my chest out.
“No, but he needs it more than me!” I tell him, and my head snaps to the side, his ring slicing across my cheek from the backhanded slap.
I wince because I know better. But my body has been seen by many men and women, so standing here stark naked means absolutely nothing to me.
All I want to do is protect Axel, even if it means I’m the one who has to suffer the consequences.
“Good little dolls, don’t talk back!” he snaps, and I roll my eyes.
Another slap only this time the sting of his palm and the force of his swing snaps my head back and I cry out.
“You are so disrespectful. But I have the remedy to fix that,” he says, and I just stand there, feeling defeated because I can’t fight back.
He will kill me and then who will be here to save Axel. No one.
He runs his hands down my arms and cups my full breasts, running both thumbs over my hard nipples.
“You are gorgeous and sexy. My friends will enjoy you. Too bad I prefer cock.” He smirks as his eyes wander over to Axel.
I immediately step away from him and stand in front of Axel, shielding him from this predator's eyes.
“You stay away from him!” I shout, and he laughs at me.
Clicking his tongue, he wipes his hand down his suit jacket and shoves me away.
I stumble back and fall over Axel’s still trembling form as he grabs his arm roughly, hauling him to his feet and dragging him towards a metal table.
I scramble to my feet but slip on my own blood, or is it?
“Leave him alone!” I yell across the room, but it falls on deaf ears.
He throws Axel's body onto the table and begins strapping him down as Axel screams for help. Again, I get to my feet and run over to them. “Please, Master, I beg you. I’ll do anything, just please stop touching him,” I beg, and Master’s eyes snap to mine.
“Anything?” he asks with a raised brow.
“Yes, yes, anything just—please let him go,” I plead as tears fall down my face.
“Fine, the two of you go get cleaned up. I have a room set up with better accommodations than what you’ve been receiving. Later, we will have dinner and discuss a new deal,” he says, clapping his hands and smiling. I nod and begin to unstrap the restraints holding Axel’s arm in place.
“Thank you,” I say, and Master laughs.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he states as he walks over to a closet, takes out a new gown, and throws it at me, but I’m too slow to catch it so it falls on the table beside Axel. “Put it on. You are worth a lot of money, and these orderlies don’t get a free show.”
Lifting the cold cotton, I cover my body, and he leaves the room without another word.
“Axel, I know you hate me right now. But help me help you, please,” I beg as he sits up, wrapping the gown tightly around him. He doesn’t look at me, but at least he’s moving and alert. “Thank you,” I whisper as he steps down off the table. The door swings back open and Master comes in with Carl.
“Ready?” he asks, and I nod. I take a step forward, but Axel grabs my wrist roughly, making me wince, then steps in front of me to follow Master and Carl from the room.
Even if I’ve hurt him in the worst possible way, my Fallen Angel is still my saving grace.
And one day, I’ll be his, as long as that day comes and he can forgive me.
My heart just can’t take that devastation.
So, together we will slay all our demons.
But for right now, I’ll take what I can get, even if it's a small reprieve.