Page 25 of Be My Salvation

Everything in me wants to tell her to forget her vengeance, that we should run now. I’d even stomach having to deal with those other two assholes, if it meant she would be safe, plus, I don’t trust myself with her, and at least if I lost my mind, they could kill me once and for all. “One more confession, Nightstar. I kind of asked Abe’s mother to ensure I died here in this mansion. I provided her with all the information I had observed while Noah’s prisoner, and in exchange, she guaranteed my death.”

If possible, her face pales even more, and has a tinge of green to it. “This is a fucking nightmare. We need to tell Zeke and Abe. I don’t trust Sarah at all. Something about her appearance as my hero is fishy to me. Both she and my father seem to want to pushthis mass insurgency agenda. That makes them dangerous. She’s working with the rebels, and he... fuck, I don’t even know, to be honest. It could be just him and David, for all I know.”

“Why couldn’t they both be working together? It seems like they have the same goals. Is that a possibility?” I question, my mind turning over both interactions with Francis Camrose, and Abe’s mother, Sarah. “I don’t know. Anything is possible at this point. Highly unlikely, since he played a part in her abuse, but it is still possible. I don’t know who to trust outside of the four of us, since it seems everyone is willing to betray everyone else.” It gladdens my heart to hear that she once again trusts me, and I will endeavor to do nothing to break that trust ever again. I finally have my Nightstar back, and although this fragile peace between us can be easily broken, I am going to do my best to ensure it never does. “Fuck, call in those two assholes, and I promise not to kill either of them.”

She turns towards the door, and right before she opens it, she turns back and stares at me over her shoulder, her dark hair pooling in long waves down her back. Some of the shadows that darkened her eyes have lifted, and although we are still in danger, she looks happier. I am too, if I am being honest. “I love you, Samuel Wendover. You are my home, and I can’t live without you.”

Chapter thirty-six

The Forsaker

Zeke

Idon’t like this one fucking bit. Everything within me is telling me to grab Dinah in a fireman’s hold and run as far away from here as possible, with Abe bringing up the rear, and shooting anyone who attempts to stop us.This is a fucking trap, I’m certain of it.I glare at the asshole to my right, my fists clenching with the need to break his freshly shaven jaw. I can’t believe this cunt managed to convince Dinah that he accepted her version of events, and all is forgiven. The fuck it is, he tried to kill her, and not just once. Forgiveness is the last fucking thing he deserves. I would gladly settle for a bullet in his brain, as repayment for all the pain and suffering he has caused. Unfortunately, my wife is refusing to listen to reasoning. The stubborn woman won’t hear any more about the subject, despite both Abe’s and my loud protests. “Keep glaring at me like that, and we are going to have a real problem, cunt,” Sammy growls at me in his deep voice, and in response, I fully turn my body in his direction with a taunting grin. Let me just go ahead and poke the fucking bear, what’s the worst that could happen? “Is that you speaking, or the demons in your head, Sammy?” I lean closer, allowing him to see that I’m not frightened of him, or his new rageful multiple personalities. Trauma, my ass, we all have trauma, we don’t all attempt to kill the woman we love.Hey, kettle, come fucking meet pot. You do remember stabbing your wife, right?My mind sneers. That was completely different. I did it to protect her and save Abe, but he did it because he’s a jealous lunatic.

He glances to see if Dinah is watching our interaction, before taking a menacing step in my direction.Come on, fucker, hit me. I’ll even let you get one good punch in before I lay your sorry ass out.“It will only take one demon to end you, Ezekiel. Keep pushing me, and I’ll stop caring that Dinah will be upset over your pathetic corpse.” I grin even wider, and catch Abe smirking and winking at me, as he watches this all go down silently while Dinah is distracted with Sarah, and some last-minute details. He’s no happier about the recent developments than I am. Unfortunately, his attention is divided between keeping an eye on his precious Atasi and his mother, and Sammy and me. Not that he would stop me from doing some damage to Sammy’s face, quite the opposite, he might even reward me with his cock.

