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“What’s that?” A small, grating voice came from behind her. Startled and fearful, she shied away from the approaching footsteps. She instead clutched the tiny thing with her small hands just a bit closer to her chest, as if it would be enough to shield it from the world.
“You know she’s not going to say anything, she never speaks.” There was another voice, though this one sounded quite annoyed with her.
In this house, annoyance was dangerous. It was the last emotion before violence.
If her magic had come in, perhaps she could turn the two of them into something even smaller than what she held in her hands. She’d keep them hidden from the light so that no one else would ever know their…
malice?
Was that the word he’d taught her?
Keeping them out of
trouble
would’ve been the smartest thing to do and she promised she’d keep them safe, too. It was the right thing to do.
However, keeping her precious secret from them was not as smart.
Not when the
annoyance
seethed off of them and the taller of the two began to yank on her hair, pulling it by the scalp so hard that it made her scream.
“Listen!” The smaller voice, which belonged to the Mistress’ niece, Amaris, “She kind of spoke, just now!”
“You dolt, all she did was cry.” The older one was surely the Mistress’ middle child, Silas. He often enjoyed pulling her hair or pushing her onto the ground, if it meant she’d finally speak instead of only sobbing.
These children were evil, if not completely cruel. She should’ve felt pity for them, it wasn’t their fault they’d never known an ounce of kindness in their lives…
yet neither had she
.
Her parents, who diligently worked for the Mistress, did not care for her in the way she’d read in the story books he so often smuggled in for her. They did not love her hard, did not kiss her goodnight or comfort her when she cried.
They only looked at her like they expected something
great
from her.
Something an eight year old wasn’t capable of.
If her parents had walked by while Silas tugged on her hair, they wouldn’t have so much as batted an eye. They might’ve even joined in.
“That’s a start then, isn’t it?” He laughed smugly when he shoved her onto the ground. She reeled as her back hit the grass but she kept her hands close to her chest. She’d keep her treasure safe, away from these monsters.
If they saw it, they’d stamp it out - if only just to hurt her.
They pinched her arms, demanding she show them. That wasn’t enough, she wouldn’t let go and the oldest began to kick her until she dissolved into a fit of sobs. She’d be bruised, battered and covered in grass when it was over but she would’ve…
succeeded
- that was the right word for how she’d protect the small thing from the brutes that abused her.
“That’s enough.” Another voice commanded and she should’ve been happy that someone was finally putting a stop to her torment. Yet her little heart hammered in her chest as the foot falls came closer and closer.
If she thought he was here to save her, she was a fool.
Ominis Gaunt, the youngest child of the Mistress, was the cruelest of them all.
And she’d learned to fear him.
“Get out of here, before I tell Mother that you’re dirtying the courtyard with filthy blood.” He snapped. She kept her eyes tightly shut as she heard the two scramble away.
“What do you have, Eden?” She heard the sound of his feet in the grass next to her and reluctantly opened her eyes. She’d learned to obey Ominis, knowing the kind of pain he’d inflict would make what Amaris and Silas did look indeed like child’s play.
Ominis crouched down onto the ground next to her, but she wasn’t sure why he would want what she had. He couldn’t even see it, and if he could not, would he be able to understand it?
Ominis was cruel, but he was different. He did not see things as simply as his kin did.
“Please don’t hurt it.” Her voice was no louder than the gentle wind that ripped around them. Ominis didn’t say anything, but he waited expectantly.
Ominis wouldn’t be above using his magic, which had only come in a month ago. He’d already been put to using…
Unforgivables
. He’d done it without any reluctance and Eden had been on the receiving end of the very first.
She’d never forget what a bolt of
Crucio
felt like as it ravaged and destroyed the neurons in her body.
If only her own magic would appear… but that was another fairytale. She was months overdue.
Eden sat up slowly off the ground, inching closer so that her knees were touching his as she splayed her hands out. The little thing she’d been keeping safe was a butterfly. Its wings slowly vibrated as it reoriented itself after being in the darkness of her palms, but she was glad she hadn’t accidentally crushed it in the fray of the Gaunts’ bullying.
She’d never seen something so lovely in this garden, and in some ways, she hoped that it was a sign her magic would finally come in. This little creature embodied hope for her.
“Explain what it is to me.” Ominis said as his warm hands cupped the bottoms of hers. Her little mind raced with a myriad of emotions, ranging from fear to one that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
It made her pale cheeks burn all the same.
“It’s… it’s a butterfly.” She said quietly, watching as the insect straightened itself. It was getting ready to take off and she hoped it found a home far away from this one. It was a prison and it held nothing for such a bright creature.
“Its body is dark, black like the night,” She added, “Its wings are… blue and shiny.”
“Iridescent,” Ominis corrected her and the heat in her cheeks deepened.
She didn’t know what the word meant. He was always correcting her, with an arsenal of words that were far better than the shabby little ones in her inventory. It frustrated her to no end but she always pocketed each new phrase or adjective he fed her without question.
The trouble she had was remembering how to use them.
“It’s pretty.” Eden whispered as the winged thing finally began to fly out of the palm of her hand.
Ominis’ hands shot straight up, plucking the thing right out of the sky. Nausea bubbled in her throat as she watched in horror as the wings twitched in between the gaps of his fingers.
“Why…?” She sobbed as he brought it back down into his lap. When he unfurled his fingers, the butterfly had been crumpled.
“I wanted to touch it, I did not…” Ominis frowned, as if the death of the creature was just a simple inconvenience to him.
Eden was horrified as he placed that dead little thing back in her hand, before he stood up.
“It’s just a bug,” He said to her, with his wand raised. “There’s a million more.”
There would never be a fluttering hope like the one that butterfly had given her
, she silently cried to his back, as he walked away.
But there would always be monsters like him who snuffed out the light wherever they went.
Eden should have known better. That butterfly, beautiful and fleeting, was not hope. Its crumpled wings and lifeless body was an
omen
.
Nearly a day after, the calendar had already marked it three months past the time the Gaunt’s Seer said her magic would come in. And it hadn’t.
Eden would be deemed magicless, useless - a
muggle
.
She’d be a disappointment and a stain to her family now that she wasn’t capable of wielding magic. It was the only…
requirement
for living in their world - to simply be a magic user.
If she had no magic, what use was she?
Her stomach turned as she stared down at the plate of food before her. She couldn’t stand the thought of eating, she wasn’t worthy of the delicious taste or the way it would fill her belly.
Muggle
.
She pushed around a pea with her spoon, idly listening to the conversation of her parents as they spoke to another couple who lived within the manor as well.
Soiled blood.
They were saying something about the middle of the night, some plan, some wretched thing. They were laughing.
The kindest thing would be to kill her, don’t you think?
Eden’s eyes flicked up to find the adults staring at her. They were laughing at
her
.
“I’m going to bed.” She muttered, swallowing her fear as she stood from the table. They of course went back to their conversation, barely noticing her absence as her legs wobbled and took her down the hall towards her bedroom.
They hated her
.
Her room was nothing special, a bed and a chest of drawers. It was enough that she could have her things, nice clothes - but what she loved most was the broken floor board in the corner of the room.
It’s where she hid all of the books Ominis left for her and it was the most precious thing Eden owned. She’d already clambered into bed with her tattered copy of
Beedle and the Bard,
skimming through the pages until she found the story she enjoyed the most. The one with the Hopping Pot always brought her comfort and soon, she found sleep.
“I’ve told you not to fall asleep with these,” A voice sighed, waking Eden who quickly sat up. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes to find that Ominis sat on the side of her bed, with the book in his hand.
“S-sorry,” She whispered, stifling a yawn as he placed the book on the bed.
“I need you to make a deal with me.” He abruptly said and it took several heartbeats for Eden to become coherent enough to look at his face. His lips were pursed in a tight line and his brows were furrowed with… Eden couldn’t think of the right word for what she saw on Ominis Gaunt’s face, but it looked like worry.
“Okay.” She agreed, without even bothering to ask what he meant.
“Either you’re too sleepy or you’re an idiot - you’ve got to learn not to be so compliant all of the time, Eden.” Ominis sighed, and before she could ask what that word meant, he turned and took both of her hands in his. He gripped them tightly, as if he were afraid she’d run.
Not that she’d ever be fast enough… not without her magic…
“In ten minutes your parents are going to come in here and kill you,” Ominis said and her heart stilled in her chest. So they had been talking about her at dinner - she’d wanted to believe it was…
coincidence,
that they’d associate a mercy killing with some other poor soul.
Her own parents, her flesh and blood… Eden shouldn’t have been surprised but she couldn’t help as she hiccuped a sob.
“We don’t have time for you to cry, we need to make a deal if you want to live.” He hissed, gripping her fingers harshly. She nodded through her tears, and if he knew she did or took her silence for agreement, he didn’t say.
“A pact,” He whispered, easing his grip just a little once she’d calmed, “a blood pact. One term of mine in exchange for my help saving your life.”
A blood pact?
“What…?” She asked through a sob.
“Nevermind it, just agree and I will help you out of the mansion, get you somewhere safe and you’ll never have to live in fear of your parents nor the Gaunts ever again.” He hurriedly said, “We don’t have much time, Eden - six minutes left.”
Six minutes until her death.
Did Eden
want
to die? It was a thought that almost seemed appealing, given how useless she’d felt now that she learned she’d never have magic. She’d have to do everything the muggle way, live like one and remain in fear of every magical being that existed.
Her eyes looked towards the opened floorboard and all the books that laid there. In each and every one of them there was a tale of far away places and lovely people.
If she left, could she have those kinds of adventures?
“Okay.” She agreed and Ominis dropped her hands.
“Be still,” He commanded, brandishing his wand. “Hold out your hand, palm up.”
She followed his instructions without hesitance, though she wished she hadn’t as pain ran heatedly across the palm of her flesh. Blood rushed to the surface, oozing out as Ominis quietly did the same to himself. He hissed in pain as his blood dripped from his hand and onto her nightgown.
“Now take my hands.” Ominis whispered, raising his hands up into the air, waiting for her. Eden swallowed, trying hard not to look at the blood on her hand as she pressed her palms to his, interlacing their fingers together.
She could feel the magic in his hands, burning into her flesh as he clutched her fingers tightly.
Would something like this even work if she had no magic? Was he simply biding time so that her parents could find her and murder her?
“Swear to me, Eden, that if in fifteen years time we both find ourselves unwed you will either submit yourself to me in marriage, or you will die. You - ah, no questions, we don’t have
time
. Swear it, you must mean it or the magic will not work.” Ominis said, leaving little room for argument.
Marry him… or perish by her parents or by the oath itself in fifteen years. Fifteen years to find safety and a match.
Oddly enough she cared for Ominis… yet she would never think of marrying him. Not after the way he smiled as she writhed on the ground when he’d used the Torturing Curse on her.
“I swear it.” She whispered. She’d find a way out of the pact but for now… there was a whole world to be seen.
The warmth of the magic spilled down their palms and around their wrists, creating a feeling that reminded Eden of walking into a spider web. It was the magic of their promise, binding them together like a physical contract.
When he let go of her hands, two intricately designed vials laid in their respective hands.
“A physical reminder of our pact,” He murmured, his thumb brushing over the enchanted metal. “Don’t lose it.”
Eden swallowed and pocketed the vial, not even realizing that the tiny object in her possession would determine the outcome of her future forever.
“Let’s go,” Ominis stood from the bed and held his hand out for hers, with his wand raised in the other. “Unless you want them to find you.”
She stared at his outstretched hand, taking a deep breath before placing her smaller one in his. The future would always be uncertain, but her story would not end tonight.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“It’ll be fun,” Perdi sat on the counter, swinging her feet while she finished painting her nails. I think she’d picked a plum color this time, which matched her fiery red hair well.
Lizzy stood next to her, stirring the contents of the pot on the stove. She gave our roommate a groan and shook her brown tresses in disagreement. “Fun for
whom
, exactly?”
I vaguely listened as the two of them bickered back and forth. Perdi was buzzing with excitement over a new night club that opened on the other side of town. In fact, it was
all she talked about
since she got home this evening.
Ever the skeptic, I decided to do some digging on my phone.
There was one problem - there was
nothing
.
The Garden of Eden, who’s name made me cringe, didn't exist as far as the internet was concerned. There were no websites, no pictures. The entire search engine was devoid of any answers.
With no way to know what it was like and the unsettling, familiar name, something didn’t sit right with me about it. It felt wrong.
Something didn’t sit right with me about it.
“It’ll be good for
all
of us - if you keep frowning at me like that, Lizzy, you’ll get wrinkles faster.” Perdi scoffed. She screwed the top back onto the nail polish before turning her hazel eyes towards me. She raised a brow, expectantly.
I sighed as she asked the question I knew was coming.
“What do
you
think, Eden?”
My opinion aligned with Lizzy’s, if my own frown hadn’t made it clear enough to Perdi. I had little interest in being in a room full of crowded, sweaty bodies. No amount of alcohol would make me comfortable enough to go out
partying.
‘
Do I look like the clubbing type to you?’
“Sure you do, you’ve got party girl written all over you.” Perdi sniffed, as if it were a fair statement.
‘
Just like you have ‘eccentric billionaire’ on your forehead, right?’
Perdi rolled her eyes again before smiling at me, “Fine, you win that one.”
‘Nothing on the internet about it… and the name?’
I raised a brow at her.
“It's a coincidence - oh, maybe you’ll get a free drink for sharing the name!” Perdi winked at me. I shook my head.
‘
No thank you
.’
“See?” Lizzy sighed, setting her spoon down on the counter. “Even Eden doesn’t want to go.”
I nodded my head as she pulled the pot from the stove, letting her soup cool as Perdi grumbled.
‘What kind of club is this, anyway?’
“Exclusive and by invitation only, however,” Perdi said as she hopped down off the counter and took a short bow, “
yours truly
scored us a way in.”
“I don’t even want to know how.” Lizzy grimaced as she sat the pot down on the cloth in the middle of the table. I inhaled deeply, enjoying the spice and warmth of the soup she’d made for us tonight.
‘
Show a little leg, did you?’
“You two, honestly!” Perdi hissed as she plopped down in the chair next to me. “You really think that I whore’d myself out for an invite?”
Lizzy’s wand brought a basket of bread, bowls and spoons to the table. We exchanged a look, but avoided looking in Perdi’s eyes at all cost.
“You
bitches
!” She scoffed as Lizzy sat down with a laugh. I couldn’t help but smile.
I wished I could join Lizzy in her full, hearty laugh that made her cheeks burn red. I wished I could’ve made a single sound, rather than simply smiling at them. But whatever giggle I could’ve mustered clammed up inside my chest before Lizzy had even finished sitting down.
There were days where I could only show my emotions… anything else got stuck by a wall. It was great and terribly tall, miles and miles long and absolutely impossible to climb over, no matter how much I tried.
I’d grown content in simply peeking through the broken bricks it was made of instead.
After the…
aptitude test
speech became nearly impossible.
The ability to form even the simplest of words felt like a strain, something that caused my chest to tighten and my stomach to turn. I’d have a better chance at vomiting my stomach contents than actual words.
So I was grateful for Perdi, a hard headed Scottish woman with fiery hair and the disposition to match.
Perdi’s given name was Perdita Bones, and though we were related in name only, she was like a sister to me. Ever since we were young, she’d been a translator for me using her incredible talent of legilimency.
I’d always tried to convince her to stop. I often felt it was only a burden for her to speak
for me
. However, no matter how much I protested that it wasn’t
her
problem… she’d just ignore me. She always reassured me that she would help and that it cost her nothing to do so.
She understood the most what it was like to have a voice taken away and fought her own demons to obtain hers again. She wasn’t about to allow mine to disappear into the shadows.
“He was really cute,” Perdi said through a mouthful of soup. I’d nearly lost my place in her conversation as she continued, “Promised I could bring friends with me so long as I let him buy me a drink.”
“Yeah, so he could spike it.” Lizzy rolled her eyes as she tore apart her bread, she considered me for a moment before asking, “Is he No-Maj?”
No-Maj…
she said it like it was a dirty word but only because I sat at the table with them. She understood how I felt about the word, though this time I hid the wince by swallowing a mouthful of soup.
Muggle, No-Maj, magicless…
they all sounded like the word ‘
useless’
to me.
“Nope, it isn’t a
regular club
,” Perdi responded, stirring her spoon.
Regular. Insignificant. Unextraordinary. Plain
.
I cleared my throat and gave Perdi a small smile.
‘I’ll go.’
She raised her brows in surprise as she nearly squealed, taking my hand in hers and giving it a tight squeeze. “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
What I
didn’t
tell her was that my agreement was out of spite - I wanted the subject to change. Every little word that brought up the ghosts of my past picked at the tape that kept them boxed up inside the depths of my mind.
And every day, that barrier became flimsier.
“Perfect, so now Lizzy has to go -” Perdi started.
“
What
? Hey! I
never
said-” Lizzy fussed in response.
“Next week, Friday at eight…”
I hope I didn’t regret that decision.
“I’m headed out, make sure you lock up.” Edward called out before walking out of the automatic doors.I sighed as I continued to front-face the medicine on the shelf of aisle seven, slowly making them neat as I struggled to keep my eyes open.
My boss didn’t seem to understand that locking up didn’t really matter - not
here
.
The pharmacy I worked at lived a double life. The outside was a cozy, run of the mill drugstore that catered towards convenience items, seasonal treats, and prescriptions. To the
outside world
, we were just a local business.
To those in the magical community, it was much more than that.
It was a factory.
Beneath the old, stained carpets of the pharmacy laid something grander than ten aisles of medicine and canned goods. It was an entire facility, built by the Bones’ to manufacture magical pharmaceuticals.
I’d never been allowed to venture beneath to the lower level, but I knew what they pushed wasn’t a simple variation of
Draughts
.
It was magic-infused drugs - hallucinogens, narcotics - things that would make meth look like baby aspirin.
It was half of the Bones’ fortune that sat beneath my feet.
“You good, Eden?” Kirk rumbled from across the store - he was the designated “watcher”, though he’d never been introduced that way. His job was to keep an eye out for any kind of trouble, but to me, he was kind of like the creepy janitor.
I raised my arm up over the aisle with my thumb up in response.
“It’s five minutes to closing, you should go ahead and head out. I’ll lock up.” He offered and I mentally cheered. Leaving early was always a nice surprise, no matter if it was only five minutes.
I placed the last box on the shelf and walked towards the back and grabbed my coat and my purse. I shrugged the former on and made my way back down aisle seven towards the exit.
Ding dong.
“Sorry gentleman, we’re closing up for the night.” Kirk said gruffly. Out of curiosity, I looked up at the reflective mirror we used to keep an eye out for thieves.
My heart thumped in my chest as two men, dressed in black, held their wands out at Kirk. I nearly threw up as two words rang in my ears, and a shot of green lit up the store.
“Indeed you are,” One of them chuckled. With my eyes trained on the mirror, I watched the one with dark hair turn our sign around before locking the doors.
Shit
.
I’d heard from Perdi’s family that there was something brewing - a house war, or a turf war - I couldn’t remember. I’d hoped to stay clear of it, not interested in any drama with magic users that could leave me dead.
I was an idiot to think they wouldn’t come
here
. Where much of the Bones’ wealth sat only a few hundred feet beneath the floorboards.
“Anyone else want to let us know what time closing is?” The dark haired one asked as the pair of them stepped forward. I placed my hand over my mouth to silence my breath, and got down low to the ground.
The front was the only exit - if I had magic I could’ve…
It wasn’t the time to think in theories! I had no magic and there were enemies crawling around the store.
My only other option was to get behind the pharmacy counter. There… There was a
panic button
. I could hit that and lock myself in Edward’s office, at least until help arrived.
It wouldn’t be the authorities, no, they’d be useless against the wizards who slowly crept down each aisle. The alarm would signal below me, though, and an entire army of Bones would come for them.
As I turned around, my purse caught one of the products on the shelves, and it went tumbling with a
clang
.
“Seems we’ve got one more, hm?” The dark haired intruder hummed.
The other began to whistle, a tune I could barely place as tears ran down my cheeks. The counter was only a few feet away. The sound of the whistling only got closer, and I realized it was a nursery rhyme.
Round and round the chestnut tree… the badger chased the weasel.
I just had to crawl
a little more
.
They ran and ran and had great fun…
I was close enough now that I could press the button, but it was getting to the office that worried me. I raised my hand, my fingers just barely grazing it -
Pop goes the weasel.
“Well, well - seems we have a little birdie trying to get away.” A dark voice hummed a chuckle from behind me, as a hand snatched my wrist.
Please, please - I’m nothing. Nobody. I have no magic. No value.
I swallowed as I screamed my silent pleas at the man who now lifted me up by that wrist painfully.
Please don’t kill me.
“I’m not gonna hurt you, sweet thing,” The strange male hushed me, though he kept his brutal grip around my wrist. “Just tell me who you are and we’ll decide how quick we’ll make your death.”
I blinked away the tears as his breath fanned over my face, though I continued to squirm. I didn’t want to die. I wasn’t ready yet.
I had friends who needed me, a fiance I planned to marry in two weeks.
A future, no matter how impossible it was, to look forward to.
I wasn’t ready to die.
My lips parted, though I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. If I gave my name, he’d kill me. If I didn’t, he’d kill me.
I could lie - tell him that I was a customer, that I know
nothing
.
But all of my voice remained clammed inside my chest, refusing to come out of my gaped lips. The gruff male who held me narrowed his eyes down at me. Eyes that were a familiar kind of dim blue, like a bad memory from my childhood.
The man that held me up was a member of the great House of Gaunt.
And not just any member, I thought as I stopped breathing.
Silas Gaunt
.
“Come now, won’t you sing for me, pretty bird?” The grin he gave me was absolutely despicable. He hadn’t changed much over the past fifteen years - still had the same, awful malicious look in his eyes.
Yet now his face was harder, all thick lines and a sharp nose. I noted a scar that ran from his left eye all the way down to his chin. His hair had grown out, pulled back into a messy, loose bun.
“Let’s just be done with it, kill her.” His companion grunted. He stood a foot behind, leaning against the shelf with his arms crossed. I didn’t recognize him, though. He had dark, messy chestnut hair and far too many freckles.
“She’s cute though,” Silas chuckled, leaning forward to press his nose into my hair, “... she’s a muggle.”
Silas pulled away to scan my face, as if something was slowly clicking into place for him. Like all of the same memories that were flooding back into my frantic mind were filling him too. My heart raced as his face relaxed and something like…
remorse
washed over him.
“Eden?” He whispered softly.
My eyes widened as a sob hitched in my throat, I tried to shake my head but it was no use. If Silas knew I was here, and who I was, it only spelled trouble for me.
I’d spent so long running from the Gaunts, knowing what kind of ghosts I’d left behind. My parents, my childhood…
Ominis
and all of his curiosity in my reactions to curses.
“No,” I whispered, taken aback that I’d finally said something.
“I thought you were dead-” He didn’t have much time to give me whatever excuse Ominis had fed the Gaunts after I left, I’d already used that momentum to kick my foot out right between his legs.
With a groan, he let go of my wrist and held himself. “
You little bitch
- get her!”
I dropped my purse and ran straight towards the counter, my fingers pushing in on the button multiple times as the brunette man lunged for me.
Only to be cut off by a spell from behind me as he went flying backwards.
Help had arrived and all hell was about to break loose.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“This is
exactly
why I want you to move in.”
I kept my eyes firmly glued to the carpet, following the flow of the expensive carpet. It seemed to trail one way and the other and it kept me occupied so that I wouldn’t have to endure the hateful glare of my
fiance
.
“Are you listening to me, Eden?” Greyson groaned and I gently nodded my head, but refused to look at him. I knew what anger looked like in his face, and what would often happen to me if I was on the receiving end of it.
He may not have used
curses
but he was not particularly merciful.
Right now he was absolutely livid that I’d found myself in the middle of an attack on one of the facilities he helped manage.
What would others think when they learned my future wife worked like a filthy muggle?
I wanted to tell him that I was a… I’d only grimaced instead.
To Greyson, our appearance was
everything
. And last night, when not only the pharmacy but the facility as well had been burnt down to the ground, my secret had been revealed.
He hadn’t been upset or concerned that I’d nearly met my end at the hands of
Gaunts
, only that he’d have to explain why I chose to work and that he’d almost lost a precious asset outside of the still smoking factory beneath the ground.
“Do you understand what I could have lost last night?” Greyson said through clenched teeth.
From anyone else, my heart may have leapt at such a sentiment, like losing me would’ve been as if half of his own heart had been ripped out of his chest. Indeed it sounded like a romantic thing, that he’d been afraid for his lover’s life.
We’d never been lovers, though.
Greyson and I had been promised to each other the day I turned thirteen years of age while he had only been seventeen. Our engagement hadn’t started off well.
But in truth, I was just a compatible
breeding partner
for him. A wife to spit out the perfect little Bones children and help carry on the name. It was only an additional bonus that I did not speak, making me the perfect, compliant wife.
I wanted to run away from our engagement the first time he’d shown me what it meant for him to be…
angry.
However we were getting dangerously close to the deadline of the
promise
I’d made nearly fifteen years ago.
I made my choice on which fate I’d rather suffer.
“You’re moving in with me, effective-”
“N-no,” I surprised myself at how quick I was to open my mouth. Though my voice had been no more than a short whisper, he’d stopped speaking.
I didn’t want to relinquish my freedom to him, not yet. I wanted to keep living with my friends, enjoy their laughter and warmth.
I wasn’t ready to be shackled to him and live in the dark.
Not yet.
I forced my eyes from the floor and met his, only to find them dark and full of discontent. However his lips were thinned as he considered me for a moment, obviously taken off guard that I’d
spoken
to him.
In the nearly ten years we’d been engaged, I’d only ever verbally spoken to him
twice
.
“Fine,” He sighed, relaxing his broad shoulders as he leaned back in his chair. I did my best to give him a small, grateful smile in return. Until he opened his mouth once more.
“If you want to keep living with those women, you will quit working - it’s entirely unnecessary and I will not have my future wife sullying our image because of her pride.” Greyson snapped out.
The complacent smile on my lips fell - I enjoyed working. Making my own money was something that filled me with peace because it was something
I
could control. Something no one could take away from me.
So now I had to choose. Did I lose my financial freedom or my physical freedom?
I’d be losing it all soon enough anyway, given that we were only a month away from our wedding day. Thirty days until I kissed Perdi, Lizzy, and my freedom goodbye.
Letting the money go was something I could do, despite the protest of my pride.
One month… and I’d have a new job, anyway.
Popping out babies, maintaining a household, and being right under Greyson Bones’ thumb for the rest of my life.
So I gave him another nod but furrowed my brows at him, wondering how I’d manage to help pay rent or afford things for myself. Greyson simply rolled his eyes at me.
“Don’t be stupid. You will of course have
my
income at your disposal.” He answered my silent question with a scoff and I grimaced in return. My stomach crawled at the thought of having to rely on him.
“Stop giving me that look, sweetheart,” He sighed, “It’s not as if that won’t be the case in a few weeks time anyway, you might as well get used to it.”
Greyson fished out his checkbook and pressed a pen to it. “It’s time to stop playing pretend, Eden. No more living with ‘
the girls
’, no more working like a muggle.”
He tore the check from the book, sliding it across the table to me. I didn’t bother looking at the sum, knowing it would be something outrageous. I wanted to rip it up into tiny pieces in front of me, however good sense told me just to take it and be grateful that he hadn’t gotten more violent with me today.
Be thankful he hadn’t struck me.
“You’re a lady of the House of Bones and it’s time to start acting like one.”
The frigid December air licked my flushed cheeks as I strolled down the sidewalk, towards the house I shared with my friends. Ordinarily, I would’ve clutched my coat tighter or called for a taxi so I didn’t freeze my toes off.
But with the month closing in… I wished to enjoy these kinds of moments a little longer. I’d bask in the winter sun today, letting it soak me with it's cold because it was what
I
wanted. I’d let my cheeks catch frostbite, if only because
I
desired it.
I’d live in the light as long as I could before they swept me under the dark floorboards of the House of Bones.
My
family
were respectable people, they’d integrated themselves into
normal
society with ease. They’d put up many businesses, shops, and local attractions. They basically owned the city I lived in and had a hand in every decision made for it.
They were indeed a great house… but behind closed doors, there were so many monsters that lived in the shadows.
Just like the House of Gaunt
.
“Eden?”
I couldn’t get the tone of Silas’ voice out of my mind. There was so much regret in it, so much curiosity that it almost made me feel ill. When he was a boy, he’d been so unkind to me. He’d relished in the way he’d have to kick, pull, and nearly maim me until I
spoke
.
Rubbing my hands together, I brought them to my face so I could blow my warm breath into them. I never thought the Gaunts would make a move to America, especially to a town that another House had already made their claim in.
Perhaps I’d been foolish for believing I was safe from them. An even bigger idiot for thinking an entire ocean between us would be enough to keep me out of…
his
grasp.
I’d stopped at the foot of the stairs of my shared home as Ominis Gaunt’s name flittered through my exhausted mind.
Was he here too?
Ominis had shown me small, short-lived moments of kindness when I’d lived in the Gaunt estate. He’d bring me trinkets, books, and teach me new words that I’d never use.
And then the next day he’d show me what kind of new curses he learned.
Ominis enjoyed practicing those curses on me, as if he were showing me some brand new, bright and shiny toy he’d gotten from his parents.
One could imagine what a bolt of
Crucio
did to an eight year old.
It resembled the butterflies with ripped and broken wings. The ones
I
had pulled apart under the influence of
Imperio
when he’d learned it.
I gripped the railing of the stairs, steadying myself with a deep breath. I was
not
going to go down that road, I would not allow the demons to breach their tightly closed box today. Mentally, I swatted them back, squashing them down with the heel of my boot until they’d been forced back into their respective, hidden compartments inside my mind.
Ominis surely would not show up here, not when I was sure he was an important member of his House. There was no real possibility of him coming to the States… but if Silas said something to him about my presence here -
would he come
?
“
In fifteen years time we both find ourselves unwed you will either submit yourself to me in marriage, or you will die.”
One month and
two weeks
before I ran out of time to annul our pact.
I was safe from Ominis’ promise, I reminded myself. I just had to survive Greyson Bones and Ominis Gaunt would not be able to collect what no longer belonged to him, by oath-right only.
With a deep breath, I made my way into the house. Only to be immediately grilled with a million different questions from both Perdi and Lizzy.
“Are you okay?” Lizzy had grabbed hold of me as soon as I’d walked in the door, pulling me into a tight hug.
“What happened?” Perdi was right there beside her, nearly squeezing the air out of my lungs with her embrace.
“Are you hurt?” Lizzy did a once over of my body, turning my face side to side, checking for any signs that I’d been injured.
“Is it true? Has the War started?” Perdi asked breathlessly as she dragged me over to the couch, sitting me down.
“What did Greyson have to say?” Lizzy questioned as both of my roommates stood in front of me with their arms crossed.
I raised my brows with exasperation and threw my hands up at them, stopping them from asking me anymore of their incessant questions.
‘I am okay, not hurt. Just a little shaken.’
I projected at Perdi, who relayed it to Lizzy.
While both of my roommates were aware of what I’d endured at the hands of the Gaunts, I decided I was going to leave out the details of who I met in the pharmacy. I didn’t want any of my worries that had been born out of that encounter to become
their
worries.
Lizzy had enough going on with college, and Perdi… There was so much on her plate given that her parents were still trying to spoon feed her a potential husband. Then there was the oncoming war. Perdi was a strong witch, one of the greatest I’d ever seen and it meant she’d be forced to help out when the time came.
‘I don’t know who attacked the pharmacy, but all of it has been burned down. Even the factory didn’t survive.’
I added and Perdi nodded as she filled Lizzy in again. Both looked at me with so much worry in their eyes and there was a small fraction of me that felt guilty for it.
How long had they sat here waiting for me?
“I’m glad you’re safe,” Perdi breathed before sitting down on the right side of me, placing her hand in mine.
Lizzy came to the other side and asked, “Did Greyson get you?”
‘Yes and I’m sure you both can guess what he had to say about it.’
Lizzy rolled her eyes, while Perdi snorted and said, “That he wants you to leave us, right? Come play cute little housewife early instead of enjoying your life?”
I gave her a short nod, with a small, amused smile.
“Housewife,” Lizzy sniffed, “more like prisoner.”
I sighed, quite inclined to agree with her sentiment. However my body suddenly reminded me how absolutely exhausted it was. I hadn’t slept in the past twenty four hours and my body was beginning to ache now that the adrenaline had completely worn off.
‘
I’m going to bed.’
I yawned as I rose from the couch, giving them both a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. ‘
I’ll be okay, thank you both. For everything.’
I didn’t care if it was the middle of the day or that I hadn’t showered as I crept into my room, the door clicking shut behind me. Everything inside my body screamed for me to lay down and to not bother with how gross I felt.
I kicked my shoes off as I tied my hair up off my shoulders, stripping down to only my shirt and underwear. This was going to be the best sleep of my life, I decided, as I turned back the covers of my bed.
Only to find a small black box laying on one of my pillows.
What - what was this? I picked it up, running my fingers over the lacy white ribbon that secured it together. Was it some gift from Greyson? He wasn’t the type to just leave little things like this for me.
Or well, any gift at all.
So as I pulled the ribbon apart, my heart began to thud in my ears. When I opened the lid, a panicked sob wracked through my chest.
In a bed of white satin, sat a pair of black, iridescent butterfly wings.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Clutching my arms a little tighter to my chest, my eyes roamed over the skimpy bit of clothing that had been laid out on my bed for me, courtesy of Perdita . I chewed on my lower lip, playing with the idea of even going to the nightclub with her and Lizzy tonight. I let the decision run back and forth while I cringed over imagining myself in that little red dress she’d picked for me. I could always tell her no . She’d understand once I explained how uncomfortable crowded spaces made me feel, especially where alcohol was involved but… I’d promised her I’d go. So I was left with an hour choice. One that involved whether or not I’d be brave enough to wear the damn dress sitting on my bed. All while I fidgeted over the haunting anxiety that wanted to anchor me to my bed for the rest of my life.It’d been an entire week of uneventful silence since I’d found the… gift on my bed. Something about that fact felt wrong, given the horrifying implications those broken wings meant to me.
Ominis Gaunt knew where I was.
My throat felt dry as I swallowed the lump in it, slowly sinking down onto the bed as my fingers brushed against the glittery material of Perdi’s dress. Ominis’ warning and his silence meant that he was taking his time, undoubtedly looking into my life to find just the right weak point to strike. As a child, he’d been terrifying. Cold. Calculating. Unafraid. There was always something going on behind the gentle, yet vicious smile he’d always worn for me just before enacting his newest idea of fun .That smile was a dark, evil thing. Always eager to take and take from me.I didn’t believe he’d simply stop at making me suffer, especially if the years had only added onto the darkness that festered inside Ominis Gaunt. There were other things, other people in my life that would feed the unending malicious thing that lived inside him. And when he came to collect his end of our bargain… I groaned as I flopped back onto my bed, my eyes glued to the ceiling as I rubbed my temples. Maybe if I just came clean to Perdi and Lizzy, it might prepare them or they could help me sort out this mess. If I just told them the whole truth of what happened the night of the fire… no. I pressed my fingers in deeper. If they knew Ominis was back for me, they’d start readying themselves for war.My friends were powerful witches, I never doubted their ability for one moment. But in the face of the great House of Gaunt… it was too dangerous. Too much for them to lose… and even more to ask of them.
“This is exactly why I want you to move in.”
I frowned as the rational part of my brain decided to bring up Greyson. He was a complete and utter dickhead, if not a completely evil little man but he indeed offered something very precious. Safety .He’d certainly do whatever was necessary to protect me, given the part I was to play in the future of his lineage. And our House would never turn down a chance to take on the very one they were at war with. Perdi and Lizzy could live in safety if I wasn’t in the picture - if I moved out . They’d be far out of the Gaunts’ reach and would never know the cruelness of their hands. I’d give up my future for my friends… just for that reason alone.Turning my head, I grabbed my phone from where I’d laid it on the bed. I needed to get on top of securing my way out while things were still quiet, so I sifted through my contacts for his and started typing.
Me: Hey.
Greyson: What do you want, Eden?
I gripped my phone, trying to remain composed as I wrote out my response.
Me: I’ve reconsidered your offer. I’ll move in with you.
