Page 11 of Mistress A-0002

“Did I kill her? Did I get to that part?”

Melissa’s eyes softened sadly.

“You never do. You know that.”

I stood, not able to stop myself from fisting my hands at my sides. “Because I didn’t kill her. She’s out there. She’s alive.”

“Elec.” Melissa stood, joining me. “She’s not. I wish she was, but we both know what happened that day. She ran, just like she always did, and you found her at your secret spot. She admitted she wanted the relationship between the two of you to end.With the loss of the baby, there was nothing keeping the two of you together. She was done.” She paused. “Maybe there was someone else. You seemed to think so in your session.”

“What? No…I mean...No.”

“But you said. And…” she gestured down at her dress.

More sweat began to bead my skin as I let my gaze drop to the ground. “That can’t be right. There was no one else. I would have known. I would have saw.”

“Are you sure? You were a kid. Barely even a man. And there were men you were always suspicious of. Your cousin?—"

“I would have known. I told you about Bram.He wasn’t interested. Vivia may have rejected me, but it wasn’t because of someone else. She knew my path wasn’t going to be a good one. Our families didn’t get along. Her father was going to send her away if she kept seeing me.”

“But he didn’t because she ended the relationship. Elec…” Melissa let out a sigh, coming to stand before me. Hands took mine and seconds passed before I met her stare. Only when I did did she continue. “I know how much you hurt, but you’re never going to heal until you accept this. You killed Vivia. The body wasn’t identifiable, but the DNA was. You’ve ran the test more than once. It was her.It’s her. Please. You have to believe what I say. You’re a man of science. What does the science tell you? Think. Accept.”

A deep sound of heartbreak and fury left me. All I wanted to do was rip my hands free from Melissa’s but the student, the friend in me, couldn’t continue to take my anger out on her. She was all alone here and overwhelmed. She needed me. She. Needed. Me. Her. Not the woman I killed. And I must have. I just couldn’t…wouldn’t…But I did. God, what was wrong with me?

“You’re right. I have to stop this. I killed her. The evidence is real. I killed her.”

She nodded, and I held in the ‘but’ that wanted to argue against the outrageous claim. Did I truly kill the woman I loved? That I adored? The evidence was clear. Yes. My mind knew, but my heart refused to believe.

“Thank you for taking care of the session on short notice. You probably want to retrieve your slave.” My gaze drifted to the exposed skin showing from the torn neckline. “I’m sorry again for…grabbing at you. If I hurt you, I apologize.”

Stepping back, thoughts flooded my mind. So did questions. So did suspicions and accusations. Rage and fogginess suffocated each other out as I took in the smeared blood on the bed. It was light in areas. Barely even there with how dried on her it was. I headed for the door leaving me exhausted and blank. All but for one name. Braddock. Yes, my friend. I paused as I recalled pieces of what Melissa had told me. I took another step, not able to ignore the scratching against my sanity. Against rationality. He was acting different. Forgetting time just like me. Wrong. Something was fucking wrong.

“Melissa.” I turned, sweeping over her soft face before keeping my stare around her neck. I stole a glance, trying to weed through the multiple faucets of possibility.

“Yes?”

I met her stare.

“Do you have any regrets choosing me for this position?”

Her head drew back in surprise.

“Regrets? You’re joking.” At my look, she still appeared astounded. “Absolutely not. My decision has never wavered. Not once. You know I would tell you if that were the case. You were meant to be the Main Master. I’ve trained you. You couldn’t be any more perfect.”

I nodded, feeling her answer was truthful. My shoulders drew in the smallest amount, perplexed as she tilted her head to try to get me to look at her.

“Elec, what’s wrong? Something is bothering you.”

She slowly closed the distance between us. The clicking of her heals triggered more anger, but I couldn’t begin to understand why I was so affected by the sound. And not just tonight. Every time.Every single timeI heard her approach, the explosive feeling in my chest only grew.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s something.” She slowed. “Maybe I can help? Is it June? Are you sad about giving her and her husband space? I know you want her to be Vivia. June helps you. She reminds you of the woman you loved.”

I took in the sincerity on Melissa’s plain face. She wasn’t unattractive, but she wasn’t typically my type. She seemed to care for me, even if somewhere deep down I couldn’t stand it. But what I saw wasn’t real. Not the emotion. Not the concern. Nothing was. Around and around, I kept going. Real. Fake. Friend. Enemy. Which was it? None? All?

“You have to talk to me, Elec. Is it June? Vivia? How you feel for the two of them? June can’t be Vivia no matter how much you want her to.”

What could only have been a laugh left me. It was more of a huff of air, but perhaps it held a tinge of comical disbelief.

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