Page 144 of Voracious

Her screams bounce off every surface and I bring my shoulders up to protect my ears as I continue pouring. They hurt my ears, and I can’t cover them without spilling the melted gold and platinum on myself.

Hands brush my shoulders and I pause, turning to look at what it is.

Val stands behind me, smiling down at me as he presses his palms flat against my ears to dull the screams. I smile back because I think he’s trying to be nice then go back to my pouring now that the screams aren’t as loud.

Once my sculpture is complete, Val and Tali remain at my sides as they walk me back to the table we were seated on under Vlad’s orders that it’s his turn now. I can’t help my eye roll and I don’t attempt to hide my insult as I say, “You need to learn that not everything is about you.”

He steps in front of me and lowers his head so we’re eye to eye, his voice lowering too as he acts like he has emotions.

“She took my child away from me, don’t ever think this is about anything other than you.”

Before I can insult him, Tali lightens the situation as he softly teases, “Aww, Vlad is being nice, someone write down the date and time so we can get a plaque made.”

Val nods at my side and loudly announces both the time and date, making Vlad straighten up, shaking his head and calmly walking back to Yulia who’s wheezing on the floor in a puddle of her own… fluids.

Dima doesn’t look scared of me or disgusted as he walks over to me and slides the gloves off my hands. He’s careful not to getany of the blood on my skin as he softly says to the three of us, “You might want to go outside for this bit.”

All three of us refuse as we sit taller and Tali acts dramatic, hooking his arm around my shoulders. My uncle who is a year older than me noisily kisses my temple and demands, “On with the show.”

When Dima steps back, I can see the bats clearly, specifically the screws and razor blades embedded into them. Vlad and Dima don’t have any emotions on their features as they each pick up two modified bats. They keep her in a kneeling position, Dima’s boot on her head that squashes her face into the shitty puddle as Vlad cocks his leg back. His boot hits her calf and she can’t scream as Dima pushes his foot against her jaw. The chains rattle as Vlad uses them like a whip, the two bats held in his other hand, and he pulls until she’s forced out from under Dima’s foot.

They don’t speak to each other and move like they’re aware of what the other is thinking, like a bloody version of synchronized swimming. Vlad hooks the chains above her head, and he stamps on her lower back, making her scream. My body moves on some weird instinct, and I cross my legs, wincing as they push them inside of her.

“Is this what it feels like to watch someone get kicked in the balls?”

My question is rhetorical but Val answers with wide eyes.

“Think this is worse.”

There’s no orifice left without a bat stuck out of it when they’re finished and Dima stamps on the handle sticking out of her mouth, pushing it deeper into her throat until her neck cords.

He doesn’t stop despite Yulia being lifeless and Vlad has to drag him back. I was supposed to kill her and my face falls, seeing that she’s dead now. He stops raging and looks at me withremorse weighing down his eyes. Dima said he’s mine so that’s the same as me killing her so I relax, smiling up at him as he storms towards me.

“I wouldn’t do it, he’s got a gun.” Val’s whisper is timed with the sound of a barrel loading and Dima cupping my cheek.

I grab Dima’s arm and pull him to the side to see Vlad stood covered in blood aiming at him. My voice hardens and the threat is real as he slowly lowers it to his side.

“If you hurt him, I’ll kill you.”

He holds his hands up but continues plotting, it’s there behind his creepy little eyes as Dima remains unbothered. If Vlad makes me kill him, I’ll hate him even more because then Inessa will be sad. I’ve become accustomed to having the weirdos around me and asking me questions all the time which will obviously stop, she’s never tried to stop me hitting him though, maybe she knows how annoying he is. I’ll have to ask her later and if she gives me permission I won’t feel bad.

FIFTY-THREE

Dima

My beautiful hellion is covered in blood, the water tingeing pink as she washes her hair, but the joy on her face is ethereal without any pain or memories haunting her for the first time. She’s killed her demon and she’s all the better for it.

Walking into the shower behind her, I wrap my arms around her middle and rest my chin on the top of her head. Her fingers wrap around my wrist and she washes my hands before going up my arms and getting rid of the blood on my skin. Once my hands are free, we work around each other’s bodies, removing any trace of the cunt who will never be able to hurt her again.

Vanya stops me when I reach her thighs, my hands go to her hips as she prepares her question. She looks up at me, water clinging to her lashes and quietly asks, “Are you okay?”

Sweet as fucking sugar. I pick her up by the back of her thighs and chase her lips as I say, “I’ll be better once I’m inside you.”

Her giggle touches my lips before it fills my mouth and I blindly carry her out of the shower. I know she’s protective of her hair so I don’t take her into our bedroomstraight away. Sittingher on the vanity, I step between her thighs and use the soft cotton towel to squeeze the excess water out of her hair.

The last bit of hesitance that my sweet hellion carried has vanished now that she’s become who she was meant to. There are no questions about her identity or that distance she creates unable to be herself because she didn’t know who she was. Her eyes are brighter and she presses the heels of her palms to my cheeks as she scowls and attempts to mimic my voice. “My name’s Dima an?—”

“And I love you,” I cut her off so I can watch her face melt.

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