Short and sweet and not full of all the nasty things I wanted to say to him. If I wanted his safety, I had to be good . It took several minutes for a response and when I read it, I grimaced. Greyson: Oh? Has the great Eden Bones finally come to her damn senses and realized she doesn’t belong in the gutter with those trashy friends of hers? I typed out the words ‘ fuck you’ at least three times, before deleting each one. Me : … We need to talk tomorrow. There are things I need to explain. Greyson : “K - meet me at our usual spot @ 5pm.” With a strangled groan, I threw my phone back onto the bed. I clutched my face, pressing my palms against it as I came to grips with what the fuck I’d just done. I’d all but signed my life away to the devil, and with it, my future. But it was for my friends and that… I could live with that. Could learn to live with Greyson Bones and be content with my life with him. I would survive him.As long as the ones I loved were safe.I promised myself that I’d explain everything to the girls once I’d solidified my plans with Greyson. I knew it would hurt but… I wanted one more night to share with them. To live in the light just for a little bit longer.I sat up on the edge of the bed and side eyed the dress next to me. Surviving tonight was going to be a different monster to take on altogether. And it came in the form of a little red dress.The outfit was truly a simple thing - an apple red affair, long enough that it would come to my thighs… and skin tight material. This monster was too revealing and I was afraid of what would be on display if I dared to wear it. My style was always modest and this… Perdi enjoyed having any excuse to dress me up. She would dig through her closet, or use it as a reason to spend an entire day shopping. I loved seeing the smile on her face as I sheepishly showed off whatever garb she’d chosen for me but this one made me sweat when I thought of wearing it. I picked up the dress in my hands, turning it over to find that it had a design that would cover most of my back. A butterfly design . Scowling, I traced my fingers over the material that made up the delicate, lacy material. It connected the top straps and lower straps of the dress and I cringed as it would only take one wrong snap of the fabric for everything to be on display. I was growing tired of ominous metaphors and butterflies.“Eden! Are you almost ready - we’re leaving in twenty minutes!” Perdi called from the living room. I’d managed to waste more than half of the hour forming a plan and collecting my resolve. I was certainly nowhere near ready. ‘No, not even close - do I have to wear this?’ I projected loudly at her in response. “Yes, you have to wear it! You’ll look hot as fuck in it!” She hollered and I shook my head as I rolled my eyes. “Maybe it’ll help her find a new fiancé … one that isn’t such an asshat.” I heard Lizzy mumble and I stifled a laugh before standing up off the bed. The monstrous red dress was something I could deal with, just for tonight. I would put on my best smile and endeavor to enjoy going to a nightclub for a few hours. I’d leave all of my anxiety and the surmounting consequences of my past at home. ‘Fine, give me like ten more minutes - oh, will you do my hair?’ I projected at her with a mental sigh. She simply responded with a high pitched, excited squeal that nearly shook the house. If I could survive Perdi and her thirst for styling me… I could make it through tonight. The three of us were dressed to kill.Perdi broke more than a few necks with her black ensemble that nearly matched my own, save the butterfly design. Instead the front was nearly open, showing the extensive line of cleavage until the fabric closed back up at her navel with an assortment of gold chains hanging between the valley of her breasts.Lizzy wore a beautiful baby blue dress that hung somewhat loose around her body, but clung to all of the right places. It only just hinted at her breasts and held up with a connecting bit of fabric that clung around her neck like a choker.As beautiful as we might’ve looked - we were fucking cold .The entrance to the Garden of Eden was outside a tall, abandoned high-rise. Small fairy lights were strung along the walls, casting a soft glow over the time-stained windows and decaying bricks. Trees lined the sidewalk, their branches wrapped with string lights that flickered like stars in the darkness.It was lovely on the outside, a surprising bit of beauty in the middle of the city streets that were just as worn as Perdi’s patience.I would’ve loved to see the inside rather than listening to Perdi argue back and forth with the bouncer who barred us from entering. The asshat was a large, burly man, who crossed his arms as he stared down at us with a nasty frown. “Invitation or not, I need to see some identification .” The man repeated himself, shaking his head at Perdi. She scoffed, dropping the invitation dramatically to her side as she crossed her arms over chest. The bouncer was not acting for actual identification , like most of the mundane world used. Like several of the other magic-owned businesses in the area, he was expecting us to brandish our wands. They were used to clearly indicate that we belonged in places like these. The only problem was, I didn’t have a wand nor did I frequent magic-owned establishments. And for all of Perdi’s brilliant mind… she hadn’t thought to precure me a fake one. “We literally showed you a charmed invitation.” Perdi tilted her head up at him and though I couldn’t see her face, I knew too well that she was sneering at him. “Did you miss the bit where the words just appeared out of thin air?” “I don’t allow anyone in just ‘cause they have an invitation, miss. Especially people who’ve brought a damn house-elf with ‘em.” He spat, jerking his chin at me. My cheeks flared with heat as my jaw sagged a bit - had he just called me a house-elf ? Perdi took one step closer, poking him square in the chest with a freshly manicured nail. “House-elf?! House-elf?!” She exploded as she brandished her wand, “Look here, you raggedy ass, overgrown troll looking motherfuck-” The bouncer snatched Perdi by the wrist and growled, “I’d back up if I were you, you ugly bit-” “What seems to be the problem, Harlow?” A smooth male voice asked from behind the bouncer, who swiftly shut his mouth before finishing the statement that surely would’ve sent Perdi off the deep end. A head of messy, dark hair sidestepped Harlow before turning to look at him. “Don’t tell me the location got leaked again, so Merlin fucking help me - oh.” The male stopped and gasped with delighted surprise, “Hello, you.” Perdi’s entire demeanor shifted as she backed away from the bouncer. She buzzed with excitement as she flocked to the unknown male and beamed, “Oh, there you are!”I couldn’t see much from where I stood, despite the heels I’d worn tonight which didn’t seem to help me anywhere near enough in the height department. He’d taken her hand in his, as his dark hair dipped down and out of sight. He’d pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and I smiled.So this was the guy she’d been fawning over. No wonder she was so smitten with him when she’d explained how she’d gotten the invitation - he exuded charm, as if it was the air we were breathing. “There you are,” He said with a wicked smile, before straightening himself, “what seems to be the trouble? It’s much too cold for such beautiful creatures to be standing out here.” “This assho -” Perdi cleared her throat when Lizzy elbowed her in the ribs, attempting to get our red-headed friend to simmer down a bit, “Your lovely friend here was giving us a hard time about getting in, despite our invitation and he insulted my friend.” “I- sir , I had no idea that they were guests of yours-” “Did you not bother to read the invitation our lovely Perdita showed you?” The dark haired male cocked his head at Harlow, who’s throat bobbed in response. “No, sir.” He said quietly. “No? If you’d paid a little more attention you would’ve noticed my seal at the bottom of it.” Our rescuer snapped at him, before waving him off. “You’re dismissed once I send someone out here to replace you. Don’t bother coming back.” He added and I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at Harlow. Don’t fuck with the house-elf .“I’m sorry you’ve been given so much trouble, sweetheart.” The male sighed gently, taking Perdi’s chin in his hold as he caressed his thumb over it, “Let’s get you and your friends inside before you freeze to death.” “Thank you, Sebastian,” Perdi said sweetly, sliding her arm through his. As the door creaked open, she didn’t miss the chance to give Harlow a quick, yet polite flip of the finger before it shut behind us. The entryway was dim, with low lights along the ceiling edges, casting long shadows. It felt strange, almost like we were taking a portal to another world... It made me uneasy.I'd felt completely fine up until now, though there'd been a little anxiety that pooled inside my stomach. But now that we were encased in near darkness, I had to put effort into steadying my breath.“Oh!” Perdi stopped, pulling on Sebastian’s arm as she turned to face Lizzy and me. “Let me introduce you to my friends,” she said with a smile. Even in the dim light, I could clearly see Sebastian’s face. My stomach twisted when his eyes met mine.I knew exactly who he was - he was there the night of the pharmacy fire. The unknown male that trailed behind Silas. “This is Lizzy,” She placed a hand on her arm, squeezing it tightly before nodding in my direction, “And Eden, who your bouncer so brazenly insulted.” Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he stared at me and though I believed he recognized me, I wasn’t so sure if he knew where he’d seen me. It almost looked like he was still trying to work it out. I swallowed, hoping it would stay that way. Let me just be a forgotten face amongst the hundreds he’d seen tonight.“Sebastian Sallow, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He gave us both a little nod, his lips tugging up into a half-smile. We both returned the same sentiment, though mine felt a little forced as we returned to walking down the hallway.“Do you own this club?” Lizzy asked, looping her arm through mine as we closed the distance to another pair of large doors. “Oh, Merlin no, I just work for the owner.” Sebastian clarified over his shoulder. The owner… was it Silas? Or another Gaunt? Like the one I was desperately trying to avoid. Chill out, Eden - it was obvious Sebastian was involved with the Gaunts but you didn’t know the guy. He could have other connections and working for the Gaunts might have been just a side hustle for him. Everything would be okay, I told myself as I took a deep breath, clutching Lizzy a little closer. If Sebastian recognized me from the pharmacy, he didn’t say - which meant he wasn’t out to get me tonight. I was only the girl he fancied friend, another face in the mass of those we’d dance along with tonight. I was safe as long as I stayed close to Perdi. Sebastian paused at the doors, turning to us once more with a mischievous grin before knocking on the doors twice. They flung open a moment later and I heard Perdi gasp.“Ladies,” he said, stepping aside as he gestured us forward, “Welcome to the Garden of Eden.”Lizzy grabbed my hand and I had to stifle a gasp as we took in the size of the room before us.It was impossible for a room this vast to fit inside the modest exterior of the building - yet it did. It stretched out endlessly, packed wall to wall with people and magical creatures alike, all mingling under the soft, pulsating glow of a thousand floating lights.The entire club was dazzling. There were tiny flowers drifting lazily through the darkness around us along with delicate insects whose wings shimmed while they buzzed around the room. Every inch of the place seemed almost alive , despite the darkness, humming with an energy that was both intoxicating and unsettling.At the center of it all stood a colossal tree, its roots spreading out through the floor, like it was the very heart of the club. The tree was… it was something so strange, I thought as we took a few more steps inside. Its bark was illuminated by an array of fluorescents that clung to its branches like lacewing flies, casting a radiant glow that bathed the entire room in a soft, otherworldly light. There were even little apples that littered about its grand branches, almost begging to be plucked. “This is amazing,” Perdi gasped beside me, her voice pulling me back. I’d been so entranced by the Garden that I felt like I was coming out of a daze. I shook myself out of it as she let out a trill of laughter as a bright yellow dragonfly landed on her head.“Breathtaking,” Lizzy agreed, her eyes wide with wonder as she squeezed my hand, offering a smile filled with excitement. Foreboding , I thought, as I forced a smile in return. My eyes were drawn back to the tree in the heart of the club. There was something about it - something strange, something…familiar. It wasn’t just a centerpiece, it called to me, as if recognizing me. A subtle pull gnawed at the edges of my mind, beckoning me closer, like it knew me .It wasn’t just the tree. It was the entire room . It was unnerving - unnatural . This place was designed to draw a person in, to entice them to join into the fray of bodies writhing on the dance floor. The atmosphere itself seemed to ripple with something darker, hidden beneath the surface.The Garden of Eden was a place of forbidden knowledge, afterall. I worried what the price of taking a single bite would cost me if I stayed here for too long. “Alright, my friends, ” Sebastian’s smile was warm as he turned to look at us, rubbing his hands together as he gestured towards the lit up bar, “the first round is on me!” “ You’ve reached the voicemail box of…” Dangit, Perdi. I sighed as I pocketed my phone into my purse. It was just my luck that the one person I wanted to stick close to the most had left me with Sebastian , who’s eyes were accessing every single move I made as I sipped my drink. It only took me two minutes to excuse myself after Perdi had gotten up. I apologized to Lizzy, but my safety blanket had gone searching for the ladies’ room and I was inclined to follow her. The only problem became - where the heck was it? The walls of the club seemed to pulse with the beat of the music, shadows flickering in every corner. There were countless bodies pressed together, writhing to the beat of the music. The sound of laughter and music became nearly overwhelming as I searched each wall for the restroom. Faces blurred as I scanned the crowd, some lost in ecstasy, others consumed in a heated tangle of lips and hands. The intensity of it all made cheeks flush with heat. I couldn’t look away, out of sheer curiosity as couples were pressed up against walls. Their mouths were locked in kisses so feverish it looked like they were devouring each other. I’d never seen something so… Desperate. Hungry .I swallowed and tore my eyes away - trying to get a grip. So I’d never been kissed before, or what I’d witnessed felt like… let alone the touch of someone who wanted me. It didn’t mean I needed to gawk at them like the simple virgin I was. Taking a step backwards, I bump into something solid. My hands pat it down, worried I’d bumped into another person but it was rough yet smooth beneath my touch. It was just the tree. The big, bright ass tree that unnerved me. There was a humming again. It wasn’t a sound but a feeling . It rumbled in my chest as I turned to press my hand against the wood of it, running my fingers down it. It almost felt… alive - I couldn’t explain it. While I didn’t have any magic of my own, I was sensitive to it, given that I’d grown up around it all of my life. And what I felt was strange… yet familiar, something that lived inside its massive trunk. My hand connected with something cold, causing me to retract it altogether. It was a… door handle? I blinked once as my heart thrummed in my chest. Why was there a handle on the tree… and where did it lead to. I took a step back as I realized I’d grabbed the handle again and had been about to push on it. What was I thinking - I couldn’t just go barging into places like that. I was a guest and who the hell knew what was inside of the big, mysteriously ominous glowing tree? The curiosity inside of me was nearly bubbling over. Especially as it continued to call to me - no, it was beckoning me, so sweetly and gently that I couldn’t ignore it. …One look couldn’t hurt. After all, I was just a lost party goer in search of the ladies’ room. It would be easy enough to explain how I’d ended up in an off limit space. My fingers had again tightened around the handle. Screw it .I was expecting something profound beyond that door… only to find what looked like a series of private rooms. Each dimly lit and filled with plush furniture meant for intimate gatherings. My cheeks burned as I glanced around. Women moved about, some dressed in only their undergarments, while others were completely naked. The air was heavy with the scent of perfume and soft whispers, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.I took a step backwards, I didn’t understand why the tree had been beckoning me to it, if it was just a freaking brothel . Did it think that I… My cheeks flared again as I shook my head. It was just the alcohol playing tricks on me and it was time to turn around and leave-“What do we have here?” A velvety voice playfully sounded from behind me, causing me to nearly trip over my own feet. A hand grabbed hold of me, keeping my face from meeting the floor before it turned me around to face one of the most beautiful men I’d ever seen. The heat in my cheeks nearly caught me on fire as I took in a man with beautiful, shimmering green eyes and a head of tousled blond hair. “My, my, I’ve never seen you before,” He said with a mock pout, “and what a shame, we could’ve been having the time of our lives by now.” My heart stuttered in my chest as he reached out to touch one of the loose strands of hair that had fallen out of Perdi’s neatly laid handiwork, before twisting it around his finger. He was staring at me, expectantly, as if I could possibly give him some kind of response as I threatened to become a puddle of goo on the floor. “Why are you shaking, darling? I promise I won’t bite… unless you ask, of course.” He purred as his fingertips traced my jaw before tilting my chin up so that he could command my gaze. “I’m Elias,” He said with a playful grin on his face. He caressed my chin with the pad of his thumb, “why don’t you tell me your name, so we can find a place a little more private?” My breath hitched in my throat as his gaze became a little more intense. He looked at me like I was something to eat. My knees wobbled as I parted my lips, but what was I going to say? Sorry, you’re hot and all, but no. I was just looking for a bathroom, not a place to lose my virginity.“I-I…” I hated the way the sound left my lips. It was pathetic and made my cheeks heat even more as tears welled in my eyes from the embarrassment. Elias raised a brow, cocking his head as he brushed his thumb against my chin once more. “Have I upset you in some way? I-”“Elias,” A deeper voice rumbled from behind Elias. The latter’s shoulders sagged and he let out an aggravated sight. “What have you got there?” “Silas, must you always try to take my toys away? This one is new and very much not for you . ” Elias frowned as he turned to meet the large man behind him. My eyes locked with the ones I had hoped I wouldn’t see tonight. Shit .Silas Gaunt looked completely unamused, though his eyes narrowed as he glared down at Elias before jerking his chin in my direction. “She’s not for you either.” Silas immediately lunged forward, grabbing hold of my wrist tightly in his large grasp. I whimpered as he pulled me away from Elias who only looked mildly confused - but mostly irritated, like he’d just had his meal taken from him. I struggled in Silas’ grip, thrashing against him as I twisted and turned away from him. My eyes watered as I stared at Elias - please, please help me! Elias only tucked his hands into his pockets as his frown deepened. “She can’t be for you, you big fucking brute.” Elias scoffed, “She needs a gentler touch-” “She’s not for me, you idiot - she’s for him .” Silas grunted out. He barely moved nor staggered as I beat my fists against his chest with all my might. He only looked at me with annoyance. “Eden,” He warned - but if my fists weren’t going to cut it… my knee swung upwards, only for him to further away from his body so that my knee connected with a wall instead. Asshole…! My eyes burned - he’d been smart to remember that was my one and only tactic for self defense, knew I had no magic to use to defend myself. Only my knee and a knack for running.“Still think someone gentler should be handling a pretty creature like her,” Elias shrugged. “He’ll probably eat her whole, while she’s still alive.” My heart thudded in my chest. I didn’t need them to tell me who he was. Everything was falling together, crashing at my feet as the two of them exchanged more words. Things I couldn't hear as the thrumming of my erratic heart flooded my ears. The invitation. The fire. The wings. The tree . Whether it was by fate’s design or Ominis himself, it didn’t matter. Because I was being led straight into the serpent’s den.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
My heart was roaring inside of my ears…
Ba-bump.
Silas was walking me straight into the den of a great, terrible serpent. His fangs were made of the sharpest blades, all dripping with a venom that would rot me from the inside out.
Ba-bump
.
Ba-bump
.
It hungered for fractured wings, the ones he’d tear apart with his awful teeth. He’d eat them greedily, washing it down with the hopes of a forgotten and broken childhood.
Ba-bump. Ba-bump
.
Ba-bump
.
Over the past fifteen years I’d become plump with anguish. Ripe with enough regret that it was time to devour me whole. And I knew…
Ba-bump.
He would not be gentle.
“
Little moth.”
My heart had climbed out of my heaving chest. It was inside of my throat and I was seconds away from gagging on it as Ominis Gaunt’s voice drifted through the dark room.
There wasn’t a single light to illuminate anything… and somehow I knew that was the kindest thing I’d know tonight. I wouldn’t have to look my nightmare in his face.
“Come here, my darling.” Ominis beckoned from wherever he sat in the darkness.
My feet were moving on their own, though I tried to remain firmly planted on the lush carpet beneath my heels. I didn’t want to go to him, I wanted to
run
.
But the humming… I felt it again as it vibrated inside my chest until it became almost unbearable. My breath came in ragged pants as I finally understood what had drawn me to the tree and these backrooms.
The pact between us held some kind of bond - something that tied us together…
brought
us together.
The door clicked shut behind me as Silas left and I almost wanted to beg him to take me with him. I’d rather be anywhere but in the mouth of the viper.
“Come sit with me.” It wasn’t a request - it was a demand that made my feet move a little quicker. My legs shook with each step, wondering how long it would take for him to lose his patience and strike me with another curse he’d learned along the way here.
My knees bumped into something firm - a couch, maybe. But it was the legs I felt on either side of mine that made a shiver run down my spine.
He was right there.
Hands reached out of the darkness to touch me. To caress me until they found the curve of my hips. I didn’t move a single muscle as he flexed them against my flesh, his fingertips digging roughly into my flesh.
“I said,
sit
.” Ominis growled flatly, grabbing me by the hips to harshly pull me down into his lap until I was straddling him.
Every fiber of my body was aware of his - where our chests met, where his hands rested on my thighs. How my covered center was being given a strange kind of friction from the crotch of his pants.
I felt like I was burning alive.
“There’s my good girl.” His palms ran up and down my thighs, before traveling upwards.
He was slow, gentle, as he teased his fingertips against my hip. A little firmer as he skimmed my navel and laid the flat of his palm between the valley of my breasts and my throat until he’d found my face.
Ominis’ fingers traced each feature of my face, caressing every line and indent with the pads of his fingers. My heart was racing again in my chest as I remembered him doing this when we were much younger. He told me he was committing my face to memory.
That he’d never forget it.
Why did it make me feel so hot?
He brushed his thumb over my lower lip, before tugging the bit of flesh downwards. His breath fanned over my face, his scent minty and sinful as I tasted it on my tongue.
Why was there so much heat between my thighs?
“You’ve been a busy bee, haven’t you? Finished college, moved in with roommates… found
a husband
.” Ominis hissed the last word before squeezing my cheeks together.
Nothing had changed with Ominis. He used to be so gentle, so tender with me when we were younger. So heartbreakingly sweet.
Until he wasn’t, and I was left in tears and a puddle of my own blood.
“Do you love him?” Ominis squeezed tighter, eliciting a whimper from my squished lips as he spat, “
Answer me
, Eden.”
A heartbeat passes between us. Then two. Three.
I can’t speak - all of my words are stuck in my chest as he holds me in his grasp while his other hand squeezes my thigh tightly. All of my words have dried up and I’ve forgotten how to rehydrate them.
“Where has that sweet voice of yours gone?” He whispered after a moment, “Did the Bones’ finish the job and rip your voice box out or
are you afraid?”
Yes, I’m fucking terrified,
I wanted to sob at him. I wanted to do anything to get him to leave me alone, before the eventual pain became a reality for me.
“
No
?” Ominis breathed, “Then I suppose you’ll have no trouble singing for me, then.”
Singing…?
Ominis suddenly picks me up by my hips and I gasp sharply as he turns me around in his lap. My back is pressed flush to the front of him, my ass filling in every space between it and his crotch and I am
so fucking
aware of how close our bodies are.
I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t feel so warm as his hand finds my face again, his fingers brushing against my mouth.
“I miss the tiny sounds of your cries,” He murmured, tugging my lower lip downward enough that it parted my lips. He sticks his thumb into my mouth, pressing the pad of it to the flat of my tongue as his voice comes closer to my ear. “the pathetic way you’d beg me to
stop
.”
He retracts his thumb from my mouth, smearing my saliva down my chin until he reaches my throat. I swallow hard as he wraps his hand around it, slowly applying pressure as the seconds tick by. “Sometimes I still hear the sound of your ragged breaths… always on the brink of passing out from the pain. ”
Ominis’ grip becomes painfully tight around my throat and my head goes fuzzy and my lungs burn as he steals my oxygen. I squirm against him, my thighs clenching -
why was I enjoying this?
“I hear your gasps in my dreams.”
He lets go of my throat and I indeed gasp for air, breathing it deeply with ragged pants as his fingers move lower. He’s raking his hand over my breast and the heat between my legs begins to coat the inside of my thighs.
I didn’t understand why every touch, the way he caressed and kneaded my breast caused my pussy to weep a little more with each passing touch. This was not like the torture of our past… It was something new.
Something deadlier.
“There are new ways I want to hear you beg, sweet little moth,” Ominis breathes into my ear, his nose brushing against the shell of it as he cups my breast a little more roughly. He’s squeezing and teasing, and suddenly he’s trying to get his hand inside my dress - but it’s too tight and Ominis clicks his tongue.
I’m abruptly pushed forward, with my ass still in his lap. His hands are caressing my back, starting from the nape of my neck and moving down slowly. He’s tracing the design of the butterfly with one finger, taking his time as he chuckles when he realizes what it is.
“Did you wear this just for me?” Ominis’ voice is rich with amusement and I shake my head rapidly in response - but he ignores me, now tracing the straps of the butterfly with quiet delight.
"Such delicate wings... one can only wonder how easy they'd be to tear..." His finger hooks beneath one of the strings of fabric that connects the design to the rest of the dress. My heart thrums in my chest as he ripped it with ease.
“Almost
too easy
,” He sighs but I hear the smugness in his voice. “Tell me something, my darling,” His finger looped under the one beside it, the sound of him tearing it echoing in the darkness of the room.
I try to clutch my dress as it begins to sag, but my arms remain locked firmly in place at my sides. I can’t move as my breasts slowly tumble out of the once taught material, and the cool air makes my nipples harden. My cheeks flare with an awful kind of heat and everything feels so warm and heavy as his fingers trace my skin. He’s searching for the next strap of fabric to destroy.
“Do you think butterflies scream when their wings are ripped off them?”
Tears well in my eyes as I’m reminded of all the little butterfly wings that had been scattered along the garden. All of the ones he’d forced me to tear and leave the writhing little bodies to die.
And here we were now, with him laughing wickedly as he swiftly broke the last two straps of my own wings. My breasts fall out of the dress and I shake my head.
I don’t want this - I don’t… the tears that roll down my cheeks feel empty compared to the warmth between my legs as Ominis pulls me back against him.
“Did you hear them when you so gently tore off their wings, one by one?” Ominis’ lips press a kiss just beneath the tender flesh of my ear, grazing his teeth against the skin. His hands have gone back to exploring, to feeling my body until they find exactly what they’re looking for.
My breasts are in his hands and I
moan
as he cups them roughly. HIs large hands squeeze and knead them, and everything begins to swim in my head. I feel like I’m on the verge of bursting into flames as he toys with them. No - I
will
burst into flames, especially as his mouth sucks on the sensitive flesh of my neck.
This… this wasn’t right - it was
not okay
.
Nothing about the way I writhed in his lap was okay. Nor the way little moans and whimpers fell from my lips - dammit, I was engaged. Ominis was a monster. This was wrong and sick and yet… my desire was
soaking
the inside of my panties.
“Does your precious
fiancé
touch you like this?” Ominis sneered bitterly as he tugged on one of my nipples harshly until I cried. I shook my head rapidly, gasping as he twisted and pulled on the sensitive nub.
“No, I didn’t think so - nor will he
ever
.” Ominis hissed as he gripped my breast tightly in his palm, “do you know why, my darling?”
“Because you belong to me and I will cut his fucking hands off if he ever touches you again.”
I nearly erupted in a scream as Ominis’ teeth sank into my neck. He bit me harshly, as if binding the promise of his words straight into my flesh. A promise that added to the growing pressure inside my stomach.
It was a strange feeling, warm and tight - something I’d never truly experienced until this very moment. There had been times I’d attempted to make myself spiral down the path towards an orgasm and yet… I’d never reach the end.
But Ominis was leading me down that path all on his own, without even so much as having to touch the mess between my thighs. I was going to cum just from him playing with my nipples and abusing my neck with his teeth.
What kind of person did that make me? Another tear ran down my cheek.
This needed to stop. I
wanted
it to stop… I didn’t want to cum for Ominis Gaunt nor would I ever.
I was getting married in less than a month. I was faithful. A good girl. A lady.
I wouldn’t…
My mind felt so warm and hazy as Ominis let go of my breasts. I hated how I missed the contact of them, but my stomach tightened as his palms slowly descended down the length of my body until they found my thighs again.
And the hem of my dress.
No,
I mouthed as he hiked up my dress until it was bunched at my hips.
You can’t… we can’t…
“If you don’t want this, Eden, you will
beg
me to stop.” Ominis fingers dragged into my thighs, moving up until he’d nearly reached where I’d suddenly become so needy. “You’ll use that beautiful voice of yours to
plead
, to ask me
so nicely
not to touch your pussy.”
My breath hitched in my chest as the vulgarity of his words shot straight through me. I couldn’t think straight - I shouldn’t
want this
.
My voice should be ringing loud and clear right this fucking moment and telling him
no
!
Ominis’ fingers run up the inside of my thighs, touching gently. Slowly. He’s taking his time as if he’s allowing me to have one final moment to decide whether or not I will actually stop him.
The tips of his fingers barely brush against the covered, outer lips of my slit before I finally snap, “
Please, stop
!”
It's only then I feel something hard beneath me twitch against my ass -
it’s his cock
and it's hard, and thrumming beneath me. It’s all I can think about as his hand pauses over the mound of my pussy, hovering there as he says, “What a good girl you are, using your words.”
I hate how the praise adds to the tension coiled up so tightly inside me.
“But do you mean it, little moth?” Ominis asks darkly. “You don’t want me to sink my fingers inside your pussy?”
My chest heaves as he remains like that, leaving the heat of his palm radiating against my covered wetness. I don’t know what to say, or how to react, because I’m about two seconds away from exploding just from the tension alone when the door opens and light spills into the room.
I look down to find Ominis hand… and I can’t tell if it's the lighting or him, but his entire hand almost looks completely stained with ink.
He quickly retracts his hands, muttering, “
Repairo
.”
M
y dress reforms around me, the straps in the back readjusting against my skin as he straightens out the bottom half of my dress so that I’m completely covered. Or well, as much as the dress allows me to be covered.
“
Sir
-”
“What the fuck do you want, Elias?” Ominis snaps coldly.
“We have trouble,” Elias pants, leaning down to clutch his knees. It was like he’d been running for his life out there, “Some red-haired witch is trying to burn the whole fucking place down.”
Oh no.
Perdi.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Ominis Gaunt:
There’s this little hitch in her breath, it’s coming so raggedly out of her lips. Was it because I touched her like this ? I palm her breasts again, gently. Slowly. Curious to see if that adorable little sound she makes is caused by the way I add just a little more pressure. She makes that noise again and I fight the urge to groan in response. Eden’s skin is so soft beneath my fingertips - she’s so delicate, so strange. Like the little moth that she is and she’s burning up, just for me . She’s almost as fragile as the mixture of tiny mewls and gasps that tumble from parted lips - she might not speak, though I will change that - but she’s so responsive. Every time I brush my fingers against her nipples, she writhes. When I twist the nub between two fingers, she sighs. Eden Bones… she’s so fucking soft. As I commit every inch of her deliciously supple breasts to memory, I can only imagine all the ways I ache to ruin her. All the ways I will defile her. I want to taint every inch of her body with my touch, leaving a trail of horrible corruption that does not stop spreading until it seeps into her very fucking bones. When I’m finished I will be so engrained inside her mind, body and soul that she’ll never be able to think of anything but me .Eden will be just as cursed as I am. And after nearly fifteen goddamn years, I was done with suffering from the ghost of the little girl of my memories. Of the one who’d evaded me for so long - though, I suppose that was my own fault. The family I’d smuggled her into had a habit of running, like the cowards they were. But now Eden was in my hands, moaning and whimpering under my touch and for the first time in those anguished fifteen years - everything felt right . And yet there were more annoyances than ever before. Like that fucking bastard who thought he was going to marry my girl. “Does your precious fiance touch you like this?” My voice was nearly guttural, anger seething through my teeth into her ear. I hate knowing that she chose to accept someone else’s hand, despite the pact we made. Sure, it had simply suggested a contingency for the both of us, a convenient little plot to ensure she got out alive and there was a back up plan but… from the day my parents, unbeknownst to Eden herself, had betrothed her to me - she was all I ever wanted. My Eden. My future wife . She was the only thing that would ever truly belong to me and I’d been patient with her. I’d waited the last fifteen years for this very moment and Merlin, how easy it’d been to lure her back to me. A little address find, snooping into her friends and her home life… and suddenly there’s a lovely little invitation to the very club named after her . I tug on one of her nipples, twisting it harshly until she lets out an anguished squeak . My little moth has lost her ability to speak entirely. An unfortunate side effect that I assume I have the Bones to thank. She’d been all but mute as a child but now… she only communicates with me by biting out little hungry moans and the sweet, agonizing shifting of her luscious hips against my hardening cock. I squeeze her other nipple, tugging it as I silently vow two absolutes into her needy flesh. I will marry you, Eden Bones. And you will learn to fucking scream for me, to cry out my name over and over again until you go hoarse. Eden shakes her head, her hair tickling my nose as I breathe in the sweet scent of her floral shampoo. I want to bury my face in it, to live in those rich little notes but I’m pleased to know that this Greyson fellow hasn’t defiled her purity… yet. I clench my teeth, “No, I didn’t think so - nor will he ever .” My hands are brutal against the flesh of her breasts, forgoing all gentleness as I whisper into her ear, “Do you know why, my darling?” “Because you belong to me and I will cut his fucking hands of it he ever touches you again.” I growl at her, just before sinking my teeth right into her throat. She jolts into me and something akin to a scream gurgles inside her chest. That’s right, sweet Eden. Sing for me . I can’t get enough of the flavor of her flesh, all sweet and honeyed as my tongue runs over the fresh bite on her throat. I go back in, nipping and sucking until she’s a mess of whines and my erection becomes painful. My little moth is writhing into my lap, grinding her plump ass against me and Merlin, I want more . She’s burning up against me, inviting me to dance in the burning pyre of her desire and how could I possibly turn her down? My sweet Eden… is it possible that you’re more filthy than your innocence lets on? I release her breasts, noticing how she arches up, trying to find the contact of my palms again. I chuckle darkly against her neck, pressing kisses to it as my hands slowly descend down the length of her body. They take their time, mapping out her body to find that her frame is so small. She hadn’t grown much in the years we’d been apart, but she’d surely filled out in the ways that made my mouth water. I finally reach my prize - her thighs . They’re trembling beneath my touch, especially as I hook my fingers under the hem of her dress. It’s only then that I feel her shake her head again, knowing exactly what I’m after. I don’t stop, but instead pull it up over her hips, bunching it up just above her navel. She’s shaking her head again, silently pleading that I stop touching her, that she’s had enough… but I haven’t.There’s still so much more softness to explore, so much tender flesh that needs to be tainted with the abuse of my hungry fingertips. I smile against her neck when she whimpers as I drag my nails against her thighs. So fucking soft . So delicate. I wonder how silky she feels between them. “If you don’t want this Eden, you will beg me to stop,” I tell her, my teeth teasing her earlobe as I brush my fingers against the inside of her thighs. She silently bucks into my touch and I have to stifle another groan. I have a job to do here - I want to hear her speak . It’s been fifteen years filled with an empty silence, a void created by the lack of her in my life. I need to hear the soft sound of her voice. “You’ll use that beautiful voice of yours to plead, to ask me so nicely not to touch your pussy.” I purr, a shiver going down my spine as her breath hitches again. My fingers are on the inside of her thighs, tracing lazy little circles that inch closer and closer to her core. I can feel the heat radiating off of her covered slit - can nearly taste the wetness of her arousal beneath her panties. And yet all I want is to hear her say no . The tips of my fingers skim over the front of her panties, just barely touching the mess that’s collected on the outside of them before she finally erupts with a strangled cry, “ Please! Stop!” Merlin, destroy me. Reshape me into her image. Let me live inside her.
Just to end me once more.
Her voice is beautiful, so delicate like the little wings of the butterflies she used to tear.My cock pulses painfully beneath my trousers, which have become unbearably tight. For a moment, a single delicious second - I think about going back on my deal with her. The shakiness in her voice hints that she wouldn’t fight me as I drove my fingers inside of her tight little pussy.My hand hovers over her mound as I whisper, “What a good girl you are, using your words.” “But do you mean it, little moth?” I ask, slowly lowering my hand just a little more so that she can feel the heat radiating off my palm. “You don’t want me to sink my fingers inside your pussy?” I chuckle, the rasp in my voice causing her to squirm just a little more. I know I certainly do - I’m absolutely famished with curiosity about how she would respond when he thrusted two fingers inside her and spread her insides apart. I ached to know how hot she would burn when I thrusted them all the way to the knuckle, so deep that it would destroy her innocence.
How good it would feel to fuck her.
The feeling of her pussy spasming and struggling to adjust around my thickness would be nearly painful… but it would be bliss. As close to heaven as I’d ever get. Especially as I tore away her innocence, coating my cock in her blood and sweet juices. I wasn’t a fool - I knew she was still a virgin. The way she writhed against me told me everything I needed to know. That her mind would go fuzzy and she’d nearly meet her end just from me teasing and toying with her body.
Come on, little moth… I’m waiting.
Another shallow breath and I knew her resolve was slipping. I could taste the fragments of it in the air, sweet and warm on my tongue. The word “no” was only moments away from tumbling out of her trembling lips. Creak - the fucking door is opening and Eden is half exposed, and the light - the light will give him away. My hand shoots back, retracting out of her sight as I take a deep breath. I’d chosen the darkness for a reason - I wanted to touch her skin without fear of what she’d find if the lights were on. If she saw what had changed, she’d recoil away and I… I couldn’t handle that. Not when I finally had her back in my arms. “ Repairo ,” I mutter the charm quietly over her dress, fixing the little butterfly design on the back of it. My hands yank up the neckline of her dress and smooth it back down over her thighs - I won’t have anyone else seeing my little moth. Her body is meant for me . “ Sir -” “What the fuck do you want, Elias?” I grit through my teeth. I do my best not to snap at one of my oldest friends, though I am considering turning him into a fucking cloud of his own blood. I was so damn close to knowing the softness between Eden’s thighs. “We have trouble,” Elias is out of breath, as if he’d been running for his life, “Some red-haired witch is trying to burn the whole fucking place down.” Inhaling through my nose, I sigh. Eden shifts and I know she realizes who Elias is talking about… and as do I. Eden’s little roommates, the blessed things, were the ones that brought my sweet girl here to me tonight. One of them, the red haired one, was a Bones as well. The other was a close friend to them both, though her last name escaped me. The only thing I knew was they were quite protective over Eden - it was the only reason I hadn’t snatched her out of her home and brought her to mine. She was safe with those two. But I was sure the red head, Perdita Bones, was surely in an absolute uproar now that she noticed her friend had gone missing. I’d hoped Sebastian would buy me enough time to reacquaint myself with my future wife but alas…
He was a fucking idiot.
“I suppose it's time to fly back home, my darling.” I lean in, whispering into Eden’s ear. She stiffens a little as I find her face with my clean hand and turn her face towards my own. The warmth of her breath fans over my lips, which are so close to her own. I want to kiss her… but not yet. I want her to ask me for that kiss. “Go with your friends… we’ll be in touch.”
Eden Bones:
“What were you thinking?!” Perdi’s yelling at me, pacing back and forth with an exasperated look on her face as I stare down at my feet. She’d been angry ever since she found me peeking my head out of the tree. The entire club had been nearly emptied, so much so that I could see every corner of the room without all of the bodies. Only to see that if I had taken one extra step to the left, I would’ve found the b bathroom.
How long had I been inside that damn tree?
I shivered - I could still feel the warmth of Ominis’ hands on my body… the way he gripped my breasts, the heat of his words inside of my ear… I swallowed hard. ‘I got lost… there were so many people - I’m sorry, Perdi.’ What was I supposed to say? Sorry Perdi - someone I’m blood bound to showed up and tried to finger me in the backroom. It won’t happen again. I kept my feet glued to the ground. How could I look her in the eyes after I just lied to her face?“Perdi…” Lizzy takes a step forward and places her hands on Perdi’s shoulders, stopping her from going any further. The pacing was getting to not only me, but Lizzy as well. “Don’t be so hard on Eden, she was just looking for you-” Perdi shakes her head and waves her hands, gently pushing Lizzy away. “She knows she has to stick by one of us at all times !” “I know but-” “This wasn’t a muggle club - do you understand what could’ve happened to her? Do you?” Perdi snapped and turned her attention back towards me. I tried not to wince at those words - muggle . Words that aim to make me feel small. Useless .
She doesn’t mean it that way…
My throat bobs as I swallow hard, and for the first time since we got back home, I look her in the face. There were so many tears welling in her warm eyes and I knew she wasn’t angry . Perdi was terrified. For me . “We have no idea what kind of witches and wizards frequent that place - Merlin forbid a Gaunt was there tonight and saw you! What do you think they’d do to you?” A tear rolled down Perdi’s cheek as she stepped forward to take my hands in hers. “You must be more careful Eden - I, we , cannot lose you.” I grip her hands in mine, squeezing them tightly as a tear of my own drips down my face. ‘ I am sorry, Perdi… it will never happen again .’ That’s all I can offer her because that is the truth. I’m never going to see Ominis again and I will never allow myself to be put in that kind of danger ever, ever again. Tomorrow… When I talk to Greyson, the future of my safety will be decided. I can’t sleep, hours later. The sun has already risen and my eyes burn as I stare at the ceiling. I can’t stop thinking about how Ominis found me and the kind of torture he’s turned to. I didn’t know if I preferred the bite of the dark magic he once used over the physical, sensual touch of his hands. I hiccup a sob, wiping away another set of tears as I feel my phone buzz next to my head. I pat around my pillow and bring my phone up to my face, only to find a message from a number I don’t recognize. Unknown:
Today. 5PM. Wear something nice.
-O.G.
My fingers pause over the message as another pops up with an address, some nice little restaurant that I’ve never been to. I know who the message is from as I reread it over and over again. How did he get my number…? I sighed and shook my head. If Ominis Gaunt wanted something he always got it, without question. Getting my phone number was probably the easiest thing he’d acquired all day. Which also meant he most likely had my address, too. I bit down on my lip, chewing it. I had my meeting with Greyson today at five to negotiate the terms of me moving in and the guarantee of my safety. I didn’t plan on shafting Greyson for Ominis little dinner date. Despite what happened last night, I did not want him. I never wanted to see him again. And Greyson would help make that a reality. I type several different messages, deleting each one of them. Nothing I could say to him would persuade him into leaving me alone. I’m sure that even cutting my phone off, changing my number or trying to block his wouldn’t work. I tasted blood in my mouth as my teeth worked my lip, typing out a simple message.
Me: I can’t.
Me: Please leave me alone.
It was a pathetic attempt to push him away, I knew it. However I knew that Ominis was still a man of some honor - he’d shown me that when he stopped when I asked… though I hadn’t been sure if I’d really wanted him to stop. The feeling of his fingers caressing my skin again. I shiver, still feeling the sensation of his fingers tugging on my nipples. How they dug into the sensitive skin of my thighs, so close to where I’d become so so needy for him. Before I burst into flames, my phone vibrates again. Unknown :
Can’t or won’t, my darling?
-O.G.
I can still feel the heat of his breath against my ear as he purrs out those sweet words of endearment. I swallow hard and respond.
Me: I have plans.
Plans that will keep me out of your hands forever, I wanted to say, but I was afraid of pushing him too far. Would he show up here if I pissed him off?
Unknown:
Cancel them - do not try my patience, Eden.
-O.G
I finally released my poor, abused lower lip, swiping my tongue over the bloodied mess I’d made of it. I wasn’t going to give into his demands, not when safety was waiting for me at five o’clock today… with Greyson and a family that would sooner eat me alive than see me out with a Gaunt.
Unknown:
Any path you choose tomorrow that doesn’t lead you to me will end in regret.
Goodnight, little moth.
-O.G.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Eden, are you listening to me?” Greyson’s dark voice tugged at my wandering mind, which went quite numb when listening to his grievances at work and how
inconvenient
our meeting had been for him.
So many other things he could be doing
, he whined,
like schmoozing up clients or fucking the girl he didn’t know I knew about.
Instead I’d been watching my surroundings, my eyes darting to every corner of the little cafe we occasionally met in. It was a neutral ground, and most of all, it was
safe
.
Not only from Greyson’s eventual wrath, but from the Gaunt I’d chosen to blow off.
I’d chosen to meet Greyson rather than Ominis
.
While I hoped this meeting would be worth it, I wasn’t sure how much danger I put myself in by choosing to shaft Ominis. He seemed pretty intent on having me join him this evening but…
I needed to be with the one man who would promise to keep me safe, far out of the reaches of the mouths of hungry, wicked snakes.
If I’d gone with Ominis tonight -
what would he have done with me
?
The lingering memory of how his hands felt against my flesh made a shiver run down my spine and the heat rose in my cheeks. I swore I could still feel the tickle of his lips against my ear, teasing me and coaxing me into uttering two little words for him.
I inhaled deeply through my nose, turning my eyes up to meet the irritated gaze of my future husband. I gave him a slight, if not apologetic, nod of my head as I cradled my cup in my hands.
Greyson had become quite good at reading my expressions over the years.
So he scowled with disappointment in his eyes, before picking up his coffee cup and bringing it to his lips, “So - why the change of heart?”
My thumbs caressed the porcelain mug. I swallowed hard as I tried to remember all the words I was supposed to say. I practiced saying them for nearly an hour this morning… even though they’d only come out as whispers each time I opened my mouth.
All my words were broken and wrong… but it
was
progress, I suppose.
There was a part of me that loathed how reluctant I was to speak. However, I knew it was safer for me not to. All of my thoughts and feelings were far better off remaining in my chest and never brought to life with the sound of my voice.
If I did not speak, I would not know the pain of rejection or anger.
I wouldn’t know what it was like to lay on the floor and wonder how many more breaths I had before I died.
I sighed - option two it is then.
Greyson’s eyes were on me as I reached into my purse. I retrieved the pre-written note I’d packed just in case I lost my nerve, which I should’ve known would be the case… but at any rate, the note would be sufficient enough.
Gaunts moved into my side of town. Safer with you.
His eyes scanned over the note once and then twice, as he took another gulp of his coffee. He sat the mug back down gently on the table before looking at me with an arched brow.
“What do you know about the Gaunts, Eden?”
I pursed my lips for a moment, deciding how much I’d tell him. Which was nothing. He slid the paper back towards me, pulling a pen from inside his shirt pocket.
That they tried to kill me the night of the fire. That they are dangerous.
I slid the note back towards him slowly, and our hands collided briefly. He frowned at me, adjusting the house ring he wore on his index finger before reading the note. A frown turned down on his lips as he read it not once, but twice.
Why?
Shouldn’t he be happy that I was ready to come live with him and play house for him?
“So you just want something from me, as usual.” Greyson muttered as he sat the note back on the table. I narrowed my eyes at him - was that… disappointment in his eyes?
For a moment, it seemed as if he believed I was coming to him because there was
affection
in my heart for him. We may have been forced together for a decade but there was not an ounce of love in my heart for the man who sat across the table.
“Fine, but there are conditions and you
will
follow instructions…” Greyson droned on about curfews, rules, mannerisms, and a lot of other things that went through one of my ears… and right out the other.
Especially as my phone buzzed on the table. I leaned forward just enough to glance at the message and my blood ran cold.
Unknown:
Hope it was worth it, little moth.
-O.G.
My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach, twisting and churning as I read the message once more.
I was in deep shit.
I didn’t care for whatever nonsense was coming out of Greyson’s mouth, I hadn’t been paying attention to it anyway. I quickly reached across the table for my paper again, scrawling out another message quickly. The handwriting was messy, maybe a letter crossed out once or twice, but there was no more time to waste.
Whatever you want - it's yours, I will not question you. When can I move in?
I slid the paper back across the table to him, laying my hands back in my lap. I twisted my fingers into the skirt of my dress, my nails pressing into my legs.
How many days would it take for Ominis to decide what he was going to do with me?
There was some kind of understanding that lingered in the flesh he’d seared with his fingertips - he
wanted
me. The only thing that scared me… was how much.
And how much he’d take from me that I would refuse to give willingly.
“It’s not something that just happens over night, Eden.” Greyson sighed, but he tilted his head with a newfound curiosity in his eyes, like he knew I was hiding something. “You’re going to have to give me at least a week to get everything in order.”
A week?!
Maybe if I told him - I started to reach for the paper, but he’d already grabbed hold of it and stuffed it into his pocket. “Don’t pout, love. It's not a very pretty look on you.”
Greyson rose out of his chair and adjusted his suit, dropping a few dollar bills onto the table as a tip. “You’ll be mine forever soon enough.”
I remained glued to the chair in the cafe, mulling over how I’d survive an entire week with Ominis Gaunt lurking in the shadows.
Three days went by quietly, without any consequence. And while I should’ve felt fortunate that nothing happened, it all felt too… foreboding.
In that silence, I felt as if I was being watched.
Observed
.
I was hearing noises that didn’t exist, shadows of things that weren’t real. I’d even started checking under my own bed for the monsters that lurked around me.
Only to find nothing.
That haunting, eerie quiet that settled around me when I was alone, after frantically checking behind my shoulder everywhere I went… made me feel like something
bigger
was coming once it ended.
Like this was just the start of something
terrible
.
My exhausted and
paranoid
mind hoped that perhaps I was just being a little overdramatic. Perhaps Ominis simply was
all talk
and he was just very good at handing out empty threats filled with malice.
Maybe the paranoia and anxiety I’d been riddled with over the past three days
was
the punishment.
Hanging my coat on the rack, I sighed.
I just had to get through four more days and I wouldn’t have to live in constant fear of the serpent lurking in the shadows. Four more days and I would be far out of his reach and never have to worry about all the wicked ways he’d sink his fangs into me.
I kicked my shoes off at the door. I’d just come back from a trip down to the local grocery store - Lizzy needed a few odds and ends and I was looking for an excuse to get some fresh air.
I’d been cooped up in the house for two of those days, too afraid to leave the house. So when Lizzy asked, there was no hesitation.
“Oh, I can’t believe you…” I heard Perdi’s vibrant trill of laughter from the kitchen. I smiled warmly, it was one of my favorite sounds… one that I would miss once I’d been locked up in Greyson’s house for the rest of my days.
