Chapter 8
Arcane
Age 19
My earliest memory is that of utter darkness, a vast expanse where emptiness weighed heavily on me like a stone. I used to believe I was born into that obscurity, enveloped so completely that I became one with it. My tattered room back at the orphanage was my sanctuary; I’d huddle beneath the sheets, yearning for all the bad to seep away.
It never did, but with time, I learned to adapt.
At nine, Kaiden entered the orphanage after losing his only living parent. He became my sole companion, and despite carrying his own burdens, he was a beacon in the void, saving me from myself countless times. Two years later, a couple sought to adopt a young boy to raise as the heir to their business empire. They found Kaiden, but he refused to leave me behind. Since we’d become inseparable, Mr. and Mrs. Grimaldi had no choice but to adopt me too.
Kaiden and I only grew closer over the years, our bond deepening to the point of obsession. But wasn’t it normal for siblings to share such an intense connection?
During stormy nights, when the thunder rolled through the sky, he’d sneak into my room through the slippery balcony, holding me close. Sometimes, we’d intertwine our fingers, seeking solace in each other’s touches. Other times, we’d merely lie together.
But as time passed, his possessiveness over me only intensified, his mood worsening along with the bruises as he spent more time with our dad and his shady business.
Ever since he did those things a year ago during our hide-and-seek game in the forest clearing, I’ve found it impossible to maintain a normal sisterly demeanor. He always makes me blush, stirring a tempest of emotions within me, leaving my hormones in disarray.
That’s why I have to keep my distance—I can’t be near him without feeling all hot and flustered, my mind consumed by memories of that time. The physical response he evokes in me still leaves me breathless, my panties drenched with uncontrollable arousal from the intensity of his gaze.
I’m startled by the approaching footsteps, sending my heart jumping inside my ribcage. A woman clad in a uniform enters, the clicking of her high heels reverberating through the marble walls. Her hair is pulled back into a tight bun as she fixes me with a disapproving glare.
“What’s wrong with you lately?” Mom asks as she steps beside me where I sit by the kitchen island, staring down at my bitten nails.
How could I possibly tell her what’s wrong? Every. Fucking. Thing.
I meet her gaze, noting the charcoal accents around her eyes and the tint of blush on her cheeks—her makeup is impeccable. The Grimaldis don’t accept anything less than perfection.
“She’s just her usual grumpy self.” Kaiden’s voice echoes from the doorway as he enters the kitchen in just a pair of pants.
His chiseled, well-defined body is on full display, showcasing those muscles he always works so hard on, and I nearly choke on my saliva as I take in the sight of him. He’s a perfect wonder, and he fucking knows it. With blond hair looking like honey in the sunlight, he sports a calculated grin that would make any person fall for him. A sour taste lingers in my mouth as I avert my gaze, hating the fact that he’s my brother.
It’s been a couple of months since I turned nineteen, and the intensity with Kaiden has only grown. He’s a menace existing in the same place as me, making me squirm everywhere I go.
Is it normal to feel such maddening lust for your foster brother?
The sour taste in my mouth becomes worse as Kaiden smirks at me, his gaze piercing through mine. I need to get out of here. I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t fucking exist when he’s near. I feel like I’m going to drown any second, and there’s no hope of saving me.
Mom’s voice snaps me back to the present. “There’s a gala we have to attend tomorrow,” she announces with a firm tone. “You both must attend. The other four powerful families of Penumbra Crest will be there, and we have to uphold the utmost respect and status.”
Each word is lodged in my windpipe while threatening to choke me if I dare speak back.
I need to get out of here.
“Of course,” I mutter absentmindedly, heading toward the hallway.
All I can think about is the desperate need to escape his presence. He drives me to the point of madness without even realizing it, and I need to gather my thoughts. Quietly slipping out of the manor, I grab Mom’s car keys despite not having a driver’s license. I wasn’t allowed one like Kaiden, but that didn’t prevent me from sneaking out and teaching myself to drive with a friend from school.
