Page 2 of Homecoming: The Devil's Society

A loud chuckle leaves my lips.

This fucking girl.

Rain had been looking up different torture techniques when she discovered the choke pear, which happened to be at the same time I was tattooing my teeth marks onto her ass. She’s been obsessed with it ever since. I ordered one for our place in Blackwood, which she proudly displays on her nightstand. A second one was ordered for here as soon as I got the call from Dad. It's a surprise for my little bat, to make her feel more at home. Even though it’s due to arrive today, I’ll have Rogers keep it hidden until tomorrow.

For lack of a better word, he is like our property manager. Anything and everything we need, he is the man to procure it for us.

For Rain, this trip was sudden; for me, it’s been years in the making.

Blackwood will be where we go to get away, spend the summers, and visit her mom.

This place, Vail, is her new home. I just haven’t broken the news to her yet.

The SUV comes to a stop outside the oversized dark wood front door, which is enclosed by a stone archway. The rest of the exterior is decorated with granite rock and large windows on the single-story home. A four-car garage is on the far side of the house. Unlike Blackwood, this garage only holds cars.

Like the private road, the entire property is surrounded by a forest of trees. The backyard is also home to a pool and hot tub, along with an outdoor patio space and kitchen.

My dad started building this place for me when I was seventeen, ensuring it would be ready for when I needed to return. He would send me progress reports and I would provide feedback on what I needed. A lot of it I left up to him, with the exception of a few sacred places.

Such as one of the two basements which sits under the house.

Rain sits up, the side of her face flushed from resting on my legs. She looks over to me, still tired. “How long did you say we would be here for?”

Gripping my bat, I open the car door and begin to step out as I respond, “I didn’t.”

It’s later in the evening, the sun has already started to set and the air is cold and crisp. Mountains surround us behind the trees, the clouds hang low and threaten snow upon us at any moment. Soon a sea of tourists will invade for the winter ski season.

But first, a tradition which is generations old must occur. Something that only happens every ten years. Locals all know it’s coming, they leave or stay inside. Preparation begins the day following the last one.

The Reckoning.

Tourists who come early catch on quickly when things begin to shut down early for the night. The town goes quiet as we come out to play.

“When do we meet your dad?”

Turning around, I take another deep breath in.

To most, the smell of this place calms them, connects them with nature. To me, it’s calming but for completely different reasons. It connects me to death.

This is where I learned to embrace myself.

Since that day at the dinner table when I was five, sitting with my dad’s “friends”, who I now know are much more than that, it’s been death.

I will always remember when Dad pulled me aside in his office, how his one friend said I would be useful.

That’s when it began—no longer having to keep my demons at bay.

My dad gave me permission to be my fucking self.

Keeping my expression neutral, I reply, “Soon. If not tonight, definitely tomorrow.”

She nods her head, accepting my short answers as she slides to exit on my side of the car.

Joining me outside, her eyes take it all in as her jaw drops. “This place is incredible, E.”

Grabbing her at the waist, I pull her close against me and whisper in her ear, “You haven’t seen the best of it yet, little bat.”

Reaching up, her tiny fingers trace the lines of my ink that decorate my face. She loves doing this. “Then show me.”

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