I wanted to make the most out of every moment I had left with them…
Though today, my smile faltered as I swallowed the lump in my throat, I’d have to tell them what was happening.
“And then…” I scrunched my brows as an undeniable male voice followed Perdi’s. I didn’t realize we were having company today.
When I reached the kitchen, I nearly dropped both of the bags in my hands.
In the middle of our kitchen… stood
Elias
and
Sebastian
.
“Oh, Eden, you're home!” Lizzy’s voice sounded a million miles away as my heart began to race in my chest. It roared in my ears as I stared at the both of them, though they only looked at me with feigned curiosity. As if they’d never seen me before.
“Thank you so much, I know it was probably a bit of a walk.” I barely registered Lizzy taking the groceries from me, or that I’d shaken my head at her. Or that I’d even smiled.
Everything felt so numb.
Ominis’ cronies - or spies, or cohorts - whoever
the hell they were
were in the middle of my kitchen! Talking to my best friends!
I was a fool to think that the
silence
would continue, I knew Ominis had sent these two to show me
he knew
where I lived. He knew the people I loved.
This was a housecall to
threaten
me.
‘What are they doing here?’
I bitterly projected at Perdi, who snapped her head to look at me. Her brows knitted as she leaned her head forward, as if I’d said something appallingly rude.
“Eden,” Perdi cleared her throat, “You remember Sebastian, don’t you?”
My eyes snapped to his and I forced a polite,
nice
smile on my face as I nodded.
“Pleasure to see you again,” Sebastian returned the nod, with a charming smile of his own as his eyes trailed along my face. He knew who I
really was
now - there was no denying it in the way the darkness swirled behind his woodsy eyes.
I wanted him out of my home.
Away from my friends.
“
This is Elias Malfoy, a friend of his,” Lizzy finished putting the groceries in the fridge and stood next to Elias, who turned to look at her with a dashing smile. But the glint in his eyes made me feel like he was looking at Lizzy like she was something to eat.
“This is Eden, our roommate,” She added, gesturing towards me.
“So lovely to meet you, how long have you known each other?” Elias’ voice dripped with the kind of charm that would make any woman swoon over him. It was like he’d mastered the art of flirtation and learned how to bottle it.
When I didn’t answer him, he frowned but Lizzy interjected, “Sorry - forgot to tell you, Eden doesn’t speak.”
“Ah, a little mouse then.” Elias purred and my stomach churned.
Please leave. Please get away from my friends and go back to whatever shady, awful hole you crawled out of - stay away from us. I wanted to yell at him, wanted to tell my friends that these two worked for the one who used to abuse and torture me…
But all I could do was stand there with the same polite grin as Lizzy explained our longtime friendship.
“As wonderful as this has been, I’m afraid we must get going sweetheart,” Sebastian sighed sadly, before grabbing Perdi’s wrist and pressing a gentle kiss to the inside of it. “I’ll call you.”
I blinked a few times. ‘
What the hell was that - sweetheart?’
Perdi looked a little dazed as she watched Sebastian leave the kitchen, but she gave me a slow, smug smile. I clicked my tongue in shock - were… no, they weren’t
together
were they?
If they grew closer, it would only put Perdi in more danger. I didn’t know who these people really were, or what they wanted - hell, what
their boss
even wanted. I only knew these two had shown up in my home to cause trouble.
"
I hope it was worth it."
Was Ominis going to use my friends to hurt me?
‘I’ll see them out.’
I projected at Perdi, who pursed her lips, but nodded when I gave her my best, most polite of smiles. I really wanted to scream and cry at her, that these two were
monsters
in sheep's clothing.
My heart thrummed beneath my chest as I followed both of them to the door, silently watching as they shrugged on their coats. I was thinking of all the things I would say to them, if I could get my voice unstuck out of my tight throat.
Don’t come back, or I’ll kill you.
Why are you here?
Tell Ominis to leave me alone.
Go fuck yourselves.
“Oh, little mousie,” Sebastian said sweetly, as Elias held the door open. A gust of winter air blew through, making me shiver as Sebastian pulled something out of his pockets.
I braced myself - this was it, he was going to murder me in my own home. This was Ominis’ revenge - but how would he do it?
With magic?
A gun?
Would the two of them beat me senseless? And what about my friends? What would happen to them?
My chest felt so tight as the air left my lungs, my heart beating to the point I thought it would explode in my chest - until Sebastian fished out a small, beautifully wrapped black box.
And then my heart stopped completely.
“Ominis sends his regrets, I believe he misses you.” There was a mocking tone beneath his smooth voice and I watched a smile creep up on Elias’ face.
“
Get out.”
The hiss was like a whisper between my teeth but Sebastian only grinned at me before raising his hands up, as if he’d been defeated by those two little words.
Both of the men left the house without so much as a backwards glance and when I shut the door, I leaned my back against it. The little black box in my hand was nothing more than an omen.
Something so shiny and pretty that held something terrible for me.
I hoped it wasn’t another severed butterfly, as I slowly unwound the ribbon. Maybe it was a
nice
gift, maybe I had Ominis all wrong.
I was foolish to ever think Ominis was capable of being
nice
.
The only thing Ominis Gaunt would ever be was
cruel.
He made that perfectly clear when I opened the box, only to find… a
finger
. A human
finger
. My stomach turned and I tried not to gag when I saw the bone protruding out the end of it - but it wasn’t the gore that made me want to vomit.
It was the shiny, gold ring with the House of Bones’ seal still wrapped around the severed finger.
“With love, Ominis Gaunt”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Ominis Gaunt:
Did you enjoy my gift?
-O.G
Me:
Go to hell.
I knew it was stupid of me to provoke him any further - knew what I risked by pushing back but I
refused
to let him have his way. So I swallow down my anxiety, pocketing my phone back into my coat as I briskly walk down the street.
The snow seemed to be falling harder today, as it came down in large clumps and sure enough I began to hear it crunch beneath my boots. The wind blew and I pulled my scarf a little further up on my face to cover it from the harsh cold.
Buzz.
Buzz.
My hand wrapped around my phone again -
no
,
Eden
.
I let it go and do my best to ignore the following
two
extra vibrations. Ominis would not listen to my wishes, no matter what I said to him. I’d already tried blocking his number, only for a new one to start texting me hours later. The bastard would pick back up on whatever he was saying like nothing had changed.
Buzzzz….
He was calling me?
I inhaled deeply through my mouth. What I want to do is throw my phone into oncoming traffic. If I had no phone, there would be no messages. No way for him to communicate with me.
But then he might just show up at my doorstep, unannounced like his friends.
I exhale through my nose. I’m going to go see Greyson, I need to know if he’s
okay
. For all of the asshole he was, he didn’t deserve something like that to happen to him and it was
my
fault. If something happened to him… it would be my fault.
And all of my chances at safety would be gone.
I needed Greyson Bones to stay
alive
and hopefully… in one piece.
Taking a turn around the corner, I finally make it to the large iron gates that surround Greyson’s estate. His - soon to be
our
home, was a large, modern affair surrounded by lush trees and a pretty garden.
On the outside, it was a lavish and lovely home. On the inside… I shivered.
When I made it to the main gate, I pressed the security button. A minute ticked by, as I rubbed my gloved hands together, which felt cold despite the warmth of the knitted fabric.
Another two minutes went by and I pressed the button again, only to be met with an angry voice on the other end of the receiver.
“Yes, can I help you?” His security guard hissed through the comms.
I hastily fished out my ID, wishing I’d already had it out and nearly dropping it on the ground once or twice. I brought it up to the camera.
“Ms. Eden - I’m afraid Mr. Greyson isn’t seeing anyone today. Come back tomorrow.” He said before the comms device promptly shut off and I was left with the city silence.
I sat there for a moment, mouth gaped. He’d never turned me away before but at least he was
alive
… or maybe they were hiding his death.
I pressed the button again -
I needed to know
.
No answer and I hit it
again
.
Me:
Hey, they’re not letting me in to see you. We need to talk.
I stared at my phone for a handful of seconds, until a message popped up and my shoulders sagged in relief, despite the bitterness in his words.
Greyson:
Sick. Go away.
I exhaled a sigh of relief, pocketing my phone into my coat again.
He was okay.
Ominis hadn’t killed him… he’d only roughed him up. Was it to send
me
a message… or was it to send Greyson one?
‘Because
you belong to me
and I will cut his fucking hands of it he ever touches you again.’
A shiver runs down my spine as I remember the promise dripping from every word before he sank his teeth into my neck. The sting as I felt blood pooling at the surface of the flesh, how warm my stomach was when I felt his tongue…
Enough
, I groan at myself as I turn away from the gate. I am not going to keep reliving that night because that’s
exactly
what he wants. I wasn’t aroused by Ominis and his cruel touch… I was confused. Nervous. Inexperienced.
None of those words made me feel any better.
“Little moth.”
I freeze as the very voice I’d just heard from my memories sounds from behind me, beckoning me. Do I turn to face him -
or do I run?
Greyson’s estate is right there, I could climb the fence and be
safe
. I knew the gates were enchanted to prevent outside apparation. If I could get inside, Ominis wouldn’t be able to touch me.
“
Hello
?” I hear the security guard’s voice through the comms and I turn my eyes just enough to see him looking around through the device.
Help
.
Please help me.
I can’t get the words to come out of my chest. They stick and choke me, taking up all the air in my throat as I become consumed with the presence behind me.
“Accio
.”
I don’t have time to force the words from my mouth as I gasp, as I’m hurled backwards towards Ominis. My feet aren’t able to catch the ground and I’m pulled into the air and straight into…
a car
?
The door shuts in front of me and it takes off.
It’s dark inside the cabin, and I realize it's not a car but a large SUV. The inside is large enough to move about as my eyes struggle to adjust to the new darkness. I’m able to make out how tinted the windows are, and a tinted partition that’s nearly blacked out separates the cabin from the front of the SUV with curtains on either side of it.
Why does he prefer the darkness so much?
“My darling,” Ominis purrs and my neck snaps in his direction.
I blink a few times as tears form in my eyes and my heart begins to run rampantly inside my chest. It
is
dark but not so much that I’m not able to finally make his face out.
He’s grown so much in the last fifteen years, so tall. Lean. The features of his face had sharpened, hollowed cheekbones and a jawline that could cut glass.
Haunting, pale blue eyes that I swore felt like they were looking into my very soul.
“I apologize for such a spontaneous meeting, but I’m afraid I couldn’t wait any longer.” Ominis spoke with a mock pout, “And when you didn’t answer my call, I got worried.”
Go to hell
.
I wanted to spit at him, scream or kick him. I wanted to ask him why in the world he thought I wanted anything to do with him after what he’d done to Greyson? After what he’d done… to
me
.
But I could only sit there on the floor, gawking at him as a small smile turned upwards on his lips.
“So tell me -
was
it worth it?” The smirk on his face was borderline evil as the hackles on the back of my neck rose.
“Fuck… you.” I spat through gritted teeth and he
laughed
.
“There’s that pretty voice,” He purred before leaning forward and grabbing me up by the scalp of my hair. He brought me close to his face, the minty spice of his breath fanning over my face as he spoke, “did you think your actions would not have consequences, little moth? Did you think yourself blameless? That you would not be
punished
?”
I shook in his grip with a cry when his nails dug in a little harder and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. My chest heaved as I struggled to breathe when he mentioned the word
punishment
.
My mind went back to those ripped butterfly wings and the shocking bolt of
Crucio
that left me on the ground for hours. Hours that turned to days, when each time I tried to get up he’d strike me with a new curse he’d learned.
Punishment meant tortuous pain.
“Because I’m feeling merciful today, I’ll give you two choices.” Ominis adjusted his hold on me, bringing me so close that his lips ghosted just over mine. “Do you want me to
hurt you
or would you rather be a good girl and fucking
listen to me
?”
My heart roared in my ears, thumping violently in my chest. I knew the right answer, the one that might allow me to leave without being crippled from the violence of his cruelty. And yet I knew that both options would only lead to my demise.
“
Pick one
, little moth. My patience with you wanes with every breath you take.” Ominis hissed and my breath hitched with a sob. With his other hand he began to tug at the scarf around my neck, freeing it and throwing it onto the floor beneath him.
“Tell me, Eden, or I’ll pick for you.” He said, his fingers trailing over my throat before squeezing lightly, “You won’t like the things I want to do to you if you choose wrong.”
“Listen… I’ll listen.” I scrambled to get the words out of my throat, my lips trembling as I choked them out.
“Mmm,” Ominis smiled again, gently pressing his lips against mine, “there’s a good girl.”
I whimpered as his mouth covered mine again, his kiss soft as his fingers squeezed my throat as the grip on my hair eased. I tried not to kiss him back, to fight it and move away but I froze. I was like a deer caught in headlights, unable to look away… only to start kissing him back.
His mouth was so hot against mine, every movement becoming more demanding as the seconds ticked by. It wasn’t like he was showing me affection - it felt like he was
devouring
me.
The warmth of his tongue pressed against my lips and I wanted to keep them firmly shut. Yet when his nails pressed into my throat, I gasped, and his tongue made its way inside my mouth.
Ominis tasted absolutely wicked. Like a fiery, spiced candy made of mint and sin and I could not stop myself from tasting it. From letting him suck my tongue into his mouth as he let go of my throat. His hand was still steadfast in my hair as the other set about unbuttoning my coat, before shrugging it off me.
And then my shirt, and the bra beneath it.
I shivered as his hand caressed my collar bone, his nails dragging downwards until his hand cupped my breast. I hated myself for the soft moan that passed between our lips as his finger circled a hardened nipple.
I hated Ominis Gaunt as he plucked it.
Loathed him as he twisted it and laughed when I whimpered into his mouth.
I’d kill him for this, I thought as his teeth tugged at my lower lip. I’d find a way to cut his throat instead of moaning for him. I’d snap his neck instead of becoming soaking wet for him. I’d burn him alive until there was nothing left but bones and regret instead of whining when he pulled his mouth away from mine.
One way or another, I will kill you.
“You blew off our first date, little moth,” His voice was husky as he spoke, his hand still toying with my breast as my chest heaved beneath his touch, “And I know how you’re going to make it up to me.”
Ominis let go of my breast, only to start fiddling with the buckle of his pants. I froze in his touch, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest as I knew
exactly
where this was going.
I’d never… with him? I…
Everything became so hot, too hot. I was burning alive where I kneeled in front of him, as he pulled his cock out. I swallowed, trying not to look at it as a smirk turned up on his lips again.
“Suck my cock and I might forgive you.”
I tried to move away from him, to pull out of the grip he had on my hair but he remained firm as I squirmed.
Everything felt so damn hot
.
“You said you’d listen, my darling,” His hand reached up to caress my cheek, “I’m afraid things won’t be very pleasant if you don’t do as you’re told.”
Severed fingers. Torturing Curses. Broken wings.
None of the evil that Ominis was capable of would ever be as pleasant as simply doing what he asked of me. Even if it damned me, corrupted my soul to its very center.
I licked my lips and finally forced myself to look down at his cock, as he slowly eased up on his grip to lower me closer to it. I still wanted to plead for him to stop, especially as I realized how
large
he was.
So thick.
“I…” I croaked but Ominis hushed me.
“Save your voice, sweet Eden,” He whispered, “I only want to hear the sounds of you gagging around my cock.”
My thighs clenched together as I looked back up at him, watching the way his mouth slightly parted the closer my own got to his length.
I could do this - he’d let me go after this, right?
And then I would wait him out, wait till Greyson was better and I’d never have to be stuck in a dark SUV with Ominis again. Never be face to face with his cock or the sudden, strange need to taste him.
My tongue apprehensively darted out, licking a stripe over the tip of him. I heard him suck in a breath as I did it again, his salty, musky flavor invading my mouth as I swiped my tongue again.
I wrapped my lips around the tip of his cock, nervously sucking on him - I’d never done this before, let alone
touch
a man like this.
I didn’t know what I was doing.
When I froze up in fear, Ominis sighed.
“Tighten your lips, my darling,” He instructed me with such patience and understanding. “Hollow your cheeks out and work your way down my cock.”
A tear ran down the cheeks that flushed with embarrassment. It hadn’t taken Ominis long to know that I was… so inexperienced. Naive. A virgin.
And somehow, that made my chest tighten with shame.
“It’s alright,” Ominis abruptly pulled my face away from his cock, tilting me up to meet his face again. “I know you’ve never had a cock before, isn’t that right?”
In the darkness I could see the mocking smile on his lips as he leaned forward to kiss me once, then twice. “I’ll be your first
and
your last.”
Ominis brought me back down and my mouth wrapped around the head of his cock again, this time with more suction. “I’ll teach you how.”
I eased my mouth downwards, taking a little more of him each time. “The only cock you’ll ever need to learn to please is
mine
.”
“And
fuck
,” He hissed as my lips tightened a little more, “you’ll learn how to swallow me whole, to take me into your throat and crave the flavor of my cum.”
His hand tightened in my hair as I finally took the last inch of him, my nose pressed into his shaft as I felt him throb in my throat. I wanted to move back up, to breathe in a deep gasp of air. But he held me there, forcing me to take his cock down my throat.
“
Merlin
,” Ominis groaned out, before giving a short pump of his hips upwards. I gagged when the tip went further down my throat, which earned yet another thrust of himself causing me to wretch. “I love that fucking sound. I love how your throat squeezes my cock when you gag around me.”
Despite how uncomfortably full my throat was, the heat between my legs grew as I clenched my thighs together. I didn’t like the things his praise did to me.
After a moment Ominis released me, and I heaved as the air returned to my lungs. Ominis chuckled as I wiped away the drool that hung from my lips. “Breathe through your nose next time, little moth.”
Fuck you
, I ached to yell at him.
But my mouth was too busy around his cock again.
I couldn’t stop myself from pleasuring him with my mouth, couldn’t stop the way I hummed while I enjoyed the flavor and the sounds of his moans and low breaths when I sucked him a little harder.
“There you go - just like that, my darling,” The groan that fell from Ominis’ lips sent a shockwave through my body, urging me to take his cock a little deeper inside my mouth. “
Such a good fucking girl
.”
Ominis began to use his grip on my hair to move me, forcing my mouth rapidly up and down the length of his cock. With each one, he moved me further and further down until I was taking his entire length into my throat with ease.
“I’m going to cum in that pretty little mouth of yours, my darling,” Ominis hissed through gritted teeth. “Just keep sucking, keep taking me, just like that -
fuck
.”
Ominis' breath was ragged as his hold on my hair became more choppy, more frantic. I gagged around him, drool pooling at my lips and down my chin as he used my throat, forcing my mouth to fuck it until he found his release.
And then he stopped me halfway, hissing out a groan as he came inside my mouth. I moaned as his warmth spilled all over my tongue, coating it with the flavor of his cum as he rode out his orgasm inside my mouth and I greedily savored the taste of him.
That…
taste
did horrible things to me. I’d already been so hot, so wet between my thighs but now I could feel my own slickness sticking to the inside of my thighs through my leggings. I felt so uncomfortably
empty
.
I was burning up with a fever I didn’t quite understand and I… I
hated
it.
Hated Ominis Gaunt for what he did to my body.
My cheeks became damp as I silently sobbed - I wanted to pull away from him. I wanted to spit his cum right back out at him in defiance. This… this wasn’t
right
.
Ominis was a monster - how did
I
deserve this level of humiliation? I’d never asked for that silly date, how was I to blame for standing him up?
But he kept his grip on my hair, keeping me still. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach as his other hand came up to my face, and he used two fingers to pinch my nose, effectively cutting off my air supply.
You
bastard
.
“Swallow.” Ominis demanded flatly, like there was no room for questioning.
I tried to shake my head and his nails bit into my scalp. I wouldn’t do it - I wouldn’t swallow his cum, I wouldn’t give Ominis everything that he wanted. It wasn’t
fair
.
“Swallow my fucking cum, Eden.” He hissed again, tightening his grip as my lungs began to burn from the lack of oxygen.
I wouldn’t be able to wait him out. He wasn’t going to stop until he heard the sound of my throat bob, as his cum went down.
A heartbeat passed between us, and then another.
And then I swallowed, letting his cum run down my throat and into my belly.
“There’s my good girl, swallow it all.” Ominis let go of my nose, using his fingers to tidy up the sides of my mouth and force the mixture of my drool and his seed back into my mouth. I hiccuped a cry as I swallowed that too, as I gasped for the air that had been taken from me.
When he released my hair, I scrambled to find my clothes. I wanted out of this damn SUV, I wanted away from Ominis…
I hate you. I hate you.
But Ominis grabbed me again, this time viciously bringing me to his face. He gave me no option to pull away, and again, despite the blindness inside them I felt as if his eyes were scorching me alive. Daring me not to burst into flames right there, on my knees before him.
“Remember the taste of my cum. Remember how it feels to have my cock so far down your throat that you can’t fucking breathe the next time you decide to disobey me.” Ominis said bitterly as he let me go.
Once again, he used that wandless magic of his to fix my clothes back onto my body. He leaned forward, taking extra care to wrap my scarf back around my neck before pressing a gentle kiss to my nose.
The SUV stopped, and the door opened, the outside world spilling into the darkness as Ominis leaned back into his seat.
“Remember that next time, I won’t be nice.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Oh! What about this one?”
“I think that one is a bit too revealing... What about this? It would certainly do her curves some justice…”
“Lizzy, forget the hips! It's all about the bust!”
“Yeah,
accentuating
it - not showing the entirety of her boobs!”
My eyes lingered on my breasts with a frown. What
little
I had was on display and the swell of them nearly overflowed out of the bodice.
I didn’t quite care for my body being so…
on display
.
Then again, I didn’t care for
any
of this.
I chewed on my lip as I eyed myself in the mirror, trying my best not to pat down the silken material of the dress against my skin. I didn’t want to get my sweat all over it if I wasn’t going to buy it.
Instead I tugged at the dress with shaky hands, hoping that would ease how tightly it clung to my body. However the tugging only caused my breasts to fall even more out of the bodice.
Despite the dress’s
less than modest
neckline, it
was
lovely. An elegant affair, classic yet slimming. It perfectly hugged what little curves I had.
But I could not breathe in it.
“Okay, okay.” Perdi finally agreed after a moment of silent contemplation. It didn’t go unnoticed how exasperated she sounded. I smiled as I shifted my gaze towards the two of them behind me. They stood just outside the dressing room door, going back and forth with the consultant about
styles
.
“So something
modest
but
flattering
.” Perdi said to the woman who’s nerves looked almost as frayed as mine.
“And perhaps,” Lizzy started, giving me a patient and understanding smile, “not
too
form fitting.”
‘Please, I cannot breathe in this thing!’
I projected at Perdi with a pointed look as I gave Lizzy an appreciative smile. It was like Lizzy could see how badly I itched to tear the expensive material from the way my fingers anxiously picked at the fabric where it clung to me the most.
Perdi’s eyes narrowed, her lips thinning as she carefully thought out her response. I half expected to hear one of her favorite lines: “
Pain is beauty, babe.”
Luckily Perdi’s shoulders relaxed a little and she gave me a small, strained smile before nodding her head. “Alright ladies, we have work to do.” She enthusiastically clapped her hands together before dragging Lizzy and the poor consultant out of the room.
I was thankful for a moment of reprieve, despite the discomfort of the dress. But now I was left alone with the thoughts I’d tried to avoid since we’d walked into the shop.
I tried to busy myself with collecting the last item I needed for the wedding - the dress itself. When that didn’t work, I admired how beautiful the inside of the shop was. It carried an array of elegant and rather
expensive
wedding gowns, many that seemed more fitting for a princess. The shop was all cream colored walls, fancy chandeliers, and free champagne. Accessories and jewelry that cost a small fortune.
And it was all going to be billed right to Greyson’s little black credit card.
I glanced at the dress in the mirror one more time before deciding I couldn’t stand looking at myself anymore. I did my best to waddle my way over to one of the plush chaise lounges inside the nearest large, private fitting room, careful to avoid catching myself in another mirror.
Today should’ve been a happy day. Exciting even.
However all I felt was unease and absolute
exhaustion
. Perdi, Lizzy, and the weary consultant had made me try on
fifteen
wedding dresses and were
still
on the hunt for more.
All
this
for a wedding I was dreading.
The House of Bones’ weddings were traditionally a grand affair, if not the event of the season. I’d been to dozens of them. Given that they didn’t discriminate by status, blood or otherwise, nor relation to the main family, invitations were sent out to
everyone
.
Greyson’s side of the family was no different.
Our marriage was to be…
momentous
. Something the Bones would talk about for years to come while I relived it over and over again as a nightmare.
The event would take place at his cousin’s chateau - a grand estate that screamed
old money
. Crystal chandeliers littering every room. Wine flowing endlessly. Elegantly dressed guests with insatiable needs and judgemental eyes. Perfectly prepared food with each dish more exquisite than the last.
What
bride
wouldn’t be over the moon for such a lavish wedding?
I should’ve been happily obsessing over the perfect color palette for the decor, wondering if I preferred the elegance of timeless cream or the soft purity of jasmine white.
Should the cake be grand and towering eight tiers high? Or something simpler but equally as stunning? Should it be chocolate? Vanilla? Fruit filled?
Would the floral arrangements feature gardenias or were lilies the more fitting choice for such a wedding?
And the dress… oh, the dress.
That
should’ve been the main event and the object of all my attention.
After all, in every movie I’d ever watched the bride
always
fawned over her dress. She’d meticulously pick over different styles and fabrics as she debated whether the dress was a true white or a cream ivory, all while a montage with some cheesy song played in the background.
And at the end of it all she’d look like a stunning goddess, ready for the happiest day of her life.
But
this
wasn’t a movie. There were no quirky, upbeat songs playing in the background.
No excitement
.
I wasn’t a glowing bride. I was a sullen and sorrowful one.
My marriage to Greyson was nothing but the death of my freedom. A contract that would bind me to an abusive, hateful man who was only interested in what my
womb
could provide him with.
Maybe a black dress would be more fitting.
“What’s wrong?”
It was Lizzy who got to me first as the other two filed into the room behind her. The exhausted looking consultant’s arms were overflowing with another dozen gowns that my friends had chosen. She quickly hung the dresses on the rack and quietly excused herself as Perdi shut the door.
It was only then that I noticed how damp my flushed cheeks felt and how badly my eyes stung as I blinked away tears.
‘Nothing. I’m okay.’
I wiped away the tears and put on my best smile for Perdi. I didn’t want her to know that I was preemptively mourning the death of my future.
She frowned in response and sighed. “You’re a terrible liar, Eden.”
‘I know.’
I hiccuped a sob as she sat down next to me and took comfort in the way she grabbed my hands in hers and squeezed them gently. ‘
I just…’
“You don’t have to explain. I know this can’t be easy.” She whispered, as she pressed kisses to the back of my hands. “But it’s going to be okay.”
Perdi and Lizzy may have known what kind of man Greyson Bones was - arrogant, vile, abusive - but they didn’t know how much I
didn’t
want to marry him. I’d always put on a mask of adoration when I spoke of Greyson, pretending I was content to be with him for the rest of my life. It was the right thing to do.
I couldn’t tell them that I’d sooner throw myself off the downtown bridge than share a marriage bed with him. Or that I ached to find a way out of our betrothal contract, run away, and never ever look back.
If the ghost of my past wasn’t prowling the streets of my present, maybe I could’ve finally told Perdi and Lizzy the truth of how terrible Greyson really was. Then they’d know how much I truly hate him, how this marriage is nothing more than a sham, and that I was about to agree to live in violent discontentment for the rest of my life.
But
his
presence in the shadows, where I could not see him but he could sense me, meant everything I loved was in danger.
I had to do what was necessary to keep everyone
safe
.
Even if that was at the expense of my own happiness.
‘I’m just a little emotional about it, that’s all. I’m the bride after all.’
I projected at Perdi.
“Well you shouldn’t frown! You’ll get lines and that’s not a good look for a bride.” Perdi squeezed my fingers with a teasing grin. “And you only get married once.”
“We want you looking your absolute best so you can be the star of the show -regardless of whether your brilliance is wasted on that evil asshat.” Lizzy offered, “We’ll be here with you, every step of the way.”
‘
Thank you both.’
Another tear ran down my cheek as I exchanged grateful smiles with both of them.
‘So, what am I trying on next?’
“I thought you’d never ask!” Perdi squealed before jumping off the lounge and heading towards the rack that was yet again full of lavish dresses.
The warmth Perdi and Lizzy offered… I was thankful for it. It was so precious to me.
I
would
keep them safe… no matter what.
After another hour of trying on dresses we finally settled on one.
It was a rather dramatic affair, with layers upon layers of puffy white tulle and chiffon cascading down from my hips to the floor. It gave the illusion that the delicate floral and leaf patterns adorning the upper half of the dress were fused to my skin.
My hair was loosely pulled into an updo, crowned with a small, shimmering silver tiara.
I couldn’t lie to myself… I looked stunning. Almost ethereal. I gently twisted my body in front of the mirror. I looked like a princess. However the only thing I’d ever rule over was the land of a desolate future.
No.
I swallowed.
Not a princess
.
I was a well-dressed prize pig about to be sold to the highest bidder.
“Alright, give us one more turn!” Lizzy squealed before clapping her hands with giddy excitement. “I can’t get over how gorgeous that looks on you.”
My face burned from the attention and I avoided their stares as they beamed at me. I spun my body for them, albeit begrudgingly. The flowing skirts seemed to magically float around me as I gave Perdi and Lizzy not one, but
two
full spins.
I hoped that would satisfy them.
‘I guess this is the dress.’
I thought to Perdi as I tucked a strand of hair back behind my ear. If they liked this one then so did I.
And I was ready to go the hell
home
.
“Perfect! You’re so fucking beautiful, Eden!” Perdi said excitedly. I wasn’t sure if I agreed with her when I looked at myself in the mirror.
I wouldn’t consider the woman who stared back at me “
perfect”
, but maybe on the outside, if I smiled enough, I could convince others I was.
However on the inside, behind the grayish green of my eyes, I was all wrong.
There were too many open wounds and mangled scars beneath the surface of who Eden Bones was. Something that looked no different than the poor butterflies I’d dismembered.
I was a walking contradiction. One that hated the monsters that tortured my past and yet… was I any different?
Regardless of what I felt for Greyson, what happened with Ominis the other day plagued my every thought.
The heat of his mouth against mine. The way his taste invaded my senses. How his fingers roughly tangled in my hair as he guided his cock down my throat until I gagged around him. The way my thighs clenched and the tension in my stomach grew when he called me a
good girl
-
Stop.
I inhaled deeply through my nose, blinking back tears. I hoped to Lizzy and Perdi they’d look like tears of emotion, something pleasant and surprising - not the horrible shame I felt in the pit of my stomach.
No,
I wasn’t
any different
than the foul and terrible shadows of my past - not when I
enjoyed
the way Ominis had degraded me.
I turned back towards my friends to find them both sheepishly looking at me. I cocked a brow as they looked at one another then to me.
“We’re so glad you found your dress!” Lizzy said. “You look absolutely stunning.”
“Like a fucking princess. It truly is wasted on Greyson, isn’t it?” Perdi snorted her agreement and my brow rose a little further up. There was a thin line between complimenting and laying it on too thick. Perdi and Lizzy were absolutely straddling that line.
There was something else going on here.
‘
Why do I feel like there is a “but” coming?’
I asked Perdi as I picked up the dress to turn all the way around to face her.
Perdi bit her lip for a moment and I watched as guilt ate her alive. “Lizzy and I have
plans
tonight and if we don’t leave now we’ll be late”
‘Plans?’
I didn’t think my brow could raise much further. When it came to Perdi’s expeditions, it was
always
the three of us. It was extremely rare for just the two of them to go on their own… without me.That thought made my stomach roll up in knots.
“A double date.” Lizzy said, as if that would ease the way my brows furrowed and as though it was something I didn’t want to be involved with anyway because it was
boys
-related.
But that only made the clenching in my stomach worsen. If they were going on a
double date
there were only two suspects I knew that had captured their attention lately.
Sebastian Sallow and Elias Malfoy.
I should’ve known they’d call on my friends after seeing the way they’d looked at Perdi and Lizzy the day they made their
house call
.
Sebastian and Elias were
dangerous
men. My friends going on a double
date
with them did nothing to soothe my nerves. Instead anxiety rose from my stomach into my throat.
Their boss was a menace - an evil thing that enjoyed haunting my life and one that sought to sink its claws into my carefully laid out future. He wanted to tear it apart, one plan at a time.
Were Sebastian and Elias any different?
I swallowed down the nervous bile that rose up in my throat and thinned my lips as I realized there was a choice to be made here. If I voiced my concern about their double date, I’d have to tell Perdi and Lizzy
why
. That would involve telling my friends about Sebastian and Elias’s boss.
Which
also
meant having to explain everything that had happened with Ominis, past
and
present.
I wasn’t ready to offer those details or face the shame that came with them.
“We’re just going out for drinks, that’s all.” Lizzy cleared her throat. “Nothing crazy.”
She must’ve taken note of how hesitant I was for the two of them to go out with the boys. I was never good at hiding how I felt from Lizzy. Just like how I couldn't hide some of my thoughts from Perdi.
But what did they think of my apprehension towards their date? Did I look jealous? Left out? Concerned?
Did I now have all the little worries they always had for
me
?
There was something in Lizzy’s eyes that felt like comfort or an apology. I finally nodded and gave both of my friends a warm, approving smile.
If I wasn’t going to be open about why I was so hesitant about the date, I didn’t have any choice but to let them enjoy their time with the boys. They were grown women, talented witches, and could make their own decisions. There was a small part of me that yearned to be happy for them despite the danger Sebastian and Elias posed.
“We’ll let the consultant know you’re ready to get out of that dress and purchase it… unless you want a few more minutes to enjoy how absolutely stunning you are?” Perdi asked as she and Lizzy collected their coats.
I shook my head.
‘I’m ready to head home.’
“Okay. We’ll see you later then!” Perdi said as her and Lizzy exited the dressing room. Lizzy offered a small smile and wave on her way out.
Now I was left alone with a dress that was becoming more suffocating by the second. My thoughts begged me to rip it from my body.
The consultant would be back soon enough though, I told myself, as I patted my hands against the lush tulle. Once I removed the dress I’d only have to wear it again one more night.
The night my freedom ended and the promise I owed Ominis Gaunt would no longer exist.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, committing every little detail about the dress to memory. I didn’t want to entertain the intrusive thoughts in my head that sought to ruin its beauty.
Fluffy tulle, glittery skirts, delicate lace…
Although seconds became minutes I pressed on.
The floral pattern lining my arms, where each little flower clings to my skin beautifully…
Then minutes became a quarter hour.
Where the fuck is this woman?
I rubbed my face and let out a hefty breath.
If the consultant wasn’t going to come to me, for whatever reason,
I
was going to go to her. It was outrageous that I’d been left alone in the dressing room for so long - it had been nearly a half hour now. This was unprofessional, especially for a shop like this.
Or something… something was
off
.
My stomach dropped as the feeling that something was very, very
wrong
settled in.
I froze as a subtle
whoosh
of air stirred directly behind me. That was the sound of someone apparating.
No. No. No.
I forced my eyes to search the reflection of the mirror. My heart dropped the moment I caught sight of blonde hair and ghostly eyes.
Ominis.
Why was he here
now
?
"Hello, my darling," Ominis’ voice was soft, almost gentle. It was as if he wasn’t here to continue his plan of turning my life upside down. But I knew darkness dripped from his every word. He slowly sauntered toward me, each step deliberate and unhurried and followed by… a soft tap?
My eyes were drawn to the cane he walked with. For a moment I wondered if he’d been involved in some accident that magic couldn’t fix. Yet he didn’t seem to lean on the cane for support, rather he carried it like an accessory. It was an elegant affair after all, dark wood with a silver handle that was ornately carved into a shape I couldn’t quite make out in his grip.
“Tell me, did you have fun today? Is the dress everything you wanted?” He asked with that same gentleness. He stood a few steps behind me. My heart thrummed beneath my chest.
I needed to leave
now
.
Go anywhere.
I couldn’t be alone with Ominis Gaunt. Not again. He took advantage of my fear last time.
This time
I would get away from him before the damage was done. I wouldn’t let him use my fear to…
pleasure
himself again. I wouldn’t let him go on about how I
belonged
to him despite my betrothal to Greyson.
Why was Ominis so damn adamant about fulfilling a pact we’d made decades ago? One that didn’t require me to marry him if I met the stipulations he had laid out?
What the hell did Ominis Gaunt want from me?
How did he know I was here?
And where was that damn consultant?!
“Are you admiring yourself in front of the mirror, little moth?” The gentleness in his voice sounded bitter, as if he loathed the idea that I had been shopping for a wedding dress for
another man
.
I could feel the agitation rolling off of him as he took a step forward, nearly closing the distance between us. As he propped the cane against the wall next to the mirror, my mind raced with all the ways I could get away from him before it was too late.
What if I scream?
Maybe someone,
anyone
, would hear it and come running to check on me. If I was lucky, it would scare Ominis off too. But doing so could get a poor unsuspecting person killed for trying to be a hero.
Either way, screaming may have been helpful if not for how
dry
my throat was.
It was as if Ominis had snuffed out all the air in the room and collected it the closer he drew to me. There would be no screaming, I realized. None that would aid me anyway.
All I could do was stand there and stare at Ominis. He wore a casual yet elegant black ensemble, leather gloves, and a devastatingly wicked grin for me.
What if I ran?
. I could make it to the door in time and get someone’s attention.
But I couldn’t move. I was frozen.
“I warned you that I was done being nice, Eden.” Venom dripped from every word as Ominis pressed his nose into my hair, inhaling deeply. A shiver ran down my spine as his breath teased my ear. “And I have very little tolerance for your silence.”
Ominis’ glove-covered hand rose up, his knuckles caressing my face as his milky eyes seemed to peer right through my soul as they locked on mine in the mirror. I turned my head away from his touch and tried to take a step away from him.
I could do it - push myself to move and get away from him.
Anything
other than standing here and letting him
take
from me again.
“Ah, ah.” Ominis chastised me as if I were a child. “Don’t be like that.”
His hands were rough as they gripped me by the hips, firmly planting me back in front of the mirror and hauling my body to his. I became acutely aware of every part of him touching me, including how large he felt against my much smaller frame.
Like a moth inside the jaw of a snake.
“This would all be so much easier if you were a little more…” Ominis released a hand from my hip then trailed his palm up the side of my bare arm and past my shoulder. His fingers teased the flesh of my neck before taking hold of my chin.
“...
Compliant.”
The smirk on Ominis’ lips made my heart stop.
I’d seen that smirk so many times when I was younger. It was the kind of smile he’d flash me right before I was met with unending, hellish pain. Where his dark laughter mixed with the horrible sounds of my anguished screams and became the music of my nightmares.
Nightmares that used to plague and haunt me every time I shut my eyes. Now they terrorized me when my eyes were wide open. I couldn’t escape them - night or day.
Ominis’ mouth dipped downwards, his lips brushing against my neck before leaving a tender kiss to the side of it. His nose nuzzled into my ear as he whispered, “
Imperio.
”
My entire body stilled and went completely rigid in his grasp. Even the flow of my blood seemed to cease, no longer willing to listen to my heart. The air in my lungs slowed, as if waiting for his very command.
It felt
wrong
- yet it was all so familiar.
Unforgivable Curses
.
Broken butterflies. The screaming.
Every vile thing Ominis made me do under the Imperius Curse came flooding back into my mind. All the nightmares were once again very real as I watched the color of my eyes shift to an almost paranormal kind of green in the mirror before me.
All color and emotion drained from my face despite the raging panic boiling beneath the surface of my vacant expression. Yet even those emotions began to feel muted.
Being under the control of the curse always felt so strange. I was aware of every emotion and sensation I was experiencing but couldn’t react to it. I felt absolutely
everything
, like the terrible anxiety in my chest that would’ve surely made me break down in a fit of tears had I not been under the curse. Yet unless he
commanded
it, I would not be able to shed even a single tear.
Ominis enjoyed inflicting pain with this curse.
I vividly remembered a knife, too much blood, and little charms that stitched me back together. The pain of seeing a gash so deep I could make out the white of my own bone before he would sew me back together with his wand.
Inside my screams were deafening.
On the outside all I could do was
watch
as I became Ominis’ puppet.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
My heart was beating so hard it was about to give out, but unless Ominis willed it, I couldn’t die. Under the Imperius Curse, my body was under his control and completely at his mercy. Ominis could make me suffer a perpetual heart attack with a smile on my face if he wished for it.“I can’t have you flying away from me, Eden. Not yet.” Ominis’ breath was warm against my neck as he spoke. He pressed his mouth to it, leaving featherly kisses along the most sensitive spots. I felt each and every one of them, how his lips applied a little more pressure after each passing moment, and the way he gently sucked the skin at the base of my neck.Outwardly, I was frozen. Like a statue. My lips did not part with a whimper when his teeth gingerly bit down into the skin where my neck met my shoulder. No tears welled in my eyes when he became rougher, biting down hard enough to make me bleed. All I was able to do was watch with horror as the crimson of my blood spilled down my collarbone, soaking the fabric of the white dress. My eyes were glued to Ominis’ reflection as his tongue lapped at my blood. I couldn’t fight the heat between my thighs as it rose to a hellish degree when Ominis hummed at the taste of it. I was boiling alive from the inside out .“I apologize for using such extreme measures, little moth, but…” Ominis said sweetly as he released me momentarily before his hands began to roam over my body, exploring and teasing me with each little touch and squeeze. “...I need you to stand still and answer me honestly , Eden.” Ominis told me with a firmness in his voice that would’ve sent a shiver down my spine if my body was allowed to react. “Do you understand me?” Despite Ominis’ control over me, things were different now. I wasn’t a little girl anymore who thoughtlessly gave him everything he wanted because of the threat of his magic. There were workarounds and little loopholes I could use to my advantage if I kept a grip on my self control. So I only nodded in response to his question, which would satisfy his command. His jaw clenched.Ominis had little patience for my games as a hand roughly grabbed the hair at the back of my head. His gloved fingers dug into my scalp, hard enough that I should’ve cried. Although I could feel the pain he was causing, my face remained expressionless when he snapped my head back until my ear was pressed to his lips. “ Use your voice . ”“Yes.” The word burned in the back of my throat. The lack of control over my own voice added to the panic that was already overwhelming my system. I was right back to square one. I was that scared little girl who didn’t want to hurt the butterflies again.“Good girl.” Ominis murmured darkly as he let go of my hair and repositioned me in front of the mirror. His hands began to roam over my chest and up my shoulders to the top of my dress. “You’re always such a good girl for me.”“You’ll use that beautiful voice of yours for more than just answering me, Eden. I want to hear your cries. Your moans. Your whines. Your fucking screams.” Ominis inched closer and closer to me as he spoke, until he was pressed flush against my back. “You will not hide your body’s reactions from me, do you understand?”“Yes.” I croaked as his wandering fingers dipped below the top of my dress.“Do you like what you see in the mirror before you, little moth? Are you a beautiful bride?” Ominis started pulling the sleeves of the dress down slowly, one at a time, before his fingers returned to the top of the bodice. In one swift movement he ripped the material downwards, nearly tearing the expensive fabric off my body as my breasts fell free. I ached to pull away from him and berate him for destroying the dress and what he was doing to me. I wanted to tell him what a monster he was. That even with his silly notion that I belonged to him I could never love him.
