18. Vaughn
Vaughn
The laughter. The warmth of her against me.
The unbelievable cravings to keep it exactly like this.
I wanted to stay in this moment forever.
Even as I put my mask on and took Penelope’s off, I knew that couldn’t happen.
She was healing, and if I didn’t start training her now, I may never.
Neither of us could afford that. She’d become my mother…
and me? I’d be dead, just like my father—just like our bloodline.
I would not be the cause of that. I would not fail.
“We’ll take it slow until we see how your body does with sudden movements.”
“A-Alright.”
Blue eyes followed me as I tossed her mask on the bed and began to circle her.
“Walk to the table, Penelope. From there, you’re going to grab your bottled water and take it to the mini fridge. Once you do that, head for the bed.”
She swallowed hard, not even nodding as she began walking forward.
I stayed a few steps behind, increasing my speed as she swiped the water from the table, not even pausing in her advance.
She headed for the mini fridge, spinning as I lunged for her.
The bottled water bounced from my chest, and Penelope swung right for my face, missing as I ducked and barred my arm under her ass, throwing her over my shoulder.
“Dammit.”
She wiggled, and I placed her back down.
“Did that hurt?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Good. Pick up the water. The fridge is a placement. Walk to it, head for the bed, and then loop back to the table.”
“I’m going to best you, V. I want to see this place you speak of.”
I smiled behind the mask.
“You’ll never best me, but if you get good enough, maybe I’ll take you.”
“Will you tell me about it?”
“Not yet. Walk.”
She didn’t make it three steps before I dove for her again. Penelope tried jumping out of the way, but I wrapped around her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides just tight enough that she couldn’t get them free.
“What now?”
Pressure fought against my hold. Her head went back and forth, and she slammed her bare foot on the top of my shoe. My teeth ground, but I kept my hold secure.
“Come on. I’m going to kill you. How are you getting free?”
Penelope twisted in my arms, crying out the smallest amount as she began kicking back against my shin. I could have easily brought her down, but she was already using too much strain, and the last thing I wanted was to set her healing back even more.
“Alright. We need to work on that.” I let go, turning her and nudging her back to continue.
Pink tinted Penelope’s cheeks, and seriousness took her over.
She wasn’t viewing this as a game. Blue eyes were intense as she kept looking over her shoulder.
I let her walk the entire circle before I sprung forward.
Penelope was ready, meeting me with a thrust of her palm, right for my nose.
I swatted her hand away, only to deflect the fist she drove right towards my gut.
She let out a yell, gripping my shirt and jerking me forward.
Her kiss was hard and fast, leaving me caught off guard.
When she swung for my jaw, I barely caught her fist in time.
Stunned was an understatement. I stood staring at her, feeling my body shake at how hard my heart raced. Penelope was panting and holding to her side, but her expression was full of rage.
“Your hurt. We’re done for tonight.”
“I’m fine. I want to try again.”
“And I said we’re done. Go lay down.”
A mix between a groan and growl left her. She headed to the bed, climbing on and pouting her bottom lip even more.
Me… I couldn’t get myself to move.
I had hoped Penelope would hold promise. There was no doubt in my mind now. I had found my queen, and if I kept pushing her past her breaking point, we both might somehow survive the war that was coming if she continued with that much enthusiasm.
“I want to go again. It’s only a pinching feeling. It will go away. Can we give it an hour and—I was so close.”
“You weren’t, but you did impress me.”
A smile surfaced. “Really?”
I headed for the bed, kicking off my shoes and climbing on.
“Really. You might stand a chance… maybe. This is only day one. You have so much further to go if you ever want to get out of here.”
Multiple expressions crossed her face.
“Are you really going to make me kill someone?”
I leaned against the headboard, crossing my arms over my chest.
“No.” Relief flooded her. “I’m going to make you do so much more than that. Killing will be the easy part. To live amongst monsters, you will have to become one. Otherwise, they’ll eat you alive. I can’t have that.”
“Monsters?”
Penelope was half curious, half skeptical.
“I’m not crazy. Get that out of your head.
Yes, monsters. Real ones. The scariest ones.
Not the ones under your bed.” I tilted her chin up to look at me.
“The ones that live next door. The ones that come to your house every week for dinner. The ones who compliment you but dream of sticking a knife in your back. When you see who the world is truly made up of, your mind will break. It won’t be able to fathom that kind of darkness.
Introducing you, slowly, is the only way to help you adjust. Even then, it won’t be easy.
Why? Because it doesn’t come natural to you. Not yet.”
Her brows drew in. “You’re going to try to make me immune to what I’ll be exposed to.”
“Immune is a strong word. Tolerable is more of what we’re hoping for.”
“What is worse than killing?”
“It’s the form of killing, Penelope. It’s the time. The method. Torture techniques can range. We’ll explore these and the reasons behind them.”
