Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Ella
She Gets the Flowers - Beth McCarthy
T he Heras get to shower privately when we’re brought back to the part of the country club they call the temple. It’s a separate mansion where only the members of the Silent Circle are allowed to enter, and where they’ve explained all Aphrodites must come if they’re called by a Shadow.
A million questions run through my head. How often are they allowed to call me for services? Am I meant to just drop everything? Is it limited to this space, or are they allowed to jump me anywhere they want? Is my life completely over?
The men lead the Aphrodites underground, into a room with what looks like ancient Greece baths. Columns surround a giant pool of white marble where some women are already bathing naked with Shadows.
“You should stop crying, Ella. Tears turn me on.” I startle when Reeves wipes tears off my cheeks. I thought I had stopped, but I’m in such shock I can barely feel my body anymore.
I don’t even fight him when he undresses me. “The good news is, once you’re clean, you get to ask Zeus for a favor. Now that you’re part of the Circle, your one favor from us is free. It’s something the common people will never get.”
There’s a fountain on the other side that barely mutes the moans I hear. I don’t want to look at where they’re coming from.
I sniffle as he turns me around to face the marble steps that lead into the water.
“Clean yourself. I’ll be waiting outside to take you to Zeus. Once your favor is granted, you’re mine for the night.”
Reeves nudges me, and I step down into the water. I don’t know what makes me obey. The shock, the fear, the fact that I tell myself to just take one thing at a time.
The pearl necklace technique. Something my therapist had mentioned a long time ago. Pretend you’re making a necklace out of pearls. Take each at a time, slide them on the string, and before you know it, you’ll have a whole pearl necklace. I stopped seeing that woman at some point through high school, but the mechanism stayed.
The next pearl is to clean the dirt, sweat, and blood from the hunt. I think the drugs are wearing off and every cut is making itself known on my body. Mainly, the corner of my mouth feels bruised from when Megan backhanded me. I can’t believe I let that bitch win.
The exact same type of dresses we were wearing earlier are hanging on hooks right by the door. I grab one, struggling to keep it on now that I’m wet from the bath. It sticks to my skin, becoming even more see-through than it’s meant to be .
As soon as I walk out, a hand wraps around my wrist, pulling me to the side and slamming me against the stonewall of the damp underground. I wince when my head hits the stone, feeling dizzy for a second.
“Ella,” Chris growls in a low voice. Yet at the same time, he places his hand between the wall and the back of my head, caressing and soothing the ache in familiar gesture that calms me slightly. “You shouldn’t be here. Shouldn’t have come to the initiations, shouldn’t have gotten caught, shouldn’t have ever set foot in this place.”
He doesn’t say it in a protective way. He says it like I’m doomed. Like there was something holding him back before, and that magic veil is gone.
His other hand comes to wipe the tears falling down my cheeks. I hiss when he grazes what I’m sure shows exactly where Megan hit me.
I wonder if he even sees it because he doesn’t say anything at first. He reaches for the inside pocket of his suit jacket. All black tonight, matching the other Shadows. When he pulls out some pills, I plaster myself tighter against the wall.
“Take these. Then you can tell me who gave you that bruise at the corner of your mouth.”
The undertone of a threat toward whoever put that bruise on me is discreet, but it’s there. Only an elegant man like Chris can warn of future violence with a soft order.
He’s not asking. He’s not the kind of person who bursts into a room and screams who did this to you?
He simply tells you that you’re going to admit to him who hurt you.
“Megan knows. What you and I did last Christmas. She hates me. Rightly so.”
I hope that answers the question .
He acknowledges what I say with a nod. “She hates everyone. She’s very possessive.” Pushing that topic to the side, he carries on. “I hate when you make me repeat myself.” So, instead of doing so, he just offers me the pills again.
I know he won’t forget it’s her. I might even have gotten her in trouble. But right now, I don’t care. She fucking hit me.
The weight of tonight makes me feel heavy, exhausted. I take a deep breath, my eyes fluttering shut as I attempt to keep my calm.
“I want to go home.”
“There’s no going home once you initiate, and you know that.”
His hand wraps painfully around my jaw, prying it open, and he pushes the two pills in my mouth. “What did I say about making me repeat myself? These will help with the pain.”