I would never love Ominis Gaunt.
“Beautiful? Maybe.” I replied softly before my breath hitched when the leather of his palms squeezed my breasts roughly. I felt like I’d burst into flames as his thumbs toyed with my hardening nipples. I was once again playing a precarious game. How far could I push against the demands of the curse? I hadn’t answered the first question Ominis asked outright, but I had answered him. Dancing around the truth was a dangerous thing but I was prepared to take that risk to keep my secrets safe.“And do you like what you see, my darling?” Ominis harshly pinched my nipple between two of his fingers, tugging on it painfully. There wasn’t any room to skate around that question again. “N-no.” I cried as my body arched into his touch as he twisted the nub and I cursed myself for giving into the horrible pleasure his abusive hands offered.Answering Ominis’ questions… I could live with that , even if I divulged secrets I didn’t want him to uncover. Somehow I knew he’d learn all the truths of my broken little heart one way or another. Ominis always got what he wanted. It was only a matter of time.But not being allowed to hide the soft little moans that escaped my parted lips or the way my body writhed for him? I absolutely hated that . I couldn’t shy away from how good every touch of his felt as he kneaded my breasts with his hands. There was no hiding from the sapid pain he inflicted as his fingers dug harshly into my nipples, making my knees wobble. No denying that the darkness inside his voice that whispered into my ear made the space between my thighs slick with want for him. I preferred being an internally screaming statue, like the one I was when he first cast the curse, to this - a pathetic whore mewling for the touch of a monstrous man.“No?” Ominis cocked his head as something that looked like curiosity crossed his face. He seemed a bit taken aback that I didn’t enjoy the way the dress made me look nor was I overjoyed to be getting married. “Tell me why not, Eden.”“I hate being this close to you.” I spat out through my teeth, using the curse’s loopholes to dance around providing the full truth. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing I didn’t want to marry Greyson…or that I was disgusted by the bride who stared back at me in the mirror. She was no longer the beautiful, ethereal creature I’d seen only minutes ago. With blood caked to the ripped bodice of the gown and my body aching into Ominis’ touch, all I saw was a pitiful and foul creature. A woman who wasn’t loyal to the man she was intended to, but instead, albeit reluctantly, delighted in the way a grotesque ghost of her past made her come undone.I hated what I saw in the mirror.I… hated… myself .“Is that so, my darling?” Another one of those devastatingly wicked smirks tugged upwards on Ominis’ lips before he let out a low hum of laughter. “Yes.” I answered immediately, unable to deny the single question he proposed regardless of how rhetorical it may have been. Ominis brought his face closer, pressing his warm cheek to mine as he twisted both my nipples until I whined pathetically. “Tell me something…”“ Do you hate the way I touch you? ” I tried to clench my teeth and bite down on my lip to stop myself from responding. I’d rather bite my tongue off then choke to death on my blood than answer that fucking question.I didn’t want to tell Ominis the truth - that yes, every time he touched me, a horrible want blazed between my legs.The Imperius Curse may have been the worst thing Ominis, or even Greyson, had ever put me through. When they used physical force to control me, I could still hold onto my secrets, my lies, my own truths. But under the curse I had no control over anything . My chest heaved, my breaths coming in pants as I lost the fight against the curse . “No.” I sputtered breathlessly, unable to hold back the answer any longer.“Mhm,” Ominis pressed his nose to my face, inhaling deeply. “I didn’t think so, given how eager you respond to me every time I touch you.” “It certainly didn’t seem like you hated how I toyed with these when we met in the dark.” Ominis’ hands squeezed my breasts harshly before he delivered a slap to each one. I cried out in response as he pressed a kiss to my cheek. “And I’m quite certain you loved the taste of my cock too when I picked you up off the street, little moth.” Ominis chuckled darkly as he released my breasts. My cheeks flared with heat at the memory of his cock down my throat and how easily I’d given in to him using me. I was ashamed because he wasn’t wrong .“I know how you love to play your little games with me, my darling.” Ominis straightened then began to circle me, keeping his hands loosely around my waist as he did. He put himself between me and the mirror then took a step closer. “That’s why I had to use a little bit of magic, Eden. We needed some honesty between us.” “Does your precious Greyson touch you like this?” Ominis asked with a frown as his palm slid upwards between the valley of my breasts. “No. Never.” I whispered. Greyson had never even kissed me. Ominis looked thoughtful as his gloved fingers wrapped around my throat. I swallowed hard as he leaned forward, dipping his face downwards. His lips ghosted over mine and it felt like he’d taken all the air out of my lungs again.“Do you want him to?”“No.” I wasn’t sure why but I didn’t hesitate with that answer. I didn’t want Ominis to know that my marriage to Greyson was anything but affectionate. There was supposed to be this picture painted for him, that we were a happy couple and he was going to ruin everything. If he didn’t believe that the grounds of our soon to be marriage were stable… he’d be able to lace his fingers further into the seams of my undoing. I think my willingness to deny all lust that could have materialized for Greyson had everything to do with Greyson’s idea of physical affection - which… wasn’t affection at all. It was vicious back hands, dark bruises, and hateful words meant to leave deep scars that would never quite heal properly. There was a tiny voice inside - some small, terrible part of me that almost wished Ominis had taken Greyson’s whole hand rather than a single finger. But that was the twisted up thing inside me that craved retribution. It lacked all the good sense I so desperately clung to and didn’t understand right from wrong.It was a horrible creature - made by Ominis’ design and fed by Greyson’s cruelty.“What’s going on inside your mind, little moth?” Ominis’ breath feathered across my lips and I was unable to resist the urge to inhale his delicious, spicy scent. It was sinfully addictive and kindling to the fire between my thighs. “What thoughts flutter inside your head?”Immediately I shifted my thoughts away from those of Greyson. I couldn’t let Ominis know everything between the two of us. I had a sneaking suspicion that Ominis would outright kill Greyson for the things he has done to me - even though Ominis’ atrocities were far worse than the cruelty I’d known from Greyson.
What the hell did Ominis Gaunt want from me?
That little question resurfaced to the forefront of my mind as I erased all thoughts of Greyson Bones.“Why are you doing this?” I whispered against Ominis’ mouth.“I’ve come to make something very clear to you, Eden… since you don’t seem to take our promise seriously.” His grip around my throat tightened until I could barely breathe.
“There’s no way out of it.”
Ominis’ lips were not gentle as his mouth captured mine in a violent, consuming kiss. It wasn’t a nice or loving thing - it claimed and devoured me so thoroughly that I almost believed I had become a part of Ominis’ very being. I was helpless against his mouth and unable to pull away or fight him off. Under the influence of the curse and all my wretched desire, I could only kiss him back and melt into his touch. As his mouth moved against mine and he squeezed my throat a little harder, stealing whatever oxygen was left in my lungs, everything became warm and foggy. Seconds morphed into minutes as he consumed me with his mouth, until he finally pulled away from my lips slightly and eased his hold on my throat. I inhaled deeply, gasping for air as he gave me a moment to compose myself.“You are mine in every sense of the word, my darling.” Ominis muttered against my lips before kissing down the side of my jaw. I drew in another delicious breath of air as Ominis’ teeth nipped at the flesh of my throat before sucking the bitten skin into his mouth. His words ghosted over my skin. “Regardless of whether you wear another man’s ring. Or signed some silly little betrothal contract.”Ominis’ mouth traveled lower, brushing against my collar bone. “You are never going to be his .”“You are mine to ruin, Eden. Mine to mutilate. Mine to break.” With each word Ominis lowered himself more, his lips now trailing over the swell of my naked breasts. “When I’m done with you no one will want you.”My heart raced beneath my chest when Ominis’ face became level with my breasts. Excitement and anxiety looped together until I couldn’t pick them apart. There was cruelness in his tone, something possessive and brutal. My fear had been drowned out by curiosity for what Ominis’ mouth would feel like against my breasts. How would his teeth feel when he clamped them down around one of my nipples as he continued to serenade me with his wickedly disturbing song?“I’ll rip apart your delicate wings, little moth. Slowly tear them to pieces until you can no longer use them. I’ll mangle you with my hands and teeth until you’ve become a broken, pitiful thing.” His lips grazed one of my nipples and I sucked in a breath as he continued, “And then I’ll put you back together, one little piece at a time, Eden. You’ll be so twisted and ugly that the only one who will ever love you will be me .” “And the cruel hands you’ll crave will always be mine .”A ragged cry vibrated in my throat as Ominis viciously bit down on my sensitive nipple. He didn’t ease the pressure as he tugged on it but rather clamped down harder, making my knees wobble. “My sweet Eden.” Ominis sighed as he released me. “I never imagined you’d be so…” His mouth captured the abused nub again, this time sucking on it until a number of defeated, exasperated sounds fell from my lips.“ Responsive .” Ominis’ words ghosted over my nipple and my face burned when his tongue flicked at it rapidly. Rather than dissolving into a fit of little whimpers, I wished I’d combust into the very flames that were consuming me from the inside out. I hated this.The warmth of Ominis’ mouth against my breast should’ve made me seethe with rage and disgust. But I couldn’t - not when his tongue and teeth sent shivers down my spine and made my pussy so fucking wet . It shouldn’t have been so easy for him to tease and abuse me and coax out all my moans and little sighs of confused pleasure. It wasn’t fair that under the Imperius Curse I couldn’t bite down on my lip to hide just how much I liked what he was doing. But even if I wasn’t under the curse, would I be capable of restraining those little soft cries for him? The more his tortuous mouth devoured me the less certain of that I became. The flimsy leash I had on my self-control was slipping through my fingers with every little bite and blissful suck of his mouth. Even if I could escape the curse’s effects, I didn’t believe the outcome would be any different. I’d still be burning alive under his touch. In every scenario I’d become a pyre of disgustingly warm want beneath his touch. It didn’t matter how much I fought it or tried to deny what my body desperately craved. He’d devour me whole and I’d end up as nothing more than a pile of forgotten ash and a ghost of hatred - not only for Ominis… but for myself. “You never cried this much for me before, Eden - no matter what curse or knife I used.” Ominis thoughtfully whispered against my breast. “I like this version of you, little moth. So vocal, despite how you like to hide that beautiful voice of yours.” He took my other nipple between his fingers, twisting it harshly as a dark chuckle hummed in his chest. “You’re pathetic.” He tugged my nipple outwards so harshly I felt tears well in my eyes. “So fucking adorable.” “You… you’re hurting me.” I choked out, regret filling my lungs immediately. I should’ve kept that to myself, but I was a fool for thinking I could. Ominis wanted every reaction and thought of mine as my body responded to the way he touched me…
I wish I hadn’t spoken.
All he did was laugh .“Poor Eden.” Ominis mocked darkly as he stood, straightening himself until I was facing his chest. “My sweet, naive little girl.” My heart began to beat frantically as my ears filled with a roaring that felt instinctual - like I’d just provoked the most dangerous of predators and there was no escape for me. The monster was going to close its jaws around my throat and sever my head from its shoulders. I felt like I couldn’t breathe as I remembered all the foul things Ominis had done when we were children.
What was he capable of now? As a fully accomplished dark wizard?
Far more than my imagination will ever be able to conceive, I realized, as Ominis brandished his wand. He may have grown but I hadn’t - I was still the same simple little muggle girl who couldn’t do anything more than watch as Ominis destroyed me. “I want to hurt you. Do you understand?” Ominis said softly, stroking my cheek with the tip of his wand before tugging my lower lip down with it. I whispered a pathetic acknowledgement to his question.“Your agonized screams,” His wand traced my jaw as he spoke, slowly traveling down my chin. “Your little cries.”“Your pain plagues me like an infernal disease with no cure.” His tone shifted to something darker. It was filled with layers upon layers of emotions that I couldn’t fully pick apart. Hatred. Desire. Obsession .A shiver ran down my spine. I couldn’t understand his feelings… and I wouldn’t attempt to. Ominis Gaunt lived in a fantasy world that I wanted no part in. “It eats away at my flesh and bone.” He said, pressing his wand to the hollow of my throat. “ It’s all I crave .” “So you’re going to keep infecting me, Eden. I can’t live without your sickness any longer. You will give me all your tears.” Ominis growled, tapping his wand once against my throat. “You will scream in blissful fucking agony for me.”Ominis withdrew his wand, only for a phantom feeling to replace it. “ And you will take my pain .” My breath caught in my throat as the sensation on my neck became something a little more tangible. I couldn’t see anything materializing but it felt as if a cord or a rope was being wrapped around my neck. The roaring in my ears became unbearable as the invisible rope wound itself tightly around my throat, constricting my airway enough that air was about to become a precious commodity if I didn’t remain calm.My chest heaved as I tried to control my breathing but I was so riled up from the mixture of adrenaline born of fear and exasperation designed by desire. I breathed in through my nose and leaned my head back a bit - only to feel the invisible rope tighten more. As I tried to shift my body I could feel tugging coming from above me. That tension kept me firmly locked in place. My blood ran cold. So much for remaining calm. I now understood exactly what Ominis’ magic had created… and what kind of pain he wanted to inflict. Ominis had tied a noose around my neck. Don’t freak out! I told myself as panic surged beneath the surface of my skin. He just wants to hurt me - that’s all. He won’t kill me. Not yet. He only said he needs to make me cry. Though that didn’t make me feel any better. I forced the air in my lungs to calm and began taking smaller breaths as Ominis reached for my face. The anxiety bubbling inside me was heating up that air though, creating a pressure that would soon give me little choice but to hyperventilate the more Ominis touched me.He gripped my cheeks tightly and brought his face down, his lips hovering just above mine. Those frightening eyes seemed to stare into mine as he gritted out through his teeth.
“Do you understand me, Eden?”
“Y-yes.” I croaked, my voice strained under the tightness of the invisible rope. I shouldered the weight of what was to come - Ominis was done being gentle . He was going to make it hurt. “Good girl.” He hummed against my lips as I shakily inhaled before he kissed me softly. “ My good fucking girl.”I’d survived Ominis when I was a child. I endured every ounce of pain he inflicted for the sake of his own sadistic, curious nature. I survived being his plaything before.
Could I do it again?
The answer had to be yes. I didn’t have a choice. I must survive . The question that made me truly uneasy though, as his mouth devoured mine, claiming me in an all-consuming kiss that threatened to undo me, was could I keep refusing him? A quiet moan passed between our mouths as Ominis’ hand gripped my breast, squeezing it roughly as his tongue trailed along my lower lip. The soft little sighs and whines of pleasure I fed him soon became a myriad of strangled cries as his hand came down sharply against my breast with a resounding slap .
There was the hurt.
Ominis hummed into my mouth, his tongue wrapping around my own as he savored the taste of my pain. He was eating the agony straight from my mouth and was intent on keeping it flowing as he slapped my breast again. It would never be enough for him. He would never be satisfied. He switched to the other breast to inflict the same pain. Then again. And again . And again…Everything inside my body felt warm as his hand squeezed at my aching breasts. All the pain, the agony - it was keeping us both alive somehow. It made me feel hot... like I was burning alive.I didn’t understand. I had believed intimate moments were meant to be filled with tenderness and passion, maybe a kind that gave room for a bit of roughness, but roughness that always came with love nonetheless.With Ominis it was nothing like that. He was brutal with every touch and kiss. He was a monstrous, ravenous creature that fed off the misery of my body as he flamed the fire of my desire. That fire had me aching to press my thighs together to relieve some of that hellish tension building between them. But my body remained still and the ugly sobs that wracked through me never ceased. I was a whining mess for Ominis, blubbering little moans and whimpers as his fingertips dragged down the reddened flesh of my breasts and cupped them once more. Ominis pressed one more searing kiss to my mouth before he released me. His hungry lips began to travel, exploring my face. He started with my cheeks, taking care to lick up every anguished tear that dripped down the heated flesh. Then he moved to my jaw before he stopped and pressed a soft kiss to the hollow of my neck. “No one has truly touched you like this?” Ominis murmured into my throat, his nose dragging against the flesh of it as he inhaled. “No one.” I whispered with a sob, shame and desire now blurring together. I could no longer recognize one from the other. “That purity of yours is so valuable, hm?” Ominis sighed as his mouth moved a little lower, his kisses soothing the sting on the swell of my breasts. “I won’t be satisfied with simply ruining your dress, Eden.” He said as his fingers tugged at the edges of the ripped bodice hard enough that it tore a little more. “Not when I can take away something more precious from you.” “Would you like that, little moth?”I knew what he was referring to and I stifled a sob as his mouth traveled lower, tracing the exposed bits of my skin. Ominis Gaunt was the last person I’d want to take my virginity . “Would you like me to bend you over in this dress - a dress meant for him - so you can take your first cock - my cock - inside your tight little pussy?” Ominis had already taken everything from me - my childhood, my voice, my strength.
He couldn’t have that too.
“No!” I hiccuped a cry and the invisible rope around my neck tightened. I tried to breathe through the mixture of emotions making my chest heave. I clenched my fists at my sides to steady myself. Ominis… his words were cruel and unfair. He knew my body did not belong to him - it was promised to Greyson .Despite the truth of that fact something felt wrong admitting it. It was as if that statement held little meaning. A repeated mantra that had become more like a flimsy excuse each time I said it.Maybe Ominis knew that too. “Why not?” He asked as his mouth brushed against the underside of my breast. “Afraid you’ll enjoy it, my darling?” “I do not belong to you.” I bit out, breathing sharply through my nose in an attempt to calm myself. I couldn’t look away from the back of Ominis’ reflection in the mirror as he gracefully sank to his knees before me.
Ominis Gaunt on his knees… for me.
Something about that made my stomach drop as he took my hand, rubbing my palm down the side of his face before pressing a featherlight kiss to the inside of it. “You’ve been mine since the day we met, little moth.” “Your life,” he whispered as the invisible rope tightened around my throat to emphasize his point, “has been mine to toy with since we were children.” “I thought I made that perfectly clear to you every time we played together.” I felt his lips curve upwards into a smirk against my palm as he recalled our past. All the malicious curses, teasing, and horrible things he’d learned to do the muggle way. “Nothing’s changed, Eden. It never will. The only things that have are that we’ve grown older and I’ve learned new ways to hurt you.”He was right. Ominis Gaunt was still that twisted boy I knew during my childhood. He hadn’t changed in the last fifteen years - he had made that abundantly clear the moment he’d shown back up in my life. He was the same deranged, sadistic monster that enjoyed bringing me so much misery - only now he sprinkled pleasure into his methods… which didn’t make things any less brutal. Not when that pleasure made my blood boil so hot that I might explode and made me forget that I was spoken for by another man.
Why did it feel so good when this monster touched me?
“Now lift up your dress, my darling, so I can show you all the ways I’m going to make you scream for me.” Ominis ordered with a growl. The curse responded in kind and with trembling hands I bent down and grabbed the dress near my knees, bunching the skirts up until they were pulled up to my navel. Ominis’ hands began to make their way up my body, starting at my ankles. He ran his fingers up along my legs slowly. Over my knees then my thighs, where he squeezed the flesh roughly causing me to whimper. “Fuck, I can smell how wet you are.” Ominis hissed through his teeth as his fingers rose higher, finding the band of my panties. My stomach twisted as he hooked his fingers into it, pulling my panties down to my knees.“You say you don’t belong to me,” he started, finding my thighs with his hands again, “and that you hate me.” My eyes were glued to the mirror as Ominis’ face inched closer to the apex of my thighs. I could feel the heat of his breath as he cocked his head, giving me a view of his mouth as he spoke. “But this little fucking pussy is so wet for me , isn’t it?” He asked with a cruel smirk. “Y-yes.” My response hitched in my throat as his gloved fingers found my outer lips, spreading them apart slowly. My heart was on the verge of exploding in my chest as I lost control of my breathing. The invisible rope was tightening too. I grasped at whatever little air I had left as I became dizzy with a strange type of anticipation. I shouldn’t want this .I shouldn’t be watching every little movement of Ominis’ mouth with lustful curiosity or entertaining the need between my thighs, which was now slowly dripping down the inside of them. Yet when his nose brushed the mound just above my core, I let out a strangled gasp. I wanted him to touch me . I wanted his mouth to…
Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick.
“Of course it is.” Ominis’ breath was warm against the sensitive flesh of my pussy, tickling the space over my clit. It sickened me the way my body leaned into that warmth, searching for more. “Deep down, perhaps inside this perfect little cunt, you know who you belong to, Eden.” I ached to shake my head and tell him how wrong he was. But when his tongue glided through the wet folds of my pussy all I could do was moan . “Fuck.” Ominis growled against me as his tongue swiped between my folds again and again. I was helpless. All I could do was watch the way the pink of his tongue lashed out against me as he slowly devoured me. I’d never known a touch like this and all I wanted was more . “You’re so delicious. You taste like my future wife.” He hummed against my slit, raking his tongue through my folds again before licking a stripe over my clit. A garbled cry fell from my lips as he began to attack the small, sensitive nub with his mouth. As he nipped at it I arched into his touch, mewling as he sucked it between his lips until my knees gave out. But that invisible rope kept me in place and I now understood his reasons for binding me with it. It wasn’t just meant to keep me afraid… but in place. His tongue flicked over my clit rapidly and my body convulsed. It was all too much. Each time he tugged my clit between his teeth a blissful tension began to build in the pit of my stomach that made my cheeks burn. It was mortifying how close I was to the edge of an earth shattering orgasm. Ominis’ mouth had only been against my pussy for a handful of minutes but my body was shaking and on the verge of its undoing already. Ominis’ lips released my clit with a noise that added to the tension in my belly. He tilted his head up towards me. In the mirror I could see the dampness that coated his jaw, a mixture of his own saliva and my essence. It strung from his lips as they parted. “Are you going to cum for me already, little moth?” Ominis sighed, his voice filled with a mocking disappointment that made my cheeks hurt. “I suppose it’s to be expected. We’ll have to work on that, my sweet little virgin.” He chuckled.“Have you ever touched yourself, Eden?” “Yes.” I muttered, trying to find some control in the way my hips idly writhed against him. My body was still seeking the attention of his mouth. It was desperate for the orgasm that had been slowly building. One that would damn me. What the hell was wrong with me? I held my hatred for Ominis so tightly, so much so that just being near him set me on edge with enough disgust that I wanted to vomit. All the horrible things he’d done to me. All the abuse and torture. Yet… I was completely at his mercy. “How do you touch yourself?” Ominis asked with a strange curiosity. I didn’t understand why he was asking me intimate questions. “How many fingers do you use to play with this pretty little pussy?”“I’ve never -” My brows furrowed as I tried to fight against the curse. I’d already given him so much damning information. Why did he have to have it all? That must’ve been enough of an answer for Ominis as his brows rose up high on his face. “Oh?” He practically purred with a malicious kind of excitement as he withdrew his hands from me momentarily. He hauled one of my legs over his shoulder, causing me to strain against the rope as I struggled to keep my balance on one leg. Like this I was spread a little more for him and his mouth once again began licking and sucking at my clit. “Untouched. You saved yourself just for me, didn’t you?” He whispered, his voice going gravely. What little breath I had left caught in my throat as a gloved finger began to tease my entrance. It ran circles around it before cautiously dipping inside. “I’m going to ruin this fucking pussy.” The noise that left my mouth as he slipped his finger inside me was nothing short of a garbled scream. Every muscle spasmed around his finger as I struggled to accommodate that single digit being pressed slowly inside me. “ Fuuuck. ” Ominis let out a low groan as he continued to push his finger in further until he was met with a resistance that made me wince. “You’re so goddamn tight, Eden.” Ominis paused there before applying a little more pressure against the bit of flesh that defined my worth. “It would be so easy to ruin you right now, wouldn’t it?” Don’t . A sob died in my chest as he retracted the finger then pushed it back inside with more urgency. “Ah, don’t fret, my darling.” He cooed gently, pressing a kiss against the mound over my pussy. “I wouldn’t waste such a lovely opportunity - not when I can truly ruin you in the best of ways. I want you to bleed all over my fucking cock.” A sob broke through as he viciously began pumping his finger inside me as his mouth latched onto my clit again. I could barely keep myself steady. I needed to hold onto something to brace myself against whatever this horrible, hellish pleasure that Ominis inflicted on me with every flick of his tongue and pump of his finger. There was so much shame inside me. It was eating me alive as the tension in my belly surged again, hurdling me towards an orgasm I wanted nothing to do with. But my body kept bucking against Ominis’ touch looking for more - craving more - as his mouth devoured me. He answered my unspoken pleas as he began to wedge a second digit inside me alongside the first. I nearly broke there as the stinging pain snapped me away from the edge. “Too much.” I whined despite how he had already made both fingers fit inside me. “You think this is too much?” Ominis sunk that second finger inside me roughly, actively stretching the inside of my pussy with both fingers as he slowly began to fuck me with them.“Yes!” I whined when his mouth sucked at my clit again. I spasmed around his fingers and I knew it was only a matter of time before I either came or hung myself with the invisible rope that was now choking me. “You’re adorable, little moth.” Ominis laughed against my pussy before tilting his head upwards. I peered down to find his ghostly eyes looking straight up at me - as if he could see me watching him. “This pussy is… So. Fucking. Tight.” Ominis said as the pace of his fingers became maddening. “But look how well you’re taking my fingers now - how greedily your pussy swallows them.” My eyes darted to the mirror to watch his fingers move in and out of me, nearly all the way to the knuckle. “Your precious little virgin cunt will learn to take more. I will make it take more.” Ominis growled before easing a third finger inside my pussy. A shockwave of pain went through me. “N-no. No - it’s not… it’s not fitting.” I sobbed as he struggled to wedge the third finger inside me. Eventually he succeeded. He was fucking me violently with three of his fingers now. “How do you think it’ll feel when it’s my cock stretching you?” Ominis whispered as his tongue flicked against my clit. “I…” I couldn’t answer that question because I didn’t know. To my surprise the green in my eyes began to fade as I continued to buck my hips into his touch. I was no longer under his control yet every part of me belonged to him. My body was his to do with as he pleased as he fucked me. I couldn’t stop myself from moaning and sobbing as he stretched and filled me with his fingers as his mouth attacked my clit once more. Even without the influence of the curse, I continued to hold my dress up, unable to shy away from the pleasure Ominis so skillfully inflicted upon my aching pussy.“Make no mistake, Eden. You will take my cock.” “Your pussy was made for me. It belongs to me.” Ominis added with another flick of his tongue. My orgasm was rapidly building and there was no stopping it now. “Every orgasm you have belongs to me now. Every moan. Every scream. All mine .” “Your thoughts, your wants, and your desires are mine. Your innocence too, it’s mine ” He pressed his fingers deeper, hitting a painful wall as he emphasized his point.“ My cock will take your innocence away. Do you understand me, Eden?” Ominis asked harshly and I nodded my head vigorously as an unintelligible agreement spilled from my mouth. I just didn’t want him to stop. I was right there on the edge of that orgasm. It was all I could think about. My hips continued to grind against him as his fingers hit a spot inside me that I didn’t even know existed. It set me on fire. I was so close. “Are you going to cum for me, little moth?” Ominis asked, his voice sounded husky as his three fingers violently fucked me.“Y-yes! Yes!” I moaned as my orgasm finally came spiraling down.“ Miss Bones? ” Ominis paused, his fingers still deep inside me. I was a breathless and shaking mess against him as I tried to catch my breath. My orgasm sat idly on the edge and I squirmed with frustration as I tried to push it over that damning cliff. But Ominis only sighed.“Ah, there she is.” Ominis grumbled softly as he pulled his fingers from me, leaving me feeling empty and… unsatisfied. “She was supposed to be here five minutes ago.” He said that as if I hadn’t been on the cusp of an orgasm he had been orchestrating then. Reality came crashing down as the concerned voice of the consultant sounded from the other side of the door she knocked on. “Just a minute.” I croaked, barely able to raise my voice high enough for the consultant to hear. As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, shame flooded me. Ominis’ fingers had been knuckle-deep inside me. His mouth had been against my clit. His touch had undone me and both our eyes had been filled with desire . What was wrong with me? What had he done to me? Was this a cruel, new spell he had learned to bring me agony? Bastard . Tears of frustration and shame flowed down my cheeks as he stood up, straightening himself and his clothes. As he did so he waved his hand and the sensation of the invisible rope around my neck disappeared.I hated him. “Don’t cry, little moth.” Ominis’ fingers grabbed hold of my chin and I could smell my arousal on them. I tried to jerk my face away but he kept me firmly in place as he pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, coating them with my flavor. “Be a good girl and save those tears for next time.” “Fuck you.” I spat at him as he pulled away. “There isn’t going to be a next time.” I surprised myself when I said that.The grin Ominis gave me was positively evil. He reached backward to grab his cane then lashed it upwards, snapping the end of it against my chin. I whined as he painfully tilted my head up, ensuring my eyes were on his. “ Precious moth , watch that mouth of yours.” He snarled.I whined when he pressed his cane into my throat, hard enough that it completely constricted my airway. There was no room to argue with him as tears spilled down my cheeks. “You’ve spoiled my good mood, Eden. Before I go, let me explain why I’ve dropped in on you today.” Ominis said as he lowered the cane. I sputtered when he took a step closer. “This is your final warning. End the engagement.” The tone in his voice sent shivers down my spine. “Miss Bones? Is everything alright?” The door handle jiggled and the consultant knocked on the door again but Ominis ignored it. “You think pulling butterflies apart is cruel, my darling…” He leaned in close, his breath fanning across my face. “But you’ve yet to see just how brutal I can be.” I blinked and Ominis was gone, leaving me alone with my tears and the ruined dress. What would I tell the consultant? The once beautiful dress now looked hideous - it was bloody, torn, and falling apart. Maybe it was the perfect dress for me.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Eden POV:
Annoyance in this house was dangerous.
The grand foyer seemed so small despite the endless luxury spilling from every corner. It felt more like a waiting room - for an appointment I was dreading - than a welcoming entrance hall. Many who’ve seen the inside of the House of Bones would call it
exquisite…
To me it was
clinical
.
Greyson cleared his throat from beside me as he fiddled with the phone in his hand. My eyes steered clear of him. While I was melting down into a fit of anxiety,
he
was agitated. If he caught my gaze on him, I knew what was in store for me. So I looked everywhere but at Greyson, afraid of what adding to
his
annoyance would do.
Grand chandelier.
Expensive busts.
Lines of portraits, all members of the House whom I didn’t know the names of
.
The glove Greyson now wore to imitate the finger he’d lost
.
Shit.
I quietly took a deep breath as I patted my skirt down, smoothing it over for what felt like the hundredth time. I desperately
wanted
to keep it together and show no fear in the face of the family that adopted me.
But being here always meant something
unpleasant
was coming. Whether in the form of a
lesson
, lecture, or something else entirely, I’d never know until I was on the floor screaming in agony.
This visit wouldn’t be any different.
“Stop fidgeting.” Greyson muttered with disdain as he slid his phone back into his pocket. My fingers tightly grabbed hold of my skirt as he took a step closer to me.
“Sorry.” I whispered. Greyson stiffened and my stomach knotted.
Three times.
I’d only ever used my voice
three
times in front of Greyson - and not for lack of trying. It always clammed up inside me, like a strange mental dam. An unyielding force held back every little word and thought I ever wanted to vocalize. It always had… until now.
Something changed - cracks had begun to form in that dam.
“Well…” I caught sight of Greyson’s brow arching as he took another step towards me. My eyes instinctively fell to the floor… as did my stomach.
“Aren’t you talkative today?”
Where did the crack come from?
Vocalizing was always hard but
this felt different
.
I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and tried to soothe the awful churning that began inside my stomach. What was the source of it, as if I could patch it back up quick enough before more words slipped through it.
But did I want to?
Before Ominis’ arrival in town everything was so simple. I felt safe.
Content
, even, to remain silent and accept my fate. The source couldn’t be anything less than Ominis himself. He’d shaken up what was supposed to be a solid, reliable future.
With cruel intent and skillful fingers he wedged himself into that crack, seeping into its pores as he looked for and dismantaled all the weak spots of the dam’s foundation.
And now I knew he was determined to tear the whole damn thing apart.
“Don’t act shy now, sweetheart.” Greyson took a handful of steps to stand directly in front of me before lifting my face with the crook of his finger. My eyes were glued to the floor, noting the expensive shoes that now obscured my view of the tiles.
“I need you to be a good, brave little girl today, Eden.” He said firmly, before gripping the sides of my face and forcing my eyes upwards to meet his. “You
will
do as you're told and may Merlin help you if you embarrass me.”
“
Do you understand me
?” Greyson gritted out between his teeth.
“Yes.” I huffed as my eyes began to burn with tears.
The click of a door behind us made Greyson step away, straightening his suit as we were beckoned inside. I swallowed then followed Greyson straight into the den of the head of the House of Bones.
Ominis POV:
“That pact you made… will be your undoing.”
My mother’s words were vicious as she grabbed hold of my arms. She was dragging me somewhere, furious after finding out I’d taken off with Eden in the dead of night.
“We were going to deal with her parents. You were supposed to…” Mother’s words drifted off into the vacuum of what became an endless void of darkness. I no longer felt the harsh bite of her nails in my forearm or the sinking feeling inside the pit of my stomach.
I only felt… nothing. Cold, unwavering,
nothing
.
But in the blackness that consumed my vision, I knew light would always come back to find me.
And it would always be in the form of a small, luminous creature with tattered wings.
It was always in my dreams that small little bits of vision came to me and troubles of my past found me - despite how far I’d distanced myself from them. They came in fragmented pictures with only the edges visible and leaving me to guess what they appeared to be.
But I always
knew
that butterfly.
I sat up in the chair as I fought to rub the exhaustion out of my eyes. The droning sound of multiple men going on and on about something I cared little for slowly filtered into my ears. It’d been difficult to remain
awake
as their conversation carried on.
Especially when the whole damn thing could’ve been an email.
Someone cleared their throat to the left of me and I tilted my head. They’d barely registered that I’d fallen asleep. I suppose I could
appear
to be engaged in the conversation.
“Mr. Gaunt, we need your approval and we’ll get to work on the new building.”
“Whatever you need.” I nodded my head. It made sense to claim the grounds we’d taken from the Bones’. Plus, considering the clientele in the area, it was a prime spot to relocate one of our businesses to. So many drug addicted magic users with no place to purchase their
needs
.
This town was a gold mine.
There were a few more mutters of agreement and gratitude that passed through the room, until the clatter of chairs moving followed. I waited until I heard the last few foot falls exit the room and the door click shut before relaxing a little more into the chair.
I never meant to come to America given its
charms
- little to keep one entertained and a stifling government. I was better off in London with the businesses I already acquired.
At least that was what I thought before I got an interesting phone call from Silas.
It started as usual - updates on what he’d been securing and working to sabotage. But then there was mention of the beautiful little creature I thought I’d all but lost.
Eden Bones
.
I’d almost given up on finding her as the expiration of our pact neared. After I left her in a muggle orphanage miles away from the Gaunt estate, I wasn’t able to locate her afterwards. I surely had the Bones’ to thank for that, given that they likely erased all documentation of her existence when they took her.
They must’ve guessed her lineage. To them she would be nothing more than a breeding sow. It was better for them if no one knew she existed. Then no one would come knocking and asking questions about her.
My Eden…
my beautiful Eden
.
The cure to my curse.
The key to my salvation.
She was only a handful of miles away from the very place I sat, yet there were so many thorns in my path to her.
Like the name she carried.
And the filthy fuck she was betrothed to.
Greyson Bones. Insignificant, infantile, and cruel. A member of a smaller branch of the House of Bones that was hanging on by the skin of its decaying teeth. It hadn’t taken long to learn who Greyson was once I arrived in this shithole of a town. Nothing remarkable. All his money and success had been handed down through generations of equally unimportant nobodies. Along with his
shining
personality.
Shortly after my arrival, I planted a few eyes inside his house without him noticing. After only a few days I had learned all I needed to about my Eden’s precious little betrothed.
He was lucky all I’d taken was a finger. I should’ve taken his whole fucking
arm
.
I rubbed at my eyes again as I leaned my head back against the chair. Dismembering Greyson Bones would be counterproductive. Everything was already hanging precariously by an ever withering thread. War was imminent.
And if Eden truly cared for that…
monster
, treading carefully would be in my best interest to not scare her off.
No matter how much I ached to
Imperio
him and force him to slit his own throat.
I would wait for
her
word though.
My Eden
.
After all these years, I finally made my way back to her. Or perhaps she made her way back to me. We were always meant to be - this was just fate’s hand aligning our stars once again. She’s been mine from the start, even if she was wholly unaware of it until we made our agreement.
She never knew her parents, the wretches that they were, had done
one
good thing for her.
They betrothed us.
Since the moment our parents agreed to it, Eden
belonged
to
me
. I hadn’t known what to do with that when they told me a wife had been chosen for me. I didn’t understand what
love
was then.
She was such a strange child, so quiet and fragile.
And
mine
. Forever.
She was the first thing in my life that truly belonged to me and she’d proven it too. No matter what cruel thing I did to her, she gave me a smile. It didn’t matter how many tears she shed on the ground bleeding, she accepted every gift I gave her - like the various books she wasn’t allowed to have - and
was thankful
.
That sorrowful little creature was my future. My destiny.
And I wasn’t going to allow anything to stand in my way. Not her inability to speak, which I would soon fix, not her bloody House, and certainly not that little cretin that believed she belonged to him.
Eden was
my
wife by
right
. It was written in fucking
blood
.
Our blood.
The days were ticking by and before the pact reached its term and the curse swallowed me whole,
my
ring would be on her finger.
And
my name
would be the one she’d carry.
Bzzzz. Bzzzz.
My cell phone started to vibrate on the table, pulling my thoughts away from
my future
again. I so often get carried away with thoughts of her, spiraling down dark paths to all the ways I could make her scream and cry.
And how she’d fucking
beg
for me - just like she did in the dressing room.
“What?” I bit out as I answered the phone and subtly adjusted myself in my trousers.
“Mr. Gaunt.” A gruff voice sputtered from the other end of the table. “I apologize if this isn’t a good time. It’s Dave.”
David Henri was one of my best informants. I placed him inside the head of the Bones’ estate. I wasn’t just interested in the goings on of Greyson Bones. I needed eyes on my enemies at all times - Killian Bones was no different.
“Speak.”
“Well, sir, I’m afraid that girl you’ve asked us to look after has run into a bit of trouble at the main estate-”
“What the fuck happened?” I hissed, ignoring how the phone began to strain as I dug my fingers into it.
Those
fucks
. I was aware of the cruelty Eden had endured when she first arrived at the House of Bones. What they’d inflicted on her as a child made what I’d done look like child’s play.
They had tried to force her magic to manifest, using every means possible.
“They recovered the video footage from the night of the fire on Main Street and saw her speaking with Silas. Given everything that happened, they wanted to get more information out of her than she had to give. They…”
I could no longer hear the voice on the other end of the call when the words “
beat the shit out of her
” came through.
Eden.
My Eden
.
They put their hands on her.
They fucking
touched what’s mine
.
I was on my feet in a second ready to apparate, my cane in hand. Damn the long game and playing smart.
I’d end the fucking war and the Bones’ bloodline myself.
“One more thing...” Dave cleared his throat after a moment of silence.
“She’s agreed to live with the Greyson fellow. She moves in tomorrow.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“
You obviously don’t have the good sense to live on your own anymore
.
Stupid girl.
”
A backhanded slap sent me to the floor, leaving my head spinning.
“You will not soil the Bones name by being a fucking Gaunt whore.”
A forceful kick to the stomach that knocked the wind out of me. There wasn’t even time to cry as each hit came faster and stronger than the last.
“Pack your things and move in with your fiance immediately or face the consequences of disobeying. Your choice. You know how we treat disobedience in this house, Eden.”
A one worded, three syllable curse that made every nerve in my body scream in agony as I writhed on the floor. I had no idea for how long.
“There’s a good girl, hm?”
A charming little spell that made me right as rain, as if the trauma I’d just experienced had never been inflicted. Yet I remembered every ounce of pain the head of the House of Bones had delivered as he branded me a traitor.
All because I’d been seen lingering for an extra moment at the pharmacy when Silas and Sebastian had shown up. The Bones had somehow recovered video footage from that night and the way that Silas looked at me…
it gave it away.
I was involved with the Gaunts at one point in time. We had some form of history.
I disclosed the full extent of what it was like living with the Gaunt family when I was a child. I hadn’t any choice. The moment the pain started and those incessant, horrible words were spewed from Killian and Greyson’s mouths…
I vomited it all up. My entire past.
To make things worse they’d even learned about my night out to the Garden of Eden. I was a fool to think they wouldn’t have eyes everywhere, especially in a club that belonged to their
rival
.
Now to Killian Bones, the prestigious Head of the House, and my soon-to-be asshole of a husband Greyson Bones, I was nothing more than a Gaunt
whore
.
They even went as far as to check… that I was… still
pure.
I could still feel the Bones’ doctor’s fingers inside me.
I swallowed the heavy lump inside my throat as my eyes began to sting with fresh tears. I hadn’t stopped crying since the day before. I hadn’t been able to get their words out of my head, or that look in Killian’s eyes when he cast
Crucio
on me.
But they were right…
weren’t they
?
I
was
nothing more than a Gaunt whore.
An
easy
,
pliable
woman who got on her knees in the back of a moving SUV to suck the cock of Ominis Gaunt. A slut that was excited to let him
taste her
as she tried on a wedding dress for another man.
A fucking terrible waste of space that
still
couldn’t stop thinking about how it felt to see Ominis’ face between her thighs - a memory that
still
ignited a hellish heat between them, radiating everywhere and making her belly feel warm…
I groaned then pressed my hands into my eyes, rubbing at them until I began to see little black dots.
Moving in with Greyson was the right decision. It offered safety and a place to be away from Ominis’ controlling hands… and mouth.
Wasn’t that exactly what I wanted
?
As my vision began to return, I wiped the tears away with the back of my hand and sniffled as I plucked another shirt from my closet. Moving in with Greyson
was
exactly what I
needed
, I told myself.
It’d only been days ago that I was practically begging Greyson to take me in. I was
fortunate
Killian had pushed it into motion rather than being required to wait out Greyson’s
one week
approval.
I was getting exactly what I asked for.
