Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
Thorin
O ne month has passed since being placed inside the compound. Every day I watch as the girls are force-fed the bliss I taught the guards all about. Every day I go into full panic in the donation room. The most reprehensible part? Every day I get closer to Villiana and grow more attached to our blooming friendship, knowing full well that it’s based on lies.
How am I supposed to start double dosing her now?
A yarrow toned hand waves in front of my face, catching my attention. “Thorin, are you listening to me?”
“Yeah. Sorry. I get lost in my head sometimes.”
Villiana raises a brow at me. “Sometimes?”
“Okay, fine. I live there more than in reality,” I conceded. Why deny it when she’s seen my freakouts every day?
My fists clench and unclench, forcing my nails into the palms, the closer we get to the end of dinner knowing I have to get this powder in her drink. I’ve been trying to concoct a plan for the last house, feeling more guilty by the second.
Glancing at the dinner line, I see a line of cups waiting to be taken. I could get her another drink but she hasn’t taken a single sip of the one she already has. Bouncing my legs nervously beneath the table, I watch the liquid ripple in my glass.
That’s it! The perfect plan pops into my head but I’m going to have to fuck myself over in the process. Knocking my arm into my cup, water spills all over the table. I pretend to try ro catch the cup, making sure to send Vi’s over the side of the table in the process. Villiana jumps up before she can get soaked, staring as the liquid drips off the edge of the metal.
“Shit! I’m the fucking worst.” My voice wavers with anxiety. “I’ll find something to clean it up and get you a new glass.”
Villiana grabs my wrist, pulling me into her. “You need to chill, pixiepie, it’s just water. I’ll go steal some rags from the kitchen.”
Leaning into her warmth my chest heaves, unshed tears fighting to fall. Does she have to be this nice to me?! “Won’t you get in trouble?”
“That means I have to get caught.” Villiana skips away with a wink.
The walk to the dinner line feels like it takes centuries. Each step brings me closer to the disgusting betrayal of my best friend. Shaking, I clasp the new glass in my hand. My curly hair bounces across my shoulders while I scan the area around—I resemble a child who snuck candy from their parents. Pulling the vial I’ve tucked into a secret pocket inside my dress, I pour the bliss into the cup, eyes locked onto the white powder as it disappears within seconds. You have no choice, Thorin. You physically can’t defy him.
By the time I build up the courage to go back to the table, Villiana is already there mopping up the spill. “Easy, peasy. No need to cry over spilled water.”
“Especially when I already have more.” My forced smile is probably overkill. The tremor of my hand is bound to betray me. There’s no way she won’t pick up on the change in energy.
Several steps away from the table I take a sip of the concoction. I’m not letting her go down alone.
Screwing my face up in disgust I hold out the cup to Villiana. “Oh gods this tastes weird.”
“It’s water from rusted pipes, I don’t know what you’re expecting.” Shrugging, she takes the drink from me and downs it in one sip—that was easier than I imagined. “No need to worry, it’s all gone now.”
Try again, baby girl. I just ruined your night.
Thank the gods you won’t remember any of it.
I don’t think I’ve gotten more than a few hours of sleep in the last two weeks. Every night I had to come up with creative tactics to ensure Villiana was drugged, and every night I took a little bit with her in a desperate attempt to numb some of my crippling guilt.
Last night I had my first meeting with Locren to replenish my stash of bliss and update him on the situation. He pressed me for every drop of information he could about Villiana: where she’s from, if she has any living family, what her life was like growing up, and of course, if she remembered anything from the night before.
It was nearly impossible to go against his hypnosis, but I managed to let out only the barest of information. He wasn’t pleased with my lack of knowledge, to say the least. As punishment, I get to entertain his guests tonight.
“Oh aren’t you just delectable, pet? Red suits you.” Locren swaggers into the room I lived in for the last four years, reveling in the spoils of my defiance. Dressed in black trousers with a light green tunic tucked in, he topped off the outfit with a velvet evergreen overcoat. Not a thread out of place.
“Come,” he beckons me with the crook of his olive toned finger.
Picking up the bottom of my long ruby dress, I pace forward, stopping a foot from Locren. My stomach knots when his thumb and forefinger pinch my chin, forcing me to stare into his eyes. “The head of the Tenebris Coven has traveled a long way to visit our facility. They’re one of the last vampire covens and I cannot and will not be made a fool of.” Locked in place, my face can’t reflect the absolute horror I’m currently feeling. I’ve only had one experience with a vampire and it’s not something I ever intend to repeat.
Locren sweeps his thumb across my bottom lip, opening my mouth slightly. “You’re going to put that pretty pussy on display for them to fuck and suck as they please. I don’t want to hear anything but ‘ Yes, sir. Thank you, sir’ , out of your mouth unless it’s moaning or gagging.” His throaty voice makes my skin crawl. He wants me to fight, it makes it more fun for him afterward. Shifting his hand, he takes two long fingers and jams them down my throat until they can’t go any deeper. Breathing is restricted and gagging is impossible, all I can do is stand there and take it. “Nod if you understand me.”
I comply without a second thought and he rewards me by pulling his finger back just enough to spit down my throat. “Good, pet.”
My stomach rolls when the hot saliva hits the back of my tongue.
Holding out his elbow for me to take, Locren cracks a satisfied grin when I take it without an argument. He knows I’ll do just about anything he says tonight to avoid the consequences of my bad behavior being taken out on Vi.
This punishment doesn’t outweigh the chance of a true friendship. So I will walk into that room arm-in-arm with a saccharine smile and play the part of a good little whore.
I’ve endured much worse.