I dry-swallow them, practically choking, and once he makes sure they’re gone, and that he deems me taken care of, his demeanor switches, his grip tightening.
I try to shake my head, but there’s no escaping once his possession shows.
“Caught by Reeves ? Did you plan that?”
My eyes widen, heart stopping. “Are you insane?” I hiss. It’s not very powerful with my limited freedom.
“I’m not, but he is. And if you don’t spill whatever has been going on between you and him, you will be alone here, Ella. I will turn my need to protect you into dust and blow it into the wind. Believe me.”
I take a staggered breath, unable to imagine what a life without Chris being my protector could be like.
“Once,” I rasp .
I feel the growl that rumbles low in his chest all the way to his fingertips as they tighten around my jaw.
“I was desperate,” I squeak.
He takes a deep breath, lets go of me completely, and closes his eyes. He’s trying to calm himself. I know him, know what he’s doing. He asked. I answered. And even if he hates said answer, he doesn’t want to punish me for doing what I was told.
“Look me in the eyes, Ella.”
I hadn’t even realized my gaze had dropped submissively. I dig my eyes into his, barely able to carry the weight of the tension between us.
“Never. Again. Is that clear?” And the threatening tone is enough to make me want to never disappoint him again.
“He said I was his for the night,” I rasp. “Because he caught me.”
“You let me take care of that.”
“And all the other times? I’m an Aphrodite now. He has access to me anytime he wants. So do all the other Shadows.”
“Ella.” He stops my spiraling with a firm tone. “The way it’s always worked between us is that you do what you’re told, and I deal with everything else. So, confirm for me. No Reeves again. Ever. Clear?”
I nod.
“Give me words.”
“Y-yes. Never again.”
“Good girl.”
I don’t like the satisfaction that reflects in his eyes. It’s not the same kind as when I do what I’m told. It’s deeper, like a mastermind seeing the dominoes fall into place.
I open my mouth to ask what the hell is it he did, and how did I unwillingly participate, when a voice resonates behind Chris. One that has my nausea returning.
“Having fun with my Aphrodite, Christopher?”
How thick is the thread of patience Chris is holding on to? Because I have a feeling it’s about to snap. He drops a soft kiss at the top of my head, like regaining strength, and turns around.
“Aphrodites belong to everyone,” he answers our professor. “And this specific one belongs to me.”
“Not tonight. I caught her.”
Chris takes a threatening step toward Reeves. He’s much taller than him, but I still have yet to find one person taller than Chris.
“Yesterday. Tonight. Tomorrow. In ten years. She’s mine.” My heart liquifies, melted by the dangerous heat in his voice. “Don’t test that. You don’t want to play with a man who would blow the world to pieces for her.” His voice lowers to a grave baritone. “Because, tell me, if I’m willing to destroy myself for her, what makes you think I won’t destroy someone as insignificant as you?”
There’s a long, tense pause before Reeves says. “It’s time to take her to Zeus.”
“Sure. I’ll come with you.”
Reeves’s face hardens, hate and disappointment turning him bitter. But he doesn’t protest.
While the Aphrodite’s quarters are underground, Eugene Duval’s private office is on the second floor.
My hair is still wet from the bath when we enter, dripping onto the hardwood floor in the elegant room.
Chris and Reeves both sit on the armchairs available in front of a desk, and Duval is in his own chair. I’m left standing, looking at Chris for clarity.
He only offers me a reassuring gaze. Not even a smile .
“Down, Ella,” the president orders without sparing me a look as he makes himself comfortable, unbuttoning his jacket.
I tighten my arms around my chest, glancing around the room, hesitant to talk. “There are no more chairs.”
He finally gives me attention, eyebrows drawn together as if confused why I still haven’t done what I’m told. “Aphrodites don’t sit on chairs in the temple. They kneel on the floor like the good little sex slaves they are. Now, down. Before the end of time, if you don’t mind.”
So much for calling us goddesses before the initiations. Quickly changed to sex slaves. Not that I imagined anything else.
My head snaps back to Chris, my mouth opening just as he cuts me off. “On your knees.”
An arrow to the heart would have been less painful. I thought he was helping me. My heartbeat doubles, but an order coming from my ex has a different effect than one coming from Duval, and I’m lowering before I can fight some more.
I’m between the two seats where Chris and Reeves are sitting, and I find myself leaning toward the man I used to be in love with.
