4. Seraphina
4
SERAPHINA
“PASS THE LUBE, PLEASE”
I sidle through the doors of the Neon Flamingo, waving a quick hello to Joe the Bouncer before heading to the back of the club where Ivan will be waiting for me. The bass pounds in time with each click of my stilettos against the shiny dance floor, and I have to squint my eyes against the strobing neon lights as a migraine builds at the base of my skull.
Brave face, Seraphina. Slap that bitch on.
Pulling my shoulders back, I plaster a large smile on my made-up face and saunter to the booth in the back, catching Ivan’s chocolate gaze immediately. A deep red aura bursts from his shoulders as he shoots up from his seat, sloshing dark amber liquid all over his friend’s chest with the force of the motion.
“Dollface!” he cheers, ignoring his friend’s disgruntled look as he shoves his now empty glass into his chest. The blond stranger reluctantly grabs the glass, and Ivan races over to me, his leather crocodile boots slapping the ground comically.
I blink, and he’s in front of me, clasping his ring-laden hands on my shoulders with a manic smile. “I was just about to call you! I could hardly wait to see my little doll.” Ivan reaches out and runs a hand lovingly down my pin-straight hair. “No ringlets today? I was so fond of them…”
I fight my cringe and plaster a simpering smile on my face. “My curling iron broke.”
“Hmm.” He tugs on one of the silky strands as he looks deep into my eyes. “You should have told me. I would have gladly bought you another.”
“I didn’t want to trouble you,” I say, fighting every instinct in me screaming to back away.
“Hmm.” Ivan finally blinks, his eyes moving in a reptilian way as he scours the rest of my face. The vein in the center of his forehead pulses as he takes in the thick layer of foundation I applied earlier, and something like a snarl works its way from his parted lips.
“Why is your scar covered, my little doll?” He tilts his head as his aura deepens to a color close to black. “Why would… why would you do something like that?”
I take a shaking breath, focusing on keeping my heart from exploding from my chest. “I’m sorry… I was running errands today and didn’t have time to take off my makeup.”
It's a bold-faced lie . I don’t like Ivan’s obsession with my scar, so I purposely covered it tonight in anticipation. The way he looks at it has always given me a case of the heebie-jeebies—and that’s probably because of what I know lurks beneath that charismatic smile.
Ivan is a collector. A collector of anomalies—priceless little oddities that have no place in this world. I don’t know when the obsession started, only that as long as I’ve known him, Ivan has had a constant rotation of scarred, maimed, or just plain unusual-looking men and women warming his bed.
People are often uncomfortable with that which is not known to them, he would say. But I am different. When I look upon a marvelous sunset, I only see the dying of another day. When I pass a blooming flower on the street, I can’t help but think of the decaying mess it will be in a week. But with you, Seraphina… I see so much more. I see a thousand human stories—never-ending, tragic, tear-filled stories—just waiting to be discovered.
“No. No, no, no ,” Ivan breathes, his body shuddering with repulsion as he takes a step back, casting his eyes from my face. “You need to take it off immediately.”
“But, sir?—”
“ Now, Seraphina!” he screams, chest heaving. “You are my doll! I will not tolerate your face being covered!” Past his shoulder, Ivan’s four friends are trying their best not to stare and losing the fight. And not a single one of them looks like they’d take my side. Hell, I doubt they’d blink if he chopped me up and threw me in the ocean.
With that thought, I scurry off to the bathroom, cursing myself for putting on the stupid makeup in the first place. I knew it would make him furious, and I still did it. Why? Why can’t I just make things easier for myself?
A sigh leaves my body as I grab a makeup wipe from my purse and remove the heavy layer of foundation to uncover my jagged scar beneath. I stand in front of the mirror for a minute, tracing my finger through the deep groove in my face, wishing my life had turned out differently. Wishing I had a little more of myself left.
A violent pounding on the door tears me from my thoughts. I take one last glance at those sad eyes in the mirror and hasten to unlock the door, my tongue heavy and throbbing with my racing pulse. The tang of iron and sulfur assaults my senses as I tug open the door, and I’m unsurprised to find Ivan standing on the other side.
He leans forward with a scowl, reaching up and tracing the line of my scar like I had done a moment ago. “This is much better. Now you really look like the perfect broken doll.” The scowl lifts from his face with the last of his words, making way for a manic smile that has my stomach clenching uncomfortably. “I brought the lube you like.”
“Oh… that's great.” My eyes dart over his shoulder to the pulsing dance floor beyond. I catch the gaze of the square-headed blond from earlier. Only this time, his blue eyes are filled with sympathy. A sentiment I don’t want. Don’t need .
