Page 64 of Scent of Desire
He didn’t reply, but I knew my angel had come. He was a he. His smell didn’t lie.
“How did you do it? Boys aren’t allowed here. You’ll have—”
“Stop,” he warned. “They’re coming.”
In a draft, I no longer felt the presence of the boy, and I reeled around instinctively.Shit.My heart hammered.Was this all in my head?The lights of the sisters’ rooms were switched on. Mother Anne was running to me, holding her lantern with a frown and wearing her nun’s headdress that made her look like an old shrew. It was too late to tie me back—she’d seen me. The other sisters were joining her. I’d have to face the punishment.
“Silly girl! What did you do again? Did someone help you out?”
I shook my head.
“I saw someone! Don’t lie to me!” Mother Anne screamed like the brat that she was, accompanied by her horde of thirsty hyenas. “Vincent will co—” She cleared her throat under the puzzled gaze of the sisters, finding her composure again. “I mean, the director will come here soon, and he won’t be as clement as me if you don’t speak the truth. Now.”
I squared my shoulders, my eyes burning with witchcraft. “No.” I would never betray him.
“Fine,” she cackled, and circled her belt between her fingers like a boxer before a fight. “I’ll get the truth out of you.”
“No!” I shook my head, taking a few steps backward. “Please, don’t do this.”
“Hold your arms forward.” She played with her belt like a wicked creature of the night. She was a vicious snake. A scary tarantula. “If you refuse, it’ll be your pretty spoiled face.”
“Not my face.” My eyes opened wildly in fear, searching for any compassion in the eyes of the other sisters. I found none. “You can’t take that away from me!”
“I will if you misbehave. Now, your arms,” that sadist ordered.
The girls of the institute were spying on the scene through their windows, laughing and smiling. I gulped away my feelings and stretched my arms forward, a tear ready to fall.Be strong, Lily.Uncle would come to get me soon out of this place. I shut my eyes, dread twisting my guts.
The belt latched on.
My body shook, the sobs of fear coming in waves.
The belt slapped on my skin in a whipping nightmare.
It hit me—at least I believed it did, but why wasn’t it hurting? Why was I not feeling anything?
Vanilla.
I opened my eyes under the familiar smell. The back of my guardian angel was facing me, hiding me in his protective shadow. I craned my neck. He was so tall and older. He was built like a man. A feeling of hope surged through me.
My guardian angel had come.
“Who are—” Mother Anne’s voice went shrill, and everyone else remained mute.
“You shouldn’t do that to a child. You’re cruel,” the boy warned in a placid voice that left no room for sympathy.
I leaned closer to him, my cheek grazing his black shirt. I hid behind his imposing size, finding comfort for the first time in a long time. The boy had gripped the belt into a fist, and he pulled down, causing Mother Anne to lose her grip.
My breath hitched at the sight of the blood descending from the belt. He was hurt. Red marks, like scars, scattered over him as fresh blood flew down his forearm. He had sacrificed himself for me, preventing me from receiving the blow, but he did.
“Get out of here, young man, before I call the police,” that old tarantula yelled, but her voice was edged with fear. “Demon child!”
“It’s him!” Men from afar came rushing to us, pointing fingers at my guardian angel.Oh no.“Sir, we found him!”
I threw myself against his back at the sight of the scary director, Mr. Vincent. He was taller than everyone else, a mountain of muscles, looking mad and terrifying. The girls said he was worse than Mother Anne. I thought he was the Father here, but I was wrong—he only remained in the shadows of the institute like a ghost. Those who had seen him had nightmares about him. He was terrifying.What would he do to us?
“Get out,” I whispered to my angel. “You’ll have problems. Please. Save yourself.”
But he didn’t listen, locking his hands into fists and raising his voice so he would awaken the anger of the gods and make the sky thunder.