Duval cocks an eyebrow at Chris. “Shouldn’t you be with your Hera? The ring ceremony starts in ten minutes.”
“Then I guess we have ten minutes,” Chris answers. “Let’s get to it.”
He casually and confidently brings a hand to the back of my head, caressing my hair possessively.
“I want to go home,” I rasp, half between an order and a plea.
“You may not talk unless I ask you an open question, Ella. Do you understand? ”
There’s already an anger rising inside me, but Chris pulls at my hair when he feels me tense, so I nod.
“Did you get an invite to the initiations?”
Since it’s not an open question, I nod again.
“And you were not forced to drink Circe’s poison, were you?”
I shake my head.
“You entered the maze at your own will, you knew the rules, you let yourself get caught by a Shadow.”
When I hesitate for too long, Reeves is the one who talks. “She did.”
My lower lip trembles, the weight of the situation heavy on my shoulders. Only Chris’s hand is keeping me afloat.
“Then you are ours,” Duval concludes. “Your body belongs to the Circle, and there is no way out. If you received an invitation, it’s because the board knew you were aware of the rules.”
He huffs, giving me what I’m sure he aims to be a reassuring grin, but that makes me want to crawl into a hole.
“I know your family’s situation, Ella. Your brother refused our offer to marry you to a Shadow countless times. But here you are of your own volition. You have a favor. I’ll hear it, grant it, and send you back to the initiations. From then on, you’ll follow the rules or be punished.”
Unable to take any more of this, I climb to my feet, pointing an accusing finger at him.
“Your society killed my dad,” I hiss. “Just because he had become a threat. And now you expect my family to get on their knees and beg you for a favor when you put us in this situation in the first place. After what you did to my mom? You’re disgusting.”
His eyebrows raise, a surprise I hadn’t expected settling on his face .
“You seem to be mistaken. The Circle didn’t kill Gerald Baker. He was a beloved board member. A friend. As for your mother, she came willingly. We never promised anything in return.” His smile is chilling, making my stomach churn.
“Oh, please . The second you saw the police had gone to my father’s house, that they were going to arrest him for the parties, you decided to act. Dad was unable to keep your filthy parties a secret, and you eliminated him. Let him take the fall.”
Legs trembling, I turn around, walking in a circle, unable to believe that I’ve fallen low enough to defend my asshole of a father.
“Ella.” Duval’s stern voice makes me freeze, and I turn to him. “The Shadow who betrayed your father was removed from the Circle and punished accordingly. His death had nothing to do with us. It was an unfortunate suicide that means his debt went to your family, but we didn’t kill him.”
And somehow, in the seriousness of his tone, I hear the truth. Because he has no scruple admitting he abused my mother just for the sake of it.
The Silent Circle didn’t kill my father.
But I know. I know deep down that he didn’t kill himself.
“Cut this short, Ella. Get on your knees, beg us for your favor, and the three of us can go back to the initiations.”
Chris slowly stands up too. He walks to me until he’s right behind me and can talk in my ear.
“Do it, Sweets.” He kisses the side of my neck, sliding a hand underneath the V of my dress from behind me. Grabbing a handful of my breast, he pulls me closer to him. “Get on your knees and beg the Circle. ”
Any image of my savior is shattered to pieces as he starts pinching my nipple. And any pride I held on to dissipates when I feel a zap of electricity traveling all the way to my clit.
“Help me,” I beg in a whisper.
“I am helping you. Now beg.”
He nudges the back of my knee with his own, and I fall to the floor.
Looking up at Duval with eyes full of tears, I give up on my freedom and ask for exactly what I came for.
“Please,” I rasp. “Will you settle my family’s debt?”
“Of course I will, sweet Ella,” he chuckles. “I’ll gather the richest Shadows and take care of the bankruptcy. We will buy the company, take over, and pay back the men who invested. Consider it done.”
That’s it? All of this for him to talk about it like it’s as easy as getting some money out at an ATM.
He cuts my na?ve thoughts short by reminding me of how I got there.
“And in exchange, we get a brand-new Aphrodite.” He opens a drawer and places a golden necklace on his desk. It has a small seashell dangling from the chain. “Welcome to the Silent Circle. The Bakers are officially back in.”
