Page 61 of Vengeance of Childhood Proportions

After Roberts took the pad and pen from her, Mira left again. He glanced up at me before looking back down at the torn picture of Holly Marteen. “Thank you, Agent, for helping me.”

“I’m not helping you,” I snapped. “You are arapist, Roberts. Your guilt and the fact that you are the first to confess to the crime does not change the heinousness of what you did. A sixteen-year-old girl committed suicide because of your actions. Fifteen more are dead, five more are missing. Whoever is doing this is nowhere close to being done yet.” I nodded towards the legal pad, needing this interview to be over with. “Start writing.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Holly

I could tellsomething was off with Master Mal when he called me. His voice sounded harsh and distant. Far different than the voice of the man who’d kissed me good morning. I didn’t speak much, not sure if he would be able to pick up anything odd in my voice either. Did I sound sad, worried, frustrated, pained…?

I agreed to meet with Master Mal, because I desperately wanted to see him. Even if it was the last time. Jason was giving me tonight to say goodbye. After that, I would be gone. Nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

After parking atSnow Chains, my mask secure on my face, I headed inside. Dominique was sitting at the desk, but I didn’t look at her.

My head was so far down that I didn’t see him until he spoke. “Little Owl.”

Jesus. Jason would never let me live it down that I was so distracted upon entering that I hadn’t checked my surroundings.

Master Mal was standing off to the right. He was in a black button-up shirt, black dress pants, and boots. A tan duffel bag rested at his feet.

I approached, going to my knees before him. “Master.” My voice nearly broke on the title. Would I ever find someone else who made me feel so safe?

He rested a hand on my brunette wig, which was a shade darker than my natural color. “Pet. Follow me.”

The lack of niceties, the impersonal greeting, made me uneasy. But I still stood and followed as he instructed, staying three steps behind him and to the right. He led me up the stairs and then to Room Two.

I was confused, but kept my mouth shut. I wasn’t a little, and that was generally what this room was used for, as far as I knew.

“Strip,” he ordered before the door was even closed.

I did as instructed. As soon as I was bare, I knelt. My back was to the door. I kept my eyes on him as he preferred and he hadn’t told me otherwise. I watched as he placed his duffel bag on the floor next to a lime green beanbag chair. Everything in this room was so bright and cozy compared to the other two we’d been in.

When he turned back towards me, he had a crop in his hand. But he did not smile at me. In fact, he frowned. Pointing the leather strap at me from across the room, he scolded, “That’s one, pet. I told you to strip. That meanseverything.”

It took me a moment to realize what he meant. I’d forgotten about my mask. Immediately, I started to undo the pins and the tie to remove it from my face.

“I apologize, Sir. I forgot I was wearing it.”

When he approached me, I realized he’d removed his shoes. He still had the crop in his hand. He placed the soft leather under my chin, using it to raise my face higher. We stared at each other for a long moment, his dark green eyes to my concealed ones.

“You gave me a gift last night and yet you so easily forget today? Am I so forgettable, Little Owl?”

I shook my head, the crop still under my chin. “No, Sir. Of course not.”

He made a sound before turning away from me, going back to his duffel bag.

I hesitated, but needed to know. “Sir, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but have I done something to disappoint you? Aside from my mask, that is?”

He turned back around. I heard the jingle of my scrunchies in his hand. “To be frank, Little Owl, you have.”

My heart froze in my chest. Fear rippled through me that I’d done something to upset him. I cast my eyes downward, bowing my head. “Sir, I am so sorry. Whatever it is that I have done, please?—”

“It’s actually what youhaven’tdone, Little Owl.”

What didn’t I do? I ran through our brief meeting downstairs and then coming up here. I don’t know what I didn’t do. I felt tears start to well up at having offended him. “Sir, please, I don’t know what you mean.”

I heard him approach and lifted my eyes to meet his, not wanting to upset him more. As soon as he neared, he reached forward with his hand.

I don’t know what caused my flinch. It never even crossed my mind that he was going to strike me. Yet, I suddenly cringed and jumped back.

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