Page 54 of Buried Beneath Sin

Thatcher grins then says, “There are three rules that we insist upon in this family, Beatrix. Follow them, and you’ll be happy. We promise.”

“Ok.” She swallows. “W-what are the rules?” she asks him slowly.

With a chuckle, I answer her, “We’ll talk about them later but trust me, they’re easy to abide by.”

“What is this sick fucking conversation?” Trevor demands as he stomps over to us. “Goddamn it, Trix or Treats. Are you listening? I know you’re stupid, but you can’t bethisstupid! Get away from them, they’re dangerous!”

The burn of hope and rising acceptance in Beatrix’s eyes vanishes at his words. Her expression shutters before closing off altogether. As her eyes drop to the floor, my teeth gnash together. Slowly, I turn my attention to her tormentor. Little does he know, he has interrupted us for the last time. He’s not smart enough to notice the promise of death as I glare at him. Rather than begin begging, Trevor’s upper lip curls up in a muted snarl.

My resolve is echoed through my bond with my brother. Thatcher sighs and steps forward, rolling up the sleeves of his plain black shirt. As I hold the gaze of my pet’s tormentor, Thatcher looks back at her.

“Let us show you what we will do for you, Little Sister. Knox,” he calls to our Pretty Boy. “Open the door for me, will you?”

Knox claps his hands together and whoops. “Alright!Finally, we’re getting to the fun part.”

He jumps down off the edge of the rolling table and moves to the large furnace’s door.

“Did you guys know this thing is called aretort?” Knox asks. “People also call it a cremation chamber—isn’t that right Starr Girl?”

My Pretty Boy jabs the button and the door to the furnace opens. As it does, heat billows out to fill the space around us. Trevor gasps and freezes. With his attention elsewhere, I strike. As my brother and Knox descend upon the unconscious redhead, bound and unaware of his impending fate, I grab Trevor.

He doesn’t have time to react. One moment he’s posturing in front of me, the next he’s on his knees wailing. His hands are yanked behind his back, my foot between his shoulder blades. In this position, standing behind him, I can see my Little Viper. With eyes wide and her mouth parted, she bears witness to Trevor’s friend being lifted by Thatcher and Knox then shoved into the cremation chamber. The redhead stirs as the heat that surrounds him becomes too intense to ignore. He lifts his head with a groan just as Knox pushes the button and the door to the furnace slides shut.

“No! Sebastian!” Trevor shouts in horror, thrashing uselessly in my grip.

Knox laughs as he steps aside so we can all watch the show through the small glass window. On the other side of the door, Sebastian cries out. Flames erupt and engulf his body. His hands slap and claw against the door. Though muffled through the thick steel door and glass, the sound of agony is captivating.

Looking away from the carnage, my eyes land on my pet, wondering how she’ll take this brutality. Incrementally, Beatrix’s slacken face shifts. Her mouth closes and the whiterings around her irises disappear. Her head tilts as she watches Sebastian cook.

She’s not scared, she’s fascinated.

I knew she was one of us.

The panicked rapid slapping of Sebastian’s hands on the other side of the glass, along with his wails, increases in tempo and strength. Then suddenly, they cut off.

“Please, Trix, don’t let them do this to me! Please,stop this!” Trevor screams. He tries to yank himself free from my hold, but at this angle he risks pulling his arms out of their sockets.

Beatrix tears her eyes away from the furnace to look at him. I suck in a sharp breath as her pupils narrow and her trembling hands curl into fists.

“You never stopped whenIasked,” she points out. Her voice is cold and hard, as are her eyes as she stares down at him.

Knox turns to face Beatrix. “I knew someone like that. You know what I did about it?”

Beatrix doesn’t acknowledge him other than to tilt her chin in his direction.

“I killed him.”

“She’s notyou!” Trevor roars. “Beatrix, you’re better than this! Help me!”

I yank his arms back further and he howls in agony at the same time Beatrix takes a single step toward him.

“Stop asking me to save you!” she demands, sharply. “You never stopped when I begged and cried while you and your friend took turns—” She swallows hard as revulsion twists her pretty face. “Just… stop it.”

Her words are a heavy blow that leaves the room deathly silent. A deep frisson splits within my chest and a molten rage wells up and spills into the crevices of my body. I have watched horrible things happen to my pet from afar, and each time she suffered, I quietly suffered with her. But I couldn’t step in. Notuntil Thatcher or Knox had sided with me on her fate. I had to have a majority rule to keep her alive. I hated it. While I never witnessed anything happen between her and the man I hold, I don’t doubt the agony that flares in those beautiful, rich amber eyes.

At least now I can be a part of her life and prevent anymore suffering.

The knowledge does nothing to quell the burning in my chest. Hot copper fills my mouth. It takes a second for me to realize that I’ve bitten my tongue.

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