Page 22 of Homecoming: The Devil's Society

Nodding my head, I take it all in as my mind races with more questions, to which I want the answers.

“We are in deep with everything to do with Vail, I told you that. Nothing happens that we don’t know about. Counterfeits, gambling, drugs, police, judges, mysterious disappearances, infiltrating and planting people in places we need them. We can get in anywhere. And, if you are in this business and become a threat, you meet your maker. Me. And now you, little bat.”

Fuck.

This is much more intense than my father’s cult, The Chapel. Worry washes over me, the anxiety of the past day catching up as it all hits me.

“You will feel better once we get to the cabin. Where we will both finally get to play.”

My bat in one hand, this claw thing in the other—fuck this bitch. It’s going to feel incredible to gut her. Breathing in deep through my nose, I can already smell her cries. My tongue rubs against my fangs, now decorating my canines. Pushing it against one of the sharp tips, copper causing my taste buds to ignite with hunger. Licking my lips, our footsteps are drowned out by a whistle.

Looking at Rain, I find her looking at me curiously. Then I realize it’s me.

What is going on? I don’t whistle. I don’t care enough to whistle.

“E, I think you’re excited?” My little bat says while a large grin adorns her broken-looking, delicate face. My brows scrunch. “About what?”

Rain’s arm wraps around mine as her fingertips trace my forearm. “It’s okay. You’re mine now, remember? Let me help you.” Her statement confuses me, but I leave it be as I hear a male voice faintly off in the distance say, “Come on, Franny. Not tonight. They will fucking slaughter you if they find out.”

The Pawn. The prey.

“This is the one night they have free fucking rein on this place. No one would stop them from killing you here in the middle of the street. Fuck.”

He’s been compromised. This isn’t a Pawn playing the part. This is a boy who has gotten his dick wet and wants to save her.

We stop, still out of sight of our prey. Rain turns her head back, eyes squinting. “She’s gone.”

Another gust of wind blows, and hair gets stuck on her face. Reaching up, I brush it off. “Nah, she’s always around.”

“You’re being overdramatic. I am family. They won’t touch me.”

There she is. Overconfident. Because we will do more than touch her. We will make her scream, cry, and hurt.

“E, I have an idea. She doesn’t know me. No one in town has seen me before. What if I go in first? Then you sneak around and come in from the other side. I’ll keep them focused on me.” My little bat is ready to play.

“No. You are not going in alone.” My response is final. I cannot lose her.

Her nostrils flare as her eyes glare at me. Fucking stunning.

“Nothing will happen to me. Plus, I will throat punch the bitch if she tries anything. And I’m not talking about Francesca.”

Looking up at the night sky, I blow out a deep breath, shaking my head exasperated. “Fine. Go.”

Soft lips kiss the underside of my chin. By the time I look down, her feet are already carrying her forward. Absent-mindedly, my thumb rubs the cool metal of the claw as I continue to take her in. The pink gem at the end of the plug can faintly be seen through her white skirt as she walks under the lampposts.

As she turns the corner, I can hear her cheery voice mixed with the act of confusion when she greets them. “Hey, I’m new here. I live in the apartments down the road and noticed the streets suddenly went empty. But then I saw you two and thought I would come and ask, where is everyone?”

Swinging my bat in the air, it’s finally fucking time.

Both just stare at me.

Francesca is looking me up and down with looks of disgust and judgment radiating from her.

She is pretty if you like that full glam look all the time. Her entire face is done up, with smoky eyes, large fake lashes, bright blush, and contour, topped with a pale pink lip. Her hair is bright blonde—blood will look beautiful stained in it. Finally my eyes take in her outfit, an army green sweat suit paired with white sneakers.

It looks comfortable, I wonder where she got it from?

The man next to her must be the Pawn.

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