Page 46 of Once A Villain

I square my shoulders, take a steadying breath, and head back to the auditorium. Bradley glances at me, giving a satisfied nod.

“Oh, Rory!” Alicia’s shrill, fake voice calls out, and my shoulders stiffen. Why the hell is she here? “Rory, darling!” She strides over with her younger sister in tow, and I brace myself. “Honey!”

“Hi, Alicia.” She wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. Her fake tits smash against my body, and I awkwardly pat her.

“You remember my sister, Olivia?” she asks, pulling away. Olivia smirks at me, and it’s obvious the whole thing amuses her.

“I do,” I say, forcing a smile. I’ve seen her at family gatherings, and she’s a bitch, just like her sister. I think she’s twenty-one; I’ve never cared enough to ask. They are both fake, catty, and annoying. Olivia’s long black hair is perfectly curled, and her makeup is flawless. Her body is thin and toned and has the same fake tits as her sister.

“You should be proud of her,” Alicia gushes. “She’s going to be a Siren!” I raise an eyebrow, surprised.

“Really? That’s great.” I force the words out, trying not to show my disgust.

“Everyone knows the auditions are just a formality. My baby sister is a natural—just like me.”

“Good luck,” I say, trying to end the conversation.

“You know, Rory,” she says, leaning in. “I know how much of an asshole Axel can be. Hopefully, he didn’t ruin your chances of being a Siren. He tends to destroy everything he touches.”

“How do you know what Axe is like?” I ask, genuinely confused. She laughs, a sickly-sweet sound that makes me nauseous.

“Oh, darling,” she purrs, giving my arm a patronizing pat. “You have no idea.” Bradley’s voice commands the room’s attention before I can press her more.

The auditions start, and the performers take turns showcasing a range of skills from spectacular to ordinary. I watch from the sidelines, struggling to concentrate as Alicia’s words echo in my mind. What did she mean? Did she have a past with him? Does Dad know?

Olivia’s audition starts. She’s good and flexible; her routine complex. But it’s missing the seductive edge required to be a Siren. We have to make men crave us, make them want us. It’s not just about flexibility and skill; it’s about sexual desire. She’s pretty, but she’s not sexy—at least not in the way a Siren needs to be. She finishes her routine and receives a polite applause.

The auditions drag on—routine after routine, all blurring together. It’s nothing but a show for Bradley, a chance to flex his power and handpick his next “toys.”

After the last audition, he dismisses the rest of the crowd, and we file out of the auditorium. Alicia is talking with Bradley; throwing herself all over him and trying to flirt. It’s the same tactic she used against Dad.

Whatever, I don’t have time for their bullshit.

I have a show tonight.

The auditorium is a dark pit,packed with men whose stench hangs thick in the air. I’m perched at the bar, nursing a whiskey, my eyes locked on the stage. I’m waiting for her. Rory has consumed my every thought today—her naked body struggling beneath me, my cock deep in her throat, the raw defiance in her eyes as she fought against the pleasure I forced her to feel.

I should have fucked her last night, forced her to submit entirely. But watching her struggle, seeing the torment in her eyes as I used her and forced her own body to betray her—that was better than any punishment I could have dealt.

I’ll break her, make her beg, make her body crave what it despises. And when she finally surrenders, I’ll make her suffer for it. I’ll tear her apart until there’s nothing left but submission.

I’m going to enjoy fucking the life out of her.

The lights dim, and the crowd falls into a hushed expectancy. I lean back in my chair, taking the last sip of my drink.

The music kicks in—a heavy bass line from Megan Thee Stallion“Body.” Rory emerges on stage, greeted by cheers from the crowd. She’s wearing a black latex bodysuit, the material barely covering her tits. Her long blonde hair falling around her shoulders; her blue eyes are rimmed with black eyeliner.

Her lips are painted red, and her legs look fucking endless. The black stilettos accentuate her toned calves, and my eyes trail up her body, lingering on her exposed thighs.

Fuck, she looks sexy as hell.

But then I notice it. “Goddamnit, Rory.” I clench my drink, slamming it down on the bar, the glass cracking under my grip. She removed her fucking collar. Was a night in the basement not clear enough?

She has no fucking idea what I’m capable of, but she’s about to learn. I’ll drag her kicking and screaming into my darkness, make her feel every ounce of the monster she belongs to. There’s no mercy here—just pain. Her screams will echo. Every shred of rebellion ripped out, piece by fucking piece.

This is her life now, and she’ll choke on the reality of it. Suffocate under the weight of my vengeance until there’s nothing left but obedience and fear. There’s no way out.

Just me and the pain I’m more than happy to deliver.

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