“Come.” Ivan holds a ringed hand out for me to take. It envelops mine as he leads me back toward his table, the gold rings pressing uncomfortably against my skin with the strength of his grip.
A waft of stale liquor smacks me in the face as I plop next to Ivan in the booth, and I have to hold my breath as I fight against the wave of nausea it brings. Cursed tequila.
“Drink this.” Ivan thrusts a glass of amber liquid into my palms. I nod my thanks, taking the dose of Hennessy back like I have for the past year I’ve been meeting Ivan at this club. Always the same bottle of amber liquid, always a different group of “friends.”
The pounding bass fades away as the diluted X spreads through my bloodstream, filling my head with the beautiful nothingness I’ve been craving all month. My times with Ivan are the only instances I allow myself to partake in the drug anymore. But every time we meet, and he hands me his special reserve, it’s like an embrace from a long-lost friend. Comfortable. Warm. Always warm.
“Feel better?” Ivan’s hand slides up my thigh as a genuine smile lights my face for the first time all night.
I nod, and his smile mirrors mine.
“Good,” he whispers, his hand trailing higher, higher, higher. He stops at the apex of my thighs, his middle finger teasing my sex as his smile turns devilish. “I have so many plans for you tonight, my little doll.”
My breath hitches as the room swims in and out of focus, the blinding lights making it hard to keep my eyes open for long. “Whatever you want, sir.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He brushes his lips lightly against my jaw. His hand cups the back of my neck, pushing my mouth down to his crotch in a silent demand. I sense the eyes of his four friends as I swiftly undo Ivan’s belt, pulling out his long skinny cock without so much as a blink.
Ivan throws his head back, a moan warring against the pounding bass as I wrap my lips around his cock. I drag my tongue across his tip, licking up his pre-cum and taking him to the back of my throat. The square-headed blond from earlier must feel emboldened by the sight because not even a moment later, his meaty palms are covering my ass.
He drags one hand up my spine, laying it over the back of my neck and pushing me down Ivan's cock, a throaty groan mingling with Ivan’s cries of bliss.
“Oh fuck, that’s hot,” Blondie groans, moving the hand on my ass closer to my pussy, his fingertips reaching—teasing. “You weren’t wrong, Ivan. She’s a freak.”
A chuckle tumbles from Ivan’s mouth, only to be replaced with a powerful groan as he spills his hot cum down my throat. My eyes water as I gulp down every last drop, even going so far as to lick all my spit from his length when he’s done.
I gaze at Ivan through heavy-lidded eyes, licking the last of his salty release from the corner of my lip. He gazes down in adoration, hauling me up by the chin and planting his lips square against mine. It takes everything in me not to pull away.
“Ready to meet the rest of my friends?” Ivan asks, his pupils blown as he gestures to the four men looking on with hungry eyes. Greedy eyes.
“Of course, sir.” I stand on shaking legs, reminding myself to breathe as the room spins violently. The light, the pounding, the nameless drunken faces swimming all around—it’s too much.
Ivan places a hand on my lower back, dragging me back to earth and leading me toward the red hallway at the back of the club. Security nods, expressionless save for the slight twinkle in his greedy eyes, and all six of us pass through to the gold-hewn door at the end of the hall.
As soon as Ivan unlocks the door, I’m pushed through the threshold and onto the mattress at the center of the room. I kneel on the crimson sheets, about to remove my jumper when a set of meaty hands reaches out, pulling it down my body before I have the chance.
I open my mouth in indignation, only to have a cock shoved past my lips. My eyes widen, and I look up to see Ivan’s second friend—this one with shocking blue eyes and a head of ginger hair. He places a freckled hand on the back of my head, pushing his cock to the back of my throat as Blondie paws at my breasts, twisting my nipples and bringing tears to my eyes.
The ginger groans, throwing his head back as my lips hit the base of his pelvis. I take small breaths through my nose as he holds me there, barely aware of Blondie pulling my bodysuit the rest of the way off, exposing me to the room.
The head of Blondie’s cock presses against my entrance, only for him to be shoved away a moment later, sending a shiver down my spine as the cold air smacks my exposed sex.
“Don’t be so fucking greedy, Jake.” The third friend unzips his pants and presses his own cock against my pussy. “You’ve already got to touch her.”
Blondie—Jake—grumbles something vulgar under his breath, then says, “Fuck you, Noah. We can share.”
“Would you both shut the fuck up!” The Ginger thrusts violently in and out of my mouth. “I don’t know how, but you’re ruining this. Just pick her up and fuck her at the same time.”