Reeves is the one who locks the necklace around my neck, pretending not to be scared of Chris’s death stare, but I feel the way his fingers tremble.
The second we exit the office, I notice the two men leaning on the opposite wall. Not any men. It’s Wren and Achilles.
One arm flies to cover my breasts, and my other hand falls flat in front of my mound.
“Oh my god,” I gasp.
I retreat into Chris, my back hitting his chest. The fear of my best friends seeing me like this is only beaten by the heartbreak of seeing them here. Did they initiate?
“Go with them, Sweets. I need to talk to Reeves.”
I shake my head, unable to get over the embarrassment. “I can’t.”
Chris’s hand in my hair pulls my head back until I can see him above me. “You can and you will. Listen to them as you would a Shadow here. Listen to them as if they were me. They’ll take you down to the ballroom and you’ll wait there for the end of the initiations.”
He releases me, nudging me toward them. I’m too mortified to even look them in the eyes, and I might walk forward surrounded by my two best friends, but I’m looking back at my ex now whispering with Professor Reeves.
“Don’t worry, Ella. You’re not the first Aphrodite we’ve seen,” Achilles admits, completely unbothered.
How do they even know?
Neither of them stops walking as Wren reads my mind, touching the pendant around my neck. He doesn’t say anything, not one to waste words when he knows them unnecessary.
“Are you Shadows?” I still find myself unable to believe my best friends have been so close to the Circle and I didn’t even know about it.
They both shake their heads. “Not yet,” Achilles explains. “But sometimes promising Shadows are allowed to attend the initiations. We didn’t do anything tonight.”
“Why?” I rasp. “If you know what they do, why are you here?”
They eye each other as we stop in front of two wooden double doors. I can hear some waltz music being played. It must be the ballroom.
When they decide to keep their answer from me, I flip. “ At least don’t do everything you’re told when you should be protecting your best friend, you pathetic sheep.”
“We’re not doing what we’re told by the Circle,” Wren says low. “We shouldn’t be in this part of the temple, but we came the second Chris texted us so we could make sure no one bothers you while he finishes his initiations.”
“We’re looking after you, Els,” Achilles adds. “Doing what we’re told would be to bring you to the Aphrodites’ altar. Where all the new girls get fucked by whoever. In the Heras’ ballroom”—he points at the two doors—“you kneel and watch the ring ceremony.” He shrugs, turning on his heels. “But I guess if you’d rather go over there…”
“No!” I snap. “Don’t be a dick, Achilles.”
He chuckles. “Come on. It’s not that hard to watch a few guys put a necklace around their future wives’ necks and the women a signet ring on the Shadows’ fingers.”
My gaze drops. “Will Chris be doing it with Megan, then?”
“Yes,” he whispers, as if scared to hurt me. It’s unlike him. He runs a hand through his black hair. “It’ll be okay. I told you before, the man won’t let you go. No matter what.”
I take a step toward my friend, letting my hate for another man hit him. “I wish he fucking would.”
He nods, not really caring about my tantrum since it doesn’t concern him.
“We can’t go in there with you,” he explains. “But one last thing.” His gaze goes to Wren and back to me. “Peach and Alex? Not a fucking word. Clear?”
My jaw ticks from the pressure of wanting to hurl insults. “I’ll do what I want.”
“I love you, Els. You’re my best friend.” With a huff, his mouth twists. “I don’t want to make your time at the temple a living hell. So zip that mouth. ”
My jaw drops open as he opens the door. One head gesture, and I go in.
I do what I’m told. If it avoids me being at the Aphrodites’ altar, I’ll kneel and torture myself. I’m on the edge of the dance floor. And for what feels like hours, I have to hold back tears as I watch the ceremony.
Megan putting a signet ring around Chris’s pinky.
Chris putting a necklace around Megan’s neck as they promise the Silent Circle they will get married right after they finish their studies. I guess they’re engaged now.
This is my worst nightmare.
They dance together among the other couples. The Heras got to dress in beautiful gowns while I look up at them from our submissive positions.
And even though Chris’s gaze keeps coming back to me, I don’t want it. It’s hungry, hot, and it reminds me of the truth: he’s a Shadow now.
Maybe being fucked by countless strangers would have felt better.
I watch, and I watch, and I watch.
My hate for my ex grows stronger.
And I break my own heart all over again.