Kyan looked seriously turned on and half a second away from grabbing me again.
I backed up to the door of The Temple, resting my spine to it and taking hold of the handle behind me.
“Did you miss me?” I whispered in case anyone was listening inside.
His throat bobbed as his gaze roamed down to my cleavage and back up again. He stepped closer, taking his time as he eye fucked me so hard I swear I nearly came. I was panting by the time he got close, pressing one hand to the door and the other lowering to rest on my waist. The scent of gasoline and power danced in the air and intoxicated me like a drug.
I was just about to celebrate my victory in successfully luring him in, when he clucked his tongue and shoved me out of his way.
“Naw,” he said easily. “I could never miss you, baby. I missed torturing you though.” He winked before stepping inside and I scowled at his back as he went. Asshole.
***
I woke in the bathtub to an alarm on my phone. It was silent, just buzzing enough to pull me from sleep. And though getting up at the butt crack of dawn was about as appealing to me as dropping onto my knees in front of Saint and licking his shoes clean, I’d made sure I was up at a quarter to six every day since I’d been returned to their clutches. Those fifteen minutes were mine. A time when no one was going to walk in to the bathroom and take a piss or a shower or, so help me, a shit.
I at least had a blanket and a pillow in the tub now, but it still didn’t make for a good night’s sleep. I climbed out of it, keeping on my tip-toes to try and put some space between me and the cold tiles. Then I grabbed my backpack from where I’d stuffed it beneath the bath. I was sure they could find it easily enough if they wanted it, but keeping it out of sight at least meant they wouldn’t get any spontaneous ideas about looking through it again.
I took out a piece of paper and a pen before grabbing my pillow out of the bath and dropping to the floor so I could write. I couldn’t be totally honest with my sister about what was going on here, about my plans with Monroe. Just in case they found it. But I needed to get some stuff off of my chest anyway.
Dear Jessica,
I hate it here. I hate the three boys keeping me captive and I’m starting to hate this school too. It’s so beautiful here, Jess. If it wasn’t for the Night Keepers, I think I’d really love it. But they’re like poison, spilling into the atmosphere and tainting everything around them. I can’t let them taint me though. I have to be strong, weather out this bullshit until I can see the light again. It just seems impossible right now.
I wish I knew where Dad was. I wish I could call him and know he was okay. Sometimes I have these awful dreams of him lying in a bed, coughing and coughing, burning up in a blazing fever. But then I wake and I remember he’s a survivor. Wherever he is, I know he’s living on the outskirts somewhere. He could last forever in hiding. I just hope he’s biding his time to reach out to me. But what if he’s not? What if he’s cut me off and has no intention of ever coming back?
I know you’d have all the right answers. You’d know exactly what to do. I’m doing my best. I just hope it’s enough.
Love, Tatty x
I took in a shaky breath before folding the letter up and placing it in the bag with the others. My heart was knotted and pain was dancing through my body. I missed Dad. I missed Jess. I missed being okay.
I thumbed through the pile of letters stashed in that pocket and tugged one free. A reply from Jess from years ago. It was crinkled and worn, the page read by me a thousand times.
Dear Tatty,
You are so freaking awesome! That photo you sent is hilarious. I could never climb trees as good as you, but hanging upside down from a branch like a monkey? You’re crazy! Maybe California is taming me too much. I miss the woods, camping, Dad’s crazy adventures. Do you remember when he made us hike up to Finnick Rock at four am in the middle of winter? I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feel of that snow seeping under my collar. Or the way your nose turned bright red. You looked like Rudolph haha!
Anyway, all is well here. I’ve been learning to surf. And it’s definitely not because of the hot as shit instructor by the way. Alright, maybe it’s ten percent because of him. But I’m actually pretty good at it. Don’t tell Dad though. You know what he’ll say. ‘No sport is worth learning unless it can double as a survival skill’. I could totally surf my way out of a zombie hoard though, right? Definitely worth it. Especially if we face a zombie fish plague.
I miss you tons. And I’ll continue to badger Dad about letting you come visit soon. I told him most fifteen year old girls can’t kneecap a dude before finishing them with a roundhouse, so you’d be completely able to look out for yourself. But he says you need to focus on your training. Sigh! I hope he’s not pushing you too hard.
Love you sis,
Jess x
I folded the letter up, taking a shaky breath as my heart started to splinter. About her, about my situation. Everything. I put it back in the bag and pressed my hands to my eyes, holding back tears as they threatened to fall.
I had to keep it together. Had to take this day by day and chip away at the Night Keepers inch by inch. It was the only thing I had to hold onto right now and it helped ease the pain in my chest. I’d turn the foundations of their empire into rubble and by the time they realised what I’d done, it would be too late to stop their downfall.
I put the backpack away and headed to the sink, brushing my teeth, washing my face and combing my hair. By the time I was done, my mask was back in place and my breathing was even. I’d slept in the silky white nightdress Saint had given me and my nipples were pebbling through the material from how cold it was in here.
I checked my phone with a sigh before lifting up my nightdress and tucking it into the right side of my panties to hold it against my thigh and heading to Kyan’s door. He always left it open for me to get out in the mornings considering it would take a tsunami to wake him up. I slipped into his room, my eyes drawn to the muscles of his back as he slept. It was too dark to see the interconnecting tattoos that covered it clearly, and I vaguely wondered what this boy cared about enough to get inked onto his skin. Aside from the brand of the Night Keepers on the back of his neck.
I realised I was still standing there like a creeper and shook my head at myself as I walked to his door and exited into the hall. Right on cue at six am, Saint’s freaky music filled my ears and I hurried along to the top of the stairs that led down to the crypt and knelt beside them. Like a fucking dog. I would have thought sticking to Saint’s routine would have gotten less degrading as time went on, but no, it definitely became more so. This kneeling part was the worst of it. I had to stay here for an hour and a half before that asshole finished his workout. And for what? I was gonna get freaking chilblains from these ice-cold flagstones. And then his precious little doll would be tarnished.
Saint’s silhouette appeared up on the balcony as he gazed down to check I was where he expected me to be.
“Good morning, master!” I called cheerily, slapping on a fake ass smile.
He ignored me, stretching his arms above his head before heading down the stairs. He was in his workout gear. Black T-shirt and black sweatpants. I didn’t know why he bothered with the shirt. He always came out with it stuffed in the back of his pants when he was done. But I guessed he just couldn’t bear to break his routine.