“See, Oliver gets it,” Jake says, placing a hand on my lower back. “Sharing is caring.”
Noah curses, pulling his cock away just as Oliver convulses, his cock spewing thick ropes of cum down my throat. I place my hands against his hips, pushing against him as my air is cut off, but he just holds me there like Ivan, making sure I get every last drop.
As soon as his softening cock leaves my mouth, I’m yanked by my waist to the end of the bed. Noah spins me around, sliding his hands under my arms and hauling me tight against his chest, chestnut eyes glimmering beneath a thick mop of unruly brown hair.
I only have a moment to admire his appearance before he’s positioning his cock at my entrance. I wrap my legs around his waist, a breathy moan falling from my lips as Jake presses his cock against my asshole.
They pull me down, both cocks filling me to the hilt. A choked gasp leaves my mouth as they start moving in tandem, their lengths rubbing my walls brilliantly, dragging me screaming to the edge of bliss. Noah snakes an arm around my waist, holding me tight as he reaches down with the other, his fingertips reaching for my clit.
His fingertips swirl that swollen nub, and I’m a goner. A scream falls from my lips as I go weightless in Noah's arm, the sensation too much to bear. My body is thrumming, bursting with electricity from every pore, and it’s only drawn out by the men’s incessant thrusting.
Noah and Jake follow me soon after, pouring their release into me, filling both my holes with deep, pleasure-filled groans.
“Fuck, baby,” Jake moans, gently pumping his softening cock. “You’re so damn tight.”
“She really is,” Noah chokes, the vein at the side of his neck bulging as he stills with the last of his release. “Fuck, this pussy is perfect.”
“I’m glad you got her warmed up for me,” a fourth unfamiliar voice speaks out. “If it’s as good as you say, it’ll be twice as nice now that she’s come.”
A whimper tumbles from my lips as I’m placed on the bed, my body spent yet rejoicing in the idea of being filled once more. Now that the drink from earlier has set in, all I want is to feel that high of coming. Of falling over the edge, being lost to oblivion. To pleasure.
A man with dark hair and dark eyes steps to the foot of the bed, his smile menacing as he slides a hand up my leg, cupping my throbbing sex.
“Mmm.” He licks his lips. “You’re finally ready for me, pet.”
My eyes widen as he reaches over to the bedside table, fisting a full bottle of tequila. “Get on all fours. Now. ”
Swallowing hard, I do as he says, my sex throbbing as the cold air assaults me once again.
“Pass the lube, please.” His tone is a demand despite the politeness in his voice. There’s a squelch, and the dark-haired man's hands are on me, his thumb swirling around the entrance of my asshole, coating it in the cool lubricant.
He uncorks the bottle, a manic laugh filling the air as he removes his thumb from my ass. Without a word of warning, he presses the lip of the bottle against my puckered hole, pushing the tip past the tight muscle so not a drop of alcohol is wasted.
A hiss leaves my lips as a gentle burning sensation thrums from within, but I barely feel it—too focused on the sensation of the man pushing the neck deeper and deeper inside me.
“Fuck, that’s hot, Eli,” Ivan groans, the sound of his slapping cock filling the room as he gets off to the sight. “Don’t stop.”
“That’s good,” the man—Eli—groans, stopping when the shoulder of the bottle hits my ass cheeks. “You took that so fucking well, pet.” He swirls the base of the bottle slightly, causing tears to stream down my cheeks as more of the liquid flows into me. “Gonna get you nice and drunk while I fuck your pussy.”
He grips my hips, pulling me clear off the bed so my head almost smacks into the baseboard. Blood rushes to my head as I hang upside down with nothing but the sight of Eli’s kneecaps to ground me as the room spirals out of control.
“Fuck, someone get her head!” he demands, making sure to keep the bottle upright as he positions the head of his cock against my dripping entrance. At the same time, Jake steps over to my head, pulling me up by the shoulders and holding me in place while Eli thrusts inside me.
He fucks me like a man possessed, each violent pound of his cock causing more and more poison to pour into me, drawn in by gravity and the angle with which he’s fucking me. Before long, my sight is completely blurred, and I don’t know which way is up. I have to mentally focus on breathing. The pleasure, the drugs, and the sensations are all too much for me to bear.
Eli thrusts into me once more, holding his hips against me as he finds his release. While he’s coming, Ivan crouches beneath us, raising his lips to my clit and applying a powerful suction. And I follow Eli into oblivion.