There aren’t many police patrolling the affluent areas of town, especially not at this hour. Even if I were caught, my parents would easily buy me out of trouble, though their disappointment would be my price to pay.
Setting the car in drive, I leave the dark front yard, grateful for the quiet hum of the electric engine. Hopefully, Mom won’t even notice that I took her car, given the vastness of the manor.
After twenty minutes of driving, I reach a deserted gas station. It’s the perfect place to be alone, away from this overwhelming feeling that evades my every thought and emotion—even if it’s a bit odd to bring an electric car to a gas station.
Parking somewhat haphazardly, I step out onto the concrete pavement, the cool night air brushing over me.
A single light keeps the station illuminated, casting a shimmer that accentuates the desolation. Most people are nestled in their beds by now, preparing for the demands of the next day, whether it be school or work. I can’t bear to care.
With a sigh, I lean against the car’s hood, scanning the deserted surroundings. A prickling sensation grabs me, like pins and needles spreading over my body, alerting me that someone is nearby. The wind whispers through the night, the only other audible sound besides my breathing. Straining my ears, I search for any sign of movement, but the gas station remains eerily still.
No other vehicles occupy the station, and instead of the peaceful solitude I sought, I’m now enveloped in a chilling atmosphere thick with tension, setting my nerves on edge. A rustling sound breaks the silence, and I jolt in alarm as I attempt to locate the source. No one is close by, and regret gnaws at me for ever having left the manor.
Paranoia grips me with cold fingers as another sound startles me, this time from my phone vibrating. Trying to catch my breath, I tremble as I reply, my lungs craving oxygen.
“Hello?” I utter, casting an eye over my shoulder.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of crickets blends with the stirring wind, but there’s only silence from the other end—until a deep breath breaks it. A single one, followed by nothing more. Seconds drag on, my apprehension escalating until a voice emerges from the speaker—a quiet, dark one.
“The reaper is here,” it whispers before the call abruptly ends.
With my heart lodged in my throat, I quickly make my way inside the gas station. The eerie feeling of being watched accompanies me, every step echoing ominously against the pavement.
Once inside, I dare breathe a sigh of relief, greeted by the friendly cashier whose name tag reads “Dom.” He appears to be in his twenties with a smile revealing charming dimples. I browse the shelves, selecting snacks and a drink, before approaching the checkout.
Dom strikes up a conversation, a welcome distraction from the previous tension. Despite the lingering unease in the back of my mind, I relax ever so slightly in his presence.
“Nice to meet you…?” he prompts for my name.
“Arcane,” I respond, offering a friendly smile.
“Arcane,” he repeats, nodding in acknowledgment. “Hope to see you soon,” he adds playfully, his demeanor flirty and cheerful.
With a nod and a faint smile, I gather my purchases and head back to the car. The brief encounter with Dom eased some of the tension from the strange phone call earlier, especially those cryptic words uttered.
I settle into the driver’s seat, unprepared for the warning signals blaring within my mind. Before I can even reach for the car key, a rough leather-gloved hand clamps around my throat, its texture scraping against my skin. Chains bite into my flesh, yanking my head back to the headrest and restricting the oxygen entering my lungs.
Panic surges within me as I struggle frantically against the restraints, but it’s in vain. My eyes widen, horror piercing every fiber of my being as the lack of oxygen makes the car spin. It’s a cruel realization that I forgot to lock the car door when I entered the store.
I claw at the chains, nails scraping futilely against the metal as I try with all my might to break free.
A dark, amused chuckle fills the air behind me, freezing me in confusion. “Did you think you could run from me? Avoid your big brother like the bad little sister you are?” A growl follows the words.
It’s a strange concoction—arousal mingling with fear in a dizzying whirlwind, every nerve caught in a dance of conflicting emotions. My mind reels with the realization of who is behind me in the car.
The chains dig into my skin, allowing me to breathe but restricting my movements. I turn to look behind me, but he tightens his grip on the chains to prevent me from doing so.
