Chapter 21 Scarlett
Scarlett
It was a church event.
It wasn’t June, so it wasn’t an auction, and by the lines and cracks in the sidewalk, it was a place I had never been before, which didn’t happen often.
I heard people talking all around me as I counted, following Thomas down the sidewalk.
82 lines. 21 cracks, and it smelled like lavender out here. I hated lavender.
There were so many beautiful shoes on either side of us, some taking up the sidewalk. Some sparkled and shined, others looked similar to the ones they put me in in the Back Hall. Certainly not shoes Pastor Masters allowed at our church though.
Thomas hadn’t said a word since he put me in the van, but I could tell from the way he was walking that he was nervous. I wasn’t sure why.
It has been three weeks since I lifted my finger for Azrael. One week since I felt his warm gaze on me. The two Sundays after he asked me to tap my finger for him, he came back, requesting one-on-one sessions with me again, only to stand in the room and simply watch me.
For thirty minutes each session, we just stood. He didn’t say a word, didn’t even move. He just looked at me.
But this last Sunday, he had been gone, and Thomas seemed relieved about it.
I didn’t like that he felt relieved because I felt disappointed.
I liked when Azrael stared at me. I liked that he wanted to spend his time watching me alone and in service.
I didn’t want his eyes to be on anyone else but me.
I knew selfishness was a sin, but I couldn’t help it. I’d rather sin with him than follow their rules with anyone else.
The wounds on my chest were almost completely healed now, but the other sessions at church had gotten worse. Sessions held after my sessions with Azrael.
Thomas no longer stayed in the room, giving all of the Leaders time with me without his watchful eyes. They gripped my hair painfully, forced me to swallow, forced me to suck, forced me to taste.
I had lost more weight, but I was able to eat a little more. I didn’t feel so tired anymore and I was getting used to the taste of the saltiness and mold, but I suppose it did help that I went to other places when it happened.
I went to that room with no cameras and no lights. When Azrael’s cane was pressed against my chest and his eyes warmed my skin.
My body followed the rules, but my mind? My mind was with him. Always with him.
I wondered if he liked hummingbirds too.
The air smelled clean here. Like lemons and lavender. The carpet was brick-red rather than dark red like the carpet in the sanctuary.
Before I could study anything else, I suddenly felt the warmth of his gaze, but it was so quick that I thought that maybe I had imagined it. Maybe I was spending too much time in my head during my other sessions. Maybe my mind was finally getting the best of me.
It’d be nice if he was here though. Maybe he would come mock Thomas again. Maybe I would get to feel his burning presence again.
There were people everywhere. Talking and laughing more than they ever did at the church. Much more. It was really loud, and I felt something tickle over my skin. Nerves, I think. I didn’t like there being so many people.
I tried to step closer to Thomas, but he snapped at me, threatening another lashing.
I had to follow the rules, but it was hard here. There were so many people. I kept bumping into them on accident. Why were there so many people? I knew there were seven other churches, but this seemed far more than seven churches filled with people.
Were there other Favorites here too? Maybe that’s why it seemed like so many. Maybe they had all brought their Favorites.
We continued to walk through the building, Thomas giving greetings to whomever greeted him, until we finally walked through another door and slowed to a stop.
“Thomas,” a male said. I didn’t recognize his voice. “It’s good to see you.”
It was so much quieter in here that it caused the muscles in my back to release a little bit of tension.
I really didn’t like large crowds, especially when everyone was standing and talking.
Church was fine because everyone was normally sitting quietly, listening to Pastor Masters, but here?
It felt as if anyone could just walk up and take me.
I suppose I wouldn’t mind if Azrael decided to do that, but anyone else? I didn’t much like the Leaders of my church, or Thomas, but who’s to say the other churches weren’t worse?
“You too,” he greeted, a slapping sound meeting my ears.
“Is this your betrothed?”
He sounded around Thomas’s age, but his voice was higher pitched.
“Yep, we’re getting married in…”
“8 months and 3 days.”
“September,” Thomas told him.
“Congrats, it’s closing in.” He walked up to me, his shoes coming into view.
They looked identical to Thomas’. Brown, leather, nice.
He must be a friend from another church, possibly the son of a Leader.
“I thought it was an exaggeration. Her hair is really like this?” he finally asked, his shoes turning to point back at Thomas.
