Chapter Fourteen #2
“I am.” Victor smiled tightly. “Some of you committed treason against me when you murdered my precious gems. I tried to do something nice for you. I trusted you to respect me.” He crossed his arms. “You didn’t.
You proved you’re selfish and childish, and if this is the only way I can get through to you, then so be it.
” His lips pulled back. “You are all to vacate my home immediately and think upon the mess you have caused. My Joyero is mine, not yours. You are here by my grace and invitation, and your invitation has been revoked.”
“What?” Every Master shot to his feet. “But—”
“Ah, ah, I’m not finished.” Victor held up his hand.
“You will be allowed to return in one month’s time.
This will enable my current jewels to heal and grow strong for your pleasure and for me to find some new gems to sparkle brightly upon your arrival.
You will be flown home and will receive your new invitation on the encrypted message board like usual.
” He smiled and ran a hand over his perfect hair.
“However, a few of you will not be allowed to return. I’ll make those announcements privately.
As for those who do get another invite, I suggest you use this time to reflect upon your actions because this is your one and only chance.
We are predators, gentlemen, not unintelligent beasts.
We have urges, yes. We are at the top of the food chain, of course.
But there still must be order. There still must be rules.
And unless you are willing to abide by those rules, you are no longer welcome. ”
“What about him?” Ian, the Master who’d almost raped Ily on Victor’s command, pointed in my direction.
Yes, what about me?
All my scheming to stay so I didn’t die might be moot if Victor flew me back to Paris.
I guessed I’d survive an hour. Maybe two before Q came for me...
“Henri Mercer is my permanent guest. He’s tested me and frustrated me, but...he has stayed true to my laws and is exempt from leaving.”
Was it my imagination, or did Ily suck in a relieved breath?
I wanted to run my fingertips over her honeyed skin. To tip up her chin. To kiss—
“That’s fucking bullshit,” Roland snarled. “He’s a snitch, Vic. We all know it!”
“Yes, he is.” Victor nodded. “But he’s my snitch. He snitched on his brother, and I expect him to keep providing me with information about his family as and when I require it. But for now, he stays, you go, and that’s all I have to say on the matter.”
Clapping his hands, he smirked. “Now, enjoy your last breakfast in paradise, gentlemen. For those who live in Europe, you may join me on the first flight out of here. For those who live farther abroad, you will have to wait until my captain returns.” He bowed with a twist of his lips.
“Farewell, my friends. I hope next time we play together, you will remember this moment and behave. Otherwise, I might suddenly find myself with a few more jewels by collaring you instead.”
He swept out of the room like a royal.
The Masters broke out into heated words.
And I tapped my little nightmare on the shoulder and got her out of there.
* * * * *
THE CURSE OF BLOOD & DARKNESS
by
Henri Mercer
I can’t decide if this will be fiction or non-fiction.
If I pen this as fiction, then I can get away with embellishing all my best parts and downplaying all my worst. I can pretend that the monster who loves blood and tears isn’t some sick freak who craves things he should never crave, but a messed-up man who feels closest to his woman when her essence is on his tongue.
If I keep it as fiction, I can weave a story about how that first splash of bitter, bloody wine bursts like a red, red orange in my mouth. How the zesty spritz fills my every synapse with more than just her lifeforce but her very fucking spirit.
I can bravely write down how hard her blood makes this particular character. How bestial he becomes from a single forbidden sip. He doesn’t have to mention the dark depression that’s taken residence in his soul. Doesn’t have to look into that abyss that’s replaced his heart.
As long as this tale is fictional...this man can go on living instead of listening to those ever-increasing whispers to end it before he goes too far.
But...
I can’t write this as fiction because it’s real.
I’m real.
I’m the beast.
I’m the man who can’t say Ily’s name anymore yet has fantasies of making her bleed.
I’m the monster who lives in constant fucking purgatory because I can’t wake up from these urges, and I can’t seem to run away from them either—
Looking up from re-writing the first page of my memoir/fantasy for the hundredth time, I stretched my fingers and sighed.
A week since Victor flew away without a goodbye.
Five days since the last Master hitched a lift back to their wives, families, and work commitments.
Three days since I’d had a check-up with Dr Belford and learned the insistent itching of my stitches was a good sign—a healing sign—instead of an infection I feared (wanted to) kill me.
My head no longer ached so badly. The mild concussion had come and gone, and without Victor breathing down my neck, I didn’t need to be quite as sharp as usual. The relief at being able to relax hit me like a fucking bulldozer, and I retreated inside.
I shut down.
I turned off.
I did what I’d always done when things got too much and found solace in words.
Sure, Victor could keep track of me on his cameras.
Sure, he’d see me ignoring Ily and utterly unable to touch her.
But...I didn’t think he’d question my unwillingness to play.
My ribs and arm still hurt like a bitch, and Ily’s bruises had lost the round edging and turned into splashes of gruesome stains.
Thanks to the arnica tablets we both took, an electrolyte drink every day, along with some antibiotics for the cuts on our feet, we were healing... albeit slowly.
Everyone in this godforsaken fortress was healing.
The entire vibe had gone from alive to dead. The furniture didn’t have white sheets thrown over them like some abandoned manors when their Masters left town, but it might as well have.
It was so quiet.
Eerily quiet.
Far, far too quiet for the mess in my mind, and that was why writing had become my crutch. Without the laptop, I doubted I would’ve made it past the first day of loneliness.
Ily remained at my side, but every time I looked at her, the darkness inside me throttled my voice, refusing to let me speak.
The rest of the jewels either hobbled or limped, keeping to the shadows and not coming out of their quarters.
Massaging my nape, I struggled to shed the tiredness that’d dogged me since Emerald Bruises. Just like Ily and I crashed for three days after our initial welcome into this cesspit, we both turned inward and lethargic.
For a week, we’d barely talked and never ever touched.
Something had changed between us, and I had no idea what.
Whenever she looked at me, sad secrets danced in her bright tawny stare. She smiled instead of glowered. She acted eager for my command despite the pain of her heavily bruised body. Her energy had turned softer, acting like a sedative against mine.
And it hurt.
Goddammit, it hurt.