“No looking, sister. You’re mine for the taking.”
“Kai—Kaiden?” I stammer, my words laced with confusion. He continues choking me with the chains, and there’s nothing else I can do but accept defeat, even as my heart pounds like a madman in a desperate plea to break free. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t you think I see how much I affect you? How much you squirm in my presence?” His deep chuckle rumbles through the crowded space of the car, sending goosebumps spreading across my skin.
I gulp in lungfuls of air, apprehension gripping me at the dangers of the moment.
Beneath the fear, something dark flutters in my stomach, causing me to squeeze my thighs together in a somewhat embarrassing reaction. The arousal of having my oxygen cut off, especially with him behind me, mingles with the fear and creates a tumultuous mix of emotions that make me struggle once more.
“Get off me, Kaiden,” I warn as the hand not holding the chains trail from my neck to the dip between my breasts. I bite my tongue to keep from making a sound, annoyance and something primal flickering inside me.
How fucking dare he come here and scare me like this? Holding me captive like this?
I can’t help but shudder as his hand finds its way below my shirt, under my bra, lightly twisting my nipple. The metallic tang of blood spreads on my tongue as I bite down on my lip.
“Escaping from home, stealing Mom’s car,” he muses, hand kneading one breast. “All to get away from your big brother. Was it to flirt with that cashier, huh? Or was it something else?”
Though I can’t see him, I catch his eyes in the rearview mirror, nearly glowing from the single light illuminating the car. He holds a lethal glint as he meets my gaze, causing me to gulp down my nervousness.
“You can’t hide from me.”
His hand slides from my breast to the other, kneading it with the chain still around my neck, restricting my movements. I’m rendered powerless as a sharp intake of breath escapes me as he pinches my nipple, sending a jolt of sensations through my body. His touch dips even lower, inching closer to my thighs as his hand slides over my stomach and hips. I buckle against the seat in a pathetic attempt to escape, but it’s fruitless as his hand meets the outside of my clit, and I’m unable to restrict the gasp from slipping out of me.
His eyes are dazed in the rearview mirror, a presence like the darkest archdemon ready to purge my soul. “I bet if I told you to bend over to the other seat, ass up in the air, I’d see your arousal dripping from your sweet cunt.” There’s a predatory edge to his tone, and my stomach flutters harshly, wild insects slicing me from the inside out.
I bite back the need to whimper as his hand continues its exploration down my body, touching me in ways he has never touched me before, circling over the fabric of my panties and my clit. He’s making me disoriented, and I hate the fact that I don’t mind it. Fear and desire coil in me, and I’m unable to figure out any of my thoughts.
“Kaiden, we can’t do this,” I whisper, knowing how futile my words are. He won’t stop; a predator never stops when it has set its sights on its prey.
“You’re not the one in charge now, little sister. You’re going to listen to your big brother like the good innocent girl I know you are, and you’re going to climb over here,” he demands, leaving me paralyzed with indecision. I’m frozen in time as if my brain is short-circuiting.
When I don’t instantly follow his orders, he grabs the chain harder around my throat, making me stutter on my breath. With one swift movement, he leans toward the side and grabs me, lifting me like a rag doll until I’m in the back seat with him. My knees scrape against the other seats.
“What the fuck?” I exclaim, but he ignores me.
“Bend over,” he growls, and I don’t listen to him. “Bend over, brat,” he repeats.
A sharp, stinging sensation comes from my right ass cheek, burning and twisting as I realize he spanked me. Another one, until I feel my legs wanting to clench from the unnerving arousal.
“Hands on each front seat and spread your legs. I can practically smell how much you want it.”
I do as he says, not thinking over my decision. Everything changes here. Every-fucking-thing, and I feel drunk on emotions, unable to fully comprehend the situation.
My nerves tingle with anticipation and fear, knowing how taboo this is. Knowing how fucked and twisted I am for wanting this.
He pushes my hips against him, and I still the moment I feel his hard cock pressing against my ass.
