Page 17 of A Harmony of Procellarum

“I told you.” She sighs and leans back in her oversized chair. “You can do what you wish with her when this mission is done. You could’ve chosen anyone as your prize, but you picked her.”

“I didn’t think I’d be forced to share a fucking room with her,” I growl, my stomach tightening as I think of what happened last night.

“No, I guess I didn’t make that clear.” She gives me a knowing grin. “But at least it makes you work quicker to get the jobs done.”

“What’s the next one?” I ask, lining my words with boredom. I should’ve known that with Shereen nothing is black and white. She says one thing, but the meaning is never clear.

“Ohio,” she informs me with a small smile. “You’ll be glad to know it’s an overnight trip. You won’t have to sleep with your lover’s girlfriend.”

The jab hits me hard in the chest, but I feign indifference as I shrug. “Cool.”

“This will close up the East. After that, you move to other districts.” She shuffles some papers on her desk, making the triangular pendant around her neck shine as it catches the light overhead.

“Are you going to explain why you’re doing this?” I inquire as I crack my knuckles.

“No.” Her answer is firm and direct. “And I need that girl alive until it’s done. I may need to send a video soon, ensuring to keep Sval away. I remember how bullheaded he can be.”

“Fine.” I stand, giving her a low, sweeping bow. “May I be excused now?”

“Yes.” She waves me off.

As soon as I open her office door, I am flanked on both sides by her guards. It’s the same drill every time I see her, and even though she likes to remind me how she freed me from that institute, she likes to make it obvious I’m still a prisoner.

They lead me to the elevator, the single car humming open when they press the button. This building is disguised as a record label, but inside is a labyrinth of Order activities spanning the U.S.A. Most of the people here live inside these walls so that they’re at Luciphia’s beck and call.

We step inside and they press the button for the ground level, thirty-three floors below. It’s a long ride, and the width of all our shoulders is making me a bit claustrophobic. Each floor dings and when we hit floor twenty-two, I remember the day we came here to sign our lives away. Then thirteen reminds me of when we used to bring the women here to sign NDA’s for Raiden’s parties.

But then there’s seven. The floor is held for gatherings and sacrifices. I itch to stop the car, to pry open the doors and force myself to join in any ritual happening at the moment. The need to touch and smell blood is overwhelming, and I know if I get into back to that room and hear Tiny screaming, I’ll fucking kill her.

All too soon, the doors open on the ground floor, and I’m led to my room in the darkened hallway. All the windows on the ground floor are high on the walls and sparse. It’s the sleeping quarters and holding cells. You can imagine which one I’m in.

They unlock the door and wait patiently for me to open it and step inside. They seem calm and relaxed on the outside, but inside they’re coiled and ready to fight. There’s no point for me to bother anyway. It would be a waste of time and I’d be sent back to the institute without ever feeling Tiny’s blood on my skin.

I step inside the room, letting the door shut at my back and listening to the sharpclickas the lock is slid into place. Trapped, confined, and helpless. I promised myself after escaping the orphanage that I would never find myself at the mercy of another person, but here we are.

Tiny is sitting in the chair, her feet tucked up under her and her body so rigid with tension I’m afraid any sudden movement will snap her in half. Her eyes stay downcast, refusing to look up at me, but that blush staining her cheeks makes me want to throw my fist through the wall. I don’t know why I react in such extremes with this woman. One minute I’m intrigued and achingly hard, and the next I’m filled with rage simmering with lust.

And now that I’ve had her taste committed to memory, I’ll be fucked until I’m holding her warm heart in my hands as her blood runs over my head.

“I’ll be gone for a few days.” I don’t know why I’m telling her this. I shouldn’t give a fuck about her knowing my schedule. “But I’ll leave my pillow behind, in case you need to get yourself off.”

“Fuck you,” she says it so quietly, the words lacking conviction. It’s almost like she doesn’t have enough energy to verbally spar with me and it’s almost disappointing. “I hope you never come back.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate,” I drawl as I pick up my duffel bag. “I’m the reason you’re still alive. You’re being used to keep me in line. If I don’t come back, you’d be of no use.”

“What do you mean?” she asks as she watches me open the bag and rifle through my things. “And how did you get my bag?”

“I mean exactly what I said, and that’s that.” I could tell her she will die at my hands, that she’s my gift for obedience. She’s my chance to rectify what I fucked up the first time, but I don’t. That would take the fun out of everything and ruin the surprise. “I was at your apartment.” I turn and look at her with a raised brow. “You know? Where I fucking kidnapped you?”

“But the bag was inside my apartment with my mother…” She trails off as she looks at me with wide eyes. “Please tell me you didn’t hurt my mother.” Those big, hazel eyes of hers grow lighter as tears pool against her bottom lid, threatening to spill over her cheeks.

“Your mother is of no use to me,” I inform her as I pick up my bag. “I kill with purpose. If someone is dead by my hands, then they deserved it in some way or another.” I sling the bag over my shoulder and give her a pointed look. “Even sacrifices. They were done in the name of my Order, just like when Catholics eat the body of their Messiah and drink his blood. They’re just playing pretend, but the meaning is there.”

“You’re a monster,” she croaks, her words sounding as if she’s on the brink of tears, making it the perfect time for me to get away from her.

I stride to the door and lift my fist to bang against the wood, alerting the guards that I’m ready to go. The door opens as she calls out, “Off to kill someone else?”

I turn to give her a smirk, letting the manic energy inside me take over. “Better someone else than you… For now.”

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