17. Conrad
I leave her there, in my home. There are enough cameras and guards to ensure she won’t be able to escape if she decides to be that stupid, but I’ll admit I am curious to see how she responds now that she thinks she has the chance.
Will she wait to see the lay of the land, or will she try to flee the first chance she gets?
I don’t know much about my wife, but I know she’s malleable. Mouldable. I know, given the right pressure, I can turn her into everything I want. Sure, she’s going to resist. Sure, she’s going to fight but then, where would the fun be if she didn’t?
As I stroll in through the doors to Oblivion, I realise that’s something I have been yearning for. Someone that is solely mine, someone who is loyal only to me. I can fuck anyone I want, hurt anyone I want; within these walls I am a God, but it’s not the same. It’s not as delicious when you know the meat is already primed.
The fact that Brynn is locked away, captured, ensnared; that’s what makes her so much more enticing. She’s forbidden fruit and now that I have her, I will gorge on every single bit.
Ahead, I can see my brother. He’s not meant to be here; he’s meant to be off somewhere with Antonio, and it makes me pause for a second.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Magnus snarls.
“Excuse me?”
“You missed the Purification Ritual, you missed my declaration as a candidate for Chapter Lord.”
I stop, realising instantly that I have fucked up. I’ve spent too many days enjoying my new prize, and I’ve dropped the ball on the things that should matter. Keeping up appearances has always been a point of pride for me. Presenting to the world the carefully crafted image they want of me.
In less than a week, Brynn seems to have shattered that resolve, she seems to have made me forget myself, my responsibilities.
Subconsciously, my fingers wrap around that digit where my ring should be. I left it behind. I had to. Until everything is in place, no one can know what I’ve done.
“I was busy.” I reply. It’s a bullshit answer ,and we all know it.
Magnus scowls more. “Busy?” He repeats, “What could possibly be more important than our family’s indoctrination?”
“Giselle,” I say with little thought.
He arches a brow, his face turning to bloody murder. “You really think I’m as stupid as that?” He growls in a voice I know only too well. Magnus may be my brother, but for the past twenty years he’s been more of a father figure than a sibling. He brought me and Devin up after our parents died. He did everything he could to ensure we were cared for, nurtured, fucking moulded into perfect Blakes.
And that’s half the problem. He knows me too well. Knows my secrets, knows my everything.
“We spoke to her.” Antonio says and I turn my gaze onto him.
He’s an enigma I don’t care to pick apart, the man can make or break a Lord. One word from him and your entire standing in the Brethren would be altered entirely. You’d think with that sort of power he’d be more of a presence, and yet the fact he skulks in the shadows and keeps his cards so close? Yeah, it’s unnerving.
“You spoke to her?” I sneer.
Antonio’s lips curl enough to tell me he knows that I’m aware that they know I’m lying.
“Giselle is a two-faced…”
“I don’t give a shit.” Magnus snaps, pushing me back, shoving me against the wall. He’s just as big, just as powerful as I am, despite the ten-year age gap. “I don’t give a shit where you were or what the fuck you were doing. You think this is about you? You think the entire world revolves around your wants?”
My fists curl and I slam one into his rib, hoping it hurts the bastard. “Like I haven’t had to sacrifice everything for this family already.” I state.
“Sacrifice.” He laughs, acting like I didn’t strike him at all. I swear he’s made of steel. “What sacrifices have you made? You’ve been coddled your entire life, you’re pampered, a little fat cat sat on a cushion…”
I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear how he gave everything for our family, how he’s the great saviour. I’m not a little boy anymore, I’m thirty eight years of age; more than old enough to make my own decisions.
I push him off, using all the strength I have and he stumbles back before Antonio gets between us.
“Let’s not make more of a scene.” He says, his eyes darting up the hall to where eyes are watching us. From this distance, it’s hard to tell if they’re Lords or slaves.
I huff, straightening my suit jacket.
“I have work to do.” I state, moving to leave. Oblivion doesn’t run itself, we both know that. Magnus made this place a success for years, but it’s not going to fall apart on my watch.
This place is heavily monitored, as are all the other sites across the world. The Brethren need to have something to reward us Lords for good behaviour. If this place went to the dogs, my name would be shit. My legacy would be over. And I, along with my brothers, would almost certainly end up in a different black site.
This moment here is a good lesson to learn. I need to be better, I need to keep my obsession in check. I can’t let myself get too lost in the want of my wife that I forget everything else that I am.
I stalk through the darkness, making my way up to where my office is. Dustin is there waiting, and we go through all the reports with a fine-tooth comb before we move onto the new delivery of slaves that are arriving today.
I know the Esau tried to stitch my brother up by sending the previous Chapter Lord’s niece here. I’m not going to let them pull that same trick again, not while I’m in charge. So every name, every face, every sentence is checked and double-checked. None of them are touched until we’ve had full blood work back, verifying they’re exactly who they’re meant to be.
“Good work,” I mutter as Dustin hands over all the certificates of ownership. I know our new ways of working have created a mountain of admin for him, but he seems to have risen to the challenge. And gifting him his own personal harem has certainly helped soothe the stress.
“We do have another petition,” Dustin says, handing over the last file.
I narrow my eyes, seeing the stamp on it. “Again?” I mutter.
“They don’t take no for an answer,” He states.
Apparently not. I practically tear the cardboard file open, flicking through the pages of argument as my stomach churns. There are some things I draw a line at. Some things the Brethren have been told to draw a line at, and rightly so.
Problem is, the old Chapter Lord, the one before our latest deceased, decided to mix things up a bit. Decided to lax certain rules, rules that have been in place ever since we became civilised. And now these fuckers have had a taste of it, they want more.
“Well?” Dustin says, knowing damn well what my perspective is on this.
“Not on my watch,” I growl. Not on any of the Blake’s watch. I know my brother shares the same sentiment, that some things are off-limits. They’d have to remove our entire family before we’d allow children in this place.
“They’re appealing to the Higher Lord,” He states.
I can’t help but let out a laugh. “Of course they fucking are.” I reply. Like they’ll get any response from him, It’s like picking up a phone and expecting God to be on the other end. He rules from above, but he doesn’t deign to dirty his hands by interacting with the likes of us. Besides, he’s not going to change his mind on an issue like this. Children are off-limits. He set the age, he stated that no women under twenty-one were permitted to marry, no exceptions.
And he’s right; you marry them too young and then they won’t last. Their bodies aren’t ready for it, their hips aren’t developed enough. You’ll ruin them, and you’ll only produce weak offspring. Better to wait, better to be safe, and better to have the time to train them accordingly in those little schools we make them all attend.
I shove the file back into his hands. “In that case, let’s wait and see what the Higher Lord has to say about this, then we’ll follow his decision.” Like he’ll ever bother to reply to something as insignificant as this.
Beside me, my phone buzzes. I glance over and then see the message that’s there, the one I’d hoped wouldn’t arrive.
“Fuck,” I snarl.
“Problem, boss?” Dustin asks.
I look up, feeling like all that amusement is now gone, blood is suddenly pumping so fast through my body. “Nothing to concern yourself with,” I manage to grit out before I’m grabbing my jacket.
“Where are you going?” He calls after me.
“Home.” I reply. Home, to teach my erstwhile wife a lesson.