I scream as my orgasm tears through me, sparks flying behind my eyes as Ivan drags his teeth against the bundle of nerves. Eli groans as my walls convulse around him, drawing out his pleasure and causing him to start thrusting anew.
When his softening cock finally slips out, Ivan presses his mouth to my sex, gorging himself on the juices flowing from my pussy. He laps me clean, pulling back with hooded eyes and a smile filled with euphoria.
“You taste marvelous, doll.” Ivan takes his glistening lip between his teeth. “Always so much better when it’s mixed with other men’s cum.”
Ivan gently pulls the bottle from my ass, and I squeeze my eyes against the uncomfortable sensation. He tosses it onto the floor, causing the remainder of the liquid to flood into the carpet. It was mostly full, but the amount that made its way into me still has the room spinning.
Ivan cups my cheek, and I try to smile but find I don’t have the energy. Sensing this, he pulls me into his arms. He carries me to the bed, depositing my limp form gently beneath the crimson sheets. After placing a kiss on the center of my chest, Ivan turns to the four men with a severe expression.
“Time to go.”
There’s not so much as a sound of dispute, just the mumble of thanks and the rustle of clothes being pulled back on.
Once the door closes, Ivan climbs into bed with me, his bright smile blurred as the toxins course through my veins. He pulls me onto his chest, his fingers lightly running across my shoulder before sliding down my side to my hip. He makes endless little circles in the space where the bone dips into the flesh of my ass, his eyes fixed on that very spot.
“I love this little tattoo.” Despite his words, a frown creases the space between his brows. “Won’t you tell me what it means?”
It’s my turn to frown. I shift upward like I mean to press my lips to his cheek, but in actuality, I’m moving his fingers from that part of my body. “You already know what it means.”
“You like birds? No, Seraphina. You are much too complex for so simple an answer.”
“Not everything I do has to be for a reason, Ivan.”
“No. But it is.” He pierces me with an intense gaze, and I have to look away, my own fingers unwittingly trailing to the little bird tattoo. Most people who see it mistake it for a dove or some other small bird. When I tell them it’s a shrike, all are confused. They want to know what it means, what it symbolizes to me.
But the truth is, I don’t even know myself—one of those things that have been lost to time, to the dark corners of my memory. The only thing I know is it’s special to me. That it meant something to someone at some point.
“What are you thinking about, precious? Where have you gone?”
I relax into his chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat lull me into a comforting nothingness. “I’m here,” I say. “And nothing of importance.”
“Hmm.” He twirls his finger absentmindedly through a string of white hair. “Always so secretive.”
My throat constricts, and I look at the clock on the wall, noting how late it’s become. “I should get going…”
I move to push off Ivan’s chest, but he holds me down, pushing his face into my hair and taking a deep inhale.
“You could stay here with me, you know,” he murmurs, running his fingers through my hair like each strand is made of glass. “The world out there is cruel. Dark. You should be somewhere safe. Be with someone who can give you the light you crave.”
A low laugh puffs from my lips without my meaning to. I pat Ivan’s chest, shifting as far as he’ll let me as he devolves into whispers of his many ideas and epiphanies. Ivan could go on and on about his views on the world—and he often does. In truth, it’s my least favorite aspect of our encounters. Sitting here listening to a madman’s ramblings for hours always leaves me a little more unhinged than when I started the day. And I’m already two nuts loose of a bolt as it is.
“I really think I should get going.” I attempt to free myself for a second time from his hold. His arms are like a vice around my shoulders, but after a few more tries, he finally allows me to get up from the bed.
I feel his eyes following me as I step toward the door, where someone has neatly folded my dress and lingerie. His disappointment fills the air with a rancid stench as I pull the straps over my shoulders, and I worry for a moment that this will be the time he decides not to let me leave.
Ivan likes his dolls to choose to stay, I remind myself. There’s no way he’d keep me here against my will. It goes against everything that gets him off. But when I take in the hungry sheen in his smile, my heart stutters in fear. Maybe… maybe he’d reconsider for the right “doll.”
“Will you let my driver take you home? I hate for you to be out alone at night.” His eyes are molten in the glow of the bedside lantern. “I can’t bear the thought of my best toy being injured by another's hand.”
Though my head is still swimming, I manage to pull my clothes on without too much trouble. Ivan pouts from the bed, but I hardly give him another look as I wobble toward the exit.
As soon as I step out of the club, I tilt my head back, closing my eyes against the glowing stars as the night air whips against my skin. Before I know what’s happening, I’m walking down the sidewalk. Except I’m not heading in the direction of civilization or my apartment, where my roommate waits for me.
I’m heading to the forest.