They spoke of covenant andlove,of forgiveness and faith. They spoke of law, but what they never considered was being beaten by the snake who was playing the game by the rules they created.
I had seen the depths of the cruelty of this world. I had seen Hell itself, what I never considered in all my years was that this would be so much worse.
Worse than the padded rooms with chains laced in metal thorns.
Worse than the flowers they planted on my windowsill to reinforce that their reprogramming wasgood.
Worse than the wolf cubs they had forced us to kill in order to kill the insanity within ourselves.
Worse than the frigid mountains we were forced to climb in bare feet.
Worse than the electricity they had run through our bodies, trying to cleanse us.
Because at least we were allowed to keepsomeof our autonomy. They onlyrapedus when they thought there was nothing else left. Raped us in the name of their god.
I never left the asylum, I simply moved locations.
I walked through the Back Hall door, some of the Leaders, their wives, and a few of their sons still lingering. Discussing church politics, I assumed.
“Hey, when is the next transportation day?” I heard L.J. ask the moment I walked out the door.
Had they been waiting for me? Waiting for me to bring out their precious little gem? Well, now I had half a mind to keep her back there until they were all gone.
I probably wouldn’t. She deserved to go rest, but even so, how selfish of them to be panting for another look at what they would never have.
I stopped on my way to Pastor Masters’ office and turned, my smile wide, the feeling of that black fog creeping around the edges of my mind. “Tuesday,” I answered. “But don’t you worry your young head, dear boy, I’m sure you’ll have your pick of the slaughter if you can’t wait that long. After all, who can say no to a man in mourning?”
His mother frowned but said nothing as the boy’s eyes raged. He took a step forward. “You need to learn your place, Thorin.”
I angled my head. “My place? Have I not had access to the Back Hall longer than you boys? Do I not have favor in the eyes of the Elders to be able to transport suchpreciouscargo? Perhaps it is you who should learn your place.”
“L.J,” Young said sternly when the boy went to take a step forward. “That’s enough. He outranks you.”
He sneered but followed orders like the good little lamb he was.
“Apologies, Azrael,” Young said. “Our boys are still learning, their mothers do what they can.”
“Well, it’s difficult to teach boundaries when you don’t give them any.” I headed for the office again, walking in without warning.
Thomas was sitting in the chair, his father at his desk, probably discussing in depth the future of the woman I was about to steal from them.
“What the Hell,” Thomas snapped.
“I’ll call you back, Mr. Adams,” Garrett said and hung up the phone.
I locked the name in as I stepped up to the desk.
“What can I do for you, Azrael?”
“I’m not cleaning up her vomit,” Thomas put in before I could answer.
“Then it shall sit in the hall,” I told the child without looking over. “I’ll pay 10 million. An extra two if you move up the date.”
Garrett leaned back, studying me carefully. “Why?”
“Do I need a reason?” The only way to save the information in her mind long enough for it to be worth my time was to separate her from those taking away the shards I needed to rebuild her. She could still be a weapon, but only if I actually kept my word in this world and not just my own.
I told her I could protect her, what she didn’t know was that I meant I could protect her inmyworld. I could protect her from the monsters haunting my own mind, but now I needed to protect her fromherworld.