I should be happy and thankful to the House of Bones, especially Greyson.
Escaping the terrible clutches of Ominis Gaunt, who only sought to destroy what was left of me, into the awaiting arms of Greyson Bones, who was ready to turn me into a pitiful little housewife, was for the best.
But the thought made my chest hurt.
Not only for what the future held but for what I was leaving behind. My friends. Outside of the Bones, Perdi and Lizzie were the only true family I’d ever known.
When would I get to see them again? Would I
ever
get to? I’m sure I’d see Perdi at family functions but Lizzie…
Another tear fell down my cheek as I imagined my life without them.
At this rate, I was never going to finish packing. I huffed and dragged the back of my hands across my damp eyes again.
I would get it together.
It was sad leaving them, Perdi and Lizzie, but instead of drowning myself in the misery of it I needed to
acknowledge
the pain it caused me - swallow it down like a horse pill without water and move on.
I wasn’t going to be Ominis’ plaything anymore. I could handle being sad and tormented by Greyson for the rest of my life - he, at the very least, was
survivable
. I just had to stay out of his way and pop a child or two out, then I would live in comfort and my friends could remain
safe
. We’d all be far out from the middle of a house war and the reach of that horrid creature that kept coming to collect a debt I no longer owed him.
I would pack my things, have a little cry, and move on.
I have to.
I took the last shirt out of the closet and folded it neatly before tucking it into the closest box. My room was littered with them, my belongings nearly all packed up. All that was left were the blankets… and pillows…
My eyes settled on a pair of dark shoes and I blinked slowly. My breath caught in my chest. I was certain there hadn’t been a man in my room only moments before.
And of course it was not just
any
man - it was the one I was desperately trying to get away from before it was too late.
“Hello,
little moth
.” Ominis purred sweetly.
No, no, no!
He cocked his head ever so slightly as I took a step backwards, my back hitting the closet door. A slow smile spread across his face as he asked, “Where are you off to?”
My eyes darted towards the bedroom door.
The door
. If I could just run out of it…
shit
. I swallowed hard. Lizzie and Perdi weren’t home, which meant I’d have to pray that I’d get to the front door before it was too late. If I could get out onto the street, scream for help -
I took a step forward and Ominis was on his feet. He was so close I could feel the heat and agitation rolling off him in waves. That was all the warning I got before his hand wrapped around my throat, squeezing gently as his thumb caressed the sensitive skin of my neck.
No. No. No!
Dammit, I was so
close
.
So
fucking
close to getting away from Ominis for good.
Everything was falling into place. All that was left to do was wait for Greyson to pick me up this afternoon. But now I couldn’t even call for help. My cellphone was sitting on the nightstand, too far out of reach.
“I asked you a question.” Ominis’ tone became firmer as his fingers squeezed around the base of my throat more tightly. I refused to answer him, defiantly holding my voice inside as he slowly began to squeeze harder with each passing second. The longer I waited to speak, the further I was lifted off the ground by his hand.
It became increasingly harder to breathe as we sat in silence. My frantic pants and the sound of my hands slapping at his filled the air between us. I tried pawing at him, digging my fingernails into his skin, but with the gloves it was to no avail. I could either speak or wait to pass out.
“Go - ” I swallowed around the hand that constricted me, “- away!”
Ominis’ lips twitched upwards into a humourless, sadistic little smile. “Or what, little moth? What will you do if I
don’t
?”
“Grey - ” I coughed out and he eased his hold, if only just to allow me to speak, “Greyson is on h-his way… he will…”
I whimpered when his fingers bit into the flesh of my neck harder, causing me to gasp as he tossed me harshly onto the ground. I whined when my head collided with the wall behind us. I grabbed at the back of my head as I reeled from the pain.
This
was the Ominis I knew.
The one who wasn’t satisfied until I was in pain and he was the source of all my misery. I
hated
him for it, but as he stalked closer, crouching down in front of me as I scrambled to sit upright, I knew one thing for certain...
Ominis was never going to let me go.
“Greyson will
what,
my darling?” He bit out viciously, and instinctively I turned my head as far as I could away from him. It was like being face to face with a venomous snake. His breath smelled like death, something ancient and intoxicating that made every hair stand up on the back of my neck. The misery that rolled off him in waves made me want to cringe inwardly into myself. He was dangerous and I was within his strike. All I could do was focus on holding back the sob in my chest as he came closer. When I didn’t answer him, he scoffed. “That’s right,
nothing
. He will do
nothing.
”
The sob broke free in my chest - Ominis was
right
.
What possible hope did I have for Greyson to save me from this monstrous creature of my past? For all I knew, he was across town and barely bothered with today's move, let alone my whereabouts.
I was fucked
.
“Now, what I want to know is what
you
planned on doing.” Ominis’ fingers caught an errant strand of my dark hair, twirling it around them as he continued, “You were going to run away with that precious little fiance of yours and leave me behind, weren’t you?”
I didn’t answer. The fear of what Ominis would do to me wracked my nerves so thoroughly that every bone inside me seized. I felt like I was locked inside my own skeleton. The demon that plagued my past and now my present knew every thought, plan, and hope inside my head.
I was an utter idiot for believing I’d ever be able to fool him. How could I ever think that moving in with Greyson would somehow finally get me away from his hold?
Ominis would always be there. He was always five steps ahead of me.
When my silence became intolerable for him, he tugged on my hair harshly. I let out a strangled cry, “Yes!”
“I warned you, Eden.” He hissed, his face inching closer until the warmth of his breath fanned over my face. “I warned you that things would not turn out well for you
or
him if you didn’t call off this silly marriage of yours. I knew you to be a naive, scared little girl but I never believed you would be this
stupid
.”
“I’m not!” I gulped out a cry as Ominis let go of my hair. The back of his gloved knuckles raked across my cheek until one of his fingers captured a fallen tear. My eyes were drawn back to his face and my breath immediately caught in my chest. He brought the tear to his mouth and swirled the pink of his tongue around the digit.
It shouldn’t have been so erotic - the way he cleaned the pad of his finger. My thighs shouldn’t have clenched together as my skin heated and he seemed to stare back at me.
“You were never going to be free of me, little moth. You belong to
me
.”
“I don’t belong to you.” I meant for every word I said to be final. For there to be no hesitation or room for negotiation. I wanted Ominis to somehow hear in his deranged mind how desperate I was for him to leave me alone and give me some kind of fucked up sympathy.
But my voice had broken. And Ominis smiled.
“Don’t you?” He cocked his head again with that same predatory gaze. His hand dipped inside his coat, fishing something out from a pocket. An item I hoped would never see the light of day again until it was broken. An item I thought I’d hidden well enough from him.
In his hand was an intricate silver vial on a delicate chain. The chain itself was new, not something I’d added to it. But it was still
my
end of our bargain dangling in front of my face. I knew it was. I could feel the magic surging off of it calling to me.
Ominis believed he had claim to me simply because of a deal we made as children in exchange for my life. One with terms that
never
specified that I’d marry him. That would only occur if I
didn’t
meet the terms.
Terms I was weeks away from fulfilling that would effectively null this stupid marriage pact.
“Our terms…” I started, but he clicked his teeth.
“Where’s the ring on your finger, little moth?” Ominis asked flatly, though he knew the answer. “I never agreed to play fair. You should’ve been thinking harder that night.”
Had this been his plan
from the start
? Even as a child, had Ominis been capable of being this meticulous and manipulative as to ensure I’d marry him once we reached adulthood?
Yes. Of course he would be.
Ominis Gaunt was never like the other children.
He was something much worse.
Ominis leaned in further and I cringed backwards against the wall, hoping I could sink into it and slip away from him. “There are little loopholes and all of them point to one damning fact that you will soon learn to accept, Eden.”
I kept my head against the wall, my face turned away from him as he took the chain in both of his hands. I heard him unclasp it then felt him tuck it behind my neck before clicking it into place. He patted the vial gently against my chest as a pleased sound hummed from him and my eyes began to burn.
I could’ve survived Greyson.
I couldn’t survive Ominis.
Swallowing harshly, I accepted that truth as he backed away. He would take
everything
from me. My life. My hopes. My dreams.
Everything that ever mattered.
And he wouldn’t stop until he crushed my soul between his fingers.
“You are
mine
.” Ominis whispered gently, his fingers trailing slowly over the vial. He caressed it thoughtfully for a moment before searching for my hand. When he grasped it I tried to pull away from him. He only held me more firmly until my eyes turned towards him. I watched him curiously as he placed the palm of my hand to his chest… where
his
end of the bargain sat on its own chain. “And I am
yours.
”
My breath caught as he held me there like that. My heart began to pick up, beating furiously beneath my chest as the strangeness of his eyes seemingly locked with mine. It felt like he was trying to genuinely convey
his truth
to me through them. He wanted me to believe him and give up the farce that I would never belong to him.
It was as if he wanted to show me that he somehow
felt
something for me.
But I knew better.
Ominis Gaunt wasn’t capable of being genuine. He was only capable of being
cruel.
I snatched my hand away from him and stood tall, ignoring how his lips parted in a frown. I was going to walk past him, get to my phone, and call someone. Anyone. If I could just get an emergency text out to one of the girls or even Greyson…
But Ominis wasn’t going to let me go. He would
never
let me go. I understood that now.
“
WHY?
”
Ominis violently growled, causing me to pause before his fingers caught me by the back of my hair. He yanked me backwards roughly until my head was pressed up against his cheek. “
Why, Eden?”,
he hissed.
“Why do you cling to that
bastard
?” Ominis brought his lips to my ear, his breath hot and heavy as he wrapped an arm around my middle. I whined when his fingers dug more deeply into my scalp. He always tried to get an answer out of me through his means of horrible violence. “I know what he does to you”, he whispered gently.
He… he knew?
It was the one secret I tried all my life to keep from Ominis. I didn’t want him to know the truth - that the marriage to Greyson would be anything but a happy one. I needed Ominis to believe it’d be genuine and full of love. Only then was there a chance he might back off.
Just another thing I was an absolute fool for thinking.
“He doesn’t - ” I started but Ominis shook my head and let out a snarl.
“Don’t deny it, Eden. We’re well past the point of you
lying
to me.” He snapped. The darkness that dripped from his every word made my mind race. I was once again the scared little butterfly trapped inside the vicious maw of the viper.
I wanted to get away from him. I wasn’t ready to be devoured.
Attempting to flail out of his grip, I took a step forward. He wouldn’t let me escape so easily though. He pulled me roughly against him.
“Is it that you like that, my darling?” Ominis’ voice grew low, almost gravely, and the sound sung to the heat between my legs as his nose skimmed up the shell of my ear. “To be beaten and abused?”
“N-no.” I whimpered as my thighs clenched together when his teeth grazed my ear. I couldn’t hold back the soft little moan that escaped my lips as he nipped down on the skin roughly before chuckling softly.
“You liar. You
fucking
little liar.” I could feel his smile against my ear as he let go of my hair, only to wrap that same hand around my throat again. “If that’s what you want, Eden…”
His grasp around my throat was more intense this time. He was done playing games. It only took moments before dark spots began to ebb away at my vision as he moved in closer.
“I’ll show you the true meaning of pain and suffering.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“And this one?”
“A daffodil.”
“This one?”
“Chrysanthemum.”
“Oh! This one? I haven’t seen it before.”
Ominis’ fingers brushed against the next petal I handed him, gently probing it before saying, “Dahlia.” I nodded and set it down into the grass next to the pile of other inspected flowers.
“Ominis,” I started quietly, plucking another flower from the garden to hand to him, “How do you do that?”
“Do what, Eden?” Ominis’ fingers did not move towards the flower before him, instead they found my hand. He turned it over, stretching his fingers over the inside of my palm.
“Know what things are, like you can see them.” I watched curiously as his nails raked over the skin once, then again, before returning my hand to my lap. His lips thinned into a small line before he sighed.
“Everything has something… like outlines, I suppose. There are little bits and pieces that become clues for me. Like an unfinished picture book - I fill in the blanks the best I can then guess what it is.” He responded quietly, taking the next flower from my awaiting hand.
“Do you know what I look like?” I asked with a new interest. It must’ve been strange, the way Ominis was forced to see the world. “Do you see colors?”
“Aconite.” He stated, placing the flower back in my hand. “Yes to both, though colors are still a bit of a mystery to me. Like another guessing game.”
“Hm.” I hummed thoughtfully, setting the flower down. “Do you-”
“Enough with the incessant questions, Eden.” Ominis groaned, leaning forward to pinch the inside of my arm. I yelped, falling back against the garden grass as he slowly stood.
“I-incessant?” I tasted that word, letting it linger on my tongue for a moment. It was something new. Something I didn’t know. I craved every little crumb of information Ominis offered me. He was my dictionary and guide. My teacher.
And strangely enough… my friend.
“Non-stop, annoying.” He explained with a smile that made my cheeks burn. He reached his hand outwards for me, beckoning me to rise to my feet. His hands were always so warm.
“Come, Mother won’t be happy if she catches you picking her flowers again.”
A sob hitched in my throat as my eyes fluttered open, slowly erasing the vision of a younger Ominis’ smile. Darkness surrounded me.
I loved that smile
.
I wasn’t sure where I was as I tried to blink through the tears that filled my eyes. I felt groggy, like I’d been asleep for days. I tried to think of when exactly I’d dozed off but couldn’t. There was too much fog and confusion inside my aching head.
It was still focused on the wispy remnants of that strange dream. My mind didn’t want to let it go.
Every little tattered piece of it made my chest ache with a kind of sadness that felt foreign.
Wrong
. It was as if I’d shatter into a million fractured pieces if I looked too closely at the dream of ruined flowers and soft touches.
Why did I feel so sad?
I cleared my throat, trying to stifle my crying as my body woke up a little more. My eyes tried to adjust to the darkness that surrounded me but I felt so lost and helpless as I continued to linger in the awful, sorrowful emotions left behind by the dream. It wasn’t a memory, that was for certain.
Despite that, it felt so
real
, as if I’d truly been there before.
But I
knew
it was nothing more than
a dream
.
Throughout my childhood with the Gaunts there’d never been a moment I’d shared with Ominis where I felt safe. Ever. No corner of my mind held a memory of warm hands or a small smile like he offered me in my dream.
But what I’d seen had felt so
familiar…
yet not at all…
It was like a memory through someone else’s eyes. It was only then that I realized why the sadness had cut through me to the bone.
I wanted to live in those fading images of our younger selves.
Where we knew happiness in shared companionship and tearing apart his mother’s garden for the sake of exploration. A time before our childhoods were broken, where Ominis was capable of kindness that warmed my heart and I never felt afraid of him.
A moment where he was just a boy who got a kick out of playfully pinching me rather than torturing me with an Unforgivable Curse when I annoyed him. Maybe I could’ve been just a girl spending her days with that boy, waiting for her magic to come in to make her parents proud.
I did my best to steady myself as sleep ebbed away from my body. I had to pull away from idly wishing things would be different for us because they
never would
.
Nothing would ever change for Ominis and I.
Ominis would always be the serpent who hunted me for sport and I would forever be the lost little moth he was poised to strike. No matter how hard I might flap my wings, I would always end up ensnared in his vicious jaw.
I exhaled another breath and paused.
The air around my face felt so warm when I breathed outwards, like something was encasing me and holding the heat of my breath. I blinked the last remnants of sleep from my eyes. Something was pulled over my head. A dim light filtered through the dark material.
Shit.
“I’ll show you the true meaning of pain and suffering.”
My heart began to frantically thud inside my chest.
Ominis’ demeanor before he choked me had been
furious,
if not distraught. He’d made it clear time and time again that he wouldn’t tolerate any more talk of my marriage to Greyson.
He had me now to do as he wanted
.
How things would go…
I didn’t know
. The only certainty was that it would involve an insane amount of pain and misery, then end with a cynical, devastating smile on Ominis’ face.
I needed to
escape
.
When I tried to raise my hands to remove the cover from my face, I found they’d been constrained. Ominis had bound me to something that felt like a wooden beam, with my hip pressed into it and my arms hugging it.
Fuck
.
He knew I’d try to escape and bound me, which meant he might not be here right now. I had time to figure out where I was and how to get myself out of this.
If I was lucky.
Doing my best to swallow my anxiety, I took a deep breath and jerked violently against the constraints. Maybe if I moved enough, I could get myself loose.
However the more I moved and twisted against the constraints, the stronger the binding grew. I gave it one more attempt and I swear I felt the binds
slither
before tightening across both wrists.
Fighting the constraints wasn’t going to get me anywhere. If I moved againI was sure I’d start losing feeling in my hands.
And any more movement than that might just sever my hands from my wrists.
Okay.
Not only was I in
deep shit
, I was completely helpless.
Oh! My engagement ring. There was still some sparkle of hope that Greyson would come after me once he realized I wasn’t back at Lizzy and Perdi’s house. I was Bones’ property after all. I was well aware of the tracking spell they placed on the ring…
That I was no longer wearing.
I wanted to thrash in frustration against the constraints but instead held my body and breath steady. If I hyperventilated now, there would be no chance for escape by the time Ominis got back.
I needed to get a grip on my nerves if I hoped to survive whatever hell Ominis was about to unleash on me. Or at least remain calm enough to think of a plan to get out of here so he wouldn’t have the chance to.
There had to be another option - something
else
I could do that wasn’t just waiting for him to come back to deliver me to my inevitable end.
Maybe there was something close by that I could use for leverage to loosen the strange bindings around my wrists. It was a far fetched idea. Ominis wouldn’t just leave something like bolt cutters or a knife laying around, unless he intended to use those things on me.
I shivered at the thought, gasping when the movement caused my nipples to rub against the wooden beam.
As they pebbled my face burned with the realization that I was fucking
naked
.
He’d left me exposed and tied up.
Like I was some kind of damn animal
.
Tears welled in my eyes from the shame and embarrassment of the situation I found myself in. I couldn’t see, move, or protect myself.
I was helpless.
“What’s the matter, little moth?”
The blood in my body went cold as Ominis’ voice filled the room. It was rich and dark, laced with a kind of amusement that made my stomach turn as his footsteps approached me slowly.
My body jolted when a hand settled on my head and began to idly pet the cloth that covered me.
“Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of the dark.”
I shook my head away from his touch, holding back another sob that threatened to spill from my mouth as I whimpered a feeble, “
Let me go
.”
“Do you know what it’s like to live in darkness, Eden?” Ominis ignored my pleas, content with petting the back of my head as he softly spoke. “To rely on your other senses to gauge the world around you?”
“Without sight, everything else becomes heightened.” A sob broke free as he continued to stroke me, his fingers loving and gentle as he spoke. I shook my head.
What was this about
?
“Did you know that, my darling?”
Was this him leveling the playing field with me by removing my ability to see?
“Please.” I whispered.
But I didn’t even know
what
I was
begging
for. There were so many things I wanted from him. The first was for him to see reason, find mercy somewhere in his heart, and let me go. For him to not hurt me, just this once. But
my body
wanted other things…
It wanted him to touch me and make me feel the things I claimed to hate.
“
Please
,” Ominis repeated thoughtfully, as if he were tasting the word on his tongue. “Such a pretty word,
please
. So melodic and satisfying to the ear.”
“Out of
your
pretty mouth it's the sweetest of sounds.” He continued, running his hand down the back of my head.
“Tell me something, little moth, which sensation will you savor without the light of a flame?”
Ominis snatched my hair through the covering at the back of my head, roughly tilting my head backwards to expose my throat to him. I swallowed hard as I felt his bare fingertips brush my hair over my shoulders.
He was right, I realized, as his fingers slowly roamed down the hollow of my throat.
Everything was
amplified
. The softest touch from his fingers had my skin raising with gooseflesh and that unsettling heat that I loathed returning between my thighs.
“Will it be my touch?” He pondered aloud, as I heard him move to crouch down next to me. The warmth of his breath bled through the cloth that covered my face. I inhaled deeply, the spicy, minty scent of him invading my lungs so thoroughly I thought I might choke on it.
The sick part was that I wanted to. I ached to drink it down greedily and have the nerve to ask for
more
.
“Perhaps scent?” He asked, all too aware of the effect he was having on me as his nose pressed against my ear. My breath hitched as his finger ran a straight line downwards between the valley of my breasts, pausing at my navel for a moment to dance around it until my belly constricted. “Or will it be sound?”
Touch
. The word was on the tip of my tongue as his fingers trailed lower and lower.
Touch me,
I internally begged. His fingertips were ghosting over the flesh of the inside of my thighs and my body responded in kind, spreading them apart ever so slightly.
I swore I could feel a smirk through the bag over my head.
“Sounds are my personal favorite.” I barely heard him whisper against my ear. My heart was thundering in my chest as his fingers moved closer to my center. Everything felt unsteady as my chest heaved and my breath became ragged, only getting worse as he skimmed over the mound of my needy core.
Please.
I wanted to sob not only for Ominis but
for myself
. I ached to plead with him to drive his fingers inside me while hating myself for melting into every touch of his.
Please. Please. Please.
“Those little moans that catch inside your chest when I touch you…” His fingers finally slid down, rubbing the outer folds of my pussy until I began to whine. “... Like this.”
Ominis hissed out a breath as he slowly pressed a finger inside me, inching it in slowly as he stretched me. My hips arched upwards as I writhed against him, shaking my head with that silent plea again and again.
The plea for my body to stop inviting Ominis’ touch...
But that plea was at odds with the other…
The one begging him to ruin me.
“The sound of how wet this tight little cunt is for me…” His voice was low as he drove his finger inside me, roughly thrusting it as the sound of my pussy filled the silence between us.
“Oh, and I almost forgot…” Ominis paused, pulling his finger from me despite my silent cries for him not to. I felt so empty and could feel my pussy clenching around nothing despite how much I
needed
to feel full.
I trembled as one of his hands dove underneath the bag, curiously catching how dark his hand looked before he pressed the pad of his finger to my lips.
“Taste.” He murmured, pressing his soaked fingers between my lips until I had no choice but to open for him. I flattened my tongue, letting him spread the taste of my own wetness in my mouth.
Please
.
Please stop.
It was
wrong
if not completely
sick
that I was writhing for the taste of myself on him. That I’d
allowed
him to put his fingers not only inside me, but in my mouth as well without any hesitation.
What was wrong with me?
Why did I never fight back?
I was helpless against Ominis. Between his strength, magic, and cleverness I was no match for him. I was simply… a muggle girl, caught up in his strange obsession and need to torture me.
But I didn’t have to let him take what he wanted for
free.
He did not own me yet had taken so much from me already - everything.
My future. My dreams.
My body.
I had nothing left to lose.
It might’ve been the stupidest thing I’d ever done but I let him have a
taste
of how I should’ve been fighting back this entire time. I might not win against him, but I had to fight for
myself
. I owed myself that much.
It was the least I could do for the girl who’d been haunted by this monster all her life.
So I bit down hard on Ominis’ fingers. I became the snake, if only for a moment, as I clamped down so viciously the metallic taste of his blood filled my mouth. I smiled around his fingers when he let out a pained growl before grabbing me by the back of my scalp harshly. The pain quickly became unbearable, causing me to let him go.
He cursed, pulling his fingers away as I silently enjoyed my one small victory. His blood tasted like pure, unadulterated
justice
.
“You little - ” Ominis huffed as he tilted my neck backwards painfully, causing me to cry.
There was something in his voice other than irritation. Something that sounded like… pride. It lingered beneath his surprise as he pressed his nose against my ear once more.
“Look at you, my darling, you
can
fight after all.” He chuckled darkly, “I never expected the flame to come from inside the moth. Where have you been hiding it all this time?”
That was the grand question?
Why did I never fight back?
“Have you been saving all your fire for Greyson?” All amusement in Ominis’ voice was snuffed out by the mention of my fiancé. It was replaced with a raw, threatening tone that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
He was a viper poised to strike.
”I thought about it…” Ominis started, releasing my head only to grab me by the throat. “Whether I should forgive you or kill you.”
My blood ran cold at the two options he’d given himself.
“Why - “ I sputtered around his grip, my voice tight and constricted, “I thought you wanted to marry me?“
“If I cannot have you, Eden Bones…” Ominis shook me, growling through his teeth, “... Then no one can.”
I sobbed as his nose caressed me through the bag over my head. I could hear him inhaling deeply.
“I would spill your blood a dozen times over, sever you limb from limb, and devour all the breath in your chest before letting another man have you.”
“You. Are. Mine.” Ominis hissed through his teeth with such finality it made a shiver run up my spine. I knew he wasn’t bluffing about killing me.
His obsession ran so deep that he’d rather see my organs rot than allow me to be tied to Greyson.
“I’m not going to forgive you.” He said softly. “And I’m not going to kill you.”
”Instead we’re going to learn something together.” There was a hint of excited amusement beneath the rich tones of his voice and somehow I wish he’d just kill me instead. Anything that excited Ominis Gaunt equated to pain and suffering for me.
“We’re going to see how long it takes for me to
break you
, little moth.”
“I’d wager not long, given that every time I hurt you, you squirm so beautifully for me.” Ominis mused with a sigh. My heart began to pound as he pulled away from me a few inches. It sounded like he was messing with something in his pockets. Then I heard the sound of him undoing his belt.
“Because if cruelty is what makes that little pussy ache…” he added, slowly wrapping what I assumed was his belt around my throat, trapping the cloth and my breath inside, “I’ll happily make you miserable.”
It became harder to breathe the more he adjusted the belt to make sure it was secured. Once he was satisfied, I heard something metallic flick open inches from my covered face.
Was that a knife?!
“Now, I need you to hold perfectly still, my darling.” Ominis instructed gently as he wrapped the rest of the belt around his hand, effectively leashing me. Every tug of it stole more air from my lungs and my head began to spin.
Why did he have a knife?! Was he going to cut me?
“This might get messy if you move.”
I steadied my breath and completely froze as Ominis grabbed the front of the bag. He pulled it taut inches from my nose then slowly began to cut a hole near my mouth. I watched as the tip of the knife cut through the material smoothly. It always amazed me when we were children the kind of precision Ominis had - I never understood it.
It scared me shitless all the same.
Especially as the tip of the blade nicked my lower lip. I recoiled immediately, catching the blade on my upper lip as a result. It stung and I sniffled a cry as Ominis paused, retracting the knife from the hole.
A long moment passed and he mumbled something to himself under his breath before he spoke louder.
“I
did
warn you.” Ominis sighed, and when he brought the knife back to slice the last stitch in the material, it was cleaned of my blood. He’d made a hole just big enough for me to breathe through.
I gasped in the air greedily, for a second - then he shoved his cock straight down my throat.
Ominis wasted little time thrusting himself all the way to the hilt inside my throat, causing me to gag as he lingered there for a moment. He placed his free hand on the back of my head as his other tugged at the belt. He had complete control of me.
“No teeth this time, my darling, unless you want to live without them.” He warned. I wouldn’t be given a second chance if I chose to bite down on his cock the way I had his fingers.
Part of me ached to do it.
I had nothing left to lose.
The other half greedily wrapped my lips around his cock, eagerly taking him down my throat as he pumped himself faster. Each time his hips snapped forward and I heard his labored breath, electric shocks moved through my body straight to my core
This was wrong.
I
was
wrong
.
I desperately tried to cling to whatever pride I had left as he mercilessly fucked himself down my throat.
But it was all slipping away.
It wasn’t going to take long for me to shatter into a million tiny pieces for Ominis Gaunt and his wicked touch.
“Why would I need sight…” Ominis let out a raspy groan as he pulled himself out of my mouth only to then violently slam himself right back down my throat, “... When I can
feel
your throat -
ah, fuck
- squeezing me so deliciously?”
“Or how fucking
incredible
the mixture of your blood and drool feels coating my cock?” I could practically hear the euphoric smirk on his face as I choked around him.
“Then there’s those beautiful sounds you make when I hit the back of your throat.” He purred as I sputtered around his girth, the mess of my mouth dripping down my chin as he used me.
With every touch of his I felt like I was burning alive. Every time his hand tightened around the belt, his fingers dug into my scalp, or his cock slid down my throat, I felt as if I was going to burst into flames.
Whether it was from the frustration of what he was doing to me or the heat radiating between my thighs… I didn’t know.
But it made me feel
sick
.
“Fuck,” Ominis murmured, slightly adjusting his stance, “I can
smell
you.”
I gasped when the tip of his shoe pressed against the apex of my slit, rubbing against my clit. A horrible moan escaped around his cock as my hips undulated forward, snatching up that little bit of friction Ominis offered me.
“You’re so fucking wet, aren’t you?” He huffed as I ground myself against him, tears streaming down my face from the abysmal shame that came with the lust he brought to life inside me. “So needy that you’ll take whatever’s given to you, even a dirty fucking shoe.”
A half-sob sputtered from me as he slowed his pace, intentionally stalling as he was seated deep in my throat. Despite the very rational idea that I should be fighting him with every fiber of my being, I pushed my pussy against his shoe harder and continued to move my mouth up and down his length, as much as he would let me.
“There you go, my darling.” Ominis cooed gently and his praise shot through me like lightning as his fingers tightened around my hair through the bag. “Just like that.”
“You like sucking my cock, don’t you?” He asked, pulling himself completely out of my mouth. I gasped air back into my lungs greedily as my chest heaved. Ominis began to rub his slickened length against my covered face. “I never imagined what a cock-hungry little slut you’d be for me. How little control you actually have over that body of yours.” He chuckled. “Look at you rubbing your pussy all over my shoe.”
Sobbing, I shook my head.
It wasn’t my fault.
How my hips continued to lurch forward, making a mess out of the top of his shoe with my wetness until it became harder to find friction,
wasn’t my fault
.
Not when the
devil
himself made me do it.
I was completely entranced under his spell of decadent depravity and undeniable pleasure. It was as intoxicating as the scent of his cock, which he idly smacked against the hole he’d made in the bag. If I angled my lips just right, I’d catch a taste of sin again.
“Open your mouth, Eden.” Ominis demanded roughly, tilting my head back slightly so my mouth faced upwards. Despite good reason, I hesitantly parted my lips. When I did he forced three fingers into my mouth, wrapping his palm around my chin to hold my jaw open.
I moaned as he spat straight into my mouth. I
shivered
as his flavor rolled down my tongue into my throat. He smeared what landed on my lips, along with my drool and blood, across my face with his fingers, making sure it was coated.
“You’re being such a good girl for me, aren’t you?” Ominis purred as he leaned in further. I felt his breath fan over my messy lips. “So obedient.”
Ominis’ lips were warm as he pressed them to mine, giving me a chaste kiss before tugging the belt again.
“I knew it wouldn’t take long to break you.”
My stomach turned as he kissed me again, this time a little more urgently. His tongue invaded my mouth, savoring the flavor of my defeat straight from my own, flicking and demanding more as the moments ticked by.
Defeat.
Had I given up?
“Tell me who you belong to, little moth.” He whispered into my mouth, his lips hovering just over mine.
“Say you’re mine.”
He loosened his hold on the belt and there was a slight shuffling sound before it fell from my neck completely. Then the bag was pulled from my head.
My heart raced as his hands found my face. It didn’t go unnoticed that he’d put those same gloves back on as his thumbs caressed my cheeks and he pressed his forehead to mine. I swore those strange eyes were looking straight into my very soul again. They were burning down everything between us to the very bone, begging me to say those two little words.
I’m yours.
But I wasn’t
.
Ominis, in his deranged and sick mind, believed that because of the blood pact and the way my body responded to his touch that I belonged to him. That I’d
allow myself
to be
owned
by him.
I was not a thing to be had.
Perhaps
that
had been my problem all along - allowing men to believe they had a right to my body and soul. For too long I’d been silent and complicit.
I didn’t want that anymore.
“I - ” I swallowed, my throat dry and rough from how Ominis had abused it. I saw his brow raise and his lips part, but it became a frown as he heard my words.
“I am not yours.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“ I am not yours .” The words had fallen from my bruised lips so easily. Ominis did not move as his breathing became a ragged thing, heavy and uneven in his chest as we sat in silence for several heartbeats. After I counted the sixth beat, he leaned forward, gently pressing his mouth to mine as he whispered, “No, I suppose you wouldn’t give up that flame of yours so quickly, would you, little moth?” He let me go, shoving my face back against the wooden beam hard enough to make me cry out. “Fuck you!” I bit out bitterly, holding back a sob as he straightened. “If you were mine, my darling.” Ominis teased with a short chuckle, though it sounded almost strained. When I looked up at his face I could see sheer disappointment on the frown he wore before he turned away from me. Good . I wanted Ominis to feel even the tiniest fraction of the unsettling hurt that lingered inside my stomach. He deserved to feel things like disappointment, irritation, and anger.
Helplessness.
That was the emotion he surely felt as he took a few steps away. He could pick me apart, use me, and bend me until I was on the verge of breaking but I would not yield to him. Or I would try my damndest not to . At the very least, I owed myself that. But my mind was crumbling with the exhaustion of being at Ominis’ mercy. It clung to life and free will, but its fingers were growing frail against the wall of resolve I was trying to maintain.
One wrong slip and it was all over.
How long could I hold on?
As I watched Ominis move about the room, I realized we were in a dimly lit study. The walls were dark, lined wall to wall with books and paintings. There was a desk on one end of the room and a nice sitting chair with a small table next to it on the other. I sat in the middle of the study, cuffed to a wooden beam that had been specially conjured for me . It was too out of place to simply exist here. Which begged the question… “What - ” I lifted my head back against the beam, watching Ominis as he grabbed a glass of something from the small table. I noticed his cane leaning against the sitting chair, which he idly fingered for a moment before taking a sip from the glass. “What do you want from me, Ominis?” Another moment of silence passed between us. There were so many possible answers to my question that it made my stomach clench. “Everything, Eden.” Ominis said softly, tipping back the contents of the glass. “ Everything. ” “Aren’t we too old to hold onto a child’s promise?” I whispered as a tear rolled down my cheek, surprised to hear my voice again. It was becoming easier and easier to speak to Ominis with every word I said. I imagined it had everything to do with how tired I was of remaining silent with him. He had taken advantage of my silence time and time again, getting away with abusing my mind and body. I wouldn’t allow it to happen anymore. I would fight back.He was holding onto such a selfish, childish idea. It was almost laughable.“That’s what you think this is?” He scoffed, slamming the glass back down. “ A child’s promise?” “A little pinky swear made in secret, to be forgotten as we got older?!” Ominis grabbed hold of his cane roughly and was clearing the distance between us quickly, causing me to push back against the beam as he approached me. He took the end of his cane and pressed it to my chest, lifting up the vial that sat between my naked breasts. “Does this look like a children’s game, Eden? Your blood and my blood are sealed together with one of the most absolute magics there is and I - ” “I was only eight years old!” I flinched at the sound of my own yelling, my chest burning. I was so taken aback by the intensity of my own voice and how quickly things had changed for me. I’d barely been able to say a word not a week ago. And now I was screaming at Ominis. This was more of my voice than I’d given anyone in the last fifteen years. It’d been locked behind that carefully laid dam I built myself for so long, yet it only took Ominis a week to figure out its weak spots. It was rapidly crumbling apart under him and all this pressure I felt. The dam could barely hold a tub of bathwater inside it now. How much longer until it gave way completely? He was breaking everything. Or was he ? The little voice inside my head asked. I’d lived in silence for so long. It was the only thing I knew. My own voice and what it could do to those around me terrified me.
So why did it feel so freeing to speak?
Ominis' brows furrowed and his lips parted as if he would say something, but he only cleared his throat and frowned at me. I didn’t understand why but something in my heart wrenched at the sight. “That’s of little consequence.” I was causing him pain .“You were mine well before that promise, little moth.” Ominis murmured as one of his hands reached out to caress the side of my face gently. “You’ve always been mine.”
Always?
“What-” “Enough.” He sighed, dropping his hand to grab a handful of my hair. He pulled me to my feet roughly then leaned forward to growl, “We aren’t done here yet.” It was moments like these, when Ominis brandished his wand from the inside of his cane, that reminded me of the horrible height difference between us. He towered over me, more serpent than man as he traced his wand along the side of my jaw. I could only tremble as he trailed it between the valley of my breasts. “I won’t stop until I’ve broken you, Eden.” He said as he tapped the vial. “I can’t.” “I need to see your wings torn from their membrane,” Ominis continued, sending a shiver down my spine. The tip of his wand traversed lower, circling my navel until my stomach went taught and my breath became uneven. “So I can gorge myself on your blood.” “Only then will you understand what you were always meant to be, my darling.” His wand stopped above the mound of my pussy and my heart ran away from my chest as he pressed into the skin lightly. There were a million spells at Ominis’ disposal and I remembered the pain of each one.“A devastatingly broken butterfly with the power to be the Goddess of this cursed, darkened heart.” He leaned forward, pressing his lips to my forehead gently. “ My wife. ”I barely heard him murmur a spell against my sweaty forehead before a fiery, unyielding electricity shot through my entire body like a hellish bolt. Every nerve of mine convulsed, involuntarily contorting and causing my body to writhe uncontrollably as Ominis held my hair, attempting to still me. He hushed me as the pain spilled through my body and pressed little kisses to my head that I could barely feel as the spell continued to take its course. What the hell was that ? It hadn’t felt like Crucio or any other torturing spell Ominis loved to use on me. It was something new - something different and I… Everything felt so warm . So fuzzy . “I’ve got you, little moth.” Ominis’ voice sounded so far away as he pressed another kiss to my head before trailing down my cheek and jaw. When his mouth found mine and his lips brushed against me, I moaned. I could feel a small smirk on his lips as he kissed me, urging me to part my lips for him.And despite my feeble attempt to deny him, at least mentally, I did .I opened my mouth and let his tongue invade me, savoring that familiar flavor of him that I was slowly growing addicted to. It burned through me, like I was drinking him down and filling my belly, as his tongue coaxed mine into easy submission.
Why did this feel so good?
I whined when the tip of Ominis’ wand abruptly moved. It felt like a hot branding iron as he skimmed it back up my stomach and across my breasts. They felt so sensitive as he teased my hardening nipples, flicking them with his wand as his mouth devoured mine.
It was getting harder to breathe.
“This feels good, doesn’t it?” Ominis rasped between kisses, his teeth teasing my lower lip until I began to mewl from the pain. I couldn’t help but nod. I wanted more. Needed more. “ More. ” I whined into his mouth as his hand squeezed one of my breasts, kneading it roughly as my body began to writhe against him. He chuckled lightly, pulling away from my mouth with a small smirk on his face. “More of what, my darling?” He purred, tweaking one of my nipples before thumbing over the lingering sting. “Pain or pleasure?” “Both.” I huffed as he tugged it again harshly, my body squirming beneath his touch before he eased the pad of his gloved thumb over it. “You’ll have everything you want, little moth.” He leaned in and kissed me once more before placing his wand back in his cane, which he then gently set down on the ground.“But there’s something I want first.” My eyes were glued to Ominis as he sank down to his knees, just as he had at the dress shop the other day. It still made all the air leave my chest - watching him gracefully kneel before me - except now there was nothing between my naked wetness and that skillful mouth of his. I’d never seen something more beautiful. “I haven’t been able to get the taste of this little pussy out of my mind.” Ominiswhispered, his breath ghosting over my wetness. It sent shivers down my spine and my hips instinctually arched outwards, searching for the heat of his mouth. I remembered what that tongue felt like between my thighs and how he’d pushed me close to an edge I didn’t want to go over. But now I ached for it.
What was wrong with me?
Had I not just been clinging ferociously onto my resolve only moments ago? I’d set a boundary with myself that I would not submit my body to Ominis - no matter how good it felt. I was supposed to keep a tight grip on that leash because it was the right thing to do. Ominis was a monster and I did not want to be his victim.But all that amounted to nothing as I slowly spread my legs, baring myself to him. I wasn’t holding onto any leash, only my breath, as his tongue swiped between the folds of my pussy. “Fuck.” He hummed against me, using two fingers to part my lips to gain better access to my pussy. His tongue flicked against my clit and I buckled from the insane sensation it brought me. When he cornered me in the shop, I’d never felt anything like the pleasure of Ominis’ mouth before. It felt so damn good . But this was different... He’d done something to me. Whatever spell he’d used moments ago heightened every sensation. He’d found a way to bring me to the pinnacle of absolute, mind numbing pleasure and every touch was amplified to such an extreme I could barely handle it. And the bastard must’ve known it too because he went slow. So fucking slow . I was going to lose my mind.His tongue raked over my clit gently, languidly, and when he flicked over it he was careful not to pick up a steady rhythm. Instead he remained lazy with his strokes, and when his teeth teased me, it was gentle. Little nips and sucks that quickly made me a sobbing mess. If he’d gone any faster - even by the smallest fraction - I would’ve met my end. Damn him! Damn him for using magic to take away my desire to say no . All I wanted to say now was yes . Yes, Ominis . Don’t stop.
I’m yours.
Yours.
“Just like that, my darling.” Ominis purred against my slit. He licked from my center up to my clit, giving the latter a gentle nip, causing me to convulse. “You’re doing so good for me.” Those little words of praise shot through my body like a bolt of fiery electricity. Every nerve was at attention, aching for more of it. It wasn’t right - the way his praise did things to me. I craved the condescending tone and raspiness of his voice as he both degraded me and urged me on. “ Fuck - keep making those sounds for me, Eden,” he urged. “Cry for me while I eat this sweet little pussy.” And when his lips wrapped around my clit again, I nearly belted out a scream.
I was going to cum.
There was no holding my orgasm back any longer. Not when he hummed against my pussy and his tongue flicked a little faster. The tension rose higher in my belly as those strange eyes seemed to look up at me in the dimness of the room, as if he were watching my every reaction. But now I knew he was listening. Tasting. Smelling. Touching . All the things he’d made a point about earlier made so much sense. Now I was feeling everything at once and it was mind-shattering. The spell that had heightened my senses was too much - I couldn’t control myself.Ominis was obsessed with every one of my responses and how it made him feel as my hips undulated rapidly beneath his mouth. I knew it in the way a small, wicked smile curved upwards on his lips every time I let out a strangled moan.
It was too much.
“I can’t.” I whispered, sobbing through the intensity of the pleasure. I wasn’t going to be able to hold on any longer, “ I’m -” “You’re so close, aren’t you, Eden?” The way he rasped out my name nearly drove me over the edge. All I could do was furiously nod my head yes. “Do you want to cum for me, little moth?”, he chuckled softly.“Yes!” I cried out when he wrapped his lips around my clit again, sucking at it roughly until it popped out of his mouth with a wet, lewd sound.“Say it then.” Ominis said as he inched away from the unbearable heat between my thighs. My wetness coated his chin, a string of it keeping his mouth linked to my body as his face tilted up towards me with an expectant expression. “Tell me you’re mine and I’ll spoil this fucking pussy.” I could only shake my head - the ability to form words had long since left me again. It wasn’t that they were trapped, rather my mind had become a foggy, shambled thing. It was entirely consumed by the unbearable feeling between my thighs and how close Ominis’ mouth was to it. I needed him. I needed him to let the ownership talk stop for thirty fucking seconds and instead use that mouth to take me over the edge. My hips lurched forward with frustration, aching to find contact with his mouth once more. However he moved back, deliberately keeping his face away from my needy core as he waited for an audible response from me.
