Page 42 of Bound By Darkness

She steps away, turning to face me again. She holds her open dress up against her breasts with her bound wrists as if she’s bashful.

I don’t say anything but just stand there, watching her.

“Can you return to the other side of the partition?” she asks, but drops her eyes when she does.

“Why?”

She glances up at me, as if surprised to hear my question. “I wish to bathe.”

“Do it in front of me.”

She swallows hard and makes no move to do anything.

“I make you nervous,” I say.

“Yes,” she admits, looking up at me with those innocent, wide blue eyes. “I… I didn’t think you…”

“Wanted you?” I interrupt her. She nods, and I chuckle. “Every man wants you, you silly girl.”

“But, you’re different. You aren’t driven by the same things other men are.”

I nod. She does understand. “And that makes me incapable of feeling lust?”

She glances down. “I suppose not.”

“Have you fed recently?” I ask her, although I already know the answer to the question. I’m curious as to whether or not she’ll admit the truth to me. She looks up at me in surprise again.

“Fed?”

“You realize you must feed the Succubus within you?” I ask. “In the same way you must feed your hunger with food, your body also feels hunger for a different type of… sustenance.”

“Yes, I realize,” she says rather sheepishly and looks away. I must admit, I’m surprised at this side of her. I had imagined the Succubus would have turned her into quite the minx but it appears she’s the same Eilish she always is. I can’t say I’m disappointed. On the flipside, I’m rather encouraged.

“And?” I ask.

She swallows again and refuses to meet my gaze. I take the step or so that separates us and I reach out, taking her arm. She lifts her bound hands, as if thinking I’m going to untie her. I’m not. I prefer her like this, as a victim to my desires.

“Yes, I’ve fed,” she says.

I chuckle, though something in me tenses. A feeling of sharpness clutches my stomach, but I can’t explain why. I already know she’s fed. I witnessed it for myself. And I loved every minute of it. “Dragan?”

When she nods, I chuckle again. “Bloody gargoyle can’t keep away from you, no matter how hard he tries.”

“It’s because of the monster within me,” she explains as she looks at me, hoping I’ll understand. I don’t understand why she jumps to his defense. I don’t know why she bloody well bothers. Dragan has certainly proven himself not to be the man she hoped he was.

“No,” I respond. “There is no monster within you, Eilish. Dragan fucked you because he wantedyou.”

She continues to stare at me and I at her and she appears to be at a loss where I’m concerned. Of course, she’s never seen this side of me before. Ordinarily, I keep to myself and I I don’t offer much in the way of conversation. Even as early as a few days ago, I was determined to quit her and the others’ company. But, now things are different and I feel energized to find I have a new purpose to uphold, whether Dragan likes it or not. Clearly, he doesn’t like it...

“Does it bother you that Dragan… had me?” she asks.

“You mean does it cause me jealousy?”

“I guess so.”

I cock my head to the side as I consider the question. “I don’t know. I don’t believe so.”

She nods but says nothing. I continue. “It bothers me that Dragan doesn’t know how to handle you, that’s what bothers me. I don’t appreciate nor do I approve of the way he’s treated you since he discovered what you are. After all, the same shadow magic that runs in his blood now runs in yours.”

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