Page 75 of The Devil and His Goddess

“Look how perfect you are,” Drake panted above my bare back.

Pink flashed in my blurry vision as my leotard landed by my useless outstretched arm. The sight made the revulsion and terror rippling through me spike, and I managed to squeak, “Pers—”

My desperate attempt at the name died out like a plug being ripped from its power source. The tights I wore were suddenly pulled down, getting caught on my pointe shoes. They stayed there, wrapped around my ankles as sticky hands gripped my inner thighs and parted them while a hot breath fanned across my spine. Wet kisses dotted my back while fingers pushed on my legs. Disgust contorted my mind with the feel of this man on top of me, and it only got worse when his body shifted to settle in the place he’d forced open. Already, moans and gasps of delight echoed around the room as fingernails bit into my flesh and a bulge prodded excitedly at my entrance.

Even in my delirious state, I knew what was coming, and I was incapable of stopping it. I was incapable of clenching enough to keep him from shoving inside of me. I was incapable of screaming for help as he began to rock back and forth, chanting my name. I was incapable of stopping him from touching every inch of skin on my body, staining it with his memory.

All I could manage was a twitch of my fingers. I snagged my pink leotard, the gift I’d been given. I clung to it as my eyes slipped closed and lips parted on a wet cry, a last attempt at help. But the name never came.

Only the pain.

Only the darkness.

Chapter 28

Perseus

THE STRUMMING OF GUITAR STRINGS quieted as I finished playing another one of Sinners Do It Better’s songs. I was bored and growing restless as I checked the time on my phone. It was half past ten on a Monday. Harper typically turned in for the night at ten so that she was well-rested for the next day, yet she still hadn’t reached out via phoneorby calling my name.

In fact, she hadn’t reached out at all since she told me she got home safely. I didn’t usually jump to worry, but unease prickled at my insides like a dozen needles. Aiysha was home, so I was fairly sure that nothing had happened.

Still, my instincts told me to check in, and I wasn’t one to ignore those feelings.

Setting my guitar down, I stood and stepped through shadows. In the next instant, I stood on the moonlit lawn outside of Harper’s. Every window was dark, save for a sliver of light that came through the closed blinds of the dance studio.

I smiled to myself. My goddess must’ve been busy training this entire time. She and Aiysha liked to dance together for old times sake when they had time, and when she got invested in dance, most things went forgotten. Her entire world would zero in on her beloved art. It was one of the things I lov—

“Woah!” I snapped at myself, cutting off the thought. Frowning, I smacked my forehead and grumbled, “What are you thinking? Dumbass.”

Annoyed by my own line of thinking and satisfied that she’d just gotten caught up dancing, I went to leave but stopped midstep. Only Harper’s car was in the driveway. I knew Aiysha was leaving at some point tonight to go to her soon-to-be boyfriend’s place, but Harper hadn’t called to say she’d left yet.

My gut churned with worry, but I quickly took a breath and pulled out my phone. “Calm down, calm down. Aiysha probablyjustleft and Harper’s about to call.”

Eager to confirm the idea was true, I dialed Harper’s number and watched the mostly dark house. My heart was in my throat as the ringing in my ear sounded more like a ticking time-bomb.

Pick up. Pick up. Pick—

“I’m sorry. The person you have dialed is unavailable. Please try your call again later.”

My stomach bottomed out. I didn’t care if there was a reasonable explanation for why only Harper’s car was here or why she wasn’t answering. All I cared about was making sure she was okay.

Stepping through shadows once again, I appeared in the foyer of the house. The faint soundtrack ofSwan Lakecame from the ballet studio. I started in that direction, but when I rounded the corner of the hallway that led to the room, a vile stench filled my nose, nearly making me double over and vomit.

I quickly covered my mouth and nose with my hand and steadied myself against the wall with the other. It took many attempts to catch my breath through the sour scent.

Only as I recovered from the sudden shock of the odor did realization smack into me with the weight of a meteor barreling into earth. This smell was one I’d scented before, one that would be oblivious to the human nose, and it was much,muchstronger this time.

My eyes widened and locked on the closed door at the end of the hall. The air in my lungs froze, and my heart stopped in my chest. Time stood still.

Then, all at once, I wasrunning.

I barrelled down the hall and crashed through the door. The foul stench hit me like a gust of wind as the sweet melody ofSwan Lakefilled my ears. It was such an unsettling combination, one that quickly became forgotten as my eyes landed on the floor at the side of the room.

Harper’s pale body was stretched out on her stomach with her bare arms above her like she’d been trying to crawl. Her dance tights were tangled around one ankle while her other leg was bent and pushed open. Her unconscious face, glistening with tears, was pressed into the floor, facing her hand, which clung tightly to a pink leotard. Blood and cum gathered between her spread legs, and already, bruises in the shape of fingers marred the backs of her legs and inner thighs.

The world rocked and shattered around me. Everything inside of me spiraled. I let out a hard breath and stumbled to her side, collapsing on the ground.

“Harper!” I yelled.

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