Page 63 of Sinful

“And if I don’t?”

He clicked the button, and I yelped when a bolt of electricity shot through me, making my body jolt as pain shot through my neck and chest.

“That’s what will happen when you break a rule,” Sebastian said. He lifted the controller, brandishing it like it was a weapon. “Unpleasant, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Rule two. No speaking unless you’re given permission.”

“But—”

Another zap. He must’ve changed something on the controller, because this one hurt far more than the last one. I felt it in every inch of me, every muscle cramping as my knees buckled.

“Do you understand now, Rose?” he said, eyes glittering with amusement and malice. Clearly, he drew some sort of sick pleasure from bringing me pain.

I nodded mutely, biting back my words of protest. The zaps would likely get worse and worse, so I had to pick my battles.

“Good.” Sebastian smiled. “Rule three: you’ll do exactly as you’re told, no matter what. Understood?”

I nodded again.

“You’re a fast learner, Rose. I guess you aren’t as stupid as you claim to be.” He gestured toward the chalk he’d left for me earlier. “You’re going to write lines on the blackboard now. You can speak if you want to ask questions.”

I gulped, not knowing if it was a trick or not. “I… what sort of lines?”

“You know, like teachers used to make students do back in the day. You never had that in Alderwood?”

“Y-yes. But I—”

“Yeswhat?”

“Yes, Master,” I mumbled. The words felt like acid on my tongue, but I really didn’t want another zap from the collar.

“Very good. You really are a smart girl when you want to be.”

I turned my attention to the chalkboard. “I just meant… what must I write, Master?”

“The Entity isn’t real. I do not belong to it. I belong to Sebastian Thorne.”

My gaze snapped back to Sebastian. “That is blasphemy! I cannot do it!”

He zapped me again. This time, I fell to my knees, gasping from the pain, but I didn’t give in. “I will not write that!” I said breathlessly, grimacing as I tried to get back up. “It is disrespectful and disgusting and—”

Sebastian sent another bolt of electricity through me, making me shriek. “Normally I’d respect people’s right to their religious beliefs,” he said. “But the way I see it, some are objectively immoral and wrong. Yours are in that category.”

I glowered up at him. “Why?”

“Because your religion is just one big trick to control you. It dictates that women are below men. Basically glorified baby-making machines. Some even get their throats cut on an altar to… what? Appease your god through a blood sacrifice?”

Panic and horror struck me like dual hatchets in the chest. “You saw Elise’s Tetrad ritual?”

“Yes.” Sebastian stared at me, eyes narrowed. “What did you think I meant when I said your corner of the world isn’t any less cruel or evil than the rest?”

I felt like eels were squirming through my guts. “No, no, no…” I said in a low voice, shaking my head. “The Entity will be very displeased.”

He sneered. “I bet he’ll be even more displeased when you fail to show up for your ritual.”

“No!” My eyes widened. “I have to be there, Sebastian! I can’t miss it!”

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