1. Elijah

24-ISH HOURS PRIOR

“ L ittle bat, wake up. We are home.”

Rain’s been asleep since we landed. Her head rests on my lap with her legs curled into her body. She is wearing black leggings, one of my black hoodies, and white high-tops. My fingers have been mindlessly playing with her dark hair the entire time as I dick around on my phone.

We were picked up from the private airstrip by one of my dad’s drivers in a blacked-out SUV.

It’s been ten fucking years since I have been back to Vail, Colorado.

I’m impartial about being back.

I’ve never tried to run and hide from it, my responsibilities. By going to Blackwood all those years ago with my mom and that charismatic cunt, it gave me an opportunity to experience life outside of here, which I can apply now that I am back.

Vail, and what’s to come next have always been in the cards for me.

These fuckers won’t know what hit them, so many new people to play with.

A smirk forms on my face, another memory flashing before me. It’s the old shed out back at my dad’s place, where I learned the fundamentals. The smell of blood as it coats my fingers, pushing his eyes as hard as I can into the backs of his eye sockets.

The screams were a symphony.

My other hand rubs the hard wood of my bat, which is resting between my feet and leaning against the door. “We will celebrate at our homecoming tomorrow.”

Looking out the tinted window, the private road which is home to my house and my dad’s is decorated with large green spruce trees, the grass browning as fall will soon become winter. It’s October.

The road is able to remain private as it’s blocked by a gate which only me, my dad, and a few staff members have access to entering. The vehicle turns into my driveway, while Dad’s is across the street.

Security has been embedded into me since I can remember.

“Rain, if you don’t wake up, I have no problem punishing you later.” My voice is low so the driver doesn’t hear. He can mind his own fucking business.

Her body stretches out, a moan of discontent escaping her mouth as she whines. “If you even try, I’ll use my choke pear on you.”

A loud chuckle leaves my lips.

This fucking girl.

Rain had been looking up different torture techniques when she discovered the choke pear, which happened to be at the same time I was tattooing my teeth marks onto her ass. She’s been obsessed with it ever since. I ordered one for our place in Blackwood, which she proudly displays on her nightstand. A second one was ordered for here as soon as I got the call from Dad. It's a surprise for my little bat, to make her feel more at home. Even though it’s due to arrive today, I’ll have Rogers keep it hidden until tomorrow.

For lack of a better word, he is like our property manager. Anything and everything we need, he is the man to procure it for us.

For Rain, this trip was sudden; for me, it’s been years in the making.

Blackwood will be where we go to get away, spend the summers, and visit her mom.

This place, Vail, is her new home. I just haven’t broken the news to her yet.

The SUV comes to a stop outside the oversized dark wood front door, which is enclosed by a stone archway. The rest of the exterior is decorated with granite rock and large windows on the single-story home. A four-car garage is on the far side of the house. Unlike Blackwood, this garage only holds cars.

Like the private road, the entire property is surrounded by a forest of trees. The backyard is also home to a pool and hot tub, along with an outdoor patio space and kitchen.

My dad started building this place for me when I was seventeen, ensuring it would be ready for when I needed to return. He would send me progress reports and I would provide feedback on what I needed. A lot of it I left up to him, with the exception of a few sacred places.

Such as one of the two basements which sits under the house.

Rain sits up, the side of her face flushed from resting on my legs. She looks over to me, still tired. “How long did you say we would be here for?”

Gripping my bat, I open the car door and begin to step out as I respond, “I didn’t.”

It’s later in the evening, the sun has already started to set and the air is cold and crisp. Mountains surround us behind the trees, the clouds hang low and threaten snow upon us at any moment. Soon a sea of tourists will invade for the winter ski season.

But first, a tradition which is generations old must occur. Something that only happens every ten years. Locals all know it’s coming, they leave or stay inside. Preparation begins the day following the last one.

The Reckoning.

Tourists who come early catch on quickly when things begin to shut down early for the night. The town goes quiet as we come out to play.

“When do we meet your dad?”

Turning around, I take another deep breath in.

To most, the smell of this place calms them, connects them with nature. To me, it’s calming but for completely different reasons. It connects me to death.

This is where I learned to embrace myself.

Since that day at the dinner table when I was five, sitting with my dad’s “friends”, who I now know are much more than that, it’s been death.

I will always remember when Dad pulled me aside in his office, how his one friend said I would be useful.

That’s when it began—no longer having to keep my demons at bay.

My dad gave me permission to be my fucking self.

Keeping my expression neutral, I reply, “Soon. If not tonight, definitely tomorrow.”

She nods her head, accepting my short answers as she slides to exit on my side of the car.

Joining me outside, her eyes take it all in as her jaw drops. “This place is incredible, E.”

Grabbing her at the waist, I pull her close against me and whisper in her ear, “You haven’t seen the best of it yet, little bat.”

Reaching up, her tiny fingers trace the lines of my ink that decorate my face. She loves doing this. “Then show me.”

Not taking my eyes off her hazel ones that I’ll forever be captivated by. “Gladly.”

Taking her hand in mine, I lead her up a stone step. It only takes a couple more steps as we reach the front door. Turning the iron handle, the latch clicks as I push it open. It’s unlocked, so I suspect Rogers left it that way on purpose.

Which fucking annoys me, and he knows it.

A loud gasp comes from behind me as we walk in.

The space is all open, large dark wood beams running across the white ceiling. A tall, dark stone, wood fireplace reaches from the wood floor to the tallest peak of the ceiling. A nook is carved out within where a large television is mounted, with built-in bookshelves lining both sides. A large glass coffee table and two oversized cream couches finish the area off.

Large windows line the back wall, which are tinted and overlook the patio and outdoor space that houses a kitchen, hot tub, pool which is covered until next summer, and acres of green space and forest.

Iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling and a dining space is off to one side by the living room, with the kitchen and oversized island on the other. A hallway off the kitchen leads to the master wing. An additional hallway just off the entrance leads to the guest rooms and garage.

“E, this place is incredible. You can see the mountains from here!” Rain shakes my hand with excitement.

Embracing her into another hug and resting my chin on the top of her head, I picture her naked in my basement and coated in blood. My cock gets hard, pushing against my jeans. “I still have so much to show you, little bat.”