Always wanting words.
He was never satisfied unless I was vocal with him. “Om-Ominis.” I whined, offering him that small gift of my voice. I arched forward again, emphasising just how desperate I was for him. “ Please .” My neediness consumed me, filling me entirely. But I still felt so, so empty. I needed more. I wanted more. “Little moth…” Ominis responded with a seductive pur, the rumbling in his chest sending a shiver down my spine. He may have moved his mouth away, but his thumbs still kept me spread for him. He teased me, pulling my thighs further apart for him and sending another myriad of sensations through me, leaving me pathetically gasping for him. “Say. It.” I’m yours . Two words. That’s all he asked for. They would be so easy to say. One syllable each...On the tip of my tongue they tasted so sweet, like they were made of pure relief and honey. I ached to open my mouth and let those words spill out so I could reach that blissful end I was desperate to meet. I paused. I’m not yours. I had said that, hadn’t I? Only moments ago I had been firm with Ominis. That lust-filled fog ebbed away, if only for a moment - just long enough for me to remember the firm and unyielding ground I was supposed to be standing on. I’d been fighting with everything I had to hold onto myself moments ago. Was I truly about to give that all up for the sake of a fleeting orgasm? No. I wasn’t some thing to be had. I didn’t belong to Ominis Gaunt. And now there was a part of me that realized I didn’t belong to Greyson Bones either. Safety at the cost of being at the mercy of a sociopath was not my master.Nor was the pleasure of a blood-thirsty psychopath my mistress.I belonged to me. No one else.Even if Ominis had spelled me with something that made it impossible to think, let alone fight back, I could still fight to keep some control over myself . I had to. I forced myself to turn my head away from Ominis. It took so much self-control to do so, but the sight of my wetness running down his chin would forever be ingrained in my mind and continuing to look at him would only make holding onto that sliver of self-control harder. I took a deep breath and urged my body to still beneath his teasing touches. I fought to put out the flames.
Don’t give in.
“No.”Ominis’ body went rigid. He immediately let go of my pussy and stood before roughly grabbing me by the throat, causing me to gasp, as his gloved hand squeezed me tightly and he hissed, “ No?” “I -”, I gritted through my teeth as his grip became tighter, “I am not going to break.” It was becoming painful to breathe as his thumb pressed harder into the column of my throat, but I sucked in as much air as I could and spat out, “I am not yours.”Ominis smiled. It was a dark, cruel thing that made my blood run cold.“How long do you think you’ll hold onto that lie ?” He snapped. I shook my head to deny it was a lie. He leaned in, ghosting his lips over mine as my body, the jinxed whore that it was, arched into his touch. It was as if it expected another kiss as his lips hovered just above my own. He was breathing me in, denying me once again of the contact I craved.
Was it a lie?
It was hard to believe when my body instinctively tried to melt into his when he touched me. Even the sapid pain of his hand around my throat drove me to a pleasure I’d never known. Despite how much I mentally protested or denied him, I couldn’t say the same for my body and what he did to it . I felt like I was burning alive underneath his searing touch. I was writhing from the simple warmth and spicy scent of his breath fanning across my face. Gooseflesh was rising on my skin and my nipples had hardened painfully. I could even feel a rush of my slickness begin to drip down my thighs for him. I was a mess for Ominis.
So what was I holding onto? And why?
It was just two words.
I shook my head, defying both the little voice in my head and Ominis once more. Ominis had jinxed me with something that altered whatever rationality I had left. It focused solely on the pleasure and awful pain of his wicked touch, eager for more. But I wasn’t done here, not yet.“It’s not a lie.” I whispered.
I won’t give up.
We weren’t children anymore.
I won’t give up like I used to.
I’d let Ominis take everything from me willingly when we were children. It was true that I had little choice - he was the child of the prestigious house of Gaunt and I was nothing more than an inevitable squib - but I never stayed away from him. I never hid from him. I always went back to him, time and time again, despite the cruelty he inflicted on me. I was terrified. If I wasn’t obedient, it would hurt more the next time he learned a new spell or wanted to play with me.
It had to be different this time.
I had to fight for myself.
“Filthy liar!” Ominis growled as he took a step back, shoving me against the wooden beam as he did. “You know I don’t tolerate being lied to, Eden.” I swallowed down the lump that had begun to form in my throat. I knew defying him was a stupid act - a very dangerous act - but… I froze as I felt the binds around my wrists disappear. I lifted my hands to examine them, confused.
He was letting me go?
Wishful thinking, I thought as Ominis raised his wand and without muttering a single word lifted me off my feet. I wriggled in the grasp of the invisible magic, thrashing my body around as Ominis stood there. I watched his face and it almost seemed like he was deciding what exactly to do with me. I could see anger in the way his jaw tensed and my heart began to race. I could survive Ominis, I told myself, I’ve done it before. That was what I thought until I was turned upside down, my head only a foot above the ground with my backside pressed flush against the wooden beam. I sobbed as all the blood began to rush to my head, making the dizzying lust in my head feel so much worse.
Survive.
“No more than I have patience for these little games you continue to play with me.” Ominis sighed, taking a step closer. “You could be saving yourself so much trouble if you simply admitted what we both already know, little moth.” “Fu-Fuck you!” I gasped out a cry but Ominis only shook his head with disappointment. “Your choice, Eden.” He said, tilting his head to the side to crack his neck. “This can all end the second you choose to be honest with yourself.”
This can all end.
My heart thudded in my chest as I understood that what I thought had been cruel earlier was nothing compared to the plan Ominis now had in store for me. Even upside down, I could see wicked thoughts running through his mind as a slow smile spread across his face. My thudding heart stopped as a strange noise rumbled from his chest. It was something that sounded almost like hissing, but it was more of a weird whisper - like he was making words out of sounds.
I’d heard that before.
Once.
Back in the garden of his family’s home, I’d been entranced by the odd melodic sound of it. I realized all too late what it’d been when I was bitten by a little black snake.
Parseltongue.
My blood ran cold as something touched my leg . I strained myself to look up towards the top of the beam and my eyes widened as I saw black scales that almost seemed to have a dark green shift to them slither down the wood. I couldn’t hear the sound of Ominis speaking anymore as my heart thundered in my chest and his magic kept me from moving.All I could do was watch as a snake began to work its way down my leg, curling itself around my ankle then slowly up to my thigh. It constricted around the length of my leg, the pressure forcefully bending my knee until my foot was pressed against my ass cheek. I mouthed the word no as I watched another one slither down the beam, only to mirror its twin on my other leg. When both settled, they applied a little more pressure so my thighs completely spread open. They wrapped around each leg again until their heads finally came to a rest on my ankles.Ominis was still hissing, coaxing another one of those snakes to come from the floor. This one was much smaller and slithered its way up the beam to my hands, binding them to the post once more. Just like earlier, the more I tried to move or fight the constraints, the tighter it wound around my wrists.And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, Ominis coaxed another snake from the shadows. This one took its time coming to me, moving across the floor slowly. As it wound its way up the beam and around my neck, I felt its tongue flicker against my throat, trying to understand its surroundings. It squeezed slightly but enough to be uncomfortable, as its head eased upwards and went to rest between the valley of my breasts. I was going to be sick .Ominis was using fucking snakes to bind my body. This was wrong .“I’ll admit…” Ominis muttered softly as he closed the space between us, his hands rubbing at both my thighs before moving upwards, caressing the snakes that constrained my legs, “... This might be the one time I envy those who can see.” He was petting the damn things while I squirmed beneath his touch. I shook against all the bindings, sobbing at him, but that only made each snake squeeze a little harder, causing me to still. “Ah, ah,” Ominis tutted. “Be very careful, little moth. They don’t have quite the same self-control I do and you’d make such a delicious meal for them.” My eyes burned with tears. I was so scared . I thought I’d become accustomed to the way Ominis’ cruelty would be inflicted on me, but every time I thought I could survive him… he learned something new. And now I couldn’t help but wonder if I was wrong for denying him. If I pushed against him too far, would he kill me like he promised to earlier?I jolted as his hand settled on my thigh again, his fingers dancing over the flesh delicately. He made a line of those gentle touches from one to the next, purposefully keeping away from my center. I did my best not to jerk against his touch and the snake bindings. But I ached for him to touch me more . “How much is your innocence worth to you, Eden?” He asked, his fingers dancing just inches away from the lips of my swollen, aching pussy. “Is it worth the price of your lie?” I almost had a mind to answer him by telling him maybe, but a finger slowly began to tease my entrance in small circles. All thought was lost as he eased that finger inside me until there was slight pressure that made me wince.
‘How much is your innocence worth to you?’
Was he going to take my innocence with his fingers? My body squirmed at the idea of feeling him penetrate me like that, soaking his fingers in my blood as I lost my purity to him. I couldn’t tell if I was trembling from how disgusted I was at the thought of it or from how badly…I wanted him to ruin me.I got my answer when he retracted that finger, only to plunge it back inside me steadily, causing me to whine and squirm. “So fucking tight.” He whispered with awe, adding a second finger. I moaned as he used both to stretch me out then thrusted them fiercely inside me before curling them. I convulsed when he hit a spot inside me, one that felt so overwhelmingly good. It was utter bliss. He continued to hit that spot with each stroke of his fingers, making it impossible to remain still as my body reacted to the pleasure. The snake around my neck was beginning to constrict more in response, stealing away more of my air. “It’s a shame the first thing to truly fuck you won’t be my cock, my darling.” I immediately stilled despite the pleasure radiating between my thighs as he continued with his fingers. First thing ? “What -” I began to ask but Ominis suddenly pulled his fingers out of my clenching pussy. I shook against the binds, not caring for how tightly they squeezed me in return. What thing? I blinked away the tears in my eyes and scanned the room. That’s when I realized what exactly Ominis had in mind for me.
His cane.
“N-No!” I pleaded, shaking my head. The snake around my neck squeezed in response, making my airway taught as I fought to move. He couldn’t , this wasn’t right, and I- “Oh, yes .” Ominis chuckled darkly, his hearty amusement ringing around the room. He took a step back and lifted his cane, setting the cold metal point of it against my thighs as he caressed them with it. “If you were mine, sweet Eden…” he mused, rubbing the length of the cane across my swollen pussy. I should’ve felt disgust as it ran through my folds, but that damn jinx … I mewled from the touch of it. The friction was almost unbearable. But then he lifted it and slapped my cunt. I sobbed out a scream as he did it again and again. I began to plead with him, begging him to stop.
But not because it hurt.
“... It would have been my cock that took your precious innocence.” He continued, smacking my pussy with the cane again. Each swat of the cane felt more intense than the last, causing my pussy to swell more with each strike.
Not because it was wrong.
“My cock, coated in your blood.” Another swat.
Not because it was cruel.
“I would’ve untied you.” Another . “I would’ve sat you on top of me and let you ride me so you could learn what it was like to be filled.” Three more.
Not because I didn’t belong to him.
“I might’ve even been gentle , Eden.” Another. I was going to cum. Each strike of the cane slapped my clit right across the nub. I was trembling, shaking, and sobbing as he rubbed the cane across my pussy, granting me just a moment of reprieve. I was begging him to stop not because it hurt or was wrong or cruel - I was begging him to stop because it was so intense and felt so fucking good . “But you’ve chosen this - to not be mine!” Ominis snarled.I sniffled back the snot dripping from my nose and desperately blinked away the tears in my eyes as Ominis stopped touching me altogether. I strained my neck to look at him, only to find that the cane was no longer in his hand.It was floating in the air just above the apex of my thighs. “Please don’t!” I cried. “This all ends when you say those two little words, my darling.” Ominis said as he crouched down in front of me, caressing my face with the back of his gloved hand. He used his magic to lift me further up off the ground so that he barely had to bend to press his lips gently to mine. “This is all in your control.” My heart raced as I went back and forth on whether this was worth it - my pride, my autonomy. Were they worth the price of my virginity and the pain I was about to endure?
It all had to end at some point, didn’t it?
Could I endure Ominis’ wrath? “No.” I croaked.“Pity.” He sighed, giving my cheek a light pat before standing up. “ Descendo .” My heart stopped when the cane came down, swiftly forcing its way between my legs. I cried as it pressed harshly against the little bit of tissue that had dictated my worth for so long. I sobbed when it pressed hard enough to break it. But I barely had time to cope with the pain as Ominis began to roughly fuck me with the cane, thrusting it in and out at a rapid pace that I could barely register. I felt like I was going to be torn in half as it continued to plunge in and out of my clenching muscles relentlessly. Ominis stepped away, hardly caring for the way I succumbed to the feeling of his cane inside me. He sat down in the arm chair, crossing his legs, then picked up the glass on the table that had refilled itself. He sipped it slowly.He was enjoying this as if it were his favorite pastime. “Please -,” I cried as the cane plunged inside me again, “- stop!” But its pace never slowed, if anything it increased . It was hitting that special spot inside me, over and over. I was mewling uncontrollably, becoming a mess of tears and moans as I gave up trying to remain still for the sake of the restraints. The snakes constricted around me, tightening their hold until it became painful. It made everything feel so much worse . “Why are you crying, little moth?” Ominis chuckled darkly. “Isn’t this what you wanted? Pain, suffering, and your pussy filled?” “I-I- ah! ” I sobbed, barely able to get a single word out because he was right . The pain of losing my virginity lingered but that sting was adding to the blissful sensation of my pussy being rammed by his cane. I indeed felt filled and the tension in my belly was growing with each thrust.
What the fuck was wrong with me?! This was wrong!
The lewd sounds of the cane forcing its way in and out of me filled the room, along with the soft whining and near screams that fell from my lips. Everything became more fuzzy as time went on. The snake around my neck had eased but my breath still came ragged and uneven. I’d been upside down for so long. I felt delirious. But with every thrust, I inched closer to meeting my precarious end. “And now, my darling?” He asked as the cane paused inside me, causing me to writhe against it. I didn’t want it to stop - I’d been so close again and he’d taken it away and I… This was so sick and wrong . “N-no.” I huffed out, but that one little word felt like a lie. It burned my throat.“You’re so greedy for pleasure yet you won’t allow yourself to have it.” “Instead you’d rather get fucked by a cane… and just look at you .” Ominis said with a laugh as he raised his cup at me in a mock toast. “You’re on the verge of cumming from it, you fucking slut.” “Maybe I underestimated you. You’re so much harder to break than I thought, my darling.”
Was I?
I felt like I was standing over a ledge - one that was crumbling, unsteady and sitting over a dark hole. A hole filled with so many unknown monsters, all ready to tear me apart with their terrible, bloodthirsty teeth and awful claws. They’d enjoy ripping through chunks of my flesh and feasting on it.
Yet I felt intense warmth coming from that void.
It was the same kind of heat that radiated between my legs as the cane stalled inside me, my muscles clenching around it as I searched for more friction. I felt it just the same when Ominis smiled at me, swirling around the liquid in his glass.I’d reached a point of no return - I could either take that final step over the edge or fall back to safety. Pressure was coming down in spades for me to choose. And I wasn’t sure how much longer I could straddle the blurred line of right and wrong, especially when this felt right..“I’ll ask you again, little moth.” Ominis took another swig of his drink before setting the glass back down. He adjusted himself in the chair, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees and his fingers were laced together. His head was cocked expectantly at me and he wore that feline-like smile on his lips. “Do you want to continue down this path, Eden?” “What… what path, Ominis?” I gasped out a cry as tears burned at my eyes again.I was so tired .Ominis seemed to have endless patience for the practice of torturing and manipulating my body. He thrived off every little cry and moan that fell from my lips. It was like it fueled him. “Why are you doing this?” I sobbed as tears ran down my forehead until they soaked my hair. “Isn’t it obvious?” Ominis huffed out a half-chuckle before settling back into his seat. His elbow rested on the arm, his face leaning on his fist. I swear he was staring directly into my eyes.“I love you, little moth.” “Love?!” I spat, incredulous. “This isn’t love, Ominis!” “Is it not?” Ominis’ brows furrowed together in confusion as he cocked his head slightly. “I brought you to the brink of ecstasy but you do not consider that affection? Is worshipping your body not the pinnacle of absolute adoration? This whole evening has been for you, my darling.” “I don’t want this!” I yelled, hiccuping a sob as shame filled me. My body was still writhing with want . My hips were idly causing the cane to move and create the slowest, smallest amount of friction to ease the ache between my thighs. Despite how my body moved and what it wanted, I was still telling him no . No matter how much I cried and pleaded for mercy and for him to stop and let me go, I yearned for more of Ominis’ wicked touch.The tears I shed weren’t from the frustration I felt at being held against my will, tied down, or being fucked with an object. No - those parts had somehow become the most tolerable things about the situation I found myself in. I cried because I was lost .
I wanted Ominis despite how wrong it was.
“Liar!” Ominis snarled, standing up and storming towards me. I could feel his anger and it made me cringe back against the beam, causing the serpents to squeeze me a little harder. “You keep lying to yourself and to me !” He all but sneered at me from where he had stopped to stand, inches away from where my head dangled before lifting me once again so that I was eye level to him. “But I know you better than that, Eden. I know you better than you know yourself.” “You know nothing about me-” “I know that you thrive on pain.” Ominis said before uttering something in parseltongue. The snake around my throat began to shift, its head moving closer to one of my breasts. Then it bit down on the supple, sensitive flesh.I sputtered a cry as its fangs dug deep, piercing through the skin of my breast. I convulsed against it, squeezing the cane inside me as my orgasm teetered so close to that ledge again. “I can hear how hard your heart beats despite how much your silly little mind fights against what you want .” I could hear the smirk on Ominis’ face without having to see it. It was so hard to argue as the lingering sting of the bite made my chest heave and my nipples pebble again. “I also know what a beautiful thing that mind of yours is.” He added, crouching down so his face was level with mine. “You were always asking questions, always so curious. It’s a sharp weapon you have there,” he said as he tapped my head. “A weapon you refuse to use because you’ve chosen to remain silent all of your life.” His fingers caught my hair, stroking it downwards and pushing it carefully behind my shoulder where it nearly fell over my face. “At least until tonight, that is. And I must tell you, little moth, you’ve used that pretty voice of yours to wound me quite a bit.”
I’m not yours. No. I don’t want this.
All those little sentences I’d been brave enough to shout at him had cut him deep enough that he saw my tongue as a weapon. Something about that made my heart wrench as his fingers caressed my cheek. “But that’s not the biggest secret I know about you.” He moved closer, his mouth hovering over my ear. “Deep down, Eden…”“...You’re just like me .” My blood cooled as he inched away. Like… like him? He was a monster . I’d never intentionally hurt something the way he had. Never. But then I remembered tearing the wings off the butterflies, never denying him as a child, and always seeking his company. Like we were one in the same. “Both broken and cursed but capable of so much more.” Ominis added, growing quiet after a moment. I sniffled into the silence, his words sinking into my skin like the sweat that coated my exhausted body.
Broken and cursed.
He was right . I was broken from the House that made me and cursed by the one I was born to.
Were Ominis and I truly not so different from one another?
The thought that we may share anything similar together rocked me to my core, shaking the foundation of my being. I’d held onto the idea that Ominis was a wicked, cruel thing not capable of empathy. Of relating. But now I wasn’t sure what to think anymore. What was I still fighting for? I peered up at Ominis.I studied the face I’d come to know as pure evil in the flesh. Underneath the breathtaking plains of his face, there was surely a wicked monster. It lived behind those strange, haunting eyes of his. Yet I still saw the boy of my childhood in those eyes. A sad, strange little creature who was only capable of being brutal. And now… he wanted, no, needed me .
What had broken and cursed Ominis for him to become this monster?
My heart began to race in my chest. The longer I stared at him, the more desire rekindled in the pit of my belly. As his lips parted slightly, I couldn’t stop myself from idly writhing against where I’d been impaled with the cane, which was half seated inside my aching pussy.“You and I are the same, little moth.” He whispered, leaning in to press a fleeting kiss to my lips. “Can’t you see that?” “I…” The words caught in my chest. They felt blocked by that dam I’d spent years building to protect myself. But this time I wanted to talk to Ominis. To say something. Anything .“We’re two wings of the same, torn apart little butterfly.” Ominis murmured against my lips, the warmth of his breath sent shivers down my spine. “Tattered and wrong but beautiful together.” “Stop fighting me, Eden. Move your wing in tandem with mine.” He kissed me again, stealing my breath away. He was rough, urging me to continue the kiss until I became breathless. “Say it, my little moth.”
Yours… I’m…
Everything I thought I knew teetered on those two little words. If I said them I’d relinquish all control to him . When I thought of what that meant to me, my stomach felt so strange. I inhaled deeply, a hitched sob following it, as I finally said those two little words Ominis Gaunt had wanted to hear the entire night.“ I’m yours, Ominis .”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Ominis Gaunt
“ I’m yours, Ominis .”That little sing-song voice of hers echoed through the room over and over. ‘I’m yours. I’m yours. I’m yours .’ Those two little words left me just as breathless as her and we both had all but stopped breathing. It was as if she were holding her breath to allow the room to become silent enough so that she might hear the thoughts inside my head. But the moment she’d spoken - no. She’d done more than just speak . Eden had submitted herself to me . Everything in my world outside of those two damning words and the way my name fell off her tongue now ceased to exist .‘ I’m yours, Ominis.’ Fuck . That simple combination of words left me with nothing . It devastated every coherent thought, raging emotion, and despicably deplorable idea that had been running through my mind. It ruined me.I was a hollow shell filled only with the strange warmth of her submission and the insatiable need to be inside her - to claim her - and show her exactly what it meant to be mine . However tiny little wisps of doubt bloomed in the back of my mind.
Did she mean it?
There was a silence that passed between us as she caught her breath in a slow,steady rhythm. In and out so carefully that it almost seemed rehearsed as the sounds of her absently writhing followed each breath.
Was my little moth lying?
Poor little Eden was in such a state indeed. She’d been left breathless, bloody, swollen, and needy. Broken in all the right ways.
All the ways I wanted her to be.
But was submitting herself to me just a ploy to end her misery?
Or was she telling the truth? Did she desire this?
“ Ominis …” Eden’s voice was little more than a whisper yet it beckoned me like a siren’s call. My name on her lips was enough to pull me back to her and away from the spiraling doubt that my little moth was anything but mine . As I took a step closer to her I decided that it mattered very little whether she was telling the truth or not. The moment she’d spoken those words aloud it was all over for her.Whatever intentions laid behind those pretty words meant nothing. Eden was mine . Nothing would change that.“Eden.” I purred, answering her call. Absently my hands tugged on the magic that surrounded her, informing me of her exact whereabouts. The magic spun around her like a web, attached to every limb and inch of her body. She couldn’t make a single move without me knowing.With that same magic I kept her levitated high enough for us to be at eye level with each other. Tracing a gloved finger down the side of her cheek, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “My sweet, broken little moth.” “You’ve done so well for me, haven’t you?” I whispered against her lips before taking her lower one between my teeth. She whimpered when I bit down on it and fuck - the sound went straight to my cock. It throbbed eagerly for her as I sucked the bit of flesh between my lips. I rolled my tongue over it, pleased with the small bit of blood that pooled on her lip before taking a step backwards. I’d expected an answer from her but only silence had passed between us. Eden’s breath was warm and sweet against my lips, her own searched for mine after I released hers. I thought with how eager she was for my touch that she’d answer my questions with little hesitation. Yet she remained quiet despite her impatience. The magical binds around her began to vibrate again. She was thrashing against their hold . A small smile tugged my lips upwards at her display of frustration. It was adorable.Eden had let herself and her silly little pride go with her words. Why was she still playing games with me ? There was no reason for her foolishness in denying me answers any more. I had no more tolerance for her refusing to give me her voice. Not when that belonged to me too.
Every part of her was mine.
“My darling.” I warned, absently adjusting one of my gloves around the wrist. “You will answer me when I speak to you.” Eden’s only reply was a subtle shift in her breathing - something that sounded like fear by how it hitched in her throat. It made my fingers twitch. This was just another moment that I cursed the universe for my lack of sight. I wanted to know what apprehension looked like when Eden wore it. Did she bite her lip? Did she pout? Were her brows furrowed? Were her eyes full of tears?
If I could see her, would I be able to tell what she was so afraid of?
Eden had never been the most talkative child. She saved her voice solely for me at that age - asking her incessant questions and crying when given the right motivation. She was always so curious, whether it was with the world around her or the pain that only I could inflict. But it seemed in the time we’d spent apart whatever was left of her voice had either been stolen from her or locked away.. I aimed to find out why. Was it by her own design or that of the Bones’? They’d clearly broken something that didn’t belong to them - something that was mine by right and bound in blood. Now that Eden was back where she belonged, by my side, she wasn’t allowed to hide any longer. “So I’ll ask you again…” I grabbed her cheeks, squeezing them together. Not enough to hurt her but enough to remind her that my gentleness was conditional. “You’ve been a good girl for me, haven’t you?”“Y-yes.” Eden whined from between her squished cheeks and the satisfaction that sound brought me nearly made me groan. “I-I…” The way her voice broke made a shiver run down my spine. I was ruined by this creature, completely helpless when she opened her mouth to let out any pretty little sound. Merlin, I ached to hear every kind she could make. “You what , sweet Eden?” I mocked her, tightening my grip on her slightly. Her whines became soft cries but she still refused to finish that sentence. She only stammered. Maybe I wasn’t putting enough pressure in the right places. With my free hand I manipulated the magic attached to the cane. It slowly began to pick up its pace again, moving with a rhythm that was unhurried and horribly drawn out. It inched out of her, little by little, only to plunge back inside her with that same slow momentum. The magical binds along her body tightened again, telling me she was writhing once more as little sobs fell from her lips.“ Tell me what you want and it’s yours .” “I…” She audibly swallowed between ragged gasps. “I want…” Progress , I thought with a slow smile. It was more than just her stammering over her I’s , though words were failing her more and more as the seconds ticked by. She began to moan softly, relaxing into the binds and leaning into the steady pumping of the cane.My little moth was so deliciously depraved despite all her earlier protests. I was drunk on how much she was enjoying being fucked by my cane. The magic around her gleaned that she was arching her hips upwards to meet the rod’s thrusts as if she could make it reach deeper inside her or use her body to move it faster. I couldn’t tell what she ached for more - deeper or faster? All my magic told me was that Eden was on a precarious path towards the climax of her pleasure. “Do you want to cum, Eden?” I offered, finishing her train of thought. I felt only a little bit of pity for the poor creature, but I didn’t want to give her that satisfaction yet.
Not when we could have so much more fun first.
“Y-yes!” She hiccuped out with a cry.“Do you think you’ve earned that right?” I asked. “P-please -” Eden started but her breath hitched again, cutting off any words she might’ve used to beg for more. I’d interrupted her by tugging on the magic of the cane again to force it to speed up ever so slightly. Just that little bit of added pressure was enough to make Eden’s mind melt again and the satisfaction that brought me went straight through me. It made me want to keep her at the end of her rope forever, inches away from an end that only I could bring her. All of Eden’s moans, screams, pleasure, pain, and eventual orgasms belonged to me . Every depraved thought, immoral desire, and sexual curiosity of hers would be mine . I was having too much fun playing with each and every one of those tonight. I was high on the sound of her crying and the soft, lewd squelching of her cunt being fucked with an unconventional object that belong to me. It was the same kind of strange ecstacy I felt when we were children. Adrenaline would burn hot in my veins over Eden’s most simple cries. It was addictive -the way she’d hiccup a sob when I sliced a knife across her arm at just the right angle. Then I’d do it again and again, listening to the changes in the pitch of her sobs. Hearing how ragged her breath would grow when I tested out a new curse on her, followed by the softest of pleas for me to stop… Fuck. Until tonight I didn’t know she was capable of even sweeter sounds than that. Despite all the pleasure I derived at the expense of Eden’s anguish, she always found her way back to me with that same blissfully ignorant curiosity in her voice, as if I hadn’t broken her for the umpteenth time the day prior.Now that we were older and I’d learned new ways to break her since our days playing in the garden, I ached to see how far I could push her. This time she may have broken due to her need for release and given me her submission in return, but there was so much left to learn. Would she still give in to me after I left her shaking and full of want in nothing more than a pool of her own desire and blood? I needed to hurt her.I was desperate for her desolate, miserable cries. I needed to get drunk on the taste of her anguish-laced tears and sink my claws into her mind, devastating it until the only thing she ever thought of was me . Her fear and pain sustained me .
I needed to consume them.
“There’s that pretty word again.” I sighed, letting go of her face. “You know just how much I love hearing it.” “But I have something else in mind this time, my darling.” I said as I dipped forward, catching her lips. She moaned into my mouth as I devoured her, barely able to keep up. My tongue invaded her mouth, demanding every sigh and whimper as I drank from her. As my tongue lapped over hers, the cane began to thrust faster inside her, rewarding me with another myriad of garbled sounds, all desperate and pathetic.Only when she began to scream did I release her. “Beg for it, little moth.” I murmured softly against her lips, cradling her face in my hands.“ Beg for me to let you cum .”Flexing that wandless magic again, the cane began to pick up an erratic pace. The room was filled with the wet, sloppy sounds of it fucking her. Those beautiful sounds were accompanied by her sweet, breathless cries as I continued to hold her face firmly.“Please…” She whined but I shook my head, my thumbs caressing her cheeks. “ Please .” “Come on my darling, you can do so much better than that.” I chuckled as she let out another lovely sob.The cane’s pace became nearly violent, thrusting into her vigorously as she squirmed in my magic and against the snakes’ hold. “Give me a full sentence. Come on, you can do it, love.” “Please, Ominis! Please let me cum!” Eden cried, the sentence falling from her lips like a fervent prayer.
What kind of God would I be if I didn’t answer her?
“Please let me cum, please let me cum, please-” A cruel one. I clenched my fist and the cane ceased moving altogether. “What?! Please! I-I…” Eden whined in protest as she lost the friction that had nearly driven her to a release. I kept the cane in place, still and unmoving, as I listened to the frustration in her erratic breaths.She’d been so close . So fucking close again . My poor little moth . Perhaps I should’ve felt some pity for her, given that she was still tied up and impaled, and so, so desperate, depraved, and full of need. Eden had done so well for me by begging for a release that no longer belonged to her. She even managed to keep herself from losing her self-control and disobeying me. It would’ve been so easy for her to cum all over the cane without so much as a please and yet…“My good girl.” I cooed, pressing another kiss to her lips. “My sweet girl.” I had every intention of letting Eden cum. It was only a matter of how and when .There was one thing I had in mind to do before I’d allow her to meet that end. A taste of that forbidden fruit I’d been craving since I first savored it so many days ago. It was here, hanging before me and flowing with more than just the fragrant juices I’d grown desperate for. It now dripped with her ruined innocence and I was aching to taste it. “You’ve done such a good job for me.” I praised Eden as I used my magic to slowly ease the cane out of her pussy. The little whimpers that fell from her lips as it retracted from her only made it more tempting to inch it out even slower. The miserable little noises she made felt so fucking good to hear. So small, so pathetic, and all for me . “Good girls deserve to cum, don’t they?” I whispered against her lips, smiling when they parted in a gasp as the cane finally popped out of her. Her ragged breath was warm against my mouth as I claimed hers, kissing her roughly as her sweet, honey flavor coated my tongue. As I drank from her mouth, I used my magic to move the cane to rest against the armchair behind us. I’d clean it later…
Perhaps I’d employ that delicious mouth of hers to do so.
“Y-yes, please.” Eden whimpered, this time with little hesitation. I hummed against her mouth. She was realizing I had no patience for her silence anymore and her release would only be found at my pleasure. “ Please .” I smiled against her mouth. Even if it was just small little steps like these, where she begged and pleaded for something I had no intention of giving her yet, it showed she could easily be motivated… if given the right prize. Eventually I would train her well enough to not even need a reward in exchange for using that beautiful voice of hers.
One day she’ll cry on command just to please me.
Wordlessly I pulled away from her lips and manipulated the magical binds around her so she’d be right side up for the first time in over an hour. I decided to leave the snakes coiled around her thighs and ankles, keeping her spread open for me. I raised her body a little more, making her pussy level with my mouth. I hiss as the smell of her arousal hits me. I almost lose it - lose everything - at just the mere scent of her. It takes every ounce of self-control I have to not throw her to the floor and fuck her into it until her pathetic cries become unbridled screams. But I want - no, I need - to taste Eden. I need to drink from her and fill my belly with her essence until I’m drunk on her and she floods my veins, becoming a part of me. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking of the taste of her pussy and how soaked and needy she’d been for me since the day in the shop. Or how she’d nearly fell apart for me in a shitty little wedding dress meant for another man. And now, days later, she was spread open again, dripping and ready for me . But this time she wasn’t wearing a dress or in the mood to marry some fucking bastard who should’ve been utterly disposed of instead of simply maimed. Eden was spread open, with my snakes around her body, my name on her lips, and her need entirely for me .
Eden belonged to me.
