25. Elijah

We have been restless all day. The anticipation and anxiety of this event has riddled our bodies and minds. Her dad has sent me a couple texts, reminding me of this evening, La Notte del Diavolo. I have reassured him a couple of times that she will be there. I even hinted at being done with her and that he was right about me getting bored with her the odd time I did text back. But also being aware that there is a fine line between playing him and showing our cards. If I lay it on too thick then he will know, the man isn’t stupid. He is the leader of a fucking cult, he didn’t get here based on his charisma alone.

Rain has been somber, internalizing it for the most part. Her eyes give it away—the anxiety. I haven’t brought it up, instead letting her think she is hiding it better than she is.

The sun has been set for an hour. The clock is ticking, it’s almost time to get ready.

“E, can you come help me?” Rain shouts from our room.

Getting up from the kitchen table, I walk through the house until I reach her.

As I walk into the bedroom, I look around but I can’t see her. Walking towards the closet, she calls out again, “Bathroom.”

Changing directions, my boot-clad feet take me to her.

The door is closed, which isn’t usual for her when she is in here. I place my hand on the cold iron knob, turning it as I push it open. I am taken back by the sight before me.

Rain’s hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and a black ribbon is wrapped around it and tied into a bow. She is wearing a white knee-length babydoll dress. It has a square neckline with ruffles on the shoulder straps. The belt is the same black ribbon as her hair, which is also tied into a bow. Her legs are bare, but her feet are clad in black flat Mary Jane-style shoes with white ruffled socks sticking out of them around her ankle.

My eyes move back up her delicate frame, which is adorned in the most beautiful dress. Her lips are colored with red lipstick, and her eyes have black winged liquid liner on them. Her lashes are full. As she looks up at me, my little bat screams innocence. But she is anything but that.

My breath is taken away. She is absolutely stunning.

“Do my face?” Her soft voice breaks my focus.

“Of course.”

I lift her up onto the counter—the same one I fucked her on last night. My cock is hard and straining against my jeans. What I would do to fuck her right now. But I couldn’t do that to her, she has spent several hours getting ready. She may decide to use the dagger to kill me instead if I do.

I reach over to the cabinet beside us, it’s on the counter and reaches to the top of the mirrors. Its placed there to separate the two sinks. I grab my black eye pencil from it and take her face in once more. I know exactly what I am going to do.

Removing the cap, I warm up the pencil between my fingers by rubbing the tip. This makes it easier to apply on her skin.

Placing the tip over her forehead, “Keep completely still.”

She whispers back, “I will.”

Her warm breath tickles my face.

This moment might be the most intimate I have ever been a part of. It’s more than sex. It’s having a bond so close that you have the ultimate trust in one another. I can feel the energy radiating between us, we are the opposite ends of a magnet, pulling each other closer and closer. This girl has caused me to feel more in the little time I have known her than I have in my entire fucking life.

Pressing the liner to her skin, I begin. My eyes are focused on each line, and my hand remains steady with each stroke. Shading in just the right areas will add the effect I am looking for. With this, less is more. The pencil glides effortlessly along her skin.

With my other hand, I bring my thumb up to the area where I went darker, smudging it where I need more depth.

My head tilts as I carefully concentrate. A piece of hair falls over my forehead, raking my fingers through it. I brush it back.

Examining her face, I decide to add another detail running from her bottom lip to under her chin.

That finishing line completes it.

Placing the pencil liner down on the counter next to her, “Stay here. Don’t look yet.”

She nods, “I won’t.”

I wasn’t sure when I would do this. But now it seems right.

Walking from the bathroom to our walk-in closet, I reach up to the top shelf, grabbing a polished dark wood box. The latch is made of gold, and it has her initials RS engraved on the top.

I’m not nervous as I walk back to her.

She is still where I left her as I walk in. Her legs are crossed at the ankle as she swings her feet. Her eyes look at me while also noticing the box in my hands. Her mouth smiles at my arrival.

I don’t speak.

Placing the box on the counter, I lift the latch and slowly open it.

A small gasp leaves her mouth as she realizes what this is.

Grabbing it, I bring it up to her neck, the black leather looks beautiful against her. Rain remains still, but her breathing has quickened. Her eyes watch me the best they can. Placing it around her neck, I slide one end into the gold buckle of the collar. Making sure its not too tight before doing it up, I slide a finger between the collar and her neck, the space is good so I continue.

“Can I see?” She speaks in a hushed tone.

Letting go of the collar, I help her down to her feet and take her in. She is wearing a part of me. Something I have never given to another before.

Brushing my fingers over the front of it, I kiss her on the top of her head, not wanting to ruin her makeup.

“Mine.”

She grips my shirt as I say it.

My cock is still throbbing. Begging for her red lips to be wrapped around him.

Instead, I step back, placing my hands on her shoulders and gently spin her around.

She lets go of me, and her head tries to move quicker than her body so she can get a peek.

Once her eyes connect with her reflection in the mirror, a small gasp leaves her mouth as her fingers raise to touch the collar.

RAIN

I want to cry.

Not from sadness but from joy. My emotions are running rapid within me. Everything about what is staring back at me is precious.

“Elijah…”

He doesn’t respond, instead he is watching me through the mirror taking it all in.

My face is perfectly decorated, minimal lines adorn it. A few areas are thicker and give the illusion of being chipped.

It makes me look like a broken porcelain doll. Stunning.

My eyes wander down to my neck.

My fingers are already rubbing against the soft, black leather. I can feel indentations. My fingers trace them, and I am able to make it out, On one side, I feel Eamp;RS, and on the other LB. Smiling, I know exactly what they mean.

Elijah amp; Rain Sinclair and Little Bat.

In the middle, a piece is cut out. The area is lined with gold, and within the center is a clear glass vial with a gold lid. Within the glass vial, all you see is red.

A thin gold ring which has arms reaching out on either side wraps around the middle of the vial. This is what is holding it all in place.

My eyes meet his in the mirror.

“Thank you.” Are the only words I can muster up. My eyes well with tears. I open them wider in hopes the air will stop them from running down my face.

“You’re welcome, Rain Sinclair. My little bat.”