Page 4 of Bloody Valentine

The kid stared a moment longer and ran a shaky hand through his shaggy blond hair.

“It really is impolite to wake someone.”

The student snorted, dropping his hand with a shrug.

“Good boy, now let’s head to class.” I didn’t give him a chance to speak, if he even could.

Instead, I wrapped my arm across his chest to spin him around, moving him forward. The door shut back on its own with a click.

The hallway was silent, and with the mute boy by my side, that quiet stretched uncomfortably. I knew I smelled like fucking sex, but to the young man’s merit, he didn’t so much as look at me. He kept his head forward and continued to walk at my pace.

I wracked my brain for his name. Kyle? No, that wasn’t it.

“So, having…a good day today?” I said, the silence getting under my skin.

He looked over and nodded.

I stopped and turned to face him. “There’s a power in one’s voice, son. Sometimes, it is all you have for yourself.”

He looked at me, an expression of understanding and something else swirling in those eyes.

“What is your name?”

“Kieran,” he said quickly and quietly.

I smiled, happy to hear the man could speak.

Since he had chosen to keep his words close, I felt honored that he had let me listen to them. I saw a lot of my younger sister in him. She always chose her words, carefully picking the onesshe felt were necessary and avoiding others. She was long gone before ever learning how to use her voice. Though, maybe there was hope for this kid.

“My name is Maddox. Maddox Valentine,” I said to him, extending my hand in a gesture meant for respect.

Of course, he already knew my name, but it was the principal of formalities. He stared at my gesture like it was an alien claw before eventually reaching out to accept it.

It wasn’t long after that we arrived back at my classroom, and I continued walking him to my office. This individual stared at my work with more than the typical awe and adoration. When he viewed the beaten, broken women of my collection, there was lust in his eyes.

I found the portrait I was searching for while he stood awkwardly in the door frame.

“Here, tell me what it is you see,” I demanded, pushing the artwork into his hands.

He paled, and his cheeks flushed. This art piece was one of my favorite sacrifices. The woman’s name was Katheryn. She was a true virgin, and when I was blessed with her as my chosen, I took great liberty in keeping her intact but skirting those lines as dangerously as I could.

Her skin was as white as snow, her eyes wide, and her mouth so beautifully open. This image was right before her body was given to the Divine. She was stripped bare, and her open mouth held a glistening apple.

I had always felt as though Valentine gifted me these women on a platter, and so this artwork reflected that. The metal plate below her was gold, and she was on her stomach with her arms tied to her feet.

“A…woman, sir?” Kieran whispered quietly.

“Of course, it’s a woman, silly boy,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But what do yousee?”

This man could see what I could. I knew it. He needed to say it out loud.

“Pain…seduction…and…”

He hesitated for a moment but then said, “Peace…”

I smiled like a Cheshire cat. “Indeed.”

This kid would make a fine addition to the Divine when he was ready, but I had more pressing matters to attend to for now. “Now, why don’t you run along. I will see you tomorrow for class.”

---