I took a step forward, running my hands over the open expanse of her thighs. I was careful to keep my touch out of the way of the snakes’ binds, trailing underneath her thighs to grip them. I roughly pulled her in close and immediately flicked my tongue over her clit. Eden’s body convulsed as I circled her clit, careful not to put too much pressure. I used the flat of my tongue to explore downwards, running through her folds to her entrance. Her sweetness flowed freely, reminding me just how starved of a man I was. “ Fuck, Eden .” I groaned against her. The warm, sweet flavor of not only her wetness but her blood filled my mouth. It ran over my tongue and down my throat. I guzzled it as if I’d never had a drop of something to drink in my life. It took over every sense I had, making me crazed with need for her. She was fucking delicious and it was enough to nearly undo me as I swirled my tongue around her tightness again. “This ruined little pussy tastes so fucking good.”Eden’s hips bucked in response as little whimpers fell from her mouth. I drove my tongue inside her, easing it in and out. I began to slowly fuck her with it until she began to desperately whine. I was addicted to how responsive my little moth was. My every touch, every word, and every action stirred something inside her.I ran my tongue back up to her clit where I flicked it over and over until she began to moan and beg for release again. I chose to ignore her pleas, content with viciously teasing her instead. I studied her every response, learning very quickly what made her squirm and cry out with delight. I found she’d mewl when my lips closed around her clit and tremble if I sucked on it harshly. She’d nearly meet her end when my teeth grazed it before clamping down around it with a hum. Eden enjoyed the more pleasurable touches, but there was something about pain that always seemed to push her a little further. She probably wouldn’t admit it, but perhaps in time she’d realize she was every bit the masochist she pretended not to be. She was so afraid of me yet every little touch of hurt I gave her made her arch further into my mouth, as if she were asking for more. “ Ominis.” Eden whined as I trailed my tongue back to her entrance, diverting her from the orgasm that was just out of her reach. “ Please .” “Do you still want to cum, Eden?” I asked with a smile, running the flat of my tongue up and down her slit.“Yes!” She all but screamed at me when I flicked my tongue gently over her clit. “I’m not sure you’ve earned it yet.” I let out a sigh before pressing a kiss just over the mound of her pussy. I straightened myself and stepped away from her. “You may have given me pretty words, but you haven’t proven anything to me.” Those little wisps of doubt still danced to a tune where Eden was clutching her pride and lying to my face. I couldn’t help but join in on their merriment. If done right, testing her pride might snuff those flames of doubt out completely.“What - w-why!?” Eden whined but I could hear the dejection in her voice. I knew there were tears falling down her cheeks as the tethers of magic around her convulsed violently. My little moth was throwing a tantrum. Poor thing.I turned away from her squirming body, walking back to the armchair where I sat down. The glass next to me had been refilled. I picked it up and slowly sipped from it as I enjoyed the feeling of her trembling in the magic’s hold.“Your first orgasm tonight is mine , Eden.” I said, setting the glass down. “You will cum around my cock.” “I…” She started, but I shook my head.“Shhh, my darling.” I stopped her. “As much as I want to hear your beautiful voice, I need you to do something else for me now.” The magic began to rearrange her again, slowly lowering her onto her knees. “ Rebind around her arms. Lock them behind her back .” I commanded in Parseltongue. “ Wrap yourself around her head and blind her, smaller one. When you’re finished, connect yourselves. ”The resounding hiss moments later told me the three had done as instructed, linking together in such a way that the smaller of the three tugged Eden’s head back slightly. “Ominis-” “ Crawl to me, little moth .” I heard the sound of a sniffle before the slow thumping of knees scooting across the floor. I did not have much in the way of sight as I relied mostly on my magic, but I could just make out her form inching closer. It was a truly pathetic display - her arms behind her back, her knees scraping against the wooden floor… and she was trying so fucking hard not to cry. This was what I wanted. Proof that Eden meant it when she said she was mine. If she was holding onto her pride she would’ve tried to play her silly little games and denied me yet again. But here she was crawling on her knees to me despite how humiliating the gesture was. All those wicked thoughts of doubt ebbed away, snuffed out by her display of devotion . Then there was the matter of how hard my cock was as it throbbed, eagerly bobbing in the air as it waited for her. My hand was already around the base, slowly stroking it only half way up its length and then back down again. I was solely focused on the sound of Eden’s knees scooting across the floor, knowing her knees would be bloodied and bruised by the time she found me. Fuck - the thought of how she was hurting herself just to please me drove me to fist myself a little more urgently. Instead of just halfway, I ran my palm upwards towards the crown of my cock, rolling the pad of my gloved thumb over the tip where pre-cum collected before running back down the length.There was a shift in the floor and in the magics hold and Eden let out a startled sob when she stumbled. I practically began to fuck my own hand to the sound of it. “Don’t hurt yourself, my darling.” I chuckled. It took every ounce of control I had not to raise my hips into my hand as I slowed my movements down. But the tension in the base of my spine was already rising to a dangerous degree and I’d be damned if I spilled my cum anywhere but inside of Eden’s cunt tonight.When Eden finally reached me, I lightly caressed the snake that covered her eyes and gently ran my fingers through her hair. “You’re such an obedient thing.” I hummed, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead, then down to her nose before I captured her lips with mine. “ My sweet little wife .”I felt a frown turn down the corners of her mouth as she started to say, “I’m not…” “Ah, ah.” I chuckled, nipping at her lower lip. “Semantics, my darling.”“This was always going to end with you being my wife .” I told her, kissing her once more as I rested my hands on each of her shoulders. “You were always going to be mine and now…” I carefully pushed her back slightly as I rose and began to walk around her. I’d been waiting for this moment - where she was bound and her sight stolen away from her. A moment where I could finally release my hands from these gloves and touch her without fear of her seeing me for the wretched, rotting thing I was becoming. I started with her hair, enjoying the silky texture as I ran a single finger through it before twirling the end. Next was her bare shoulder. Her skin was so soft… I nearly got lost in stroking it. I wanted to touch every inch of her skin. Every cell.From behind her I leaned forward, pressing my nose into her hair just above her ear. I inhaled her scent - it was like jasmine and vanilla, with a hint of something I couldn’t put my finger on. It was intoxicating . “I’m going to show you what it means to belong to me, Eden.” I whispered. Gripping the back of her neck, I began to pull her up off her knees. “Ominis?” There was hesitation in her voice but she didn’t fight me as I guided her onto the cushion of the chair. She sat on her knees with her chest pushed into the chair’s backing. “Shhh, my darling.” I caressed the side of her neck with my thumb, easing her worry as I adjusted her hips with my other hand. Like this, with her ass in the air, she was perfect and ready for me. “There we go. Sit still - just like that.” I let go of her neck and brushed her hair over one shoulder as I began to slowly trail my fingers down her back. I was mesmerized by the softness of her skin and intrigued by the little sounds she made as I dragged my nails across her flesh, just hard enough to draw a little blood. “Such a responsive little creature you are.” I murmured, adding a little more pressure to the bite of my nails until she let out a sad little whine. “You like that, don’t you?” When I made it to the center of her back where her arms were bound, I gripped her wrists with one hand while the other trailed down her body to the inside of her thigh. Eden’s body jolted as I lightly traced my fingers over the supple flesh, drawing circles until she began to shiver with need beneath my touch. I loved how Eden trembled for me as I parted her thighs further, spreading her open for me. She sucked in a breath as my hand ghosted over the heat of her pussy, my palm just barely touching where she wanted me most.“I’ve been waiting for you for what feels like an eternity, little moth.” I muttered as I gently skimmed my fingers up and down her drenched slit.“There have been so many times I’ve thought about your body,” I added, circling a finger around her entrance, “and what it would feel like to be seated deep inside you.” I slowly eased that finger inside her, groaning at the way her wet muscles clenched around it as I plunged deeper. “I fantasized so many times about how I’d take your innocence, Eden... and how your blood would coat my cock when it was all said and done.” “But you wanted to play games with me, my darling.” I sighed as I added a second finger inside her and began the task of stretching her pussy so she’d be ready for me. She was so damn tight though. Even if I worked her well it would be - it didn’t matter. Her pussy was mine and I’d make it t ake my cock. “Unfortunately we both lost tonight, didn’t we? I missed the delicious privilege of taking away your most coveted virtue and you , well…” I laughed as she whined when I added a third finger. “ You lost your virginity to a fucking cane .” Eden’s breath hitched with a sob as I hummed another chuckle and began thrusting all three fingers into her wildly. “This is the first and the last time I will lose anything to your childish antics, Eden.” “I hope you learned your lesson.” I paused, stilling my fingers inside her as I leaned forward to press my lips to her ear. With this angle, my fingers eased into her all the way to the knuckle. She cried out as I stretched each digit apart inside her.“Or have you not?” “Y-yes.” Eden swallowed hard. Her body arched back into my fingers, searching for more friction to ease the ache raging inside her. “I have!” “Good girl.” I purred into her ear and pressed a kiss to the side of her head as I began to pick up the pace of my fingers again. My thumb grazed her clit and her entire body convulsed as I pressed the pad in harshly. “My sweet, beautiful girl.” “I’m going to destroy you.” I whispered before retracting my fingers from her. She whined in protest, her ass grinding back against the air. Ignoring her I brought my fingers to her mouth, rubbing her wetness across her lips until they parted for me. She eagerly took them into her mouth, licking and sucking them clean of her own arousal. “I’m going to devastate you. Your body, your mind… everything you believe yourself to be.” As I removed my fingers from her mouth I straightened myself. I kept one hand around her wrists as I took my cock in my hand. “I’m going to reshape you in my image, and by the end of it all, you’ll be just as fucked up as I am, Eden.” She gasped when I began to rub the tip of my cock through her wetness, carefully making sure to bump her clit. She began to throw her ass back against me like a desperate whore, seeking more contact. “Look how eager you are, little moth.” I hummed with a chuckle, pausing to slap my cock against her swollen folds a few times before positioning myself at her entrance. “Tell me what you want and it's yours.” “P-please… I want…” Eden’s voice was low as her breath hitched, her body trembling against me as I patiently waited for her to speak. “I need…”. She sputtered a few words at a time, pathetically trying to string them together until finally…“ I need your cock inside me, Ominis .” That was all it took for me to swiftly plunge my cock inside her, ignoring her scream of protest. I roughly thrusted every single inch into her until I felt the tip of my cock hit her cervix and even then I wasn’t all the way inside her. This was what it felt like to be inside my Eden. It was warm, tight, and the closest I’d ever get to heaven. My fingers flexed around her wrists as I sucked in a breath, trying to calm the tension rapidly growing in the base of my spine. It was all too much - the feeling of her spasming and clenching around me, pulling me deeper. The little pants of pleasure and pain falling from her lips. Her body shivering beneath mine. How she breathlessly called out my name as she tried and failed to adjust to my cock. It nearly un fucking did me.“ F-fuck .” A groan rumbled in my chest as I gripped her wrists with both my hands. I slowly eased out of her, lost in the way she gripped me, then violently snapped my hips forward. She cried out as her pussy spasmed around me again, clutching me even harder than before as I repeated the motion over and over. “You’re so fucking tight , Eden.” “I’m going to ruin this little pussy -” I started, slightly unsettled by the way my voice had gone gravely and low. I was beginning to find a pace that made her body quiver and her pussy grip me so fucking tightly as I undulated my hips. I was lost in the knowledge that my cock was being coated in both her wetness and her blood as I thrusted into her. “And fuck it every day and night for the rest of forever - until its perfectly molded to the shape of my fucking cock.” Eden’s responding moan almost sent me over the edge as I plunged deeper into her, hitting her cervix with every thrust of my hips. She squeezed me harder and I couldn’t help but smile. My little moth adored the mixture of pleasure and pain and seemed to want even more of it as she pressed her ass further back. She wanted to take the whole length of my cock, despite her pussy being full. There were still a few inches that her small body wouldn’t be able to take though. “I won’t stop there either, little moth.” I huffed as I began to slam into her even harder. Her soft moans became garbled screams of pleasure. “Not until you’re leaking with my cum every moment of the day and I put my fucking baby inside your belly.” The idea of her body being round with my child sent shivers through me even though I’d no intention of having any. But there was something about the way Eden’s pussy gripped me that had me envisioning a time where I’d breed her and ruin her body, making it fully fucking mine in the most complete of ways. Suddenly fatherhood felt tempting - almost . “You’re going to be a good little wife for me, aren’t you, Eden?” I hummed, gripping her wrists tighter as I adjusted the angle of my hips ever so slightly, just enough that I’d hit that hidden sweet spot inside her. Her body spasmed as I did, my cock sliding against it with every thrust. “You’ll take this fucking cock and beg me to fill your pussy up every day, won’t you ?” “I-I…” Eden’s voice was nothing more than a mixture of garbled, unintelligible moans and cries as I mercilessly pounded into her pussy. There was some hesitation in those strange sounds but she quickly swallowed it down and moaned, “Y-yes, I will!” “Good girl.” I groaned, losing the little bit of self-control I had left of my body. I became unrelenting and savage as I ravaged her body, unable to hold myself back from letting my violent desire to own her every sense take over. I’d been waiting so long for this moment - where I was so deep inside her she cried for me . I was going to fuck every ounce of my need into her before the night was over. “Ominis, please, I… I can’t…” “Oh, my darling, I know .” I huffed a breathy chuckle as I eased my pace, slowing myself down as I leaned forward to speak directly into her ear. “You need to cum, don’t you? You’re so fucking needy to cum around my cock that you can barely speak. That’s okay, I know words are hard for a pathetic little creature like you.” Eden shook her head against me, crying as I gave a shallow thrust of my cock that had me slamming into her cervix once more. “Shh, it’s alright. Sluts don’t need words. They just need to use their pretty voices to cry out and enjoy their bodies being fucked. Just like you’re doing, my darling.” Straightening myself, I let go of her hands and ran mine down her back until I found the plumpness of her ass. I gripped it in my hands, rubbing it gently before delivering a series of slaps against the flesh. Eden let out a strangled cry and her pussy began to rapidly spasm around me. It wasn’t like before - where she clenched in pleasure and was hanging by a precarious thread so close to her end - this time she violently convulsed and pulsated around my cock so hard that I hissed. My little moth was cumming from the pain of being spanked . And without permission . “Little moth, I’m disappointed in you.” I swiftly pulled out of her, ruining her orgasm just as it began. Eden began to sob, her body trembling with her unfulfilled climax as she writhed backwards, desperately seeking my touch. “Did that orgasm belong to you?” She continued to cry instead of answering me, muttering little things that sounded like insults and ungratefulness as she still attempted to seek me. I chose to ignore her insolence, just this once, because my poor little moth was at her wits end having been denied what she wanted so many times tonight. Instead I sharply slapped my hands against both her asscheeks again and again. “Who did it belong to, Eden?” Another series of spankings had her sobbing as I idly rubbed my palms against the warm flesh. “No - no! Not me!” She whined as she tried to move her ass away from the reach of my hands. She’d had enough punishment it seemed, but I firmly kept my grip on her and eased the stinging pain on her ass between spanks. “ Who does it belong to ?” “You, Ominis. It belongs to you.” Eden sniffled as I reached for my gloves again, slowly putting them on as I reveled in the way she sobbed for me. “I’ll forgive you this one time, my darling, since it's your first offense. But next time…” I slapped her ass once more, my cock twitching as she cried out. “I won’t show this ass any fucking mercy.”Eden hiccuped some kind of gratefulness that I was done abusing her poor ass as I reached down to grab her by the hips. I flipped her over on the chair then roughly lifted her upwards. Half her body was in the air as the other half rested against the chair. Her legs dangled over my arms. “Ah!” She gasped as I immediately thrusted myself back inside her. “ You, smallest, unblind her and coil yourself around her throat tight enough that she struggles to breathe.” I bit out in Parseltongue. There was a quiet hiss in response as the snake began to move towards Eden’s throat. “I want you to see where we meet and how you stretch so beautifully for me.” I explained to her.Leaning forward slightly, I parted my lips, allowing saliva to pool in my mouth before gently spitting it out so it’d string down to her clit. I felt her shiver as it connected with her, coating her little nub and hopefully dripping downwards to her stomach as I reached down to press my thumb to her clit once more. “Look how well you take me despite how fucking tight your pussy is.” My thrusts became wild as I rubbed circles around her clit, drunk on the sounds of not only her moans but the sloppy, wet sounds of my cock driving into her. “Do you see it? It's like you were made for me, little moth.” “I want your eyes on me. I want you to fucking look at me when you cum despite how much hate you say you have for me inside you.” “Ah, I-I, fuck!” Eden’s moans became more garbled as I thrusted violently into her, gripping her hip roughly and pressing my thumb hard against her clit. “It’s too much, Ominis, I -” “Little moth, you know what you have to ask.” I bit out with a groan as my hips snapped forward again. Each thrust began to lose its velocity, becoming choppier as I lost control of my own need. The tension inside my belly had become increasingly unbearable.When she came, I wouldn’t be able to hold myself back again. My mind was consumed with the instinctual need to bury myself deep inside her and fill her to the brim with my cum. ”Please let me cum!” She bit out with a cry. “Please, please, please! ” I chuckled at her desperation. Only hours ago she’d been so reluctant to speak more than one word or answer a simple question. Now she was pleading for her orgasm as she squeezed my cock, completely soaked with cum dripping down her stomach as she found herself on the brink of her climax. “Cum for me.” I demanded, applying more pressure to her clit as I picked up my pace once more. “Cum all over my fucking cock, Eden.” “Yes!” Eden cried with relief as she shuddered and her pussy gripped my cock as a violent orgasm overtook her. She was crying, saying little words of happiness and thanks as she rocked her hips against me, driving me deeper. I continued to hit that hidden spot inside her with every thrust. “Ominis!”“That’s it, there you go, my darling.” I cooed with a huff, my thumb brushing her clit rapidly. “Be a good girl and keep squeezing me just like that.” “Ominis!” She cried my name again as she continued to pulsate around my cock and I swore a second orgasm wracked through her as she screamed. I didn’t bother to scold her this time - I was too in awe of the way she shuddered and climaxed around me to even think of telling her to stop. “Fuck, little moth.” I bit out with a hiss, letting go of her clit so I could find purchase on both her hips as I began to fuck her hard. “I’m going to fill this little pussy up. I’m going to mark you, deep inside. Ruin you. Own you .” “You.” Thrust. “Are.” Thrust. “Mine.” Thrust. The tension inside me rapidly exploded as I came with a groan. Warmth filled her as I released inside her pussy, purposefully thrusting deep enough to undoubtedly fill her womb. The thought of filling her belly with my child made me pump deeper, drunk on the idea of fucking a baby into her. Tomorrow I’d make sure she took a contraceptive potion, but for now… this pussy was mine . Eden cried as I rode my orgasm out inside her, bucking her hips to meet my shallow thrusts as yet another of her own wracked through her body. “Such a greedy thing.” I huffed with a laugh, followed by a groan as she clenched around me again. “Always wanting more than just a little taste, hm?” She only responded with another cry. In the moments following our mutual ends, we sat there for a moment in silence. We were still connected, with my now wilting cock seated inside her. Her pussy idly clenched around me as my hands caressed and explored the silky, smoothness of her body. But then she began to weep.I’d become accustomed to hearing the sound of her cries… but this was different. It was a soft, sad, devastated little breath that hitched into a hiccup until it became a broken sob inside her chest.Something inside me broke at the sound. “Eden…” I called to her but she only cried more in response. “It’s alright, my darling.” I grabbed her up off the couch, looping her legs around my waist as I clutched her body to my chest. I carefully disassembled the snakes from her, letting them loose and listening as they disapperated elsewhere. “I’m here, Eden.” I turned around, sitting down in the chair while delicately setting her legs so her body straddled mine. I wanted to keep us connected - I didn’t want this constant point of contact to be severed just yet. As I held her close, I pressed gentle kisses into her hair. “You did so well for me, little moth. So fucking well.” I kissed my praises into her hair, her cheeks, and her mouth as she continued to cry in a way I was unfamiliar with. She made no attempt to kiss me back nor acknowledge that she was okay . I didn’t understand the emotion she was letting out through her tears, but regardless, I let her. I held to my chest as she cried herself to sleep in my arms. It was true that I was addicted to the anguish that pain caused Eden. But there was something about the sadness in the way her breath hitched that made me pause - something I’d never done before. I’d never been soft . Yet something about Eden Bones ruined me, right down to my fucking core. And for the first time in my life… I was afraid of what that meant.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“
She’s past due.” An older, feminine voice cleared her throat. There was a sound of a teacup being placed on its saucer then the shuffle of feet, as if she were anxiously adjusting herself.
“And that’s my problem because…?” My father asked. Although he remained still as a statue, I could tell he was already in a foul mood.
“Well…” A male’s voice scoffed - Eden’s father. I could never quite remember his name. The only thing that stood out about that man was that his cruelty rivaled my own father’s.
Eden’s father quickly corrected himself by coughing. I’m sure my father had shot him quite the look.
“What use is she to us or the prestigious House of Gaunt if she cannot produce magic? It’s a disgrace, if not entirely unseemly.” Her mother interjected, saving her husband from another misstep.
“It’s no concern of mine what you do with your child.” My father said bluntly. I could hear both of Eden’s parents shift, as if my father’s words were powerful enough to make them think twice about stepping into the drawing room with him. I didn’t blame them. There was irritation in his deep voice. It was a deadly thing, something primal that tugged on my instinct to sink into my seat until I became one with the wood. ”Make your point.”
However, I steeled myself. I’d been asked to sit in on this meeting with her parents to practice for my involvement in future family affairs. But if I had known it was about Eden’s future… I may have thought twice about stepping into this drawing room myself.
Eden often filled my thoughts. Her incessant questions and abundant curiosities always had me finding literature for her to read or educating her when she’d asked to go on walks.
My favorite time was when we were together in the garden. It may have belonged to my mother but Eden was a part of it. She was the tall tree we sat under, the grass we laid upon. She was the sweet scent of the flowers around us and the curious insects she often picked up to show me.
The Garden of Eden, my only place of solace.
Outside of when we played together, deep beneath the manor where she sang the most exquisite, anguished songs for me, filled with her pitiful cries and pleas, sweat, tears, and blood… I gorged myself on every drop.
And she
always
came back for more, time and time again.
She wasn’t afraid of me or the monstrous thing I was becoming.
I think… I loved her, in some strange way. In the same curious, absurd way that was Eden.
And here we were now, discussing the possibility that Eden would never obtain her magic and what that meant for her future. What it meant for
mine
too. I’d been betrothed to her since we were no more than two years of age.
What would they do with her if she were a squib? Could they not find some use for her? Such as becoming my wife and ensuring the family line continued? She would not be a bother under my thumb nor would I parade her around for verbal abuse among society.
Her parent’s disdain for their own child was something I didn’t understand, yet felt deep inside me. I recalled all the harsh training my own put me through to ensure my magic manifested.
What would my own have done if I’d never produced magic?
“We’d like permission to terminate her.” Her father quickly spat out and my heart fell into my stomach. My hands clenched the arms of the chair, stopping myself from standing immediately.
They wanted to kill Eden!
My
Eden!
I wanted to lash out at him and teach him that his own child wasn’t something he could just throw away. Eden was special, regardless of her ability to use magic and she… she was my future wife.
“Terminate as in…?” My mother had the gaul to act surprised, her voice wavering as another teacup was set down on a saucer.
She was
mine
.
“Kill her.” Her mother replied.
Not theirs.
“I don’t care what you do with her-” My father started but I was already on my feet.
“YOU CAN’T!” I was a fool for standing and shouting at the top of my lungs in front of not only a pair of adults, but my own parents. Regardless of my own stupidity, I stood firm as I heard the collective sound of four necks snapping towards me.
“I beg your pardon, boy?” It was my father who spoke, rising to his feet. I imagined my mother rested her hand on his as he huffed and she cleared her throat.
“Ominis, you were not given permission to speak. Apologize to your father.” My mother said with the utmost patience. Despite her own disposition for violence and cruelty, she often put herself between myself and my father, knowing it almost always ended in disaster and some kind of blame was placed on her.
Though, I was surprised my mother didn’t ask for an apology towards Eden’s parents. They’d always been loyal servants and friends to the Gaunts, but it seemed even my mother held them in little regard. Perhaps their cruelty was too distasteful.
“I-I apologize for my outburst, father, but I…” My hands began to shake at my sides as words failed me. I’d put myself in a terrible situation where I had to choose whether I’d back down or fight for Eden’s right to live.
“Spit it out, son.”
I’d always choose her.
“Would it not be counterproductive to kill the girl given our betrothal? Squib or not, she is of excellent breeding status and her bloodline-”
A resounding, dark laughter rang through the room, causing us all to turn our heads towards the sound. I heard another pair of feet stand up, and from the hefty shift in the floor I knew it was Eden’s father.
“What do you know about breeding? You’re what, eleven?” He scoffed before continuing. Neither of my parents stopped him. “Do you believe we’d allow anyone in our family to procreate without magic in their blood, boy? This is what happens when you do - you produce worthless defects.”
“With all due respect sir,” I said through clenched teeth, trying to ensure the situation did not escalate to the point that my father would intervene, “This isn’t just about
your
house, it’s about ours and what-”
“I don’t recall it being any of your business. You are nothing more than a spoiled, smart-mouthed little child and-”
“
ENOUGH
!” My father finally snapped.
Immediately -my body begged me to run before the inevitable happened. My father’s irritability would reach intolerable levels and I knew I’d end up on the floor. One way or another.
“What the Parkinsons do with
their
children is not your concern nor mine.” There was another shuffle, whether it was my father walking closer or reaching for something, I couldn’t tell. I wouldn’t have enough time to react either way.
“Your betrothal will be ended and you’ll wed your cousin, Amaris.”
“But-”
“Crucio!” He yelled.
A cry fell from my lips as I hit the floor, reeling from the powerful, dark magic that coursed through my body. It burned in my veins, frying every neuron as it went about scorching my insides. My mother made no attempt to stop him nor to comfort me as I writhed on the ground, waiting for the pain to eventually cease.
I should’ve known better. I could’ve waited to pull my father to the side… I…
No.
I would’ve taken the bolt of Crucio time and time again if it meant I could give Eden another chance.
Even if it ended in tragedy each time.
“There is nothing left to discuss. The girl dies. You will carry on the Gaunt name with your cousin. You’re all dismissed.”
Wordlessly, the other three in the room filed out. My father, however, remained. He crouched down next to me, poking the end of his wand against my cheek as he hissed out, “Continue down this path of pure, utter stupidity Ominis and you’ll end up no different than the Parkinson girl.”
I barely heard him leaving the room as the pain slowly subsided. I laid on the floor of the drawing room, hiccuping a sob as I decided two things.
One - I would not marry Amaris Gaunt. I didn’t care if it was the way the Gaunts did things or if it was the honorable thing to do. I wouldn’t.
Two - I would not allow them to kill my precious, sweet Eden.
Not if it was the last thing I ever did.
Eden Bones
“I’ve been waiting for you for what feels like an eternity, little moth.” He muttered as he gently skimmed his fingers up and down my drenched slit. There was a raging fire beneath my skin that blazed each time Ominis touched me. It devastated every atom of who I was, burning it away until I became unrecognizable.
But it was an eager fire, desperate for him to add more kindling to the flames tearing away at who I was to make way for who I was becoming.
“There have been so many times I’ve thought about your body,” he added, circling a finger around my entrance, “and what it would feel like to be seated deep inside you.”
Ominis’ words sent a shiver down my spine as I imagined what it would be like for him to stop talking and take me. To do exactly what he wanted and fuck me until I forgot what regret would taste like at the end of all of this. He eased a finger inside me and a low moan escaped. I clenched around the invading digit, inviting it in further until I felt his knuckle at my entrance.
I couldn’t help but arch into his touch. Tonight he’d shown me what it felt like to be fucked throroughly and taken the innocence I didn’t realize was hindering me from knowing what true pleasure felt like. It scared me. Not because of what it was…
But for how addicted I was growing to it.
“I fantasized so many times about how I’d take your innocence, Eden... and how your blood would coat my cock when it was all said and done. But you wanted to play games with me, my darling.” Ominis sighed as he added a second finger.
I didn’t care about how my “games” offended him, not as he began to use those two fingers to stretch me apart. Every thrust and movement shot pain through me, but it quickly dulled into a divine pleasure I eagerly embraced.
Gone was any kind of reluctance to Ominis touching me. I wanted him to devour me. To consume me so thoroughly that nothing would be left but bones and my unspoken regret.
I’d said the words, ‘I’m yours’, and when they left my dry, hungry lips, I hated myself for it.
Now I could never deny it.
I belonged to Ominis Gaunt. Body and mind.
And the most depraved part of it all was…
“Unfortunately we both lost tonight, didn’t we? I missed the delicious privilege of taking away your most coveted virtue and you, well…” He laughed as I whined when he added a third finger. “You lost your virginity to a fucking cane.”
…
How much I enjoyed it
.
“No!” My throat burned red hot as I gasped out, quickly sitting up in bed. “No…”
I was drenched in sweat, shaken from my dream. I tried to wipe it from my forehead, brushing back my matted hair as my chest heaved and I struggled to slow my breathing. That dream… I wanted nothing more than to bury it in the darkness that surrounded me until it dissolved into it.
“You. Are. Mine.”
My hands instantly flew over my face at the memory of his voice. The images of the night before were not going to give into my wishes without a fight. And they resurfaced in the ugliest of ways - flashes of Ominis’ body joined with mine, the way his hands felt on my hips, the look on his face when he came deep inside me, and I…
“Uh, miss?”
Shit!
I nearly jumped out of my own skin - someone was in the room with me.
They didn’t continue as my eyes found their silhouette standing just a few feet from the edge of the bed. I didn’t dare speak as I backed away, frantically patting down the bed for anything I could chuck at them to make my escape.
But all that surrounded me were soft, plush pillows.
I held one up at them, as if it’d cut just as deep as a blade.
The figure didn’t take it as a challenge. They continued to stand there then cocked their head slightly in confusion as they fiddled with their clothing.
“Who…?” I started, keeping the pillow at the level of my eyes, which began to adjust to the darkness as I blinked away the sleepiness from them. It was a woman, though I could barely make out her features.
“I apologize, miss, I thought you were already awake. I didn't mean to startle you.”
She turned away from me into the shadows. I began to creep further out of my bed.
Only… this wasn’t
my
bed, was it?
I decided the lady I couldn’t quite make out wasn’t a threat and sat the pillow down to search for my phone. But the only thing to be found were more pillows and the warm comforter I’d just been sleeping under.
“Miss?”
“I’m so sorry.” I cleared my throat. That was a mistake - it felt so raw and bruised, though I didn’t have to guess to know why. “Who are you?”
“Hyacinth, miss, but you can call me Hattie if you’d like.” She said warmly. Light flooded the room as she pulled back a pair of large curtains from a massive window. I squinted as I tried to adjust my eyes, rubbing them gently before she continued, “I’m sorry that I startled you. I thought you’d be awake enough as the master asked I come tend to you-”
“Master?” I asked, deciding to settle back down on the bed as I watched her. Hattie was of decent height and a graceful build, dressed in a casual black elbow length dress that hung just below the knee. Most of her blonde hair was pulled up into a braided crown, except for a few tendrils that hung around her face.
The most interesting thing about her were her eyes. I’d never seen purple eyes before.
“Master Gaunt, of course.” Hattie smiled at me pleasantly as she walked towards the other window to give it the same treatment.
When more light filtered into the room, I did a double take. It was a large room with deep green walls and dark flooring. Nearly every inch was decorated with pretty trinkets, wardrobes, and portraits. It was an elegant affair, making me feel out of place… and irritated.
Ominis had chosen to keep me in what I assumed was
his
home rather than returning me to mine.
“Your belongings were brought here from your house, along with some new things the master had me procure for you.” Hattie said, opening the nearest wardrobe to show that my clothes had been neatly hung up. “If you’d like some help with them or navigating the bathing chamber I-”
“No.” I croaked then offered my most polite smile. “No, thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, Miss Eden. If you need anything, I’m only a call away.”
I was angry at Ominis.
It was an easy thing to let that emotion consume me while I soaked in the bath. Being upset with him was no different than breathing air or relaxing into the warm, soapy water. The hardest part was picking apart exactly
why
I was angry with him.
There were a myriad of reasons, of course, starting with what he’d chosen to do with the pact vial. It was charmed around my neck and try as I may the damn thing could not be removed. Until I could convince him to remove it -
if
he’d even allow that - it was stuck there..
Next on the list was how utterly obnoxious his home was. The bath attached to the bedroom was nothing short of absolutely unnecessary opulence. It was nearly as large as the impossibly huge bedroom I’d slept in. It had a bath big enough for six people and was littered with different kinds of expensive toiletries and soaps. Candles floated in the air and even the
scent
of the room was… expensive.
But maybe
that
wasn’t a reason to be angry with Ominis directly.
I was more so upset with the fact that he was a
Gaunt
. They were from old money and had never been above waving it in your face to remind you exactly how poor you were.
So rather than anger, it was
irritation
flowing through me because Ominis had it
all
.
A mansion, money, power, looks, and a rather large -
no
.
I would not dive into the
assets
of Ominis Gaunt or how fucking
good
it felt when he - I shook my head until I felt dizzy, desperately trying to clear that train of thought.
Do not go there, Eden.
I needed to do everything I possibly could to
not
think about it. At all. If I did, I’d never leave this room - not just from getting lost in thought over it, but because of how mortified I already was. I didn’t want to face Ominis, let alone other people. Not in this strange state I found myself in.
I’d lost so many pieces of myself last night.
My virginity, my dignity, and hell… I think even a piece of
who I was
.
Ominis had taken every part of me and shaken it until it shattered. And now all the pieces that were left didn’t fit together quite right anymore. Some were jagged, broken things that needed to be thrown away and replaced with the new pieces that had appeared.
I was questioning everything. I
enjoyed
nearly every moment of Ominis’ abuse and that terrified me.
I huffed out a breath and tried to calm down as I dried my hair before tossing the towel in the hamper against the wall.
Do.
Not
. Think. About. Ominis.
That
was the pinpoint of my anger.
It wasn’t just that he had violated me, was obnoxiously wealthy, and had made me feel things I was afraid of.
It was
how
he now
consumed my every thought
.
Ominis Gaunt was like an infectious disease, something that was curable but spread like wildfire if one didn’t keep up with their vaccinations. I was shit out of luck on that. He’d already infected me, worming his way inside my soul until it’d be nearly impossible to remove him. It’d take more than simple surgery to dismember him from my being, cell by cell.
Getting rid of Ominis Gaunt would come at the cost of setting myself aflame.
I’d have to start with being braver about using my voice. I’d have to push him to let me go.
Sighing, I picked through one of the wardrobes that was full of
my
clothes, pausing as I tried to imagine how that would even work. I’d spoken so much last night. What could stop me now from telling him where he could shove it?
But having to look at his face, knowing where it’d been only hours ago... Remembering how his lips were stained with
my
blood as he kissed me and how much I’d enjoyed the taste of his tongue as it made its way into my mouth -
I slammed my head against the wardrobe door, ignoring the pain and praying it would erase the memories from my brain.
There was no hope for me if I thought I’d be able to keep a straight face and tell Ominis off. Especially if I was unable to process what the hell had happened last night.
What happened was a fact - something to acknowledge and process… then let go.
I lost my virginity to the man who tortured me as a child. The man who
also
kidnapped me and my belongings… and fucked me with a cane.
Holy.
Thump
.
Fucking.
Thump
.
Shit.
Thump.
I can’t do this.
My head throbbed as I rested it against the wardrobe door, feeling defeated. It was going to take time for me to really get a grip on what occurred last night and what it meant. I didn’t have the stomach to tell Ominis that I wasn’t a pet to be locked away and that we weren’t really engaged. I was still promised to another man who was surely looking for me now.
But to explain that I didn’t belong to Ominis and what I’d said had been a mistake because I’d been drunk on lust and eager for an orgasm... I couldn’t. Not now.
Maybe tomorrow I’d have the courage to do it.
I rummaged through the wardrobe knowing I’d have to leave the room eventually. My stomach had begun to growl and I wasn’t the kind of person that could sit still -no matter how much I wanted to lock myself away and avoid Ominis.
I opted for a soft look. A simple, cream colored sweater dress that hung just above my knees and a pair of black leggings. I was thrilled to see my beige, knee length boots had made it here despite the kidnapping scuffle.
After doing a quick updo and adding a touch of the makeup that had made it to the vanity in the bedroom, I decided it was time to explore.
Ominis’ manor was ridiculous.
It was a maze disguised as a lavish estate.
I lost my way moments after leaving my room. I wouldn’t be able to find my way back even though I could’ve sworn I’d only made two lefts and one right. I gave up on figuring out what direction I was going.
Instead I just walked.
I poked my head into several different rooms, but didn’t find anything of note. They were all empty, a few weren’t even decorated. Some looked like mine while others looked to be abandoned storage rooms, collecting dust and spiders. I wondered how long this estate had been in Ominis’ hands.
When did he buy it? Was it specifically for his time here in America? Did he only purchase it after he found out I was here?
He certainly didn’t buy this grand affair because he believed it was for the
both
of us, did he?
My cheeks flushed at the thought of a future with Ominis, filling this large manor with decorations and whatever we might collect over our years together. Maybe even filling it with our children and family memories… I shook my head again, debating on slamming it into the wall once more when I heard voices filtering in from just down the hall.
I crept up quietly, peeking my eyes around the corner to find Sebastian Sallow speaking with Hattie.
“Come on, love, you know you can’t resist my charm.” Sebastian purred. He was towering over Hattie, whose back was pressed to the wall. He caged her with his hands on either side of her face. I thinned my lips as I wondered if perhaps Perdi and his relationship was in trouble.
“You say that everytime and yet…” Hattie started, her finger running down his chest as she gave him a wicked smile, “I always walk away.”
“One of these days, Hyacinth,” Sebastian chuckled, leaning in so that his face loomed over hers, “I’ll make sure you can’t walk away.”
Hattie only sighed, ducking out from under his arms and sauntering away. After a few steps she turned her head back to say, “Maybe in an alternate universe, Master Sallow, you’ll show me how you intend to keep me from ever walking again.”
As Hattie exited the hall, Sebastian stood there for a moment, shaking his head with a grin on his face. “That woman.”
I disappeared back around the corner and pressed my back to the wall. I was relieved Hattie turned him down, but it rubbed me the wrong way that Sebastian shamelessly flirted with another woman who wasn’t Perdi. Maybe I had the wrong idea about them and they hadn’t been
dating
-
“You know that eavesdropping is considered rude, don’t you?”
I jumped when Sebastian rounded the corner, leaning down towards me with his hands in his pockets and a smug smile on his freckled face.
“S-sorry, I…” I began to back away from him, my feet begging me to run before I got caught in whatever flirtatious advances he might have up his sleeve.
“She speaks! Incredible. Ominis said you’d eventually talk.”
“I’m sure he says a lot of things.” I muttered quietly, my cheeks flushing as I took several more steps away from Sebastian.
Did he know?
“Don’t go! I’m not going to eat you, Eden.” He said, straightening up. He nodded his head back the way he came. “You can tell Perdita if you like, but I just like giving ol’ Hyacinth a hard time. Makes her job a little more interesting.”
“I…” I pursed my lips as I paused, not wanting to insult him. I found his excuse flimsy but I’d wait to talk to Perdi in person. “What is her job?”
“Kind of like caretaker-meets-maid. She’s a jack of all trades. If it weren’t for her, nothing would get done around here. Anyway, I was supposed to come collect you but you’ve delivered yourself to me.”
“Why?” I asked as my stomach began to churn. I was sure I wasn’t going to like his answer.
“Ominis wants you to have breakfast with him out on the terrace.” Sebastian answered.
“Terrace?” I questioned as he motioned for me to follow him. I thought about running in the other direction and braving the maze of halls again. Almost anything was preferable to having to face Ominis. I’d put it off for nearly an hour. “Isn’t it snowing?”
“Come on, sweetheart. You’ll see.”
Ridiculous was no longer the word I’d use to describe Ominis’ manor. Absurd was a better word.
The luxuriousness of Ominis’ estate didn’t simply come from the expanse of halls and the quantity of rooms it housed, nor the lavish trinkets or priceless heirlooms that were littered about. It included the
outside
parts of it too.
In the back of Ominis’ manor lay the largest, most lush garden I’d ever seen attached to a terrace. The terrace itself was lined with different kinds of seating and had a table at the center of it. A magical barrier encased the garden and terrace, protecting it from the harsh cold and keeping the temperature pleasant enough to make me regret my choice in clothing.
Sebastian guided me through a pair of large glass doors to the terrace, but I refused to look to the centre of it for more than a moment. I knew Ominis was sitting at the table, legs crossed and wand-deep in a newspaper.
My eyes focused on the safer option and looked at the beautiful garden behind him.
Trees surrounded it on either side, like a fence made of greenery. There were a plethora of different flowers and bushes, and if I focused my eyes enough, I could make out the shapes of little insects fluttering about. In the middle of it all sat a grand tree that looked eerily similar to the one back at The Garden of Eden.
Perhaps living here wouldn’t be so bad if it meant I could walk amongst the flowers and recall their names each day. Ominis had once sat and listed off every single one in his mother’s garden until she found
us
plucking them.
Which resulted in
me
being punished.
I cocked my head and eyed Sebastian for a moment. If I asked him really nicely, would he take me down to the garden so I could avoid Ominis?
In my head it didn’t play out the way I wanted it to. Sebastian would laugh in my face, say something smart, then drag me, kicking and screaming, to the table.
All these men were so pushy.
After a deep breath I allowed myself to look at Ominis. I wish I hadn’t. My heart raced in my chest, noting how his business casual look fitted his frame perfectly and made him look… well,
sexy
. He was dressed in a white button up with a deep blue blazer that matched the slacks he wore.
I am angry at Ominis
.
This is no time to oogle him
.
He is not attractive, you are just a whore, Eden.
Ominis leaned back in his chair, his wand skimming over the page he was reading. He was still wearing his black leather gloves.
Did he ever take those off?
Sebastian pulled out the chair opposite Ominis, who barely acknowledged my presence. I bit down on my lip and immediately regretted it considering the small nick Ominis had left on it last night.
All while he’d savored my blood and shoved his cock down my throat and
I-
I closed my eyes and took another deep breath before turning around to thank Sebastian. But he’d already disapperated, without bothering to say goodbye.
It made me curious to know if Sebastian was aware of what happened last night, given how quick he took off. But I assumed he was the type to give me
more
shit for it if he did know.
Turning back around to face Ominis, I placed my hands on the table, tapping my fingers gently against it. My jaw dropped as I took in the spread of food in front of me. There were several different kinds of meats, potatoes -
at least
three different ways -, fruits I’d never seen before, and the most delicious looking pastries.
My stomach growled as I eyed what looked like a chocolate filled croissant. I wanted to reach for it, but with Ominis sitting only a few feet away from me I firmly sat back against the chair.
“Good morning, little moth.” Ominis said sweetly, still reading his paper.
I didn’t answer him and instead nervously pulled at the table cloth.
“Back to being silent again, are we?” He asked with a frown.
I opened my mouth to tell him he could
bite me
but immediately shut it.
He’d take that as a literal challenge and I…
fuck
. When I looked at Ominis, all I could think of was last night. How his brows knitted as he labored over me... How his jaw clenched when he came
inside me
with a sound so primal it pushed me to a third orgasm...
Then there was the feeling of his arms wrapped gently around me, keeping me close to his chest as I worked through what I was feeling. The moment he spoke when we were finished, I broke down. I sobbed out every emotion that had overcome me from the sheer intensity of the sex we had.
I didn’t know how to feel about any of it. There were so many highs and coming down from it all felt so… empty. As if it hadn’t been
enough.
So rather than speaking I picked up the tongs and started filling my plate with fruit.
“Pity.” He said with a sigh, turning another page.
‘Descendo.’
A shiver ran down my spine at the memory of that word.
I quickly shoved a piece of melon into my mouth. Its sweetness could help drown out the heat that was slowly beginning to rise in the depths of my belly. I thought it would be easy to avoid thinking about Ominis
carnally -
but I was utterly failing at that.
Ominis didn’t say much of anything else after that. Instead he seemed perfectly content with the silence that passed between us as he sipped his coffee. We were like an old married couple who’d done this for the past few decades. I now understood why he was so okay with simply sitting here with me.
I grimaced and snatched up a croissant, busying myself with picking at it as I stared at him.
Ominis in normal lighting was something to behold, but in the sunlight he was nothing short of breathtaking. The sun caught in his hair as it gently fluttered in the breeze around us. I couldn’t help but wonder for a moment what it’d feel like to run my fingers through it, then down his cheeks - would I cut my fingers on his sharp jawline?
What would the pad of my thumb feel like catching his lower lips?
I stuffed my mouth with a piece of croissant, damning the way heat began to rise in my stomach. It
could
just be the warmth of the enclosed terrace, but I knew better.
I could’ve worn nothing and I’d still be burning alive.
My eyes rested on his gloves as he sat his cup down again, before using his wand to turn another page of the paper. He was always wearing them - except for a moment last night… I swore I felt the bare touch of his palms against me.
“Either you’re staring because you enjoy looking at me,” Ominis started, causing my face to heat as I quickly swallowed a piece of croissant, “or you have a question.”
Fuck him and that insane sixth sense of his. He always seemed to know exactly what I was doing despite his lack of sight. It drove me insane.
I cleared my throat, wincing at the rawness of it. “Why do you wear gloves?”
“Always so curious.” He muttered, his wand still following the words on the paper as he shook his head. “That’s something that’s never changed about you, Eden.” Ominis sat the paper down after a moment, sliding his wand back into the cane I refused to look at.
“I take it you explored the manor, my darling?”
My cheeks flushed as I sat back in my chair, crossing my arms. He was deflecting my question with another question.
Bastard
.
“I did.” I said softly and Ominis’ lips turned up in a half-smile.
“And your bedroom, it’s to your liking?”
“It’s fine.” I answered as I tried not to combust in the chair, remembering how I’d nearly assaulted a member of his staff
with a pillow
this morning. I opened my mouth with, ‘
I’d like to go home, please,
’ on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t voice it. Instead I quickly shut my mouth again.
Pressing Ominis to let me go home was tomorrow’s adventure. Today I needed to survive a conversation with him to prove I could do it.
“‘
Fine
’.” Ominis mulled over that word as if it offended him, like it was inadequate. “I could move you into my room-”
“No!” I spat out, tears welling in my eyes at how utterly flustered I’d become. “I mean… no, thank you. The room is lovely.”
Ominis’ lips pursed as he leaned back in his seat, uncrossing his leg as he rested an elbow against the chair’s arm. He leaned his face against his hand and gave me a slow smile.
“Is the idea of sharing a bed with me so off putting, my darling?” The question should’ve made me feel some sort of guilt - I’d clearly offended him - but the way his voice had gone low and sensual made the heat between my legs blaze.
“I’m going to be your husband after all. We might as well start sharing
everything
.” Ominis added. “Starting with this seat.”
“Come here, little moth.”
My skin prickled as I bit down on my lip. I considered Ominis for a moment. If I obeyed his command, I went back on my integrity. I could excuse myself and run away from him then hide in the nearest room, buying myself a few moments as I planned my next move.
If Hattie wasn’t too offended by my behavior this morning, I could ask her to apparate me back home.
My feet were already moving, though - and not towards the giant glass doors behind us.
My body was helpless against Ominis’ dark call after last night. I couldn’t help but follow it, one step at a time, until I found myself standing beside him. My heart rate began to pick up as he used his feet to push the chair out further. I yelped as he grabbed me, pulling me down onto his lap so that I would comfortably straddle him.
“Now that’s much better.” He muttered, his breath fanning across my face. My heart began to race as he ran his hands down to my hips, finding purchase at the base of them as he leaned in closer. “We’ll share everything, my little wife. Every moment of every day. Whatever is mine is yours… and you, well…”
Although Ominis pressed his lips against mine slowly, it wasn’t a gentle thing. No, it was laced with something unspoken - full of intent and passion.
It was a
promise
.
“You’re mine.”
Ominis kissed me again and -
fuck
! I wanted to fight back. I wanted to tell him it was all a mistake and I took back what I said. I
wasn’t
his! This was all a stupid misunderstanding because I’d been so desperate to get my rocks off.
Yet I kissed him back.
I let his mouth consume mine until our lips became a passionate entanglement. I was breathless as his fingers dug into my hips, urging me closer as they began to move on their own. They grinded into him, very aware of the friction the bulge beneath me offered my covered pussy.
“You’re an eager little thing, aren’t you?” Ominis chuckled into my mouth before pulling away. I frowned as my hips continued to idly grind against him. “Don’t pout, my darling.” He said as he brushed a strand of hair back behind my ear.
“If you’re a good girl, I’ll come back and fuck your sweet little pussy so hard you won’t be able to walk for a week.” Those crude words were said so sweetly as he pressed another chaste kiss to my lips. “Would you like that, little moth?”
“Y-yes.” I whispered without hesitation, hating myself for it.
Where were the logical thoughts from earlier?
The ones that said, ‘
Ominis is bad for me’
and ‘
I do not want him’
?
They’d all been fucking replaced with things like, ‘
Yes, I’m yours, Ominis’
and ‘
Please fuck me
,
right here on the terrace, Ominis
.’
But something he said made me pause - and not just because I was upset he’d stopped stroking the fire he’d created inside me.
“Come back? Where are you going?”
“Will you miss me terribly?” He asked, biting down on my lower lip until I whined. He leaned back in the seat and sighed, “I have business to attend to this afternoon.”
“What kind of business?” I pressed, “What do you do?”
“There’s the incessant questions...” Ominis smiled, “Merlin, I’ve missed the sound of your voice.”
My cheeks warmed, remembering that my voice was something new to myself. I’d no problem using it with Ominis when we were children - we’d get lost in endless conversations, with him usually scolding me or explaining various things about the world.
But then I’d barely been able to speak a word to him when he first arrived in town.
Now I was speaking full sentences, asking questions, and
moaning
for him.
What the fuck had happened? What was changing inside me?
“What I do is no different than what the Bones’ do. The Gaunts just do it better.” Ominis explained. “We sell to a higher clientele and we don’t peddle petty…
product
.”
“Oh.” I replied as Ominis took hold of my waist and guided me to stand. Once on my feet, he stood as well, taking a step closer to me and lifting my chin with the crook of his finger.
“You may explore the grounds and the garden is all yours. I won’t chastise you for picking any flowers either.” He said softly as he towered over me with a smile. After a moment he caressed my chin with the pad of his thumb while his smile retreated.
“Do not leave the estate, Eden.”
“Why?” I immediately asked.
I won’t be a prisoner here
.
“If I told you it was for your own good, would you accept that?”
“No.” I whispered and his smile returned.
“Of course you wouldn’t.” He sighed. “It’s that fire inside you, isn’t it? Despite everything that happened last night there’s still little embers burning. Hear this, my darling…”
My body froze as he leaned forward to whisper into my ear, “I’ll enjoy snuffing those embers out, little moth. Even if it takes decades, I won’t stop until I’ve completely broken you.”
I shivered as he straightened then pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Be a good girl for me, Eden, and stay put.”
That was all he said before he disapparated.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It turned out Ominis was
not
coming back to make good on his promise. The rest of the afternoon went by quietly. I spent most of it in the garden. I hadn’t been interrupted once. Nor had I seen him return to the manor. And my
locked
bedroom door hadn’t been magically
unlocked.
Not that I’d expected a visit from him.
Or that any of that
bothered
me.
Not in the slightest
.
I was glad to be rid of his presence and spend time exploring my surroundings.
But then a day went by...
And another.
By the third day, I’d learned how to navigate the expanse of Ominis’ manor… though I did have to ask a house-elf or two for directions a few times. I found a variety of bedrooms, drawing rooms, offices, and
one
poorly stocked library.
On the fourth day, I met all the staff, learned their names, and a bit about who they were. The staff Ominis kept were nothing like I ever imagined for a Gaunt household. Each of them wore a warm smile and were kind - except for the head housekeeper, Henri. He had a disgruntled look on his face and seemed to have little patience for nonsense.
