Page 10 of Unhallowed

“I don’t think you know what he appreciates.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Oh, I think I know more than you think.”

Oh.

Interesting. Here I thought she was a virgin just like the other girls they brought with her. It makes her a little more out of reach, yet so much more enticing. I’ve always liked a challenge, a game.

“I’m Killian.” I grin, winking at her as I reintroduce myself.

“Angel.”

“No, you’re not. You’re the prettiest demon I’ve ever seen in my life.” It’s true. She’s unholy, no part of her is angelic. Her name must be a contradiction, and I bet once I peel off a few layers she’ll show me I’m right. She’ll unleash whatever hell she harbors inside.

Angel scoffs, “A demon?”

“A little one.” She smiles at that, the first real one she gives me, and it feels like a gift. I don’t overthink it though. Instead, I get up from the bed. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” Her lips set into a thin line, almost like she’s embarrassed to admit it. Why would she feel that way though? Where did she come from anyway? It’s weird the way they brought her here, with all the other sacrifices. Yet she’s not with them at all.

“I’ll make you something real quick.”

I don’t know much about cooking, but I have a few things I can whip up in the kitchen, one of them being grilled cheese. You can’t really fuck that up anyway, I don’t think. So I pass her the remote and go to the kitchenette just beyond the bedroom, getting a flat pan and everything set up. There’s a small pantry with some canned soups I keep for those midnight munchies when I smoke pot, at least for when I’m trying to be healthy. I pour tomato soup into a bowl and heat it up in the microwave, then put the bread and cheese on the pan.

Something I can’t explain makes me want to get to know this girl, and she might just be vulnerable enough right now to give me some scraps of information. In return, I’ll give her some scraps of mine. I won’t give her everything though. How do I explain that she’ll be part of a marriage ritual where everyone will witness the consummation of her union? That she will have to watch some depraved shit happen? How do I tell her that the girls she came with are all part of a virgin sacrifice for our fucked up cult?

Not that it matters.

Nothing will change her fate now, except maybe me. As for the cult? Some may call it an academic secret society, but we all know the truth, at least the ones that are in it. There are many layers to it, a clear-cut hierarchy. Three levels to this. The Fellowship, which consists of the heads of thirteen families, theDuxas the head of The Fellowship. They are in charge of us and the lower sect.

At my level, we have The Heathens, which consists of six of us. All six of us are divided into pairs, soulmates, and one of us leads as well. I’m the leader of The Heathens since my father isDux, and Draven is my soulmate. The Fellowship and The Heathens areThe Family, as every Heathen is the son of a Fellow. At the lower sect, we have The Vipers, which are the underdogs. They do the dirty work that we keep our hands clean of. They take care of the weapons and drug trade, human trafficking, organ trafficking and the black market.

You see, our society is special. The Fellowship are all politicians, and that’s exactly what they expect of us as well. Merit is rewarded, and there are high expectations for us. In return, when the time comes, we will have positions of power and more money than we could dream of. More opportunities than we could even imagine.

All we have to do is follow directions.

Obey without question.

Blindly trust.

Then all of our dreams will come true. It’s not that hard to turn a blind eye, every organization is corrupt. Ours is no different.

I finish up in the kitchen and return to the bedroom, handing Angel her food and sitting next to her. I have every intention of extracting information, but I can’t help but watch as her eyes widen at the food and feel a pang of something unfamiliar in my chest.Pity. Why is she looking at grilled cheese that way? It feels…sad. Like I’m intruding on a very intimate moment between her and a fucking sandwich.

“Maybe you won’t like this.” I look into her deep blue eyes as I say to her, “But you could dip it in the tomato soup.”

Angel makes a very confused face but dips her grilled cheese, then takes a very tentative bite. She moans softly and I shift uncomfortably on the bed, trying to adjust myself without being vulgar.

I really shouldn’t be lusting over my baby brother’s soon-to-be wife, but I’ve never been a good person. I’ve never liked the things I should. There’s something seriously wrong with me. I’m wired all fucking wrong.

Fuck.

She gets some tomato soup all over one finger, and I curse myself for forgetting to bring a napkin with me. It doesn’t matter though because I take her hand and put her finger in my mouth, sucking it softly. She pulls her slender hand away and gasps, her mouth parted and her eyes wide. Damn…I don’t know what’s gotten into me.

“Stop.” She breathes. “You can’t do that.”

“Why not? I was just helping you out, baby girl.”

“Youknowwhy not.”

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