Dinah’s threat to have all of us locked up while she goes through with this stupid, risky stunt weighs heavily on my mind. No good can come of her presenting herself to the dissenting masses as the Unholy Ghost, and requesting them to follow her into an insurgency against the Brotherhood. They are as likely to turn on her, as they are on the Order. “Of course, that’s what you truly desire, isn’t it, Sammy? It eats you up inside to know that she carries my name, and ismy wife. That, despite all your years together as her faithful protector, you couldn’t seal the deal. And I have, bitch, sealed the deal, and filled every one of her tight holes with my cum, again and again. She screams my name so prettily too.”

I can see the rage strumming along his tense muscles, and the darkness of his blue eyes. I know I am pushing every one of his buttons, and that he’s likely to lose control and attack me. I’m counting on it, so I can make my Snow see the reality of how unstable he is. He’s a danger to everyone around him, but especially to her. Samuel Wendover is a bomb just waiting to explode, and when he does, he will decimate everything around him. I can’t allow Dinah to place herself in that kind of risk.It’s my job, as her husband, to protect her, even if she defiantly refutes me at every turn. “Stop your shit, Zeke, I don’t have time to deal with both of you idiots beating at your chests like hormonal gorillas.” Dinah’s voice comes from right behind me, and I see the look of glee on Sammy’s fucking scarred face. He knew she was there the whole time, and the bastard set me up. My hands tighten into fists, prepared to bash his skull in, as he silently mouths the word‘cunt’at me. I want to stomp my foot and pout like a spoiled brat, but instead, I tear my eyes away from the satisfaction on Sammy’s face, and meet Dinah’s annoyed gaze.

God, she looks so beautiful.Her dark hair is plaited tightly on either side of her head, in some intricate design that leaves her stunning features exposed. Her eyes look more blue than gray at the moment, luminous and otherworldly. Her skin is still blotched with healing bruises, but instead of detracting from her beauty, the purples, greens, and yellows seem to enhance it. They pronounce her a warrior, a survivor, a fucking queen in our midst. The corner of her pouty lips quirks upwards at me, chastising me for my unruly behavior. My eyes slide down her lean, strong frame, and hunger settles in the pit of my stomach at how mouthwatering she looks. She denied Sarah’s request to put her in a sacred wives’ official wardrobe, to show the populace that Dinah is high born, and a princess of the Order, and has turned against the Brotherhood. Instead, she’s wearing a sleeveless, tight-fitting black top that leaves all of her alabaster skin, and tattoos, proudly on display for everyone to view. The bandage around her shoulder is firmly in place, with her healing gunshot wound from the fucker behind me, and is a harsh contrast against her skin and the black top, and a further reminder of why I need to break his nose. My eyes continue their perusal to her tight, black cargo pants, tucked into shitkicker black boots. Her body is strapped with a ton of weapons, whichmakes her look even more badass, and like a killing machine. I feel my cock harden in my pants, and my heart rate speeds up. I wonder if she would allow me to take her into one of those dark corners and fuck her brains out, and fill her with my cum? The need to claim her, in front of this asshole that’s getting on my nerves, is eating at me, but it’s not the only thing driving my hunger. I want to mark her as mine before the whole damn world. I want them to know that if they dare come at her, I will be right next to her, ready to defend her with my very life.

Her hand reaches out, and her forefinger trails softly down the space between my eyebrows, which are furrowed with worry and misery. “Poor Prince Charming, your wayward princess gives you so much trouble, doesn’t she?” I grab hold of her fingers and pull them to my lips, nipping at the tips with my teeth, before slipping them inside my mouth, and twirling my tongue around them. Her breathing hitches, and her eyes get even darker, until they look like deep pools of cobalt. She pulls them back out and cradles the side of my face, taking the remaining steps closer to me, until our bodies are pressed together and her softness is melting into me. “If the world wasn’t on fire right now, Snow, I would show you just how charming the prince can be, buried deeply inside of you.” The little temptress bites her delectable lip, and teases me by trailing her tongue over its length. I lean forward until my mouth is next to her ear and lick the soft shell. “Don’t tease me, Dinah. I don’t care who watches me make that pretty pussy of yours beg for my cum.”