By day number five, I had combed through every book I could get my hands on in the lackluster library. The books were mostly on magical histories and other boring subjects that I could barely keep my eyes open to read. According to Hattie, Ominis kept most of his books in his private study, which was behind one of the many locked doors in the manor.
On the sixth day I was running out of things to do.
So I decided I’d start asking around about Ominis. I feigned having only a
mild
interest as to where my host had disappeared to. I told the staff that I had to ask him a question or provided some other silly excuse for my inquiry on his whereabouts. Most of the staff gave me a strained look and said they didn’t know, while others, like Henri, shrugged with a frown and asked if I’d like some tea.
Soon enough an
entire week
had gone by since Ominis left “on business”... and it began to
bother
me that he had all but vanished.
Not that I
wanted
to see him.
I only wanted to argue my point about going home.
However I had a sneaking suspicion that he’d return to the manor today. I swore I
heard
him around, talking to staff or into a cell phone. Yet everytime I pinpointed where his voice was coming from and investigated, no one was there. Perhaps with so much time on my hands I was going insane.
On that damned
sixth
day… it began to bother me that Ominis had all but vanished.
Not that I
wanted
to see him.
I
only
wanted to argue my point about going home.
A week had gone by without being able to see Perdi and Lizzie. I worried for them in the same way they probably did for me. No one told me if Ominis or one of his boys had told them about this new arrangement or if they had been left in the dark and were worried sick.
I
hoped
Sebastian, the player he may or may not be, would’ve had some decency and contacted Perdi. But that would mean she’d learn I was
staying with Ominis at his manor
and I wasn’t sure how well that would be received.
And then there was Greyson… I needed to clear things up with him and…
And
what
?
I wanted to tell him the wedding was off -
But why would I do that? That was… ridiculous.
I’d been promised to Greyson since I was young and there was some sense of duty I clung to in that. I wasn’t the kind of person that went around breaking vows, however when I began to compare the lesser of the two evils in my life…
Ominis
wasn’t
a nice man. He was vile, cruel, and selfish. All he seemed to want was to lock me up like some prized pet and
fuck me
when it suited him. He was
hellbent
on ensuring I’d become his wife and we’d spend the rest of our lives together - whether I liked it or not.
Yet despite his disposition… Ominis never
hurt
me like Greyson did.
Ominis may have taken sick, sadistic pleasure in how he fucked me that night, which
should’ve been
off putting in itself, but not
once
did he put his hands on me in the ways Greyson did when he was upset.
No matter how many of Ominis’ buttons I pressed, he was patient. That patience within him only promised
punishment
through addictive, hellish carnal delights… not stinging strikes across my face or beatings that covered me in bruises.
Up until now I’d been so certain about my betrothal to Greyson. Ominis’ returned presence in my life had turned me upside down and made the ground beneath me no longer solid.
And now I was doing the one thing I never thought I would...
Considering a future with Ominis Gaunt.
I sighed as I rested my head against the trunk of the grand tree in the middle of Ominis’ garden. Today marked the seventh day and I decided to spend my day here to peacefully contemplate what the hell I was going to do about Ominis. Considering Ominis as a marriage candidate was dangerous. I no longer knew who the boy of my childhood was now that he’d grown into a man. There were familiar bits and pieces but his demeanor and his… appetite… were new.
What would happen if I entertained it?
No, no,
no.
That
wasn’t
an option.
What I
needed
to do was explain to Ominis that I was not his pet, that I wanted to go home, and that I
did not
want him, in
any
way.
I just needed to find him first.
“That was quite the sigh.” Hattie noted, stretching herself out from where she was sprawled on the blanket.
“Was it?” I muttered, feigning ignorance as I yawned. I rather not go into detail about how her boss consumed every thought of mine lately. I swore I heard her eyes roll.
Today Hattie kindly brought out a large, comfortable blanket for me to sit on beneath the grand tree. I was thankful for it, along with the basket she conjured full of little sandwiches, pastries, and a thermos full of lemonade for me to enjoy out in the garden.
And if that wasn’t enough, Hattie included her company in today’s little picnic too.
I found a fast friend in Hattie. In all the days that passed, she’d worn a smile for me, took interest in how I was feeling, and asked many questions. She joined me in my adventures around the manor each day.
I thought she was spying on me so Ominis wouldn’t have to, or making sure I stayed out of trouble and rooms I didn’t belong in.
But the way Hattie’s eyes shined when I answered her questions or she made me laugh... I felt guilty for thinking anything other than her wanting to be friends.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Hattie asked, curiously cocking her head at me as she sat up on her elbows. I quickly shoved the rest of my sandwich into my mouth, wiping the crumbs from my hands.
“N-nothing.” I lied around the last bite of food then turned my eyes upwards to the canopy of leaves above us. The sunshine filtering through was much easier to meet than the intense gaze of Hattie’s strange eyes.
“Is it about the master?” She teased and I’m sure there was quite a smirk on her face. “Having some delicious thoughts?”
“N-n-no!” My jaw dropped as my cheeks flushed with heat and I snapped my head back towards her. “I can’t believe you’d even suggest something like that!”
That woman!
She was always so blunt with me.
I don’t want to see him.
It was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it to her
- In fact, I’d be quite glad if I never saw him ever, ever again.
But all those words dried up in my throat. There was a learning curve to finding my voice - something I hadn’t intended on ever figuring out. I’d been content to remain silent for the rest of my life… but now it was a challenge to be quiet. Everything felt like it had been turned on its head -
not
speaking felt as difficult as being vocal had felt days ago.
“Oh, of course not,” Hattie giggled, “I’d never think you were interested in Ominis Gaunt with the way you’ve been pestering the entire household regarding where he’s been.”
I shot her a glare, making her giggles turn into full blown laughter. It made the burn on my cheeks even worse.
Once she calmed and wiped a tear from her eye, it seemed she decided to let talk of Ominis and I go. She took a deep breath and sat up, giving me a warm smile, “I’m afraid I have to get back to it.”
The flush in my cheeks eased as I frowned. Teasing or not, I wasn’t ready for her to go. Not yet. I was so tired of being on my own.
“Call me if you need anything. Try not to overdo it with the uh,
daydreaming
.”
Nevermind, she could leave. Right now. She could disappear with Ominis for all I cared.
Whatever look I gave her made her start laughing again as she walked away, heading back towards the terrace. Once Hattie was out of sight, I sprawled out on the blanket on my belly, burying my flushed face into the fabric.
How could she see through me so easily?
Was it that obvious to everyone that my thoughts were all of Ominis?
I did my best to hide my face in the blanket then closed my eyes. The flickering lights of the canopy filtered sun danced behind my eyelids, but so too did visions of Ominis and his sinfully cruel intentions.
With a hefty sigh, I tried to push him out of my mind.
I wouldn’t dwell on the
possibilities
Ominis offered. I’d keep my eyes shut and stick to my plan when I saw him next…
I’d tell him I wanted to leave and if he refused my request… I’d find a way to escape on my own.
There was a soft rustling behind me, causing my eyes to flutter open. I stared into the garden before me, looking for any sign of what had caused the rustling. Perhaps the wind? But looking at the foliage, there was no wind blowing nor did I feel a breeze on my face…
Leaves started to crunch behind me as something came closer by the second. I sucked in a breath, fear running cold down my back.
But my fear was unwarranted, wasn’t it? I was safe here…
right?
It was probably just Hattie coming to chastise me for falling asleep in the garden.
“I’m sorry, I -” I started to sit myself up but a hand firmly pressed down on the small of my back, keeping me pinned to the ground on my stomach.
The pressure on my back didn’t ease as I complied and that cold feeling returned - had I let my guard down too much here?
This was the House of
Gaunt
and I was still a
Bones
.
An enemy.
“Don’t move, my darling.”
The frozen sensation in my veins was replaced with heat as Ominis’ voice filled the small space between us.
It was just Ominis.
Somehow that didn’t make things any better though. Although my heart began to race as he released me, I still didn’t move.
“There’s something on you.” He murmured as his hand ghosted over my back, moving upwards until it brushed between my shoulder blades. He collected whatever it was and brought it to my face for inspection. “What is it?”
I swallowed hard as I took in the sight of a pretty little butterfly, who’s colors brought back too many bad memories that I’d wanted to snuff out. They reminded me that the man who held the small creature was capable of so many vile things.
How could I have ever thought to consider
him
?
“A butterfly.” I whispered and Ominis hummed, the insect fluttering its wings in his gloved palm.
“What color is it?” He asked softly, almost too gently. Everything about this felt
off.
“It’s black and…” My mouth went dry as I struggled to get the words out. They wanted to stay inside me, just like they had with Hattie earlier. I wanted to hide and get away from Ominis before he squashed the poor thing in his palm again… or made me do it. “Iridescent.”
“Curious.” Ominis murmured and my jaw nearly dropped as he lifted his hand higher, allowing the little thing to fly off into the garden. I watched as its wings flapped away and with each beat my anxiety eased.
A newfound curiosity bloomed in its place. He hadn’t killed it.
Why?
Who was
this
Ominis Gaunt?
“H-how did you know it was there?” I asked, attempting to sit up again. However Ominis’ hand came back down on the small of my back, a little firmer than before, as he kept me pinned to the blanket. I relaxed, not wanting to push his buttons after he’d shown me some kind of kindness in sparing the butterfly.
Ominis eased his touch, deciding I wouldn’t run away from him, then began to run his palm down my back.
“Always so full of questions.” He whispered with amusement, his fingers slowly inching down the length of the babydoll dress I wore. I shivered when his fingers skimmed the inside of my bare thigh, just below the hemline. “I do have
some
senses, don’t you remember?”
“Y-yes, but
how
do you
see
?” I asked quietly, sucking in a breath as he began to pull my dress up ever so slightly.
“I don’t.” Ominis chuckled, continuing to lift the dress up. Now my panties were exposed to the cool garden air. “But everything has faint outlines.”
His hand skimmed my ass, palming it gently before reaching further down. One of his fingers began to tease my covered pussy and I sucked in a breath as he applied pressure, then nearly convulsed as he brushed against my clit.
“I can’t
see
, but I can
sense
.” Ominis’ fingers found the edge of my panties and pulled them to the side. “I can acquire a
feel
for what something is.”
“Ominis…” I whined as the leather of his gloves began to tease me through my wetness.
“Fuck, Eden.” He groaned, rubbing me gently. “You’re already so wet for me, aren’t you, little moth?”
I gasped as he suddenly pushed a finger inside me, slowly easing it in until it bottomed out. He laughed in response, taking his time to plunge the single digit in and out of me at a leisurely pace.
“I’ve been told that you’ve been asking around
for me
.” Ominis leaned forward, grabbing hold of my chin with his other hand and pulling my neck backwards so he could whisper into my ear.
“You
did
miss me terribly, didn’t you my darling?”
“N-no, I…” They were right there - the words to tell him
no
,
I hate you.
Let me go home.
But they died in my throat the moment he added a second finger inside my pussy. I moaned, straining against his hold as his pace became more intense.
“No?” His voice was dark but full of rich amusement as he curled his fingers, hitting that sweet, hidden spot inside me and making me a mess beneath his touch. “I thought we were past lying, little moth.”
“I regret being gone for so long and leaving you here on your own. You must’ve been so
needy
, hm?” Ominis chuckled lightly into my ear as he viciously fucked me with his fingers.
“Yes!” I blurted out, unable to stop myself as my orgasm rapidly built. I should’ve been begging him to stop or at least trying to fight him. If I had any hope of going home, I needed to wield that same fire he promised to break and yet -
fuck
, I couldn’t
think
.
All I could do was whine helplessly for Ominis while he played with my pussy.
“And you’ve been such a good girl for me, haven’t you?” He hummed, pressing a kiss into my hair. “You’ve stayed at the house, kept yourself out of trouble...”
“I think you deserve a reward, don’t you?”
“P-please!” I sputtered out, the tension within me was so high. I was struggling to hold back my release. “Please, Ominis, I’m going to -
I’m going to
-”
Ominis’ only response was another round of dark laughter. He increased the pace of his fingers so quickly that I nearly lost myself. But I now understood how this worked - if I wanted that orgasm and potentially more,
there were rules to follow.
And if I pissed him off my chances of going home were as fleeting as the butterfly he’d found on my back.
“Cum for me, Eden.” He commanded at last, his fingers relentlessly driving into my pussy. I screamed out with my orgasm and cried against his hold, my body convulsing as the sweet pleasure of my release came crashing down. His fingers continued to hit that same hidden spot, over and over again, and I couldn’t stop the second wave of my climax from exploding inside me.
By the time I came back down to earth, I was left panting, shaking, and still wanting
more
.
“Ahh,” Ominis purred, pressing another kiss to my hair before moving away. “Such a good girl.”
I writhed on the ground until his hands grabbed my hips. I hadn’t even heard him unzip himself from his trousers and didn’t know what he was doing until he parted my legs. He plunged his cock to the hilt inside me in one deep thrust.
I cried as I felt him hit my cervix then pause. He kept himself seated as deep inside me as possible for a moment before his grip on my hips tightened. “Fuck-ing hell - so damn
tight
. So fucking
wet
. All for me.”
Ominis’ hips began to retreat, only to suddenly snap forward as he set a rhythm he liked - one that had me nearly screaming. The whole world spun around me as the high of my orgasm was intensified with every motion of him inside me.
“Only a week.” He groaned. “One fucking week and I couldn’t stay away.”
“Couldn’t think of anything other than the sounds
you
make, Eden.” Ominis lurched forward, making sure to keep my hips off the ground as he covered my body with his. His mouth was close to my ear and the warmth of his breath fanned against my cheek as he continued to fuck me.
“How soft you are...” Ominis moaned. “How fucking good it feels to be
inside you
...”
“I have so much business to take care of but…” He bit out a bitter laugh, thrusting deeper than I thought possible as I struggled to stay conscious. I’d already cum around his cock more than once -
I couldn’t keep track.
It was impossible to do anything more than breathe when he took me like this.
“I can’t focus on any of it, not when I know you fucking exist - in our house.” He said. “You’re here. Your body is here for me to use.” He huffed into my ear, pressing painfully deep inside me with each thrust. “I can make that beautiful voice sing for me any time I want… And that’s all I want, Eden.”
“You’ve ruined me, little moth. You’ve taken everything that I am and
broken
it.
Reshaped it.”
I came undone again as he continued, his words shooting like lightning through me as I struggled to keep up with him.
“
I am an utterly useless man because of
you
.”
I cried out as he pressed forward one last time, his warmth spilling into my pussy as he rode out his release inside me. His thrusts had slowed and become choppy, and his breath was heavy in my ear as he pressed several more kisses into my hair.
“
I
cannot exist without
you
, little moth.”
Ominis held us for a moment, the two of us simply breathing while completely enveloped by each other as I struggled to come back down from the heavens. I truly believed my soul had left my body during that encounter.
“Is that…” I licked my lips. They had dried from being gaped for so long. “Is that where you were? On business?
This whole time
?”
“I apologize that it was for much longer than I anticipated, my darling.” Ominis hummed as he slowly peeled us apart. I whined when he pulled out of me, missing the feeling of being connected. The sensation of being full of him was something I had come to enjoy… but I
shouldn’t
. I had to tell myself that I hated how he touched me and that I hated him...
But that would’ve been a lie.
“Wh-what kind of business?” I asked as he adjusted my panties. He pulled my dress back down over my ass before offering me a hand to help me onto my knees in front of him. His other hand reached out to grab my cheek. He caressed it gently, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
“Nothing incredibly interesting, just a few boring meetings.” Ominis’ tone rang a little too flat for me, as if he were implying there was no room for further questions. I frowned, parting my lips to ask him another but he silenced me with a kiss.
“Starting tomorrow I’d like for you to take a contraceptive potion.” He must’ve felt the confused look on my face. Of all the things I’d expected him to say, it wasn’t
that
. I wanted more answers to where he’d been and what he’d been doing.
Was he lying to me?
“Unless that’s something-”
“No!” I quickly spat out, much faster than I should’ve. My response may have hurt his feelings, but he didn’t show it.
I had no intention of being someone’s breeding machine. I’d made the decision that I wouldn’t do it for Greyson nor would I go through with my marriage to him.
Ominis had helped me see how wrong Greyson was for me.
But that didn’t mean I
had
to choose Ominis either.
“I see.” Ominis’ lips twitched downwards for a moment but his face eased into a perfect mask of content before he pulled me to my feet. He stuck his hands in his pockets and cocked his head towards me.
“My little moth is always so full of questions, would she be against me asking one of my own?”
“N-no.” I shook my head, my fingers bunching up my dress as anxiety rose in the pit of my stomach. There were so many things he could ask and I was sure each one would be more heated than the last.
But this may be my moment to finally ask about leaving. If he asked me something, it was only fair that I ask something in return, right?
“What happened when you started living with the Bones? I assume they-”
“I’ll tell you...” I interjected quietly, his brows furrowing. “If you answer one of
my
questions.”
My fingers dug deep into my dress now. I hadn’t expected a question like that, nor so casually either. It was something that still lingered in the depths of my mind. I kept it boxed up, not wanting it to be brought back into the light of day.
It was a box filled with screams, agony, and… cursing Ominis for letting me leave all those years ago. There were memories in that box I wished I didn’t have. Ones where I prayed my parents would find and kill me so I would no longer endure the Bones’ torture. Death would have been an escape… one I
wanted
.
Ominis would pay a price if he looked inside that box.
“Of course, my darling.” He said softly, taking one of my hands in his before pressing a kiss to the inside of my wrist. “I’ve always answered, haven’t I?”
My heart thrummed as he nipped the skin softly. The uneasy feeling grew - how was I supposed to ask to leave?
The words clammed up inside my chest again, refusing to crawl up my throat and out my mouth - especially when he touched me
like that
.
So I blurted out the
next
best question I had.
“Why do you always wear gloves?”
Ominis’ carefree demeanor wavered for a moment as a frown formed on his lips. He dropped my hand, making my heart wrench.
“I think it’s time to go back inside, it’s getting late-”
“But you said-”
“Little moth-”
“Why-”
“Go back inside. Now.” Ominis gritted out.
This wasn’t fair.
Ominis orchestrated so much of our conversations. They were always based on
his
whims. He had agreed to my question but was immediately shutting me down for asking it. It was a simple question too, one of genuine curiosity.
But now I saw a hint of what I would’ve been met with if I’d asked to leave.
He could have done something far worse than simply turning away and disapparating out of the garden.
And I would’ve been left with something much worse than a few tears and a heart full of dejection.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Since that day in the garden, I saw Ominis more frequently.
Well, only in
passing.
Ominis was like a ghost, haunting the hallways and library. Each time I caught sight of him he seemed to disappear not long after, like he’d never been there in the first place.
He was
avoiding
me. Without
actually
avoiding me.
It was infuriating.
The only time I saw him for more than a moment was at breakfast. We shared that meal together, though I suspect it was to make sure I was taking the contraceptive potion he prescribed me - not that it mattered. He hadn’t touched me, nor was he speaking to me.
Had the question about his gloves offended him that much?
The look on his face in the garden still weighed heavily on my mind. Something like hatred and frustration had lined his beautiful features, and I felt some form of guilt for it - like I’d crossed a line I shouldn’t have.
With Ominis nothing was ever simple.
There were so many mysteries about him that I wanted to uncover - the gloves, his business here, where his family was, and most importantly…
What was he going to do with me
?
Ominis made it
very
clear he intended to keep me here as his wife but hadn’t revealed
when
he intended to do that. The deadline of our pact loomed over us as heavily as the vial sat on my chest.
We were only weeks away and there’d been no mention about any preparations for a wedding.
Not that I
would
marry him.
I wondered if he wasn’t sold on it either given his behavior over the last few days. I wanted to be unbothered by it - the idea that perhaps I was no longer interesting to him. I’d understand. I wasn’t talkative. I asked “incessant” questions, fought him on almost everything, and did not reciprocate his feelings. Yet…
I felt
dejected
.
Just like the Bones, Ominis now treated me like I was an
object
to be
discarded
.
Maybe they were right to do so... I was of little worth - I had no magic and no money. The only worth that was ever placed on me was that of my womb - and now I questioned whether that was as valuable as I once thought it was. Ominis wasn’t touching me anymore.
So with Ominis’ phantom-like behavior, I was taken by surprise one morning when he sat down his cup at breakfast and plainly said, “We’re going out this evening.”
Mid-bite of an apple, I paused. My eyes darted to him. He was completely relaxed, leaning back in his seat with his elbow on the arm of it and his chin resting on his hand. But there was something mischievous in the way his lips were turned up, like he was plotting something I knew I wouldn’t like.
I finished chewing and cleared my throat, thinking through all the responses I wanted to bite out at him.
After all this time,
now
you talk?
And you want to go
out
?
What
the hell
is wrong with you?
All those questions evaporated when he cocked his head at me, the sun glistening in his pale hair. “Where?” I asked quietly.
“To the Garden.” Ominis’ tone was warm as he lifted his cup again, “I need to meet with someone and I think time away from the manor would do you some good, my darling.”
Not acting like a ghost would do me some good, too.
“Okay.” I agreed, swallowing my frustration.
Ominis was a never ending roller coaster of irritating things. He was evil. Clever. Handsome.
Aggravating
. Constantly up and down in his mood and so damn quick to move onto the next thing before I could so much as blink or adjust to things.
My stomach was in knots over how fast he went from avoiding me to wanting to take me out for a night. Fuck.
I really wanted to get off this ride.
“I…” I found my mouth moving before I could stop it. There was a desire to make some kind of headway with him - to secure a fraction of freedom or
something
that would help me feel a little more
human.
I was over being a doll sitting on the shelf for his amusement. “I- I- want something… in return.”
“Oh?” The playful grin on Ominis’ face dropped as he took a sip of his coffee. “And what might that be?”
“My phone. Please.”
It was another tool I could
hopefully
use to escape Ominis, but more importantly, I was concerned about my friends. I hadn’t spoken to Perdi and Lizzy for days. I needed to let them know I was okay - after that, Ominis could have the stupid thing back.
“I’ll meet your stipulation with another, little moth.” He swallowed his coffee, setting the cup down as he adjusted himself in his chair. He sat up and that mischievous smirk of his returned, causing my heart to beat a little faster.
“Only after my terms are met will I return your phone.”
I thinned my lips as I stared at him.
A
stipulation
from Ominis would surely chip away at another piece of my soul or cost yet another fraction of my dignity.
Was what I wanted
worth it?
If it meant getting in touch with Perdi and Lizzy and perhaps even sharing my location with the hope of escaping Ominis’ manor… it was. I could endure it. I survived Ominis Gaunt this far.
He cannot do anything worse than what he’s already done to me.
“Okay.” I repeated again, picking up my apple. Hunger pressed me to bite down into it, but the anxiety rolling around in my belly made me set it back down. “What are your terms?”
A wicked smile turned up on Ominis’ lips.
“I choose what you
wear
tonight.”
That was an easy enough stipulation. I’d expected something much worse.
Though I was sure whatever he planned for me to wear would result in me losing more of my dignity. Nonetheless, the anxiety in my stomach settled as I picked up my apple again.
“Come here, my darling.” Ominis’ smirk didn’t falter as he crooked a finger at me. I paused mid-bite yet again and swallowed hard as I sat the apple back down on the table then rose out of my chair, smoothing the baby-blue fabric of my knee-length dress down before slowly approaching him.
Ominis turned as I approached, his hands reaching out to rest on my thighs as his head tilted up towards me. “Do you agree with that, sweet Eden?”
“Ye-yes.” I choked out as his thumbs caressed me through the dress. Even with layers of fabric between us it felt like he was touching my bare skin, leaving flames in the wake of each stroke. Heat was already beginning to rise in my core and I was soon forgetting why I’d been irritated with Ominis in the first place.
“Perfect.” He cooed and in one swift motion he scooped me up from under my ass to lay me out on the table. I yelped as the dishes scattered everywhere - I was sure I’d gotten food in my hair. I opened my mouth to protest but stopped as Ominis took a step forward to stand between my thighs. The wicked look on his face had been replaced with something wild,
more feral
.
“W-what-?!”
“I promise it will only hurt
a little
.” Ominis’ voice had grown low as his hands stroked the inside of my thighs before parting them. My dress had rolled up as he laid me on the table and now his thumbs were teasing the corners of my pussy.
“I-I w-what-?” I couldn’t catch my breath as Ominis’ fingers hooked beneath the hem of my panties and ripped them clean off. “You said your term-”
“Indeed I did, my darling.” Ominis agreed, running the palm of his hand over my pussy and rubbing it slowly. I arched off the table as he dipped a finger into my folds, making sure to hit my clit with each motion. “You did not ask
what
I wanted you to wear… or
how
.”
I cried out as he plunged a finger inside me, a shockwave of need rolling through my body. I was a damn fool for agreeing to anything! Fear was coiling tight inside me, right next to the surge of pleasure Ominis invoked with each thrust of his finger.
“Already so wet for me…” He purred, adding another finger inside me. “And the real fun hasn’t even begun.”
“What-” I sucked in a breath as his thumb caught my clit, trying to maintain my composure, “wh-what are you doing?”
“Preparing you.” He hummed, diligently continuing to fuck me roughly with his fingers. “It’s so much easier to have fun with you like this - when you’ve lost your mind to pleasure, my darling.”
I shook my head as his thumb pressed on my clit and I felt my orgasm begin to build in the depths of my belly. My hips lifted upwards, demanding the delicious movements of his fingers hit me deeper. It wasn’t enough - nothing compared to the way Ominis felt seated deep inside me, battering and abusing my pussy like it was his favorite toy.
“You become such a needy, pathetic little mess when I touch your pussy. All your questions and thoughts go so quiet when I’m inside you, don’t they? Nothing exists to you outside of how I make you feel.”
“I-”
“Ah, ah - don’t speak, my darling.” Ominis hushed me as he added a third finger inside me. “I like you like this -
desperate
and
speechless
.”
“I
crave
the moments when all you’re capable of doing is singing sweet songs of pleasure for me, where your silly little mind blanks and you can only speak intelligible coos and whines of need. Make no mistake, I ache to hear your sweet words, but…”
The pace of Ominis’ fingers quickened as he leaned forward to whisper into my ear, his lips brushing against it.
“I like you like
this
, Eden, where the only thing you are is a fucking little
slut
for me.”
“Ominis!” His words shot through me like electricity, as if they were another set of hands roaming over my body. Each one hit all the right places, making my body arch off the table as my orgasm neared its peak. “
Please
!”
“I know, little moth, but I need you to hold on just a little longer.” Ominis’ fingers retracted from my pussy. “Can you do that for me, my sweet little slut?”
I writhed on the table, shaking my head as my orgasm pleaded for its life. “N-no, I-”
“You can, Eden. You
will
control yourself.” Ominis demanded.
I shook my head over and over and squirmed on the table before him. He dropped onto his knees, bringing his face level with my needy core - but it was his
mouth
that had my attention. It was only inches away from where I needed him most. My hips arched upwards and my pussy could all but graze his lips. He was so fucking close.
“
Please-”
I started to desperately cry out but Ominis’ teeth clamped down sharply into my thigh, cutting my pleas off. I nearly screamed as the bite became intolerable, his teeth breaking the skin and leaving me feeling as though he’d taken a chunk out of me. That should’ve terrified me or at the very least derailed me from my orgasm.
But the feeling of his jaw clamping down around that sensitive flesh only made it
worse
.
Shakily, dazed, and full of curiosity, I propped myself up on my elbows. I wanted a better look at Ominis as he tore at my flesh. I was completely entranced by the way his mouth wrapped around my thigh, groaning as he began to suck on it. My body writhed when he released it, missing the pain. His tongue lapped up the blood that began to freely flow from the wound.
“Be my good girl, little moth, and I’ll give you what you want.” Ominis said, turning his face back towards my pussy. He was hovering so close to it. I tried to keep myself still and do anything other than arch forward to feel his mouth against me.
“O-okay.” I agreed with a whisper. A smile found its way back to Ominis’ mouth as he returned to rubbing his fingers through my folds. He slowly traced upwards before taking his time moving back down. He didn’t stop to go back up like he had before. His touch trailed lower… until he pressed a finger against my other hole.
I sucked in a breath, shaking my head. “N-no-”
Ominis ignored me. He applied a little bit of pressure, barely easing the tip of his finger in.
“If you deny me, my darling, you forfeit the right to not only
cumming,
but your phone as well.” He removed his finger, idly circling the hole.
“But if you do insist on breaking our agreement, I
will
stop.”
The bastard gave me no time to consider his offer. Within what felt like seconds his finger was replaced with his mouth, making me whimper as his tongue darted around my asshole and his thumb caught my clit. This… this shouldn’t feel
so good
. I shouldn’t be
enjoying
the way his tongue pressed itself against my ass. It was wrong.
Dirty
.
Why did it feel so good
?
“Tell me, do you want this to end, little moth?”
Before I could stop myself, an answer fell from my lips, “No!”
“There’s my good girl.” Ominis hummed in approval, his finger trailing back down through my folds then circling my asshole again. “So brave for me, letting me toy with her tight little ass.”
“W-would-” I swallowed, a question finally forming in my throat. “Would you have really stopped?”
An evil grin appeared on Ominis’ lips as he shook his head.
“If you told me ‘no’, little moth, it wouldn’t have ended pretty.” He murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss to the mound of my pussy. “The only thing I would’ve stopped was
being gentle
.” I whined as his tongue ghosted over my clit.
“I would’ve taken your fucking ass and made it
hurt
. I’d make you
beg
for me to stop… and I wouldn’t. No matter how much you cried, bled, or screamed in agony.” He chuckled before flicking his tongue against me again. “I’d take this ass
raw
, Eden.”
“Such a pity though, isn’t it? You would’ve liked that wouldn’t you?” Ominis’ lips turned down in a faux pout. He leaned backwards and tilted his head up in my direction. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned after all these years, my darling, its how much you fucking
love
pain.”
I nearly screamed as Ominis sunk a finger into my ass. I clenched around the invading digit harshly, reeling from the new sensation. There was too much resistance by the muscle and not enough lubrication to ease his probing. He still continued, inching further with every breath I took.
“You said-” I started, the words a garbled mess, “Ominis, I c-can’t, ah- I-”
“You
can
, Eden. I will
make
you take it.”
I shook my head in protest but he’d already pressed the entire finger inside. It was all the way to his knuckle. My breath hitched in my throat as he eased it out of me. For a moment, a single, stupid moment, I hoped he’d stop.
But he pushed it back inside my ass
hard
.
“Fuck, this ass is
tight
.” Ominis groaned, steadily pumping that finger inside me. “It’s a shame the first thing inside you won’t be my cock.”
I froze, my eyes shooting to where his cane was propped up against the table. I didn’t want a repeat of losing my virginity, no matter how good any of it felt. I still remembered the initial shock of being fucked with it. “Please, please not the ca-”
“Oh no,” Ominis hushed me with a chuckle, “I’m afraid you won’t get to enjoy
that
this time.”
I relaxed a little, which surprised me. A moment ago there was so much pain, but now Ominis’ finger moved in and out of me with ease. Instead of reeling away from his touch, I arched into it. Eager. Wanting
more
.
Maybe… Maybe I
was
the slut he said I was. I had slowly begun to enjoy the way his finger pumped into my ass. Perhaps I truly was some depraved, pathetic creature that gulped down his wicked pleasure like it was water.
How was I so okay with this?
There was no time to consider that question as Ominis pressed a second finger against my hole, forcing it inside with the other. He was right about one thing - my mind
melted
for him. There was no room for thoughts or questions.
Only pain and pleasure - and I was a slave to both.
All I could do was cry as Ominis savagely fucked my ass with his fingers and let out a dark trickle of laughter.
“You fucking love this, don’t you, little moth? The way I’m stretching your tight ass?”
“Y-yes!” I cried as he spread his fingers inside me.
“You’re doing so well for me, my darling.” He praised, slowly pulling his fingers out of me. “You’re ready for the
accessory
I want you to wear tonight.”
I watched curiously as Ominis waved his hand and procured a bottle with some kind of liquid and an item I’d never seen before. He raised the item in front of me. It looked like some kind of…
plug
. Its girth was around the size of his cock and the flared base had a small emerald jewel attached to it.
Oh fuck.
He wasn’t… that wasn’t…going inside me…
was it?
My heart skipped a beat as he poured the liquid on the tip of the plug. He
was
going to put that inside my ass. Fucking hell.
I swallowed hard as he coated the bulb with what must’ve been lube, making sure every inch was covered. My brows scrunched together as I tried to imagine how he’d fit it inside me, considering
two
fingers felt like I was going to be torn apart.
“Ominis-”
“Don’t fret, little moth.” He cooed gently, rubbing the tip of the plug around my entrance. I shivered as he applied pressure, trying to ease it inside. As it went in I sucked in a breath, my head falling back. “It’ll only hurt for a moment, but you’ll enjoy that part, won’t you?”
I shook my head as a moan fell from my lips and the plug continued to ease further and further into me.
“There you go -
fuck -
look at you. You’re doing such a good job for me. Taking it all.” Ominis groaned. “It’s almost all the way in, well done, my darling.”
“T-too much.” I whined but it was already all the way in. Shakily I tilted my head, looking at the jewel that now protruded from my ass.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The sight of that plug inside me and the strained yet proud look on Ominis’ face
was too much
.
He again ignored my plea, instead suddenly diving forward to capture my clit between his lips. He devoured me, licking over the nub viciously as he slowly eased the plug in and out of my ass.
“You’ve been
such
a good girl for me.” He purred against my pussy, “I want you to cum for me, Eden. Cum for me while I eat this sweet pussy and fuck your little ass.”
That was all it took for me to fall over the edge, filling the terrace with my screams as I came for Ominis. My body convulsed, shook, and fell apart as his lips wrapped around my clit, driving me to another unending orgasm.
By the time it was over and I somehow found my way back to earth, Ominis was standing and adjusting his trousers. I expected him to pull his cock out and have me right on the table, but he only offered me his hand. There was some disappointment to be swallowed as I took his hand and let him help me back down onto the ground.
It was then that I caught someone’s face looking through one of the windows that faced the terrace. My entire face felt hot as I quickly adjusted my dress. Ominis surely would have known there would be eyes on us and that hadn’t stopped him. I hated him for it - I’d never be able to look the staff in the face again.
“Run along now, little moth.” Ominis leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead. “We leave at eight.”
I should’ve
never
agreed to Ominis’ stupid fucking stipulation.
Having me wear the plug was one thing. Albeit, a horribly uncomfortable, arousing, and infuriating thing, but it was manageable - despite the way I felt it shift inside me every time I moved. What was barely tolerable was the shame I felt about how good it felt - how it incited an ache deep inside me that caused my mind to run back to Ominis and the look on his face when he pushed it in. I wondered what Ominis would do in retaliation for my defiance if I removed the plug… How would he punish me? .
I couldn’t let my mind wander to that. Ominis had pushed his “
term”
a little too far by adding
two
more things for me to “
wear”
.
The
outfit
I found waiting for me that evening looked like it’d come straight out of Perdita’s closet. It was another silky, ruby red affair - barely thigh length and
missing
a lot of fabric. It was fashioned with a halter top and had a completely open back, but
that
wasn’t what made me pause and question my choice to go along with Ominis’ ridiculous stipulation.
It was the
neckline
. Well, rather lack thereof.
After putting the dress on and standing in front of the mirror, I couldn’t stop the blush that crept up onto my cheeks. The neckline plunged to an inch above my navel, completely exposing the valley of my breasts. The swell of them would be on display for any onlooker and while Perdi’s dress for me that night at the Garden hadn’t been much different, this was too much.
I turned my head away from the mirror, wanting to
avoid
looking at myself. But it was impossible not to - the dress was such an oddity, something so sensual and elegant. I’d never choose it for myself and I couldn’t wrap my head around how Ominis had chosen…
this
.
But an agreement
was
an agreement.
Swallowing the anxiety and forcing my eyes away from my reflection, I turned my attention to the trinkets that Ominis picked for me to wear tonight. There were a pair of earrings, which were a simple, silver tassel design, as well as a pair of silver high heels that weren’t fussy nor too tall for my clumsy self.
Those two items were beautiful, simple, and
survivable
.
The last two pieces were not.
On the dresser was a silver arm cuff shaped like a snake. There was nothing crazy about it, at least that’s what I tried to tell myself. However the sight of a snake, and knowing it would be wound around a part of me, made me shiver. It brought back
way
too many flashbacks of the night Ominis restrained me with
his
snakes.
The bastard probably chose it for that very reason - to serve as some kind of sick and twisted reminder that he’d always be in control.
Just put it on. You’ll get your phone back then you can escape him.
I swallowed as I picked up the last item - a
ring.
If I were in a relationship with any other man, this might have seemed like a
nice
gift. A simple gesture. Something a long time partner may be inclined to give for a special night out or occasion.
However I knew this was more than just
a ring
.
It was a token from
Ominis Gaunt.
A man hellbent on making good on a blood pact I wanted
no
part of.
With shaky hands and a frown, I brought it closer to the light to inspect it. A large emerald was encircled by roses that had been carved intricately into a dark iron band. It
looked
like an engagement ring.
Was it an engagement ring?!
No.
As I slid it onto my index finger, I thought about Ominis and how he wasn’t about
simple gestures
. He did everything with a purpose - every single fucking thing had some sort of twisted meaning - and it was almost always done in an elaborate and infuriating fashion.
But instead of dwelling on that, I took it for what it was -
a ring
. Simply something pretty to wear with the rest of my
pretty
things.
After raking my fingers through my hair and taking a final
begrudging
look in the mirror, I was ready to go. But the look on Hattie’s face when I stepped out of the bathroom told a different story. She stood in the middle of the bedroom with her arms crossed and gave me a once over, then slowly raised a brow.
“Do…” I cleared my throat as my face suddenly became warm. “Do I look
that
bad?”
“Merlin, no! You’re drop dead gorgeous.” Hattie’s lips thinned as I waited for a
but
. “Are you really not going to do anything with your hair? Makeup?”
I glanced down at my hair. I had let it fall around my shoulders and halfway down my back. I’d never been good at styling my hair - I was always an
“it's up or down, no inbetween
” kind of girl. As for makeup… eyeliner and gloss was all I kept in my makeup bag.
I shook my head at her, the words clamming up inside me from embarrassment. I’d never been shown how to do girly things like hair and makeup. I never had a mother figure and Perdi was as close as I got to a “
stylist
”. I was still working on having what she might call a
“stylish”
wardrobe, but the clothes Ominis had bought me made my things look like they’d been from an unwanted bin at a thrift shop.
Hattie’s face relaxed and she gave me a patient smile. “Come, let’s get you fixed up.”
By the time Hattie was finished with me, I was glad it was
her
rather than someone like Perdi doing my makeup. If Perdi was allowed to have her way with me, it would’ve been over the top, caked on makeup. I wouldn't recognize myself. Hattie, however, didn’t care for the heavy handed look and had chosen something much softer - a little glitter with a neutral colored shadow and sharp winged eyeliner that made the dull olive-green of my eyes pop.
The rest of my face was touched up with a little blush and a little contour. But it was the lips I loved the most. They were somehow ombre, looking nearly faded as she applied the red lipstick.
As for my hair, it was in an “
in between
” state, which I was amazed by. Hattie had twisted the top half of my head into four braids that met with the rest of the hair that flowed down my back at the nape of my neck, forming a low ponytail.
Hattie hadn’t tried to change who I was - she’d only accentuated all the things that made me
…. me
.
“
Much
better.” Hattie smiled with approval from behind me in the mirror as I looked at myself. “I’ll make sure to gloat to the master later that
I
get to look at beautiful you and he can’t.”
My eyes widened a little at what I
hoped
was a joke as Hattie’s smile grew. I didn’t believe Ominis was the
joking
type. He was always so serious and cruel. However, with his behavior over the last week in mind, I couldn’t help but wonder how many sides of Ominis I hadn’t seen yet.
Did Ominis laugh at jokes that were made at his own expense?
Was he close to the people he employed, like Hattie?
Or did he have zero tolerance for such things and Hattie
really
was just joking?
“Thank you.” I gave her my best attempt at a smile through the mirror. These were all questions I had no plans on finding answers to. I didn’t want to stay here, let alone spend any more time with Ominis to see what his softer side might look like.
A pang wrenched in my heart as Hattie gave me an even warmer smile.
I’d miss Hattie once I was free of Ominis.
“No need to thank me.” She gave a short nod. “I’m just doing my job.”
“I thought you were just the housekeeper.” I blurted out as she stepped away. It might’ve been rude to remind her of her station, but if it offended her, she said nothing. She left the bathroom as I followed her, watching as she opened up one of the wardrobes full of clothes. She fished through it for a moment before turning around with a fluffy white coat in her hands.
“Yes, amongst other things.” Hattie replied softly as she approached me with the coat. She stood behind me, helping me into it as she continued, “However, first and foremost
you
are my priority. I will always make sure you are comfortable and looked after.”
“I…” My throat tightened. I wasn’t sure where to begin with a response to that. The Bones’ had never been nice to me or bestowed any kind of parental figure. It had only ever been my friends that did their best to keep me safe and happy.
I’d never been
looked after
.
Sure, I’d been
kept -
like a pet, just waiting for the Bones’ to use me as breeding stock. My friends had
kept
me safe and housed, always making sure I was never alone, but my wellbeing had
never
been at the forefront of anyone’s mind… not until I’d come here….
As she zipped me into the coat, I realized she wasn’t the only one that made sure I was taken care of - as much as I hated to admit it.
Ominis
made sure I was eating, clothed and warm, and enjoying life here. No detail had been spared with regard to my wellbeing since I arrived, regardless of how he treated me during our times together.
My belly warmed as Hattie adjusted a loose strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear.
“Thank you, Hattie.”
“You’ve got to stop saying ‘thank you’ so much.” She laughed as she took a step backwards. “Now that you look absolutely stunning, it’s time to get going. The master is waiting downstairs.”
Forcing myself to smile, I nodded at her as we exited the bedroom. My anxiety grew with every step we took towards the entryway of the manor. I knew where we were going but being out in a crowd always made me extra anxious. Yet more than anything it was the thought of
going out in public with Ominis
that made my stomach knot and my nerves heighten.
The last time we’d been at the Garden together he pulled me into a darkened room and touched me. If it hadn’t been for Elias’ interruption, I wonder how far Ominis would’ve gone that night.
But this trip out… it might just be a blessing. An opportunity. A chance to get away. All it would take is for him to walk away and deal with whatever business he has… then I could slip right out the door and run back to my house - it was only a few blocks down the street. I could call for help from there.
With a deep breath and a fistful of hope, I decided I’d make the most of this night out.
At least until the perfect moment came.
And then I’d finally be done with Ominis Gaunt and all of his darkness, once and for all.