Page 74 of Raine
I swallow hard, tears burning my eyes. “Ok,” I whisper. “Tell Ach, I’ll message him later. I need to go.”
We say goodbye, and I hang up, allowing the tears to fall freely and the ugly sobs to fill the space around me. I don’t deserve their worry or affection, but I’ll take in nonetheless. I’m a greedy bitch like that.
I spend the rest of the day watching mind numbing T.V. series, and finishing it off with some yoga stretches. After my stretches, I grab something to eat from the hamper, noting I really need to head into town and stock up on food, then I grab a glass of wine, and curl up on the lounge with my mother’s diary, the French doors open, allowing the cool evening breeze to sift in.
Wrapping the fluffy white throw rug around the bottom half of my body, I nestle in and begin reading.
Dear Diary,
My secrets are safe with you, hidden beneath the floors I walk on. Can you keep a secret? Can I tell you what I can’t tell anyone else?
It's getting worse. I didn’t think that was possible, but it is. Draconis arranged a meet at Avernus's, and I’ve never been more disgusted in my life. By the look on Avernus's face I knew he was banking on my reaction.
Women were strewn around his dark and daunting lounge area like pieces of trash. The deep chocolate lounges were pushed to the side; a heap of blankets and pillows were in the middle of the room, and I didn’t have to look closely to know they were covered in bodily fluids.
He had three young women strung up in random places, two of them hanging from the ceiling with their legs spread and blood coating their thighs. When I looked to the corner my blood ran cold. A young man no older than sixteen had his arms tied to each thigh, his legs spread wide, and all I could see was the bloody semen smeared all over his behind and stomach.
I forced my eyes away from him; every inch of my body was shaking, and the need to stay in character for the boys was like carving my flesh off my body with a blunt blade. I may have been a part of the Tartarus Mafia, but I wasn’t naïve; they could kill me off at any given time. It’d happened in the past, I’d be stupid to let my guard down.
I can’t get the images out of my damn head, and the way Avernus tracked me until I left his house said way more than I was prepared to admit. I need to stay vigilant because they were planning something; I just don’t know what.
I haven’t told Malcolm yet. I think I’ll wait a little longer because I don’t think I can bear another argument with him.
Winter <3
Wine forgotten, I close the diary, nausea souring my stomach as the images my mother painted with her words trudged around in my mind. I had planned on reading a little more, but after that entry, I don’t think I have it in me to carry on living through the words my mother wrote down before I was even thought of.
My thoughts drift back to the latest entry and I find it difficult to imagine that kind of fuckery. I knew Avernus was a sick son of a bitch but, shit, that was something else. I think of Acheron, and my heart hurts for him as I try to imagine growing up with a man like his father.
I may have lost my parents at a young age, but what atrocities must Ach have seen as a kid growing up in that disgusting environment?
Thinking of Acheron, I decide to type him a quick message out and tell him I’m ok and to stop being a stress head. When I finish typing it out, I go to put my phone down, but it vibrates in my hand, causing me to look down and see a message from Acheron.
Bout fucking time you messaged me, I was about to get the coordinates from Justyce and come down and slap some sense into you. Ok, not really, I was just worried after everything that happened, and I don’t fucking worry, Raine, so stop being a shithead and making me more uncomfortable than I’m used to. Arrow isn’t talking to me either, if you’re wondering; he’s as sour as those stupid fucking lollipops we ate as kids, but don’t worry, he’ll come around. You just get better because it’s quiet around here; even Justyce agrees with me on that. Alright, I’m out because this is way too much sentimental shit for a man like me to handle. So piss off and get better, bitch. ??
I finish reading and burst out laughing because I can imagine his face as he typed that nonsense out. I don’t bother with a reply because fuck him and his sentimental bullshit, plus I know he'll be even more uncomfortable if I answer.
I think back to our moment of weakness and shake my head in despair and defeat. That moment cost me my best friend… Well, that’s a lie. Arrow and I were already at a crossroads, neither of us wanting to take the wheel, until he overheard my conversation with Acheron.
Fuck, my heart hurts, but I will not cry another fucking tear tonight, I’ve cried a damn river already today.
I get up off the couch, close the doors, and lock everything up, and head to the bedroom. Stripping down to nothing, I hop into the bed naked and curl around a pillow. My phone beeps again, and I roll my eyes thinking it's Acheron. However, when I unlock it, I find a message from Gabe instead.
Good evening, pretty girl… I’m a little worried about you, Raine; you haven’t been answering my messages, but I can see you’ve been reading them. You’re being a naughty girl, and you know what happens to naughty girls, don’t you? They get spanked. I’m looking forward to seeing you again… and soon. Yours, Daddy.
I clench my thighs as I read over the message again, my pussy tingling with thoughts of Gabe making true on his promise. Chewing on my lip, I wonder if what I’m about to do is wise, but when I type the message out with the address of where I’m staying, I don’t expect him to reply back so soon.
Gabe - See you soon, sweet girl.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I curse, throwing my phone across the bed. I fly up and start pacing.
I wring my hands and shake them out. My body feels like a damn livewire because I know exactly what I’ve signed up for, what I’m allowing into my bed.
My traitorous cunt is already weeping at the prospect of what’s to come, and logically, I know he won’t be here for hours, but that doesn’t stop the churning in my guts.
I glance at the clock on the nightstand and see it’s close to eight in the evening. I take one last look at the bed, and contemplate trying to sleep, but my belly dips again and I know it’s not happening.
Sighing I grab my phone and head into the bathroom, knowing I’m going to regret this when Gabe gets here.