A throat clearing forces us to break apart, and I meet Sarah’s amused glance. “If we could please focus, I am sure there is plenty of time for all of that later,” she admonishes us, much to Abe’s chagrin. “Not if we are all dead,” I mumble under my breath. Dinah moves away from me, putting space between us, and I instantly see the relief in Sammy’s expression. “Are you ready, Dinah?” Sarah inquires, but her voice lacks her previousenthusiasm. In fact, ever since Dinah announced that she and Sammy had come to a truce, and that she would proceed with Sarah’s demands, Sarah has been downright morose. The deal is, Dinah will stand before the masses, as a symbol of the revolution she wants no part in. In exchange, her infant nephew, who we now know is named Nael, was to be brought to the Holy Father’s mansion, and established as the head of the Camrose family.

It was not amusing to see how quickly they were able to locate the dark-haired child, and bring him before Dinah, which clearly told us they knew his whereabouts the whole time, and were always using him as a bargaining chip against us. She sobbed when she finally got a glimpse of Nael, and cradled him gently into her arms, whispering soft words so only the two of them could hear them. My heart skipped a beat at Gabriel’s features present on his tiny face, and I know that Abe was devastated. The tears ran down his face unbidden, and he trembled, afraid to even touch the child. It was a moment filled with joy and heartbreak, as we realized little Nael would never get to meet his wonderful father. He would never know how funny and sarcastic Gabriel was, or how he cheated at poker, or even that his favorite food was green grapes with honey. The way Gabriel felt music and art in his soul, and how much he loved his family and us. When I was finally able to hold him, I held him close to my chest, breathing in his sweet baby scent, and staring into his trademark Camrose eyes, and vowed to him that I will always do everything I can to protect him, until I draw my very last breath on this earth. I promised him that I will spend the next fifty years telling him stories about his father, and how much I miss and loved him.

Nael’s mother watched nervously from a few feet away, tears and relief on her face. She seemed like a timid, waif of a woman, but I saw an inner strength within her, just waiting to jumpfrom her skin, one that wouldn’t back down when it came to defending her son. It brought me some much-needed happiness, and relief, to know that she would be a better mother than the one I had.

My attention is brought back to the present as Dinah squares her shoulders, turns towards me, and kisses my lips. My mouth instantly parts, attempting to deepen the kiss, but she pulls back, her forehead leaning against mine with regret and sadness. “Promise me you’ll protect them both, that you won’t leave Sammy to die, or be recaptured, if something happens to me.” Everything within me wants to deny her request, and tell her that Sammy is on his own. I won’t risk mine or Abe’s lives for the man who tried to kill her, but I swallow the words, knowing they would only serve to hurt her, and distract her from the task at hand. “I promise, Snow.”

She turns and walks to Abe, smiling at his melancholy expression, and kisses him gently. She pulls back and whispers words only meant for his ears, and when he nods in acceptance, I understand she must have asked him for the same thing. Lastly, she approaches Sammy, with a calmness that belies how harrowing the situation we are in truly is. Her hands reach up and cradle his face between them. He leans down and presses his forehead to hers, much like I did, but unabashed tears slide down his face, and disappear off of his chin. A crack forms over the hardened exterior I have placed around myself where he’s concerned. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time, watching two people who love so deeply know that they may be parted once again, and this time for good. Again, the desire to run fills me, and I see it mirrored on Abe and Sammy’s faces. When will she be free of all these people that want to hurt her? When is enough truly going to be enough? How much more can my Snow endure, before there is nothing left of her?They will never let her go.

She pulls away from Sammy, regret across her beautiful features. With one last glance in mine and Abe’s direction, she pulls herself together, and faces Sarah and her guards. “A great man named JFK from the world long gone once said,‘Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable’,and so we find ourselves at a precipice, and must jump off to begin anew. Let the world burn, so that we can rise from their ashes, and hopefully have finally learned from their mistakes.”

She takes firm, confident steps forward, towards the doors opening to the large balcony, that the Holy Father used to use for blessings of the masses, and in the blink of my eye, she’s gone, and I have to swallow the cry that tries to rip from me. I didn’t get to tell her one last time that I loved her.Fuck.

