Scarlett
March 13th, 2023
My mind was spinning, my skin buzzing.
To wake up to Azrael rather than Thomas or his friends? It was better than a dream, but now he was gone, and he had left me with an assignment. One I wanted to accomplish if only in thanks for the answers he had given me about his family.
About Olivia.
Olivia the rose who Mr. Alascer almost brought back. She had survived and was still living in Azrael’s world. Mr. Alascer never touched her. Not like he did me.
Just for telling me about her, I would give him anything he wanted, I just hoped he came back. I couldn’t remember the last time I had had a real conversation. To be able to not just answer his questions but ask my own? I felt relieved. Perhaps my intentions were working. Doing the things I knew the Leaders like in hopes to get his attention forever locked on me worked tonight. The only difference was, I didn’t disappear into my head this time like I did with them. I knew what I was doing. I made the choice, and by what he had given me, I think it had worked.
He couldn’t get me out of his head. I was the only one who had earned his constant eyes. I was his little sinning doll, and not only did it bring with it a strange, joyful feeling that was more than just joy, I also felt as if I were no longer alone in this world. As if I had a friend outside of the ones in my head.
I had captured Azrael Thorin, the sea, the ghost. Me. A girl born and sold within the church, the Chosen One, the Blessed One, I had captured him. He was now mine.
I settled back in the bottom of the closet, the door closed, less than thirty seconds after he had left.
I kept the dress on because I couldn’t remember the last time I had ever been allowed to wear something this beautiful outside of the Back Hall, and the way the heat of his eyes had changed had me never wanting to take it off ever again.
I pulled the black shawl over me. I had worn it once for a funeral we had gone to years ago. Not Louis Nelson’s, but someone else. Someone I couldn’t remember the name for. It was small, kid-sized, but enough to keep me warm in the safety of this closet.
I could still feel the dampness now lacing my underwear, Azrael’s voice filling my mind.“Touch yourself, little sinner. Anywhere that feels good.”
It felt so sinful. I was breaking the most important rules we were supposed to abide by…
But Mr. Alascer had hurt Olivia. He knew about the compound. He had planned on bringing her back here if it hadn’t been for her husband and Azrael.
Husband.She wasn’t a Favorite and she still chose to get married. She had had a choice between marrying him and not marrying him and she chose to marry him. Why? If I could choose not to marry Thomas, I wouldn’t. I would run so far away from him—
No, no because Azrael had placed a new picture in my head.
Me holding a knife, sinking it into Thomas’ chest, his blood spilling over my hand.
The pulse between my legs happened again as the idea of me being the cause of his death consumed me.
Me. Weak, obedient little Scarlett. Nothing but a Favorite. A girl to be used for the needs of the men in the church. To think that I could kill the son of the Pastor?
I adjusted myself in the small space, pulling my knees up, my heart racing as I slowly slid my hands over my stomach.
“Impure!”a voice in my head screamed.
I gasped, jerking my hand away.
“Touch yourself,”Azrael whispered softly, immediately drowning out the shouting.
I shook my head, slowly, hesitantly, placing my hand back on my stomach, gripping into my dress, my breathing picking up. I wanted to do what he wanted of me, but what if he was wrong about the cameras? What if there were cameras in here, watching me?
No, because if there were Thomas was sure to have found me by now. He was sure to have brought it up, but he never did. Every time I heard the lock flip, I always scrambled out, climbing into bed before they came into my room.
Tonight had been the first night I hadn’t awoken to the sound of that lock. To the sound of monsters walking in. All because Azrael had given me his word that no one would bother me, only for him to walk in and wrap those antlers around my jaw.
I swallowed, closing my eyes tightly, letting the image fill me again, Azrael’s voice guiding me.
“Touch yourself anywhere that feels good. Your tits.”
He spoke such crude words, but they weren’t cruel. When the Leaders and their sons spoke mean words, I could feel the rage and hatred in their voice, as if they hated me for doing what I was told to do, but Azrael? His voice was soft, like a dark lullaby, gently guiding me as I broke the rules he didn’t seem to believe in.