I attempt to speak, but he stuffs the chain into my mouth, the metallic taste overwhelming my senses. I’m prevented from speaking as the cold material meets my tongue.
This can’t possibly be happening.
But it is.
His erection pressing against me feels like confirmation, but I refuse to believe it. I’m his goddamn sister.
Nails grip my hips, and I can’t help but grind against him, arousal coating my panties despite the revulsion.
It’s sickening. Fucking sick.
I can’t see him behind me in the back seat, but I feel his hands as he slides down my pants. I’m too stunned to reply.
Without warning, his fingers find their way between my legs, teasing and touching my folds, igniting a roaring fire in me. I’m terrified of what this will mean for us, but I’m unable to stop him as he expertly works my clit, circling it. Moaning around the chains, I’m powerless as he plunges two fingers inside me, pushing me forward until I’m draped over the center console, near the gear lever.
The sound of his belt unbuckling sends shivers down my spine, and I close my eyes, bracing myself for what’s to come.
He prods himself against my entrance, cock sliding over my clit, eliciting a torrent of desire. I’m already soaking him, even before he pushes inside me. Leaning over me, he kneels beside me in the cramped car, his tall and muscular frame almost too large for the limited space.
He releases the chain, and it rattles as it lands below me, grazing my nipples and causing me to gasp.
“I know you’ve never fucked someone before,” he whispers in my ear, and I blush before annoyance comes over me.
“And how do you know that?”
“I’ve been watching you. Keeping track.”
Yet again, I’m too stunned to speak.
“Relax, baby. You will take my cock, and you’re going to love how I feel inside you. You’ll remember exactly who you belong to.”
I whimper around his length, overwhelmed by the enormity of him as he enters me fully.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” I breathe out.
“Oh, angel. We both know that’s a lie.”
I’m sore, and for just a fraction of a second, he allows me to adjust to his size. His gentleness is shocking, and soon, pleasure wreaks through me in electric shock waves. I’m clenching around his cock, hips rocking into mine as I lay helplessly over the center console, unable to move an inch yet loving it all the same.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I manage to moan between breaths.
“Shouldn’t and can’t are two different words,” he counters, his grip on my short hair tightening as he thrusts deeper, becoming more violent with each thrust.
“And I’m not feeling particularly kind today. You did something very fucking bad, Arcane. Now, you will come around my cock and milk me dry until I spill everything inside you.” Thrust. “My cum will trickle down your legs when you get home. I’m going to corrupt you and your thoughts.”
His words send a jolt through me, and tightness builds in my core when I’m unable to resist the coming wave of pleasure as my orgasm nears. This is too intense, too fucking forbidden. It feels as if I might shatter into pieces.
He coaxes a release from me as his fingers slip into my mouth mid-moan, hitting the back of my throat until I’m gagging, saliva dripping down the sides. The sounds he makes are beautiful, heavenly, and utterly too erotic as sweat coats our bodies.
The car rocks violently with each powerful thrust, and he pushes me toward my release. Another spank echoes around us as his palm meets my ass cheek while thrusting his fingers deeper until I gag again, feeling as if I might puke.
“Don’t ever fucking flirt with another man again,” he growls.
I’m soaked with arousal as I coat his cock with my slickness, my nipples two hardened buds beneath my T-shirt.
“You think I won’t get what I want? You think I’ll ever let you have any other man? You’re mistaken. You’re mine now, and in all the lifetimes to come.”
I come, screaming out my release as my entire body trembles. I’m falling, fucking tumbling toward the end of the earth as I reach the edge of ecstasy, gagging around his fingers before they leave my mouth.
With a groan, he thrusts deeper into me before spilling inside, filling me up so deep. I’ve never felt anything like this before.
We just fucked inside our mom’s car.
“Don’t think for a moment I won’t kill any other man who dares look at you.”
Dread thrums through me as I’m shaken by the creeping sensation that this is all a part of a twisted game.
But the next day, the news flashes across the television.
Dom West took his own life with a gun.
Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that Kaiden had something to do with it.