“Some were saying her mother dyed her hair when she was younger.”
“No, we scrubbed her down and shaved her head when she was a kid to make sure. It’s a genetic defect father took as a blessing. It’ll make for some good-looking kids though, huh?”
They what? I couldn’t remember that.
His shoes turned back to me. “Sure will.” He chuckled. “The Masters church is lucky to get such a Favorite. I even heard she likes cock too.”
“She’s not bad. She does this thing with her tongue,” Thomas chuckled. “A natural.”
His friend let out a whistle as my stomach twisted. “Does her pussy match her hair?”
“Her pussy is just the dark brown. It’s only the hair on her head that has the white.” Thomas shifted on his feet. “Where are your Favorites?”
“Huh, interesting.” He inhaled deeply and exhaled. “Wyatt and I left ours at home, didn’t want to bring them to an event where they could be taken.”
My heart thudded. What did that mean?
“Cam’s is in the restroom with his sister, and Vic lost his. He’s currently looking to get a replacement.”
Another male laughed. “I couldn’t help myself. I had to fuck her. My dad got rid of her the next day. Probably sent her down the road. You up for maybe letting me borrow yours? I heard the sons in your church are just itching at a turn.”
“They’ll get one after we’re married.” Thomas paused as the door opened. “You got two, Cam?”
He chuckled. “Twins. The more wives, the more children,” he confirmed. “I’m taking advantage of the Good Book. What about you? Thinking of getting another?”
“Yeah, I doubt she’ll be any good when she’s returned to me. Gonna breed her first, and then who knows.”
My stomach twisted again, the prickle flooding over my skin. No. I didn’t like Thomas, but I didn’t want to share. I certainly didn’t want anyone to share our house. Someone who might not be as compliant. Someone who might get me in trouble because she couldn’t follow the rules.
The first male finally sighed, his shoes turning back to me.
He shifted on his feet. “Well, we got a bit, and I know you’re not sharing with the sons at your church, and I can understand why, but mind if we have a ride?
” he asked under a hushed breath. “It’s been too long since I’ve had a good blow. ”
“No.” I didn’t want to do this. They were younger than Mr. Bastrom and Mr. Alascer, yes, but I had heard stories about the sons of the Leaders. They were all like Thomas, some of them worse. I couldn’t handle that. Where would I change? Where would I clean up?
The seconds ticked by like hours. “Fine,” Thomas finally said, my mind splitting from my body, “but don’t ruin her clothes or her hair.
I didn’t bring anything for her to change into.
Don’t talk about it, the last thing I need is Edgar’s kid finding out about it, let alone L.J.
He’s obsessed with the idea of her. I’ll be back.
There were some people I wanted to speak to privately anyway. ”
But there were no cameras here. There was no anything. These men could do what they wanted and so long as there was no evidence, Thomas would never know.
I watched Thomas’ shoes head back for the door, and my feet remained planted.
I heard the door shut and the first male stepped up to me. “On your knees, Chosen One,” he ordered me.
My mouth was already starting to salivate as my mind began to drift.
My body fell to its knees and my mind fell down a rabbit hole.
It fell.
And fell.
And fell.
Until I was no longer in my body but a room, and across that room was Azrael.
“Tick tock goes the clock, and all the souls will drown,” he hummed.
“In the blood they will be bathed, and the devil will be crowned.” He smiled, holding that cane in front of him, center to his body, both hands folded over the head of it that I had yet to see, his legs spread slightly, an aura of black pulsing around him.
“Tick tock,” he sang.
“Tick tock,” I mimicked cheerfully.
His smile widened as if he had heard me in my silence. As if he knew. As if he held some secret that would shatter this world and send it straight to Hell, and he was willing to share it all with m—
My jaw tightened, ripping me back to the present.
My eyes squeezed shut tightly. There was a man behind me holding my head in place while they tried to stuff things into my mouth.
Three cocks, it felt like. All three of them, sliding in and out at the same time, my teeth grinding against them, my lips straining painfully.
Pain erupted through my hands, and I instinctively tried to move my fingers only to feel them throb. Shoes. I think they were standing on my hands. Why? I never would have moved. I’m a good Favorite, I knew how to follow the rules, they didn’t need to do that.
I couldn’t breathe. Their cocks kept slamming into me, the hands behind my head forcing me to stay as panic swam through me.
Not even the Leaders were this cruel.