Her breath shuddered.
“What else?”
“One thing at a time. First, we work on defense. We focus on the what-ifs.”
She got quiet. “Like what?”
“What if someone attacks you and you manage to subdue them, but in the process, you’ve been cut.
There’s no doctor or hospital and you can only rely on yourself to stop the bleeding.
What if you need stitches? Or… maybe I’m hurt, and you’re the only one there to help me.
I’m bleeding out and I’m dying.” I took in the fear in her eyes.
“How do you save my life? Penelope, there may come a time—”
“Stop.” Her hand lifted, and she reached over, grabbing to my forearm. “Just… I can’t imagine these things. I don’t want to think of you hurt like that.”
I lifted her hand, bringing it to my masked mouth to kiss.
“Let’s hope it never comes to that. But if it does, you can’t hesitate.
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it a million more times until you understand.
I’m not crazy. Please, trust me. I need you to or else.
” I paused, gazing back in forth to her eyes.
“I can’t trust anyone. No one but you. I know you don’t understand this but understand when I say, what can it hurt if you save my life? ”
Her lips parted and anger flashed as her head shook.
“Me, V. It’ll hurt me. I don’t want you to be hurt or die, but you’re talking about me killing people. Torturing people. How does that save your life?”
“You’re so smart.” I slid closer to her, reaching over to hold to her hip. Damn this mask. It was the barrier keeping me from kissing her and never stopping. “I promise it’s all connected. I need you, Penelope. I need you to trust me.”
She grabbed my hand tossing it from her.
“You speak of trust, but you don’t give me real reasons. You’re not convincing me that you don’t need help. If anything—”
Vibrations had us both looking down to my jean’s pocket. I cursed, pulling out my phone. I took in Redmond’s number letting out an aggravated growl. We were supposed to go over news of The Order, and I’d been delaying it.
“You want my trust?” I wiggled the phone. “Stay quiet and listen. Not a word. Not a single one no matter what you hear.”
She eagerly nodded, staying silent. I hit the speaker, letting out a long breath.
“Yeah.” My tone was deep and full of authority as I stepped into my role as the future Unavowed.
“There you are. We really need to talk. Is now a good time?”
“As good as it’s going to get.”
“How’s Penelope?”
Her eyes flared as she looked between me and the phone.
“Better. We started training today. We’re taking it slow.”
“It’s for the best. I’m sorry to keep calling, but I don’t have good news.”
“I figured as much.” I sat up, turning more to Penelope so I could watch her. “What happened?”
“I think I… You’re not going to be happy with me.”
My head jerked to the side and my eyes narrowed. “And why is that?”
Hesitation. “I’ve been talking with others. You’re aware of Red Island.”
“Of course. There’s a fortress there. They run sea slaves.”
“Yes. The Main Master, Gavin Draper… he’s fallen in love. He’s married the woman. She’s pregnant with twins.”
“Okay. What seems to be the problem?”
He cleared his throat. “Vaughn.” My jaw tightened as I looked over at Penelope. She hadn’t missed my name. “High Masters, Main Masters, we don’t have babies or wives. Especially where we rule. It goes against the code. After Whitlock…. No. We don’t—Dammit.”
“What did you do,” I ground out, threateningly.
“It wasn’t just me. A few of us, we decided a while back to—”
“To what,” I exploded. Penelope jumped back in my peripheral, but all I could see was blood red. I could see my mother. My father. … Penelope. “Are you telling me you interfered in the life of another Main Master? Is she dead?”
“…From what I hear, yes, she is. The babies as well. And I think he knows.”
My hand curled into a fist, and I brought it to my mouth.
“You killed his wife and children.” This was not the phone call I wanted Penelope hearing, but there was no going back. If she was ever going to know, she might as well hear the worst of it.
“I assure you I never thought—”
“That he’d find out it was you? Fool. And now I must clean up your mess, is that right?”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“Because he means to kill you. Good. He should. Or maybe I will.”
“Vaughn—”
“Do not beg me over the phone like a coward. You represent me. I don’t remember agreeing to any of this. When I get done with you—”
Movement had me looking over. Penelope was as pale as a ghost, inching back from me on the bed as if I were the devil, himself.
“I don’t deserve mercy. I made a mistake.”
“You did, and you better believe you’re going to pay for it. I have to go.”
I hung up, shoving the phone back in my pocket. Back and forth Penelope’s head shook. Her breaths were shallow and tears were beginning to stream down her face.
“I’m not crazy—I was born into this.” I reached for Penelope, pulling her down as I placed the thick gold, decorated cuffs on her wrists.
She was too unstable for me to leave her here free.
I’d brought more stuff in. There were utensils, weapons, and she was conflicted after this news.
I stood from the bed, watching her haunted eyes follow me.
“I’ll give you time to process. Tomorrow, your training begins in earnest.”