Page 17 of Caelum

I’d always hidden inside as much as I could on these days, and I would sneak around to hide away from the Brothers. The older I got, the worse it became too, until hiding out was painful. The soul wanted me to be among men, craved them in a way I was too confused to understand. But now that Stefan was here? With that strange link binding us together? That soul had never felt so close to the surface.

“It’s okay,” he soothed. “It’s your Succubus. She’s here today.”

“Succubus?” I squeaked, not sure what that was and not sure if I wanted to know considering Nestor and Eren began fidgeting at my back.

I turned to shoot them looks over my shoulder and saw their cheeks burn bright red at my attention. They’d been looking at my butt, which, all told, they deserved a medal for because no one could see even a trace of my figure in the gown I wore.

“Yes, Succubus,” Stefan explained. He tugged at my hand. “I’ll explain when we get to your room.”

“Is that wise?” Eren hissed.

Stefan ground his teeth and glowered at his friend. “You think I’d hurt her?”

“I think it’s your Incubus day. You don’t know what you can do.”

Stefan shook his head and carried on walking down the corridor. Finally, after passing twenty doors—I counted—he opened it and guided me through.

We walked into a room that was beyond comfortable. It was large, and there were six sofas in here, all clustered together in open squares. They were angled toward a sleek box on the wall that had moving pictures.

On the plane, I’d seen a smaller one of these, but to see one so large? I gasped at the sight. The noise drew attention to me, but considering I was wearing the equivalent of a white flag, I knew I’d draw interest, especially when I finally saw some other women who wore clothes that were skintight.

I glanced over them, not lingering for long, and was grateful when Stefan hustled me out of the room and into another one. Here, there were desks. Dozens of them. Some were occupied, some weren’t, but they had books loaded on them as if the occupant were waiting to work on them upon their return. The walls were covered in chalkboards, but there was one wall that was a large window, and it looked out onto the ocean beyond. The sea was dark. Like a black-blue, and with the way the surf was rolling against the cliffs, I knew a storm was brewing.

The compound was close to the ocean, so it wasn’t the first time I’d seen it. But we rarely went. I could count on two hands the number of times we’d gone to the shore. The men did. They went fishing. That was how I’d managed to see it. My father had taken me out on the boat with my elder brother once. I’d been glad not to be asked again, though, because he’d had me gut the fish.

I could still remember the scent of the sea. That pungent, salty brininess and the blast of the wind in my face. It made me want to study the view beyond for hours.

Maybe I’d be able to one day.

Though most of the people in herewerestudying, there were a few who were looking out at the view as well.

It interested me to think that people were allowed to rest through the day here. First, in the other room, where they were sitting and watching the moving images on the screen. Then in here, where they were working but were allowed to have breaks.

At the compound, we were usually always busy. Whether we were doing something for the family or for the congregation, there was always plenty of work to be done, and if you weren’t willing to do it, then you would be punished. The attitude was obviously different here.

Another room contained more sofas and televisions, and then there was one that consisted of shelves brimming with books. Nothing more, nothing less. It was my idea of heaven.

We had a library back at the compound but nothing like this.

All the rooms were large, but this one was the size of four stacked together.

As we meandered through the building, I knew people were interested in me, but I ignored them, and Stefan, Eren, and Nestor did too. They chattered amongst themselves, letting me absorb this new place that I had to call home for however long it took me to escape.

I had a feeling it wouldn’t be as easy as escaping the compound, and that had been pretty impossible without Merinda’s help.

It wasn’t fair that I’d left one hell only to be sucked into another, especially when this place appeared so much brighter than my supposed home, but if I’d learned anything in my time, it was that life was never fair.

FOUR

NESTOR

I nudged Eren in the side. “What’s he doing?”

Eren shrugged. “I’m not sure. You know Stefan, though. He does everything for a reason.”

As I stared at Eve, I could well understand what Stefan’s reasoning might be. But Stefan wasn’t like that. He wasn’t a horn dog. Sure, he’d had his girlfriends, as had we all, but the way he looked at Eve?

It made me uneasy.

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