Chapter thirty-seven

The Sinner

Dinah

The sun shines down, delivering its warmth, as I move forward onto the large stone balcony overlooking the angry crowd, with Sarah right behind me as my only support. I refused to allow the guys to join me and become visible targets for the mob, much to their protests, but I would not be swayed in my decision to keep them safe. The sound of the crowd’s angry cries was almost deafening from inside, but the moment they get a glimpse of me, a hush falls over the crowd. It’s unnerving and disturbing, to say the least. I feel so many sets of eyes on me that my skin crawls, and I have to force my hands to remain at my sides, so I don’t show them any weakness. They are assessing me, judging me, and most likely finding me lacking. I don’t blame them; if I was confronted with the image of me, I too would be far from impressed. The desire to turn around and go back inside, to wrap myself up in my men’s arms, and leave this place, is a living, breathing feeling under the surface of my skin. No part of me wants to be here, and no part of me wants to play this part.

Yet I know I can’t. I made a bargain for my nephew’s safety, and even if Abe, Zeke, Sammy, and I could fight our way out of this horrible place, Nael is too young and fragile. He’s already been through so much in his short life. I made an oath to my ancestors, to my brother in my heart, to protect him or die trying. This is my fate, regardless of my wishes, and my attemptsto fight against it. This is the price I must pay, for being a woman who was ready to scorch the earth, for a small taste of revenge.

I refuse to cower at my destiny, and allow the Brotherhood of the Sacrament to win. I am not these people’s salvation. I am but a sinner, sent out to the lambs as a sacrifice. I lift my head and hold it high, straightening my shoulders, and stand before them unapologetically and unafraid. History will either paint me as a martyr and revolutionary, or a villain. Either way, it will be none of my business what future generations think of me; I will be long gone by then.

My eyes trail across the grounds, filled with crowds from all levels of our society and the class system. The ragged and the poor, the needy and the broken, mixed in with the wealthy, privileged, confused, and hopeful. There are so many women in my midst that, at first, it shocks me to see all their uncovered faces staring up at me, as I stand before the podium set up for me to speak. The silence deepens, even though there have to be thousands of bodies out here, all crammed tightly in the space, ready to hear the Unholy Ghost speak. I know this is being live streamed, and played by all the factions throughout the world. Sarah made sure I understood how important this was, and how powerful, or destructive, my reach would be.

I stand before the large microphones, and my lips open to speak, but no words escape. Instead, the dizzying tight feeling begins in my chest, and sweat prickles my flesh. Sarah moves closer, grasping my hand in her tight grip and squeezing my fingers. She meets my glance, her deep amber eyes confident and motherly. I have my doubts about her, about all of this. After everything that Sammy told me, and conversations with the guys, we think she’s neck deep in all of this subterfuge. Who she actually serves is up in the air, but Sammy is convinced it’s my father. I have my doubts about that, only due to how much she suffered in the past at his, Noah’s, and Peter’s hands. Thethree devil leaders of the Brotherhood, who had far too much unchecked power, and no mercy in their veins, they were true evil walking this earth.

Sarah releases her grip and steps back, allowing me once more to face the crowd head-on, but I feel her support behind me, and somehow, it reassures me, as if my mother’s presence might also be here, looking on silently at her daughter, who tried her best to complete her vow.Just two left alive who abused you, momma, then I can finally rest.As I’m about to speak, a shout sounds out loudly in the noiseless crowd, “ KILLER! HEATHEN! WHORE!” I don’t bother to dispute their accusations; I am all of those things, and perhaps even more. A woman’s angry voice shouts back, “SHE’S A SURVIVOR, A HERO!”

The crowd begins to grow restless, turning on each other in disagreement. I can’t allow this to turn into a riot. There are too many of them. They will overwhelm the mansion in minutes, regardless of how many rebels Sarah has hidden amongst the crowd, fully armed. I raise my hands in the air before me in a gesture of placating silence, and honestly, I don’t have the slightest expectation that any of them will listen to me, after all, who the fuck am I to tell them what to do? I have no real power. I am a token leader, a puppet to give them something to rally behind. When another bout of silence falls, and they stop pushing, I know this is probably my last chance to say anything, before they lose patience with me. “You are right, all of you. I am a whore, a heathen, and a killer; the Brotherhood of the Sacrament made me all those things. I am also a survivor of the Brotherhood’s abuse, just like all of you. I, too, was a prisoner, a tool used to push the Order’s agenda. I am a sacred woman filled with piety and sin, moved to violence by my need for vengeance against those who destroyed my life, and murdered my loved ones.”

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