Page 95 of Dirty Little Saint

“To Nocturnus,” they mumble through their masks.

I can’t help but laugh as I watch them struggle to drink their vials while still keeping their faces covered.

Now, the fun begins.

I clap my hands together. “Who wants to see the gift I brought, dear old Dad? Anyone?”

A couple of grumbles break out amongst them.

I stalk over to the cage and pull off the sheet.

The initiates gasp at the sight of two king cobras slithering and snapping at the bars.

“Oh, you didn’t think I only had one snake, did you?” I lift open the door to the cage and the initiates take a giant leap back.

I’m so turned on by this I’m tempted to fuck one of them while he dies. “See, in about thirty seconds, you’re all going to keel over. Paralysis will set in. But your minds will still be alive, feeling everything. The toxin will slowly travel to your heart, which will then explode.”

The look of horror on their faces makes my cock twitch. The leader of them steps forward, “You poisoned us? Why?”

I sigh and grab him by the throat. “Because you disrespected what’s mine. You spread your disgusting seed all over my pretty girl. And the penalty for that is death.”

I crush his throat seconds before the paralysis sets in. Just in time to watch the rest of them drop to their knees.

Maureen

The dust from Atlas’s tires blows back in our faces. We wait for it to clear before continuing down the road. When we get to the fountain with the gargoyles, Riot hacks into the cameras. No one dares to utter a word until he gives us the okay.

“My old man has lost his edge,” Riot snickers.

Felix smirks. “Did someone forget to change his passwords? And they say boomers aren’t tech savvy.”

Riot hands me a key. “This opens all the doors on the main floor. You, Val, and Villette go in first. We’ll be right behind you.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. This house is triggering. Standing at the front door, all the memories come flooding back.

Villette puts her hand on my shoulder. “You got this, Maur. I’m with you every step of the way.”

“We all are, love,” Val adds.

I nod and turn the key to the front door. When it creaks open, I peer into the dimly lit foyer. It feels like my soul has left my body. I look back at Riot and Felix before stepping inside, dreading being apart from them. Villette and Val both stick close to me as I shut the door gently behind us.

“What now?” she whispers.

Good question. I need to get down to the ritual room before the elders do. I really fucking hope Atlas has succeeded in killing the initiates.

I take another step forward and find comfort in the cold blade strapped to my thigh. Another reason why I chose a dress with open slits. Easy access.

“This way,” Val starts toward the first corridor. The one I remember getting escorted down the night they mutilated me.

I shudder, hesitating before taking another step.

“What is the meaning of this?” Clover Graves calls out from behind us.

Fuck.

I freeze.

“Maur, get behind me,” Val orders.

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